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]

"We made a lot, even Barry should be ..."

Well, okay, Barry probably could eat through all of this.

"There should be enough," he amends, reaching over to pat Barry's shoulder, before serving himself up a little of everything.

[makes_the_toys]

"What?" Cisco replies, then confides to Yamato, "Dude, last week we got stuck in the elevator heading out to lunch, I had total Donner Party fears the whole time I was trying to fix it and get us going again."

[run_barry]

"I'm fine, it's plenty," Barry assures, deciding to go ahead and butt in front of Cisco and grab a few items. He even steals one of the takoyaki balls from right under the man's reach.

[angry_friendship_wolf]

"That's fair," Yamato murmurs to Cisco, cupping a hand around his mouth as if that will stop Barry from hearing him. "Sometimes when he's hungry, I catch him giving me a look that says 'I'd roast you in a barbecue sauce with just a sprinkle of salt if I could.'"

True story.

[makes_the_toys]

"Well, now we both know, if one of us goes cannibalism is the first suspect," Cisco says solemnly.

[run_barry]

"Haha," Barry deadpans at them. "You guys are the worst."

[angry_friendship_wolf]

"Cannibarry," Yamato says, just as somberly.

Coming to a cinema near you?

"Don't worry, Gramps, I know that eating well is important in your old age. Gotta get that calcium and fatty oils."

[makes_the_toys]

"Not bad, I'll allow it," Cisco decides after mulling that name for a moment.

Finally trying the food, Cisco makes an appreciative noise.

"Damn, this stuff is good."

[run_barry]

Barry shakes his head at Yamato, who is so the worst.

"I'm telling you, the day 'Old Man Yamato' walks into Milliways is going to be the best day," Barry pledges.

Trying out the okonomiyaki, Barry nods, "Wow, that is good."

[angry_friendship_wolf]

"Never going to happen," Yamato says dismissively.

Seriously, with the kind of life he leads? If he gets to be an old man, he'll be more surprised than anyone.

He cracks a quick, bashful grin. "T-thanks. I'm glad you like it."

[makes_the_toys]

"Old Yamato will be hilarious," Cisco says. "All stooped over, shouting about kids and lawns and picking fights with birds. He'll be just like my grandpa."

Cisco laughs, forking up more of the food before bragging, "It is very tasty, but I think we can all agree the beef is the best."

[run_barry]

"It's all good," Barry says, bemused.

Hearing Joe coming down the stairs again, Barry turns his head and calls out to him.

"Hey Joe, you should really try this, it's great."

Joe approaches the table, surveying the spread.

"It smells good," Joe comments, then looks at Barry. "Is Iris home?"

Barry shakes his head.

"No."

Joe frowns, then jerks a thumb over his shoulder in the direction of the bathroom.

"Then who the hell is taking a shower?"

[angry_friendship_wolf]

"I'll have you know that according to Takeru, my grandfather on his side of the family is still a cool old guy who rides a motorbike and sometimes challenges Digimon to fights," Yamato says. "So I've definitely inherited cool old guy genes."

He does give a quick chuckle at Cisco's remark, flashing him a smile. "You did a really good job with the beef."

When Joe comes down the stairs, he angles his head around a little, tracking the man's footsteps on instinct, then throws him a smile. "There's plenty for everyone if you want any."



... Wait, shower? Who?

Yamato's mind first goes to 'an intruder! Using the shower wait fuck that doesn't make sense,' before he realises.

"Kid, I, er. I think your bird is causing problems."

[makes_the_toys]

"That just means Takeru is going to be an old cool dude, you're going to be the crotchety old man shouting at clouds," Cisco replies, grinning.

He throws Joe a confused look on the question, then turns a panicked one on Yamato when he puts it together.

"Oh! I got it!" Dropping his fork, Cisco jumps up and hustles off.

[run_barry]

"Cisco," Joe chides, watching him go.

"I'm sure it's fine, Joe," Barry says, not sounding so sure it's fine at all.

"It better be," Joe replies, "Or I'm having roast chicken in awhile."

[angry_friendship_wolf]

Yamato gives Cisco a 'how do you figure that?' look, and accompanying gesture of confusion.

He watches Cisco leave, then rubs a hand over the side of his jaw, gaze flicking in the general direction of the bathroom.

"It's -- probably okay. Probably nothing to worry about."

Probably.

[run_barry]

"Here Joe, try some of this," Barry says, zipping away and then back in his seat a moment later with another plate which he's placed a few items on.

Joe casts a lingering look back towards the bathroom and then sighs and pulls out a chair to sit down, accepting the plate from Barry.

"You made all this from what was in my kitchen?" he asks Yamato, surprised.

[angry_friendship_wolf]

"And the stuff Barry brought," Yamato says, nodding over at Barry. "He ran all the way to Coast City for it. He and Cisco helped cook it all, too."

Yamato has no idea how far away Coast City is, but it's a whole other city, so probably pretty far.

[run_barry]

"Show off," Joe says to Barry, who just grins.

Joe starts with the okonomiyaki, cutting off a piece to give it a try.

"Cisco, huh? Here I thought that kid survived off of the microwave and drive-thru," Joe muses, the annoyed gruffness still there, but there are notes in his tone and expression that show the aggravation are only on the surface in the moment. Under that Joe just might care about the kid.

[angry_friendship_wolf]

"I'm pretty sure he does, but he's not a bad cook, turns out," Yamato says wryly. "Maybe he's just got natural talent for it, who knows."

[run_barry]

"Maybe," Joe allows. "He's a clever guy."

Joe has no idea how far cooking is from making scientific contraptions, but Cisco can certainly handle one, so perhaps the other isn't such a stretch.

Joe moves on to the takoyaki and then the teriyaki and finally makes his decisions.

"I like these two, I don't think this octopus one is really for me."

"Aww, that one's mine," Barry pouts.

"Sorry," Joe apologizes, "but I keep thinking about their little... tentacle things and it gets to me." Even if there aren't squirmy arms or suckers to be seen.

[angry_friendship_wolf]

"You did a good job, Gramps," Yamato says to Barry, with just a little bit of a chuckle.

"-- Yeah, I can see how it might be offputting," he remarks to Joe, flashing a quick smile. "Octopus are kind of ..." He makes a quick motion that's probably meant to indicate 'tentacles everywhere all of the time forever.'

[run_barry]

"Gramps?" Joe repeats and laughs.

Barry rolls his eyes and shakes his head, trying to look annoyed, but really very obviously amused.

Joe nods, pointing his fork at Yamato's gesture. "That. Exactly that."

Just... all the tentacles, doing unsettling tentacle things.

"The rest of this though, I like. I would eat it again," Joe adds, gesturing at the other items on his plate.

[angry_friendship_wolf]

Yamato flashes a grin at Barry, but doesn't take the opportunity to get some teasing in. As far as he's concerned, this is a marvel of self-restraint.

"Thanks," he says to Joe, ducking his head with another bashful, but very happy, smile. "It was really nice to have an excuse to cook a meal for people that isn't fish cooked on a campfire."

There's a hard limit to how many different ways you can prepare nondescript fish, and Yamato's found them all.

[run_barry]

"Been awhile since I've been fishing," Joe says a touch wistfully. "Of course everyday, I can see it getting old."

Wet, webbed feet smack against tile as GP comes toddling in, a hand towel wrapped around his waist and tucked under his wings.

The porg announces his presence with a 'RAAW!' and keeps walking, rounding the table to stand beside Cisco's vacated chair.

Joe watches, befuddled.

"There's something wrong with that boy... "