The Great Escapes

[run_barry]

Since Yamato offered to come to Central City and help with the epidemic crisis, things have been crazy, but handling them has been a whole lot easier now that Barry isn't operating alone.

He even got some rest in, on Yamato's orders, and they've got a bit of down time as far as emergencies in the city go so they're using it to work on other problems.

While Yamato recalibrates the S.T.A.R. Labs satellite to track the new meta they suspect is behind a whole bunch of the crime, and a death-trap or two set for Barry, Barry is getting his science nerd-amateur virologist on, trying to find a cure to the bug that has so much of the City down; including his team.

Sitting at a desk in the Cortex, Barry works away with a microscope taking notes on a tablet. Beside him are several boxes of chicken nuggets which he's working through, with a few empty ones already in the waste bin nearby.

In the middle of the space on the floor GP the porg is munching on shrimp treats while bopping around an inflatable S.T.A.R. Labs beach ball.

Comments

[angry_friendship_wolf]

"I hope he does, at least."

Barry's difficult for Yamato to read in an entirely different way to Wells, because that puppyish optimism of his is sometimes like an impenetrable forcefield. It's a problem Yamato has with Taichi just as much.

"No past or future Barrys and Ciscos have come in yet, if that's what you're asking. If a Future Cisco with an eyepatch and a metal arm or something shows up, I'm sure you'll hear about it," he says, cocking his head. "In general, though, it's not unheard of, but my timeline seems a lot twistier than normal."

[makes_the_toys]

He inclines his head, taking that bit of information and internalizing it.

"It'll be very interesting if it does happen," he notes before he turns his head and starts coughing.

It's a short spell, and he moves the chair backwards a foot or two, creating a bit more space between them.

"I'm sorry, I definitely don't want to get you sick. This virus it's a nasty one."

[angry_friendship_wolf]

"Don't push yourself too hard," Yamato says, gruff but openly concerned, because even if he's not entirely sure what to make of Wells, the man's still in his vicinity, which means he gets to be mother-henned.

"If you haven't had a chance to eat yet, you should have something while you're down here. Keep your strength up," he adds, circling around Wells to go pick up one of the boxes of chicken nuggets and bring it over. "Here."

[makes_the_toys]

Dr. Wells accepts the box with a short chuckle and a smile.

"Thank you, Yamato. I probably should eat something. This illness does leave the body rather drained."

Opening the box, he's bemused by the chicken nuggets, but doesn't hesitate in taking one up.

"So the world you come from, how different is it from ours?" he asks.

[angry_friendship_wolf]

"My world's really a collection of worlds. There's Earth, which is pretty similar to this world, except we don't have any superheroes, but there's also at least three other worlds connected to it, probably more," Yamato says. "I've only visited two of those, though."

And one of those was the Dark Ocean, and it wasn't so much a visit as him unintentionally using his powers to forcibly manifest it around himself.

He rubs the back of his neck, thinking for a moment. "The world we -- me and my team, at least -- most interact with is completely different -- it's populated entirely by monsters, has a whole different set of natural laws, stuff like that. I took Barry and Cisco to visit it not long ago," he says.

[makes_the_toys]

"Fascinating," he replies. "I know other scientists theorize about the multiverse but your world seems... different than that. Not parallel to our own, but a whole other world with its own tangential worlds connected to it."

He sits and mulls this information for a long moment before nodding to himself and refocusing on Yamato.

"A world of monsters doesn't sound very safe. Was this trip just a visit, or were they helping you with something there?"

[angry_friendship_wolf]

"They were safe, don't worry," Yamato says, a little wryly, because Wells isn't wrong, most of the Digital World is dangerous once you get off the island. "It was just File Island I took them to -- basically everyone there is friendly, a lot of them are either old friends or former lieutenants of mine."

Admittedly, they all no longer remember being those things, but the fact that they're good people is still something Yamato can vouch for.

"They were helping me with something. I lost my abilities recently, and there's a mission right now that required me to leave the island and go out into the more dangerous parts of the world. I asked Cisco to build a kind of stungun, and he wanted some scans and samples," he says. "He did a good job. Not had much of a chance to test what he made out yet, but the theory is sound."

Yamato's very proud of Cisco for doing in a few weeks what the Bureau hasn't been able to do in seven years.

[makes_the_toys]

"Lost your abilities?" he asks curiously and with some measures of concern.

Hearing about what Cisco did for Yamato, Dr. Wells smiles and gives a nod, his own pride in Cisco showing.

"Cisco is very resourceful. I'm quite often impressed by his ingenuity."

[angry_friendship_wolf]

"Yeah, something happened a few months ago, and my team and I all lost our powers at once," Yamato says. "We're not metahumans like Barry or anything, our powers come from some -- I guess energy beings that live inside us, so the prevailing theory right now is that they've just decided to cut us off."

Well, it's Koushiro's theory, and one Yamato's been subscribing to so far. Yamato knows Barry has a different one. And he's also starting to suspect that Koushiro's objectivity on the matter might not be any better than his own.

He does smile a little at the compliment Wells is paying Cisco. "He is. And I still need to pay him back for making it for me."

Yamato has rarely been keen on letting debts go unpaid, even if the other person has no intention of calling it in.

[makes_the_toys]

"I'm very sorry to hear about the loss of your powers. You may know we dealt with that situation here with Barry fairly recently. It was very concerning for all of us."

Fortunately it wasn't a permanent thing.

"Well, you are handling his job now," he points out about Cisco. "Perhaps he'll see that as repayment enough."

[angry_friendship_wolf]

"Yeah, he told me about it afterwards. I'm glad he got them back," Yamato says, scraping a hand across the back of his neck. "The city's better off with him speeding around in it, after all. And I'm pretty sure Barry would be miserable trying to adjust to life without them."

But the fact that it was psychosomatic, and Barry's suggestion that Yamato's own power outage might be the same, has been rattling around in his head ever since Barry mentioned it, and it's a less than comfortable idea for him.

He cracks a slightly wry grin. "Nah, this doesn't cover my debt at all. This is just -- helping out some friends and making sure they're okay, since I happened to be around. It's not the same."

[run_barry]

"Living without speed would be quite a challenge," Dr. Wells agrees. "But more important yes, this city definitely needs The Flash."

A sneezing spell hits and Dr. Wells pulls a tissue from underneath his blanket to catch it. When it's done he looks far more weary for it.

"Well, for what it's worth," he says to Yamato with a wane smile, "your help means a great deal to us. As you can see, we're not in much shape to help Barry ourselves."

A gust of wind smacks into both of them heralding the return of the speedster they've been discussing. Carrying a couple of hefty looking paper sacks with 'Big Belly Burger' emblazoned on them, and a drink tray with two 'Big Guzzler' cups in it, Barry heaves a sigh.

"Sorry it took so long. All three of the places I went to were busy, so I finally had to just wait in line," he apologizes before realizing Yamato isn't alone in the room. "Dr. Wells, you're up."

Dr. Wells shakes his head, steering his chair back around the desk.

"I was up. Now, I think it's time I go and lay back down."

[angry_friendship_wolf]

Yamato ducks his head a little, although he does at least manage not to go pink. "Thank you, Dr. Wells. I -- appreciate it. Or, um, I appreciate you saying so? You know what I mean. I'm here to help all of you as well, so if you need something, just tell me."

He gives a slight, irritable growl at that gust of wind, because he wasn't expecting it at all, but he cheers up quickly when he sees the burger.

"Thank you, Gramps," he says, beaming at him as he picks up one of the burgers. "You're my favourite old age pensioner."

He gives Wells a sidelong look, and then, a lot more gruffly: "Try to finish those chicken nuggets on your way up, it'll help. And drink some of the shoga-yu when you're there, it might clear your throat enough to get some sleep. If you, Cisco, or Caitlin need anything, just ask or yell until we hear you."

[run_barry]

"I know what you mean," Dr. Wells says, giving Yamato a smile and a nod.

To Barry, Dr. Wells arches a brow. "Gramps?"

Barry shakes his head, then offers with concern, "Are you alright, Dr. Wells? Did you need a hand?"

Dr. Wells waves him off, heading out of the room. "I'm fine," he says, holding up the box of chicken to show Yamato he's heard him as well, and to reassure both young men he's been taken care of. "You two enjoy your meal. It was nice to meet you, Yamato."

Before he exits Dr. Wells calls over his shoulder, "Oh and, keep those glucose levels up, Barry."

[angry_friendship_wolf]

"Nice to meet you, too," Yamato says, inclining his head.

Once Wells is gone, Yamato settles into a seat again, unwrapping his burger and rather eagerly gnawing on it. There may be a few almost imperceptibly quiet, happy grumbling noises.

[run_barry]

"Working on it," he calls back to Dr. Wells.

Handing over fries and one of the drinks to Yamato, Barry takes the rest back to his desk to dig in on.

"So... you got to meet Dr. Wells," he notes casually but so-not-casual and in fact a little awkward and nervous about how it went and Yamato's opinion of the man.

[angry_friendship_wolf]

"I did get to meet Dr. Wells, that is true," Yamato says, between a few bites of his burger.

He pauses for a moment, peering at Barry. Then: "It went better than meeting Caitlin. I think. We talked a little about my world, about the stungun Cisco made for me, about how long I've known you. I told him I was pretty impressed with how far you've come. He said he appreciated me helping you today."

He shrugs a shoulder. "He reminds me of Gennai, a little," he says, fairly neutrally. "Couldn't tell you what he thinks of me, though."

[run_barry]

Barry bobs his head as he listens, munching on his own burger. "Cool, cool."

Still completely and totally casual. Yep.

"Gennai in like... a good way?" And not in the showing up with crazy missions and then unhelpfully disappearing for no reason sort of way.

[angry_friendship_wolf]

"Jeez, Gramps, you might actually be more nervous about this than me," Yamato says, just a tiny bit wryly. "What're you worried about? You'll still be both his and my favourite speedster either way."

He is, actually, fairly curious about why this meeting is the one that's getting to Barry's nerves.

"Don't read too much into it. I'm not saying he abducts kids to make them fight interdimensional wars," he says. "More that he and Gennai are both difficult to read."

[run_barry]

"I'm not nervous," Barry denies before coming back with, "Well, just-- kind of. But not really, I mean... "

For a moment he studies his hamburger rather intently, trying to work out what to say.

"I don't get to introduce many people to Dr. Wells, even though he's become like this huge part of my life," he says finally, setting the burger aside to focus on Yamato. "And I know he's a great man, but because of what happened with the explosion most people out there don't see him that way. And he and Joe only sort of get along, and Iris hasn't been by here since I woke up from the coma so... yeah, I guess I just really wanted you two to like each other."

[angry_friendship_wolf]

"Why don't he and Joe get along? Or why do they only sort of get along, I guess."

He gives Barry a sidelong look, then throws him a smile. "To be honest, I'm always a little on edge around people I can't get a good read on," he says. "But other than that, I'd say we got along. We didn't talk for long, but I don't think we got off to a bad start."

There is something gnawing at his bones, though. An uneasiness he can't quite get rid of, but which he's doing his best to ignore, because it probably is just that he can't read Dr. Wells very well.

[run_barry]

Barry shrugs, "I dunno. They are two pretty different people. Joe's a cop, Dr. Wells is a scientist, if it weren't for me their paths probably never would have crossed, and that meeting wasn't really under the best of circumstances."

Meeting in a hospital because one man's foster-son was in a coma after the other man's experiment blew a hole in the city isn't the best starting point.

"At the very least they've worked past the disagreement about me being a superhero so... " Progress?

"I know Dr. Wells isn't the easiest to get to know, and he admits that, so I'm glad it was a good start between you two."

[angry_friendship_wolf]

"Wouldn't that also be the case for Joe and Cisco? Or Joe and Caitlin?" Yamato asks, tilting his head. "They're both scientists too, and Joe met them in -- maybe not exactly the same but definitely similar circumstances."

He cracks a quick grin, shaking his head.

"I just said I thought it was a good start. There's still time for him to tell you that he actually hates me and never wants you to bring me here again."

Although, even with his difficulty with figuring Wells out, Yamato doesn't think the man dislikes him, and he seemed genuine with his appreciation for Yamato helping out.

[run_barry]

Barry considers that for a moment, then offers another shrug.

"I guess he sees it different with them. Caitlin probably won points by agreeing with him in the beginning and I wouldn't quite say Joe and Cisco get along so much as Joe tolerates Cisco as a friend of mine."

A friend that Joe is glad Barry has, but maybe doesn't want to see hang around too much.

"I doubt Dr. Wells is going turn around and say that," Barry says, shaking his own head. "As hard as he seems to be to read, it's generally pretty obvious when he's upset about something."

To the point that it can be a little scary.

[angry_friendship_wolf]

"I doubt it too, but you never know," Yamato says, cracking another grin. "But no, I think we got along just fine. And if you and I bring in Camera Commander, he'll probably like me even more."

He gives the console a glance, tracking how the program's compiling. It's over halfway done, but it's still a slow process.

"Which is going to be more difficult than it seems. Even with the recalibrated satellite, we'll need them to use their powers, and keep using them," he says. "It's a unifier-and-canary problem."