self_inflictedexhile | open rp } { dc/marvel smash

[Bruce takes a long moment to look around, his eyes eventually falling on Barry through the course of said inspection of his surroundings. he startles a little, not really having been expecting to find him just standing there, and then offers him a wry smile]

Well, I'm glad I didn't call that one wrong.

[about him being that Flash fellow and all]

[He grins a bit at that, before making his way closer.]

You came! I'm glad.

[Because he always needs more superheroes in his life, apparently.]

Want me to give you the tour? It's not a huge tour but there's some pretty cool science stuff I'm sure you'll appreciate.

You got my attention.

[and he's pretty sure that, now that he knows Barry is a superhero, he won't try and put him in a cell, somewhere. ... maybe. kind of. he did mention stopping a bunch of dangerous metahumans and he's pretty sure he counts as a dangerous metahuman, himself. he also mentioned not having a beef with him if he didn't try wrecking the city, though, so. he's trying for trust. at very least, he looks slightly less like he might bolt, at the moment?]

But uh, yeah. Sure. Why not?

[please don't lead him to a cell and shove him in]

[Nope, they probably don't even have something that can hold him. But Barry will show him all the fun stuff that they've built over the years, like his treadmill and the particle accelerator, and even the metahuman containment cells, which are now mostly empty save for one very angry songbird.]

We helped Iron Heights build metahuman-safe containment cells, so we don't really have to hold them here anymore, but this one isn't actually from our Earth, so we aren't really sure what to do with her yet.

[yeah, he's not saying that that would end well, if Barry did try and lead him down this breadcrumb trail to a cell, but -- well, he doesn't really have to worry about it, does he?]

[anyway. he looks around with interest, his hesitation fading in measures as curiosity takes over. he has about a thousand questions he wants to ask and he can't decide where to start, though, and so he stays silent for most of the tour, if only because he's trying to nail down a handful. he doesn't want to overload Barry, and -- ]

[ -- yeah, he's just going to recoil from the glass, when they reach the containment cell]

[he stares at the woman for a moment, like a deer in headlights, and then slowly turns to Barry] Have you -- I mean, I'm guessing you've tried talking to her? [does she not speak English? he doesn't know]

We've tried. She's not interested. She nearly took down half the skyscrapers in Central City with her voice, and she's basically the right hand woman of one of the most powerful speedsters I've ever seen.

I don't think she's really built to negotiate.

[Bruce makes a face, not doubting Barry but not thrilled by the answer, nevertheless. that's disappointing]

Right. [a beat] I'm guessing this guy she works for doesn't know where she is? [otherwise, he imagines he might have tried to come for her, break her out]

[He shakes his head.]

I don't think he particularly cares either. She was just another tool in his plans for multiverse domination.

[that's similarly disappointing, albeit probably better for Barry and his seekrit base. still, it's enough that he hesitates for a moment, not entirely sure what to say and trying to pin down something]

[what he comes up with is a weak:] Guess that's why they're the bad guys. [a beat] And, uh -- speaking of. I guess you know that I'm not exactly ... [one of said bad guys. he figures that Barry must know, that he would have stopped him at the cafe, if he thought he was going to start trouble, but. he doesn't destroy cities because he enjoys it. it just kind of happens. he still feels guilt, still hates himself, even if it isn't his choice, but he wants to make it clear that he's not trying to be a danger to people, even if he is more often than not]

[He glances over at Bruce for a moment, before shaking his head in agreement.]

No, I know. I mean, dude, I saw the footage of you guys in New York. You were trying to save the world - sometimes not everything comes away in tact.

Doubly so, in my case. [he flashes him a brief, humorless smile, and then blows out a breath] But okay, yeah. Just -- just checking or whatever.

[He nods with a grimace.]

Look, I was involved in something that opened a singularity over Central City. Me and Firestorm managed to close it but that doesn't mean there wasn't collateral damage.

[yeah, but Barry wasn't the cause of that. he couldn't stop bad things from happening -- Bruce is the bad thing that happens. he's not going to argue that, right now, however, and so he just nods, wincing on his behalf]

Glamorous life of being a -- whatever we are. [he won't use the word superhero and he can't remember the one Barry used to describe people with super powers earlier]

[Weeeeeeeell actually it kinda was Barry's fault, in a way, it's really complicated and involves time travel which makes it hard to explain.]

Yeah. Guess it is. Everything's got collateral damage somehow.

[Bruce nods, continuing to look both sympathetic and apologetic for a moment. when that moment passes, he shifts a little, not so much nervous as he was before as restless. should he change the subject? he should probably change the subject]

So, uh ...

[nailed it]

Right. Tour!

[And they will head through the rest of the labs until they're back to the Cortex again.]

And that's STAR Labs.

[he nods]

Tour.

[and so they go. and when they finish, Bruce looks suitably impressed] I'm a little jealous. [it's been awhile since he's had a proper work space, let alone one this nice. Barry is lucky to have it]

You could stick around if you want. We could use another science type.

[And Barry is always out looking for a science dad.]

And the first time I lose it and tear this place apart?

[he'd like to stay, maybe, but. did he mention he's dangerous?]

[He pauses before inching closer as though he's letting Bruce in on some secret.]

This place is already a level four hazard zone, according to FEMA. What more are you going to do to it?

[ ... yeah, that'll do]

Okay, then.

[And then he grins brightly.]

Great! I'll talk to Cisco and see if he can get you some space to work.

Thanks.

[and despite how simple that answer is, there's more to it, written in his expression. Barry really doesn't know how much it means to him that this isn't a trap, that someone's honestly interested in him and letting him do science, that they're willing to trust him when, most of the time, he doesn't even trust himself. he appreciates this more than Barry knows. he'll appreciate it even more, as time passes here]

[Barry is just happy to have someone like him around, who can relate to the "freak accident" of it all, because as much as Cisco and Caitlin were effected by the particle accelerator, Barry's impact is the most pronounced.

But Barry can ready the gratitude and he grins in return.]

No problem. I think you'll like it here.

I think I might, too.

[a beat]

Anyway, uh. [and another] Is there somewhere you want me to kind of -- [wait and not touch anything] -- while you talk to your friend? Or ... [or was he not planning on going to bug Cisco immediately?]

open rp } { dc/marvel smash

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