Who:Tony/ Cisco What:Cisco makes some choices When:before the plot happened Where:SI Warnings:None Status: Complete
Cisco had a lot of things on his mind lately since he’d hit unstable waters with Barry. The two were currently at odds. Or at least Cisco was with the Flash, and he’d been thinking a world of heavy thoughts. One of which might affect his position with SI, so he went in search of Tony. First stopping by his office and knocking at the door before peering inside.
“Tony?” It was admittedly weird working some place that wasn’t Star Labs, but he was fairly comfortable there and didn’t want it to end any time soon. He’d only ever dreamt of owning Star one day, not that he’d ever said so to anyone, but it lurked in the back of his mind from time to time. However at SI, he had no such ambition. He was happy just working along side the others and wanted to keep that momentum.
Tony had a crazy week, first with Happy appearing and then Harley. He, admittingly, welcomed some quiet time at work, even if it meant paperwork for a little while. He’d get back to the lab that afternoon. He looked up when he heard Cisco’s voice. “Hey, come on in,” he said.
It was no secret he’d been struggling a bit lately, though this time he’d kept it between a few close friends. He looked a little better than the last time Tony had found him falling apart on the roof at least. He’d finally been able to have an appointment, and was taking care of himself again. “Hey” Cisco slipped into the office and shut the door behind him. “Got a second?...I saw the small flood of arrivals so if this is a bad time…” He trailed off, Cisco wasn’t the greatest at being welcome wagon, eventually he’d say something to them, but he got a bit overwhelmed when it happened sometimes.
Tony smiled and shook his head. “It is fine. I was just finishing up some paperwork.” He made a face over that; he hated paperwork. Devil in the details and all that. He waved his hand toward the chair across from his desk. “Go on, sit, sit. What’s up?”
“Ew. Don’t envy you.” Paperwork was the worst, there was a period of time where nobody owned Star Labs and they all individually had to figure that stuff out on their own. There was alcohol involved after though and tears during. “I’ve been thinking about some stuff. Mostly what I do here...acting as Jacen once put it “home base” air quotes involved when he said so. He’d never called it that until then, but it kinda was. Shit happened, he was there. “...And when you said once that you’d want to not be in the field much, I think I’ve been feeling that way too.” He paused to look up awkwardly. “Think I want to just be here, if I can more. Less out.” Was he making sense, or just rambling. He wasn’t even sure anymore.
Tony wasn’t quite sure he followed what Cisco said. “If you don’t want to run the comms, you don’t have to,” he said. “Is that what you mean?”
“No I mean that’s all I want to do. Being out in the field is the part that scares me lately.” The maze had really put a lot of fear into him about being out there. “..I don’t heal like Barry or Frost could. I want to remain here when stuff like that happens. At the coms, at the computers...I think that may be where I’m more useful to everyone.”
Tony nodded. “I don’t see any issue with that,” he told Cisco. Heck, if he had it his way, Tony wouldn’t do much else outside the lab. He cherished his second chance at life and didn’t want to lose it. He wanted a life with his family. “Hopefully nothing happens that requires much else,” he added, even though he knew it was a long shot considering demons and mazes previously occurred.
“My suit got messed up...during the maze.” He hesitated and looked to the side. “I haven’t even wanted to repair it. I’m happier here. Doing this.” He motioned around them, being in the lab made him feel needed. Useful. He felt like more of a liability out in the thick of things than in the lab. “That’s what I do mainly, create suits.” He admitted with a frown. “I still have Caitlins...just in case.” He’d made her one before she’d gone home.
“I miss her too,” Tony divulged to Cisco. He cleared his throat. “Anyway, I think you do a brilliant job at the controls and if you are happier there…” He trailed off with a pointed look. He thought Cisco should do what made him happy. Granted, it was advice Tony seldom followed for himself when it came to hero stuff, but they were discussing Cisco, not Tony.
He smiled at that and nodded. “ It’s kinda like home now...and I won’t turn them off again.” He’d felt bad about it the second he’d done it. “Thanks.” He rubbed his neck a little embarrassed as he pushed a bit of dark hair behind his ear. “Want to come see her suit? I put it in a safe place for now. There’s something I’ve been working on that you might be interested in. A suit display.” Of course with Cisco it was always more than just one thing, it had more functions than just display-but he figured Tony might be interested.
“I had something similar back home,” Tony admitted. He was in no rush to explain the iron army that drove a wedge between Pepper and himself so he added, “Of course I’d like to see it! I bet it is amazing.”
Cisco thumbed over his shoulder and motioned him toward the door. “Come on then. And maybe after..Tacos?” Tacos seemed to be his drug of choice. Things sucked? Tacos. Things were good? Celebratory tacos. In general, tacos were his vice. There were worse vices to be had, so he indulged in them happily when given a chance.