A/N: So when I was in the middle of writing this chapter I just randomly decided to rewatch The Flash episode where we are first introduced to Hartley. I'm kinda regretting it because it always upsets me just how mean everybody else is to Hartley. Look, I get that he's not the most sociable person ever and he certainly lacks people skills, but so do I, so you can imagine how displeased I am about the fact that the S.T.A.R. Labs team talks about him as if he is the biggest jerk on the planet.
And another thing, it was only during this watchthrough did I get the closest thing to evidence in this show that Hartley was deaf as a child. At the end of the episode Cisco says 'Hm, maybe I'm going deaf…" in a mocking response to Hartley, which was an unnecessarily low blow. Hartley's face at that part just shows that he's not the least bit amused.
And another thing. Why the heck did they put him in one of those meta-human containment cells? He's not a meta. He doesn't have any powers. It's one thing to be using the cells for meta-humans, because there's no where else to hold them, and an entirely other matter to lock up a normal person in there.
So, uh, anyways, I think that's enough ranting for now. What say you we finally get to the actual story?
Hartley was a scientist, and that particular field of work required a lot of patience, something which he liked to think that he had a lot of. Hartley didn't mind waiting a few hours, days, weeks, or even months for the result of an experiment to come through. He actually loved spending weeks at a time working on the same part of a single project, because pretty soon that project became very familiar, and Hartley worked best with familiarity. Besides, in his own experience it was usually the longer studies that rewarded the most.
After all, good things come to those who wait.
The thing was, Hartley did not believe the same way when he was dealing with humans rather than his non-sentient projects. Even rats seemed to be more predictable than people were. Hartley absolutely despised the fact that he had to rely on people to help him out with problems that he couldn't solve for himself.
He hated not being able to see exactly how much progress was being made, and even more than that he hated not knowing whether anybody was going to screw something up, leaving them all at a worse position than they had been in before. The more time that passed, the more anxious Hartley would become about something growing wrong.
As far as people went, Hartley hated playing the waiting game. Especially when it seemed like the rules of the game were being made up by people who weren't even interested in playing it in the first place.
Hartley was beyond relieved and extremely pissed off when Joe finally called him back, a week after they first talked about getting Axel help. Hartley knew that Joe calling meant that he had something set up, he had just taken his own sweet time doing it.
"You had better have something." Hartley said as a greeting when he answered the fun. He looked over his shoulder to make sure that Axel wasn't listening in.
"We have got to work on your greeting skills." Joe responded, which Hartley rolled his eyes at. "But yes, we've got permission for this." Hartley still found it completely ridiculous that they needed permission at all. "When would be a good time to do this?"
"As soon as possible." Hartley answered. Axel may have been starting to get back to his normal, excitable self, but Hartley didn't want to chance it.
"I thought you might say that." Joe said, which caused Hartley to scowl. If he had already known what he was going to say, why had he bothered asking? "That psychiatrist you recommended, Dr. Jones, said he would be available today."
Hartley breathed a sigh of relief. He had been hoping that Dr. Jones would agree to do this. He had been Hartley's psychiatrist when he had been a kid, and they had even spoken a few times since (Hartley had been going through some extremely hard times after his parent's had all but disowned him and the fake Harrison Wells had betrayed him). Hartley had believed that Dr. Jones would agree to help Axel, it was just nice to know that his theory had been right.
"That sounds doable." Hartley said.
"There's a catch though." Joe said, which got Hartley tensing up. "This has to happen at the police station," Hartley barely made a sound of protest before Joe was continuing. "And a cop has to sit in on the session."
"What?!" Out of the corner of his eye Hartley saw Axel look up from what he was doing and glance in his direction. He turned away from Axel and hissed in a lower voice "That's not even legal." What about doctor patient confidentiality?
"Look, it's the best we can do." Joe didn't sound too pleased with the situation either. At least he realized just how messed up the system was right now. After what had happened with ames Jesse and his psychiatrist the state didn't want to risk a repeat performance, so Axel was court ordered forbidden from getting psychiatric help. Hartley didn't even know that something like that was even a thing.
"...Fine" Hartley groaned in frustration, because really, what choice did he have? "I'll see you at the station." Without saying a formal goodbye Hartley hung up the phone and, just for good measure, threw it harshly onto the couch.
"Are you trying to murder your phone again?" Axel asked.
"Not this time." Hartley glared at where his phone lay. At least he remembered to throw it onto a soft surface this time. He really wasn't in the mood for buying a replacement. Again. "It get's off with a threat this time."
"You're too easy on it." Axel said mock seriously. "You've gotta show that phone who's boss."
"Yes, I guess I am." Hartley ran a hand through his hair. Axel's playful expression dimmed slightly.
"What happened?" He asked.
"I'll tell you later." Hartley promised. "In the meantime, get your shoes on, we've got somewhere to be."
Axel practically bounced to his feet and went to go find a matching pair of shoes that he somehow kept on misplacing. It just went to show how much his mood had improved in the last week. Axel didn't moan and complain about having to go somewhere. He didn't drag his feet or cling desperately to Hartley. He actually looked eager to leave the house, even if he had no idea where they were going.
It seemed more like the regular, old Axel, and Hartley had never been so happy to see his friend in such a content mood. Even if Axel was wearing Hartley's shoes instead of his own. Honestly, now Hartley knew that Axel was doing this on purpose. It was his way of getting back at Hartley for not letting him wear his hoodies anymore (Axel's tight leather jackets suited him much better than Hartley's loose hoodies did).
'Actually,' Hartley thought as he got a good look at Axel. 'Maybe I should let him wear my shoes more often.' Hartley's black boots really went with his tight blue jeans and studded leather jacket. Axel wasn't going for just a punk look though. Underneath his jacket he was wearing a orange and blue striped shirt and had matching fingerless gloves.
Basically, Axel was mashing together his two completely different styles, punk, and five year old who decided to dress himself. Hartley had thought multiple times that neither style exactly worked, or should be considered a style at all, but somehow seeing them combined was...different. But it was a good kind of different.
"Well, at least you don't look like an emo circus threw up on you." Hartley said. Axel took the cushion off the couch and threw it at him. Hartley flinched instinctively when the cushion made contact, which just made Axel giggle. Hartley scowled. It wasn't his fault that he didn't like being hit by things, even if they were extremely soft.
"Come on," Hartley grumbled as he headed to the front door with Axel right behind him.
"So, where are we going?" Axel asked as they walked. Hartley didn't exactly have a car, and he didn't live too far from their destination, so he didn't think it would be too much of a hassle to walk.
Hartley thought carefully before answering. "We're going to the police station." He answered honestly. Axel faltered in his steps slightly.
"Why?" Axel asked cautiously.
"There's somebody there that you need to talk to." Hartley answered. "I promise though, you're not in trouble."
"I'm not?" Axel sounded so surprised, as though there had never been a time in his life that he hadn't been in trouble.
"Not at all." Hartley assured him. "Trust me, I don't want to go the the police station any more than you do, but it's what we have to do right now, alright?"
"...Fine." Axel grumbled. He shoved his hands in his pockets and pouted, but at least he wasn't trying to run off like Hartley had half expected him to.
The walk to the police station took longer than it should have, though Hartley had half expected that. Axel may be willing to come here, but he was definitely going to procrastinate it for as long as he could. As they walked up the steps in front of the building Axel grabbed Hartley's hand and just held tightly to it. Hartley raised and eyebrow, but he didn't question or resist it. He was willing to let Axel hold his hand.
The second they entered the building Axel stiffened up and seemed to freeze. Hartley gave his hand what he hoped was a reassuring squeeze and almost literally dragged him further. Hartley knew that Axel was feeling on edge, and believe that maybe a familiar face would help him to calm down. Axel knew Joe, even if they didn't exactly like each other, and Joe worked upstairs, so that was where Hartley was headed.
When they got upstairs Axel freezed up again. He actually went so far as to pull Hartley back slightly. Not that he could blame him. There were a number of cops up here, and a good number of them seemed to be looking at the two of them with suspicion. From what Hartley could tell, it actually looked as though a couple of these guys recognized Axel, and they weren't happy about it.
Fortunately, there was somebody there that Hartley recognized.
"Wally, what are you doing here?" Hartley dragged Axel closer to their friend.
Wally shrugged. "Hanging out, I guess." He looked at Axel, who was glancing around nervously. "How's the head?"
"Huh?" Axel turned to face Wally. "Oh, it's better now. It was just a flesh wound." Hartley rolled his eyes. Axel's cut had been a little more than a flesh wound, it had been a major pain in the butt to get it to stop bleeding, but it was actually doing better now.
"Wally, I need to go find your dad." Hartley said. "Can you stay with Axel?"
"Yeah, I can do that." Wally agreed. "I think my dad's talking to Captain Singh." He nodded in the general direction of the Captain's office. Hartley pried his hand out of Axel's strong grip and gently pushed him in Wally's direction.
"I'll be right back." Hartley promised. He made his way to the office and wondered why the name Singh sounded so familiar to him. As Hartley approached the office he could see Joe talking to who he assumed to be Captain Singh. He couldn't hear what they were saying exactly, but by looking at them Hartley believed that they were almost done with their conversation anyways. Good, that meant that Hartley wouldn't be interrupting a whole lot when he marched in there to ask Joe exactly why it took him so long to get help for Axel.
Any accusing questions that Hartley had thought of vanished the second he got a good look at the captain. With a jolt he realized that he knew that man, and he knew him quite well. But what was he doing here?
"David Singh." Hartley said aloud with a slight smirk. The man turned and looked at him with surprise, but not as though it was an unpleasant surprise. "I should have known you would become a police captain.
"Hartley." David smiled slightly, "It's been too long."
Joe looked from one man to the other, a look of confusion on his face. "You two know each other?"
"We're old friends." David informed him, which Hartley was glad for. He had half expected David to pretend that they barely knew each other at all. Hartley wasn't the least bit shocked though that David didn't even hint at the two of them having been a little more than just 'old friends'.
Hartley opened his mouth to say something, though he wasn't entirely sure what, when the three of them heard some sort of commotion from the main area...where Axel was. Hartley swore under his breath. He had only been gone for a minute! How could Axel had already gotten himself into trouble?
Joe sighed. "I'll go check it out." He volunteered, which Hartley was grateful for. It would give him a chance to properly talk to his 'old friend'.
"So, Hartley, what are you doing here?" David asked once David was out of earshot.
"I'm here with a friend of mine, Axel Walker." Hartley said. Recognition flashed in David's eyes.
"Oh, so you're the one who has befriended The Trickster." David sounded impressed, but not surprised. Hartley shrugged.
"He's the one who started it." Hartley said.
"Just be careful." David warned. "It's hard to be in a relationship with somebody that's so unstable."
"You would know, wouldn't you?" Hartley said bitterly.
David frowned. "You know I didn't mean it that way."
"I think we both know that you did." Hartley crossed his arms.
"No, I didn't." David insisted. "That's not the reason why we never worked out."
"I know." Hartley sighed. He knew just as well as David did that that wasn't the reason they had broken up. The reason was because David had been concerned that it would affect his career as a cop if it was known that he was gay. Hartley was proud of who he was, and he had refused to be in a secret relationship. "And for your information, me and Axel are not in a relationship."
"But you want to be." David said matter-of-factly. "I know how to read that look in your eyes better than anybody." Of course David would recognize this look. He had probably seen a lot of it when they had been dating and he had refused, much to Hartley's disappointment, to make it public.
"It doesn't matter." Hartley said coldly. "Axel's not interested."
"Give him time." David said in a tone that was surprisingly gentle for him. "He may come around eventually."
"I highly doubt that." Hartley remarked. David didn't know Axel like he did. Hartley was just about to tell him so, as well as remind him that he had long since given up any right to be invested in Hartley's love life when he heard a loud and sharp cry of panic from the main area. Hartley's head snapped in that direction. He recognized that as Axel's voice.
He shouldn't have left him in there.
"Dammit." Hartley threw open the office door and left the room just soon enough to see Axel try to run off. Without thinking Hartley moved forward and grabbed Axel's upper arm, stopping him from going anywhere. He was just about to ask Axel exactly what he was thinking when he looked at his friend's wrists and saw too-tight handcuffs.
"What's the meaning of this?" Hartley glared darkly at the officers in the room. Axel was not here because he was getting arrested, so there was absolutely no reason for the handcuffs.
Joe, being the only officer there who apparently had any balls, stepped forward. "It's just a precaution, Hartley. We can't have him getting his hands on things that are supposed to be left alone."
"Like what?" Hartley all but spat. He didn't think there was anything in this room that Axel would be interested in taking, and even if there was were the handcuffs really necessary? He could obviously still grab something with his hands like that. The only thing the cuffs seemed to be doing was freaking out Axel. Hartley thought he could feel him shaking.
"Like a gun." Wally spoke up. Hartley raised an eyebrow. That was an oddly specific example. "Axel found a gun lying around on a desk. He picked it up and asked who it belonged to, and everybody here just freaked out."
Hartley could have killed every one of these paranoid idiots. They were all overreacting. If they really didn't want Axel to get his hands on something dangerous like that, then why did somebody just leave a gun lying around for anybody to take?
Hartley was just about to express his displeasure when he felt Axel's arm move slightly, as though he was adjusting his hands. Hartley took another look at Axel's cuffed wrists and frowned when he saw that his friend was trying to no avail to get the cuffs off. His struggling, of course, did nothing to loosen the cuffs, but Hartley knew that if he kept this up he was just going to get himself hurt.
"Who has the damn keys?" Hartley growled. Once again, he got no answer. He was just about to completely lose it when he heard David come up behind him.
"Whose gun was it?" Hartley was impressed by David's tone of voice. He certainly sounded like a police captain right now. Hartley had never actually heard David speak with this level of authority. It was...kinda sexy, actually.
There was silence for a tense moment, but then one of the officers, who looked absolutely furious, stepped forward. David, with all the authority that a captain should have, stepped closer and looked his officer sternly in the eyes.
"Your keys, officer." David held out his hand expectedly and the officer had no choice but to hand over the key to the handcuffs that he had put on Axel. David took the key and handed it to Hartley, who immediately used it to free Axel's wrists. With the cuffs off Axel immediately relaxed. He gently rubbed at his wrist, which Hartley was not happy to see was red and sore looking from the tightness of the cuffs and Axel's struggling.
Axel and Hartley both glared at the officer who had done this, but the man didn't even notice. He was too busy being stared down by his captain. Hartley would have loved to stay and watch this man get chewed out by his old friend, but Axel had already started to drag him away. Clearly, he wasn't comfortable being around so many cops, and Hartley couldn't bring himself to force him to stay.
Hartley insisted that they didn't go far though, which Axel wasn't happy about. "Why can't we just go home?" Axel asked.
"We're here for a reason." Hartley reminded him. "We can go home when you're done."
"Done with what?" Axel asked. "What am I doing?"
Hartley hesitated. He knew that Axel would not react well to receiving psychiatric help, which is why he hadn't told him yet. Hartley hadn't wanted his friend to get upset about being 'crazy' again. But Hartley couldn't put this off for any longer. Axel deserved to know what he was doing here.
"You're here to talk to an old friend of mine, Dr. Jones." Hartley said.
Axel frowned. "I'm guessing he's not a medical doctor."
"He's a psychiatrist." Hartley said. "He's here to help you."
"I don't need help!" Axel snapped. "I'm not crazy." Axel made to walk away, but Hartley stopped him.
"Just because somebody talks to a psychiatrist does not mean that they're crazy." Hartley said firmly. "You don't think I'm crazy, do you?"
"What?" Axel frowned, looking completely lost. Hartley sighed.
"Dr. Jones was my psychiatrist." Hartley said. "He helped me when I was a kid, as well as when I got depressed after my parents kicked me out and I got fired from my job."
"How did he help you?" Axel asked unsurely.
"He just talked with me, and helped me to figure out how I can help myself." Hartley said calmly. "Believe it or not, Axel, lots of people talk to psychiatrists and therapists, even 'normal' people do."
"So...it doesn't mean I'm crazy?" Axel asked quietly.
"Absolutely not." Hartley said. "It's means you're struggling and don't know how to handle things on your own, and there's nothing wrong with that."
"Really?" Axel sounded so hesitant and unsure that Hartley felt his chest clench uncomfortably. He was not happy with whatever foster parents had made Axel feel like he was insane. He also felt unexpectedly angry with the first trickster, who really was clinically insane and had been trying to lead Axel down that same path.
"Really." Hartley assured him, and somehow, that was enough for Axel. For somebody who seemed to have trust issues, Axel certainly seemed to trust people a lot. Maybe that was why he seemed so hesitant to trust people, because he already trusted so easily and had had that trust betrayed before.
Hartley and Axel waited around for a bit, sharing casual conversations as they did, until finally Hartley saw Dr. Jones arrive. He gently tugged at Axel's arm, guiding him.
"Come on." Hartley lead Axel to where Joe and Dr. Jones were talking. Short introductions were made and then it was time to get started. Joe, who would be the officer sitting in on the session, lead Axel and Dr. Jones to an interrogation room, where this first session would be happening. Hartley still wasn't happy that they were doing things this way, but he had been assured that it would just be for the first couple of sessions.
Just before he walked out of sight Axel glanced uncertainly back at Hartley, who nodded and gave a small smile. Axel returned the gesture and followed Joe out of the room.
Now, all Hartley could do was wait. He absolutely hated it, but there was nothing he could do about it. He just had to be here for Axel when they were done...and who knows when that would be?
"Your friend will be fine, Hartley." He jumped slightly when he heard David's voice. He hadn't even noticed the man approach. "He's lucky to have a friend like you."
Hartley looked in the direction where Axel had gone. "Actually, I think I'm the lucky one."
A/N: This chapter seems kinda 'meh', but I'm probably just saying that because I'm seriously making up some rules of this world as I go. Hey, it's fanfiction, I think we can stand for some things being unrealistic. Anyways, the whole thing between David and Hartley was actually not something that I had planned. I was looking up information about a different character that I'm going to include in a few chapters and I just stumbled upon some information from the comics that says that apparently David Singh and Hartley Rathaway had been dating. I mean, how can I not at least reference that?