#happy christmas yall i have finally crawled out from under my rock to post smth relevant can anyone believe

[star-labs-intern]

Christmas Eve, Eve: A Harrisco Fic

Summary: Harry and Cisco get stuck in the mall past closing.  

Word Count: ~1,400

A/N: Merry Christmas!! I wanted to have this fic done by now, hence why it is set on Dec 23rd, but I wanted to post it anyway! Happy Harrisco Holidays everyone! :) 

Christmas Eve, Eve

Instead of last-minute Christmas Eve shopping, Cisco loved to go Christmas Eve, Eve shopping. This meant that all day on December 23rd, Cisco would be flitting around from store to store, just trying to make sure he crossed all his presents off his list.

It seemed like Cisco gave into the mad rush, but all things considered Cisco was fairly old fashioned when it came to Christmas. He didn’t want to have to do any running around on Christmas Eve, unless it was to sing carols or deliver Christmas cookies. He enjoyed spending the day wrapping gifts and listening to Christmas music.

However, once Harry and his ridiculous baseball cap disguise started joining Cisco’s Christmas routine things were a little different. They Christmas Eve, Eve shopped together now. Cisco always made sure he wouldn’t have to get anything else for Harry so that they could shop together for team flash, for Cisco’s family, for Jesse, and enjoy themselves together.

If Harry was being honest, shopping for more than two hours always gave him anxiety. After minute 120, Harry would, without fail, wander down to the massage chairs or find a furniture section in whatever store Cisco was perusing, and promptly relax.

This year was no different. Except things had been extra crazy this year and so Harry was extra tired. So tired, that when he sat down on one of the furniture displays, careful not to ruffle any decorative pillows, that he fell soundly asleep.

When Harry awoke, still comfortable in the armchair he had found to lounge in, the store looked slightly darker. “Cisco?”

“Over here, Babe.” Cisco called back, a few rows over, nose down in a stack of records, picking through.

“Hey Babe, it’s almost ten thirty.” Harry said suddenly looking at his wristwatch. “Doesn’t the mall close at like nine thirty?”

“They would have kicked us out if they were closing,” Cisco shrugged but when he stood he frowned. “When did it get so dark in here?”

Harry’s eyes widened and he opened his mouth to start arguing with Cisco.

“Don’t start.” Cisco cut him off at the pass.

“Fine,” Harry stopped “Let’s go check out and get home. It’s appalling being in a retail store after 10pm.”

Cisco rolled his eyes. “You’re so dramatic.”

They stood at the counter, the overhead lights off and the doors leading out to the main mall area, shut. Harry was beginning to fume and Cisco was gearing up for the fight he knew was coming.

“Do you still think they would have kicked us out if they were closing?” Harry asked through gritted teeth.

“We just have to leave our stuff and come back first thing in the morning. Let’s go.” Cisco tried to tug open the doors leading out to the mall and they jerked back against his effort: locked.

Cisco smiled sheepishly at Harry. “Merry Christmas?”

“Oh, this is great. This is soooo great.”

“I really don’t think your sarcasm is going to get us anywhere right now.” Cisco suggested calmly. He started to look behind the counter for a spare key of any kind.

Harry grumbled in Cisco’s general direction.

.

When they had exhausted their possible means out of the department store, Harry stormed off.

“Where are you going?” Cisco called after Harry.

Harry, arms folded, stalked off away from his partner. “I’m going to be in the towel section!”

Cisco found Harry half an hour later snuggled and wrapped up in a barrage of giant, fluffy bath towels. “Hey Harry… How are you doing, hun?” Cisco asked, rubbing Harry’s back affectionately.

“I’m annoyed that we’re stuck in the mall, Cisco.” Harry grumbled.

“I know, babe, but we are stuck and that is just how it is. And we can sit here…” Cisco gestured vaguely to Harry’s person, “wrapped in towels or we can try to pull together a tent and maybe some food? What d’you say?” Cisco asked.

Harry turned to Cisco, finally letting some of the towels fall away. “What’s your plan?”

Cisco grinned and kissed Harry squarely on the mouth. “I’m sorry we’re stuck. But there’s no one I’d rather be stuck with than you.”

Harry rolled his eyes. “Well I’d rather be un-stuck with you. But since we’re here, we may as well make the best of it. What do you think? You said you had a plan for food and a tent?”

“I didn’t say a plan exactly…” Cisco dodged

Harry looked suddenly utterly unimpressed.

.

Harry and Cisco could never have guessed that they’d be spending their night eating frozen mac and cheese they found in the employee freezer. They went to the toaster section and picked one out to cook the mac and cheese in, which was an ordeal in and of itself.

“We should get a cheap one so if they make us pay for it, it’s not that expensive.” Cisco suggested

Harry scoffed. “We should get the damn thing for free after getting stuck in here. Pick out one you’d want to keep.”

Cisco grinned. “I’m sure they’ll give it to us for free after they get one good look at you. You do have the face of a famous person turned murderer you know.”

Harry shrugged “He wasn’t that famous. I’m not that famous even on earth 2.”

“Oh boy, here comes the modesty all of a sudden. Even if you didn’t have the famous face of a murderer, you’re like every retail employee’s worst nightmare. I have seen the Jitters baristas legitimately cower away from you.” Cisco mused

Harry pointed a finger. “Those Jitters baristas did think I was your famous murderer though.”

“Whatever helps you sleep at night,” Cisco said, winking when Harry turned to argue again.

“Have you picked a toaster?” Harry decided to ask instead.

“I like this one.” Cisco said, pointing to a toaster oven combo that was a little fancier than Harry would have picked but hey, Harry did tell him to pick one he wanted to keep.

“Good. Plug it in.”

.

By 1am they had unboxed a Bluetooth speaker Cisco had decided he would pay for if he needed to. They were listening to music and were dancing around the store.

Cisco danced like no one was watching. His shoes had also long since come off and truth be told, he was feeling a little like Tom Cruise dancing around in his socks.

Dancing for Harry consisted of watching Cisco dance and swaying appreciatively.

Harry approached Cisco. “I should apologize for being grouchy. And. I should have known that even something so unlucky as getting stuck in the mall past closing…” Harry drifted off and chuckled a little to himself. Cisco cocked his head in confusion. “Anyway. I should have known that with you, anything is fun.”

Cisco smiled and his heart swelled. “C’mere.” He said and even though the music was not slow dance music, Harry and Cisco stepped closer to each other. Cisco’s forearms landed on Harry’s shoulders, Harry’s hands landed on Cisco’s waist, and they swayed gently with the music.  

Either way, there was an empty tray of microwave mac and cheese to the side next to them, but Harry had his arms wrapped around Cisco when the janitor came in and scared the two of them half to death.

They gasped and then suddenly looked at each other with wide eyes. “Freedom!” They shouted, in sync.

.

Later when Harry and Cisco were safely nestled back at Cisco’s apartment, they were still up. Neither could sleep after the night they’d had and plus, they had a lot to get done before Christmas. Cisco was busy making cookies and Harry was tucked away in Cisco’s bedroom, wrapping gifts.

Suddenly Harry was behind Cisco and there was soft, slow, instrumental Christmas music coming from Harry’s phone.

“Tonight was bizarre. But my big takeaway? We don’t slow dance enough.” Harry extended a hand for Cisco to step into his open arms.

Cisco smiled up at Harry and took off his apron. “Listen Harry, you’re not gonna hear any arguments from me.” He stepped into Harry’s space, putting his arms on his shoulders like they’d been earlier in the evening.

Harry cocked his head at Cisco and faked a gasp, as he snaked his arms around Cisco’s waist. “No arguments from you? That’ll be a first.”

Cisco gave Harry a look but they started to sway to the music and all Cisco could think to say was:

“Merry Christmas, Harry.”