[ He gives a brief nod, putting on his vibe goggles decisively. ]
On it.
[ Cisco takes three steps away, just enough to put some distance between himself, and Iris and the sensitive expensive equipment, before he punches a breach into the air and jumps through it. One thing had to be said about Barry's whole sabbatical in the Speed Force: it had thrown Cisco into the deep end, when it comes to creating breaches at very specific locations, quickly and without fuss.
He comes out the other side to see complete chaos. Civilians running to and fro, an unusually large amount of them. Busy afternoon out in Central City. The intersection is in the middle of a busy, classy shopping district, and there are all sorts of people - families with kids, elderly people out enjoying a walk in the brisk fall air. None of them seem to want any part of what is happening between the few uniformed police officers who have arrived and the meta who is causing the fuss.
Except, as Cisco rushes over, he sees that... maybe it's not a meta, after all. The guy is wielding something - almost like a staff. A weapon? A device to channel his powers? It's hard to tell, because he keeps moving it so quickly, bringing down lightning and small, but terrifying explosions of fire. Cisco says over the comms: ]
Not sure this one's a meta. Think he might have some kinda tech on him. Getting in for a closer look.
[ He vaults the low wall blocking the street from the sidewalk and calls out loudly: ]
Whoa there, dude! Hold up! Wanna ease it up with the explosions, a little bit?!
[ This has to be the weirdest day ever. First his best friends (+ adoptive parents in all but name) Terra and Aqua leave him, then he stows away to Central City to find them, and now? Well, his bus had been weird. His bus had also experienced something weird, and some guy named Mr. Devoe promised he'd make it all better.
He'd turned Ven's favorite key into a weapon, and managed to imbed real, live magic into its keychains. Equip one, get fire. Equip another, get thunder. Equip a third, get both, and so on. In exchange, Mr. Devoe only wanted him to get a few things.
If Ven helped him, then Ven would finally make some friends of his own! And get a bus ticket back home!! Who could turn down such a kindly old man? And his super pretty assistant? Not Ven, that's for sure.
A few Fira's and Thundara's should do the trick - break that nice, strong glass for Mr. Devoe, and then snatch that weird giant circuit-thing. (Tech wasn't Ven's strong suit. But Mr. Devoe'd showed him a picture, and that was more than enough.) He's just about to reach out for it when -
When someone's calling out to him. Ven can't help turning around to get a better look. ]
They're not explosions. [ Um, yeah. They totally are. ] They're magic! Like spells? Come on, doesn't this city have 'em too?
Okay, whatever! Spellsplosions, then! Whatever you wanna call 'em, you're gonna hurt somebody, look around you!
[ Cisco gestures, with a broad sweep of his arm, at their surroundings. There is panic and frenzy in the bystanders. The crowd is thinning but slowly - there aren't many good ways for people to get away, and there is a lot of pushing and shoving, the sounds of people crying out for loved ones they've misplaced.
He takes a few steps further, and there's no mistaking the evidence of his eyes and ears: this is a kid. A young kid. Which changes things. He doesn't attack right away, or try to flee, or worst - take hostages. There's a flicker of hope in Cisco's chest. Maybe they can resolve this without any fighting.
He holds his arms up, a gesture that seems to say 'calm down' and 'I'm unarmed' - though for Cisco, having his hands forward is the equivalent to having his finger on the trigger - and says: ]
[ Now that stops him firmly in his tracks. Ven swallows, glancing around at the thinning crowd and the broken windows and the pile of rubbish he'd created in his haste to nab that circuit.
He didn't want to hurt anyone. He also didn't want to make this hard on anyone, but he made a promise. He had to keep it until the bitter end. ]
[ Cisco answers Iris first, speaking low, but not so low that Ven won't be able to hear him, too. ]
Oh, I don't know, he's about twelve.
[ There's a touch of sarcasm and 'can you believe it' in his voice; Cisco's never been thrown into a situation like this before, where the one causing mayhem and danger is just a kid. It's throwing him off, because no way is he going to fight someone so young, but he can't let anyone in the crowd get injured, either.
He takes another few steps forward, cautiously, stalling for time. The longer he takes, the more time the civilians have to get away. He just needs to keep this kid talking, keep the police from overreacting, keep Iris apprised of the situation... maybe it can all be resolved without a fight. ]
I go by Vibe. I'm not here to hurt you, okay? I just wanna talk. You said 'this city' before - where're you from?
Hey! [ Ven scrunches up his whole face. He knows he’s a little short for his age, but he’s not that short!! He’s a perfectly growing human boy! ] I’m fourteen, thank you very much.
[ Then again, Mr. Vibe wasn’t the first guy to comment on his age. Even the bus driver had asked where his parents were. Ven shrugs and tries to feign nonchalance, gripping his giant keyblade as if it were a baseball club. Vibe said he wasn’t going to hurt him, but Vibe said nothing about not taking the weapon away. ]
And I'm from Brightcrest. [ A small town on the Missouri/Kansas border, often nicknamed “the Land of Departure.” It’s primarily known for a meditative Buddhist-like tradition taught by Eraqus, where mindfulness and compassion and self-reflection reign. Ven was their youngest - and probably most faithful - student. A quick look at his personal record would indicate such. He brightens: ] I’m gonna head home as soon as I get that thing, okay?
[ fourteen . . . god, they've never dealt with anyone so young.
Iris takes a couple of minutes to search through their databases. Ven. Fourteen years old. Brightcrest, Missouri. One record pops up, along with a birth certificate and hospital records - ]
Just so you know... [ she draws in a breath, ] he's telling the truth.
[ As far as Cisco's concerned, anybody under 18 counts as 'about twelve'. Of course, he remembers when he was fourteen and desperately wishing to be older, but, well, that had been different. Sure, he'd been a bit shrimpy, the same way Ven is, but he'd also been surrounded by people three or four years older than him, since he'd skipped a few grades.
And all of that is entirely beside the point, because the stalling is working - more and more civilians are getting out of the area - and Cisco can hear Iris typing through the comms, confirming Ven's story. Which is useful to know; he's not just spinning some random lie. ]
What thing? Why do you need it so bad?
[ The most important thing had been making sure none of the bystanders got hurt, but Cisco's not gonna let this guy just wreak havoc and steal something just because he's a teenager. That's not how this works. ]
[ Duh. Ven stands up straighter, tentatively taking that first step towards the display with the circuit board. It's got protective glass for a reason - it's an older model. A prototype for what would become the first computers, or something. Mr. Devoe hadn't told him much.
It's pretty clear by this point that Ven doesn't really care about lying, or hurting civilians. He's got a one-track mind, and like he's gonna let some nice guy stop him from fulfilling what he's supposed to. ]
And lemme tell you mister, once you've made a promise, you don't break those so easily.
Okay, so you're not the one who wants it, somebody else does? Who did you promise? A friend? A family member?
[ Cisco still hasn't given up on being able to talk this one out. He really doesn't want a fight on his own without backup, and he really, really, REALLY doesn't want to hurt a kid who seems like he doesn't necessarily mean any harm. The more he talks, the more it sounds like he's been talked into this. Manipulated into it. There's plenty of people who would rather use a gullible teen to do their dirty work, and potentially catch the heat for it... ]
Do you know what they're gonna use it for?
[ He wants to get Ven thinking, questioning the consequences of his actions. When Ven takes that step towards the circuit board, Cisco takes a step, too. As he's talking he's thinking up strategies; if worst comes to worst, he'd rather blast the glass, grab the thing himself and breach it somewhere hidden than take down Ven. If he could frustrate his plan in that way, maybe they could keep things from escalating.
Quietly, Cisco whispers: ]
Iris... I need to know what this thing can do. Pronto.
[ Ven scrunches up his whole face. Technology isn't his forte. He's broken more cell phones than he cares to count. Terra said it didn't matter; they weren't going to need this much tech where they were going.
Mr. Vibe sure asks a lot of questions. More than his teachers ever had. ]
No idea what it does, I mean. But I promised Mr. Devoe. I'd take it and bring it back to him pronto.
[ There's the fast and furious sound of her clacking away at the keyboard - Iris already types fast, but she's trying to race the clock this time. Reverse image search the circuitboard based off images, see where it leads and - ]
Okay, obviously this isn't my forte, but Google says it's not the circuitboard so much as the material inside it. [ she pauses, ] Apparently it's got some rare metal wiring? The kind you could sell on the black market for way too much money.
[ cool. they've got a gullible teen stealing rare material for their nemesis, and who knows what he'll fund with that kind of cash? ]
[ Oh, shit. Oh quadruple crap, this is a Devoe thing, and Barry is busy, and things just got way real way fast. Cisco stands there for a moment, his hand held up to the comm piece in his ear, listening to Iris's explanation, trying to square the information she's giving him with what they've seen of Devoe so far. He has seemed like he was motivated by schemes far more complex an unfathomable than just black market deals and a desire for money. Either he needed that money for some specific evil purpose, or he needed those materials for some specific evil purpose. Doesn't really matter - both options are Bad with a capital B.
Cisco sets aside the question of why for the time being; the important thing is not to let this kid steal the circuitboard, preferably without hurting him or causing chaos. He can't focus on a Princess Bride type outthinking game where he tries to anticipate what Devoe would've thought he would do, etc. ]
Ven. This guy, Devoe. I know about him, okay. He's a bad dude. Like, seriously, seriously bad. What'd he offer you in exchange?
[ Now that doesn't sound right. Mr. Devoe, the nice guy with a really cool wife and a ton of neat gadgets?? Ven frowns, trying to figure out where Mr. Vibe got that impression. ]
This. [ He holds up his weapon, completely oblivious to how someone might take it as a sign of aggression. It's a cross between a key and a weapon, with jagged edges that resemble a sword more than someone's house keys. Ven carries it more like a rapier than a key, anyway. ] He made it for me. Said it was 'cause we were friends.
Iris may not know exactly why Devoe recruited a kid like Ven, but she sure knows that whatever Devoe's got planned, Ven will take the fall - and he'll believe that he did it in the name of friendship. And love. And all those lovely principles of Sir Eraqus's discipline.
She sighs over the comms, trying to think this through. They can't hurt him. Ven's fourteen. They also can't let Ven go through with the deal. Unless - unless - ]
Vibe. [ her voice grows solemn: ] What if you offer to give the circuit to Devoe? That way, Ven "keeps" his promise and we can ambush him later. As a team.
[ Cisco hesitates; he knows that he should take Iris's lead. She's the boss, and usually sees the best solution to any given scenario, more clearly than he could most times. And it's a good plan. It'll solve the whole issue of Barry being busy in court, today, and give them an edge on Devoe.
But it feels like lying. Like manipulating the kid, the same way Devoe had.
His stomach feels uneasy when he thinks about the moral implications of it, but he goes along with the plan (if only because there's no good way to debate it with Iris over the comms, without Ven hearing him.) ]
Listen, Ven. Why don't you let me give the circuit to him? I promise, I'll make sure it gets to him. I know where he lives, and all that. And... and if you go, now, I'll talk with the police officers, make sure you don't get in trouble for all the destruction of public property and general chaos causing.
[ Uh-oh. Forget the police, his big sister Aqua was gonna hurt him a million times worse than any cop. Ven stares blankly, almost dropping his keyblade. Almost, because his palms are getting sweaty at the mere thought of spending the night in juvie. He's too young! He's gotta go back and help Master Eraqus!!
Also, he's gotta find Terra. His big brother's not gonna be in jail. Ven hopes. ]
Mr. Devoe didn't mention that part. [ #yikes. ] He told me to go today 'cause everyone would be busy.
[ Everyone 'cept Mr. Vibe, and Mr. Vibe is making a lot of sense. Might as well listen. ]
But since you're not busy, he must've lied... [ Ven tilts his head. This is above his paygrade, and he really doesn't want to stick around for the aftermath. ] Well, he'll be free in the evening. I was supposed to meet him at six. And uh, tell Mrs. Devoe I said hi, okay?
Iris frowns. So whatever Ven was doing, it was planned from the start. Devoe knew that Barry would be in court. Did he also know that Ven was gullible, and planning on giving up without a fight?
She doesn't like that implication, not one bit. ]
Well.... [ she swallows, ] I guess we've got a rendezvous with the Devoes.
Yeah, that's what usually happens when you steal stuff, kid.
[ Cisco is unable to see Iris frowning back in S.T.A.R. Labs, but he frowns at the exact same moment. Devoe had known what was scheduled for that day, had been able to foresee Barry's plans. What else had he accounted for? Surely he knew Cisco and Iris would be around. Was he underestimating them, or had he factored them in, too? Cisco's not really sure which option is worse.
At the very least, it seems that Ven is willing to work with him, that the thought of getting in trouble with the law is enough to spook him. Before he leaves, Cisco extends a hand. ]
Hold up.
[ He pulls a small card from the small pocket of his jacket, with a phone number written on it. He hands it over to Ven and says: ]
If Devoe contacts you again or if there's any trouble, give this number a call and leave a message, okay? It'll get to me.
[ Just before he peaces out, back to Brightcrest and to never ever venture into Central City's borders again - Ven reaches out for the card. ]
Okay. [ he beams, ] Thanks again, Mr. Vibe. And uh, tell Mr. Flash I said hi!
[ And just like that, he's off in a gust of wind. Ven isn't supernaturally fast - not like Barry - but he's practically gliding as he heads off. Forget whatever he got into. Master Eraqus has a much worse punishment waiting for him back home. ]
[ That is one kid who has absolutely no idea what he wandered into, let alone the scope of what he had just walked out of.
Iris is silent for a few seconds, before she lets out a small, bemused huff - ] God, they're getting way too young for us.
[ next thing she knows, they'll call her auntie, and she doesn't want to be an auntie. At the same time, Ven's words - and his last reply for Mr. Flash - are wigging her out. Devoe must've known that Ven was sweet and innocent. He must've also known that Ven would easily relinquish his duty, and that Cisco and Iris could manipulate him right back.
It's a game of speed chess, and she sure doesn't know what pieces she's playing with... ]
Okay, I don't know how long the others will be, but... we should really think this one through.
[ Cisco's never been one to miss an opportunity for a well-placed movie quote. Still, there's some truth to it. The thought of Devoe manipulating a kid into a situation like this, where he could have easily killed someone, or gotten shot, or arrested and had his life ruined... it makes Cisco feel sick and angry at the same time.
He lifts a hand to his earpiece, says: ]
I'm inbound.
[ The cops from the nearby cars are heading towards him, but Cisco throws a portal and hops through it before they can get any closer. Then he's back in the Cortex, looking at Iris over by the band of computers. He pushes his vibe goggles up onto his head, sighs as he tugs off his gauntlets. ]
Well, that was a a whole new level of messed up. Thanks for the backup, boss.
[ Once Vibe returns, Iris safely turns off everything save what's necessary. No need for outbound communication, after all - and she's still frowning over what had just transpired. ]
No problem, [ she says, a little absentmindedly as she looks up at him. ] Honestly, I still can't believe Devoe recruited a little kid. What the hell was he thinking?
[ Villains usually didn't have morals, sure. They'd both seen some messed-up shit in their day. But kids?? Dragging young'uns into this without a second thought? This game of chess just got a lot less exciting. ]
[ Cisco lets out a short sigh, dropping his gauntlets onto the low desk and then rubbing his hands over his eyes. Unlike Iris, he isn't really surprised. It's nothing new, after all. He'd realized too late that the same thing had been going on with Dr. Wells, and that was why so many of the employees at S.T.A.R. Labs were young people, like him, and Caitlin, and even Hartley, who didn't have a whole lot of friends, or a close relationship with their families. It was a pattern he should have spotted much earlier than he did.
(And one of the only reasons they'd ever gotten to the bottom of things had been precisely because Barry was not the same, because even though he was young, he had Joe and Iris in his corner, making it so that Dr. Wells wasn't his only source of love or belonging. Joe and Iris, both underestimated, both persistent, always asking questions that Wells that he wasn't prepared to answer.) ]
I can. He was thinking, 'hey, this'll be super easy'.
[ Try as he might to keep his voice cool, Cisco's never been great at hiding what he feels, and right now it's obvious that, despite the unexpectedly good outcome, that he's pretty upset. After all, even though Cisco had been way more naive and easy to manipulate, back when he'd first joined S.T.A.R. Labs, at least he hadn't been fourteen.
But he channels that agitation into action, because that's way better than dwelling. Cisco's never been the guy to brood, after all. He'd rather take action. He makes his way over to one of the computers, tapping a few quick commands in, to start an analysis of the data that had been collected during the fight. ]
I'm gonna have to look over the readings I got on that weapon Devoe gave him. I've never seen anything like it.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
On it.
[ Cisco takes three steps away, just enough to put some distance between himself, and Iris and the sensitive expensive equipment, before he punches a breach into the air and jumps through it. One thing had to be said about Barry's whole sabbatical in the Speed Force: it had thrown Cisco into the deep end, when it comes to creating breaches at very specific locations, quickly and without fuss.
He comes out the other side to see complete chaos. Civilians running to and fro, an unusually large amount of them. Busy afternoon out in Central City. The intersection is in the middle of a busy, classy shopping district, and there are all sorts of people - families with kids, elderly people out enjoying a walk in the brisk fall air. None of them seem to want any part of what is happening between the few uniformed police officers who have arrived and the meta who is causing the fuss.
Except, as Cisco rushes over, he sees that... maybe it's not a meta, after all. The guy is wielding something - almost like a staff. A weapon? A device to channel his powers? It's hard to tell, because he keeps moving it so quickly, bringing down lightning and small, but terrifying explosions of fire. Cisco says over the comms: ]
Not sure this one's a meta. Think he might have some kinda tech on him. Getting in for a closer look.
[ He vaults the low wall blocking the street from the sidewalk and calls out loudly: ]
Whoa there, dude! Hold up! Wanna ease it up with the explosions, a little bit?!
no subject
He'd turned Ven's favorite key into a weapon, and managed to imbed real, live magic into its keychains. Equip one, get fire. Equip another, get thunder. Equip a third, get both, and so on. In exchange, Mr. Devoe only wanted him to get a few things.
If Ven helped him, then Ven would finally make some friends of his own! And get a bus ticket back home!! Who could turn down such a kindly old man? And his super pretty assistant? Not Ven, that's for sure.
A few Fira's and Thundara's should do the trick - break that nice, strong glass for Mr. Devoe, and then snatch that weird giant circuit-thing. (Tech wasn't Ven's strong suit. But Mr. Devoe'd showed him a picture, and that was more than enough.) He's just about to reach out for it when -
When someone's calling out to him. Ven can't help turning around to get a better look. ]
They're not explosions. [ Um, yeah. They totally are. ] They're magic! Like spells? Come on, doesn't this city have 'em too?
no subject
[ Cisco gestures, with a broad sweep of his arm, at their surroundings. There is panic and frenzy in the bystanders. The crowd is thinning but slowly - there aren't many good ways for people to get away, and there is a lot of pushing and shoving, the sounds of people crying out for loved ones they've misplaced.
He takes a few steps further, and there's no mistaking the evidence of his eyes and ears: this is a kid. A young kid. Which changes things. He doesn't attack right away, or try to flee, or worst - take hostages. There's a flicker of hope in Cisco's chest. Maybe they can resolve this without any fighting.
He holds his arms up, a gesture that seems to say 'calm down' and 'I'm unarmed' - though for Cisco, having his hands forward is the equivalent to having his finger on the trigger - and says: ]
What's your name, kid?
1/2
[ Now that stops him firmly in his tracks. Ven swallows, glancing around at the thinning crowd and the broken windows and the pile of rubbish he'd created in his haste to nab that circuit.
He didn't want to hurt anyone. He also didn't want to make this hard on anyone, but he made a promise. He had to keep it until the bitter end. ]
Oh, um - I'm Ven. [ Secret identities? What're those? ] What's yours, mister?
no subject
Vibe, how old is this meta?
no subject
Oh, I don't know, he's about twelve.
[ There's a touch of sarcasm and 'can you believe it' in his voice; Cisco's never been thrown into a situation like this before, where the one causing mayhem and danger is just a kid. It's throwing him off, because no way is he going to fight someone so young, but he can't let anyone in the crowd get injured, either.
He takes another few steps forward, cautiously, stalling for time. The longer he takes, the more time the civilians have to get away. He just needs to keep this kid talking, keep the police from overreacting, keep Iris apprised of the situation... maybe it can all be resolved without a fight. ]
I go by Vibe. I'm not here to hurt you, okay? I just wanna talk. You said 'this city' before - where're you from?
no subject
[ Then again, Mr. Vibe wasn’t the first guy to comment on his age. Even the bus driver had asked where his parents were. Ven shrugs and tries to feign nonchalance, gripping his giant keyblade as if it were a baseball club. Vibe said he wasn’t going to hurt him, but Vibe said nothing about not taking the weapon away. ]
And I'm from Brightcrest. [ A small town on the Missouri/Kansas border, often nicknamed “the Land of Departure.” It’s primarily known for a meditative Buddhist-like tradition taught by Eraqus, where mindfulness and compassion and self-reflection reign. Ven was their youngest - and probably most faithful - student. A quick look at his personal record would indicate such. He brightens: ] I’m gonna head home as soon as I get that thing, okay?
no subject
Iris takes a couple of minutes to search through their databases. Ven. Fourteen years old. Brightcrest, Missouri. One record pops up, along with a birth certificate and hospital records - ]
Just so you know... [ she draws in a breath, ] he's telling the truth.
no subject
And all of that is entirely beside the point, because the stalling is working - more and more civilians are getting out of the area - and Cisco can hear Iris typing through the comms, confirming Ven's story. Which is useful to know; he's not just spinning some random lie. ]
What thing? Why do you need it so bad?
[ The most important thing had been making sure none of the bystanders got hurt, but Cisco's not gonna let this guy just wreak havoc and steal something just because he's a teenager. That's not how this works. ]
no subject
[ Duh. Ven stands up straighter, tentatively taking that first step towards the display with the circuit board. It's got protective glass for a reason - it's an older model. A prototype for what would become the first computers, or something. Mr. Devoe hadn't told him much.
It's pretty clear by this point that Ven doesn't really care about lying, or hurting civilians. He's got a one-track mind, and like he's gonna let some nice guy stop him from fulfilling what he's supposed to. ]
And lemme tell you mister, once you've made a promise, you don't break those so easily.
no subject
[ Cisco still hasn't given up on being able to talk this one out. He really doesn't want a fight on his own without backup, and he really, really, REALLY doesn't want to hurt a kid who seems like he doesn't necessarily mean any harm. The more he talks, the more it sounds like he's been talked into this. Manipulated into it. There's plenty of people who would rather use a gullible teen to do their dirty work, and potentially catch the heat for it... ]
Do you know what they're gonna use it for?
[ He wants to get Ven thinking, questioning the consequences of his actions. When Ven takes that step towards the circuit board, Cisco takes a step, too. As he's talking he's thinking up strategies; if worst comes to worst, he'd rather blast the glass, grab the thing himself and breach it somewhere hidden than take down Ven. If he could frustrate his plan in that way, maybe they could keep things from escalating.
Quietly, Cisco whispers: ]
Iris... I need to know what this thing can do. Pronto.
no subject
[ Ven scrunches up his whole face. Technology isn't his forte. He's broken more cell phones than he cares to count. Terra said it didn't matter; they weren't going to need this much tech where they were going.
Mr. Vibe sure asks a lot of questions. More than his teachers ever had. ]
No idea what it does, I mean. But I promised Mr. Devoe. I'd take it and bring it back to him pronto.
no subject
[ There's the fast and furious sound of her clacking away at the keyboard - Iris already types fast, but she's trying to race the clock this time. Reverse image search the circuitboard based off images, see where it leads and - ]
Okay, obviously this isn't my forte, but Google says it's not the circuitboard so much as the material inside it. [ she pauses, ] Apparently it's got some rare metal wiring? The kind you could sell on the black market for way too much money.
[ cool. they've got a gullible teen stealing rare material for their nemesis, and who knows what he'll fund with that kind of cash? ]
no subject
Cisco sets aside the question of why for the time being; the important thing is not to let this kid steal the circuitboard, preferably without hurting him or causing chaos. He can't focus on a Princess Bride type outthinking game where he tries to anticipate what Devoe would've thought he would do, etc. ]
Ven. This guy, Devoe. I know about him, okay. He's a bad dude. Like, seriously, seriously bad. What'd he offer you in exchange?
no subject
This. [ He holds up his weapon, completely oblivious to how someone might take it as a sign of aggression. It's a cross between a key and a weapon, with jagged edges that resemble a sword more than someone's house keys. Ven carries it more like a rapier than a key, anyway. ] He made it for me. Said it was 'cause we were friends.
no subject
Iris may not know exactly why Devoe recruited a kid like Ven, but she sure knows that whatever Devoe's got planned, Ven will take the fall - and he'll believe that he did it in the name of friendship. And love. And all those lovely principles of Sir Eraqus's discipline.
She sighs over the comms, trying to think this through. They can't hurt him. Ven's fourteen. They also can't let Ven go through with the deal. Unless - unless - ]
Vibe. [ her voice grows solemn: ] What if you offer to give the circuit to Devoe? That way, Ven "keeps" his promise and we can ambush him later. As a team.
no subject
But it feels like lying. Like manipulating the kid, the same way Devoe had.
His stomach feels uneasy when he thinks about the moral implications of it, but he goes along with the plan (if only because there's no good way to debate it with Iris over the comms, without Ven hearing him.) ]
Listen, Ven. Why don't you let me give the circuit to him? I promise, I'll make sure it gets to him. I know where he lives, and all that. And... and if you go, now, I'll talk with the police officers, make sure you don't get in trouble for all the destruction of public property and general chaos causing.
no subject
[ Uh-oh. Forget the police, his big sister Aqua was gonna hurt him a million times worse than any cop. Ven stares blankly, almost dropping his keyblade. Almost, because his palms are getting sweaty at the mere thought of spending the night in juvie. He's too young! He's gotta go back and help Master Eraqus!!
Also, he's gotta find Terra. His big brother's not gonna be in jail. Ven hopes. ]
Mr. Devoe didn't mention that part. [ #yikes. ] He told me to go today 'cause everyone would be busy.
[ Everyone 'cept Mr. Vibe, and Mr. Vibe is making a lot of sense. Might as well listen. ]
But since you're not busy, he must've lied... [ Ven tilts his head. This is above his paygrade, and he really doesn't want to stick around for the aftermath. ] Well, he'll be free in the evening. I was supposed to meet him at six. And uh, tell Mrs. Devoe I said hi, okay?
no subject
Iris frowns. So whatever Ven was doing, it was planned from the start. Devoe knew that Barry would be in court. Did he also know that Ven was gullible, and planning on giving up without a fight?
She doesn't like that implication, not one bit. ]
Well.... [ she swallows, ] I guess we've got a rendezvous with the Devoes.
no subject
[ Cisco is unable to see Iris frowning back in S.T.A.R. Labs, but he frowns at the exact same moment. Devoe had known what was scheduled for that day, had been able to foresee Barry's plans. What else had he accounted for? Surely he knew Cisco and Iris would be around. Was he underestimating them, or had he factored them in, too? Cisco's not really sure which option is worse.
At the very least, it seems that Ven is willing to work with him, that the thought of getting in trouble with the law is enough to spook him. Before he leaves, Cisco extends a hand. ]
Hold up.
[ He pulls a small card from the small pocket of his jacket, with a phone number written on it. He hands it over to Ven and says: ]
If Devoe contacts you again or if there's any trouble, give this number a call and leave a message, okay? It'll get to me.
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Okay. [ he beams, ] Thanks again, Mr. Vibe. And uh, tell Mr. Flash I said hi!
[ And just like that, he's off in a gust of wind. Ven isn't supernaturally fast - not like Barry - but he's practically gliding as he heads off. Forget whatever he got into. Master Eraqus has a much worse punishment waiting for him back home. ]
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Iris is silent for a few seconds, before she lets out a small, bemused huff - ] God, they're getting way too young for us.
[ next thing she knows, they'll call her auntie, and she doesn't want to be an auntie. At the same time, Ven's words - and his last reply for Mr. Flash - are wigging her out. Devoe must've known that Ven was sweet and innocent. He must've also known that Ven would easily relinquish his duty, and that Cisco and Iris could manipulate him right back.
It's a game of speed chess, and she sure doesn't know what pieces she's playing with... ]
Okay, I don't know how long the others will be, but... we should really think this one through.
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[ Cisco's never been one to miss an opportunity for a well-placed movie quote. Still, there's some truth to it. The thought of Devoe manipulating a kid into a situation like this, where he could have easily killed someone, or gotten shot, or arrested and had his life ruined... it makes Cisco feel sick and angry at the same time.
He lifts a hand to his earpiece, says: ]
I'm inbound.
[ The cops from the nearby cars are heading towards him, but Cisco throws a portal and hops through it before they can get any closer. Then he's back in the Cortex, looking at Iris over by the band of computers. He pushes his vibe goggles up onto his head, sighs as he tugs off his gauntlets. ]
Well, that was a a whole new level of messed up. Thanks for the backup, boss.
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No problem, [ she says, a little absentmindedly as she looks up at him. ] Honestly, I still can't believe Devoe recruited a little kid. What the hell was he thinking?
[ Villains usually didn't have morals, sure. They'd both seen some messed-up shit in their day. But kids?? Dragging young'uns into this without a second thought? This game of chess just got a lot less exciting. ]
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(And one of the only reasons they'd ever gotten to the bottom of things had been precisely because Barry was not the same, because even though he was young, he had Joe and Iris in his corner, making it so that Dr. Wells wasn't his only source of love or belonging. Joe and Iris, both underestimated, both persistent, always asking questions that Wells that he wasn't prepared to answer.) ]
I can. He was thinking, 'hey, this'll be super easy'.
[ Try as he might to keep his voice cool, Cisco's never been great at hiding what he feels, and right now it's obvious that, despite the unexpectedly good outcome, that he's pretty upset. After all, even though Cisco had been way more naive and easy to manipulate, back when he'd first joined S.T.A.R. Labs, at least he hadn't been fourteen.
But he channels that agitation into action, because that's way better than dwelling. Cisco's never been the guy to brood, after all. He'd rather take action. He makes his way over to one of the computers, tapping a few quick commands in, to start an analysis of the data that had been collected during the fight. ]
I'm gonna have to look over the readings I got on that weapon Devoe gave him. I've never seen anything like it.
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