Entry tags:
Guy's Night Out
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."
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"They're more like Pokemon, with powers and everything," Cisco says, voice high and excited. "It's pretty awesome."
Joe shakes his head at Yamato to let him know it's okay to ignore Cisco if he wants to, then asks, "You went from summer camp to fighting in a war? How old were you?"
Joe may not have an exact age on this kid, but looking at him right now, seven years ago would still put him as pretty young.
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"Eleven," he says, lifting his shoulder in a slight shrug. "Some of us were younger, one of us was a little older."
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Eleven.
The coffee pot sputters out the last of the water Joe poured into it, and Joe turns to take care of it.
He pours out a cup then turns back around to offer it to Yamato.
"Here, I'll let you make it up how you like it. There's cream, sugar, we also have milk if you want it." He gestures at the counter where he's set everything out along with a spoon for Yamato.
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"Thanks," he says, taking the cup and heading over to the counter to start adding sugar. One teaspoon, two teaspoons, three, four, five ...
(What? Sugar is nice! It's good stuff.)
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Carefully sipping his coffee Joe asks, "So what's this rescue mission you're on now?"
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"Oh, er," he says, a little uncertainly, because he's still not exactly sure whether Joe has put him in the Crazy Guy Who Kills People And Who Shouldn't Be Around Barry category. "Four people from our world got kidnapped for -- complicated reasons. They weren't all being held in the same place, either, so we've had to rescue them one by one."
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"Why you?" he asks, throwing a nod at Yamato. "Why is it your team looking for these people?"
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"Why wouldn't it be us? They need to be found, and we can find them," he says. He shrugs a shoulder, taking a sip of his coffee (and making a few 'ah, hot, hot' noises of distress). "We're the only people right now who can move between worlds, we're the only ones who know the terrain, and we know how to survive there better than anyone."
He takes another sip, frowning.
"Besides, it's -- ..." He has to pause for a moment, because he's not sure how to turn this particular nebulous feeling into words. "We can't not help people who need it."
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But it still happens, and hearing Yamato's listed out reasons why it should be Yamato and his team, Joe can't really argue with them; him not knowing or understanding the whole situation or circumstances.
Joe frowns, realizing this is a situation where he has no authority or any ability to help, and so he's forced to accept it
He frowns a little as he relents, backing down from the line of questioning.
"That sounds like something Barry would say," he comments on Yamato's last, by tone and the brief upturn of his mouth into a faint smile, that's not a bad thing.
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"We were chosen for this long time ago. I don't know if it matters anymore if it's right or not," he says. "... And besides, I can't speak for the others, but I think I forfeited the right to be a kid back a while back."
As far as Yamato is concerned, he gave that up when he first took a life, along with any notion of being some kind of hero.
He does crack a quick, awkward smile at the comparison to Barry, ducking his head. "Thanks, but don't be fooled, we're nothing alike."
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As for comparisons, as far as Joe is concerned there isn't really anyone like Barry, so he won't hold that against Yamato.
Taking a drink from his coffee, Joe gives a quick hiss and pulls the mug away, brushing his mouth with his hand.
"Alright so, what're you doing?" he asks, turning the subject back to the now by giving a nod towards the items Yamato has so carefully set out. "Anything I can do to help, or you wanna just wait for Barry to get back?"
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He's relieved that Joe isn't turning him out of the house, though, and doesn't seem to have taken against him.
"I can wait for Barry to get back. If we start without him, he'll probably pout at us," Yamato says wryly. "But I figure beef teriyaki, okonomiyaki -- kind of like a pancake but with a meat and vegetable filling -- and takoyaki, which is like an octopus dumpling."
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Instead he laughs on that comment about Barry. "He just might."
And no one wants that.
"Teriyaki I know," Joe says, then tries to repeat the names Yamato gives, with mild success. "Oko-- oko-meeyaki and taco-yaki are new ones."
He scratches the beard on his chin and mulls a moment before adding, "I think I've had octopus, though. Barry and Iris, they've taken me to some sushi places before, and one of those restaurants with the open grills? Where they do all the flashy cooking in front of you."
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A beat, and then he amends, "Well, except for maybe sometimes when Iris is cooking... "
Joe smiles then holds a finger to his lips to let Yamato know that's something Yamato never heard Joe say. As far as Iris will ever know, her dad loves her cooking.
Patting Yamato on the arm, Joe steps back to exit the kitchen.
"Barry should be back in a few, so I'll leave you to it."
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"Cool. Er, thanks again for letting us use your place for this," he says, giving Joe an awkward but happy smile.
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Taking his coffee and heading back upstairs, Joe passes by the living room on his way. Stopping by the couch, Joe reaches down and gives the lazing Cisco's shoulder a firm squeeze.
"Go in there and hang out with your friend," Joe says to him in his 'dad voice'.
Cisco squirms and nods quickly. "I'm going."
Joe heads upstairs and a few moments later Cisco steps into the kitchen.
"Hey Yams, hows it going in here?"
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He hopes it went pretty well.
"Hey, kiddo," he says as Cisco steps in, flashing a grin at him. "You here to help out with the cooking?"
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"Yeah, sure. I think I've marathoned enough episodes of Iron Chef to start showing off my skills."
GP comes wandering in, stopping in the middle of the floor to peer up at Cisco and Yamato.
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"That so? Maybe I should be deferring to you here, I haven't seen any Iron Chef," he grins. He gives a wink down at GP, too, just for a second. "Alright, can you cut up some vegetables for me? Just some leeks and peppers. I'll start on the batter."
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Bragging aside, chopping things is definitely something he can handle so Cisco heads to the sink to wash his hands and sets about getting things sliced and diced.
GP squawks, then flutters up onto the countertop, inspecting Yamato's careful setup.
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Once that's done, he lightly shoos GP away from where he's working and starts mixing up the batter.
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"Did you guys know Coast City has an amazing Asian market? I went there for the octopus and they had literally everything else. Plus, I got these."
Holding his hands out towards Yamato and Cisco, he opens them and two small cats blossom from his palms.
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"Here you go, bud."
Delighted, GP leaves Yamato and heads for the sink to splash around underneath the falling water.
Barry's return draws a mild reaction from Cisco until he sees the presents.
"Oooo, squishy!"
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"I did not know that," he says, flashing a smile and padding over to peer at the cats. "Huh, those are pretty damn squishy."
He claps a hand on Barry's shoulder, giving it a squeeze. "Thanks for all of this, Gramps."
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