A/N: I've had this in mind ever since I saw a discussion about the differences of the phrases on tumblr (though I know it varies a lot in how strong some consider the one in question) and thought it could be fun to get done for the Hartmon Long Weekend on tumblr - I aimed for fluff but I can't fully escape angst so it ended up more like flangst.
Just For Context
Cisco knows Hartley is making an effort to educate himself on his Puerto Rican heritage. Hartley is also a language nerd, so of course he tries to refresh his Spanish proficiency for Cisco too, which is honestly cute. But Hartley forgets at times how knowledge of vocabulary and syntax isn't enough to avoid sticking your foot in your mouth.
This is never more obvious than when he hears Hartley throw about 'Te amo' as if it were a light-hearted sentiment. He doubts Hartley would have said what he did if he knew the implications. He pauses the game, sets down the controller, getting Hartley's attention.
"I'm gonna assume you and your private school by the book Spanish education don't realize how strong that is. It's like...like we might as well be married. Are you sure you didn't mean to say te quiero?"
Hartley looks mortified at the mistake, conspicuously silent until he accepts the correction with a brief, "I'll take that into consideration in future."
Hartley never has liked owning up to his mistakes – which Cisco has an inkling must feel like another kind of rejection to him, borne of fear of failure and doubts about his value if he can't be perfect - but he's a lot more gracious about it these days at least. Hartley's quieter than usual for the rest of the evening but it's a storm of brooding emotion that passes soon enough.
Hartley doesn't make the same mistake again. Which is why the next time he says it it's so clearly deliberate and Cisco has zero doubt he means it with the full weight it deserves. He has a proper sense of how important this moment must be. There's no need for precognition to understand what is coming; he isn't remotely surprised when Hartley gets down on one knee.