He tips his head the slightest amount when he notices his eyes. They're different. Hmm.
He might have wondered more about that if not for being distracted, a soft groan rolling up out of him before he could stop it. "Firsts?" He repeats curiously, eyebrows arched. Oh, he hopes that doesn't mean what first springs to mind.
He smirks, "You so sure you're gonna get that far, Rathaway?" Playing the hard-to-get card is easy when he's naturally aloof without much effort at all.
"Plus," he turns toward him, shifting closer and reaching up to brush his thumb across Hartley's cheek, "who says I put out on the first date?" All he has to do is keep him interested enough for a second meeting, once that's confirmed he'll make his leave. Paco just hopes he doesn't take too long or lose interest.
Hartley's eyes widen as Paco touches his cheek, and leans into the touch. "Wait, are you asking me on an actual date? This isn't a booty call?"
He's definitely not disinterested. Terrified, possibly. But also intrigued. So far, Paco hasn't done anything that scary, and the idea of hanging around with someone so interesting and powerful is attractive.
Some flattering words, a kiss or two, a well-placed touch. This was so easy that if it wasn't exactly what he wanted out of this, Paco might have been disappointed. "If I said it was, would your answer be yes?"
Hartley reaches up and cups Paco's cheek, then leans in to kiss him.
"Sure... sure. We could have dinner tomorrow?" He hesitates. "Ah, we've got to be careful, though. If anyone recognizes me, it could get back to my family. I...haven't come out to them yet."
He kisses his back easily and smiles at the slight hesitation in his words. "That's okay, I'm not really the guy you take home to Mom anyway." He tips his head slightly, "Do you have any preferences for where we have this date? I'm not used to having to be discreet, but...I have a feeling you're worth it."
He cocks his head. "I've got some places I could suggest. How about a nice steakhouse? No slumming it... all the best food, best wine, and... I could get a hotel room if you want." He pauses. "No pressure, either. We could just get pay per view."
Oh, he couldn't believe how perfectly this was lining up, it was almost perfect enough he'd want to call it fate. Except he didn't really believe in that concept. "That sounds perfect," he practically purrs, brushing his thumb against Hartley's cheek, kissing him softly.
"I'm afraid I'm going to have to leave soon," he mutters as he pulls away.
Hartley all but pouts, but scoots out of Paco's way when it seems like he's ready to go. He grabs a bar napkin and scribbles an address for a hotel that happens to have a very nice restaurant attached. "Well, I'll see you there at eight, then. I'll arrange for the room. And bring a swimming suit...there's a really nice hot tub." He grins and leans in for one last kiss.
"Ooh, you might be my new favorite," he grins and kisses him one more time before slipping out of the booth. He disappears into the crowd and out of the club.
He makes it back to his apartment as quickly as he can. He wastes exactly no time in finding his Hart. "We've got this," he's grinning and barely holding back laughter at how easily this has all come together. "It was so easy."
The conversation had been...difficult to watch, but not only in the way Hartley had expected. He'd girded himself to watch Paco making out with himself, and had been determined not to let himself freak out and get jealous. It had been a little tough, but not too much, because Paco had done well with adhering to the boundaries he'd set. He knew the trust would be easier if this ever came up again.
There was something else, though, that had bothered him a great deal more. He was still deeply disturbed when Paco came through the door, practically laughing.
"Yeah, really easy," he said, his own grin more subdued. He grabbed Paco around the shoulders in a hug and led him to the sofa to cuddle. "Am I... I'm not that stupid, am I?" He knew that was silly...but was it? He'd been fooled by Paco, thought he was Cisco at first. Maybe he wasn't all that smart after all.
Paco's own elation at the jarring difference in Hart's own attitude makes the grin fade away from his face as he's led over to the couch. "What?" He's incredulous in the question, arms sliding around him to tug him closer. "No, not at all, babe."
He presses his lips to Hartley's temple and smiles as he pulls back, tipping his chin up so he's looking at him. "Is that what you're worried about?" He doesn't sound judgemental or like he's chiding him at all, but there's a definite note of disbelief in his voice. How could this brilliant man ever doubt himself like that?
He feels silly for worrying about it, but he can't help it. He had considered many possible situations, but one thing that never occurred to him is that he might not be a genius in this world. The projects his double has been working on are smart ideas, at least, so this Hartley's not a total idiot.
He flushes and looks away. "I'm probably being weird. It just seemed like you were putting it over on him so easily...and I wondered if I'm as gullible as he is."
"You're adorable when you blush," he murmurs in Hartley's ear when he looks away. He can't help it, it's just cute, and particularly noticeable on his near-porcelain skin.
That said, his next words are rather matter-of-fact, "You're hardly gullible, Hart," he slides his fingers through his hair. "if...you're thinking about the day we met, you only believed what I wanted you to believe. I am a good actor...and it really didn't take you long to figure it out. If I'm not mistaken...you had your suspicions before we even made it to your apartment, no?"
He hums softly, amused. "It's hard to believe it was only a few months ago." Paco tilts his head down to look at his boyfriend, "What have you done to me, Hartley Rathaway?" He smirks softly, catching his lips against his own. Tamed him, Paco thinks sometimes that's what he's done. What unnerves him is how little the idea bothers him some days.
Hartley huffs, but is already beginning to smile again. "Yes, I was suspicious shortly after we met in person. That's true. Forget about it. I suppose it's just harder than I expected to see my double without comparing us."
He returns the kiss, slipping his arms around Paco. "Nothing you haven't done to me. You've changed my life, love."
"It's understandable." Because he knows that, all his superiority complex aside, Hartley still has a lot of insecurities that lay beneath the surface. Paco might have "But you're the superior Rathaway, I promise. The only thing I could think of the entire time I was there, was that the reward was coming back here, to you."
He sinks against Hartley as his arms wrap around him, pillowing his head against his boyfriend's shoulder. He's so content here, and he's never really had that before. The feeling is kind of terrifying, but in a way he doesn't entirely mind, somehow. Paco opens his mouth to speak, but the words die on his lips and he's glad Hartley can't actually see him. He closes his eyes and nuzzles Hartley's neck, kissing his collar bone and wordlessly, noiselessly, mouths words against his skin that Paco hopes he can voice one day.
Paco's so sweet. As they sink together on the sofa, Hartley has never felt more loved and appreciated. Maybe Paco hasn't verbally returned the sentiment Hartley expressed, but he still feels it. Hopefully he's not fooling himself.
"You're giving me cavities," he teases, pressing a kiss to Paco's hair while Paco kisses at his skin.
He chuckles lightly as he tips his head up to look at him, "You love it," he murmurs softly, smirk firmly in place.
A content silence lulls over them, curled up on the couch completely tangled around each other and Paco is relaxed, comfortable in ways he can't remember being, even if just under the surface there's an incessant energy threatening to burst, always.
"We're gonna be very busy tomorrow." He mumbles, his head against Hartley's chest, listening to the soft thud of his heartbeat. If he let it, the sound would lull him right to sleep. "But I can't wait...I get him to the hotel room and I'll shove him through a breach to your world. And then I'll open one between the hotel and here. I entered with Hartley Rathaway and I left with Hartley Rathaway, and no one will ever know a goddamn thing we don't want them to." There's an edge of amusement in his voice, the plan was brilliant in its simplicity, really.
It really is a good plan. Hartley smiles and squeezes Paco tightly. "It's going to be great. The only part we have to figure out now is what your cover story is. Or are we just going to tell my parents that I've hired Reverb as my personal bodyguard?"
"Mmm...I dunno," he tips his head slightly. "you know your parents better than I do... do you think they'd buy it?"
Having to keep the real nature of their relationship quiet and between them might have been an issue for a lot of people, but Paco is a highly private person as it is, so he isn't very bothered by it. He kind of prefers it in a lot of ways, even though he'll miss the little shows of affection he's gotten used to.
Hartley hates that he'll have to go back into the closet, but it'll be worth it. He thinks about it for a few moments, letting his hands wander casually over Paco's chest.
"I think they'd believe me. There isn't exactly another explanation they'd believe," he says wryly. "I suppose it depends on whether it seems likely you'd hire yourself out. It seemed from the other Hartley's reaction that he knew who you were before you met yesterday."
"Mmm, yeah. I'm not exactly unknown here, being one of Zoom's top soldiers and all." He doesn't sound ashamed of it, and he's not. He'd done the power play, the thing that would keep him as safe as may have been possible at the time. "But in his demise..." He hums thoughtfully. "yeah, I think it may be shocking, but buyable. Guy's gotta put food on the table somehow, right?" He smirks.
Hartley nods slowly. He still had only a vague idea of who Zoom is and what Paco's done for him. "I suppose I should ask..." His tone is uncomfortable.
He's always taken a 'DADT' stance towards Paco's previous life as an enemy of the Flash, nervous about what he might learn if he did pry too hard. But now they're back in Paco's world - he probably should be prepared.
"Ah, what do I need to know, about you being a Zoom soldier - what would I be expected to know?"
He feels the mood shift, that tension fill the air and he rolls his lips together. He couldn't avoid it forever, he knows that, and it makes sense that now that they'll be here, on his Earth, that Hartley would get curious. While he isn't ashamed of it, he isn't sure how Hartley will feel about it.
"I was a criminal long before Zoom, but...under him, I went from some punk kid a couple of cops knew by name to someone that everyone feared. I made the power play, aligned myself with the person taking over the city to save my own ass. But I was the reason he could do a lot of what he did at all, I was quickly a favorite and put in charge of the lower soldiers. And I had plans of my own." Plans that never quite panned out, admittedly.
He finally looks up at Hartley, trying to get a read on how he's taking all of this. "I've done a lot of bad things, and I'm not really a good person...but I refuse to make excuses for who I am, what I've done, decisions I've made. I wouldn't do it different if I had the chance. I just..." He frowns, gaze dropping, fingers wrapping around Hartley's. He doesn't look back up at him, keeps his gaze in their fingers instead. "I hope it doesn't change anything."
In explaining it all, Paco feels more vulnerable than he can remember feeling in a long time. He isn't lying...he isn't a good person, he's done terrible things. And the realization that maybe it would be too much for Hartley to accept is sinking down into his bones, making his chest is tight and his heart beat faster with the panic of that thought.
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Date: 2017-03-07 05:27 am (UTC)He might have wondered more about that if not for being distracted, a soft groan rolling up out of him before he could stop it. "Firsts?" He repeats curiously, eyebrows arched. Oh, he hopes that doesn't mean what first springs to mind.
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Date: 2017-03-08 03:23 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-03-08 03:37 am (UTC)"Plus," he turns toward him, shifting closer and reaching up to brush his thumb across Hartley's cheek, "who says I put out on the first date?" All he has to do is keep him interested enough for a second meeting, once that's confirmed he'll make his leave. Paco just hopes he doesn't take too long or lose interest.
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Date: 2017-03-08 03:43 am (UTC)He's definitely not disinterested. Terrified, possibly. But also intrigued. So far, Paco hasn't done anything that scary, and the idea of hanging around with someone so interesting and powerful is attractive.
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Date: 2017-03-08 12:52 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-03-09 03:28 am (UTC)"Sure... sure. We could have dinner tomorrow?" He hesitates. "Ah, we've got to be careful, though. If anyone recognizes me, it could get back to my family. I...haven't come out to them yet."
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Date: 2017-03-09 03:54 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-03-09 05:14 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-03-10 03:23 am (UTC)"I'm afraid I'm going to have to leave soon," he mutters as he pulls away.
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Date: 2017-03-10 04:52 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-03-10 05:17 am (UTC)He makes it back to his apartment as quickly as he can. He wastes exactly no time in finding his Hart. "We've got this," he's grinning and barely holding back laughter at how easily this has all come together. "It was so easy."
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Date: 2017-03-11 11:54 pm (UTC)There was something else, though, that had bothered him a great deal more. He was still deeply disturbed when Paco came through the door, practically laughing.
"Yeah, really easy," he said, his own grin more subdued. He grabbed Paco around the shoulders in a hug and led him to the sofa to cuddle. "Am I... I'm not that stupid, am I?" He knew that was silly...but was it? He'd been fooled by Paco, thought he was Cisco at first. Maybe he wasn't all that smart after all.
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Date: 2017-03-12 12:14 am (UTC)He presses his lips to Hartley's temple and smiles as he pulls back, tipping his chin up so he's looking at him. "Is that what you're worried about?" He doesn't sound judgemental or like he's chiding him at all, but there's a definite note of disbelief in his voice. How could this brilliant man ever doubt himself like that?
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Date: 2017-03-14 04:13 am (UTC)He flushes and looks away. "I'm probably being weird. It just seemed like you were putting it over on him so easily...and I wondered if I'm as gullible as he is."
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Date: 2017-03-15 01:39 am (UTC)That said, his next words are rather matter-of-fact, "You're hardly gullible, Hart," he slides his fingers through his hair. "if...you're thinking about the day we met, you only believed what I wanted you to believe. I am a good actor...and it really didn't take you long to figure it out. If I'm not mistaken...you had your suspicions before we even made it to your apartment, no?"
He hums softly, amused. "It's hard to believe it was only a few months ago." Paco tilts his head down to look at his boyfriend, "What have you done to me, Hartley Rathaway?" He smirks softly, catching his lips against his own. Tamed him, Paco thinks sometimes that's what he's done. What unnerves him is how little the idea bothers him some days.
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Date: 2017-03-16 03:36 am (UTC)He returns the kiss, slipping his arms around Paco. "Nothing you haven't done to me. You've changed my life, love."
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Date: 2017-03-16 04:00 am (UTC)He sinks against Hartley as his arms wrap around him, pillowing his head against his boyfriend's shoulder. He's so content here, and he's never really had that before. The feeling is kind of terrifying, but in a way he doesn't entirely mind, somehow. Paco opens his mouth to speak, but the words die on his lips and he's glad Hartley can't actually see him. He closes his eyes and nuzzles Hartley's neck, kissing his collar bone and wordlessly, noiselessly, mouths words against his skin that Paco hopes he can voice one day.
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Date: 2017-03-18 01:34 am (UTC)"You're giving me cavities," he teases, pressing a kiss to Paco's hair while Paco kisses at his skin.
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Date: 2017-03-18 02:30 am (UTC)A content silence lulls over them, curled up on the couch completely tangled around each other and Paco is relaxed, comfortable in ways he can't remember being, even if just under the surface there's an incessant energy threatening to burst, always.
"We're gonna be very busy tomorrow." He mumbles, his head against Hartley's chest, listening to the soft thud of his heartbeat. If he let it, the sound would lull him right to sleep. "But I can't wait...I get him to the hotel room and I'll shove him through a breach to your world. And then I'll open one between the hotel and here. I entered with Hartley Rathaway and I left with Hartley Rathaway, and no one will ever know a goddamn thing we don't want them to." There's an edge of amusement in his voice, the plan was brilliant in its simplicity, really.
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Date: 2017-03-18 04:11 am (UTC)It really is a good plan. Hartley smiles and squeezes Paco tightly. "It's going to be great. The only part we have to figure out now is what your cover story is. Or are we just going to tell my parents that I've hired Reverb as my personal bodyguard?"
He pauses. "Would that work?"
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Date: 2017-03-18 04:21 am (UTC)Having to keep the real nature of their relationship quiet and between them might have been an issue for a lot of people, but Paco is a highly private person as it is, so he isn't very bothered by it. He kind of prefers it in a lot of ways, even though he'll miss the little shows of affection he's gotten used to.
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Date: 2017-03-19 01:34 am (UTC)"I think they'd believe me. There isn't exactly another explanation they'd believe," he says wryly. "I suppose it depends on whether it seems likely you'd hire yourself out. It seemed from the other Hartley's reaction that he knew who you were before you met yesterday."
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Date: 2017-03-19 04:57 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-03-19 05:21 am (UTC)He's always taken a 'DADT' stance towards Paco's previous life as an enemy of the Flash, nervous about what he might learn if he did pry too hard. But now they're back in Paco's world - he probably should be prepared.
"Ah, what do I need to know, about you being a Zoom soldier - what would I be expected to know?"
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Date: 2017-03-19 07:38 pm (UTC)"I was a criminal long before Zoom, but...under him, I went from some punk kid a couple of cops knew by name to someone that everyone feared. I made the power play, aligned myself with the person taking over the city to save my own ass. But I was the reason he could do a lot of what he did at all, I was quickly a favorite and put in charge of the lower soldiers. And I had plans of my own." Plans that never quite panned out, admittedly.
He finally looks up at Hartley, trying to get a read on how he's taking all of this. "I've done a lot of bad things, and I'm not really a good person...but I refuse to make excuses for who I am, what I've done, decisions I've made. I wouldn't do it different if I had the chance. I just..." He frowns, gaze dropping, fingers wrapping around Hartley's. He doesn't look back up at him, keeps his gaze in their fingers instead. "I hope it doesn't change anything."
In explaining it all, Paco feels more vulnerable than he can remember feeling in a long time. He isn't lying...he isn't a good person, he's done terrible things. And the realization that maybe it would be too much for Hartley to accept is sinking down into his bones, making his chest is tight and his heart beat faster with the panic of that thought.
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