Who:Cisco and Stiles What:Cisco gets a crush on a bad guy. When:recentlyish Where:Some random bar Warnings:PG-13 kinda thing. Status:complete
Thursday and Friday were his weekend days, sort of. Thursday wasn’t really a weekend day, but thanks to working two jobs it was for him. Every weekend since he’d moved to Orange County had basically been the same. Come home, shower, video games until dawn. Sometimes with Stiles, sometimes without. Wash, rinse, repeat. There was only so much repetition even he could take. He felt a strong desire to do something different, but wasn’t sure if his younger friend would be interested. After getting home he was sent a text. “Hey, you into bars?” Stiles was quickly becoming someone he cared for. More like a brother than just a friend. One he actually wanted to hang around.
The last thing he wanted to do was sit around and mull over the information Jemma had given him about the potential for his entire life to change, so what was the complete opposite? Drinks. All the literal drinks in the bar. He wasn’t entirely sure how to even go about dressing for that kind of event, so he didn’t bother with getting dressed up at all. He showered and changed into a red shirt that said Keep Calm and Han Shot First and dark wash jeans. Favorite shirt, check, money, check, cell phone, yep.
In some cases it was actually good that Cisco didn’t drive, he’d just get them a car when Stiles got there. Safer for both of them if a bar was involved. Come to think of it, was stiles even of legal drinking age? He tried not to assume age around Orange County anymore with all the weird things, but he was curious. He waited for his friend to show up and munched on a few of the several dozen twizzlers he’d ordered a week or two ago. He’d still hardly made a dent in the box. ---
When the text from Cisco came, Stiles had just finished off his last bit of homework, so he was quick to grab his phone and replied with “Yes, I am. Are you buying?” He was grinning to himself as he waited for the next reply. But until then he figured he better put his shoes back on since he had a feeling that he wasn’t staying home. Which was a good thing. He really did not want to be home when his dad came home. Things were still a little awkward between them. So, going out seemed like the best solution to this little problem.
Once his shoes were on, he did a quick check in the mirror to make sure he wasn’t wearing any signs of dinner on his clothes and then he was grabbing his keys and leaving the house. He had thought about getting an Uber for the moment. But then he shook his head at the idea. He can drive to Cisco’s and then after that, they can get a ride since drinking and driving was a bad, bad thing to do.
It wasn’t long before Stiles was parking the Jeep and walking up to Cisco’s place. As usual, once he got the door he started to knock out a little song and kept it up until Cisco answered the door.
* “Apparently always. Mooch. :p” Came a teasing text with a laugh on his end, but he pocketed the phone and waited. He didn’t mind. He had money, money wasn’t much of an object for him. He was actually doing very well for himself now that he had two jobs, one with the hospital and the other with the Agency. The hospital was basically play money now. That was a lot of play money, but he didn’t flaunt it at anyone. He wasn’t about that. In fact he used it to help where he could.
When that knock at the door came, he went to let him in. Some day when he wasn’t afraid of small handheld nuclear weapons showing up, he’d just give Stiles a key. “You ready? Figured we’d just take a car.” Yes, yes he was loaded-but also uber was cheap for the average person. “Am I breaking any laws taking you out?” He asked with a grin, messing up his hair with a quick nudge. ---
“As ready as I can be,” came his reply. “It looks like we’re on the same page then.” No driving to the bar for anyone. “Umm, let me think…” Stiles swatted at Cisco and then made it seem like he needed to think about his answer. “Nope. You’re not breaking any laws.” He did rethink the question after answering, though. “You were being serious, weren’t you?” That question could have been taken both jokingly and not jokingly. “I’m twenty one, if you’re trying to figure out my age.” It was a guess, but he was pretty sure that’s what Cisco was trying to find out. “Anymore questions? I’m happy to answer them.”
* “Especially not me, we don’t want me driving under normal circumstances. That ends poorly for everyone.” Cisco didn’t drive. There was no car out front that belonged to him. “You can sleep here tonight if you want. I’m off tomorrow too.” It wouldn’t be a huge deal. “There’s the guest room you can take.” He shrugged it off. “Both? Last time I assumed someone’s age they were actually immortal and looked twelve. So.” He gave an awkward laugh. “Never know around here.” He pushed the button for the Uber “I’ve never actually been to a bar. I don’t know what to expect, um I expect fruity drinks. They can provide these things yes?” He nudged him toward the door. “C’mon, car’s almost here.” ---
“Oh? Is your driving that bad? Or do you just not drive at all?” Stiles didn’t want to assume, which is why he asked both questions. “Yeah? I think I will take you up on that offer. It’ll give my dad and I a little break from one another.” They needed it. “An immortal twelve year old…being immortal might be cool, but having to look like a twelve year old forever would suck.” Stiles gasp and quickly looked over at Cisco. “You’re kidding right?” First he talked to somebody who had never been to Disneyland and now Cisco was saying that he had never been to a bar? How does that even happen? “Depends on the bar. But mostly, yes, you can get some type of fruity cocktail.” With the nudge, he moved towards the door and back out again. “Quick, who will arrive outside first? Us or them.”
* “Both.” He admitted with a little shrug and laughed. “I’d give you a key but apparently dangerous things show up here sometimes on a whim.. When I’m here you’re free to crash though.” He didn’t elaborate much more on the dangerous things bit, but there was a new pair of slender dark sunglasses near that box of licorice. However he didn’t want to attract any attention to them, so he just kept nudging his friend toward the door. “I don’t think they were actually twelve, but they were super young and pretty bitter. Come to think of it I haven’t seen her in a while.” Oh well, hopefully she wasn’t a psychopath. “Is it just you and your dad?” Family could be complicated. Maybe it wasn’t a thing he should ask, but he was curious. Actually, Stiles now knew two people who’d never been to Disneyland. Cisco hadn’t gone there either. “Mm nope, I grew up in gang territory. Sneaking out to bars could literally get you killed. Plus I really didn’t have any friends that went to them, or any at all for that matter.” He had school aquantinences, but most young people ended up jealous of how easy school came to him. It was a trade off.
“Probably us.” He laughed a little and shook his head as the car indeed turned the corner after they made it downstairs. Cisco’s apartment was four stories up. ---
“Somebody should teach you to drive. I would offer, but I get told that my driving isn’t the greatest either.” At least he hadn’t had to hear that lately. Mostly he just has to hear how his Jeep looks like a death trap. “I wouldn’t touch said dangerous things. I know better. I also like not going boom.” He would definitely remember that offer, though. At least now he had three different places he could crash whenever he needed it. Since Cisco quickly nudged him out, he hadn’t seen the new shades on the counter. “Maybe they moved away,” he suggested as he headed out. “Yeah,” he nodded, “It’s just me and my dad.” He knew what question might come next, so he already jumped on it before it could be asked. “My mom died when I was ten.” There it was out there now. Hopefully they didn’t linger too long on the subject. “That is a very good reason for not going out to any bars. But you’ve been here for how long and still haven’t gone out to a bar?” Stiles wanted to start poking and prodding for information. Like, find out all the places that Cisco had never been to and well, take him.
“Let’s see if you’re right,” he said as he quickly made his way down the stairs (without tripping). “OoOo, so close,” he ended up saying once they were outside. A few more seconds and the car would have been waiting on them. He grabbed Cisco by the wrist and quickly pulled him towards the car, he opened the door and practically ushered Cisco in before he climbed in.
* “I think I’ll stick to being the passenger, it’s fine.” He was a little afraid of driving in all reality. Driving was dangerous. He was fine with other people driving him around, though it was a little inconvenient sometimes. At least it used to be before Uber Eats came into the picture. Cisco nodded at the question of his mom. “I’m sorry.” He hadn’t meant to bring up a painful subject. That was quite a way to ruin a night out. “I only recently moved out here actually. Less than a year ago from L.A.” The inner city obviously, if he mentioned gangs and turf wars. “I’m not exactly a fighter, so I stayed away from those places. I heard stories, that was enough.”
So, no more childhood stories. Cisco laughed as he was pulled into the car and shook his head. “You definitely aren’t a speedster.” The car didn’t take long to get them to the bar, it was a decent middle range looking hole in the wall. Cisco didn’t know shit about bars okay? There was some kind of rock music playing inside. “I have no idea if this one is a good one or not.” He admitted awkwardly, but bravely decided he’d be going in to see first. No use in making his younger friend go inside before him. “If it’s bad, we can go someplace else. We don’t have to stay.” He offered with a shrug as he stepped in. ---
“You really don’t like driving.” Stiles wasn’t surprised. Driving sucked sometimes. Especially when it felt like everyone wanted to ram right into you. The traffic sucked too. Driving was just not fun. “Thanks…” He could have said more. But he didn’t want to. He didn’t want to bring the night down for any of them. He was hanging out with Cisco to have fun. Not be a sad mopey person. “Oh, wow. I thought you had been here a lot longer than that. We moved out here after what happened with my mom. I guess my dad wanted a clean slate for us or he was running away. Not sure.” He never really asked either. Never wanted to. “That would have kept me away, too.” He did not blame Cisco one bit for wanting to say far, far away from places like that. At least now he could explore. And Stiles would happily explore with Cisco any day of the week.
“It would be cool if I were. Instead, I’ll probably turn into a werewolf.” Or nothing at all. He really had no idea and he only had one dream to go off of at the moment. The ride seemed short. Maybe because he was either too busy watching the scenery or physically poking at Cisco. “I guess we’ll find out.” Stiles hadn’t been to this bar before, but he was all for checking it out and seeing how it was on the inside. Of course, he made sure to have Cisco go first because this was his idea after all. “You read my mind. Do we have a time limit before we can run out?”
The inside didn’t look too bad. It seemed to carry a rock theme, which was okay. And it wasn’t totally crowded, which was always a plus. “Sooooooooo, are we staying or are we going?”
* “In this city? Hell no. Lydia offered but I don’t think so.” He’d seen the news. It was scary. Traffic piled up for days, psycho road rage -on- the freeway if one pissed off the wrong guy. Some had shot guns. There was enough danger in life without that shit. He squirmed away from the poking with a laugh. Guy was a pest, but Cisco was entertained. “Besides I don’t really need to. The hospital provides a car service. It gets a little inconvenient at times, but I can even have groceries delivered to me now, so I don’t need a car really ” And he could just get an Uber to the Agency, that never went mentioned. The other job that was classified. Cisco wouldn’t push Stiles to talk about his mom, but if he did want to talk the young engineer would listen. He would be there for his friends, good and bad.
Cisco looked around the bar, huh-it even had a karaoke stage. Drunk singing could be fun. He liked singing, but now the trick was if he could actually make himself get up and do so. Maybe enough liquid courage ad he could. Time would tell. “Yeah, I think this place is all right.” If they changed their minds it wasn’t like they couldn’t just call another car and leave. He was looking for bars without fees, he might have had money but he wasn’t stupid with it. Why waste it if they didn’t have to?
“It’s on me, order what you want. ” He nudged as he grabbed them a table. There were a few around so they weren’t just restricted to sitting at the bar, and apparently they had a live band coming up next. There were mostly female servers coming around to tables, but Cisco wasn’t really paying them much mind. His eyes had briefly caught a large man behind the bar, the guy was built like a marine, wearing a tight shirt and showing off a few muscles. He didn’t even realize he was staring for a while longer than normal anyway. A waitress had even come by to take their order, but it took him a second to look up at her. ---
“She offered to teach you?” Stiles asked, having no clue that she had done that. If that’s what she had offered. He poked again, smirking at the way Cisco was trying to squirm away even though he really had nowhere to go. “That’s true. And with Uber and others like it, you don’t really need to have a car anymore.”
“I guess we’re staying.” It could be worse. And if they got sick of this place they could Google another and go there. “You might be sorry you said that,” he joked as he took a seat at the table that Cisco had chosen for them. When the server came over, he ordered a jack and coke and then looked at Cisco wondering what he was going to get. Instead, he looked like he was in some kind of daze or trance or something. He followed Cisco’s gaze and smirked before he waved a hand in front of his friend’s face. “Earth to Cisco, come iinnnn, Cisco.”
* “Yeah, now quit it or I’ll sit on you.” Nobody wants that. Cisco wasn’t exactly huge and intimidating for that threat, but he could make up for it with dead weight just fine thank you! In fact one of his moves involved squishing Stiles against the door if he attempted it again and pinning his arms. “I win.” He grinned before sliding out of the car and half running toward the doors. Watching him run was probably amusing in it’s own right, he wasn’t the most athletic person in the world but he tried.
He wasn’t starting off heavy, he ordered a mojito when the lady caught his eyes and tried to ignore the fact that he’d been staring at some muscly guy behind the bar. “Huh, what? Did I miss something?” He asked sheepishly as he ordered fries. As he reached for the water glass the lady had brought them he avoided looking back at the bar if at all possible. If Stiles saw, maybe that guy saw. And no way was he ready for that kind of thing yet. ---
“Promise?” Stiles asked with a wiggle of his eyebrows. It was Stiles. He wasn’t going to quit not until something made him quit. Like getting his arms pinned or watching Cisco run. Now that was amusing.
“You weren’t ordering,” Stiles pointed out, “You were staring at the bartender. Do you find him hot or something?” He thanked the server and then watched her walk away before he turned his attention back onto Cisco. “And now you’re totally trying to look anywhere but at the bar.” He had to laugh. It was quite amusing watching Cisco squirm in a whole different way.
* Promise? Cisco was so awkward, he was glad when the car stopped so he didn’t have to respond, but the bar only got more awkward when Stiles definitely noticed him staring. He grabbed at the water he had while waiting for the waitress to return with drinks. Something to focus at rather than Stiles or the bar.
‘No, don’t be ridiculous.” He glared at him over the cup, but was indeed squirming. Why did he have to do that? Why was he so awkward? It took everything in his power not to blush. “I ordered. I don’t know what you’re talking about.” --
“Uh huh.” Stiles did not believe Cisco at all. The staring happened for way too long and the way Cisco was trying not to act awkward and not squirm just meant he wasn’t telling the truth. “It’s okay if you do think he’s hot,” he said with a slight shrug as he watched their server finally start to walk back with their drinks and Cisco’s fries. He said his thanks and then watched as she walked away. His attention fully back on Cisco again.
He didn’t want to push, but he was far too nosy about stuff, too. “I’m bi.” Maybe admitting that will make Cisco open up and not hide whatever it is he might be hiding.
* It’s okay if you do think he’s hot. Cisco raised an eyebrow at that. When did Stiles become so damn mature about this stuff and all of his insides were squirming? He frowned a bit and put down the water glass. “I think I might be. I’m not entirely sure. We never talked about that stuff. “ So now he was bi and ditching his family, what a package he was.
“You are?” He’d only ever spoken to Sirius about it, which was funny considering he didn’t know the guy at all. He glanced back at the bar finally, letting his eyes linger a bit but not for too terribly long this time, only as a sort of experiment. “ Ugh, everything is changing now apparently. Where are those drinks?” He looked around for the waitress for half a second before his eyes settled back on Stiles. “...I’m pretty sure I’m also getting powers.” ---
“What?” he questioned at the look on Cisco’s face. “It is.” The guy wasn’t really Stiles’ type, but if Cisco wanted to sit, stare and drool, he was a-okay with that. He might act immature a lot and joke around a lot, but there were the few times where he could stop acting like that and be serious about something. It didn’t mean it would last, but he was actually capable of being serious when he needed to be. “When you say we you mean you and your parents, right?” He wasn’t surprised. Just from the little bits of information that he did know, Cisco’s parents sounded horrible. “If you want to talk about it, you can with me.”
He nodded his head at Cisco’s question. “Yeah, I am. Surprised?” he asked. The reactions were always one or the other. The person was either surprised or they wave it off and say that it was pretty obvious. He followed Cisco’s gaze again and grinned. “You should go talk to him,” he said half serious and half joking because he wasn’t sure if Cisco would want to do anything like that. “They’re right there,” he said as he pointed to their server. “Wait…what?” He was staring at Cisco wondering if he heard that right. “Did you just say that you might also be getting powers? If so…WHAT KIND?”
* “Yeah, my family...it..wasn’t a thing that was discussed.” The waitress finally brought alcohol, and Cisco was glad. “They’re very traditional Latino in values. We don’t really follow the Church or anything, but we were just left to learn those things on our own..” And that never ended well. “If you were different in my family you are pretty much an outcast.” Or worse, a disappointment. Or both, like him apparently. If Cisco hadn’t gained the friends he had, he’d probably have been a lot more depressed than he was-but he’d made some good ones. He knew he mostly had a good life.
“Actually yeah. I mean, I knew being gay or straight was a thing but I’ve never known anyone else that liked both… thought it was just another weird me thing.” As Stiles suggested he go talk to the man he practically swooned over, he cringed internally. “I’m not so great with the words. “ As proven obvious by Stiles sudden staring, and Cisco looking uncertain of what to do. Why did he even let those words out of his mouth?! “Um. I think so. I’ve had some tests done recently when I’ve vanished lately..” Which explained his total dropping off the grid some days. At least he hoped.
“I don’t...really know yet. Some weird things have been happening, but in the dreams I don’t have them yet. I don’t know. It’s..” Terrifying was the word he was looking for, his brows knit together as his words trailed off and he took some of the alcohol. Hoping his brain didn’t just shut off as he sat there with his friend. ---
“Soooo, they’re strict and don’t like black sheep. Got it.” That’s how it sounded to Stiles. He was so glad that he and his dad weren’t like that. There were certain subjects that were hard to bring up, but mostly they could talk about anything and Stiles was grateful for that. “I’m sorry your family sucks.” He had a feeling he was going to say that a lot.
“Nope, you are not alone in the whole bi thing. There are others out there.” He paused for a moment before adding, “You’re still weird, though.” He flashed him a grin before glancing over at the bartender again. “You seem pretty great with the words once you get past your awkward, squirming thing.” Was he teasing? Yeah, just a tiny bit.
“You’ve vanished? Why am I barely hearing about this?” he was totally ignoring his drink. His attention was fully on Cisco and what these powers of his might be. “Sooo, dream you doesn’t have them, but you’ve been vanishing. Because that’s not weird at all. When are you supposed to get the test results back?”
* “They were yeah. If you weren’t the first born you were basically over looked.” He added with a frown. His brother was older than him and obviously that made him a wonderful angel child that could do no wrong-because he came out of the womb first. Cisco had a lot of animosity for his older brother. It wasn’t really a fun thing he wanted to discuss at bars. So he was almost glad for the change in topic to the next embarrassing subject.
Almost.
“I do not awkwardly squirm.” He was doing it now, his eyes narrowed at Stiles as he then just looked exasperated at him instead, and shook his head with a laugh. “Pest.”
“Oh, no not actually physically vanished but just...not said anything for a week or so. Or if I left, it was because apparently in case I’m not weird enough-lets just add some freaky powers ontop of it.” He needed more booze to think about what was possibly to come. “Not yet anyway. No powers for me there. I’m just tech guy. I just want to be tech guy.” Even in this reality, all he wanted was to be Cisco the tech guy. “I got them back yesterday, but they don’t tell me what the powers will be...only that I’m changing.” He looked away at that word, he didn’t know into what or who he’d become. “All I know is right now I remember things that were supposedly erased from existence...it’s...complicated. And confusing.” His brows furrowed uncomfortably as he tried to put it into words. ---
“That really sucks. Parents should love their kids equally.” He never understood how parents, especially Cisco’s, could act like that. He did know one thing; he didn’t want them to stay stuck on this subject. He didn’t want to bring Cisco down.
Stiles raised an eyebrow and snorted with laughter. “Dude, you do. Here, let me show you.” He started to imitate how Cisco was acting before he stopped and grinned at him. “You love it or you wouldn’t hang with me.”
He took a sip of his drink as Cisco explained. “Oh, damn, I thought you meant that you actually vanished!” But now that Cisco explained what he meant, he knew exactly what he was talking about. “We’re all a little weird. I mean…what is normal anyway?” Everyone had their own definition of the term. So what exactly was normal? “Changing or not, I’m here for ya, buddy.” He reached over and placed a hand on Cisco’s shoulder and gave it a squeeze. No matter what happens, Stiles would be there for him. “We can talk about something else,” he said as he moved his hand away and finished off his drink.
* The longer they stayed on that subject the more it would depress him, and the last thing he wanted was for this trip to turn into the depressing Cisco story. So even if it was for Stiles picking on him, he was glad for the subject change. “You’ll regret teasing me so much when I do finally figure out these powers you know.” He threatened with amusement and just tried to move on. “I’ve never even really had a girlfriend, so how the hell would I approach that guy?” He couldn’t imagine doing it with a man where he had zero clue how to even act. “Yeah yeah.” Cisco gave him an exasperated roll of his eyes, but it was all in fun.
“I jut...I don’t want to mess things up. I mean I’ve already gotten nuclear weapons, what if powers just make me lose my mind? I’ll just end up ruining all this” It was a valid fear. Dream him did some crazy things. He glanced up at Stiles with a small smile. “ Sorry, this is not exactly fun bar time conversation.” He admitted, but the alcohol did make the conversation easier to have.
---
“Do you really think so?” He asked before he started to shake his head and said, “Naaaaaaaah, I won’t ever regret it. I never regret it with Scott or Lydia and I will definitely never regret it with you.” Even if Cisco did get powers and got him back for it all. Nope, he would not change. “You would go up there, take a seat and start talking. Or you could just be bold and say ‘hey baby.’” He knew Cisco wasn’t going to do that, but he had to just throw that option out there just to see his friend’s reaction to it.
“And what if they don’t make you go crazy?” Stiles asked. If/when Cisco gets powers, it could always go one way or another. But it looked like Cisco was stuck on all the bad that could come of it. “You don’t have to apologize. We’re friends. Friends should be able to talk about things that are on their minds. But we don’t have to talk about this anymore if you don’t want to. We can talk about how you’re gonna go hit on the bartender,” he half teased, trying to lighten the mood back up.
* “Yep. It’s gonna hopefully be awesome.” He tried to be positive, he didn’t like worrying, or bringing the mood down. But these were the things that weighed on his mind, his family certainly wasn’t all that supportive. Naturally he got stuck in a rut of negativity when he thought he had no way out. So when Stiles changed subjects on him, Cisco did in fact lighten up a bit and laugh.
“Who even talks like that? I’ll probably get us kicked out if I do that. And I still want at least another two drinks. And you know, not get a restraining order ontop of it.” he snickered. Besides, the guy’s attention was currently on some cute girl at the bar. “...Maybe let me have two more of these.” He pointed at the vodka soda he was working at now. “And there’s no way in hell I’m going alone.” ---
“You know it is,” he said a little enthusiastically and with a nudge into Cisco’s ribs. He was back on his mission of making Cisco smile and laugh and act just as goofy as Stiles. They came out to have fun. Not dwell on bad shit. Not tonight.
“Believe it or not, people do use that line. I don’t know why. It’s pretty bad.” He laughed. “I think you would have to do more than say hey, baby to get us kicked out. Now if you flashed some man tit then maybe we would get booted out of here,” he joked. He looked over at the bar and also saw that the bartender was talking to some girl. Well, there went that idea. Of course, there were others in the bar. “We can arrange that.” He was waving over the waitress and ordering them more drinks. “Oh, I’m coming along. I want to see it all go down.”
* Stiles attitude was addictive, and Cisco couldn’t really stay sad around him very long. Especially not with a few more drinks coming. Liquid courage did wonders as well. “I wouldn’t do that. I’m not a total animal. I just think he’s hot. “ The guy had a goth kind of look, but at the same time he was the opposite of skinny, muscular and lanky was apparently a thing Cisco was into.
“Oh my god, I can’t believe I’m even going to try this.” As more drinks came, he finished a second and a third. “If this fails, I blame you and you’re going down with me.” He grinned as the third drink caused him finally to try to stand. He physically shook out his hands like he was getting ready to do some kind of sport and glanced nervously back at the bar. “....Nope. Can’t.” He tried to make an escape for the door instead.
---
Stiles was happy to see that Cisco’s mood was improving, especially the more that they drank. “Maybe you should get a little animalistic. Rawr.” He clawed at the air when he did his little rawr. “No? Okay.”
Cisco was definitely drinking faster than Stiles was. He was barely starting his third when Cisco finished his third. “Uh, okay, I will go down with the ship if I must.” He didn’t care. He has done stupider stuff before. He looked up when Cisco stood and then he watched him and laughed as Cisco was obviously trying to psych himself up. He actually thought Cisco was going to do it but then it looked like he was trying to make an escape. He quickly finished off his drink, stood up and ran up behind Cisco. “Where are you going? The hot guy is back that way,” he said, pointing back behind them.
* “I don’t get...animalistic.” He said with a laugh and a roll of his eyes. He wanted to forget the topic of families, it would only make him grumpy, and tonight he wasn’t out to be grumpy at the bar. He wanted to have fun with his friend.
His psych up was actually an attempt at a fake out, “Yeah but the door is that way.” He pointed toward it. “ Looking back at Stiles with a pathetic sort of expression. Then back at the hot guy at the bar, a little deflated. Cisco closed his eyes tightly for a moment before trying to regain his bearings and turned around to face him. “That guy is out of my league. All muscly and perfect. Stupidly perfect. I’d lick one of those drinks off his abs kind of perfect.” Okay, so maybe he had enough alcohol after all. Sober Cisco never would have even thought that much less said it out loud to his younger companion. ---
“Instead, you get wormy,” he teased.
Stiles shook his head at Cisco. Well, they were either going to leave or Cisco was going to all of a sudden get the courage to talk to the guy. Stiles was pretty much thinking that they would be leaving. He glanced back at the bar and then back at Cisco. “Hmm, maybe we should practice on someone less…intimidating for you,” he suggested. “Unless you want to change your mind, suck it up, and go flirt with Mister Muscle. Up to you.” He was kind of hoping that Cisco would just suck it up and go for it, buuuuuuuut he kind of had a feeling that it wasn’t going to happen.
* Cisco made a little disgruntled noise at that comment as his rebuttal. Very clever, but maybe it was a little true. He did squirm, he was squirming right now. “I can’t.” Nope, he was entirely flustered as he pulled Stiles toward the door. Unfortunately for him, they didn’t make it that far, the very muscley hot guy had reached out for Cisco’s wrist to inform him “Hey, you forgot to pay your tab.” He wasn’t even all that angry about it, in fact there was a certain look of amusement on the guys face. Cisco could only stare and blush, “Oh!-I” He couldn’t even come up with proper words. He fished into his pocket for that credit card when something hit him, it was just somebody drunkenly trying to leave but it practically pushed him into the muscled man’s chest. However when contact was made, there was a brief moment where Cisco seemed to have zoned out entirely, color left his face and the card he’d fished out of his pocket fell. Large muscled arms caught him so he didn’t fall completely.
He was seeing something from someone else's point of view. From that bartenders, there were drinks being poured and a knife in one hand as he threatened some poor helpless waitress via knifepoint. He’d gone sort of rigid. The muscled bartender looked over at Stiles, not sure what to do about the unmoving customer now in his arms. “Hey?” He waved a hand in front of Cisco’s face, but nothing happened. ---
Yeah, they were leaving. Stiles was getting dragged towards the door. There would be no bartender flirting happening tonight. “Okay,” was all he was able to say before they were stopped. “Gah…” Oops, they almost did a drink and dash. That was very dumb of them. Then again, it was kind of his fault since he was trying to get Cisco to get out of his comfort zone and go for something. “Sorry,” he said quickly as Cisco was digging out his credit card and then things got weird.
“Cisco!” He looked wide-eyed between his friend and the bartender that had caught his friend. “Hey, wake up, buddy!” He looked kind of freaky. His eyes were open, and the color was draining from his face and Stiles had no idea what to do except to keep calling out to Cisco and snapping his fingers in front of his face. “Wakey, wakey.” He wanted to tease him that the hot bartender was holding him, but he didn’t want the guy to give him weird looks.
* The guy didn’t even think they’d intended to run off like that, it was a thing that happened at bars. Drunks forgot their tabs often, if he spent the whole night angry about it he’d have ugly face wrinkle lines that wouldn’t benefit anyone. “Uh..I’m going to go charge this.” The man kept Cisco from falling, but mentally he was. As the bartender released him and bent down to get the card, the young engineer finally saw Stiles’ hands in front of his face.
“We need to get out of here.” He finally said once he seemed to catch his bearings. That guy still had his credit card, but Cisco didn’t even seem to care. “Something bad is going to happen. Or maybe did happen.” He wasn’t making any sense, but either way he grabbed at Stiles wrist again once he was able to move. ---
“Uhh…” Well, okay, he didn’t think he would get ditched like that. His attention went back to Cisco who was now on the ground. “Get up. You don’t know what you might be laying in.” He was trying to say anything to get his friend to snap out of it and get the hell up.
Finally, what seemed like forever, Cisco was coming to. “We were doing that before you collapsed,” he pointed out. “What do you mean something bad is going to happen?” He quickly started to look around as if he might see what Cisco was talking about, but he didn’t see anything. Everything looked normal. “Come on, let’s get you up,” he said as he grabbed a hold of Cisco and started to help him get up. “We’ll get your card back and then get the hell out of here. Okay?”
* There was a fear in his eyes that hadn’t been there before as Stiles helped him off the ground. What the hell had happened? He looked down around him as if there would be some kind of clue there, but of course it was only the ground. Some of the color was returning to his face though as he stood, a hand on Stiles’ arm for balance. “I saw that guy. He’s got a knife. Or maybe he had one? I don’t..” His hand then touched his head as the world around him swirled like a fishbowl. He staggered slightly.
“No, we shouldn’t go back. It’s fine. Lets just go.” He didn’t want to be in that guys presence at all, he felt like a murderer. “Everything about him is wrong.” He just needed to get out, it was like some kind of panic attack to the unaware onlookers. “Lets just go, please?” ---
The look on Cisco’s face was only starting to freak Stiles out. Not only because of Cisco basically passing out, but the fact that he truly believed that something bad was going to happen. They definitely needed to get out of there.
“Okay, let’s get out of here.” He wasn’t going to argue and he didn’t want Cisco to become totally overwhelmed again, so with an arm around his friend, he headed out of the bar. “We’re leaving. See.”
* Cisco didn’t really make much progress recovering until they got outside. Only then did he begin to breathe a little better. Some of the color seemed to fill his face again, and he was able to stand up once they got to the curb. “Something’s going to happen there and I think that guy is responsible.”
A minute or two later his nose started to bleed. He touched it in confusion and cringed. “That’s great. That’s just..” He had a napkin still shoved in his coat pocket from the bar and touched it to the slow stream. “Can you get my phone and call the car?” It was in the other pocket of his jacket, he just didn’t really want to risk bleeding on everything. “Did you feel something wrong in there?” He hoped it wasn’t just him, he really hoped. ---
Reluctantly Stiles let go of Cisco once they reached the curb. He was standing pretty close, just in case Cisco decided to topple over again. “Is this your weird power you were talking about?” Because it sounded like it. Or he was drugged and talking nonsense. Both seemed plausible.
Stiles was starting to think that maybe they should walk down the street a bit. Get a little bit of distance between themselves and the bar. And he would have suggested it, but then the blood started to flow. “Dude…are you okay?” He nodded and started to go through Cisco’s jacket pocket until he grabbed his phone and pulled it out. “Ummm…” he pushed the button for Uber, glancing up at Cisco for a moment. “I didn’t until you started rambling about something bad happening or about to happen. It was over after that.” A minute later and he was done with the app. They would soon be far, far away from here.
* “Maybe. Powers I think. I saw something when he touched me. I don’t know what to do.” Cisco still wasn’t making much sense, but just being outside helped. He wouldn’t have complained too much if they did move a bit further away. That place still gave him creepy vibes, but then the blood ruined those plans. All he wanted to do was get as far away from that place as he could. “I think we need to call the cops.” Nothing had happened yet, but he was no hero. He didn’t know how to fight, or what to do about someone with a giant knife covered in blood. What would he even tell them? He had a hunch? L.A.P.D. didn’t exactly operate on hunches.
“Yeah, I just feel a little dizzy.” His brows knit together as a sudden wave of pain struck him again. That really wasn’t fun. He staggered slightly. “Next time you pick the bar.” He tried to joke, but it was a little weak considering the discomfort he was clearly in. ---
“Has this happened before?” There were a lot of questions that were starting to race through Stiles’ mind. Was this unknown territory or had this happen before? Is it bad enough that Cisco needs to go the hospital or can they just go home? He really had no idea about any of this. “And tell them what? ‘Yes, hi, my friend had a vision of something bad happening. Can you send somebody?’ I don’t think that’s going to work.” They could lie and say they saw somebody with a weapon, but if nothing happens they could get tracked down and asked questions. He doubted Cisco wanted that.
Stiles quickly grabbed Cisco the moment he saw that his friend was in pain again. Nope, don’t need him saying hello to the ground. “Next time we’ll just get drunk at one of our places.” He smiled a small smile before saying, “Come on, let’s go over here…” He started to walk down the sidewalk, stopped when they were a whole building away from the bar.
* “No, not like this.” He waved a free hand since he couldn’t really shake his head. He didn’t want blood getting everywhere. Cisco frowned, he knew Stiles was right but that didn’t mean he had to like it. “Can I leave knowing?” What kind of person did that make him? He looked back at the bar. Not very heroic at all. Ruby would be disappointed, hell -he - was disappointed in himself. What could he do though? He couldn’t fight murderers, and who would come on a feeling?
Reluctantly he let Stiles start to lead him away. He knew his friend was right, what would they say? Can you come just in case? God if something did happen…
Physically he started to feel better once they got away from the place, the bleeding stopped and he was able to toss the tissue in a can near by. “I’m the worst date ever. Invite you to club murder and pass out first.” He found a street lamp to lean against for a moment, something solid that wasn’t his poor friend. ---
“How are you feeling? Are you feeling really bad? Should we get you to a hospital?” Stiles asked one question right after the other. Cisco’s question made him pause. “The only way you’re getting someone to come out here is to say you saw him with a weapon. And then we’re stuck here.” And he knew Cisco wanted to get away from this place. But if Cisco wanted to stay, Stiles would stay put too.
“You are the worst date ever,” he teased, a small smile starting to cross his face. “We had fun. Even if it didn’t last long. Next time there will be no passing out early.” He was teasing, but was still keeping an eye on Cisco since he was still worried that he could drop once again. Hopefully they didn’t have to wait for the ride for much longer.
* “Not hospitals. I can’t.” Even if he wanted to go he wouldn’t be able to anymore, not with meta DNA and weird meta stuff. “I think I’mokay” His words slurred slightly, probably not the most convincing, but hey he was trying. “I don’t want to stay.” Did that mean Stiles would think less of him? He physically felt like shit. He probably looked it too. Maybe somehow he’d be able to call in an anonymous tip or something.
“Home is good. Movies, blankets, I like home.” Fortunately for them, the car wasn’t going to be long. Cisco was starting to perk up a little more now that they were away from that place. He was able to stand upright after a few moments of regaining his bearings. “That was actually the worst feeling. If that’s what powers are like, I don’t want them.” He was a little afraid. But when Stiles teased back, he seemed to lighten up a bit more. “I think you and I should just be friends.” He grinned teasing back and rubbing his eyes. “It was like a brick was on my chest and I couldn’t breathe back there.” He pushed some dark hair away from his face. “Worst powers ever.” --
“No hospitals then.” If Cisco didn’t want to go, Stiles wasn’t going to force him to. “Are you sure?” Because from what Stiles could see, Cisco was still looking pretty bad. “Then we’ll get away from here and go home.” Stiles wasn’t going to judge him from that decision. He gave his friend options and he was fine with either one.
Since he still had Cisco’s phone, he checked to see how much longer they would have to hang around. Not long. Thank god. “I don’t want you to have them either if that’s what it does to you. You looked…horrible.” At least now, Cisco was starting to get some color back into face. And he didn’t look like he wanted to topple over. All good signs. “Aw, and here I was thinking tonight was going to be my lucky night,” he joked right along. “But you’re feeling a lot better now, right?” He nodded in agreement. Yeah, if that was his power, it was definitely the worst power ever.
* “Didn’t feel too good either.” He admitted with a half hearted little smile,, he really wanted to trade powers. Or turn them off, or...something. He wasn’t entirely sure what if anything could be done with them “Everything around us was just...vibrating. I couldn’t see you or anyone else. Just that guy. That’s..disappointing. I imagined being in his arms so much differently than that.” He made a face, trying to lighten the mood a little. “Maybe Jemma can do something about it.” Cisco shrugged, maybe there were things that could help those little ...episodes, or whatever the hell they were. He really didn’t want to have them again.
“Oh yeah, I look like such a catch right now.” He said with a roll of his eyes as he began to breathe a bit more regularly. The car drove up “Maybe I can give it back. If it’s going to hurt this much every time..” He trailed off, a little worry in his eyes as he opened up the door to let them both in. “I wonder if you can trade these things. Like this power sucks, can I have super speed instead.” He gave a cautious look at the driver, but the man didn’t even seem to care what they were talking about-so Cisco stopped worrying about him too. He could just be vague and it would be fine. “Lets just get back to my place and drink there. If you want to continue I mean. Or there are options, I don’t know.” He leaned against the door as it shut behind him, eyes closing for a minute. “...Just don’t hate me.” ----
“That doesn’t sound fun at all.” It sounded tortuous and it looked like it as well. “Oh, well,” he put his arms up, grinning, “You can be in my arms!” After a moment he put his arms back down. “Like what? Make you wear a hat that dampers your powers?” He was half joking with that question.
“You do,” Stiles said, giving Cisco a thumbs up. “Finally!” Now they could get away from this place. He handed Cisco his phone back since he didn’t need it anymore. Once his friend was in, he climbed right on into the car. “That would be cool, but I don’t think it works that way,” he pointed out, not at all worried about what their driver might think of their conversation. For all they knew they were talking about comic books or movies based on them. “We can continue to drink at your house.” He didn’t want to go home yet. So he was a-okay with continuing their night at Cisco’s place. “Dude, I don’t hate you. You gotta do a lot more than get…” he glanced at the driver and then back at Cisco as he continued, “sick for me to hate you. We’ll go back to your place, finish the night of fun and then move on from this night.”
* Cisco laughed at that and gave Stiles a playful shove. “Only in your dreams maybe.” A roll of his eyes for emphasis. “Maybe. Or maybe like a bracelet.” The gears in his head that weren’t murdered by migraines were clearly twisting around at the thought. Power dampening bracelets. Handcuffs?...No, he wasn’t a criminal. Just a bracelet. That could be doable if he could get the right combination of metal and meta DNA. He’d have to experiment on himself, but it wasn’t like he didn’t have a lab for that. He wasn’t about to ask someone to let him stifle their powers unless they wanted it.
Taking the phone back, Cisco laughed and got into the car. As he leaned against the door and listened to his friend talk, he nodded. “If you’re sure.” He still wasn’t entirely sure what happened, but he appreciated that either way it meant he wasn’t going to lose his friend. He was able to rest a bit easier on the way home. They could move on now. Ciso couldn’t help but feel a little relieved. ---