{You break down my defenses, you are my only weakness

[myheadisaprison]

PSL with auricular_acuity

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[youcouldbeagod]

He smirks and turns away, slipping out of the alley and blending easily into the crowd on the street. He'd need back to the apartment to make sure his Hartley had returned-- and if he hadn't, he go back out to search for him.

The explanation of what just happened probably isn't going to go well, though. He'd never admit it, but there's a ball of nerves settling in his stomach as he considers it.

[auricular_acuity]

Hartley from Earth-1 is in the apartment by now, cooking away and unaware that Paco isn't asleep in the bedroom. Which is probably a good thing, because otherwise he'd probably be freaking out a bit.

[youcouldbeagod]

Paco throws the front door open, halfway expecting his Hart not to actually be back yet, but the smell of breakfast being cooked tells a completely different story.

"Sexy and he cooks," he kicks the door shut with his foot. "I think I picked a winner."

[auricular_acuity]

Hartley starts and whirls around when Paco walks in through the door. He stares for a second, flabbergasted. "I thought..." He turns towards the closed door to the bedroom, then back to his boyfriend. "Where did you go?"

[youcouldbeagod]

"When I woke up, you were gone. I...kinda panicked..." He says, awkward and sheepish in his admission, "so I went looking for you." He walks into the kitchen and leans against the counter nearby.

"I ran into...a potential problem. Or a possible solution. I'm not sure which it's gonna end up being yet." That was...an incredibly vague way to start that story.

[auricular_acuity]

"Sorry, baby," Hartley says immediately, contrite. "I thought you were sleeping and that I'd be back really quick. Next time, I'll leave a note."

He leans over and gives Paco an apologetic kiss and a squeeze, then returns to the stove to flip his pancakes. "A problem or solution? Intriguing."

[youcouldbeagod]

He can't help the smile that spreads across his lips at that. "It's okay, don't worry about it." He kisses his back and bites the inside of his cheek as Hart turns back to finish fixing breakfast. He's not particularly looking forward to explaining this.

"I'm gonna preface this by saying I have an idea, if you'll hear me out first." Yeah, Paco, that's helping set the mood, A+, keep it up. "I ran into the other one. The you from here. Sort of stumbled into making him buy that we met at a club and that's why I was seeking him out." Of course, it wasn't, he'd just been mistaken and took him for Hart, but...hopefully that's not too offensive, here.

"I'm supposed to meet him tonight." He says it casually, like it doesn't mean anything, because to him it doesn't, but underneath the collected exterior Paco always presents to the world, he's definitely worried about how Hartley's going to take all of t his.

[auricular_acuity]

It took Hartley a moment for it to dawn on him. He looked curious and startled at first that Paco had run into his doppelganger, only considering how this might factor into his plan.

But then he realized why Paco was acting nervous. He was going on a date, with the other Hartley.

He had never even gone on a proper date with Paco?

His fingers twitch on the spatula and he carefully doesn't look at him. "So he likes men, too, huh?"

[youcouldbeagod]

"Apparently," he shrugs, "he's pretty twitchy about it. Reputation and all, I suppose."

He seems calmer than Paco expected. And he isn't sure that's actually a good thing. He decides to segue into the idea he mentioned earlier, if nothing else just for the sake of not being entrenched in silence.

"I have a device that connects remotely to my goggles. You see what I see, hear what I hear... I made it for Dante, it made it easier for us to case jobs when we couldn't actively be in the same place." He'd go get it, but he's sort of glue to the floor right now. This has him on edge. "You can use it to study him."

[auricular_acuity]

Hartley stiffens, and then looks up, shock written over his face for a moment. If Paco's offering that, surely he can't intend to cheat on Hartley with him.

"That...that sounds helpful," he says uncertainly. He dishes up the pancakes and brings them to the table.

He frowns as he places the plates down. "Paco... he's basically me. I wonder if it might not be easier for you to just win him over. Wouldn't be hard... you won me over easily enough."

[youcouldbeagod]

Something about the look on his face makes Paco's chest tighten and he doesn't know how he's supposed to handle it.

His movements are cautious, uncertain as he pushes off the counter and follows Hartley to the table. And then he's saying that and the tightness in his chest is worse, and there's a knot forming in his stomach and his heart is pounding hard against his chest.

"No!" The word is ripped from him, like even hearing the idea alone physically pains him. He catches Hartley's wrist and tugs him toward him. "He isn't you anymore than I'm Cisco. I don't want him, I don't even know him. I-I want you." All huge things for him to admit, the kind of things he keeps under wraps because he's terrified to show anything very deep. But Hartley gets that out of him, brings it out.

[auricular_acuity]

Hartley's eyes widen at this heartfelt confession. He quickly reaches out and pulls Paco into a hug, swallowing hard.

"I want you, too," he says. "Sorry for getting weird on you like that. You're not just like Cisco."

[youcouldbeagod]

With Hartley's arms around him, Paco feels like he can breathe again and his arms slide around him to tug him closer too, holding just a little tighter than he normally might in his sudden rush of relief.

"You...you're not going to make me send you home, are you?" his voice is softer and smaller than it usually sounds. The idea terrifies him, if he's honest, but...he did basically just seek permission to temporarily have an affair or a fling or whatever someone wanted to label it with his boyfriend's doppelgänger. It'd hardly be out of line for Hart to leave if he wanted.

[auricular_acuity]

If Paco had given some indication that he preferred this already-rich and not-fucked-up version of Hartley, then that would be exactly the suggestion. Not because Hartley wanted to go... but because it's still hard for him to believe someone would prefer him.

But Paco certainly dispelled most of his uncertainty. He kisses Paco again, soft and sweet.

"On the contrary, I'll show you that I'm superior to that bad copy, and make you keep me around," he says, fiercely.

[youcouldbeagod]

Paco sinks against him as he finally lets the relief completely flood him and make him go nearly boneless, the panic finally truly subsiding. He pulls away slowly to look at Hart as the kiss ends. "I... I--" he knows what he wants to say, but he can't seem to make himself say it.

His gaze drops and he pulls a little further away but he's still in Hartley's hold, "I already know you're superior..." he says softly, reaching up to card his fingers through Hartley's hair. "and I already do wanna keep you. That's not changing." Ever, if he had anything to say about it.

[auricular_acuity]

God it feels good to be appreciated. Hartley nods and drops his head down to rest on Paco's shoulder with a sigh of relief. It's really up to Paco if he stays here, after all.

"You want some pancakes?" he asks hopefully, though he's reluctant to let go.

[youcouldbeagod]

He presses his lips against Hart's temple and lingers there for a long moment before smiling slislightly at the question, "Yeah, let's eat."

Finally, he untangles himself from Hartley, albeit reluctantly, so they can sit down and eat breakfast.

[auricular_acuity]

Hartley is just as reluctant, but he's also hungry and cold pancakes are awful, so he gives his boyfriend a peck on the cheek and then sits down and pours a generous amount of syrup onto the pancakes.

He didn't go all out - that would have involved organic real maple syrup, freshly squeezed orange juice and the whole nine yards and he just can't afford that right now - but it's a good breakfast. He's satisfied with what he's accomplished, but he continues to be distracted. Even though he feels comforted that Paco isn't going to just abandon him for the other Hartley, and that he'll get to see the whole thing, there's still a tightness in his stomach.

"So..." he said finally, as he's mopping up the last of the syrup with his last slice of pancake. "Where are you meeting him?"

[youcouldbeagod]

Even though he's pretty sure he's assauged most of the initial panic, there's still a sharp edge of tension hanging around as they munch on the tasty breakfast Hsrtley had made. Paco purposefully ignores it for as long as he can.

Ah, there it is.

"A club called The Odyssey," he answers easily, leaning back in his chair as he pushes the empty plate away. "It's horrible, I apologize for the dubstep assault on your ears now," he rolls his eyes. He can't picture his Hart in a club like that but that may be other one's point. Less likely to run into people that know him in a place like that. "Supposed to be there at ten, so..." he shrugs, "I figure I'll get there sometime after ten thirty." No need to be too eager, after all.

[auricular_acuity]

Hartley nods. In fact, he is well-acquainted with the club from his days sneaking around and exploring his sexuality. He hates the music, but it was an anonymous place to go where no one knew who he was.

He rises and starts to gather the plates but when he comes around to Paco's side of the table, he puts his plate down instead and wraps his arms around the other man from behind. "You can kiss him," he says into his ear. "But don't enjoy it too much."

[youcouldbeagod]

Paco leans into Hartley's hold on him, smirking slightly, "Mmm, I won't." he turns his head and nips lightly at his boyfriend's earlobe. "Promise." he mumbles softly against his skin.

[auricular_acuity]

Hartley bends and kisses Paco on the side of his neck, then sucks until he raises a red mark.

"I believe you," he murmurs, tightening his grip. "I love you."

[youcouldbeagod]

His eyes slip closed and moans softly, tilting his head to give Hartley more access. He'd really rather stay here all day, and all night. Especially if he's going to be so handsy.

Those words make his eyes fly open and his heart thud quicker in his chest. He'd tried earlier but the words died before he could actually get them out. He can't say it now any more than he could then, but... maybe he can get it across another way.

He reaches up and tangled his fingers in Hartley's hair, tugging him down and shifting in his arms, pulling his closer to kiss him, hard and deep and a little desperate.

[auricular_acuity]

Hartley hadn't meant to say it, but once the words are out of his mouth, he's glad he did. He knows he can't expect Paco to just immediately return the sentiment - though there's a little disappointment when he doesn't.

Still, the reaction is all positive, and Hartley sighs in pleasure as Paco kisses him hard and even a little desperately. He returns the kiss with just as much interest, arms tightening around the other man.

"Good," he murmurs against his lips. "Now don't forget it, because I know I won't."

[youcouldbeagod]

Luckily, his boyfriend is good with nonverbal communication, or maybe he just knows him really well. Either way, he seems to read the message loud and clear and Paco is glad for it

"I won't " he assures him, trying not to grin like a lovestruck idiot--and failing.

"Come here," If he's going to feel like a nerd, he's gonna at least pretend it's about something nerd-worthy. He slips out of the chair and wraps his fingers around Hartley's, tugging him along with him into the living room. He drops his hand and disappears to the hall closet, returning with a set of glasses that almost match his own goggles, just with a few tweaks like the solid single visor view-piece and they're a little clunkier, meant more to function than style. There's also a earpiece that hooks off of one side that Paco's own goggles don't have.

"You will be able to hear and see everything I do." He holds the visor out to him. "Dante said it was really weird at first, but it's pretty handy."