Ghosts Of The Past (Closed)

James reached out, grabbing his wrist and Hartley both didn't know and knew far too well what he wished the other man would do next. None of it happened, instead they both remained where they were, James' eyes already enough to tell him how serious he was. He didn't know how he'd earned such a reputation in the other man's eyes - or perhaps his grief, his guilt kept him from seeing what Trickster clearly saw in him. His face felt hot, though his hand soon turned cold without fingers wrapped around it. There was the urge to reach after James' hand but he managed to push past it.

He barely noticed Cocoa leaving his shoulder as if she'd finally realized she wasn't going to get any food from him right now. She hopped onto the counter before skittering off, leaving the two men truly alone with each other now.

A part of Hartley had forgotten he was still in his costume, despite feeling the weight of it - both figurative and literal. At that question, he couldn't meet James' eyes, lightly biting down on his lower lip. He didn't know how much he wanted to tell him. James had just, somehow, come back from the dead. He didn't want to drag him back into this life. James deserved as much of a normal, stress free life as he was capable of getting. Though he actually didn't know how long the blonde had been back for. He mentally added that to the list of questions he might one day have the strength to ask.

"Who says I ever stopped?" he settled for saying instead of the truth right now. It wasn't technically a lie but it was certainly a dodge. The last they'd seen each other, both alive, had been in costume. For all James knew, after that Hartley could have decided to keep going as the Pied Piper for whatever reason, perhaps fueled by James' death. But... Well considering how he'd been acting since the Trickster had shown up, that lie probably wasn't going to fly well. But he also didn't think a lot of the truth would either.

He sighed and reached up, running a hand through his hair. "I didn't... plan to," he admitted, eyes still anywhere except James again. "Believe me when I got back from-" He lightly bit his lip. He didn't think willingly turning himself over to the authorities was going to go over well. At least not right now. "It wasn't the plan. But... circumstances have changed." He managed to look at James now. If he mentioned that Evan had brought the Rogues back, would he want to join him in his crusade to stop them? He didn't want to risk that but there was a chance James would ask what those changes were.

He looked away again. "The Rogues are back. Evan's doing apparently. Found out when I ran into Axel and like usual he couldn't keep his mouth shut." He tapped the ground with a foot. James knew about how the Rogues had killed a Flash - after all, he'd been there. But after his death... He didn't know what they'd done after that. "They need to be stopped. I'm going to stop them. Alone." He wasn't going to risk James' life, not again - not after just getting him back.

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556 words
James Jesse

Hartley immediately closed up at the question. His eyes fell away from James's and looked anywhere but back at the con artist. James felt a pang of guilt for bringing Hartley anything less than happiness, but he powered through it. He kept a steady and stern eye on the other man as words fumbled halfheartedly from his mouth, a bit too distracted when he saw Piper's teeth snag his bottom lip once- twice.

James wasn't going to push. Not if he had an alternative. Thank God, Hartley didn't make him. He waited, and that patience won out. Piper finally met his stare, but not for long. James could feel the tension in their conversation rising. Something was about to come out that was significant. Trickster didn't have to wait long. Anger lanced through his ribcage and his hands curled into fists.

There were a whole sh*t-ton of reasons that James would always despise Evan McCulloch. The one at the top of the list had only made it to that number one rank since his resurrection. Brought with the clarity James had had that moment before his death. Embodied in the man sharing that little kitchen with him. James would never forgive McCulloch for what he'd put Hartley through.

For all the knee-jerk fury and outrage, Trickster wasn't surprised. Not the least bit. He'd have been far more shocked if he'd come back to a world that was rid of the Rogues. He wasn't surprised, either, when Piper said he was planning on stopping them. Alone. James had been expecting that - or some version of it - the moment he'd seen Hartley wearing his costume, crawling through the window.

"You are," he nodded. "And I'll be there, too." James lifted a hand, clapping it over Hartley's mouth, which he was sure would open to protest. "Don't waste your breath. I ****ing mean it, Hartley." He glared, almost hostile, then finally lowered his palm. Trickster filled his lungs and sighed. Somehow he felt better. Not only because he'd seen Hartley, but because he felt like his... second life was starting to pick up momentum.

"Now I'll let you catch some z's. I got a dusty twin waiting for me at a hotel on Smithson Drive."

Hartley Rathaway

He noticed the way James' hands curled into fists. It wasn't unexpected. There was a chance the Trickster would be unpleased with his decision but even beside that, he'd known bringing up Evan would stir some emotions. Anger. He'd known it'd stir up anger. It wasn't as if Evan hadn't been a pain - understatement of the century - to both of them in the past. Hartley still remembered his parents, finding out Mirror Master had been behind their murders. He could tell himself as many times as possible that he'd moved on from that but he would've been lying if he'd said he didn't want to give Evan a good deck across the face still.

He still wondered where Snart was.

His thoughts were cut off by James' voice. There wasn't a demand for him to stop or even an exasperated sigh or roll of the eyes. Instead the blonde supported him. Hartley's shoulders began to relax with relief only for James to continue and insist on aiding him. He frowned and opened his mouth to protest, head beginning to shake, when a hand found its way right over his mouth. He looked down at the hand, surprise coloring his cheeks before his eyes stubbornly found its owner. He was far more aware of the contact between them than he thought he should've been in that moment, considering the circumstances.

Emotions stirred within him, mostly frustration at how unsurprisingly stubborn James was. He should have seen it coming, really. He shouldn't have told him what he was up to. Lying had been the better option to keep the other man out of it and keep him safe. And that led into the fear. The last time James had been caught up with the Rogues, he'd ended up dead. Now, it hadn't been the Rogues' fault - entirely; none of them had pulled the trigger - but they still held some of the blame, deep down in Hartley's mind. Perhaps not as deep down as he wanted to think.

James pulled his hand back and Hartley's eyes were on the floor again because he knew the other man wouldn't listen if he said no. James was many things and stubborn was at least three of them. Still... He reached behind him and gripped the counter, managing to pull his gaze up to the blonde, expression serious. It took a moment for him to speak, trying to find the best words. "I..." He sighed. "I know I can't stop you but things are - They're different, this time." He lightly shook his head, gaze moving in the direction of the bathroom where his shower curtain still needed replacing. "I don't know what but - Something's not right with them."

He looked back to James. Trickster was going to help him whether he wanted him to or not, he had to accept that. It wasn't going to be easy, but then again when was anything ever easy? At least for him? And James deserved to know what he was getting himself into. Hartley leaned back against the counter, folding his arms across his chest and frowning faintly. "I haven't heard or even seen Snart. At all. From my brief chat with Axel, it almost sounds as if Evan's running things." Why couldn't Evan just let the Rogues go? Why couldn't any of them? He was so tired. Why couldn't this be all in their pasts? "Considering the fact that he attacked me the other day in my own home, I think he knows I'm onto them and feels threatened." This certainly wasn't going to earn Evan any points in James' book but, well, Hartley was fairly certain it was impossible for James to feel anything warm toward Mirror Master.

Hartley knew that feeling well.

"The Rogues are a threat, James," he added and then held a hand out before the other man could insist he already knew that. "They're... Something happened after you died. I..." He took in a shaking breath and slowly let it out. Admitting to his role in it still wasn't easy. Even if he'd done his time in jail already. "Just... Trust me, okay? They can't be underestimated."

At the thought of the other man leaving, he almost reached out a hand to grasp him but barely managed to resist the urge. The weight of the patrol he'd just finished was demanding to be felt and finding out James was alive again was... Well there was a lot he still needed to process. Still, the thought of waking up without him wasn't a pleasant one. There might have been more to that but the reason was also rather simple: He was afraid he'd wake up to find this had all been a dream. He didn't want this to be just some dream.

"It's late," he said, his own exhaustion finding its way into his voice. Technically it was early. Details. "You can take the couch for tonight." He didn't want him to go, not ever right now.

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833 words
James Jesse