Yeah. Well. I remember him. I remember everything he did. Can't say I wouldn't do some of it again.
[But, he knows, nothing that would hurt Barry or anyone Barry cared about. Not now. And he's pretty sure Barry knows that, so he doesn't say it. That's what happens with them sometimes, they don't say it but it still gets said.
He's silent as Barry speaks, shifts, speaks again. It makes sense, better not to know what's coming if Barry doesn't want to change his own future, but a part of him still aches a little at Barry losing who he's become.]
Might be a while before that happens. Time's not so reliable these days. [But at the same time he's nodding, one hand spread out over Barry's back.] Yeah, I get it.
[doesn't matter if he has to stay here years until their timelines all line back up again. as long as there's a way to make sure that they can all return to the same world together, he'll stay however long he has to. he just isn't sure it's a sentiment shared by the others from their world. not when half of them don't even get along with each other.]
If I go back, it's only going to be so I can catch up with you guys. And I want to be able to promise you that nothing would change here if I do go, but... [even he isn't that naive. here, mick was a complete stranger to him when he arrived. he was free to build his own opinions of him, unaffected by all that would happen when he returns home.]
You need to promise me one thing. [his hold tightens around mick, his voice growing quieter.] If I come back and everything's changed, don't let me run? You guys are too important to me, and I don't-- I can't lose that because I'm being an idiot. Okay?
[Mick is silent for a long time, maybe long enough that Barry doesn't think he's going to answer. But finally he shifts and tugs a little to get Barry to look up, to look at him. This is tearing Barry up a little, having to pick between going home and living his life like he should be, or staying here and keeping what he's already got.]
Look, kid. ...Barry. 'M not telling you what to do. Don't make it a promise. But if you head home and come back here, and you don't remember...yeah. We'll remind you. I'll remind you. You're crew now, you ain't running anywhere.
[he waits silently, because that's what they do. sometimes words don't come as easily as either of them would like, but that's never meant that they've ignored anything the other person has said. it's why he's able to wait it out. why he knows that mick isn't going to dismiss his words.
though there's still a strain of doubt that briefly rises when mick finally does start to speak again. thankfully it's gone by the point he stops.]
That's enough for me. [whether it's a promise or not, knowing that mick will still be there if he does leave. that he won't give up on him-- it's enough because it has to be.] You're family. It just might take a while for me to remember that.
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[But, he knows, nothing that would hurt Barry or anyone Barry cared about. Not now. And he's pretty sure Barry knows that, so he doesn't say it. That's what happens with them sometimes, they don't say it but it still gets said.
He's silent as Barry speaks, shifts, speaks again. It makes sense, better not to know what's coming if Barry doesn't want to change his own future, but a part of him still aches a little at Barry losing who he's become.]
Might be a while before that happens. Time's not so reliable these days. [But at the same time he's nodding, one hand spread out over Barry's back.] Yeah, I get it.
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[doesn't matter if he has to stay here years until their timelines all line back up again. as long as there's a way to make sure that they can all return to the same world together, he'll stay however long he has to. he just isn't sure it's a sentiment shared by the others from their world. not when half of them don't even get along with each other.]
If I go back, it's only going to be so I can catch up with you guys. And I want to be able to promise you that nothing would change here if I do go, but... [even he isn't that naive. here, mick was a complete stranger to him when he arrived. he was free to build his own opinions of him, unaffected by all that would happen when he returns home.]
You need to promise me one thing. [his hold tightens around mick, his voice growing quieter.] If I come back and everything's changed, don't let me run? You guys are too important to me, and I don't-- I can't lose that because I'm being an idiot. Okay?
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Look, kid. ...Barry. 'M not telling you what to do. Don't make it a promise. But if you head home and come back here, and you don't remember...yeah. We'll remind you. I'll remind you. You're crew now, you ain't running anywhere.
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though there's still a strain of doubt that briefly rises when mick finally does start to speak again. thankfully it's gone by the point he stops.]
That's enough for me. [whether it's a promise or not, knowing that mick will still be there if he does leave. that he won't give up on him-- it's enough because it has to be.] You're family. It just might take a while for me to remember that.