[ Despite how long he has been working for this, how many hours he has spent taking readings, studying them, developing tech, training his powers, searching for a way out - when he opens the first breach, Cisco can't quite believe it. He can't believe that he's broken through and found a way home.
Of course, he doesn't leave right away. That wouldn't be good science, and there is also no way he is going to break the promises that he had made to the people he met and came to care about during his captivity. So he runs tests. Opening more breaches. Closing them. Going through and coming back, honing his skills, making sure it's safe, that he knows what he's doing. It takes longer than he would have expected, mastering the trick of choosing which universe his breaches lead to. There is a subtlety in the movements of molecules, in the particular feel of the dimensional energy. He's glad, during those weeks, that he didn't tell anyone besides Harry about that first breach. As impatient as he's feeling, he knows that there are others who would be losing their minds with it.
But finally, finally, when he feels ready, he makes a post to the network, announcing it. The evacuation is not as quick or as orderly as he might have liked (tensions run high over who gets to leave first, and he almost sends Tali to the wrong version of her reality, which would have been bad, but he figures it out in time. He has a backpack full of tiny personal affects - artifacts that he's collected from anyone willing, so that he can use them for a focal point to vibe, to check that everyone has gotten where they need to go, that they are safe and happy.
Eventually, there's only a few people left. One of them is Arya. Cisco has already talked to her about the... situation. Her universe is the only one that still eludes him. In a way, Cisco isn't surprised by that. It's the most radically different from his own amongst them. He has tried a thousand times and more, but the energy is oddly slippery - he can't seem to get a hold of it, can't manipulate it.
Which leaves them in a bit of a pickle. Her sister and then later her brother had both vanished, gone back home the way that people sometimes do. That left only Arya, on her own. They've talked about her coming to Cisco's world with him, about how much better it would be there for her. But he knows how hard it is for her, being separated from the last remnants of her family. Knows it is possible they will get brought back. So he invites her to the ice cream parlor - the place where he had first brought up the idea of her coming to Central City - and then asks her: ]
So. What do you want to do? [ The choice will have to be hers, in the end. But Cisco lays out the options as he sees them, hoping it will make the difficult decision a little easier: ] We could stay here and I can keep trying to open a breach to Westeros. We could... stay and wait to see if. If Sansa and Jon come back. Or... you can come to Central City, with me, and I can keep trying to make contact from there.
[ Notable is the fact that none of these options involve him leaving her alone. He's not going to abandon her, one way or another. That's non-negotiable. ]
[ When Cisco announces that he's found a way out of the Clock, that everyone can go home, Arya doesn't join in the commotion. She doesn't fight to leave first. If anything, she hangs back. She's happy for the people who are excited to leave, but Arya isn't excited at all. She doesn't want to go back to Westeros. The Clock was more of a home than Arya's own world ever was. When she learns that Cisco couldn't make contact with her world anyway, she's almost relieved.
What she wishes for isn't Westeros. She wishes that Jon and Sansa were here, that they got to be set free too. Sansa's disappearance was Arya's worst nightmare come true, proof that she was right to be afraid when her sister first vanished temporarily. When Jon left, it was unfathomably worse. Arya had searched for him for years, and found him at last, only for him to be yanked away from her again. And Arya knows that if she goes back to Westeros, there's no way she'll find him. She won't be his sister anymore.
Which means the only family she has left is Cisco. Arya sits next to him, poking the sprinkles in her ice cream. She doesn't have much of an appetite right now. The decision is a difficult one. On the one hand, Arya wants to stay in the Clock -- she knows it's safe here, and she knows little about Central City. But that would mean that Cisco wouldn't get to go home, and that isn't fair to him. If there's a chance he can bring Sansa and Jon back to Central City...that would be the best option, wouldn't it? ]
I think...I think I would like to come to Central City. With you. If you still want me there -- I don't want to be a burden.
[ Arya can take care of herself if she has to. She doesn't want to lose Cisco, but she doesn't want to tie him down, either. He's probably got better things to do than shelter a little alien girl. Talking about taking her to Central City is all well and good, actually doing it is another matter entirely. ]
[ Internally, Cisco heaves a huge sigh of relief. It was certainly his preferred option, though he would have stayed here with her without a single complaint, if it had come to that. But the fact is, he doesn't know if he will ever be able to reach Westeros, doesn't know if Jon or Sansa will be brought here - especially now that everyone else has made their escape. But what he does know is that if he brings Arya to Central City, he has a relatively good chance of being able to keep her safe. And that? That is a huge deal.
Arya looks so small, so uncertain, that Cisco doesn't give his response right away. First he nudges her with his elbow, waits for her to look up, to actually look at him and see that he is smiling before he says: ]
I totally want you there. And you aren't gonna be a burden. It will be a great adventure.
[ He hadn't wanted to influence her decision, to overwhelm her with details, but now that he is chosen, Cisco starts talking a little faster, trying to allay a few of her concerns in advance. ]
You know that I tested the breaches with a bunch of people, right? Well, people who showed up here hurt didn't get hurt again when they went through, so your eyesight should be fine. If it's not, we'll deal with it. Also, I don't know if it's 'cause this place changed something in our heads or what but hopefully you should be able to understand English when you come through. But if you don't, I'll teach you. And I've got plenty of room at my apartment, so you don't need to worry about where you'll sleep or how you'll eat or anything like that.
[ Knowing Arya, she will still worry. It's a huge, huge thing, going to a totally foreign world, where she only knows one person, where nothing works the way she's used to. For a child who has already been through so much, he can't imagine how frightening it must be. ]
And if you ever change your mind... I will probably be able to bring you back here, if you want. I know the frequency pretty well by now.
[ He'd been intending to let her finish her ice cream, but it doesn't look like she's all that hungry. He can't blame her, really. ]
We can go whenever you're ready. If there's anything you want to bring with you, we can stop by and get it.
[ Arya looks back at Cisco and manages a small smile of her own when he tells her that going to Central City will be an adventure. She has to be brave, like the direwolf of House Stark, like princess Nymeria. She can do it. She's travelled before, has had to be brave before. This move, this change should be easy, really. Cisco is promising food and shelter, luxuries that weren't always available in Westeros.
So Arya gathers her courage and nods, sitting up a little straighter, cataloging everything that Cisco is saying. Her eyes should be fine. Languages should be fine. It still all sounds too good, but now, Arya is less worried about Central City and more worried about all the things that could go wrong in the journey there. What if they go to the wrong world? What if one of them doesn't make it through the breach at all? But Arya knows Cisco has been practicing, and she doesn't want to make him second guess himself by voicing her fears. So she keeps quiet, resolving to stay positive. ]
I'm ready. [ Arya says, firmly. If she doesn't say it now, she never will. ] I have everything I need.
[ Arya's had to flee places with less warning than this. She's learned to keep her things close. She's already wearing her punk jacket and Needle stays with her at all times, anyway. There's nothing else to bring, really. Arya stands. ]
Are you ready? You ought to have all your things, too.
[ Cisco, on the other hand, has never had to flee anywhere before - not in a permanent way. And he has acquired a great deal of things he would like to bring home with him; he has to coordinate with the remaining people AND pack up. He had thought she would need at least a little time, but apparently not. So Cisco rubs his hand against the back of his neck and says: ]
Yeah, nooot just yet. Why don't you come back with me to my room while I pack up and then I've just gotta check the last few folks and make sure no one changed their minds, and then we can go.
[ It only takes a moment or two to find Cisco's room - it surprises him that the Clock doesn't hide it, isn't trying to prevent this. But maybe this had been the point. The experiment had been to see how long it took them to escape, and now that they are, they've... won? As he is walking, Cisco texts Eddie, tells him of Arya's decision, to go on ahead to Central City and that they'll make further arrangements later on. Cisco's already taken him through, made sure it didn't open another black hole or world-ending paradox, contacted Joe and told him they'll need his help.
All of that can wait, though. Eddie's a grown man and knows that world, can handle the preliminaries of his own return by himself. Arya, on the other hand... Cisco needs to be there to help her.
Once they're in his room, he starts shoving things into a backpack. Bits of tech. A journal he'd been keeping. Clothes he liked. Some items that had sentimental value. Last but not least, he slings the bag into his back and picks up Harry the cat, holds her against his chest. Like hell is he leaving her behind. ]
OK, all set.
[ The room with the breaches is not much to look at: a sunlight meadow with a lot of open space, and markers that Cisco had put up, labeling which one went to which worlds. He holds up a finger asking Arya to wait and, using his device, sends out some messages checking one last time that no one else wanted to go through a portal. When there are no takers, Cisco slips the device into his pocket, readjusts his hold of Harry, and puts the goggles on his face. ]
I'm gonna warn you right now. Going through one of these babies is pretty freaky. You might see stuff around us - from the past or future or other worlds. You just gotta ignore it. Don't pay too much attention. Just hold onto me and don't let go.
[ He draws in a deep breath, extends a hand for Arya to hold onto. Cisco's smile is a little nervous, but mostly just exhilarated. ]
[ Arya nods and follows Cisco to his room, padding along silently, slowly. Arya's gaze rarely focuses on just one thing, but this time, as she looks from place to place, it's not because she's afraid. She's not waiting for something to jump out at her. Instead, she's trying to memorize everything about the Clock, this place that gave Arya so much. Not all of it was good -- but she got to see Jon and Sansa again, if only for a little while. And she got to meet Cisco. That's worth any invasion of privacy, any strange chocolate.
She even gives Harry a little pet. She's glad the cat is coming.
When they're in the meadow -- not unlike the meadow she woke up in, Arya realizes -- she listens to Cisco, heeding his warning, and nodding. She takes his hand and places her free hand on the hilt of her sword. It makes Arya feel safer. Arya smiles back at Cisco, her smile matching his, both nervous and excited. ]
[ It's nothing compared to the first time he'd gone through a breach with Barry, but Cisco's heart is still beating quickly with apprehension. That's just a bonus, though, isn't it? His powers are triggered by heightened adrenaline and dopamine - so it's all for the good. Cisco squeezes Arya's hand to reassure her, and then together they step into the swirling blue tear in the air.
He'll never get used to the passage between worlds. It seems to take forever and only a second at the same time. Cisco ignores the blurred images rushing by, making himself not look at them too hard or for too long. And then, with a weird twisting in his guts, the two of them are lurching forward onto the solid ground again, in the cool, climate-controlled low light of the S.T.A.R. Labs basement.
Cisco stands there for a moment, getting his balance and his bearings, still clutching Harry tight to his chest and holding onto Arya's hand for dear life. Then, deliberately, he loosens his grip, lets her go. Harry wriggles uneasily and Cisco adjusts his grip, holding her firmly with both arms. ]
We made it.
[ He breathes out the words, relieved and... happy. They'd done it. He'd gotten home. The reality of that, of their freedom, of his homecoming, hadn't really started to feel real until just this moment. Cisco's eyes are bright with delight and he turns to Arya, smiling, checks in on her: ]
[ When they enter the breach, Arya keeps her eyes open for only a moment. She doesn't need more than that to register all the images, most of them bizarre and confusing to her. It's an unexpected sensory overload, and Arya opts to keep her eyes closed, gripping Cisco's hand hard so she feels at least somewhat grounded.
And then it's over. Arya opens her eyes cautiously, then lets her body relax a little when she sees they're still alive. There's much more metal here than Arya is used to, but a cellar is a cellar, no matter where you are. Arya jumps, presses her hands against the wall, making sure everything is real and solid, that she's really here. That it worked. That she's free.
Everything checks out, and that's when Arya grins from ear to ear, overjoyed. She woops, she laughs, she beams. ]
I can!
[ Arya squeezes Cisco around the torso, careful not to jostle Harry. ]
You did it. [ She breathes, then sighs, happily. ] Thank you.
[ It is as wonderful as ever, seeing Arya this jubilant, beaming and cheering. Cisco can't hug her back with his arms occupied by a disgruntled cat, but he leans into the contact and laughs softly. She's right. ]
I... did it.
[ He hadn't screwed up. Nothing had gone wrong. They're here, and Arya can see, and understand him. And somewhere in the city, Eddie is alive and making arrangements. Barry is here, and Caitlin, and Harry. Not only them, but all the people he has not seen in months. Captain Singh. Joe. The baristas at Jitters.
Somehow it is that thought, of Jitters, that reminds him: he can take Arya there. Not just there, but to the movies, to the zoo, to... anywhere. There are so many things he wants to show her, he can hardly wait.
But first things first. He looks between Arya and the breach and gestures for her to take Harry, waits until she has scooped the cat into her arms before he goes back to the distorted patch of air. No one from his world was left in the Clock, and he has no reason for thinking that anyone else would follow. But in Cisco's experience, it's best not to leave open breaches lying around. He knows the resonance of the Clock well enough by now that he can always open a new one, when he needs it, if he needs it. So he raises his hand and feels around for the edges of it, hands feeling hot and strangely numb from the transdimensional energy. Carefully, Cisco closes his hand into a first, and the breach seals up. ]
So. Um. This is STAR Labs! I can give you the full tour another time, but I think we'd better take Harry to my apartment before she tries to make a break for it.
[ Cisco adjusts the straps of his backpack, and the whole process to get to his apartment seems like such a strange, multi-step, exotic journey. Not just because he is imagining how it must seem to Arya, who has never been in a car before, but because he has gotten used to the Clock's doors which led directly where he wanted to go, without needing to travel far. Cisco leads Arya out into the hall, holds up a finger: ]
Wait here a sec.
[ He knows they've got an animal carrier stashed away somewhere in the morgue, though he had never questioned Dr. Wells just why it was there. Experiments, probably. He doesn't really want to think about that, just goes in, finds the damn thing under a cloth on a high shelf, and returns to Arya. It takes some coaxing to get Harry away from her and into the carrier, but once he's done it, Cisco shuts the door securely. That's one complication taken care of. Now, to deal with the next one. ]
It's too far to walk, so I'm gonna take one of the vans and drive us there. Elevator's this way.
[ Cisco nods his head down the hall and starts walking, looking over his shoulder to check that Arya is keeping up, trying not to go too fast so she has the time to look around as much as she'd like. ]
[ At first, Arya thinks that this can't be STAR Labs. She's seen the STAR Labs room in the Clock, and it doesn't really look like this. There's more stuff in it. Soon, Arya begins to realize that STAR Labs could -- and does -- span multiple rooms. There might be more than just one STAR Lab. There might be thousands. She and Cisco had tossed around the idea of other worlds plenty of times, but only now does it hit Arya that this is another world. This place isn't just a series of rooms. It's insides and outsides, cities and countries and cars and billions of people. That's a lot. The Clock might have been infinite, but somehow, in this basement, Central City feels bigger.
Arya watches Cisco close the breach, chewing her lip and trying not to second-guess what she's done.
Cisco has a plan though, and that's reassuring. Secure the cat. That's not hard. Arya's been on a few journeys in her lifetime, and she knows by now that the key is to keep putting one step in front of another. She nods, and after Cisco leaves, occupies herself with fully exploring the room. She feels all the walls, crawls under some of the equipment, experiences as much as she can with as many senses as she can.
When Cisco returns, Arya hops back up and follows, pausing every so often to take a look at something that catches her eye. It's slower going than Cisco is probably used to, but Arya wants to learn as much as she can about this place.
Then, Cisco tells Arya the rest of the plan and she speaks up, confused. ]
What is a van? And an elevator? I can walk for days and days, we can walk to your home if it's easier.
[ Arya assumes that Cisco doesn't think she could make it back, not that it's not feasible to walk. For her, walking has always been the go-to mode of transportation, especially across cities. She's known little else. ]
[ Cisco has a moment of regret, then, that he didn't find the time to prepare Arya a little more for the world she would find on the other side of the breach. He had done what he could, but he had never been programmatic about it. He hadn't wanted to get her hopes up when he wasn't sure he would be able to bring her. And now that they're here, she'll just have to learn quickly, immersed in a new environment. But Arya is brave, and curious, and clever. She'll be fine. And she has Cisco to help her. ]
Yeah, well, I can't walk for days. Or... I don't know, I've never tried, maybe I could, but it'll only take fifteen minutes if we drive, which will be less scary for Harry.
[ He adjusts his hold on the carrier as they come up to the elevator. Cisco hits the button, contemplates if it will be better or worse for Arya if he explains that they will be stepping into a box suspended over a huge height, and decides against it for today. For now he'll keep it simple. ]
An elevator is a machine that moves up and down inside a building so you can get from floor to floor. Everywhere has stairs, too, in case the elevator breaks, but it's quicker and it's good for people who can't walk and stuff.
[ Dr. Wells' wheelchair is still in S.T.A.R. Labs somewhere. When last he'd seen it it was in the med bay. It had been tucked in storage for almost a year, and then Zoom had broken Barry's back, and he and Caitlin had had to go and get it out. He is lost in remembering that when the elevator dings and snaps him out of his reverie. The doors slide open and he steps inside, holding his arm to block the door so that Arya can take her time and they won't close again automatically. ]
You just have to come stand inside and I'll do the rest.
[ A huge box that moves up and down like stairs, except that it's not stairs, can only mean one thing: ]
We're going to fly?
[ Suddenly, Arya's expression shifts from perplexed to elated, her face breaking into a wide grin. She's always wanted to fly. It's the kind of impossible adventure she's always craved, a freedom that no one can take away from you once you learn how to do it.
When the elevator dings, Arya jumps a little, not expecting the sound. Then, the doors open by themselves, and Arya's eyes grow wide. It's like the elevator is alive. Briefly, Arya wonders if that means it could eat her up. But Cisco walks inside, and he seems safe, so it's probably not too dangerous. Perhaps the mouth is just for holding. Arya takes a deep breath, summons her courage, and practically runs inside.
Once she makes it in, she looks up at Cisco, expectantly. Her arms are slightly akimbo. Arya is ready to be a bird once the motion starts. ]
I'm ready.
[ She says, a little too firmly, trying to make herself sound confident. ]
[ Cisco almost can't bring himself to tell her the truth; she just seems so excited at the prospect of flying that part of him wants to let her keep the illusion that elevators levitate by some kind of magic. He also decides that, brave though she might be, it might be best to explain the actual mechanics of it once they are out of the elevator. So he just grins at her, biting his lower lip and wagging his eyebrows as he hits the button for the basement.
It's not a long elevator ride, but he watches Arya through it, enjoying her reaction and also careful to look for any signs of fear, in case she needs reassurance. It's only once they reach the bottom level and both step out (he sees her turning to watch the doors close automatically again) that he explains: ]
They don't fly. They're suspended on strong metal cables and there's a system of pulleys that moves them up and down, between the floors. But if you're into it we can totally fly one of these days. All you have to do is pay a bit of money and you can go into a machine that flys up into the air, like a bird.
[ He doesn't know where they would go - and he'll have to get her legal papers forged squared away first. And, well, getting Arya through airport security and dealing with all that will also be a challenge. But if she wants to fly, he can make it happen. Is GOING to make it happen.
Cisco grabs the keys to the van from their hook and nods his head. ]
C'mon. It's this way.
[ The van is right where he had left it; Cisco walks to the passenger side, first, sets down Harry's carrier, unlocks the door, and opens it for Arya. ]
So, you go ahead and sit right here and then I'll get you buckled in, and you can hold onto Harry while I drive. Okay?
[ Perhaps he should find it a hassle, having to introduce her to such basic things. But Cisco is still so giddy over his triumph. They're here. They're home. He gestures towards the front seat, standing aside so Arya can climb in. ]
[ So an elevator is like the little cage that takes the Black Brothers up to the top of the wall. But who lifts this elevator? Perhaps the pulleys are special somehow. Arya has so many questions that she knows that she can't possibly ask them all, so she decides to hold her tongue on this one. She can figure some things out for herself. She had to do that at Harrenhal and especially Braavos. If there's one thing Arya is good at, it's adapting.
But then it doesn't really matter if an elevator flies or not because Cisco's world actually has flying machines. Arya covers her mouth, trying not to gasp loudly or do anything overtly childish or embarrassing. It makes sense, really -- Arya doesn't know why she's so surprised. Any place with science should have a flying machine. Otherwise science isn't good for anything. Arya nods. ]
Yes. Yes please. Maybe not right now because we have to get in the -- the van [ what a strange thing to say! ] -- but yes. I'd like to fly, if that's okay.
[ When Cisco opens the door to the van, Arya climbs right in, even if the vehicle still does frighten her a little. She has to prove she's ready for flying. Cisco probably won't notice that she's gripping Harry's cat-cage a little tighter than normal. ]
I'm ready.
[ For all of it. For all the newness. Fear cuts deeper than swords, Arya tells herself, and right now, she's free. She doesn't have to be afraid anymore. And that's probably the greatest part of all of this. ]
[ He can tell that there's some measure of grim determination in how she says it, in how she's holding herself, and he can't blame her for that. This world is so different from her own, and Cisco knows all too well from the stories that she's told him that in her own world Arya had had to be clever and brave and ferocious and lucky just to survive. The unknown is probably always going to feel like a threat to her, first, and then wonderful only after some time.
But there is no rush. They have all the time in the world for airplanes and everything else Central City has to offer, and Cisco feels confident that Arya's uncertainty will become excitement and happiness before too long.
Cisco does Arya's seatbelt for her, explaining as he does: ] This is to keep you safe. Like a saddle on a horse. [ Maybe not the most accurate metaphor but what does he know about horses? He is trying. ] You have to have it on while I'm driving, but it's easy to get out of it, you just do this. [ He demonstrates how to undo it before fastening it again, and coming around to the driver's seat. He gets the van started, goes through all the little minor adjustments settling in, and then without further fanfare or explanation, pulls out of the parking garage and sets out for his apartment. He mostly keeps his eyes on the road (it's been months since he drove, thanks to the clock) but he spares a sideways glance or two for Arya, making sure she's okay.
The first time they roll up to a red light, he tries to give her a quick explanation of how they work (did they have that sort of thing for carts or carriages, in cities in her world?), and then before very long at all they're on his street. He even manages to find a parking space, and then he is parking, turning to Arya with a big grin. ]
We made it! See, that wasn't so bad, huh? Now, how about we go get Harry settled and then maybe I can show you around the city a little bit?
[ The big tour would probably need to wait, but there's no way Cisco isn't at least taking her a few places: Jitters, the grocery store, maybe a bookstore... ]
[ There's not much in Arya's room right now, just a cot filched from S.T.A.R. Labs, a small chest of drawers, and a lamp. To Arya, the room doesn't feel bare at all -- it feels luxuriously spacious, a far cry from the rocks she's slept on and the cellar's she's slept in.
Which is why she's taken by surprise when Eddie suggests that she decorates it. Isn't the lamp enough? The lamp is pretty fascinating. Arya's spent a decent chunk of time turning it off and on when no-one's looking. It's better than candles. ]
See?
[ Arya demonstrates the lamp's power to Eddie, who probably just never realized how cool it was. ]
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no subject
Of course, he doesn't leave right away. That wouldn't be good science, and there is also no way he is going to break the promises that he had made to the people he met and came to care about during his captivity. So he runs tests. Opening more breaches. Closing them. Going through and coming back, honing his skills, making sure it's safe, that he knows what he's doing. It takes longer than he would have expected, mastering the trick of choosing which universe his breaches lead to. There is a subtlety in the movements of molecules, in the particular feel of the dimensional energy. He's glad, during those weeks, that he didn't tell anyone besides Harry about that first breach. As impatient as he's feeling, he knows that there are others who would be losing their minds with it.
But finally, finally, when he feels ready, he makes a post to the network, announcing it. The evacuation is not as quick or as orderly as he might have liked (tensions run high over who gets to leave first, and he almost sends Tali to the wrong version of her reality, which would have been bad, but he figures it out in time. He has a backpack full of tiny personal affects - artifacts that he's collected from anyone willing, so that he can use them for a focal point to vibe, to check that everyone has gotten where they need to go, that they are safe and happy.
Eventually, there's only a few people left. One of them is Arya. Cisco has already talked to her about the... situation. Her universe is the only one that still eludes him. In a way, Cisco isn't surprised by that. It's the most radically different from his own amongst them. He has tried a thousand times and more, but the energy is oddly slippery - he can't seem to get a hold of it, can't manipulate it.
Which leaves them in a bit of a pickle. Her sister and then later her brother had both vanished, gone back home the way that people sometimes do. That left only Arya, on her own. They've talked about her coming to Cisco's world with him, about how much better it would be there for her. But he knows how hard it is for her, being separated from the last remnants of her family. Knows it is possible they will get brought back. So he invites her to the ice cream parlor - the place where he had first brought up the idea of her coming to Central City - and then asks her: ]
So. What do you want to do? [ The choice will have to be hers, in the end. But Cisco lays out the options as he sees them, hoping it will make the difficult decision a little easier: ] We could stay here and I can keep trying to open a breach to Westeros. We could... stay and wait to see if. If Sansa and Jon come back. Or... you can come to Central City, with me, and I can keep trying to make contact from there.
[ Notable is the fact that none of these options involve him leaving her alone. He's not going to abandon her, one way or another. That's non-negotiable. ]
no subject
What she wishes for isn't Westeros. She wishes that Jon and Sansa were here, that they got to be set free too. Sansa's disappearance was Arya's worst nightmare come true, proof that she was right to be afraid when her sister first vanished temporarily. When Jon left, it was unfathomably worse. Arya had searched for him for years, and found him at last, only for him to be yanked away from her again. And Arya knows that if she goes back to Westeros, there's no way she'll find him. She won't be his sister anymore.
Which means the only family she has left is Cisco. Arya sits next to him, poking the sprinkles in her ice cream. She doesn't have much of an appetite right now. The decision is a difficult one. On the one hand, Arya wants to stay in the Clock -- she knows it's safe here, and she knows little about Central City. But that would mean that Cisco wouldn't get to go home, and that isn't fair to him. If there's a chance he can bring Sansa and Jon back to Central City...that would be the best option, wouldn't it? ]
I think...I think I would like to come to Central City. With you. If you still want me there -- I don't want to be a burden.
[ Arya can take care of herself if she has to. She doesn't want to lose Cisco, but she doesn't want to tie him down, either. He's probably got better things to do than shelter a little alien girl. Talking about taking her to Central City is all well and good, actually doing it is another matter entirely. ]
no subject
Arya looks so small, so uncertain, that Cisco doesn't give his response right away. First he nudges her with his elbow, waits for her to look up, to actually look at him and see that he is smiling before he says: ]
I totally want you there. And you aren't gonna be a burden. It will be a great adventure.
[ He hadn't wanted to influence her decision, to overwhelm her with details, but now that he is chosen, Cisco starts talking a little faster, trying to allay a few of her concerns in advance. ]
You know that I tested the breaches with a bunch of people, right? Well, people who showed up here hurt didn't get hurt again when they went through, so your eyesight should be fine. If it's not, we'll deal with it. Also, I don't know if it's 'cause this place changed something in our heads or what but hopefully you should be able to understand English when you come through. But if you don't, I'll teach you. And I've got plenty of room at my apartment, so you don't need to worry about where you'll sleep or how you'll eat or anything like that.
[ Knowing Arya, she will still worry. It's a huge, huge thing, going to a totally foreign world, where she only knows one person, where nothing works the way she's used to. For a child who has already been through so much, he can't imagine how frightening it must be. ]
And if you ever change your mind... I will probably be able to bring you back here, if you want. I know the frequency pretty well by now.
[ He'd been intending to let her finish her ice cream, but it doesn't look like she's all that hungry. He can't blame her, really. ]
We can go whenever you're ready. If there's anything you want to bring with you, we can stop by and get it.
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So Arya gathers her courage and nods, sitting up a little straighter, cataloging everything that Cisco is saying. Her eyes should be fine. Languages should be fine. It still all sounds too good, but now, Arya is less worried about Central City and more worried about all the things that could go wrong in the journey there. What if they go to the wrong world? What if one of them doesn't make it through the breach at all? But Arya knows Cisco has been practicing, and she doesn't want to make him second guess himself by voicing her fears. So she keeps quiet, resolving to stay positive. ]
I'm ready. [ Arya says, firmly. If she doesn't say it now, she never will. ] I have everything I need.
[ Arya's had to flee places with less warning than this. She's learned to keep her things close. She's already wearing her punk jacket and Needle stays with her at all times, anyway. There's nothing else to bring, really. Arya stands. ]
Are you ready? You ought to have all your things, too.
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Yeah, nooot just yet. Why don't you come back with me to my room while I pack up and then I've just gotta check the last few folks and make sure no one changed their minds, and then we can go.
[ It only takes a moment or two to find Cisco's room - it surprises him that the Clock doesn't hide it, isn't trying to prevent this. But maybe this had been the point. The experiment had been to see how long it took them to escape, and now that they are, they've... won? As he is walking, Cisco texts Eddie, tells him of Arya's decision, to go on ahead to Central City and that they'll make further arrangements later on. Cisco's already taken him through, made sure it didn't open another black hole or world-ending paradox, contacted Joe and told him they'll need his help.
All of that can wait, though. Eddie's a grown man and knows that world, can handle the preliminaries of his own return by himself. Arya, on the other hand... Cisco needs to be there to help her.
Once they're in his room, he starts shoving things into a backpack. Bits of tech. A journal he'd been keeping. Clothes he liked. Some items that had sentimental value. Last but not least, he slings the bag into his back and picks up Harry the cat, holds her against his chest. Like hell is he leaving her behind. ]
OK, all set.
[ The room with the breaches is not much to look at: a sunlight meadow with a lot of open space, and markers that Cisco had put up, labeling which one went to which worlds. He holds up a finger asking Arya to wait and, using his device, sends out some messages checking one last time that no one else wanted to go through a portal. When there are no takers, Cisco slips the device into his pocket, readjusts his hold of Harry, and puts the goggles on his face. ]
I'm gonna warn you right now. Going through one of these babies is pretty freaky. You might see stuff around us - from the past or future or other worlds. You just gotta ignore it. Don't pay too much attention. Just hold onto me and don't let go.
[ He draws in a deep breath, extends a hand for Arya to hold onto. Cisco's smile is a little nervous, but mostly just exhilarated. ]
Ready?
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She even gives Harry a little pet. She's glad the cat is coming.
When they're in the meadow -- not unlike the meadow she woke up in, Arya realizes -- she listens to Cisco, heeding his warning, and nodding. She takes his hand and places her free hand on the hilt of her sword. It makes Arya feel safer. Arya smiles back at Cisco, her smile matching his, both nervous and excited. ]
I don't know. [ She laughs, a little. ] Let's go.
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He'll never get used to the passage between worlds. It seems to take forever and only a second at the same time. Cisco ignores the blurred images rushing by, making himself not look at them too hard or for too long. And then, with a weird twisting in his guts, the two of them are lurching forward onto the solid ground again, in the cool, climate-controlled low light of the S.T.A.R. Labs basement.
Cisco stands there for a moment, getting his balance and his bearings, still clutching Harry tight to his chest and holding onto Arya's hand for dear life. Then, deliberately, he loosens his grip, lets her go. Harry wriggles uneasily and Cisco adjusts his grip, holding her firmly with both arms. ]
We made it.
[ He breathes out the words, relieved and... happy. They'd done it. He'd gotten home. The reality of that, of their freedom, of his homecoming, hadn't really started to feel real until just this moment. Cisco's eyes are bright with delight and he turns to Arya, smiling, checks in on her: ]
You can understand me, right?
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And then it's over. Arya opens her eyes cautiously, then lets her body relax a little when she sees they're still alive. There's much more metal here than Arya is used to, but a cellar is a cellar, no matter where you are. Arya jumps, presses her hands against the wall, making sure everything is real and solid, that she's really here. That it worked. That she's free.
Everything checks out, and that's when Arya grins from ear to ear, overjoyed. She woops, she laughs, she beams. ]
I can!
[ Arya squeezes Cisco around the torso, careful not to jostle Harry. ]
You did it. [ She breathes, then sighs, happily. ] Thank you.
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I... did it.
[ He hadn't screwed up. Nothing had gone wrong. They're here, and Arya can see, and understand him. And somewhere in the city, Eddie is alive and making arrangements. Barry is here, and Caitlin, and Harry. Not only them, but all the people he has not seen in months. Captain Singh. Joe. The baristas at Jitters.
Somehow it is that thought, of Jitters, that reminds him: he can take Arya there. Not just there, but to the movies, to the zoo, to... anywhere. There are so many things he wants to show her, he can hardly wait.
But first things first. He looks between Arya and the breach and gestures for her to take Harry, waits until she has scooped the cat into her arms before he goes back to the distorted patch of air. No one from his world was left in the Clock, and he has no reason for thinking that anyone else would follow. But in Cisco's experience, it's best not to leave open breaches lying around. He knows the resonance of the Clock well enough by now that he can always open a new one, when he needs it, if he needs it. So he raises his hand and feels around for the edges of it, hands feeling hot and strangely numb from the transdimensional energy. Carefully, Cisco closes his hand into a first, and the breach seals up. ]
So. Um. This is STAR Labs! I can give you the full tour another time, but I think we'd better take Harry to my apartment before she tries to make a break for it.
[ Cisco adjusts the straps of his backpack, and the whole process to get to his apartment seems like such a strange, multi-step, exotic journey. Not just because he is imagining how it must seem to Arya, who has never been in a car before, but because he has gotten used to the Clock's doors which led directly where he wanted to go, without needing to travel far. Cisco leads Arya out into the hall, holds up a finger: ]
Wait here a sec.
[ He knows they've got an animal carrier stashed away somewhere in the morgue, though he had never questioned Dr. Wells just why it was there. Experiments, probably. He doesn't really want to think about that, just goes in, finds the damn thing under a cloth on a high shelf, and returns to Arya. It takes some coaxing to get Harry away from her and into the carrier, but once he's done it, Cisco shuts the door securely. That's one complication taken care of. Now, to deal with the next one. ]
It's too far to walk, so I'm gonna take one of the vans and drive us there. Elevator's this way.
[ Cisco nods his head down the hall and starts walking, looking over his shoulder to check that Arya is keeping up, trying not to go too fast so she has the time to look around as much as she'd like. ]
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Arya watches Cisco close the breach, chewing her lip and trying not to second-guess what she's done.
Cisco has a plan though, and that's reassuring. Secure the cat. That's not hard. Arya's been on a few journeys in her lifetime, and she knows by now that the key is to keep putting one step in front of another. She nods, and after Cisco leaves, occupies herself with fully exploring the room. She feels all the walls, crawls under some of the equipment, experiences as much as she can with as many senses as she can.
When Cisco returns, Arya hops back up and follows, pausing every so often to take a look at something that catches her eye. It's slower going than Cisco is probably used to, but Arya wants to learn as much as she can about this place.
Then, Cisco tells Arya the rest of the plan and she speaks up, confused. ]
What is a van? And an elevator? I can walk for days and days, we can walk to your home if it's easier.
[ Arya assumes that Cisco doesn't think she could make it back, not that it's not feasible to walk. For her, walking has always been the go-to mode of transportation, especially across cities. She's known little else. ]
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Yeah, well, I can't walk for days. Or... I don't know, I've never tried, maybe I could, but it'll only take fifteen minutes if we drive, which will be less scary for Harry.
[ He adjusts his hold on the carrier as they come up to the elevator. Cisco hits the button, contemplates if it will be better or worse for Arya if he explains that they will be stepping into a box suspended over a huge height, and decides against it for today. For now he'll keep it simple. ]
An elevator is a machine that moves up and down inside a building so you can get from floor to floor. Everywhere has stairs, too, in case the elevator breaks, but it's quicker and it's good for people who can't walk and stuff.
[ Dr. Wells' wheelchair is still in S.T.A.R. Labs somewhere. When last he'd seen it it was in the med bay. It had been tucked in storage for almost a year, and then Zoom had broken Barry's back, and he and Caitlin had had to go and get it out. He is lost in remembering that when the elevator dings and snaps him out of his reverie. The doors slide open and he steps inside, holding his arm to block the door so that Arya can take her time and they won't close again automatically. ]
You just have to come stand inside and I'll do the rest.
replies 5 weeks late, no starbucks orz
We're going to fly?
[ Suddenly, Arya's expression shifts from perplexed to elated, her face breaking into a wide grin. She's always wanted to fly. It's the kind of impossible adventure she's always craved, a freedom that no one can take away from you once you learn how to do it.
When the elevator dings, Arya jumps a little, not expecting the sound. Then, the doors open by themselves, and Arya's eyes grow wide. It's like the elevator is alive. Briefly, Arya wonders if that means it could eat her up. But Cisco walks inside, and he seems safe, so it's probably not too dangerous. Perhaps the mouth is just for holding. Arya takes a deep breath, summons her courage, and practically runs inside.
Once she makes it in, she looks up at Cisco, expectantly. Her arms are slightly akimbo. Arya is ready to be a bird once the motion starts. ]
I'm ready.
[ She says, a little too firmly, trying to make herself sound confident. ]
shh it's a psl there is no hurry
It's not a long elevator ride, but he watches Arya through it, enjoying her reaction and also careful to look for any signs of fear, in case she needs reassurance. It's only once they reach the bottom level and both step out (he sees her turning to watch the doors close automatically again) that he explains: ]
They don't fly. They're suspended on strong metal cables and there's a system of pulleys that moves them up and down, between the floors. But if you're into it we can totally fly one of these days. All you have to do is pay a bit of money and you can go into a machine that flys up into the air, like a bird.
[ He doesn't know where they would go - and he'll have to get her legal papers
forgedsquared away first. And, well, getting Arya through airport security and dealing with all that will also be a challenge. But if she wants to fly, he can make it happen. Is GOING to make it happen.Cisco grabs the keys to the van from their hook and nods his head. ]
C'mon. It's this way.
[ The van is right where he had left it; Cisco walks to the passenger side, first, sets down Harry's carrier, unlocks the door, and opens it for Arya. ]
So, you go ahead and sit right here and then I'll get you buckled in, and you can hold onto Harry while I drive. Okay?
[ Perhaps he should find it a hassle, having to introduce her to such basic things. But Cisco is still so giddy over his triumph. They're here. They're home. He gestures towards the front seat, standing aside so Arya can climb in. ]
asdfghjkl thank u <3
But then it doesn't really matter if an elevator flies or not because Cisco's world actually has flying machines. Arya covers her mouth, trying not to gasp loudly or do anything overtly childish or embarrassing. It makes sense, really -- Arya doesn't know why she's so surprised. Any place with science should have a flying machine. Otherwise science isn't good for anything. Arya nods. ]
Yes. Yes please. Maybe not right now because we have to get in the -- the van [ what a strange thing to say! ] -- but yes. I'd like to fly, if that's okay.
[ When Cisco opens the door to the van, Arya climbs right in, even if the vehicle still does frighten her a little. She has to prove she's ready for flying. Cisco probably won't notice that she's gripping Harry's cat-cage a little tighter than normal. ]
I'm ready.
[ For all of it. For all the newness. Fear cuts deeper than swords, Arya tells herself, and right now, she's free. She doesn't have to be afraid anymore. And that's probably the greatest part of all of this. ]
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But there is no rush. They have all the time in the world for airplanes and everything else Central City has to offer, and Cisco feels confident that Arya's uncertainty will become excitement and happiness before too long.
Cisco does Arya's seatbelt for her, explaining as he does: ] This is to keep you safe. Like a saddle on a horse. [ Maybe not the most accurate metaphor but what does he know about horses? He is trying. ] You have to have it on while I'm driving, but it's easy to get out of it, you just do this. [ He demonstrates how to undo it before fastening it again, and coming around to the driver's seat. He gets the van started, goes through all the little minor adjustments settling in, and then without further fanfare or explanation, pulls out of the parking garage and sets out for his apartment. He mostly keeps his eyes on the road (it's been months since he drove, thanks to the clock) but he spares a sideways glance or two for Arya, making sure she's okay.
The first time they roll up to a red light, he tries to give her a quick explanation of how they work (did they have that sort of thing for carts or carriages, in cities in her world?), and then before very long at all they're on his street. He even manages to find a parking space, and then he is parking, turning to Arya with a big grin. ]
We made it! See, that wasn't so bad, huh? Now, how about we go get Harry settled and then maybe I can show you around the city a little bit?
[ The big tour would probably need to wait, but there's no way Cisco isn't at least taking her a few places: Jitters, the grocery store, maybe a bookstore... ]
eddie; home improvement: stark edition
Which is why she's taken by surprise when Eddie suggests that she decorates it. Isn't the lamp enough? The lamp is pretty fascinating. Arya's spent a decent chunk of time turning it off and on when no-one's looking. It's better than candles. ]
See?
[ Arya demonstrates the lamp's power to Eddie, who probably just never realized how cool it was. ]
I've got this. It's plenty of decoration.