[ It's a temporary arrangement; the best possible solution they can come up with, when Earth-1 suddenly finds itself plus one Harrison and Jesse Wells, and minus one Jay Garrick.
Joe's house is a no-go, since Wally started staying there. Easier for him than staying in the apartment where his mother's absence is so raw, where reminders of her are on every single surface, in every object. They don't even ask Caitlin; they all know better than to impose on her after what just happened to Jay. (Cisco doesn't doubt he will be over there at least once a day for the next few weeks, the way he was after she'd lost Ronnie. He will sit close to her, braid her hair, bring her ice cream, talk to her about his ongoing attempt to engineer an actual, functioning Star Trek style phaser. Do whatever it takes to get her mind off the pain. But for tonight, he knows, she just wants to be alone.)
And of course, motels and hotels are out of the question. They could register the room under another name, let Cisco pay for it, but there is always a chance someone would recognize Harry as the supposedly-deceased, definitely-a-murderer Harrison Wells. The last time that happened he'd ended up with a bullet in his chest. So private accommodations are the only way, and Cisco's apartment just happens to have a spare room. It's not very big, and there's not really anything in it, except for a twin bed that's only ever been used by Caitlin. Still, it's clean, and private, and a big step up from being chained in a cage in Zoom's evil lair. So Cisco makes the bed, gives Jesse some of his old pajamas and a new toothbrush, leaves her to shower off the grime of four months captivity.
Four months. He really doesn't want to think about what that does to someone.
His next move is to put clean sheets on his own bed, to shove the worst of the mess into hampers or the closet and out of the way, so that Harry can sleep in his room. It seems less of an imposition than when Harry set himself up working in Cisco's lab that first day. That place is more home to him than this apartment. Besides, it's just how things are done. While he was growing up, any time his parents had relatives visiting from out of town, Cisco would get bundled out of his room to sleep on the sofa. ]
We can deal with everything else tomorrow.
[ Everything else is a long list; Cisco knows it. But it's hard to feel too daunted by it, considering what they've just accomplished. Compared to facing down Zoom, setting up a new life in a new world is child's play. ]
[ He sits at the edge of Cisco's couch, staring ahead into the distance while Jesse showers and Ramon does— whatever he's doing in his room. He hadn't stopped to check, hadn't really felt much like moving since he sat down. Doesn't really feel like moving, anyway, until Jesse steps out of the bathroom, hair wet, clothes clean. He pushes himself up and walks over to usher her back into the guest room, gently guiding her into the warm bed with the fresh linens where he can tuck her in, kiss her forehead, and step back and leave knowing she'll be safe. He's not trying to hover and smother her with his presence, not really, but his heart aches a little when he turns off the light and closes the guest room door. She'll be fine. She's safe now.
Harrison rubs at his face, looking up and over in Cisco's direction. "Everything else." He hadn't even started to think about what "everything else" entailed. Then again, moving universes hadn't been something he'd really thought about until five minutes before Barry had asked. It was the only place they'd be safe, so— they had to. Unfortunately, the only place they'd be safe was also the place where the man with his face had terrorized a number of people before confessing to a murder. They couldn't just take that back.
He leans against the door frame, giving him a slow nod. ]
[ When he agreed to put them up, Cisco had known what he was signing up for. He expected a bit of colorful commentary about the decor, the size of the place, the general cleanliness. But he hasn't heard a peep from Harry about it. About anything, really. And Cisco can see why; he looks exhausted. Which makes sense; the man has been non-stop for the last four months, trying to rescue Jesse. They'd climbed all the way up those cliffs, had seen Zoom come within inches of killing her. Zoom had almost killed him, too, at least twice that day. And then Jay had died right in front of them, and Harry had been trapped in another world from everything he's ever known.
Bound to take it out of a guy. ]
Here, c'mon.
[ Cisco has a feeling that if he doesn't encourage him a bit, Harry might try to sleep sitting on the floor outside the guest room. An understandable impulse, but not exactly ideal. So Cisco puts a hand on Harry's shoulder, nudges him into the main bedroom ]
You know where I am if you need me.
[ And with that, he shuts the door, leaving Harry to get some much needed rest. Which he does, long enough that Jesse and Cisco have a slightly awkward, mostly wonderful breakfast (both of them carefully avoiding talking about Zoom, or Earth-2, or anything from the day before). Iris comes by around 10 and Cisco sends the both of them off shopping, takes the opportunity to get his apartment into some semblance of order, waiting for Harry to emerge from his hibernation. ]
[ About an hour after that, Harrison trudges out of the bedroom, rubbing at his face. He pauses, looking alarmed for a moment when he sees the door to the guest bedroom open, the light off, and Jesse nowhere to be found before the realization hits and he exhales, shoulders instantly relaxing. Right. They talked about it last night, Iris was going to take Jesse shopping so she could have warm, clean clothes that were her own. Iris, Detective West's daughter, who almost certainly knew how to handle a gun like her counterpart and could easily hold her own.
(Iris, who had forgiven him all too easily for his part in her injury, pointing out that it was Tarpit's fault, not his.)
Now that he's slept and had at least a few moments to collect his thoughts, Harrison lifts his head and really looks around, taking stock of the apartment. Not how safe it was or if it would be comfortable enough for Jesse for the time being, but how it was in general. And it's . . . not surprising, not really, for who Cisco is and what he makes. There's a quip somewhere, he can feel it, but he's still too tired to pull it out just yet.
Besides, it was cleaner than he thought it would be.
Harrison gives a nod over to Cisco when he sees him, murmuring. ]
Morning.
[ It's not morning at this point, he knows, but it's all relative anyway. It's the first time in awhile he's slept through a sunrise. It's not a bad feeling, not really. ]
[ By the time Harry wanders out, Cisco has done just about everything except vacuum - that doubtless would have woken Harry up, and Cisco knows he must need his rest. He catches a glimpse of Harry from down the hallway as he opens the door, walks out of the bedroom, hair messy, movements sluggish with sleep. The picture is... not entirely unfamiliar, and the memory it conjures up makes Cisco look away quickly, walk into the small kitchen to loudly put away some pots and pans.
When Harry wanders in, Cisco doesn't even turn to look at him ]
Jesse's with Iris.
[ Cisco knows that Harry remembers that, otherwise he would be panicking already. He says it just for the pleasure of it. He knows that his own investment in saving Jesse didn't come anywhere close to Harry's - he doesn't know what it's like to be a father, to love someone that deeply. But he had been right there with Harry, had gone to another universe to help save her. He can't help feeling at least a little attached. ]
No sign of any metahuman tomfoolery this morning, which is good since Barry and Joe are off supervising the repairs at S.T.A.R. Labs. [ As he speaks, Cisco starts a pot of coffee brewing without even asking. Harry is going to want some. He knows that. ] Geomancer did a real number on it while we were on the other side of the looking glass. [ He reaches down a mug for Harry, and his voice doesn't go any more solemn, but the brightness about it becomes a touch forced for a moment. ] Caitlin's okay. I'm going to go over and check on her this evening, so you and Jesse'll have the place to yourselves.
[ He spares a glance for Harry, finally; a quick flick of his eyes to see how he looks ] Look, I know you said we could deal with all of it tomorrow, but I just wanna say... I know it's not exactly the Ritz, but you guys can crash here as long as you'd like.
[ He pours the coffee, holds it out for Harry to take ]
[ Harrison looks like he could have benefitted from sleeping for an entire week at this point. But there's still a lot to do and he wants to be there for Jesse and frankly, he can't stand going a day without seeing her right now. Just a few hours is going to be difficult. He rubs at his face, taking a seat and watching Cisco flatly as he speaks, taking a moment or two to process his words as he goes. Geomancer . . . Garrick should have been able to do better. From what he heard, it was really all thanks to Snow that it got taken care of in the end. But Garrick was . . .
That wasn't something he wanted to think about right now.
He rubs at his eyes with one hand and then reaches out for the coffee, murmuring. ]
We won't stay long.
[ In part due to the fact that Harrison really needs his own space. The months he spent in S.T.A.R. Labs were something else entirely — he needed to be close to his work and doing whatever he could with every waking moment he had. But even then, he was the only one there well after hours for the most part. Cisco's place, on the other hand, was much closer quarters. It was bound to wear on all of them sooner rather than later, and he was almost bound to be the one to crack first.
That, and . . . it probably wasn't a good idea.
Harrison chews at his lip in contemplation for a brief moment, glancing down at his coffee, then waves his hand idly. ]
Teenage girls. They need their space. We'll be out of your hair soon.
[ Jesse would definitely lay into him for that later on, the minute she heard about it. It was probably worth it, even if the odds were good that Cisco would see right through him. Probably. ]
[ Cisco doesn't know the first thing about sharing space with teenage girls. He only has a brother, not a sister, and should probably take Harry at his word. But something about the way he says it seems... fishy.
Harry had lied to them for a while about agreeing to help Zoom get Barry's speed. Cisco knows about that lie and he'd come to terms with it, more or less. But... there are other times. Times when he is sure that Harry is not telling him the truth, but can't figure out why he would do so. Certainly not for reasons of tact, knowing Harry. Politeness isn't exactly high on his list of priorities.
So why does Cisco have the feeling that he's being deceitful, right now? ]
The biggest thing we're going to need to worry about your identity.
[ Cisco joins him at the small table, starts drumming his fingers against its surface. He's had a few hours to think about this, and while there are a lot of different options, one in particular seems best to him ]
I think we might want to give up on passing you off as anyone but Harrison Wells. Your face is too recognizable, and I assume that you're not gonna want to hide indoors for the rest of your life. You're gonna want to go places, to work. To have a life. So I was thinking. Why not tell the truth? Or, part of it. Hear me out.
[ Cisco waits for Harry to look up at him, meet his eyes, before he continues ] I figure, even with the breaches closed, telling the public about the whole Earth-2 situation is a universe-sized can of worms that we don't want to open. The multiverse and time travel are pretty much no-gos as far as public explanations. People don't get the science behind them, and they're gonna feel like it's a lie, no matter how much evidence we throw at them. But you know what science people do get? Cloning.
[ Harrison stares at him flatly as he starts to explain his idea. He'd thought about it briefly when he first came to this Earth and found out everything there was to find out about its Harrison Wells. At the time, he'd decided to blend in, stay in S.T.A.R. Labs for the most part, and not speak to anyone if he didn't have to. It had worked out at the time, but now . . .
He crinkles his nose when "cloning" gets mentioned, then lifts a hand to pinch at the bridge of it. ]
Ramon. Explaining why Harrison Wells has a perfect clone my age is just as complicated as explaining Earth-2 to the world at large. And. [ He lifts a hand at that as a sign that he's not finished. ] And. That then puts Jesse in a precarious situation. The daughter of the scientist's clone? Come on.
[ He'd thought more about what Jesse would do on this Earth. Just because he had to deal with this particular "problem" didn't mean that Jesse should suffer the same fate. It would be best for her to change her last name, hold her head high, and go out into the world and do as she sees fit. At the same time . . . after all he'd gone through to get her back, Harrison can't just claim she isn't his daughter. That's not an option. Nor is claiming she's the other Wells' child.
Harrison leans back with his coffee, rolling his eyes. ]
Unless you want to claim that the other one was a clone.
I mean, he was the imposter, so yeah, obviously that's the logical way to do it. [ Don't you eyeroll at him, Harry. He will eye-roll right back, thanks very much ] It's either that or fake a birth certificate and go full-on evil twin. I thought that this at least sounds a little less like a telenovela. But y'know, that's just me. If you think you've got a better idea, bring it.
[ Somehow, he doubts Harry will have anything better in mind, when he's only halfway into his coffee, and hasn't had as much time to really consider the notion. So Cisco isn't really expecting him to answer, and forges on without giving him the chance. ]
Jesse'll be easier. She hasn't got a double, here, and no one knows her face, unlike you, so we can just fake some documents and we're good to go. I'm sure between Joe and Oliver and Felicity one of them knows a guy who knows a guy who can handle that sort of thing.
[ Cisco looks down at his hands, suddenly pre-occupied with a small scratch in the surface of the table, which he traces with a finger as he says ]
Have you uh. Thought about asking her if she'll want to see someone? [ Cisco knows he's being vague, knows Harry will snap at him to just say what he means, so he clarifies before he even has the chance ] Four months is a really long time. It might... be a good idea, if she's willing to give it a try.
[ Harrison scrubs at his face with one hand, considering. It would take a lot of finagling as he was genetically identical to Thawne, making it difficult for him to prove he wasn't that Wells. Then again, that Wells was supposed to be paralyzed and he was clearly walking without any sort of assistance. Nor was he a metahuman. Theoretically, they could say the clone staged the accident and that's what Detective West and Cisco discovered in Star City back then, but—
He sips his coffee and stares ahead flatly in annoyance. ]
. . . can't believe I'm even considering it.
[ Jesse. Of course it would be easier to take care of her and allow her to wander freely once she felt up to it. But the thought of her identity not somehow being linked with his made his heart ache, and he grimaces down towards his coffee mug. What Cisco was saying was logical. And whatever was best for Jesse was what he needed to do.
He rubs at the side of his mug with his thumb, brows furrowing. ]
I've . . . yeah. [ He lets out a sigh. No use in denying it. It was the first thing he'd thought once they'd let the dust from the journey to this Earth settle, once she'd sat down and stared up at him with a sort of emptiness in her eyes. She wouldn't talk to him, he knows. Daring rescue or no, he had kept the truth about the particle accelerator from her. Why should she talk to him about everything she endured? ] It's— difficult, with Jess. [ A pause. ] I mean, setting aside the truth about our identities, she tends to be smarter than most doctors and therapists which is not ideal if she doesn't want to cooperate. I can't force her.
Well, extensive plastic surgery isn't an option we should rule out, either.
[ It's not a serious suggestion, though. Cisco just says it to needle at Harry, because... it's what he does. ]
Maybe I should talk with her. [ Cisco meets Harry's eyes when he makes the suggestion, sees the worry there, the weariness, and more than a small amount of sadness ] I mean, she's, what, seventeen? And you're her dad. If she's anything like I was at that age- [ As if such a great time had passed ] - she's going to automatically reject the idea if it comes from you. She'll think you're treating her like a kid. If the idea is coming from me, it hasn't got that problem. Plus, I can do the whole it sure helped me speech.
[ Which is a kind of a confession, and thus communicates additional meaning when Cisco adds ] I know a woman who can handle smart and occasionally uncooperative.
[ Even more tentatively than he'd made the first suggestion, Cisco ventures: ] Could always set up a time for you to meet her, too.
[ He snorts at the surgery suggestion, which is as good as any dismissal, and leans back, taking a sip of his coffee as he considers Cisco's offer. It makes more sense to have someone like Cisco make the suggestion to Jesse — he's more her peer than Harrison is, with the added "bonus" of having gone through a traumatic experience himself. "Bonus." He takes another sip to mask his inward disgust at having even thought the phrase. Cisco was too young to have gone through some of the things he had, and Harrison wasn't even entirely sure how deep the rabbit hole went. He saw it occasionally, the glances his way, the deflections, and it made him fairly certain that Eobard Thawne crossed several lines in his time masquerading around as Harrison Wells.
So. A solid suggestion all around. ]
— please. [ It comes out quickly. He's not a polite person by any means but when it comes to Jesse, all bets are off. He sets his coffee mug down and folds his hands together. There's a lot more he could say — I'm surprised she even went out with Iris, she didn't get to say goodbye to anyone, she was isolated for four months and I'm terrified she's going to isolate herself further here — but words seem to fail him. ] If you can.
[ The next suggestion makes him tense up immediately, fingers tightening together, and the response is immediate: ]
[ Cisco is a little surprised by how willing Harry is to go along with his suggestions. He had thought he might be resistant to the idea that Jesse might need therapy (guilty over the fact that it had taken him four months to save her), that he might resent Cisco saying he should bring it up when he's only just met her. But it's clear from the immediacy with which he gives that no that he is willing to be reasonable when it comes to Jesse's mental well-being, but definitely not his own.
He thinks about arguing the point, telling Harry that stubbornness is a bad reason to avoid doing something that might help him. But Cisco catches himself before he speaks. That reflexive tightening of his hands, the stiffness of his shoulders - it doesn't look like pride. It looks like fear, and the denial was a byproduct of that. Cisco isn't really in a position to criticize. His voice is quieter as he says. ]
That's exactly what I said, the first time Joe suggested it. I thought... the stuff that was bothering me, it didn't really count. It wasn't like Barry, or Iris, or Caitlin. They had 'real' reasons to be upset. Took me a month and a half to change my mind. So, if that happens for you, too, just lemme know. And, I guess. If you think it'd be easier talking to me than a stranger, well. You know where to find me.
[ It's probably get him something on the spectrum between an eyeroll and a derisive remark, knowing Harry. But he had to at least say it. Cisco stands up, patting Harry's shoulder absently as he goes to pour himself some of the coffee, too. ]
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franciscoramon) wrote2015-02-21 01:38 am
no subject
Joe's house is a no-go, since Wally started staying there. Easier for him than staying in the apartment where his mother's absence is so raw, where reminders of her are on every single surface, in every object. They don't even ask Caitlin; they all know better than to impose on her after what just happened to Jay. (Cisco doesn't doubt he will be over there at least once a day for the next few weeks, the way he was after she'd lost Ronnie. He will sit close to her, braid her hair, bring her ice cream, talk to her about his ongoing attempt to engineer an actual, functioning Star Trek style phaser. Do whatever it takes to get her mind off the pain. But for tonight, he knows, she just wants to be alone.)
And of course, motels and hotels are out of the question. They could register the room under another name, let Cisco pay for it, but there is always a chance someone would recognize Harry as the supposedly-deceased, definitely-a-murderer Harrison Wells. The last time that happened he'd ended up with a bullet in his chest. So private accommodations are the only way, and Cisco's apartment just happens to have a spare room. It's not very big, and there's not really anything in it, except for a twin bed that's only ever been used by Caitlin. Still, it's clean, and private, and a big step up from being chained in a cage in Zoom's evil lair. So Cisco makes the bed, gives Jesse some of his old pajamas and a new toothbrush, leaves her to shower off the grime of four months captivity.
Four months. He really doesn't want to think about what that does to someone.
His next move is to put clean sheets on his own bed, to shove the worst of the mess into hampers or the closet and out of the way, so that Harry can sleep in his room. It seems less of an imposition than when Harry set himself up working in Cisco's lab that first day. That place is more home to him than this apartment. Besides, it's just how things are done. While he was growing up, any time his parents had relatives visiting from out of town, Cisco would get bundled out of his room to sleep on the sofa. ]
We can deal with everything else tomorrow.
[ Everything else is a long list; Cisco knows it. But it's hard to feel too daunted by it, considering what they've just accomplished. Compared to facing down Zoom, setting up a new life in a new world is child's play. ]
no subject
Harrison rubs at his face, looking up and over in Cisco's direction. "Everything else." He hadn't even started to think about what "everything else" entailed. Then again, moving universes hadn't been something he'd really thought about until five minutes before Barry had asked. It was the only place they'd be safe, so— they had to. Unfortunately, the only place they'd be safe was also the place where the man with his face had terrorized a number of people before confessing to a murder. They couldn't just take that back.
He leans against the door frame, giving him a slow nod. ]
Tomorrow. [ A pause. ] Or the next day.
no subject
[ When he agreed to put them up, Cisco had known what he was signing up for. He expected a bit of colorful commentary about the decor, the size of the place, the general cleanliness. But he hasn't heard a peep from Harry about it. About anything, really. And Cisco can see why; he looks exhausted. Which makes sense; the man has been non-stop for the last four months, trying to rescue Jesse. They'd climbed all the way up those cliffs, had seen Zoom come within inches of killing her. Zoom had almost killed him, too, at least twice that day. And then Jay had died right in front of them, and Harry had been trapped in another world from everything he's ever known.
Bound to take it out of a guy. ]
Here, c'mon.
[ Cisco has a feeling that if he doesn't encourage him a bit, Harry might try to sleep sitting on the floor outside the guest room. An understandable impulse, but not exactly ideal. So Cisco puts a hand on Harry's shoulder, nudges him into the main bedroom ]
You know where I am if you need me.
[ And with that, he shuts the door, leaving Harry to get some much needed rest. Which he does, long enough that Jesse and Cisco have a slightly awkward, mostly wonderful breakfast (both of them carefully avoiding talking about Zoom, or Earth-2, or anything from the day before). Iris comes by around 10 and Cisco sends the both of them off shopping, takes the opportunity to get his apartment into some semblance of order, waiting for Harry to emerge from his hibernation. ]
no subject
(Iris, who had forgiven him all too easily for his part in her injury, pointing out that it was Tarpit's fault, not his.)
Now that he's slept and had at least a few moments to collect his thoughts, Harrison lifts his head and really looks around, taking stock of the apartment. Not how safe it was or if it would be comfortable enough for Jesse for the time being, but how it was in general. And it's . . . not surprising, not really, for who Cisco is and what he makes. There's a quip somewhere, he can feel it, but he's still too tired to pull it out just yet.
Besides, it was cleaner than he thought it would be.
Harrison gives a nod over to Cisco when he sees him, murmuring. ]
Morning.
[ It's not morning at this point, he knows, but it's all relative anyway. It's the first time in awhile he's slept through a sunrise. It's not a bad feeling, not really. ]
no subject
When Harry wanders in, Cisco doesn't even turn to look at him ]
Jesse's with Iris.
[ Cisco knows that Harry remembers that, otherwise he would be panicking already. He says it just for the pleasure of it. He knows that his own investment in saving Jesse didn't come anywhere close to Harry's - he doesn't know what it's like to be a father, to love someone that deeply. But he had been right there with Harry, had gone to another universe to help save her. He can't help feeling at least a little attached. ]
No sign of any metahuman tomfoolery this morning, which is good since Barry and Joe are off supervising the repairs at S.T.A.R. Labs. [ As he speaks, Cisco starts a pot of coffee brewing without even asking. Harry is going to want some. He knows that. ] Geomancer did a real number on it while we were on the other side of the looking glass. [ He reaches down a mug for Harry, and his voice doesn't go any more solemn, but the brightness about it becomes a touch forced for a moment. ] Caitlin's okay. I'm going to go over and check on her this evening, so you and Jesse'll have the place to yourselves.
[ He spares a glance for Harry, finally; a quick flick of his eyes to see how he looks ] Look, I know you said we could deal with all of it tomorrow, but I just wanna say... I know it's not exactly the Ritz, but you guys can crash here as long as you'd like.
[ He pours the coffee, holds it out for Harry to take ]
no subject
That wasn't something he wanted to think about right now.
He rubs at his eyes with one hand and then reaches out for the coffee, murmuring. ]
We won't stay long.
[ In part due to the fact that Harrison really needs his own space. The months he spent in S.T.A.R. Labs were something else entirely — he needed to be close to his work and doing whatever he could with every waking moment he had. But even then, he was the only one there well after hours for the most part. Cisco's place, on the other hand, was much closer quarters. It was bound to wear on all of them sooner rather than later, and he was almost bound to be the one to crack first.
That, and . . . it probably wasn't a good idea.
Harrison chews at his lip in contemplation for a brief moment, glancing down at his coffee, then waves his hand idly. ]
Teenage girls. They need their space. We'll be out of your hair soon.
[ Jesse would definitely lay into him for that later on, the minute she heard about it. It was probably worth it, even if the odds were good that Cisco would see right through him. Probably. ]
no subject
Harry had lied to them for a while about agreeing to help Zoom get Barry's speed. Cisco knows about that lie and he'd come to terms with it, more or less. But... there are other times. Times when he is sure that Harry is not telling him the truth, but can't figure out why he would do so. Certainly not for reasons of tact, knowing Harry. Politeness isn't exactly high on his list of priorities.
So why does Cisco have the feeling that he's being deceitful, right now? ]
The biggest thing we're going to need to worry about your identity.
[ Cisco joins him at the small table, starts drumming his fingers against its surface. He's had a few hours to think about this, and while there are a lot of different options, one in particular seems best to him ]
I think we might want to give up on passing you off as anyone but Harrison Wells. Your face is too recognizable, and I assume that you're not gonna want to hide indoors for the rest of your life. You're gonna want to go places, to work. To have a life. So I was thinking. Why not tell the truth? Or, part of it. Hear me out.
[ Cisco waits for Harry to look up at him, meet his eyes, before he continues ] I figure, even with the breaches closed, telling the public about the whole Earth-2 situation is a universe-sized can of worms that we don't want to open. The multiverse and time travel are pretty much no-gos as far as public explanations. People don't get the science behind them, and they're gonna feel like it's a lie, no matter how much evidence we throw at them. But you know what science people do get? Cloning.
[ Do you see where he's going with this, Harry? ]
no subject
He crinkles his nose when "cloning" gets mentioned, then lifts a hand to pinch at the bridge of it. ]
Ramon. Explaining why Harrison Wells has a perfect clone my age is just as complicated as explaining Earth-2 to the world at large. And. [ He lifts a hand at that as a sign that he's not finished. ] And. That then puts Jesse in a precarious situation. The daughter of the scientist's clone? Come on.
[ He'd thought more about what Jesse would do on this Earth. Just because he had to deal with this particular "problem" didn't mean that Jesse should suffer the same fate. It would be best for her to change her last name, hold her head high, and go out into the world and do as she sees fit. At the same time . . . after all he'd gone through to get her back, Harrison can't just claim she isn't his daughter. That's not an option. Nor is claiming she's the other Wells' child.
Harrison leans back with his coffee, rolling his eyes. ]
Unless you want to claim that the other one was a clone.
no subject
[ Somehow, he doubts Harry will have anything better in mind, when he's only halfway into his coffee, and hasn't had as much time to really consider the notion. So Cisco isn't really expecting him to answer, and forges on without giving him the chance. ]
Jesse'll be easier. She hasn't got a double, here, and no one knows her face, unlike you, so we can just fake some documents and we're good to go. I'm sure between Joe and Oliver and Felicity one of them knows a guy who knows a guy who can handle that sort of thing.
[ Cisco looks down at his hands, suddenly pre-occupied with a small scratch in the surface of the table, which he traces with a finger as he says ]
Have you uh. Thought about asking her if she'll want to see someone? [ Cisco knows he's being vague, knows Harry will snap at him to just say what he means, so he clarifies before he even has the chance ] Four months is a really long time. It might... be a good idea, if she's willing to give it a try.
no subject
He sips his coffee and stares ahead flatly in annoyance. ]
. . . can't believe I'm even considering it.
[ Jesse. Of course it would be easier to take care of her and allow her to wander freely once she felt up to it. But the thought of her identity not somehow being linked with his made his heart ache, and he grimaces down towards his coffee mug. What Cisco was saying was logical. And whatever was best for Jesse was what he needed to do.
He rubs at the side of his mug with his thumb, brows furrowing. ]
I've . . . yeah. [ He lets out a sigh. No use in denying it. It was the first thing he'd thought once they'd let the dust from the journey to this Earth settle, once she'd sat down and stared up at him with a sort of emptiness in her eyes. She wouldn't talk to him, he knows. Daring rescue or no, he had kept the truth about the particle accelerator from her. Why should she talk to him about everything she endured? ] It's— difficult, with Jess. [ A pause. ] I mean, setting aside the truth about our identities, she tends to be smarter than most doctors and therapists which is not ideal if she doesn't want to cooperate. I can't force her.
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[ It's not a serious suggestion, though. Cisco just says it to needle at Harry, because... it's what he does. ]
Maybe I should talk with her. [ Cisco meets Harry's eyes when he makes the suggestion, sees the worry there, the weariness, and more than a small amount of sadness ] I mean, she's, what, seventeen? And you're her dad. If she's anything like I was at that age- [ As if such a great time had passed ] - she's going to automatically reject the idea if it comes from you. She'll think you're treating her like a kid. If the idea is coming from me, it hasn't got that problem. Plus, I can do the whole it sure helped me speech.
[ Which is a kind of a confession, and thus communicates additional meaning when Cisco adds ] I know a woman who can handle smart and occasionally uncooperative.
[ Even more tentatively than he'd made the first suggestion, Cisco ventures: ] Could always set up a time for you to meet her, too.
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So. A solid suggestion all around. ]
— please. [ It comes out quickly. He's not a polite person by any means but when it comes to Jesse, all bets are off. He sets his coffee mug down and folds his hands together. There's a lot more he could say — I'm surprised she even went out with Iris, she didn't get to say goodbye to anyone, she was isolated for four months and I'm terrified she's going to isolate herself further here — but words seem to fail him. ] If you can.
[ The next suggestion makes him tense up immediately, fingers tightening together, and the response is immediate: ]
No.
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[ Cisco is a little surprised by how willing Harry is to go along with his suggestions. He had thought he might be resistant to the idea that Jesse might need therapy (guilty over the fact that it had taken him four months to save her), that he might resent Cisco saying he should bring it up when he's only just met her. But it's clear from the immediacy with which he gives that no that he is willing to be reasonable when it comes to Jesse's mental well-being, but definitely not his own.
He thinks about arguing the point, telling Harry that stubbornness is a bad reason to avoid doing something that might help him. But Cisco catches himself before he speaks. That reflexive tightening of his hands, the stiffness of his shoulders - it doesn't look like pride. It looks like fear, and the denial was a byproduct of that. Cisco isn't really in a position to criticize. His voice is quieter as he says. ]
That's exactly what I said, the first time Joe suggested it. I thought... the stuff that was bothering me, it didn't really count. It wasn't like Barry, or Iris, or Caitlin. They had 'real' reasons to be upset. Took me a month and a half to change my mind. So, if that happens for you, too, just lemme know. And, I guess. If you think it'd be easier talking to me than a stranger, well. You know where to find me.
[ It's probably get him something on the spectrum between an eyeroll and a derisive remark, knowing Harry. But he had to at least say it. Cisco stands up, patting Harry's shoulder absently as he goes to pour himself some of the coffee, too. ]