It was a rare day for Dale to have made as many sales and new friends as possible. He’d met a very enthusiastic guitar player named Suzy, and a skinny bad ass of a bass player named Frank. He’d had a ton of people rush in for replacement strings and pick holders here an there. Today had to have been one of the best days he’d had in months. He plugged his guitar in to his processor and decided to test it out.
He’d used it a few times, and knew that the technology contained with in was very highly regarded. He had in fact based some of his own gear on the blueprints. He plugged the other end of the cable into his small nearby amp that he had reserved for testing out sounds that he wanted to use and play around with. He noticed a man with long hair walk inside with a look of joy playing across his face.
“Hey what’s going on man? I’m Dale, what can I do for you?”
“Hey! Nice to meet you, Dale! Cisco.” He smiled, holding out a hand. “I’m just looking right now, but I’m in the market for a new bass guitar. Any suggestions?”
Lisa awoke with a start when she heard him talking in his sleep. She always slept light, especially in new surroundings. Unless she drank, took a sleep aid or usually sex, she never slept through the night. Tonight was no different. She got up and headed back to the bathroom where Cisco was still having his night terrors. She flicked on the light and touched his arm.
That’s when all hell broke loose.
Before she could move there was…something then a crash in her ear. The mirror shattered, glass raining down all over her and he yelped. She didn’t make another step, worried about walking in glass.
“Cisco! WHAT THE-”
Well, fuck, he was a meta human. She realized what happened. His fingers were moving at an unnatural speed and the thing she was was a blast of energy. She should have known, or expected this, after all, he was at ground zero when the accelerator went off.
She dropped her voice from the initial surprise screech to something softer. “Cisco..you’re…you’re a…metahuman. How long have you know?” she asked. He hid it well, that was for sure. She leaned forward and ripped a towel from the rack and set it down over the glass to get to him. “Come on, come to bed, please. We’ll get it in the morning…well later morning. Just come on Cisco, trust me. It’s going to be ok.”
“Lisa. I’m- I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to. Ohmygod. I could’ve killed you.” He rambled, hugging his legs close to his body and squeezing his eyes shut. His ears were ringing, his head was pounding, and all he wanted was to get out. He was paralyzed with fear. He blocked out Lisa’s questions, not wanting to deal with it. He didn’t want to be defined by what he could do. He didn’t even want these damn powers, they were more of a burden than anything else.
Cisco opened his eyes and focused on Lisa’s soft face. He braced himself on the sides of the tub and pushed himself to his feet, watching carefully where he was stepping as he walked almost zombie-like back to his bedroom. “It was all so real.” He murmured as he crawled under the blankets, leaving plenty of room for Lisa in the queen-sized bed.
Len didn’t even try to argue with Cisco about sitting. He felt like he was going to keel over any second. It was worrisome, but not as worrisome as the prospect of leaving Lisa’s rescue in the hands of the well-meaning but inexperienced Cisco Ramon. He needed muscle; someone he knew would rescue Lisa and do whatever was necessary. He took his phone and stared at it for a few seconds as if he’d never seen the thing before. Right. Mark Mardon. That’s who he needed.
Unlike him, Lisa was mostly liked by the other Rogues. She had that ability to get people to like her, whether they wanted to or not. Len…not so much. His interpersonal skills depended mostly on manipulation or coercion. He could fake being charming for a brief of period of time.
It took a few tries, but Len finally managed to plug Mark’s number into his phone. He realized that Cisco had been talking, and looked up before he pressed send. His vision swam. “Weather Wizard. I think…need the help. How – how the hell do you have access to a jet?” Len asked.
Before Cisco could answer, Len blinked down at his phone, realizing that he hadn’t called Mark yet. He felt like his grasp on awareness was fading. He had to call before he passed out. Hopefully Cisco would have an answer for why he was still so sick, but until then…Len pressed send, and waited, hoping that Mark had his phone on him.
“Mark…it’s Snart,” Len said. He knew he sounded bad, and Mark started to talk, but Len interrupted, afraid he was going to forget something important. “I’m at S.T.A.R. Labs. Cisco is trying to help but, Li-Lisa has been taken. You need to help find her…” Len’s voice faded, and he almost dropped the phone. “Cisco? I think I need some help,” he murmured, before he slid sideways off the chair.
When Mark heard Snart say Star Labs, rage built within him. Above the sky turned black and lightning crackled. Then he heard him ask for Cisco and ‘help’ and nothing. Shutting off his phone, Mark hurried the building that had been his prison for months.
He had to admit, he had no rage against Cisco. He knew he was a good kid just doing his job. He had also kept his promise and paid respects for Clyde for him. It wasn’t a debt by any means but it did endear him.
Charging his palms with lightning he headed into the building, trying to keep his powers in check. The power flickered all around as he made it up to the main floor. Stepping out of the elevator, he expected to attacked by the Flash but when the scarlet speedster didn’t show he allowed the lightning to recede. He knew Cisco was harmless and Snart was in no shape to fight.
Stomping through the area, he followed the voices to see Snart on the ground and a concerned Cisco.
“What in the hell is going on?” he demanded, thunder booming above.
Cisco whipped his head around as he heard the elevator ‘ding’ as it reached its destination. He figured Len was more important, so he crouched down beside the man. “Len, are you okay? Damn. It’s probably the neurotoxin. Mark, a little help please? Let’s bring him over to the med bay.” Cisco said, watching the man carefully. He knew that Mark would be willing to help his friend, even if it meant working alongside one of the people who kept him prisoner for however many months.
“I think there’s something around here that might help counteract the effects of the neurotoxin from the gun. Hold on, I’ll go find it.” He said before running to Caitlin’s desk.
“Okay. I won’t.” Barry looked at his friend and sighed, his eyes dropping to the floor. “I…I really don’t know how it happened Cisco, but you know I’ll do anything and everything it takes to keep her and the baby safe and healthy.”
“As will I.” He said. “And Barry? If anything does happen, I’m coming to you. I don’t mean it to sound like a threat, but it is. This is my sister I’m talking about.”
Lisa watched her broken little friend get up and take refuge in his bathtub. Even his hug was sad. This is was breaking her heart. There was definite revenge to be had. Once she found out who it was, they would pay.
Anyone who would hurt this poor, innocent guy was too evil. She humored the idea of crawling in the tub with him but given it was small enough, she sat beside it until she started to drift off.
She leaned down and kissed him on the forehead before heading into his room and into his bed.
As Cisco snuggled in the bathtub, he felt safe and warm in the aftermath of his nightmare. He knew there was another nightmare on its way, but he couldn’t pull himself from the drowsiness. He snuggled deeper into the tub, pulling the towel tight around his body and rolled to his side.
“She’s mad at me. I’ll be at the bar.” He mumbled, the sound muffled by his makeshift blanket. Within his dream, he drank and drank as people ran amok, terrified by the potential bombs attatched around their necks. His collar had clicked to red, and he could hear the micromachinery working inside it. All of his senses were heightened. He knew exactly what was going to happen, but he couldn’t stop it. Just like always. He sighed, both as a sign of frustration, and his realization that the bartender had cut him off. He got up, stumbling through the almost vacant venue. He found some tools, and managed to get the collar off. He slid it across the ground before backing slowly away from it. “That was close.” He whispered, relaxing the muscles he’d tensed up. Within the dream, he smiled in triumph before hearing an audible click and feeling his body fly through the air and hit a concrete pillar. Cisco cried out in pain, feeling the bones in his body break as he flopped to the floor. Cuts covered his body, and he felt as something pierced through his torso, tearing through his flesh. He struggled to breathe, feeling as the life slowly was drained from his body. Everyone had left. Nobody would find him. At this realization, a tear fell from his eye as he woke just before his dream death.
Cisco was in a daze – his heart was racing, his skin was clammy, and his body ached. He vaguely remembered crawling into the bathtub and cuddling with a towel. He felt a hand on his arm, and he threw out an arm to distance himself from the other. Cisco was hyperaware, just as he was after every nightmare. His powers were a little wacked as well. As he threw out an arm, he felt as vibrations were sent out his fingertips and toward the bathroom mirror, shattering it. In the darkness, all he could hear was the shimmer of breaking glass and his own yelp of fear. “Oh my God. I’m so sorry. Are youokay?”
Oliver Queen: Do you have a skill you have mastered? How often do you internally monologue?
John Diggle: Is there someone in your family/friendship group you feel particularly obligated to protect?
Felicity Smoak: Have you ever accidently blurted out something sexual? or got tongue tied in front of your crush?
Thea Queen: How badly do you crave affection? What’s the worst lie someone has told you?
Roy Harper: Are you especially attached to any item of clothing?
Sara Lance: Ever felt like you’re overshadowed by your sibling or a family member?
Laurel Lance: Have you ever cheated or been cheated on?
Tommy Merlyn: If you could bring a character back from the dead who would you pick?
Nyssa Al Ghul: What is your sexuality? Is your sexual orientation known or something you keep private?
Quentin Lance: How many white boys do you have on your kill list? any stories behind your picks?
Helena Bertinelli: Do you hold a massive grudge and let it be know when someone rubs you the wrong way? or do you let your anger simmer slowly and plan your revenge in secret?
Shado: Are you more spiritual or a full on realist?
Malcolm Merlyn: Would you ever join something like the LOA out of your own free will?
Barry Allen: Are you always late or always early? Good runner?
Iris West: Have you ever had to friendzone someone you were close to and it got awkward afterwards?
Caitlin Snow: When you’re hurt do you go full on ice queen? How excited do you get about biology?
Cisco Ramon: Do you have a best friend who you would protect under all circumstances?
Harrison Wells: Is it your ambitions above everyone elses? How good are you at planning ahead?
Joe West: Ever real life ship two people? If so who?
Captain Cold: What are your thoughts on winter?
Prism: Favourite Colour?
Blackout: Ever experience a electrical blackout? how did you stay busy?
Rainbow Raider: Favourite skittle flavour?
Multiplex: Do you feel like you have multiple personalities sometimes? Moodswings?
Girder: Beauty, Brains or Brawl?
The Mist: If you had to lose one of your senses for the day which one would you pick?
Pied Piper: Favourite song right now?
Plastique: Would you ever join the army? Do you know anyone who has?
Cisco backup 