come out, come out, wherever you are

[mostlyajerk]

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[mostlyajerk]

"Have you ever been called a fag at school?" Hartley had stepped up to Cisco, seeing the opportunity since there was nobody else standing close. His eyebrows were raised, arms loosely folding when he leaned back against the desk.

This whole thing was so much more drawn out than it had to be. His co-workers just had to be a bunch of immature manchildren and he was very much sick of it, but what was he going to do? The nation's leading scientists, right. God bless America.

He didn't actually think that most of them meant any harm. They were simply idiots, something most of the world couldn't seem to help being. But at least some of them were willing to open their minds. Cisco... Well. Cisco hated him and it was mostly mutual, so what was he really expecting? Nothing much, but at least he could make him uncomfortable.

[viber]

"Oh yeah." It wasn't even a sexuality thing, it was just a word guys threw around at each other to be dicks. Cisco had been called them all. Fag, homo, queer, gay. Didn't mean that either of them meant anything. Didn't mean he was one either. They were just words. He got called dork, girl and wuss a lot and he was like ... two out of the three but that wasn't the point. Name calling wasn't self fulfilling.

Cisco stubbornly stayed glaring down at the project he was working on, fine tuning the project he was working on, screwdriver in hand, pretending it needed his entire focus.

"Dude, I didn't call you a fag, okay? Peters did. It wasn't me." He just laughed. And implied some stuff later. Okay, not much better but dude, he never said fag.

[mostlyajerk]

"Or cocksucker. I heard that too, do you like using that?" Seemed like a valid question. Cisco appeared to be among the most clueless people he'd ever had to deal with. "See, I'm not surprised you had people calling you a fag. Seems about right."

He was really just trying to get the expected rise out of him. The defensiveness. Nothing worse than the implication of being less than straight, he knew how it went.

[viber]

"Look, if you've got such a problem with me, go to Doctor Wells." Cisco was sure he could argue better with him than like this. Yes, he may have called Hartley a cocksucker but he got caught up in the moment, all the other guys were talking about how Hartley had to have fucked his way into that position and Cisco was pissed! Hartley spend a good half an hour criticising everything he'd done that day, even the stuff he was proud of. And it was barely constructive, it was mostly 'you're a moron, do it again' so yeah, okay, he said something bad but he felt justified.

Cisco paused and looked up at Hartley, frowning at the way he threw that insult at him. God. If he could punch him in the face, he would have by now. "Screw you, I'm not gay! It's not right at all, it's just people being dicks. I'm not like you."

text to Axel

[mostlyajerk]

Are you free tonight?

[trickedya]

I wasn't but for you pretty piper?

I'm always free ;)

[mostlyajerk]

What were you up to?

You don't have to cancel, I've other people.

[mostlyajerk]

"Fuck." Hartley froze, grabbing Axel's arm without even thinking about it, just deciding he needed the support as he stared at Cisco. "I work with that guy."

That had definitely been a mistake, he shouldn't have told Axel, but he was in shock. How was he supposed to handle this? Hartley pulled Axel back a few steps until they stood against the wall, a lot less suspicious. "He was the one that called me a cocksucker. I work above him, I'm an asshole, usual resentment. I just don't know what the hell he's doing here."

Other than look supremely out of place.

[trickedya]

"Tell me that's the one that called you a fag too? Oh God, this is beautiful. This is like the universe is rewarding us." Axel laughed as he watched the poor bastard seem very much out of place, downing his drink like his life depended on it and backing away from the bar and right into a very handsome man Talk about dumb luck. Axel tilted his head as he watched this kid babble away apologetically and then accidentally flail one of his arms into the guys chest and that flail turned into a touch. A definite touch. No longer could it be dismissed as an accident and Cisco's hand move so fast, he nearly hit himself in the chest.

"Oh. So that's why he's here. He lingered, that boy is not straight." Axel watched as the guy seemed to express interest in return, reaching out to touch Cisco, only for the other to recoil and swiftly moved away to order a drink in attempt to prevent it going further. "Closet case too."

That was almost painful to watch. "Pity. Right up until he spazzed and ran, he could have pulled."

[mostlyajerk]

"You don't say. Why would a lone straight boy hang out here? Man. He pinged my gaydar too, I just figured he didn't even know himself. Hartley leaned his head against Axel's shoulder as he watched that train-wreck. "No, he didn't call me a fag. He was just standing there, laughing his ass off. Which is apparently better, given he told me to get off his back, since he didn't call me a fag. Then he almost punched me when he thought I implied he might be less that straight. Self-hating homophobes. Sad cowards, what am I expecting?"

Hartley rolled his eyes and leaned against the wall. "Great. He's standing there and I really need a drink."

[viber]

When Hartley came in two days later, on his desk was a seal envelope and inside was just a card that Cisco thought would be way easier to give than approaching and giving some bullshit apology for the night before and the days earlier and the whole day off where he fell back on all his deadlines because he'd been drunk.

Inside was a simple message, nothing too fancy.

Hey Hartley.

Sorry I got drunk, made a dick out of myself, humiliated both of us and made you take me home. It was appreciated, you're a good boss but no, I'm not buying you a mug. They're way more expensive than I thought.

Cisco

P.S Sorry I was a dick. Sorry I tried to suck your dick too

Cisco watched as Hartley opened it, pretending not to but being about as subtle as a brick, standing over the work station and fiddling around some tech he was trying to get working. He didn't want to admit to being nervous about how he'd react but hell, he really was.

[mostlyajerk]

Hartley read the card quickly and then closed it so he could pack it into his bag, not wanting to risk anyone reading it. However, once everyone had settled in more and nobody - aside from possibly Cisco - was paying any attention, Hartley wrote a message on a piece of paper and passed it to him. Very school style, but whatever.

You don't have to be sorry.

You were drunk.

Besides, everyone likes having an offer to get their dick sucked.

[viber]

Cisco read the note under the table and God help him, he couldn't help but smile because it felt like his sins had been absolved. He took a slight breath before deciding he may as well continue because taking was harder than it seemed and no one really was used to them taking so this was just easier for everyone. He grabbed a piece of paper and wrote on it before making it into a paper aeroplane and throwing it at Hartley so it landed on his desk.

You were really cool about it and I'm sorry I behaved the way I did. I was struggling and dumb.

I can pay you back for the cab if you want?

Given how hard I was making you, I kinda feel like I owe you one.

[mostlyajerk]

Cisco, is this you?

It's hartley, i need to know are you okay the explosion

sorry, typing is difficult

need help

[viber]

I'm okay holy shit I haven't heard from you in forever.

Where are you?

Are you okay?

[mostlyajerk]

hospital

I can't hear, my ears bled and it's so loud

which sounds contradictory

I need my tools, they won't let me leave

[mostlyajerk]

What the hell were you thinking, building that cold gun?

[viber]

Don't yell at me too.

I said I was sorry!

[mostlyajerk]

I won't yell. I'm just...

Just share with me. What are your thoughts?

You met Barry. You trusted him. Hell, you are practically in love with him.

text to Cisco

[mostlyajerk]

[There is no text. Just a video.

A video of Hartley wearing only the bottom half of the costume Cisco made for him, climbing the infamous salmon ladder a couple of times.]

[viber]

Don't make me horny when you're not here.

You're a bad person.

[mostlyajerk]

I'm just showing you a training update.

Gaining so much muscle mass, I'm impressed by myself.

How's it going?

[mostlyajerk]

You're unhappy with me.

[viber]

Am not.

[mostlyajerk]

I'm fine. I shoved someone out of the way and an arrow hit me, but it's just a flesh wound.

I wasn't in any danger.