run_barry | 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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"Alright Yamato, we're all set," Barry says over the microphone after Caitlin has joined him and Cisco.

"Initiating in three, two, one... "

Once again the MRI hums to life. The S.T.A.R. Labs team alternates from watching Yamato and his readings, to casting glances over at Yamato's Crest to see if it decides to react again.

"You would so do that," Yamato mutters.

Once the MRI starts, Yamato shuts his eyes, focusing. When he's aware of what's coming, it's easy to track the flow of power coming out of his heart and just drag it back in there.

In the control room, the lens on the Crest pendant starts glowing for a second or two, the air immediately around it frosting for a split second, before the light sputters out again. It's a pattern that repeats a few times over during the scan: The lens glows a bright blue, there's maybe a moment of cold, and then it stops.

While the machine runs the three in the control room monitor Yamato's scan while keeping a wary eye on his Crest.

"Is anyone else wondering how awesome it would be if we let this thing really cut loose?" Cisco asks, gesturing at the pulsing Crest with a half-eaten Twizzler.

"No," Barry and Caitlin answer in unison.

"Okay Yamato,"Caitlin announces, "that's it. Shutting down in 3...2...1... "

The machine winds down and Barry follows Caitlin back into the room with Yamato.

While she activates the table to bring Yamato out, Barry stands by with Yamato's Crest and Digivice.

"It pretty much behaved itself this time," he says to Yamato, handing them back.

"That's good. I could tell it was not happy with me," Yamato says wryly, taking both items from Barry. He attaches his Digivice to his waistband again, then loops the Crest around his neck. "And it's gone dormant again now. Guess it only wakes up when it's time to be a dick."

He doesn't sound too bothered about that, standing up and rolling out his shoulders now that he's out of the cramped space of the MRI machine.

"I'm officially naming your Crest 'Dick'," Cisco declares, wandering in with his tablet, looking over readings. "Or maybe it should be 'Super-Dick', because check out these readings."

Flipping the tablet around, he holds the screen up for Yamato to see all the energy readings he recorded during the MRI session.

"I'm just glad we stayed out of the subzero zone this time," Barry replies. He is wearing a S.T.A.R. Labs sweatshirt now though, in defense against the slightly chillier lab temps.

"Don't-- " Barry starts when Cisco goes, then decides that 'Super-Dick' is not a battle he wants to take up (and he probably won't win anyways), so he moves on. "How're you feeling, Yamato?"

Caitlin offers a smile that's just the tiniest bit apologetic as she asks, "Would you mind if we took some more blood samples to mark as 'post-MRI'?"

That was quite the impressive display of power during the first attempt, suppressing it on the second was equally as impressive.

Yamato gives Cisco a wry look, ducking his head to quickly look over the energy readings. He raises his eyebrow a little at them, because that is -- definitely something.

"I feel fine," he says, giving Barry a quick smile. To Caitlin, he adds: "Sure, that's fine. I've got more blood than I know what to do with anyway."

"Barry and Caitlin don't think it's worth risking a sudden onset ice age to push you and Dick's limits to see what happens," Cisco says, clearly put out and disapproving of their rational decision making.

"Oh?" Caitlin replies to Yamato, amused. "Well, do me a favor and try to hold onto as much of it as possible. Minus what we need for science, of course."

She pats Yamato's arm and then jerks her head in a gesture for him to follow, leading the way back towards her lab for more sample collection.

Barry falls in beside Yamato, leaning over and dropping his voice to comment, "Oh sure, when she asks to stick you with needles you're cool with it, but when I brought you in for a tiny shot to save your health I was the bad guy."

So unfair Yamato, so unfair.

"They've probably got a point there, kid, not that I don't appreciate your commitment to mad science," Yamato says to Cisco, giving him a quick nudge.

He sticks his tongue out at Barry as they follow Caitlin. "Unlike some people, Caitlin doesn't trick me into getting stabbed with needles."

Back in the lab Caitlin gestures for Yamato to take the same seat he had before while she goes to prepare another batch of vaccutainers for samples.

"You make it sound so diablolical," Barry protests with a laugh. "I wouldn't have done it if I didn't care about you."

"At least if I ever do go full villain I know who I'm going to ask to be on my team," Cisco says, glad for at least semi-support and understanding from one of his friends.

"Yeah, or because you wanted to see someone else get needled for a change," Yamato says to Barry, even if he does turn slightly pink and duck his head a little at that remark about caring for him.

He takes a seat, one eye on the batch of vaccutainers.

To Cisco: "I'm always down for a little bit of evil."

"Oh, there's not little bit. If I go evil I'm going the full mile," Cisco replies. "Evil lair. Evil henchmen. Evil plot to take over the world. The whole nine."

"Solidarity, man," Barry replies with a grin. He side-steps and clears the immediate area around the chair Caitlin has Yamato in when she returns with her equipment; just so no mistakes are made on who the needle is for today.

Caitlin is quick and efficient, and careful as she goes about collecting another batch of samples.

"Overall we haven't taken that much blood today," she says to Yamato as she switches out one of the containers, "but you should still take it a little easy the rest of the day. Let me know if you feel dizzy or lightheaded at all, and better if you let one of these two do the driving, just to be safe."

Caitlin flashes Yamato a smile and then raises her voice to say over her shoulder, "And do drive. You don't have to superspeed everyone everywhere."

Barry glances at Yamato and then Cisco, and then lays a hand on his own chest and asks, "What me?"

Yamato maybe gives a little bit of a childish snicker at Caitlin's remark to Barry. She has a point, after all.

"Taking things easy, got it," he says. "Shouldn't be a problem."

"No, the other guy in the room with a rocket up his butt who likes to drag his friends around like so much luggage," Cisco pipes in, joining Yamato in his snickering.

"Oh, okay fine," Barry says, affronted by them all. "The next time any of you guys are late don't come looking for me."

"Never mind he's the one who's always late," Caitlin comments to Yamato in a teasing tone; smiling in amusement.

Finished with what she's doing, Caitlin stands up from the stool she's been seated on and announces, "Alright, all set. Thank you, Yamato."

"Thanks, Doctor Sno -- er, Caitlin," Yamato says, just a shade awkwardly, ducking his head.

He stands up as well, rubbing his arm quickly. "We got any other tests we need to run, or should I go get changed?"

Caitlin smiles at the self-correction and replies, "Well, we still have the CT scan we can do if you're up for it. But, we've already gone through a lot today so, if you'd rather save it for next time that's fine."

"There's also still the treadmill... " Cisco puts in, trying to sound tantalizing.

"It's up to you," Barry says with an easy shrug, in case Yamato was wondering about his opinion.

"I'm cool with doing both," Yamato says, flashing them all a quick smile. "And Cisco'll be sad if I don't at least do a little treadmill-ing, right?"

He nudges Cisco with an elbow as he says that last.

"So sad," Cisco confirms morosely, then gleefully rushes to go. "I'm gonna get it ready while you guys do the CT thang!"

Caitlin smiles, pleased with Yamato's choice. Offering a patient the chance to skip out on testing isn't something she'd normally do, but given everything else today she didn't want to push Yamato too much.

Having him decide on his own to continue solves that.

"Alright then, let's go," she says with a smile, turning to lead the way back down the corridor to another room where the CT scanner is waiting.

Barry catches Caitlin's relief and gives a smirk, then gives Yamato a 'come on' nod and follows after Caitlin.