Guy's Night Out

[run_barry]

After everything that's been going on lately, the time has come for a break. A planned visit from a friend is just the thing and with no major crisis going on at the moment, it's the perfect time to make that happen.

So, with an itinerary that includes science, food and video games, Barry is excited to bring Yamato in from Milliways for another trip to Central City.

Opening the door from the bar that's a broom closet in S.T.A.R. Labs, Barry gestures Yamato through.

"Here we are," Barry says with a smile. "Welcome back, dude."

The corridor, like most of rest of S.T.A.R. Labs that doesn't get used by Team Flash much, is usually pretty dimly lit, but today the passageway is bright in anticipation of their guest and the science that's about to commence.

Nodding down the hallway, Barry says, "Cisco and Caitlin are in her lab and we're all set up for you."

Comments

[angry_friendship_wolf]

Yamato would be lying if he said he wasn't nervous. Not about the science, he's sure that'll be fine, it's the socialising and the seeing the rest of the team thing and the maybe meeting Joe thing that has him on edge.

"R-right," he says, giving Barry a sidelong look, and for a few moments looking a lot more vulnerable than he usually lets himself appear. He shoves that vulnerability down pretty fast, replacing it with his usual gruff veneer. "We shouldn't keep them waiting, then."

[run_barry]

Letting the door close behind them, Barry doesn't move forward yet, instead standing and watching Yamato.

"You okay?" he asks. "If you need a minute that's cool. I'm always late so, nothing new."

Barry gives a shrug and offers a smile, trying to be easy and reassuring.

[angry_friendship_wolf]

"I'm fine," Yamato says immediately. "Lead the way."

It's like ripping off a plaster. Best not to spend too much time thinking about it first.

[run_barry]

"Alright," Barry says, giving Yamato's shoulder a pat and then he starts leading the way.

"Caitlin's ready to do a full work up scans and samples-wise, and if you're game Cisco says he can get you on the treadmill for some 'action diagnostics'."

Barry doesn't actually do the finger quotes, but they're there in his tone to let Yamato know those are Cisco's words, not his.

[angry_friendship_wolf]

"I don't have any idea what action diagnostics are, but sure, sounds good," Yamato says, adjusting his jacket a little as he follows Barry. "I'm game for whatever tests they feel like running."

[run_barry]

"The treadmill is what they use for me," Barry explains. "It's capable of tracking all my vitals while I run; heart rate, respiration, glucose levels, all that stuff. Cisco wants to get your readings to compare to your resting rates."

A beat, and Barry admits, "Or, he just wants to make you run. But still, it'll probably be good data to have."

[angry_friendship_wolf]

"Probably. Can't hurt to indulge him, anyway."

Yamato doesn't have a problem with running, after all, and it'd be poor form anyway to agree to be tested and then turn down any of the tests.

[run_barry]

"You say that now... " Barry says, joking lightly as they head down the hall. He nudges Yamato with an elbow, still trying to help break up those nerves.

Whether he's successful or not, they've reached Caitlin's lab and Barry leads the way through the door.

"Hey Caitlin, we're here," Barry says.

Caitlin is standing by in her lab coat and gives the two a sunny smile when they enter.

"Hi Yamato, it's nice to see you again," she greets.

[angry_friendship_wolf]

Yamato's nerves remain fairly nerve-y, although it's perhaps only visible in the way he hunches his shoulders as they enter the lab.

"Doctor Snow," he says, a little stiffly, inclining his head without making eye contact. "It's nice to see you again as well."

[run_barry]

Caitlin glances at Barry, then tilts her head a bit at Yamato.

"Please, call me Caitlin," she says. "So, we're going to run the full gamut today, Cisco's prepping machines right now, we'll get to the MRI and CT for both full-body and neuroimages, plus a full blood workup. It'll be extensive, but we have experience and we'll do our best to keep you comfortable. Do you have any questions before we begin?"

While Caitlin goes over things Barry stands by watching and waiting.

[angry_friendship_wolf]

"No, no, I don't think so," Yamato says, a little awkwardly. "I'm ready whenever you are. Thanks for doing this, too, I appreciate it."

[run_barry]

"No problem, I'm very excited to see what turns up," Caitlin replies.

That said, she turns around and picks up a folded pair of sweats and a t-shirt, each with S.T.A.R. Labs emblazoned on them, and a sample cup from the counter behind her. Turning back to Yamato, she offers him the clothes and holds out the cup.

"Here, change into these and I need you to urinate in this."

Barry coughs into his hand and then makes an awkward gesture towards the door.

"The uh-- the bathroom's this way, man."

[angry_friendship_wolf]

"-- Well, er, don't get your hopes up too high. Doctor Kido still hasn't found much."

Although she's working with the considerably less advanced technology (on Earth, at least) of Yamato's world.

He takes the clothes and, after a moment's hesitation, the cup, giving Barry a sidelong look.

"I'll be right back."

With that, he heads to the bathroom.


After a short while, he returns.

He's hooked his digivice onto the waistband of his sweats, and he's wearing his limiter pendant over his t-shirt instead of tucked out of sight under his shirt like it usually is, and is rubbing at his arm with a slightly awkward expression -- because while his jacket was covering all of his scar before, the t-shirt doesn't, and the twisted up red shape of it can be seen starting at his elbow, going up under the sleeve of the shirt, and then curving up his neck at the other side.

He takes a moment to find somewhere to put his (very neatly bundled) clothes down, then holds out the sample cup for Caitlin.

"Er ... here."

[run_barry]

"Thank you," Caitlin says as she accepts the cup. "Have a seat."

She gestures at a chair and steps away to set aside the sample. She returns gloved up with a blood pressure cuff and pauses before putting it onto Yamato's arm.

"Oh. Yamato, what happened?" she asks with concern.

Sitting on a stool nearby, Barry speaks up.

"Oh, uh, that's-- he's fine, Caitlin. It's just a scar," Barry says, glancing at Yamato, not sure if he wants to talk about it or not.

[angry_friendship_wolf]

Yamato tenses up in a moment of reflexive anxiety, because he vividly remembers Cisco's disapproval, and Cisco isn't even a doctor, and doctors are basically his natural predator and -- ...

"Y-yeah, Barry's right, it's fine, it's just a scar, happened ages ago, there was a Phantomon with a scythe and the scythe was poisoned and then some stuff happened and it got infected ..." Stop talking. Stop talking. Stop talking. Stop talking. "And I was distracted soIdidn'tdoanythingaboutit andthenitgotworse andafterthateverythingisablurbutit'sfinenow itdoesn'tevenhurtI'vepuncheditabunch."

He pauses for a few moments.

"Oh, hey, is that a blood pressure cuff? N-neat."

[run_barry]

Caitlin leans in closer and closer to try and catch everything Yamato is saying. When she draws back there is definitely some disapproval in her expression mixed in with even more concern.

"Infections are serious, and this one looks like it was very bad," she says, reaching out to pull Yamato's sleeve up to get a better look. "You're very luck not to have died."

Trying to save Yamato, Barry speaks up, "Yeah but, you know, it was pretty hard circumstances and not an ideal situation at all. He was separated from his team and the Digital World doesn't exactly have a whole lot of hospitals for people around."

Barry feels like that would be the case at least, although he doesn't recall ever asking or hearing Yamato say anything about Digital World medical facilities.

"Have you noticed any lingering affects? Hindering of movements, residual pain?" Caitlin asks with a quiet frown.

[angry_friendship_wolf]

Yamato tenses up like a deer in headlights when Caitlin pulls up his sleeve, although he does manage to wave his other arm in Barry's direction in a 'listen to Barry, he is so wise' gesture.

"Yeah, yeah, what Barry said."

He's going to have to pay back this debt next time Barry needs someone to cover for his own injury-related screw-ups, but that's a reasonable price.

"No, er, no lingering effects," he says to Caitlin. "It feels fine, I can move it okay, doesn't even itch anymore."

[run_barry]

"I'm not exactly sure how great an example Barry is," Caitlin notes, casting a quick glance Barry's way before she pulls at the collar of Yamato's shirt to trace the scaring the rest of the way up.

Barry lays a hand on his chest, full flustered innocence. "Well, I-- I-- "

Yeah, he doesn't have anything to say to that.

"But," she relents, drawing back finally, "it does sound like a rather difficult situation to be in. I'm glad it turned out okay."

It does seem like it's healed as well as it could, and Caitlin finally gets the blood pressure cuff wrapped around Yamato's bicep.

"Here, put this on your finger," she says, handing over a monitoring clip while she sets about inflating the cuff and taking Yamato's readings.

[angry_friendship_wolf]

Yamato tilts his head at Barry in a 'she's got you there' gesture, before he freezes up again when Caitlin pulls at the collar of his shirt. Once she draws back, he rubs a hand over the side of his neck, reflexively covering the point where the scar curves up it for a few seconds.

"Right, I will ... do that," he says, clearing his throat as he takes the clip and attaches it to his finger.

Despite being, perhaps, a little stressed right now, his blood pressure falls well within the optimal range for an athletic person of his age.

[run_barry]

Barry throws Yamato a put upon expression that says 'yeah I know, thanks for that'.

Caitlin records everything on her tablet screen, and removes the cuff to replace it with an elastic band which she ties around Yamato's upper arm.

"Your vitals look great. We'll take some blood samples now and then get you in to start scans," Caitlin says, ready to start prepping Yamato's arm.

[angry_friendship_wolf]

Yamato fiddles with the elastic band a little, lightly poinging it a few times, although he has the good grace to look a little sheepish when Caitlin talks again.

"Ah, sure," he says, giving her a quick smile.

[run_barry]

When she sees Yamato's smile Caitlin strengthens hers.

"See, I'm not all that scary, am I?" she asks, gently swabbing his arm with an alcohol wipe.

[angry_friendship_wolf]

Yamato ducks his head, somewhat embarrassed.

"I, er ... no, no, not that scary."

[run_barry]

"Cisco told you I do lobotomies, didn't he?" Caitlin asks, getting a needle ready.

"Small poke," she warns before inserting the needle.

[angry_friendship_wolf]

"... He might've said that. In passing. Maybe."

He doesn't react much to the needle going in, save for his gaze flicking over to it for a second.