Keep calm and Hans shot first

Caring, coming out, carne asada

As his lunch break approached Cisco began to talk himself in to a pit of self doubt and worry. Hartley finished his work early so he could spend time trying to calm his boyfriend down from a potential panic attack. Hartley knew this feeling all too well and wished he could take the pain away from him. But for now all he could do is stand by him no matter what will happen at the lunch.

" Hartley what if I'm wrong! WHAT IF HE TELLS THEM! THEY WONT UNDERSTAND!!!"

" Cisco please just take a deep breath please" Cisco looked as if on the urge of passing out this killed Hartley to see.
He held Cisco in his arms. " I know you feel shitty right now and I know you're scared but it will be okay, it will all be okay, just focus on my heart beat."

Cisco breathing l began to return to normal " I don't want to loose anyone else I don't wanna loose my family"  Hartley's heart broke he never knew someone this cheery someone who brought so much light in to his life could suffer this much. He knows something else is eating at Cisco who had he already lost. Though curious Hartley knows when Ciscos ready to tell him he will.

" Cisco I know you are afraid of losing your family, it hurts to be afraid of those who are suppose to love you unconditionally. We try so hard to make them proud we often forget that we matter, that are opinions are valid and sometimes they are toxic to us. But no matter what happens today you will always have me, and the rest of your star labs family. And to us you're nothing short of perfect." Cisco smiled as wiped away a few stray tears.

"Thank you hart... I uh-"

" you don't need to say anything." Hartley reassured" also if your brother is too much of a dick I'll fight him"

" Hartley Rathaway fighting! Ha I didn't know you had a since of humor. "

Hartley stared at Cisco" you think with this big mouth I don't know how to fight. I'm brains and bronze cisquito"

Cisco smiled still somewhat disbelieving. Cisco looked at the clock and took a deep breath "now or never right."
Hartley smiled at him and held his hand in his" now or never.

They arrived at the diner to see dante already there.
"What ever you do don't let me back out. No matter the outcome I won't forgive myself if I don't do this today"

Dante sees them and is a bit shocked to see his brothers co worker there as well but waves them down"hey Paco I didn't know you were bringing a friend"

Cisco did hid best to look nonchalant" yeah I felt bad that I cancelled my plans with him to come here so I just invited him, I hope that's not a problem"

" no not at all the more the merrier" Dante says thinking not to much of it, although Dante just can't seem to shake of the feeling that something is a bit off of familiar with Hartley.

They sit down as the waitress approaches them"hello I'm Mandy I'll be your server today what can I get you"

Dante replied with his, trying to charm your pants off, smile to the waitress as he ordered " I'll have the 10 oz sirloin steak an a ice tea"
The waitresses jotted down his order and looked at Cisco and Hartley for there order.

Cisco scanned the menu for a second" um I'll have the carne Asada fries and root beer"

"and I'll have the avocado chicken Caesar salad and just water for me" Hartley replied afterwards.
Cisco held back a playful eye role, his boyfriend had to show him up health wise.

The waitress left and so it began as she walked away the boys enter a dreaded awkward silence. It was going on three solid minutes of dead silence, Cisco tried to slay clam but Hartley saw him nervously twitting his thumbs under the table. Hartley, being the stranger here, could have easily avoided the awkward encounter by going on his phone. Dante probably wouldn't blame him because, again, this is the first interaction. But he couldn't  just leave Cisco to deal with this alone, so Hartley did what he dreaded the most, something he hasn't done since before his dad disowned him, put on a happy face and make small talk.