He chuckles softly at the jab, "Absolutely not. I hate that place." He shakes his head and grins, "Mmm, yes, it is." He kisses Hartley again, deep and hungry. He finally has what he wants, and he doesn't have to worry about the double problem. "And we absolutely should," he mumbles, almost breathless, a glint in his eyes before he tugs his boyfriend with him, falling backwards on the bed.
The two of them spend the evening thoroughly enjoying one another and making use not only of the bed, of the other amenities that came with the expensive hotel room.
In the morning, Hartley wakes first. He runs his fingers down Paco's side and kisses his cheek. "Good morning, handsome."
Paco's never been an early riser, so he's a little resistant to the touches at first, but when he hears that voice in his ear, he can't help leaning into Hartley. "Mmm. Morning." he mumbles sleepily, glancing over his shoulder at him. "How early is it?"
"Before dawn," Hartley purrs with unfortunate energy. "We've got to get back to my home before my parents find out I'm out sucking cock."
He slipped a hand down between Paco's legs, feeling him up. "Though really, this particular cock is glorious enough that the last thing I want to do is hide it."
There's an almost pitiful groan as he realizes how early it is. "Oh my god, Harltey, I don't function until at least ten o'clock." He knows he's right, though. They've got to keep up the reputation of the one he's replacing. "Ugh, I hate it when you're right."
"Nnng, but I do like it when you flatter me," he turns his head to catch Hartley's lips against his own. "But teasing me this early is really rude." he mumbles, pouting slightly at him.
"I'm trying to make it up to you," Hartley said sweetly, rubbing slowly between his legs as he kissed Paco. "Because today's going to be the most important day of the operation. We don't want to mess this up now."
He moans softly into Hartley's mouth, rocking against his touch. "I know...we won't. I promise." That much, he's determined about. He won't screw this up for him. It has to go perfectly and he'll make sure it does.
Hartley grins and begins to jerk him off firmly. As he pleasures his boyfriend, he murmurs into his ear. "When I'm done with you, you'll open a portal to get me into my apartment. Around opening time, we'll meet in the lobby at Rathaway Industries, as you report in for your first day at your new job. I'll introduce you to my parents, and we'll be starting our brand new life."
"You're making it...very hard to focus on plans right now," he mutters, tilting his head and arching up to nip at Hart's earlobe. Only enough to tug, nothing that would leave a mark or anything so obvious.
Hartley smiles and ducks under the covers to pleasure Paco with his mouth. A delightful several minutes later, he swallows and raises his head again, climbing back up to snuggle against Paco's side. "I love you," he whispers.
Sometimes...he almost wishes Hartley wouldn't say that. If only because he kind of hates that he can't say it back. The whole hang-up feels stupid, it's only three words, and it's not like the fact behind them isn't true. But something about saying it just freezes him up. Mostly, he thinks, he's afraid that admitting it out loud means he's at greater a risk of losing it. Losing him. And that's an idea Paco can't quite handle.
He is, at least, getting better about not being completely weird about it when he says it. He doesn't get too still and too tense with those words any more. If anything, he's relaxing more and more. A small ghost of a smile slides across his lips, fingers carding slowly through Hartley's hair. "My Hart...my star." A throwback to cheesy things he mumbled to him when he was sleepy, it's not quite 'I love you', but it's close enough. Hopefully.
Hartley does wish on some level that Paco would say it back, but he continues to hold onto the hope that he will one day, and stuffs any sad feelings down deep.
Though honestly, those words Paco does speak warms him all the way through. Nearly as good.
"Yours," he agrees warmly, and kisses him again. "All right, time to go." He pushes himself up and begins hunting up his clothes.
He whines softly as Hartley pulls away and says it's time to go. As much as he doesn't want him to be, Paco knows he's right. "Mmm, okay." He mutters, finally rolling out of bed to tug on his clothes and get this day rolling.
Once they're both ready, he does just as they'd discussed, opening a portal into Harltey's apartment to drop him off before they parted ways for a little while.
Once it was time, he makes his way to Rathaway Industries, stepping into the lobby right on time. Paco would be lying if he said he was at least a little on edge. The idea that something small they hadn't expected could make it all fall apart doesn't stray from him. He's always been a bit of a pessimist in the best of times.
Hartley's no less reluctant to pull away, but he's also excited to get going. When Paco opens the portal, he steps through without hesitation and spends the next hour orienting himself - finding his office, for one thing. When he did his hacking job, he had also accessed the company employee directory, but it was also necessary to put a face ot the names of his direct coworkers and underlings.
Thankfully, while a few things are different, he is familiar with most of them.
It's a relief to stride down to the lobby at the appointed time to meet Paco, though. He's the only person here he doesn't have to keep his guard up around, after all. He smiles thinly the moment he sees Paco and heads over to him, holding out his hand to shake. "Good of you to come."
The security people at the desk behind are muttering to one another nervously.
He's, thankfully, hidden behind the safety of his goggles upon this meeting. It only made sense, with his reputation, with what people knew, he had to do what was expected, no matter how comfortable he's become around Hartley. There were images and pretenses to put out and he'd stick to it. But behind his goggles, the tiny bit of apprehension he's feeling is hidden, and the people huddled at the security desk can't tell he's looking in their direction for a brief moment before settling on Hartley again as his hand extends in greeting. He nods once and shakes his hand, firm, a little too hard-- like he might have had this ruse been real. Sorry, Hart.
He drops his hand back to his side as he speaks, "Well, I had some time to...spare." The hesitation is hardly noticeable to the gossips in the room, but he did edit his initial instinct to say he had time to kill. Seemed too on the nose, especially with what everyone else in the room has on their minds right about now. "I figured I'd see if your job is really worth my time." There's a beat and he adds, with a smirk, "Even criminals've gotta eat, right?"
He wonders how much this is going to mess with them. Having to put on this sort of front. He's become so...different with Hartley when they're alone together. He's lost this act he gives everyone else with him. He wonders how long it will be before the lines get blurred somewhere and one of them oversteps, or takes something in this game too personally. He won't admit, even to himself, that he's probably going to be the one that does it.
Hartley's really never seen this side of Paco. When they first met, he had been making an attempt to emulate Cisco's mannerisms and body language. By the time Paco was inclined to act naturally, he already cared for Hartley. It was a little off-putting to see his villainous manner, but he tried to hide it.
He figured if he did a poor job of hiding his uncertainty, that would only support the role he was playing anyway.
He drew himself up, squeezing Paco's hand quite firmly as well and trying not to wince. He lifted his chin, glad that at least he was a bit taller than the other man.
"I appreciate you taking the job," he said. "I hope it's not too boring for you. Come, I'll take you--"
He began to turn, intending to lead Paco towards the elevators, when he spotted his father bearing down on them with a stern look on his face. Immediately his whole body tensed with a flush of rage and an unexpected shock of terror, as if he was caught somewhere he wasn't supposed to be. But no, he was supposed to be here.
"A-ah, I should introduce you. Father, this is Reverb."
"Hartley?" his father stopped in front of them, looking from his son to the metahuman. "What is going on here?"
Paco just barely catches the uncertainty, and he tries to ignore the way it makes his chest tighten to see it. To know he's causing it. It'll be fine. He knows it's an act.
For the second time today, he's glad to be wearing his goggles as Hartley's father steps onto the scene in the lobby. There's something particularly unnerving about meeting your boyfriend's father under a lot of lies, none bigger than the fact that he is, actually, your boyfriend in the first place.
"Your son's offered me a job," Reverb pipes up, smirk sliding easily into place as he steps out from behind Hartley to talk to the man himself. He's so good at exuding confidence when he's anxious twelve ways to Sunday. "that...won't be a problem, will it? Sir."
Hartley's heart is pounding so hard he's sure everyone in the room must hear it. His father is there, right there, and everything hinges on him pretending to be the dutiful - and straight - son that the other him also pretended to be.
His father eyed Reverb with poorly-disguised distaste, then looked at Hartley. "What kind of job?"
"Protection," Hartley said. "You did say that it was important that I be careful when I'm out in the evenings, father."
"Did I?" Mr. Rathaway asked, frowning at Reverb. "You do bodyguarding work now?"
'Did I?' Something in his tone makes him think Rathaway Senior has some doubts that he's said such a thing before, but he doesn't seem interested in pressing that. He's much more interested in why someone like Reverb would be taking a job like this.
But Paco is quick on his feet and he doesn't miss a beat when the question is directed at him. "Is it so impossible to believe that maybe, in the wake of my former boss' demise, I might have to look elsewhere for employment?" Slowly, he slips by Hartley to put himself between him and his father, to make himself the center focus--as if he isn't already.
"I made a lot of enemies in my time under Zoom, I can't really fall back into the life I used to live. There aren't very many places my...talents can be put to use, but this opportunity came along and, well, I'm not one to look a gifthorse in the mouth."
He casts a glance over his shoulder at Hartley before settling his gaze back on the elder Rathaway in front of him, "It was Hartley's idea. Giving a former criminal a chance to remake himself, it's just good PR." Paco hopes he isn't putting his foot in his mouth, putting that on Hartley's shoulders. If he hates the idea, he's probably just ruined everything they're gunning for.
"Who could protect me better than one of Zoom's men?" Hartley put in arrogantly. "You have Thomas, after all."
"Thomas is trained," his father says sharply, then returns to regard Reverb, then holds out his hand. However, as Paco takes it, he leans in closer. "If you harm one hair on my son's head, I will not rest until I see you put in the ground. Understand?"
He only barely manages to contain the rage that boils under the surface at the way he snaps at his son. No one should speak to Hartley in such a tone, ever, and he'd like to make a point about it, but he won't. Instead, he just clenches his jaw to keep his mouth mouth shut.
He can hardly believe it, it's working. He doesn't hesitate to shake the older man's hand, not at all phased by the threat murmured in his ear. "Perfectly."
Hartley vibrates with tension as his father shakes his boyfriend's hand and gets right in close, murmuring something too quietly for him to hear. He can't stand this, but he knows that he has to pretend that things are just the way they always were - that he loves his father, as cold and distant as he might be sometime.
Finally, his father turns to him and nods. "I'm sure you have work to do, Hartley. Come to me in my office this afternoon if you need to speak to me." And to Reverb: "Welcome to Rathaway Industries, Mr, ah...? Reverb." He shifts with discomfort one last time, and then strides away.
Hartley swallows and then looks at Paco, trying to emulate his father's confident manner. "Come on. I'll show you where we work."
He doesn't bother correcting him on his name. That'll do for now. He watches as the man casts one last glance at the two of them before stalking off to his own office. There's a relief that tries to swell in his chest as he disappears around a corner.
"Lead the way," he says, turning his attention to Hartley once again. He falls in step next to him as soon as he starts moving. They need to get somewhere quiet, somewhere they can be alone, even if it's just five minutes.
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Date: 2017-03-27 01:52 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-03-27 02:35 am (UTC)In the morning, Hartley wakes first. He runs his fingers down Paco's side and kisses his cheek. "Good morning, handsome."
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Date: 2017-03-27 03:24 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-03-28 02:07 am (UTC)He slipped a hand down between Paco's legs, feeling him up. "Though really, this particular cock is glorious enough that the last thing I want to do is hide it."
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Date: 2017-03-28 02:47 am (UTC)"Nnng, but I do like it when you flatter me," he turns his head to catch Hartley's lips against his own. "But teasing me this early is really rude." he mumbles, pouting slightly at him.
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Date: 2017-03-28 03:47 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-03-28 04:30 am (UTC)no subject
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Date: 2017-03-30 07:12 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-04-01 09:40 pm (UTC)no subject
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Date: 2017-04-03 03:37 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-04-03 04:36 am (UTC)He is, at least, getting better about not being completely weird about it when he says it. He doesn't get too still and too tense with those words any more. If anything, he's relaxing more and more. A small ghost of a smile slides across his lips, fingers carding slowly through Hartley's hair. "My Hart...my star." A throwback to cheesy things he mumbled to him when he was sleepy, it's not quite 'I love you', but it's close enough. Hopefully.
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Date: 2017-04-06 04:16 am (UTC)Though honestly, those words Paco does speak warms him all the way through. Nearly as good.
"Yours," he agrees warmly, and kisses him again. "All right, time to go." He pushes himself up and begins hunting up his clothes.
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Date: 2017-04-08 03:42 am (UTC)Once they're both ready, he does just as they'd discussed, opening a portal into Harltey's apartment to drop him off before they parted ways for a little while.
Once it was time, he makes his way to Rathaway Industries, stepping into the lobby right on time. Paco would be lying if he said he was at least a little on edge. The idea that something small they hadn't expected could make it all fall apart doesn't stray from him. He's always been a bit of a pessimist in the best of times.
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Date: 2017-04-13 04:10 am (UTC)Thankfully, while a few things are different, he is familiar with most of them.
It's a relief to stride down to the lobby at the appointed time to meet Paco, though. He's the only person here he doesn't have to keep his guard up around, after all. He smiles thinly the moment he sees Paco and heads over to him, holding out his hand to shake. "Good of you to come."
The security people at the desk behind are muttering to one another nervously.
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Date: 2017-04-14 03:41 am (UTC)He drops his hand back to his side as he speaks, "Well, I had some time to...spare." The hesitation is hardly noticeable to the gossips in the room, but he did edit his initial instinct to say he had time to kill. Seemed too on the nose, especially with what everyone else in the room has on their minds right about now. "I figured I'd see if your job is really worth my time." There's a beat and he adds, with a smirk, "Even criminals've gotta eat, right?"
He wonders how much this is going to mess with them. Having to put on this sort of front. He's become so...different with Hartley when they're alone together. He's lost this act he gives everyone else with him. He wonders how long it will be before the lines get blurred somewhere and one of them oversteps, or takes something in this game too personally. He won't admit, even to himself, that he's probably going to be the one that does it.
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Date: 2017-04-14 09:35 pm (UTC)He figured if he did a poor job of hiding his uncertainty, that would only support the role he was playing anyway.
He drew himself up, squeezing Paco's hand quite firmly as well and trying not to wince. He lifted his chin, glad that at least he was a bit taller than the other man.
"I appreciate you taking the job," he said. "I hope it's not too boring for you. Come, I'll take you--"
He began to turn, intending to lead Paco towards the elevators, when he spotted his father bearing down on them with a stern look on his face. Immediately his whole body tensed with a flush of rage and an unexpected shock of terror, as if he was caught somewhere he wasn't supposed to be. But no, he was supposed to be here.
"A-ah, I should introduce you. Father, this is Reverb."
"Hartley?" his father stopped in front of them, looking from his son to the metahuman. "What is going on here?"
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Date: 2017-04-16 04:01 am (UTC)For the second time today, he's glad to be wearing his goggles as Hartley's father steps onto the scene in the lobby. There's something particularly unnerving about meeting your boyfriend's father under a lot of lies, none bigger than the fact that he is, actually, your boyfriend in the first place.
"Your son's offered me a job," Reverb pipes up, smirk sliding easily into place as he steps out from behind Hartley to talk to the man himself. He's so good at exuding confidence when he's anxious twelve ways to Sunday. "that...won't be a problem, will it? Sir."
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Date: 2017-04-16 04:33 am (UTC)His father eyed Reverb with poorly-disguised distaste, then looked at Hartley. "What kind of job?"
"Protection," Hartley said. "You did say that it was important that I be careful when I'm out in the evenings, father."
"Did I?" Mr. Rathaway asked, frowning at Reverb. "You do bodyguarding work now?"
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Date: 2017-04-16 05:00 am (UTC)But Paco is quick on his feet and he doesn't miss a beat when the question is directed at him. "Is it so impossible to believe that maybe, in the wake of my former boss' demise, I might have to look elsewhere for employment?" Slowly, he slips by Hartley to put himself between him and his father, to make himself the center focus--as if he isn't already.
"I made a lot of enemies in my time under Zoom, I can't really fall back into the life I used to live. There aren't very many places my...talents can be put to use, but this opportunity came along and, well, I'm not one to look a gifthorse in the mouth."
He casts a glance over his shoulder at Hartley before settling his gaze back on the elder Rathaway in front of him, "It was Hartley's idea. Giving a former criminal a chance to remake himself, it's just good PR." Paco hopes he isn't putting his foot in his mouth, putting that on Hartley's shoulders. If he hates the idea, he's probably just ruined everything they're gunning for.
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Date: 2017-04-16 05:18 am (UTC)"Thomas is trained," his father says sharply, then returns to regard Reverb, then holds out his hand. However, as Paco takes it, he leans in closer. "If you harm one hair on my son's head, I will not rest until I see you put in the ground. Understand?"
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Date: 2017-04-16 06:06 am (UTC)He can hardly believe it, it's working. He doesn't hesitate to shake the older man's hand, not at all phased by the threat murmured in his ear. "Perfectly."
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Date: 2017-04-16 06:16 am (UTC)Finally, his father turns to him and nods. "I'm sure you have work to do, Hartley. Come to me in my office this afternoon if you need to speak to me." And to Reverb: "Welcome to Rathaway Industries, Mr, ah...? Reverb." He shifts with discomfort one last time, and then strides away.
Hartley swallows and then looks at Paco, trying to emulate his father's confident manner. "Come on. I'll show you where we work."
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Date: 2017-04-16 06:21 am (UTC)"Lead the way," he says, turning his attention to Hartley once again. He falls in step next to him as soon as he starts moving. They need to get somewhere quiet, somewhere they can be alone, even if it's just five minutes.
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