Cisco Ramon: Running with Wolves

(Set after 2x15- King Shark)

"Are you sure you're okay getting home?" Caitlin asked as she and Cisco made their way down to the parking garage in the basement of S.T.A.R. labs.

"Yeah, don't worry about it." Cisco replied somewhat absentmindedly.

Caitlin's thin eyebrows furrowed.

"Are you alright?" She asked. "You look like you have something on your mind."

Damn. She noticed.

Cisco's expression smoothed over and he laugh it off.

"Yeah! No biggie!" He tried to assure her. "Just been like, super cray round here with Zoom and all; I'm just tired, I guess."

Caitlin's eyes narrowed; she didn't look convinced.

"You think I don't know when my best friend's lying?" She said suspiciously.

"Caitlin, I'm fine," He lied. "All this stuff going on with Barry and The Flash; it's just got me wired. And then there was my wonderful but brief relationship with the amazing Kendra Saunders- who was literally a goddess by the way-"

"Okay, Cisco," Said Caitlin, her face softening. She knew how torn up Cisco had been after his break up with the Jitters barista slash reincarnated hawk deity. "Just call me if you need anything, okay?" She said as they drew closer to their respective cars. Hers was a mint green Fiat 500 whilst Cisco was driving… "A motorcycle?" She exclaimed in confusion. Usually her best friend drove a small hatchback (with about three hundred modifications that Cisco had made himself- Caitlin was surprised if there was any of the original car left.)

"Um, yeah!" Cisco floundered, mentally cursing himself for not parking his ride outside of the science facility and walking into work that morning. "It's just something I found at the back of my workshop and decided to supe it up. What do you think," He said leaning on the bike and putting on a brooding glare. "Do I look as cool as Oliver Queen?"

Caitlin laughed but still looked concerned.

"You've got to stop obsessing over the Green Arrow," She said. "Just be careful on that thing, okay?" She eyed the bike distrustfully. "As a doctor, I'm obliged to tell you that you'd be much safer in a car."

"Hey, my day job is helping The Flash fight metahumans," He said, pulling on a black and yellow biker jacket and swinging his leg over the seat of the motorcycle. "I'm safer on this thing than standing within ten feet of Barry."

"Be careful," She repeated firmly in her 'Doctor's Orders' voice.

Cisco gave her a reassuring grin as he pulled on his helmet.

"Don't worry," He said in a muffled voice. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"See you tomorrow," Replied Caitlin, getting into her own car.

Cisco watched her as she pulled out. He didn't breathe again until he saw her tail lights disappear up the ramp and out of sight.

"Stupid, stupid, stupid," He muttered to himself. "She almost caught you!"

He flicked down his visor in the midst of mentally kicking himself and revved the engine of his motorcycle. The throaty roar filled the parking lot.

Technically, he hadn't been lying about the bike; he had suped it up in his free time to make it the fastest thing in Central City that wasn't wearing red leather- reinforced tri-polymer. Whatever.

He'd also done a bunch of modifications on it just to make it awesome.

"James Bond would be so jealous," He said, grinning as he started his favourite playlist; not only did his bike have speakers, but for when he was driving, the music played directly into his helmet via Bluetooth. And that wasn't even to mention the Dash-cam, automatic terrain adjustment, plasma cannons (he might have taken Harry's favourite gun he'd stolen from Mercury Labs and slightly disassembled it to figure out how to make his own) and autopilot function. And the mini fridge under the seat, but that was Cisco's little secret; he liked his Twizzlers refrigerated.

He had however, lied to Caitlin about why he looked so nervous.

It's a good thing I'm not really tired, he thought. Because I doubt I'll be sleeping at all tonight.

Cisco drove his bike through downtown Central City. It was perfect for weaving in and out of the lanes of late night traffic that would have otherwise made his journey a lot longer. He was glad no one could recognise him under the thick biker jacket and helmet with tinted visor because tonight he definitely didn't want to be followed.

He headed down towards the river and pulled onto the Central City docks. It was late evening, almost 11:30 which meant there were no workers around.

Just a load of creepy-ass warehouses, Cisco thought apprehensively as he slowed his bike and began to roll past building after building. They reminded him of the shades of abandoned places that he and Team Flash often found meta-criminals hiding in.

Cisco would frequently argue with himself about whether or not he was a criminal.

Technically I'm not, he thought. I just hang out with people that are. But his stomach still twinged and it felt like he was lying.

Up ahead, he saw five other bikes lined up under a porch light outside a particularly dingy-looking warehouse. He recognised his brother's, Dante's, as he pulled up beside them and took off his helmet.

"Took you long enough, Hermano."

Cisco rolled his eyes as he placed his helmet on his seat and looked towards the source of the voice.

"Whatever, Dante," He said with an edge to his tone. "I'm here, aren't I? Just like I said I'd be."

Cisco's older brother stepped out of the shadows of a doorway and smirked.

"The others were betting you wouldn't show," He said. "But I know my brother; he could never turn his back on Los Lobos."

Los Lobos- The Wolves.

When Cisco was much younger and living in Puerto Rico, his family had never had much money. Most of the kids his age were already in street gangs, committing felonies for either themselves or hiring themselves out to the local crime boss for a bit of extra cash. Cisco and Dante had been no different; they'd joined Los Lobos and used the money they earnt to help their family move to America.

Well, Cisco argued with himself. We were slightly different.

"Come," Said Dante, opening the grimy iron door into the warehouse. "Everyone is waiting inside."

Cisco followed his older brother into the dark, damp building. Chains hung from the ceiling and steel catwalks criss-crossed over their heads, creaking. Cisco shuddered.

"Can't we ever meet somewhere nice?" He muttered. "I don't know, like a coffee shop? Or a bar?"

Dante rolled his eyes.

"Quit acting like a kid," He said.

"Only when you quit acting like a dick," Cisco shot back.

Dante chuckled.

"Better not let El Rey del Los Lobos hear us fighting like this," He said darkly. "You know how mad he gets."

Cisco grunted in agreement.

"Yeah, I guess you're right," He said. "El Rey del Los Lobos- the King of the Wolves. Is anyone ever going to tell him that that's a really stupid name?"

"You can," Replied Dante. "But I'd like to keep my fingers attached to my hands. Especially after I got kidnapped by Snart and his pyro friend."

"Hey! I got kidnapped too!" Replied Cisco. "Remember? I had to supply three dangerous criminals weapons to make sure neither of us got deep fried!"

Dante looked like he was about to reply with another scathing remark but a voice interrupted their bickering.

"Are my brothers fighting again?" It said, echoing off of the metal walls of the building. "You know I hate it when you guys fight." Both Cisco and Dante immediately stopped arguing. "There- that's better," Said the voice. "Good to see you, Cisco. I've missed you, Hermano."

Cisco and Dante rounded a corner, around a large piece of machinery and found the source of the voice.

It was a man in his mid-twenties standing at a table illuminated by a single light directly above. Three other people stood around him; they all watched as Cisco and Dante approached.

Cisco couldn't help but smile at the sight of the young man.

"Hey, Armando," He said as his older brother pulled him into a hug.

Dante smiled too as he got the same treatment.

Armando was what had made Cisco and Dante different; when they were little, he didn't want them joining any of the local gangs because he said he couldn't keep his little brothers safe with those guys. So together, the three of them formed their own; Los Lobos.

They'd become more than just a petty street gang; with Armando's leadership, Cisco's brains and Dante's charm, they'd become one of the best crime syndicates in Puerto Rico.

And now Los Lobos had come to Central City.