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.
Hartley sags once they get into the elevator, headed for a floor about three from the top of the building. He says nothing significant on the way, though, explaining to Paco that his office and was on this floor, and for the most part he's left alone except for a few staff members who assist him.
He rattles on pointlessly about security clearances and fingerprint analysis, promising to get Paco in touch with HR by the end of the day to get his fingerprints entered into the computer so he could access everywhere in the building. Hartley had to press his finger to a pad to even access this floor.
When the doors open, he takes a quick look around, and then leads Paco into an office with a desk. Once there, he sinks into his chair with a sigh of relief. "No surveillance in most of the rooms on this floor," he says. "Just near the access points. So we're safe for now."
Paco nods along, gives noncommittal responses--what? are there cameras or bugs in the elevator? He has no idea, but he'll do his part to make this whole job opportunity idea seem as real as possible. Involuntarily and in pure, real reaction, his nose crinkles at the mention of fingerprints. Well, he'd do it if he had to, but he wasn't going to like it.
He follows Hartley down the hall and into the office. "No cameras?" He repeats, glancing a little suspiciously around the room. He makes sure the blinds on the windows are shut and turns the lock on the door.
Once he's satisfied, he moves to where Hartley is sitting practically slumped in the desk chair. With his knee, he pushes himself to stand between Hartley's legs, leaning one arm forward to rest on the back of the chair. "Good," he mumbles softly, taking what feels very much like a risk in this building, and kissing him softly. He can't help it, he lived for that little thrill of doing something wrong for so long, it's hard to deny the pleasure in it, even now.
But he doesn't linger, he pushes himself back to an upright position and drags a chair close to plop down in himself. "Your dad's pretty intense..." He's close enough he can reach Hartley's chair with his foot, he smirks and catches his boot under it and tugs it close enough he can rest his foot at the edge of Hartley's seat. Sorry, baby, he might be falling into some old, limit-pushing habits, here. "He threatened me."
Hartley is pretty sure there aren't actually bugs in the elevators, but there are definitely cameras, and he just doesn't want to risk the possibility that someone could read a word or two on his lips. It's not worth the risk, not when things are still so tenuous.
Now, after he executes the next phase of his plan - solidifying his position and ensuring that even if his parents find out, they can't do anything about it - then he won't care.
He hums with pleasure and relief as Paco kisses him, and seems revitalized by the gesture. He looks up at his lover with interest as the other man sits opposite him, and grins as Paco pulls him close. He doesn't mind some limit pushing here, where the door is locked - in fact, it's exciting.
His expression darkens at Paco's words, though he's not surprised. "What did he say?"
Paco is pleased that Hartley seems fine with the little flirts he's pulling out right now. He can't help it, it's just fun. Once things are more settled and solidified, he can't deny he might up that game, if Hart would let him. But... well, he'll worry about that later.
"Just that if I hurt you, he'll hunt me down." He doesn't seem phased or at all bothered by the threat, and he's casual when he repeats it, like he's recalling a weather report he'd seen earlier on the morning news.
"How long has it been?" He asks suddenly, tilting his head slightly. "Before all this... how long since you'd seen them? Spoken to them?" He's just curious. They didn't talk about either of their parents much, but it seems a bit more relevant on Hartley's end at this point.
Hartley's smile fades and he glances down at his hands, lying loosely in his lap. "Nearly five years since they threw me out on my ear and told me I wasn't their son."
"Five years..." He echoes, nodding a little. It's been longer than that for him, but that was his choice, not his hand being forced. Even if at the time it had felt that way. "What was it like, seeing him again? And is your mother so...pleasant?" He'd like to know what to expect in the inevitable eventual moment that meeting takes place.
Hartley feels like squirming at the questions, but he feels he owes Paco honest answers. It does feel good that Paco cares enough to ask - they've both spent a long time not prying into each other's pasts and feelings.
"My mother... she went along with what my father wanted. She always goes along with my father." He draws a breath and squeezes his hands into fists. "It's hard seeing him again. I want to hate him."
He does care. He cares to know what he's getting into, but...he also cares about what this is doing to Hartley, too. He's not sure he could face his parents like this, proper versions or another world's versions, it wouldn't make much difference, he isn't sure he could separate it.
And it doesn't sound like Hartley's doing much better at it, honestly.
Paco leans forward on his knees, reaching to close his hand over the top of one of Hartley's fists. "Maybe this wasn't the brilliant plan we thought it was." His voice is quiet, careful. He isn't doubting Hartley's ability to commit to it--and he doesn't quite realize it might sound that way--but more...what cost it has on him. Pretending to be loyal to someone you hate...isn't easy. Paco knows that fact quite intimately himself.
Hartley relaxes under Paco's hand, but tenses again at his words. He looks up, brows furrowing and a touch of defensiveness creeping into his eyes. This was his plan, and it's been a dream of his to walk back into Rathaway Industries and take over since he was put out on his ear.
But if Paco doesn't want to be here, he doesn't want to push him into dealing with Hartley's selfish plan. "What's wrong?"
He feels him tense up again and he knows he did something...said something? that caused it, but he isn't really connecting the dots and the confusion shows on his face, in his eyes.
"What do you mean? Nothing." Even to his own ears, his words sound defensive, which wasn't his intention or the best reaction probably. "Hart, I spent...so long...pleading loyalty to someone who I hated with every fiber of my being, because of what he held over me. And I don't know if I would have done it any different, if the circumstances were the same, but..." He shrugs, and it's not a cast-off more than it's a genuinely helpless gesture, "it ruined me, in a lot of ways that I can't get back."
Finally, his eyes find Hartley's again, his hand squeezing Hartley's gently. "Just...promise me you won't sacrifice yourself for this, okay? If it's too much...if dealing with them is ever too much...we, we'll find another way." He isn't really sure what brought on such a wave of raw emotion, but the words are there now, and he can't take any of it back. And he's not sure he would if he could anyway.
Hartley really isn't sure where Paco is going with this. He watches him uncertainly as he talks, then his eyes widen as Paco expresses his concern.
He draws a breath and lets it out, then squeezes Paco's hand tightly, breaking into a smile. "The day I met you was the luckiest day of my life, you know that? I couldn't ask for a better partner."
Suddenly, he's incredibly glad he has his goggles on because as much as he's opened up with Hartley, there are some things that are just very ingrained in him to think in certain ways-- like crying means weakness. And while he isn't exactly crying, his eyes are definitely wet with that little admission. The only outward sign of it hitting him at all is the grip he has on Hartley's hand tightening. He can't even find words to speak and it bothers him but he can't help it, he's not sure he's ever meant so much to anyone, ever.
"I don't know what I would do without you." He says softly.
Hartley doesn't know what he was hoping for, but what he got was enough. He squeezes back and leans closer to kiss Paco. "Then let's get to work," he whispers against Paco's lips. "With our hostile takeover of my father's company."
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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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Date: 2017-04-16 08:18 pm (UTC)He rattles on pointlessly about security clearances and fingerprint analysis, promising to get Paco in touch with HR by the end of the day to get his fingerprints entered into the computer so he could access everywhere in the building. Hartley had to press his finger to a pad to even access this floor.
When the doors open, he takes a quick look around, and then leads Paco into an office with a desk. Once there, he sinks into his chair with a sigh of relief. "No surveillance in most of the rooms on this floor," he says. "Just near the access points. So we're safe for now."
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Date: 2017-04-16 08:51 pm (UTC)He follows Hartley down the hall and into the office. "No cameras?" He repeats, glancing a little suspiciously around the room. He makes sure the blinds on the windows are shut and turns the lock on the door.
Once he's satisfied, he moves to where Hartley is sitting practically slumped in the desk chair. With his knee, he pushes himself to stand between Hartley's legs, leaning one arm forward to rest on the back of the chair. "Good," he mumbles softly, taking what feels very much like a risk in this building, and kissing him softly. He can't help it, he lived for that little thrill of doing something wrong for so long, it's hard to deny the pleasure in it, even now.
But he doesn't linger, he pushes himself back to an upright position and drags a chair close to plop down in himself. "Your dad's pretty intense..." He's close enough he can reach Hartley's chair with his foot, he smirks and catches his boot under it and tugs it close enough he can rest his foot at the edge of Hartley's seat. Sorry, baby, he might be falling into some old, limit-pushing habits, here. "He threatened me."
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Date: 2017-04-16 09:00 pm (UTC)Now, after he executes the next phase of his plan - solidifying his position and ensuring that even if his parents find out, they can't do anything about it - then he won't care.
He hums with pleasure and relief as Paco kisses him, and seems revitalized by the gesture. He looks up at his lover with interest as the other man sits opposite him, and grins as Paco pulls him close. He doesn't mind some limit pushing here, where the door is locked - in fact, it's exciting.
His expression darkens at Paco's words, though he's not surprised. "What did he say?"
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Date: 2017-04-16 09:09 pm (UTC)"Just that if I hurt you, he'll hunt me down." He doesn't seem phased or at all bothered by the threat, and he's casual when he repeats it, like he's recalling a weather report he'd seen earlier on the morning news.
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Date: 2017-04-16 10:00 pm (UTC)He shakes his head, scowling. "I can't say I'm surprised... though I suppose it's nice that he gives a shit. Too bad he only cares about a lie."
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Date: 2017-04-16 10:22 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-04-16 10:49 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-04-17 03:32 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-04-19 04:23 am (UTC)"My mother... she went along with what my father wanted. She always goes along with my father." He draws a breath and squeezes his hands into fists. "It's hard seeing him again. I want to hate him."
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Date: 2017-04-20 02:26 am (UTC)And it doesn't sound like Hartley's doing much better at it, honestly.
Paco leans forward on his knees, reaching to close his hand over the top of one of Hartley's fists. "Maybe this wasn't the brilliant plan we thought it was." His voice is quiet, careful. He isn't doubting Hartley's ability to commit to it--and he doesn't quite realize it might sound that way--but more...what cost it has on him. Pretending to be loyal to someone you hate...isn't easy. Paco knows that fact quite intimately himself.
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Date: 2017-04-26 01:10 am (UTC)But if Paco doesn't want to be here, he doesn't want to push him into dealing with Hartley's selfish plan. "What's wrong?"
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Date: 2017-04-26 01:38 am (UTC)"What do you mean? Nothing." Even to his own ears, his words sound defensive, which wasn't his intention or the best reaction probably. "Hart, I spent...so long...pleading loyalty to someone who I hated with every fiber of my being, because of what he held over me. And I don't know if I would have done it any different, if the circumstances were the same, but..." He shrugs, and it's not a cast-off more than it's a genuinely helpless gesture, "it ruined me, in a lot of ways that I can't get back."
Finally, his eyes find Hartley's again, his hand squeezing Hartley's gently. "Just...promise me you won't sacrifice yourself for this, okay? If it's too much...if dealing with them is ever too much...we, we'll find another way." He isn't really sure what brought on such a wave of raw emotion, but the words are there now, and he can't take any of it back. And he's not sure he would if he could anyway.
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Date: 2017-04-28 04:06 am (UTC)He draws a breath and lets it out, then squeezes Paco's hand tightly, breaking into a smile. "The day I met you was the luckiest day of my life, you know that? I couldn't ask for a better partner."
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Date: 2017-04-28 04:48 am (UTC)"I don't know what I would do without you." He says softly.
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Date: 2017-05-09 01:24 am (UTC)