Caffeine Fix

[run_barry]

Things are finally starting to calm down in Central City. The epidemic is starting to let up, and those affected are on the road to wellness. The antibodies Caitlin developed (and farmed in Cisco) were shared with CCPD first and now the department is regaining its ranks from the previously bedridden.

Barry could probably do with a vacation sometime soon, but with Yamato's help, and short stints at the comm from Cisco and Caitlin, The Flash has seen Central City through the crisis.

With a break in the chaos achieved at last, there's only one way to celebrate. Coffee.

Holding the front door to CC Jitters open, Barry gestures Yamato inside with a flourish.

"And here we are, best cup of coffee in Central City."

It's the typical trendy sort of joint, high-tables with modern stools, couches and overstuffed chairs, and a hipster huddled with their laptop in every semi-dark corner.

The air is fragrant with the smells of fresh-ground roast, and behind the counter an espresso machine sputters under the deft control of a barista, while another woman loads fresh pastries into the bakery case.

Comments

[makes_the_toys]

"Good. Don't change your mind on that," Cisco says.

Ducking his head a little, Cisco nods. "Thanks."

Trying to turn the subject off himself, and maybe give Yamato a break on the bat thing, Cisco glances towards the stairs then looks back to Yamato.

"So, I ran into Iris outside. Literally. Which, embarrassing." He definitely almost bowled her over on his way around the corner. "You get a chance to meet her?"

[angry_friendship_wolf]

"I did. She seems pretty cool."

Beat.

With deep, puppyish innocence: "Very keen on the Flash."

[makes_the_toys]

Cisco bites his bottom lip to partially contain a grin and nods.

"Totally."

Shifting on his seat, his expression comes down a little.

"Although, I'm a little bugged with this blog thing. I should be Central City's expert on the Flash. But, because I know the guy and happen to know I know the guy, and have to maintain secret identities I don't get to have the hot blog in town."

[angry_friendship_wolf]

Seeing that not-quite-grin, Yamato just offers his hand for a fist-bump.

"Why should that stop you? Takeru runs a blog on Digimon activities while also being a Chosen. He just doesn't use his actual name," he says. "Not that I think you should do that. Going off everything I've heard -- and the stuff I've seen today -- I reckon a turf war with Iris would be hard-fought."

[makes_the_toys]

Cisco gives the bump, glad for the solidarity.

"Nah-uh, you didn't see all the fighting that happened with them over it when she started." Them being just about everyone else. Cisco was wise enough to stay out of it.

Sure he knows, but still curious, Cisco squints at Yamato and asks, "What stuff did you see today?"

[angry_friendship_wolf]

"Not a huge amount, it was only a short conversation. But she's confident and strong-willed, seemed like. Confident enough to pretty boldly take a stance on the Flash helping out the city even though she had no idea what I'd think, and seemed to think Barry would try to argue with her on it. And I'm fairly certain that if either of us had disagreed, she'd have been willing to make a case for it and argue us down right there."

[makes_the_toys]

"Well, considering she's fought her dad, boyfriend and Barry on it, I'm pretty sure she would've taken it to you, too," he says with a laugh.

That might've actually been kind of amusing to see.

"Her writing chops also sort of beat out mine, so I guess I'll just settle for helping out a superhero instead of blogging about one."

[angry_friendship_wolf]

Wry: "She'd probably have won that one, too."

Yamato would bet decent amounts of money on that.

"Hey, helping the Flash out might not make you famous, but it's an important job. You're basically just as much a hero as Barry," he adds, fondly.

[makes_the_toys]

Smiling, Cisco accepts the compliment.

"Yeah, okay. And you know, I did take out a bad guy too, the one time I was out in the field," he says, then amends. "Well, I mean, I guess I didn't actually take him out, technically he did get away. But still, Cisco Ramon one-time stander-upper to a super villain."

[angry_friendship_wolf]

"That's pretty damn impressive, kid," Yamato says, nudging a fist against Cisco's forehead, just lightly.

[makes_the_toys]

"I know," he replies, the false modesty faking false bravado covering actual embarrassment.

"I am bummed I missed most of your first trip to Central City, though. Team Flash and the Chosen taking down bad guys and I was a lame snot factory for all of it." So unfair.

"Next crossover event I totally wanna be a part of it."

[angry_friendship_wolf]

"I'd say you were a cool snot factory, but I get your point," Yamato teases. "I look forward to working with you on the next, er, crossover."

Beat.

"Just be careful, Barry might try to convince you to make me a super-suit. He's already menaced me with terrible superhero names."

[makes_the_toys]

"Yeah, I heard a couple of those names," Cisco says with so much disapproval. "You sure he wasn't the one getting bopped in the head?"

Because seriously, Clobberman?

"That said, I know you want a suit. Just admit it. It's okay to want to look awesome and have functional clothing at the same time."

[angry_friendship_wolf]

"You're as bad as he is," Yamato mutters. "You're both menaces to society, trying to turn poor, unsuspecting bystanders into superheroes."

[run_barry]

Returning at last with more drinks, Barry catches what Yamato says and laughs.

"Menace? Hardly," he laughs, setting down Yamato's mug in front of him and then taking a seat.

[makes_the_toys]

"And you're hardly unsuspecting," Cisco adds.

"Where's the baked goods, man?" he asks Barry. "Crumbs on Yamato's face says he got fed."

Obviously Cisco deserves baked treats, too!

[angry_friendship_wolf]

"I am an innocent victim of your," he points at both Barry and Cisco, one after another, "relentless attempts to turn me into a hero."

Truly, his suffering is endless.

"Hey, I earned my food. By stealing it from Barry, mostly, but still."

[run_barry]

"Which he only did because he had an accomplice and they ganged up on me." Not to mention his speed was neutralized.

"And there's not 'turning', you're already a hero," Barry informs Yamato. "You can't blame that on us."

[makes_the_toys]

Reaching over, Cisco nudged Yamato in the arm.

"Steal me one, then."

Hook a friend up, Yamato!

Smiling on what Barry says, Cisco nods. "Yep. Just wanna help you look the part now. That's all."

[angry_friendship_wolf]

"It was a very daring heist," Yamato says, somberly, glancing over to see if Barry has any more food he can steal. Don't worry, Cisco! He will acquire food for you somehow.

He rolls his eyes, even though that particular remark is making him turn red. He'd argue the point, except he's pretty sure he'd lose, especially with the two of them ganging up on him. "You're both ridiculous."

[run_barry]

"Yeaaah, but you love us," Barry says with full confidence.

Barry has a slice of coffee cake, and it is his coffee cake and he's going to keep it right close to hand to prevent any thievery of said coffee cake.

"Y'know, I was thinking about what Iris said, about the sites. If you want, I could totally run you around Central City and show you all of them." Literally running, and literally all of them.

[makes_the_toys]

"Ha, you better bring along a fire extinguisher," Cisco says, chuckling. "Since Yamato refuses to wear a suit."

And Barry still sometimes catches things on fire.

[angry_friendship_wolf]

"Pass. Don't get me wrong, moving fast is a lot of fun, but having no way to get my bearings or any control over where I'm going isn't," Yamato says.

He's reaching for Barry's coffee cake as he says that, but slowly, while keeping eye contact, in the hopes that Barry won't notice.

[makes_the_toys]

"What? You mean you don't like screaming around places like your duct taped to a rocket on a collision course for everything?" Cisco asks, mock astounded.

[run_barry]

"Fair enough," Barry allows.

Barry totally sees Yamato's sneaking reach and he starts to look down, but then Cisco's words pull his attention.

"What? Since when do you have a problem with my running?"