#virusfanfic

[xviruserrorx]

Title: Stitched Curiosity

Written: June 10th 2026

Fandom: DCU (Comics)

Relationship: Leonard snart & Axel walker

Tags: Stitches, Domestic fluff, Axel being the Rogues' resident kid, Rogues as Family, mention of scars, awww Lenny cares XD

Rating: Gen

Word count: 166

Summary:

Len Stitches up Axel's knee after a run in with the stairs.

Axel hissed as the needle passed through his skin. “Ow.”

“Almost done.” Len pulled the last stitch closed and tied it off; breaking the string with his teeth before putting the needle down. He grabbed the mostly non-bloodied towel and patted the area clean of any more blood.

He gave Axel's busted knee another once over.

Definitely one of his more cleaner jobs. Usually he had to get it done with whatever was on hand, adrenaline high from a chase, and fishing out a bullet or two from some cop's gun.

This was fine too.

He tossed the towel to the side. “No more running down the stairs, got it?”

Axel sniffled and nodded, seemingly learned his lesson for good. “Got it.”

“Good.”

The kid stared at his knees for a second. “Will it scar?”

Len shrugged. “Probably.”

“Will it look cool?”

The smile on his face was unexpected. He scoffed, shaking his head a little. “Yeah. Sure, kid.” He patted his non-injured leg. “Sure will.”

[xviruserrorx]

Title: "Chocolate"

Something I whipped up super quick for day one of Merleon week run by @ghostsfanficevents! Thank you! Also enjoy!

Fandom: BBC Merlin

Prompt(s): First

Relationship(s): Leon/Merlin

Character(s): Leon, Merlin

Important Tag(s): Immortal Leon, Immortal Merlin, Modern era, Banter, Ambiguous relationship

Rating: Gen

Warning(s): none

Word Count: 871

Leon thinks their dating, Merlin says otherwise

Continue reading below or over on Ao3

Nine letter word for a candy that is white, milk, or dark. Could only be—

“The center garden opened back up again yesterday.”

Leon looked up from his crossword puzzle. 

Neither of them had said much all morning. They ate in quiet, drank their coffee much the same. The sun had already begun to creep in through the windows with nothing more than the occasional clink of their cups against the table and the rustle of the newspaper in Merlin’s hand.

“We should go.” He put down the puzzle and picked up his coffee. He knew Merlin wouldn't have mentioned it if he didn't want to go. “The weather's supposed to be nice today.”

“Today?” Merlin asked, not once looking up from the paper.

“We haven't been out in a bit.” Not his best excuse, and from the look on Merlin's face he seemed to think so too. “We could get some fresh air, smell the flowers… maybe a nice picnic while we're there?”

Merlin paused a second, thinking it over. “Okay.”

Leon smiled into his coffee. “It's a date then.”

Merlin just nodded absentmindedly, still staring at the paper. He was quiet these days; nothing Leon minded, he knew what they'd both been through. Some days Merlin handled everything better, and some days he himself did. It wasn't all the time. They laughed, joked, went down memory lane without a tear that wasn't from laughing too hard from either of them.

Still, at times he did miss the old memories of being gathered round the fire with just each others’ and their passed friends' company; something they could never get back. Just memories they were.

He'd navigate Merlin by ear, just as he always had. This time was one of those moments.

He cleared his throat. “You know,” he started. “We never went on a first date.”

“What?” Merlin said. Though he wasn't paying much attention to anything Leon said. So he continued.

“I mean we never really went on a traditional first date.”

Merlin briefly looked at him, processing what he said. “What?” Merlin squinted at him from over the paper.

“Well, you know how it's normally something nice and you make it a big deal and people celebrate anniversaries or say ‘oh this is where we had our first date’. That sorta thing.” 

Leon took another sip of his coffee and Merlin pushed the paper down away from himself.

“What the hell are you talking about?”

“What do you mean?” 

Merlin shot him a look in return. He knew him too well to fall for his faux innocent act.

“I mean, what the hell are you walking about?” He reiterated.

Leon coyishly shrugged. “Just, we never did a whole big first date thing. That's all.”

Merlin still looked at him as though he'd grown horns and three extra heads on the spot. “Why?”

“Why not?”

The man’s mouth was practically hanging open, speechless and flabbergasted. “We're—we're not…”

“Not what?” He egged him on.

“Dating,” Merlin spat out.

Leon rolled his eyes. “Apparently not,” he quipped a bit sarcastically even for him.

“Oh, don't be like that.”

The chair creaked under him as Leon sat up straighter, suddenly more invested in their banter. “Like what?”

“How you get.”

“How I get?” He repeated.

Merlin faltered. “I didn't mean it like that.”

“I think you did.”

“I just…” he pushed the paper aside and held his head in his hands for a quick second as if nursing a headache. “Does that even matter?

Leon stared at him.

“Okay, that's not how I meant that either.”

He gave an unimpressed hum. “How long have we known each other?”

Now it was Merlin’s turn to roll his eyes. They always ended up here when they argued about any single thing. “Do you actually want the exact number or the rough guesstimate?”

“And how many of those years have we lived together?” He continued without an answer.

“At least ninety-nine percent of them?”

Leon raised an eyebrow at him.

“But that doesn't—

“We're married.” Leon quickly held up his hand, showing their wedding rings.

Merlin dropped his hands, hearing the clink of his ring against the table. They were in fact married. Had been for quite some time.

“Spousal benefits, Leon. We talked about this.”

He nodded. “Yes, while we were having sex as I recall.”

“Circumstantial.”

Leon’s strength in trying to contain his smile should have been admired by their past king himself, but it soon faltered. The coffee cup did little to help him hide it as Merlin looked his way.

He smiled a little. Not like he used, they'd never be there again; yet still, Merlin smiled.

Leon shook his head. “Don't know why I try with you.”

“Eh…” Merlin grabbed and brought his coffee to his lips. “I think you love me?”

Leon scoffed at that. “You think?”

He cocked his head as if unsure. “Just a thought.” 

Leon reached across the table and snatched the paper from him and walked away with his coffee.

“I’ll buy you flowers!” Merlin yelled after him.

“We're going to a garden!”

He heard a barely audible ‘right’.

“Chocolates?” Merlin yelled instead.

The bedroom door slammed shut in response.

Chocolate it is.

[xviruserrorx]

Title: Danse Macabre

Still late but for day 7 or 6 I can't remember which is is, whichever ever has the prompt "Whump" for @pipsterweek

Fandom: DC

Relationship: James Jesse/Hartley Rathaway, James Jesse & Hartley Rathaway

Warnings: none

Tags: Post-Comic: Countdown to Final Crisis Vol. 1 (2007), Comic: Countdown to Final Crisis Vol. 1 (2007), Necromancy, sorta, Anti-life equation, Dead People, Canon Disabled Character, Borderline Personality Disorder, Schizophrenia, Mention of tampering with medication, Hartley Rathaway is Not Okay, Hartley Rathaway Needs a Hug, Rats, Vomiting, Crying, Post-Canon Fix-It, Paranoia, mentioned ableism, mentioned panic attacks, Mentioned Delusions and Hallucinations, Fear of Abandonment, Gen or Pre-Slash, Whump

Word count: 1,306

Summary:

‘You can do anything you desire, and all you have to do is play.’ Anything—any little thought, even if impossible. He guessed it made sense, given the things he'd done since he could form a thought. But… anything. Blow up a planet. Raise the… Or Hartley doing more than blowing up a planet with the Anti-life equation.

Breaking into Belle Reve wasn't exactly how he thought he'd spend his time post-getting chased across multiple states, shot at, and almost killed; only to find out that it was all planned out by a New Good who wanted to use him for some stupid Equation he didn't even know he possessed before that moment.

It sounded crazy. 

He felt crazy… Nothing he hadn't been labeled before.

Heck, for all he knew this was just some hallucination and delusion. He had been off his meds since he'd been on the run. Maybe a bit before that too. Wolfe thought it was something of a joke to mess around with his meds.

Prick.

And yet… it all seemed like simpler days. Running around with the Rogues, playing cat and mouse with Barry, and Breedmore well… not the best memories there. What came after was; helping people, Wally, Linda, the whole Flash Family and being a part of that, saving the world more than once, James…

Not his James—well, yes, his James but… not the Rogue, not his Trickster. He was sweet, he was good. Maybe too sweet or good for him. They never got to end things. Too much happened. He knew James hated him, he'd leave, it was always going to happen. He shouldn't have even started dating or getting close to people because he would just hurt them and screw up their lives.

All of them. His friends. His partners. The Rogues. His family. Jerrie….

She was probably so scared… wherever she ended up. He never found out… he never… how could he…?

He threw his back against the wall, hard enough to hurt, and slid down to the floor. His throat ached as he sobbed for what must have been the twentieth time just that day. He was exhausted after every time, crawling his way out of panic attacks and trying to convince himself that he was alive… that he was real.

Why did everyone have to leave him all the time? He tried to be what everyone wanted him to be, what he could give, and yet it was never enough—he could never do enough.

Rats crawled over him, most of them trying to find a warm place in his cloak or costume to snuggle in and sleep. They had helped him break in and out of Belle Reve after all. Certainly deserved treats he didn't have on him at the moment; couldn't even remember the last time he ate.

One crawled up his chest and tucked himself in the crook of his neck. 

At least he had them.

His eyes drifted to the body bag laying in the middle of the room. 

Maybe someone else too…

What did that man—or New God even say?

‘You can channel the anti-life equation… you can bring it to life in a way no one can, not even a New God.’

Stronger than a god, huh? Weather Wizard would be jealous.

He smiled, imagining the conversation and how that would happen. Curled up on an old couch or chair in one of their hideouts arguing over a few drinks, maybe a couple of the guys playing cards, and in turn them getting yelled at for arguing too loud; the smell of cigarettes in the air, and Sam’s cigars.

And Trickster…

His chest fluttered, breath quivering.

There were the waterworks again…. Could he cry anymore?

‘The chaos and suffering! If you play, you can end it.’

He scoffed, wiping away the few tears that fell. Well… he made it all go away. The whole damn thing. The entire planet just… poof. 

He didn't—

No. No, he did—he meant to. He meant it. All of it.

Is that what this was? What the anti-life equation was? What he was?

‘A rare human vessel for the anti-life.’

It was him, he was it?

Whatever the fuck that meant.

‘You can do anything you desire, and all you have to do is play.’

Anything—any little thought, even if impossible. He guessed it made sense, given the things he'd done since he could form a thought.

But… anything.

Blow up a planet.

Raise the…

He exhaled steadily.

The body bag was a deep blue. Property of Belle Reve plastered across the front. The rats were scurrying around it; a familiar scent, one that was allowed to handle them… a dead scent. Multiple of them kept alerting him every time they caught a sniff of the stench.

He didn't mind—didn’t care, and in a sick way almost preferred it.

Defrosting.

That's what happens when things that were frozen were brought out.

A thawed, rotted…

He grabbed his flute and pushed himself off the wall and to his knees. Rats shifted around as he crawled to one end of the bag. 

The smell grew stronger. 

He hesitated. He needed to see him. He needed to. He just needed to see—

He grabbed the zipper, yanked it down half way, and shoved the sides apart.

He chuckled, feeling those tears once again.

At least the people that took James' body had the decency of leaving his clown in that ridiculous outfit of his. He ran his hand along the orange and blue stripes; nothing but a firm cold body beneath them. His cape was still attached, bunched up under him.

He looked up. Domino mask still in place. Tattered, covered in blood, but still in place. His whole face was covered in blood. That normally blonde and fluffy hair of his, covered in a dark red, crusted and flaking off all over the place.

Head wounds bled a lot after all.

And… how?

He followed his right arm down.

His hands—both hands!? One was stitched back, attached from where he had… 

His stomach churned, bile burned his throat and coated his mouth as he quickly turned to the side; one of his rats narrowly missed the down pour.

He spit and wiped his mouth with his sleeve. A silent apology to his rats; he took a deep breath.

James would never forgive him. He would—

He stopped.

Anything he desired…? Whatever he wanted to happen, could—would happen. If he just played. Made any little noise. Just as he had always done. Whatever he wanted…. 

He couldn't be on the side of the angels alone.

He grabbed his flute, pressed the mouthpiece to his chin and blew. A soft string of notes flowed out as he focused on keeping his breath even. He increased the pressure, feeling it grow louder.

The skin around the stitches in James' hand started to form. The jagged edges reattached themselves faster than he expected; muscle, tendons, all the layers of flesh, and within seconds the stitches were useless.

He closed his eyes trying to focus on playing. When he opened them he looked at the hole in the middle of his friend's forehead; now a closing hole. What had happened to his hand was happening again. He tried not to look too close, worried he would have to stop to empty whatever was left in his stomach again if he did.

James had taken that shot for him. He had put his life on the line for him. That somehow, some God knew he would do with such certainty that…

He played faster and watched as what happened in front of him followed. The gaping wound quickly became nothing, only dried blood evidence it was once there. The pale pallor grew steadily with a tinge of red; cheeks flushed, his lips and nails lost their tinge of blue.

He stopped playing and lowered his flute.

He ran his hand through the ends of James' hair, pushed it away from his ear, and lowered his lips to it and whispered.

“Wake up.”

James’ chest rose, his eyes shot open, and he gasped. 

[xviruserrorx]

Title: "Sneaking Out

Very late I know and behind as always but for day 2 of @pipsterweek for "Rogues find out"

Fandom: dc

Relationship: James Jesse/Hartley Rathaway, Jerrie Rathaway & Axel Walker & Billy Hong & Owen Mercer

Tags: Canon Disabled Character, Walking In On Someone, sorta, Jerrie is judging Hartley, The Rogues As Family (The Flash), American Sign Language, Hartley's sex life is inconveniencing Jerrie's routine, thank you very much, Sneaking Out, Teenagers, AAC Usage, @ James Jesse stop traumatizing your son

Word count: 1007

Summary:

James and Hartley were laid out on the pull out futon. Her brother cuddled up to James’ side while James was spread out across the mattress. Both of them were wearing far less clothes than she would have liked.  Billy reached across and pulled the door shut just as quickly as it had been opened with a far off stare. “Yeah, that happens sometimes." Or Jerrie, Billy, Owen, and Axel run into a unexpected obstacle when trying to sneak out

They were breaking out. 

Well… sneaking out more like it, but that sounded less dramatic. Their parents and her big brother were The Rogues after all; dramatic were their middle names.

Sorta. Hartley’s was Robert but—

“Jerrie!”

She snapped her head around. Billy, Owen, and Axel were ahead of her sneaking down the hallway. 

“Spacing off. Come on!” Billy whisper-yelled.

Axel stopped at the end of the hall and peaked around the corner. “Clear.”

She caught up, grabbing the notepad from her pocket and tapping Billy to get his attention. She usually preferred her tablet for communicating but notepad and signing would have to work for now. She grabbed her pen and quickly scribbled on the paper then turned it around to him. “Rats?”

He nodded. “Axel!

“What?

“Rats?”

“Crap!” Axel exclaimed under his breath.

Jerrie pushed ahead of them and peaked around the corner Axel had his back too. Their exit strategy, the back door, was being guarded by a bunch of rats. She really needed to talk to Hartley about his anxiety.

She grabbed some treats from her other pocket. She clicked her tongue to get their attention and then tossed the treats away from the door and watched as they all ran to eat them.

Axel laughed. “Too easy.” 

They pushed forward and got to the door. She took the lead and slowly turned the door handle. She paused and felt the rest of them jolt to a stop behind her as the door was pushed open. 

Clothes were scattered everywhere. The carpet was rucked up. Some items from a nearby desk looked like they had been thrown off. And in the middle of the room James and Hartley were laid out on the pull out futon. Her brother cuddled up to James’ side while James was spread out across the mattress. Both of them were wearing far less clothes than she would have liked. 

Billy reached across and pulled the door shut just as quickly as it had been opened with a far off stare. “Yeah, that happens sometimes. Let's just go through the window.”

She shook her head. Now of all times. Her brother’s horny-ness couldn't wait to do it another night when they weren't supposed to be looking after them? She knew the adoption was a bad idea.

She rolled her eyes and followed Billy as he began to fiddle with the window.

“Uh…” Axel cocked his head. “I thought Piper had a boyfriend?”

Jerrie turned her notepad to him and Owen. “Broke up.”

“And your mom?” Owen asked Billy.

“One time thing.” He gestured to himself. “Obviously.” He popped the lock and put it to the side.

Owen and Axel shared a perplexed look. “Wait. How long have they—” he gestured to the door.

“We don't need to talk about that.” Billy waved Owen off while pushing up the window to the fire escape.

Jerrie tapped Owen. “While.” She turned it back to her to write, then— “On and off.”

Billy craned his neck from where he was halfway out the window. “Jerrie!” He yelped, quickly catching himself from slipping. “Can you not?!” He hopped down as they followed through.

She waited, slipped her notepad into her pocket when it was her turn to go through and shrugged after she hopped out. “He's my big brother.” She sharply signed. She softly shut the window behind her.

“And that's my dad!” He dropped down to the next balcony. “What if your dad was hooking up with someone other than you mom?”

She leaned over the railing as he looked up at her. “He's dead.”

He loudly groaned, resulting in all of them harshly shushing him.

“Honestly, if any of the guys were fucking, my money would be on Piper and Trickster.” Owen hoped down after Billy.

“You've thought of this?”

Axel nodded, ignoring Billy. “Mines on Wizard and Mirror Master.”

“Sam?” Owen asked.

“Evan.”

Jerrie nodded. “Makes sense.” She pressed the back of her fist on the underside of her chin, waiting behind Axel.

“Yeah.” He looked down at Owen. “If anyone were doing Sam it would be your dad.”

“What—?!” Owen caught himself from slipping down the ladder. He hopped the rest of the way to the ground and recomposed himself. “My dad's straight.”

Jerrie snapped her fingers to get his attention. “You sure about that?”

“Apple doesn't fall far from the tree.” Axel slid his way down the ladder to the floor.

“What’s that supposed to—” He paused; hesitated. “Yeah, okay, whatever…”

Axel smiled. “Nightwing, huh?”

“Shut up.”

Axel shrugged. “I don't blame you, it's Nightwing.”

He did a doubletake; looked at Jerrie as she dropped down from the ladder. 

Jerrie scrunched her nose and shook her head. He didn't do much for her.

"I wonder if the other guys know?” Billy mused.

“That Nightwing’s hot? Probably.”

“No, Owen! I mean about Piper and my dad—” he waved his hand around, “you know.”

“Fucking.” Jerrie signed.

He sputtered as he watched her. “Why is that sign like that? Why does it—” He gestured aimlessly to her hands.

Owen chuckled. “No, no, I like it, it's a great sign.”

She nodded as they all smiled at Billy's demise. “You can say it, it's okay.” She put a consoling hand on his shoulder.

“No.”

Owen gave him a pat on the back. “She's right.”

“No.”

“Say it! Say it!” Axel chanted. “Say it, say it, say—”

“Okay!” Billy snapped. “My dad and your brother are fucking! Happy?”

A rush of wind blew past them with a blur of red. The Rogues who had gone out early were dumped at their feet with the Flash standing over them.

“Piper and Trickster are what?”

“I told ya!” Digger exclaimed from the floor, giving Sam a shove. “You owe me.”

Axel gave Owen a look. Owen sighed, shaking his head.

The lights switched on inside the hideout.

“Great.” Billy looked towards Jerrie.

“Shit.” She signed. Unsuccessful breaking out—sneaking out. Whatever.

She really needed to talk to Hartley and his timing when having sex. 

[xviruserrorx]

Title: Trust Fall

Written: April 12th 2026

Fandom: Dcu (comics)

Relationship: James Jesse/Hartley Rathaway

Tags: Acrophobia, Phobias, Panic Attacks, Hurt/Comfort, Comfort, James Jesse Is Not Okay, Sorry James but I'm suffering so you will too, Also why is it so hard to find stuff on severe phobias???, Fear of Falling, Cuddling & Snuggling, Little Spoon James Jesse, Canon Disabled Character, Yes phobias are a disability, Because some people don't seem to think so apparently, Established Relationship

Word count: 431

Summary:

Trickster was quiet. That should have been his first warning.

Trickster was quiet.

That should have been his first warning.

Even when sleeping, James was never quiet. Like it was hardwired into every cell in his body to always state his presence in the room.

Not that he minded. Exactly why he fell in love with him.

His boyfriend not making a peep was the real concern.

Hartley wiped off his mouth with a damp towel, the cool feeling from the mint toothpaste lingering in his mouth. He flicked off the lights and made his way into their bedroom. James was curled up in a fetal position on his side on the makeshift bed he had laid out on the floor.

The real first warning was the panic attack James had earlier in the day.

They had been watching a movie together; the character’s foot had slipped off the edge of a curb no more than a couple inches. But that was enough to send James spiraling. 

That's the thing about phobia’s. He knew James had done a lot of work with it, that even the mere thought of falling or saying the word would have left him an anxious mess once upon a time. But it had gotten better, easier to handle, and to the point that he was able to go back to performing and throw himself around the high wire and walk through the air with those shoes of his.

Still, he had bad days.

That day being one of them. One of those days where even standing to his full height or sitting at the edge of the bed had him hyperventilating.

He hated it, seeing his normal happy silly Trickster so terrified. He felt useless most of all. But he knew that wasn't the case.

He laid down on the blankets, easing himself up behind James. His body was tense. His chest rising and falling a bit faster than normal. Now was the next big obstacle of getting to sleep; not only from the stress of the day but the looming possibility of falling when he closed his eyes. 

“Hey…” Hartley gently brushed James' bangs out of his face and laid his chin on his shoulder. “I’m right here. I got you.” He laid his arm over him and placed his hand on his chest.

It wasn't a few seconds, even a few minutes before James relaxed, gaining some confidence to even let his eyes close for the night.

He stayed awake till he did. Holding him tighter. The unsaid words of, I'm not gonna let you fall, left to linger in comfort to them both.

[xviruserrorx]

Title: "You dated the Brutal dictator of Nicaragua?"

Forgot to put my recent fics on here (100% typos in here - I wrote this while in the hospital so ¯⁠\⁠_⁠(⁠ツ⁠)⁠_⁠/⁠¯)

Written: April 7th 2026 (putting this for my sake)

Fandom: Dcu (comics)

Relationship: Mentioned Danny Temple/Tim Drake, Jason Todd & Tim Drake

Tags: Comic: Robin Vol. 2 (1993), Comic: Robin Vol. 1 (1991), Oof I can't remember which volume it is, Tim Drake and Jason Todd are Siblings, Typical sibling behavior, Past Tim Drake/Danny Temple, Whoa is Tim and the ghost kid from Danny phantom a popular ship or something??, I'm too injured and tired for this, Mentioned Danny Temple

Word count: 229

Summary:

He put a hand up, taking a deep breath and steadying himself. “You dated the leader of the Kobra cult?”  “He wasn't the leader of the Kobra cult when we were dating—flirting.” Tim corrected. “That was the other guy he replaced.”

“Wait, hold up,” Jason steadied himself, wiping away tears from his eyes. “So let me get this straight.” He tried to put on a straight face and failed, including to get out a single word only laughing some more.

Tim was gonna kill him. Make it look convincing enough that even Bruce would never find out. He sighed over his laughter and crossed his arms. “Jason—”

He put a hand up, taking a deep breath and steadying himself. “You dated the leader of the Kobra cult?” 

“He wasn't the leader of the Kobra cult when we were dating—flirting.” Tim corrected. “That was the other guy he replaced.”

Jason sputtered, laughing even harder. “And what did the old man say about that?”

“Bruce knows what he needed to know.”

“Oh, I bet.

Maybe Anarky would help him. Lonnie would help him hide a dead body right? 

“He knows that Kid Kobra knows my secret identity, okay? He replied.

Jason put a hand on his shoulder. “Y’know, sometimes I like you.” Tim shoved his hand off. “You have got to tell Dick this, trust me, he would be proud.”

“So are you gonna help me rescue him?” He called ahead as Jason walked off.

“What does it look like I'm doing? Come on, kid.”

Kid. Seriously, they were like two years apart!

“I'm not a—”

“Falling behind!”

He sighed. Brothers…

[xviruserrorx]

Title: Friends by Denial

I completely forgot how I format my fics on here soooooo 😬 for day 1 prompt "Fake Dating" for @pipsterweek

Fandom: Dc/flash comics

Ship: Hartley Rathaway/James Jesse

Tags: One-Sided Attraction, Crossdressing, Costumes, Denial of Feelings, James Jesse being in denial, mentioned Homophobia, Bad Parents Osgood Rathaway and Rachel Rathaway, There's A Tag For That, Baby pipster being terrors to Hartley's parents, Hugging, Platonic I Love You, RIP James Jesse, James gets told he's beautiful and I think that should happen more often, Pre-Slash, Oblivious Hartley Rathaway

Characters: Hartley Rathaway, James Jesse

Warnings: none

Word count: 529

Summary:

He was James Jesse, The Trickster. Hartley was a Rathaway, but more importantly The Pied Piper. They were Rogues. And just friends.

The sound of heels and dress shoes hitting the pavement followed them for a few blocks away from Rathaway Estate. They finally slowed to a stop as they got out of the neighborhood and through the back alley resting near the trash of a corner store.

Their panting very quickly turned into laughter as they looked at each other. Hartley took off his glasses to wipe away tears while James tried not to touch his face and ruin his makeup.

Hartley held his chest. “Did you—did.” He busted out into another fit of laughter, barely breathing, holding onto the wall so he didn't keel over. “The look on my dad's face!”

That smile, that laugh; he liked making Hartley do those things. Couldn't stand the serious, scared, nervous wreck that he was the whole evening while having dinner with his parents. Which was why the sight of Hartley’s dad when he dropped the falsetto voice and took off his wig was something to be remembered.

Even more Hartley's expression, and the way he was looking at him now. Shock, bewildered… awe.

“I didn't think you were gonna do that.”

James cleared his throat. “Figured the only thing worse to your parents than you having a boyfriend is well…” James looked down at himself, grabbing the skirt of his dress. “This.”

“My dad was treating you like such a lady too.”

“I wore my nicest clothes, Piper.” He did a little half twirl, his dress and coat billowing.

Hartley’s expression softened. He looked him over. “You do look beautiful in them.” He had been there when he picked out the outfit after all.

James felt his heart skip in his chest. He looked away. That wasn't supposed to be part of it. He had been over it—that feeling. It wasn't anything. He could ignore it… he wanted to ignore it. He pulled a grimace, leaning against the wall pretending his feet were bothering him.

“Yeah, remind me to never run in these heels again.” He coughed out a nervous laugh.

Hartley stepped closer into his space, catching his hand as it slipped from the wall and letting him lean on him as he—pretended to—fix his heels.

Worse. Absolutely worse.

“Thanks.”

And if things could get extremely worse. He straightened up and was immediately pulled into a hug.

“I love you.” Hartley tightened the hug. “Thank you; for being my fake girlfriend-slash-boyfriend and for not leaving me alone with them.”

James could feel his heart in his throat. Normally he'd hug back just as tight if not tighter.

It was Piper after all.

How they always were. Shared a room together at the Rogues hideout for crying out loud.

It was just Piper.

He was scared his heart might claim eviction from his chest. Hartley would feel it—he could feel it no doubt. They were just running though, emotions high… maybe he wouldn't know? Wouldn't know—wouldn't have any hint at all that he….

Well…

He closed his eyes and hugged back. “What are friends for, Pipey?”

He was James Jesse, The Trickster. Hartley was a Rathaway, but more importantly The Pied Piper.

They were Rogues.

And just friends.

[xviruserrorx]

Title: "Plausible Deniability"

Guess who messed up and misremember the prompt while I was writing it? This guy 🫠... Still close enough though (I thought it was Worst case scenario so... Very close) for @flashfictionfridayofficial

Fandom: The Flash

Prompt(s): Best Cast Scenario

Relationship(s): Cisco/Hartley/Winn, Cisco/Winn

Character(s): Cisco Ramon, Winn Schott Jr

Important Tag(s): canon divergence, no one knows who the Pied Piper is, comic book elements, don't need comic book knowledge to read though, Hartley in his mid to late thirties supremacy, Cisco's puppy dog eyes, established relationship, sex mention, mentioned Rogues

Rating: Gen

Warning(s): none

Word Count: 677

Winn let out a loud groan. “Who else knows? “That Hartley Rathaway is The Pied Piper?” “Don't—” he waved his hands. Saying it out loud made it worse. “Yes, that!” Or Winn finds out a rather important thing about his and Cisco's new partner.

Continue reading below or over on Ao3

“He's a bad guy!?”

Cisco sighed as he pushed his apartment door shut behind Winn. To be fair, he thought it was all gonna go over as well as it was starting.

“Define bad?”

Winn spun around, his hair a mess from running his hands through it. “Not a civilian or a hero.”

“Then, yeah.” He nodded.

Winn sputtered. “Why are you telling me now?”

“I didn't exactly get his permission to tell you this. Or the other thing.”

“What other thing?”

Cisco waved his hand. “Oh, you know, he likes watching baseball, he has a baby sister, and… he’s a Rogue.”

Winn’s eyes widened at the last part. “What do you mean ‘A Rogue’?!

Like tearing off a bandaid, he knew he had to get it over with. “He's part of The Rogues.”

A few seconds of complete silence passed before Winn pointed a finger at him and let out a wryly laugh. “You're telling me that the guy we’ve both been seeing for the past few months is part of an organized crime gang, so notorious in name that they have connections everywhere, even respect among other villains and even sometimes the heroes?”

“Yes…?” He grimaced at his own deliverance.

“And you didn't think to mention this before!” Winn exclaimed.

“I didn't anticipate a spontaneous threesome with him, you, and me that would end up in all three of us being whatever we're doing right now!”

Winn let out a loud groan. “Who else knows?

“That Hartley Rathaway is The Pied Piper?”

“Don't—” he waved his hands. Saying it out loud made it worse. “Yes, that!”

“Me… you, his sister, probably the Rogues.”

Go figure, of course The Rogues would know his true identity.

“How did you find out?”

“Uh…” Cisco hesitated. “It's a long story. But, Hartley won't say anything to anyone.”

That was the least of Winn’s worries. “That's not what I'm worried about.” 

“Then what?”

“I…” Of everything that Winn found out in the past hour, this was the least thing he prepared himself for.

But Cisco knew.

“Like him?”

“Yeah… yeah, I do.” More than just Hartley too.

Cisco smiled, something bashful as he looked at him. “I get that.”

He'd like to think they both knew this was a bad idea. They couldn't risk it all just for him. Right?

Winn could feel his stomach twist at the thought of everything going wrong. “Supergirl would kill me.”

“You don't think the Flash and the Detroit JLA would kill me too?” Cisco countered. 

Winn knew it would be ten times worse for him if this got out.

“Look,” Cisco continued. “Worst case scenario is the heroes find out and think we're conspiring with the Rogues.”

“Cisco—”

“But. But…” He eased him back down. “That'll never happen,” he replied, far too laid back about the whole situation.

“How the hell not!”

“He's been a Rogue since we was like sixteen. That's like twenty or so years of him doing this, he's good at it!” He smiled, practically bouncing on his feet.

Hartley being a Rogue since he was sixteen, and the mention of a sister aside to acquire about later; Winn knew he was right. The Rogues had a reputation. Heists planned down to the second with details and double contingency plans in place, he'd seen news reports of them outsmarting and taking on members of the Justice league.

And most of all they had a code. Something that made more sense now that he knew the person Hartley was.

“Winn…” Cisco's voice softened. He rested his hand on his shoulder. 

Those big brown puppy dog eyes made it harder to not give in far too easily; something that even he and Hartley had both joked about being so hard to resist.

They could be careful. Winn knew how it was to keep someone's secrets; he'd been through it with his dad. But this… this was different.

“We can't mention this ever again.”

Cisco raised his pinky to him. “Plausible deniability?”

He let out a breath and interlocked their pinkies.

“Plausible deniability.”