[ He shakes his head at that. Maybe they had been lingering, but they wouldn't have stayed for long if they hadn't made a scene. Probably. The remark about Mercury Labs gets him a raised eyebrow, though. ]
Apples and oranges, Ramon. [ He reaches over to pick up his beer, swishing the liquid about briefly before taking a sip. ] Time and place. And, may I remind you, pressing matters.
[ Though grabbing Doctor McGee's attention had had some unintended side effects. Snow had mentioned her wanting to speak with him at some point, "when the dust had settled." He'd dodged that the first time by leaving the entire universe, but it wouldn't take long for anyone in the know to figure out that he was back in town. Damnit. ]
I thought you planned this thing, anyway.
[ Back to deflecting things away from him and back onto Ramon it is. ]
[ Cisco rolls his eyes, but he puts it aside, confident that he is right and Harry is wrong. At this point if he goes on it will devolve into a 'nuh uh' 'yeah huh' catastrophe and he doesn't want that. Not when it had all turned out okay in the end, and he'd gotten a kiss out of it. But he files away in the back of his mind the need to find some way to re-introduce this Harrison Wells to the people of Central City here, on Earth-1. That way, Cisco will know that if anyone is staring, it's just because they are two guys on a date, not because anyone thinks Harry is an undead murderer.
Harry's deflection works well; Cisco plucks Harry's beer from his hand and takes a drink from it (he'd finished his own a few minutes before) and says: ]
Yeah, I did plan it, and if you're not nice you won't get to see what comes next.
[ There's always the danger that Harry actually doesn't care what Cisco had had in mind for after their picnic - that he'll say he'd rather go back to S.T.A.R. Labs and work, anyway. Cisco hopes not. ]
[ He narrows his eyes briefly at him when the beer gets nicked neatly from his hand, but he allows it, mostly because it does serve as a decent distraction. A snort escapes him when the "threat" of being denied the rest of the date gets leveraged against him. ]
Really. [ A pause, and he shrugs. ] Shame.
[ It's almost a coy response — is he interested or is he not interested in the slightest? It sounds as though it could go either way. Truth be told, Harrison is idly curious as to where Cisco plans on taking this and how much of a train wreck it'll end up being when all is said and done. And it's a welcome reprieve from the heaviness that surrounded Zoom's onslaught and their bittersweet victory over him. Allen was still . . . off. Snow was in mourning in her own way. Both Harrison and Cisco needed some sort of distraction, something to lighten the mood and for better or for worse, this served that purpose well. ]
[ Well.... maybe it wasn't the ideal response, but it could have been snarkier. Cisco will take it. He gives Harry back his beer and abruptly changes the subject to something less likely to cause a stir. As the two of them finish up the picnic he chatters away about dates he'd thought about taking Harry on but decided against. Some of them clearly had been actual options, while others he has thrown in merely for comic effect.
By the time they finish, the cool breeze has picked up a little, and the picnic blanket almost blows away as they are packing up. Cisco manages to grab a corner of it, cursing under his breath, muttering at the inanimate object indignantly even as he folds it up and shoves it with the now-empty tupperware and bottles into the basket. ]
So. Wanna see what's next.
[ Cisco loops his arm in Harry's before he even has time to say 'no', walking the both of them in the direction of the rather large pond in the center of the park. It becomes pretty clear where they are headed when he turns off the path and towards a little wooden pier that is surrounded by brightly-colored paddle boats, with a middle-aged woman standing by renting them out. Cisco looks over to Harry, raises his eyebrows, grinning. Classic date activity, right? Surely, he can't have any problem with this... ]
[ Harrison looks to the paddle boats, then back to Cisco, making a face almost immediately. ]
You've got to be kidding me.
[ It's a dry statement, mostly because he has a sneaking suspicion that no, in fact, Cisco is not kidding him in the slightest. Cisco "I failed gym class" Ramon wanted to take him out on the pond in a paddle boat. Harrison glances down at himself briefly, idly wondering just how attached he was to the clothes he was currently wearing, because they were bound to be drenched before this was over.
If anything, it was making him resolve to plan the next date. "Date." Which would likely involve board games and Chinese takeout and several items at hand for him to inevitably hurl at Ramon's head. It sounded more their speed, anyway.
Harrison crosses his arms, raising an eyebrow. Cisco had insisted on the date, which— fine. They'd gone out, had a picnic, spent a reasonable amount of time together outside of the lab as well as the apartment. The boat was pushing it. Besides, the geese were starting to close ranks out there on the water. ]
[ Cisco has no thoughts about his own athleticism or lack thereof. He has no worries about what will happen if they fall in the water. To him, it seems an obviously romantic option. When he'd been in college he'd always seen loads of happy, stock-photo-that-comes-in-the-frame couples out on this pond, paddling away, laughing, looking happy. And sure, maybe he and Harry aren't that couple. They are never going to be. Maybe it's still to try to act like they are. But how are they gonna know if they don't even give it a try, once? ]
Come on, there's a spot over there on the far side of the pond with some willows and it's so pretty, you're gonna love it.
[ He tugs at Harry's arm, meeting his eyes and doing his absolute best puppy face. His ultimate "look at how cute I am, come on, you know you can't resist these big brown eyes" expression. Not a tactic he's really tried on Harry before, but surely he can't be totally immune. ]
[ Just hearing "it's so pretty" makes him want to dig in his heels. Since when were they ever the types to take in the natural beauty of the world around them or whatever the hell purple prose someone wanted to use that given week? He makes a strangled noise in his throat, glancing off to the side for a moment at the ridiculousness of the whole situation. Paddle boats, really?
But it's that look that gets him. It's always the looks. ]
Damnit, Ramon.
[ He lets out a huff, scratching at the back of his neck. He can't very well say "no," not when there's no real reason to beyond the fact that he thinks the whole thing is completely stupid and wouldn't they have more fun kicking their feet up — possibly on each other — while watching Cosmos or whatever else they had in their backlog after that?
It's a strange thing, Harrison thinks, but for all that he complains about things, he doesn't need much to be content in life. Science. The people he loves. A warm, comfortable place to hang his hat at the end of the day. A Big Belly Burger would be nice, too. Beyond that, he's satisfied, really, beneath it all. ]
[ Cisco grins, almost as happy about Harry's disgruntled sigh as he relents as he is about the prospect of the boat ride itself. He goes and pays the person working at the boat stand, picks out the bright red boat with a white-and-red striped canvas shade, and then, carefully, starts to climb down into it.
(And though he does not know it, the difference in their enthusiasm levels might have something to do with the difference in their ages. Cisco is mature for his age in some ways (and not, in others), but there is a certain insecurity to being his age that Harry has had time to get over. He might be sure of himself, of who he is, of what he needs in the world, but Cisco is much less so. ]
Here, take my hand, it's a big step...
[ He helps Harry to get down into the boat and then beams at him as the two of them settle down in seats with pedals at their feet. The plastic of the boat is a little hot from sitting in the sun, and Cisco has to sit at the edge of his seat to reach the pedals (honestly why are they SO far away, he isn't even that short, these things are poorly designed...). ]
[ He grudgingly allows Cisco to help him into the boat, even if the "big step" isn't all that much to worry about when he's paying attention to things. Harrison takes only a brief moment for him to glance over the workings of the paddle boat before he plants his feet on the pedals, reaching up to adjust the covering above them. If he's going to get wet (and by climbing into the boat, he's already accepted that inevitability, however grudgingly), he's at least going to avoid getting sunburned as well.
Harrison gives the pedals a test spin, glancing over at Cisco's feet. Already he can tell that the chances of them pedaling in circles ridiculously for an hour while the geese honk in annoyance at them are high. ]
Yeah.
[ That "yeah" carries heavy undertones of "let's get this over with" and also, "why." Though that does beg the question. Harrison starts to pedal slowly, glancing over at Cisco again with a raised eyebrow. ]
[ It's a little more awkward than Cisco expected, getting the thing started. He has to really put his weight into the pedals, and it isn't exactly helping that Harry is acting like a kid being dragged on an outing against his will. Cisco doesn't get it - it doesn't involve interaction with other people, it's not crowded, it's not a thousand other things that Harry might reasonably dislike. So why is he so set against it. ]
Why not paddle boats, Harry, huh?
[ Once they get a little bit of momentum, pull away from the pier, the pedaling gets easier and Cisco thinks that maybe Harry's question wasn't TOTALLY unreasonable. But it's like a joke - if he has to explain it, then the point of it is lost anyway. ]
'Cause it's fun, and I've never done it before, and it's the kind of thing you can do on a date and then actually tell someone about. [ Not something Cisco had had in mind when he planned this, when he suggested the boats, but as he says it he knows it's true. ] I keep thinking if people ask about us what am I gonna say? Oh, this one time we were in the lab and ended up kissing. And this other time, we were also in the lab and Harry laughed at one of my jokes.
[ He realizes a bit too late that he is pedaling a little too vigorously and sending them into the beginnings of a circle. Cisco eases off, reaching over the side of the boat to skim his fingers in the warm water of the pond, which he promptly flicks in Harry's direction. ]
[ He's pinching at the bridge of his nose when Cisco flicks the water at him, so he's unable to really block it. Granted, it's only a small bit of water, but it's pond water. The geese have been in that.
So naturally, like a mature adult, Harrison retaliates by doing the same, flicking a bit of the water right back at him before going back to pedaling slowly as he considers that. Of course Ramon would want to do something like this on a date for those exact reasons — it makes perfect sense now. He remembers distinctly when he was younger and had several half-baked date plans of his own that she ribbed him for repeatedly later on. This was no different, except for the fact that he was on the other side of the equation and didn't have her patience.
But still, it strikes a chord in him, so he doesn't roll his eyes, doesn't make an irritated sound in the back of his throat. He doesn't need to ask why Cisco cares so much about what he'll say if people ask about them; he already knows the answer to that question. Instead, he spends maybe a moment or two grappling with words before speaking. ]
So— talk about the projects we're working on.
[ The ones that aren't classified, and even the ones outside of the lab. Granted, some would require careful rewording, but some of it's still universal. ]
I don't know if you've noticed this, Harry, but a lot of people just get this glazed look in their eyes the moment you start talking about tech, no matter how much you dumb it down for them.
[ There are some people like Joe, of course, who is smart but has no training in the field, and who will at least make a few attempts to understand before giving up. For people like that, Cisco is willing to go to whatever lengths to get his point across, to get them just as excited as he is. But not everyone's like Joe. Some people just flat-out don't care, don't even attempt to understand. Cisco's family had always been like that, and Kendra, and plenty of other people. And while Harry probably just wouldn't waste his time with that type of person, Cisco's not willing to throw out the baby with the bathwater. ]
And besides, if I just talk about work when I'm talking about you, people will think we're just colleagues. And.... and whatever the word is for what we are, it's not only that.
[ Cisco has talked himself into a moment of embarrassment, focuses on steering the boat around a patch of water lilies and towards the center of the pond. He recovers quickly, amusement coming into his voice as he says: ]
Besides, if I can put up with you rearranging my apartment, you can totally put up with pedaling around on a boat with me for half an hour.
[ He says it so calmly, so naturally, like it's not a big deal or a struggle for him to find a label for it. But it encompasses so much in his mind that it's hardly a box to place them in at all. They're partners in the lab, complementing one another with ease to great results. Partners in their Team Flash roles, working together to help Allen apprehend whatever metahuman has been giving them problems that particular week. And then, partners in other aspects of their life. It's simple but fitting. Harrison gives him a shrug. ]
We have other projects, you know. [ It's a pointed remark, and he raises an eyebrow at that. ] Unless you have another word for all those movies you keep throwing at me.
[ He slows his pedaling to match Cisco's as he continues, taking on a more caustic tone again. ]
[ Cisco had not been expecting that; it catches him off-guard enough that his feet still on the pedals, though only for a moment. Partners. He would have settled for a 'we don't need a word for it, Ramon' or some light teasing about how he is acting like an insecure high school girl. But instead Harry settles it so decisively, so simply. And Cisco is maybe a bit more pleased than he ought to be by how... equal it makes them sound. Most of the time, he is certain that Harry respects him, under the façade. It's still nice to be reminded, though.
So he ducks his head forward, tucks his hair behind his ears, biting his lower lip with happiness. ]
I don't know that I would call introducing you to the finest Earth-1 cinema has to offer a project.
[ He doesn't bother to argue that last point, because the fact is that the space is put to better use, now. Cisco isn't an interior decorator, and while he could fire back that Harry is only better at that kind of thing because he has so many more years of experience, he thinks he'll keep that one to himself for now.
There is a moment of quiet, a lull in which they paddle around in comfortable silence. For all his objections, and huffing and puffing, Cisco catches Harry smiling, out of the corner of his eye. And just as he is feeling smug, like this was a good idea after all, he sees a swan break away from a few of its friends and swim in their direction. He nudges Harry with his elbow, points in its direction. ]
[ Harrison glances over in the direction that Cisco points in, frowning. Swans tended not to approach people for the most part, right? Unless they had food of some sort, which they didn't. Or unless they were aggressive. He squints, tilting his head to one side. ]
Swans.
[ Plural. The swan's friends seem to have caught wind of another presence on the pond and swim along behind it in formation. ]
Ramon. When's the nesting period on this Earth for avian species?
[ Because if Harrison had to hazard a guess, it would be right about now. The swans start honking and hissing at them as they approach, beating their wings. He turns back towards Cisco, pointing towards the pedals furiously as he speaks in a hurried manner. ]
[ He'd been confused by the sharpish tone in Harry's voice, for just a moment. But even if he's no expert on swans or water fowl of any kind, Cisco knows that those sounds and that body language do not bode well in any animal. Worse, there are a bunch of them headed for the boat now. Cisco fumbles to get his feet on the pedals, which is harder when he can't tear his eyes away from the advancing animals. But then he finds his footing and starts to pedal, or at least tries to. Harry is going faster than him which means that he is only helping to turn their boat in circles, rather than get away. ]
Stop! Stop, we gotta math, c'mon!
[ Cisco finally looks away from the swans, keeping an eye on Harry's legs so that the two of them can pedal in unison. Internally he is wondering the best way to fight a swan. Punch them on the nose? No, that was sharks...
The boat seems to go as slow as molasses as the two of them finally manage to get it moving. ]
[ It's an urgent hiss, though it lacks any of the anger that usually accompanies that sort of tone. Harrison's too concerned with getting away from the swans right now to be angry. His eyes shift back and forth between their legs and their trajectory as he matches Cisco's pace all while the honking grows louder and louder behind them.
Through grit teeth, he mutters: ]
Paddle boats.
[ Of all things, why did it have to be paddle boats?
As they approach the shore, the swans seem to slow their pursuit, fanning out instead and continuing to honk and hiss in their direction. Harrison leans forward once it seems like they're safe enough close to the shore, panting heavily. ]
[ He knows that it is just the intense stress of being chased by large and rather murderous birds, but Cisco feels more than the usual amount of annoyance when Harry sees fit to grumble under his breath about their predicament. Cisco doesn't slacken his pace when he snaps back: ]
Oh yeah, great, thanks Harry, the muttering's really a big help right now!
[ Cisco's hair keeps whipping him in the face every time he looks over his shoulder to check how far away the swans are. There was a moment or two when he thought they wouldn't get away, but they get close to the shore quickly and the birds seem appeased, staying near them and staying alert, but keeping a healthy buffer of distance. He is out of breath, too, from the sudden exertion and also the fear. ]
I don't get it. That guy who rents the boats is here all the time, you'd think the local fauna woulda adjusted to it by now, but no, that'd be too easy. What kind of Hitchcock nonsense...
[ He buries his face in his hands in exasperation. ]
[ Harrison rolls his eyes, letting out an exasperated sigh at that. ]
They're used to him. That's it.
[ Sure, they adjusted — to one particular person. Anyone else who dares tread into their territory though? Fair game, apparently. No wonder business was slow even on a clear day like today. He shakes his head, steering them towards the paddle boat dock. ]
You should get your money back.
[ If it were him, ten shades of hell would have been raised with the man in question by now. But this was Ramon's hare-brained idea, funded by him entirely, and Harrison wasn't really feeling punchy at the moment — at least, not towards some guy who practically camped out near the pond. He had better people to argue with. ]
[ He knows that it's probably supposed to be a matter of principle and that Harry is probably right. You don't get to be the CEO of a huge company like his without kicking a fuss when one needs to be kicked, and without being afraid to yell at people when they are not meeting his standards. But Cisco doesn't have it in him. He'll fight bad guys and even face down his friends in a great moral crisis, but he won't chew out the paddle boat guy just over a silly swan situation. ]
The boat's working fine, it's not his fault that swans are totally psycho.
[ The birds in question are circling them still, the one who had started the charge letting out a hiss once or twice. He was certainly a feisty one. Cisco looks past them, along the pond to the pier where the paddle boat guy is at his stand. And then it occurs to him: ]
How are we supposed to get back over there without getting our eyes pecked out?
[ There were supposed to return the boat after an hour, but no way is Cisco dealing with the avian neighborhood watch. He stands in the boat, gauging how far it is to the shore, if he could make the jump. He'll probably end up getting his shoes wet, and he can't help saying: ]
He should know better about the pond. At least warn people first.
[ Harrison turns his head to follow Cisco's gaze, past the swans and towards the pier. That was a problem, wasn't it? They wouldn't be able to work up enough speed to break right through the swans, particularly when they're still all worked up like that. He takes that into consideration for a moment before he speaks again. ]
Got anything left in the basket?
[ Anything — chips, bread crusts, something he could lob a distance away to distract the birds long enough for them to make it back to the pier.
Harrison won't comment on the disaster portion because, well, he'd been saying that since the moment they set foot in the boat. ]
[ For one ludicrous moment he thinks that Harry is suggesting they just sit here and snack on the leftovers until the swans get bored, but then the idea clicks, and Cisco twists in his seat so he can reach the basket in the second row of seats. There's not much left, but it's worth a shot. Certainly better than trying to wait them out. At least, as long as the swans don't interpret the projectiles as an attack rather than a peace offering.
He hands over what's left - some crusts, a few crackers, a single slice of watermelon - over to Harry. His idea, after all. And, well, he probably has better aim, when all is said and done. ]
[ Harrison eyes the leftovers before setting the slice of watermelon to the side. He pedals just a bit, turning their boat so it's facing the pier — as well as the swans. With a grimace, he tests the weight of the crackers in his hand, then throws them swiftly, sending them flying off to the side of the swans, opposite the pier. The sound of food plunking into the water catches their attention, and they immediately swarm over in that direction. ]
Now.
[ He starts to pedal furiously, keeping in time with Cisco's pace so they're not just going in circles. As they get closer to the mob of birds, he takes the crusts and tosses them further out in an attempt to draw them away and keep them occupied for just a little bit longer there. ]
[ They might argue and bicker at times, but when shit gets real (far moreso than the threat of a feisty water fowl), he and Harry have always managed to get into synch, almost reading one another's minds, working together in unison. Cisco doesn't even need the command to alert him; he knows just the moment to start pedaling, and it's much easier to match up with Harry now that he's actually focusing on it. Harry handles the food-throwing and Cisco makes sure they don't get off-course, which still leaves him with hands free so that he can flip the birds the bird as they pass by. Not that they'll understand it, but it's the intent that matters.
It's a bit anticlimactic in the end: Harry's distraction strategy works like a charm, and by the time the swans have stopped squabbling and flapping at one another over the morsels, the paddle boat is far enough away that they don't bother with it any more. Which just leaves Harry and Cisco a small stretch of pond before they reach the pier. ]
Score: humans, one, hell birds, none. Suck it! [ That last being addressed to the swans, obviously. But Cisco doesn't shout it too loudly or aggressively because the last thing he needs is for them to change their mind about the boat being a threat. ]
[ Harrison can't get out of the paddle boat quickly enough when they get to the pier. He shoots a withering look in the direction of the guy in charge of the boats before storming off the pier and onto dry, solid land.
Forget going back to the lab. At this point, all he wants to do is go back to the apartment (to go back home, he reminds himself) and kick his feet up and— actually, that was a good idea. He crosses his arms and waits for Cisco to approach him, giving him a stern look. ]
Keys.
[ To the van. No explanation given because no explanation needed. Besides, after the swan incident, Cisco had lost all rights to ask for explanations — at least for today, anyway. ]
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franciscoramon) wrote2015-02-21 01:38 am
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[ He shakes his head at that. Maybe they had been lingering, but they wouldn't have stayed for long if they hadn't made a scene. Probably. The remark about Mercury Labs gets him a raised eyebrow, though. ]
Apples and oranges, Ramon. [ He reaches over to pick up his beer, swishing the liquid about briefly before taking a sip. ] Time and place. And, may I remind you, pressing matters.
[ Though grabbing Doctor McGee's attention had had some unintended side effects. Snow had mentioned her wanting to speak with him at some point, "when the dust had settled." He'd dodged that the first time by leaving the entire universe, but it wouldn't take long for anyone in the know to figure out that he was back in town. Damnit. ]
I thought you planned this thing, anyway.
[ Back to deflecting things away from him and back onto Ramon it is. ]
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Harry's deflection works well; Cisco plucks Harry's beer from his hand and takes a drink from it (he'd finished his own a few minutes before) and says: ]
Yeah, I did plan it, and if you're not nice you won't get to see what comes next.
[ There's always the danger that Harry actually doesn't care what Cisco had had in mind for after their picnic - that he'll say he'd rather go back to S.T.A.R. Labs and work, anyway. Cisco hopes not. ]
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Really. [ A pause, and he shrugs. ] Shame.
[ It's almost a coy response — is he interested or is he not interested in the slightest? It sounds as though it could go either way. Truth be told, Harrison is idly curious as to where Cisco plans on taking this and how much of a train wreck it'll end up being when all is said and done. And it's a welcome reprieve from the heaviness that surrounded Zoom's onslaught and their bittersweet victory over him. Allen was still . . . off. Snow was in mourning in her own way. Both Harrison and Cisco needed some sort of distraction, something to lighten the mood and for better or for worse, this served that purpose well. ]
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By the time they finish, the cool breeze has picked up a little, and the picnic blanket almost blows away as they are packing up. Cisco manages to grab a corner of it, cursing under his breath, muttering at the inanimate object indignantly even as he folds it up and shoves it with the now-empty tupperware and bottles into the basket. ]
So. Wanna see what's next.
[ Cisco loops his arm in Harry's before he even has time to say 'no', walking the both of them in the direction of the rather large pond in the center of the park. It becomes pretty clear where they are headed when he turns off the path and towards a little wooden pier that is surrounded by brightly-colored paddle boats, with a middle-aged woman standing by renting them out. Cisco looks over to Harry, raises his eyebrows, grinning. Classic date activity, right? Surely, he can't have any problem with this... ]
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You've got to be kidding me.
[ It's a dry statement, mostly because he has a sneaking suspicion that no, in fact, Cisco is not kidding him in the slightest. Cisco "I failed gym class" Ramon wanted to take him out on the pond in a paddle boat. Harrison glances down at himself briefly, idly wondering just how attached he was to the clothes he was currently wearing, because they were bound to be drenched before this was over.
If anything, it was making him resolve to plan the next date. "Date." Which would likely involve board games and Chinese takeout and several items at hand for him to inevitably hurl at Ramon's head. It sounded more their speed, anyway.
Harrison crosses his arms, raising an eyebrow. Cisco had insisted on the date, which— fine. They'd gone out, had a picnic, spent a reasonable amount of time together outside of the lab as well as the apartment. The boat was pushing it. Besides, the geese were starting to close ranks out there on the water. ]
You can't be serious.
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[ Cisco has no thoughts about his own athleticism or lack thereof. He has no worries about what will happen if they fall in the water. To him, it seems an obviously romantic option. When he'd been in college he'd always seen loads of happy, stock-photo-that-comes-in-the-frame couples out on this pond, paddling away, laughing, looking happy. And sure, maybe he and Harry aren't that couple. They are never going to be. Maybe it's still to try to act like they are. But how are they gonna know if they don't even give it a try, once? ]
Come on, there's a spot over there on the far side of the pond with some willows and it's so pretty, you're gonna love it.
[ He tugs at Harry's arm, meeting his eyes and doing his absolute best puppy face. His ultimate "look at how cute I am, come on, you know you can't resist these big brown eyes" expression. Not a tactic he's really tried on Harry before, but surely he can't be totally immune. ]
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But it's that look that gets him. It's always the looks. ]
Damnit, Ramon.
[ He lets out a huff, scratching at the back of his neck. He can't very well say "no," not when there's no real reason to beyond the fact that he thinks the whole thing is completely stupid and wouldn't they have more fun kicking their feet up — possibly on each other — while watching Cosmos or whatever else they had in their backlog after that?
It's a strange thing, Harrison thinks, but for all that he complains about things, he doesn't need much to be content in life. Science. The people he loves. A warm, comfortable place to hang his hat at the end of the day. A Big Belly Burger would be nice, too. Beyond that, he's satisfied, really, beneath it all. ]
One lap around the pond. That's it.
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(And though he does not know it, the difference in their enthusiasm levels might have something to do with the difference in their ages. Cisco is mature for his age in some ways (and not, in others), but there is a certain insecurity to being his age that Harry has had time to get over. He might be sure of himself, of who he is, of what he needs in the world, but Cisco is much less so. ]
Here, take my hand, it's a big step...
[ He helps Harry to get down into the boat and then beams at him as the two of them settle down in seats with pedals at their feet. The plastic of the boat is a little hot from sitting in the sun, and Cisco has to sit at the edge of his seat to reach the pedals (honestly why are they SO far away, he isn't even that short, these things are poorly designed...). ]
So, shall we?
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Harrison gives the pedals a test spin, glancing over at Cisco's feet. Already he can tell that the chances of them pedaling in circles ridiculously for an hour while the geese honk in annoyance at them are high. ]
Yeah.
[ That "yeah" carries heavy undertones of "let's get this over with" and also, "why." Though that does beg the question. Harrison starts to pedal slowly, glancing over at Cisco again with a raised eyebrow. ]
So. Why paddle boats, exactly?
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Why not paddle boats, Harry, huh?
[ Once they get a little bit of momentum, pull away from the pier, the pedaling gets easier and Cisco thinks that maybe Harry's question wasn't TOTALLY unreasonable. But it's like a joke - if he has to explain it, then the point of it is lost anyway. ]
'Cause it's fun, and I've never done it before, and it's the kind of thing you can do on a date and then actually tell someone about. [ Not something Cisco had had in mind when he planned this, when he suggested the boats, but as he says it he knows it's true. ] I keep thinking if people ask about us what am I gonna say? Oh, this one time we were in the lab and ended up kissing. And this other time, we were also in the lab and Harry laughed at one of my jokes.
[ He realizes a bit too late that he is pedaling a little too vigorously and sending them into the beginnings of a circle. Cisco eases off, reaching over the side of the boat to skim his fingers in the warm water of the pond, which he promptly flicks in Harry's direction. ]
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So naturally, like a mature adult, Harrison retaliates by doing the same, flicking a bit of the water right back at him before going back to pedaling slowly as he considers that. Of course Ramon would want to do something like this on a date for those exact reasons — it makes perfect sense now. He remembers distinctly when he was younger and had several half-baked date plans of his own that she ribbed him for repeatedly later on. This was no different, except for the fact that he was on the other side of the equation and didn't have her patience.
But still, it strikes a chord in him, so he doesn't roll his eyes, doesn't make an irritated sound in the back of his throat. He doesn't need to ask why Cisco cares so much about what he'll say if people ask about them; he already knows the answer to that question. Instead, he spends maybe a moment or two grappling with words before speaking. ]
So— talk about the projects we're working on.
[ The ones that aren't classified, and even the ones outside of the lab. Granted, some would require careful rewording, but some of it's still universal. ]
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[ There are some people like Joe, of course, who is smart but has no training in the field, and who will at least make a few attempts to understand before giving up. For people like that, Cisco is willing to go to whatever lengths to get his point across, to get them just as excited as he is. But not everyone's like Joe. Some people just flat-out don't care, don't even attempt to understand. Cisco's family had always been like that, and Kendra, and plenty of other people. And while Harry probably just wouldn't waste his time with that type of person, Cisco's not willing to throw out the baby with the bathwater. ]
And besides, if I just talk about work when I'm talking about you, people will think we're just colleagues. And.... and whatever the word is for what we are, it's not only that.
[ Cisco has talked himself into a moment of embarrassment, focuses on steering the boat around a patch of water lilies and towards the center of the pond. He recovers quickly, amusement coming into his voice as he says: ]
Besides, if I can put up with you rearranging my apartment, you can totally put up with pedaling around on a boat with me for half an hour.
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[ He says it so calmly, so naturally, like it's not a big deal or a struggle for him to find a label for it. But it encompasses so much in his mind that it's hardly a box to place them in at all. They're partners in the lab, complementing one another with ease to great results. Partners in their Team Flash roles, working together to help Allen apprehend whatever metahuman has been giving them problems that particular week. And then, partners in other aspects of their life. It's simple but fitting. Harrison gives him a shrug. ]
We have other projects, you know. [ It's a pointed remark, and he raises an eyebrow at that. ] Unless you have another word for all those movies you keep throwing at me.
[ He slows his pedaling to match Cisco's as he continues, taking on a more caustic tone again. ]
Your apartment needed rearranging.
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So he ducks his head forward, tucks his hair behind his ears, biting his lower lip with happiness. ]
I don't know that I would call introducing you to the finest Earth-1 cinema has to offer a project.
[ He doesn't bother to argue that last point, because the fact is that the space is put to better use, now. Cisco isn't an interior decorator, and while he could fire back that Harry is only better at that kind of thing because he has so many more years of experience, he thinks he'll keep that one to himself for now.
There is a moment of quiet, a lull in which they paddle around in comfortable silence. For all his objections, and huffing and puffing, Cisco catches Harry smiling, out of the corner of his eye. And just as he is feeling smug, like this was a good idea after all, he sees a swan break away from a few of its friends and swim in their direction. He nudges Harry with his elbow, points in its direction. ]
Look, Harry, we've got company!
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Swans.
[ Plural. The swan's friends seem to have caught wind of another presence on the pond and swim along behind it in formation. ]
Ramon. When's the nesting period on this Earth for avian species?
[ Because if Harrison had to hazard a guess, it would be right about now. The swans start honking and hissing at them as they approach, beating their wings. He turns back towards Cisco, pointing towards the pedals furiously as he speaks in a hurried manner. ]
Start pedaling, Ramon. Now.
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[ He'd been confused by the sharpish tone in Harry's voice, for just a moment. But even if he's no expert on swans or water fowl of any kind, Cisco knows that those sounds and that body language do not bode well in any animal. Worse, there are a bunch of them headed for the boat now. Cisco fumbles to get his feet on the pedals, which is harder when he can't tear his eyes away from the advancing animals. But then he finds his footing and starts to pedal, or at least tries to. Harry is going faster than him which means that he is only helping to turn their boat in circles, rather than get away. ]
Stop! Stop, we gotta math, c'mon!
[ Cisco finally looks away from the swans, keeping an eye on Harry's legs so that the two of them can pedal in unison. Internally he is wondering the best way to fight a swan. Punch them on the nose? No, that was sharks...
The boat seems to go as slow as molasses as the two of them finally manage to get it moving. ]
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[ It's an urgent hiss, though it lacks any of the anger that usually accompanies that sort of tone. Harrison's too concerned with getting away from the swans right now to be angry. His eyes shift back and forth between their legs and their trajectory as he matches Cisco's pace all while the honking grows louder and louder behind them.
Through grit teeth, he mutters: ]
Paddle boats.
[ Of all things, why did it have to be paddle boats?
As they approach the shore, the swans seem to slow their pursuit, fanning out instead and continuing to honk and hiss in their direction. Harrison leans forward once it seems like they're safe enough close to the shore, panting heavily. ]
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Oh yeah, great, thanks Harry, the muttering's really a big help right now!
[ Cisco's hair keeps whipping him in the face every time he looks over his shoulder to check how far away the swans are. There was a moment or two when he thought they wouldn't get away, but they get close to the shore quickly and the birds seem appeased, staying near them and staying alert, but keeping a healthy buffer of distance. He is out of breath, too, from the sudden exertion and also the fear. ]
I don't get it. That guy who rents the boats is here all the time, you'd think the local fauna woulda adjusted to it by now, but no, that'd be too easy. What kind of Hitchcock nonsense...
[ He buries his face in his hands in exasperation. ]
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They're used to him. That's it.
[ Sure, they adjusted — to one particular person. Anyone else who dares tread into their territory though? Fair game, apparently. No wonder business was slow even on a clear day like today. He shakes his head, steering them towards the paddle boat dock. ]
You should get your money back.
[ If it were him, ten shades of hell would have been raised with the man in question by now. But this was Ramon's hare-brained idea, funded by him entirely, and Harrison wasn't really feeling punchy at the moment — at least, not towards some guy who practically camped out near the pond. He had better people to argue with. ]
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[ He knows that it's probably supposed to be a matter of principle and that Harry is probably right. You don't get to be the CEO of a huge company like his without kicking a fuss when one needs to be kicked, and without being afraid to yell at people when they are not meeting his standards. But Cisco doesn't have it in him. He'll fight bad guys and even face down his friends in a great moral crisis, but he won't chew out the paddle boat guy just over a silly swan situation. ]
The boat's working fine, it's not his fault that swans are totally psycho.
[ The birds in question are circling them still, the one who had started the charge letting out a hiss once or twice. He was certainly a feisty one. Cisco looks past them, along the pond to the pier where the paddle boat guy is at his stand. And then it occurs to him: ]
How are we supposed to get back over there without getting our eyes pecked out?
[ There were supposed to return the boat after an hour, but no way is Cisco dealing with the avian neighborhood watch. He stands in the boat, gauging how far it is to the shore, if he could make the jump. He'll probably end up getting his shoes wet, and he can't help saying: ]
This is a total disaster.
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[ Harrison turns his head to follow Cisco's gaze, past the swans and towards the pier. That was a problem, wasn't it? They wouldn't be able to work up enough speed to break right through the swans, particularly when they're still all worked up like that. He takes that into consideration for a moment before he speaks again. ]
Got anything left in the basket?
[ Anything — chips, bread crusts, something he could lob a distance away to distract the birds long enough for them to make it back to the pier.
Harrison won't comment on the disaster portion because, well, he'd been saying that since the moment they set foot in the boat. ]
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[ For one ludicrous moment he thinks that Harry is suggesting they just sit here and snack on the leftovers until the swans get bored, but then the idea clicks, and Cisco twists in his seat so he can reach the basket in the second row of seats. There's not much left, but it's worth a shot. Certainly better than trying to wait them out. At least, as long as the swans don't interpret the projectiles as an attack rather than a peace offering.
He hands over what's left - some crusts, a few crackers, a single slice of watermelon - over to Harry. His idea, after all. And, well, he probably has better aim, when all is said and done. ]
Worth a shot.
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[ Harrison eyes the leftovers before setting the slice of watermelon to the side. He pedals just a bit, turning their boat so it's facing the pier — as well as the swans. With a grimace, he tests the weight of the crackers in his hand, then throws them swiftly, sending them flying off to the side of the swans, opposite the pier. The sound of food plunking into the water catches their attention, and they immediately swarm over in that direction. ]
Now.
[ He starts to pedal furiously, keeping in time with Cisco's pace so they're not just going in circles. As they get closer to the mob of birds, he takes the crusts and tosses them further out in an attempt to draw them away and keep them occupied for just a little bit longer there. ]
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It's a bit anticlimactic in the end: Harry's distraction strategy works like a charm, and by the time the swans have stopped squabbling and flapping at one another over the morsels, the paddle boat is far enough away that they don't bother with it any more. Which just leaves Harry and Cisco a small stretch of pond before they reach the pier. ]
Score: humans, one, hell birds, none. Suck it! [ That last being addressed to the swans, obviously. But Cisco doesn't shout it too loudly or aggressively because the last thing he needs is for them to change their mind about the boat being a threat. ]
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Forget going back to the lab. At this point, all he wants to do is go back to the apartment (to go back home, he reminds himself) and kick his feet up and— actually, that was a good idea. He crosses his arms and waits for Cisco to approach him, giving him a stern look. ]
Keys.
[ To the van. No explanation given because no explanation needed. Besides, after the swan incident, Cisco had lost all rights to ask for explanations — at least for today, anyway. ]