Chapter Text
It had been months since the night Barry had found Cisco in the lab, trembling and breaking down. Months since they had had that first difficult conversation. Things hadn’t been easy, not by any means. Cisco had faced setbacks, days when the weight of everything seemed too much to bear. But with Caitlin’s patience, Barry’s quiet support, and the little victories along the way, it had become more manageable.
They had made it through the darkest of times. Now, Cisco was standing at the threshold of something new: he wanted to take back control of his life.
Today was one of those moments.
It had taken a lot of courage to pull the hoodie off his shoulders that morning and pull on a short-sleeve t-shirt instead. The scars—some more faded than others, the deeper ones now a dull pink—were still there, reminders of the battle he had fought, both with himself and the world around him. But today, they felt less like chains. Today, they felt like a part of his story he was ready to stop hiding.
He glanced in the mirror as he adjusted the sleeves, his breath catching. He could still see the scars, the marks of his pain. But he didn’t feel the weight of shame that used to come with it.
He wasn’t running anymore.
Cisco let out a breath and walked out of his room, heading into the Cortex, where Barry and Caitlin were already talking, deep in conversation. They stopped when they saw him, both of them smiling, but there was a softness in their eyes.
“Hey, Cisco,” Barry said warmly, his voice full of encouragement.
Caitlin’s eyes softened as she took him in. She gave him a proud smile, though she didn’t comment on his appearance right away. She knew better than to push him too hard, but the pride in her gaze was unmistakable.
Cisco looked down at his arms, feeling the weight of their gazes. It was strange, being this exposed, even though he knew they supported him fully. He could feel the faint tremble in his hands. He had promised himself he would do this for him—no one else—but it didn’t make it any less nerve-wracking.
“How are you feeling, man?” Barry asked, taking a step closer.
Cisco nodded slowly, his voice quiet. “I’m doing better. It’s been a long road, and I’ve had some setbacks, but I’m getting there. I feel like I’m... I’m getting closer to who I used to be. The real me.”
“You *are* the real you, Cisco,” Caitlin said, walking over to stand beside him. She gently placed a hand on his shoulder, offering silent strength. “This is just part of your journey. You’ve come so far, and we’re here with you every step of the way.”
Cisco gave a small, grateful smile, appreciating their words more than he could express. They had been there through it all—through the darkest days, the breakthroughs, the small victories. Without them, he wasn’t sure he would’ve made it.
Before either of them could say more, the rest of Team Flash began to filter into the Cortex.
It didn’t take long for the rest of the team to notice. The usual banter and greetings fell quiet when the others saw Cisco standing there in the short-sleeve t-shirt. Some were visibly shocked. They seemingly never noticed something going on with Cisco. But the damage was done leaving him with some visibly scars.
Joe blinked a few times, his eyes flicking to Cisco’s arms. He didn’t say anything at first but gave him a thoughtful look, understanding the significance.
“What are you guys looking at? Is there the next super villain behind me?,” Cisco joked, a small smile on his lips, trying to ease the sudden tension. It was his usual defense mechanism, but this time, it was tinged with something more. He wasn’t just hiding behind a joke this time. It was an effort to be *seen* for who he really was and a confirmation for himself that it is good the way it is.
Mick was the first to speak up, looking at Cisco with a mixture of surprise and curiosity. “You good, Cisco?” he asked, his tone softer than usual.
“I’m good,” Cisco replied, holding Mick’s gaze with newfound confidence. “Really good.”
Iris, who had been standing off to the side, gave him an encouraging smile. “I’ve got to say, I’m proud of you, Cisco. And I'm sorry that I wasn't there for you when you needed it.”
Cisco’s gaze flicked to his arms for a brief moment before meeting Iris’s eyes. “Thanks,” he said, voice steady. “I’m still working through some stuff, but I think this is a step in the right direction.”
Barry and Caitlin exchanged a glance, both of them knowing how hard this was for Cisco. Caitlin gave him a slight nod, silently telling him that they were proud of him—proud of how far he had come.
The others seemed to take it in stride after the initial moment of pause. Wally smiled at Cisco, clapping him on the back. “Hey, I like the new look, man. Feels like you’re taking charge.”
Cisco smiled, the warmth from his teammates washing over him. “Yeah, maybe I am.”
As they all gathered around to discuss their next mission, Cisco felt a sense of peace settle in his chest. His scars were still there, but they no longer felt like something to be hidden. They were part of him—part of his story, his growth. And with his team by his side, he knew he didn’t have to face them alone.
He had a long way to go, but for the first time in a while, Cisco felt like he was on the right path.