Work Text:
The walk home wasn't long, but Hartley knew he probably shouldn't have left work so late, but he wanted to finish the project on time and he needed this job. A growl interrupted his thoughts he turned and looked at the alleyway. The wolf lowered it's head, lifted it's lips, and showed its fangs to Hartley, eyeing it's prey. Hartley froze before his brain caught up and he turned to run. He felt pain sear through his arm and he yelped, he looked back and the wolf was gone. Hartley knew he should go to the doctor, but he couldn't afford that right now. The bite couldn't be that bad.
The following morning Hartley stretched and was surprised when he didn't feel pain shoot through his arm. He wasn't complaining though and got up to make himself tea. Hartley made a stop at the bathroom and glanced at himself in the mirror. He almost screamed. Pointed ears were sticking up on top of his head and his canine teeth were sharper, he glanced down and a tail hung low. Hartley gripped the ears and pulled, they were definitely not coming off. What was he going to do? He couldn't go to a normal doctor, not that he could afford it. Hartley let out a shaky breath and used the restroom before sitting on the couch. He gets black mailed, the accelerator explodes, Flash exists, he gets locked in a cage (twice), and now he's... a werewolf?
"What am I going to do?" Hartley asks his rat that was chewing on a piece of food. No where, expect for Star Labs, could help him. Hartley knew he didn't have a choice. He sighed and got ready, carefully stuffing the tail in his pants, to go to Star Labs. He arrived and started walking down the hall.
"Don't move." A man said. Hartley put his hands in the air.
"I'm not here to hurt anyone."
"Sure you aren't. Now start walking." The man led him to the cortex. Cisco's eyes landed on him when the automatic doors opened.
"Trying to kill Flash again." Cisco glared at Hartley.
"I know you won't believe me, but I your need help."
"I don't believe you."
"Let me show you then." Hartley took off his hat, revealing the set of wolf ears.
"What the hell?" Cisco I said, "Caitlin we need you up here!" Cisco yelled into the intercom, "Joe, cuff him to the med bed." Joe poked Hartley in the back with the gun and Hartley walked into the room and sat on the bed to be cuffed. Caitlin arrived and stared at the ears, and Hartley, in surprise.
"How did this happen?" Caitlin said after getting over the surprise.
"I was walking home and a wolf came out if an ally and bit me."
"A wolf? In Central City?" Caitlin questioned.
"You're a werewolf!" Cisco shouted at Hartley.
"Werewolves aren't real, Cisco." Hartley said flatly.
"How do explain this then!"
"Stop arguing! Hartley, where were you bit? I need a sample."
"On my arm." Hartley rolled up his sleeve. There was a vague outline of the bite, but otherwise it was gone, "I have a tail too." He pulled out the tail and Caitlin took samples and started testing them.
"I'm still locking you up when this is over."
"I'll just escape." Hartley smirked. He shifted so the cuffs were out of view for Cisco.
"No you won't." Cisco scoffed.
"Really?" Hartley dangled the cuffs in front of Cisco.
"Wha- ho- What?" Cisco sputtered as Hartley laughed, "You know how to laugh? That's even more surprising. And look at that." Cisco pointed. Hartley looked and noticed his tail was wagging. Hartley blushed and grabbed the tail to make it stop.
"I'm not happy. It's just wolf thing." Hartley tried to cover it up.
"A wolf thing?" Cisco.said, "Really? you've only been one for a day."
"You wouldn't understand."
"Now that I think of it, it was full moon yesterday, you know what that means."
"Werewolves aren't real. It's just a coincidence and aren't I not supposed to show any wolf traits until the full moon, so explain the tail."
"Side effects?"
"You're a idiot."
"And your tails still wagging." Hartley growled, his fangs showing and his ears flatting back against his tail as he gripped his tail. Cisco jumped back a little when he heard the growl and decided to change the subject, definitely not out of fear, even though Hartley's anger wasn't directed at him.
"Are you hungry? Because I'm starving."
"Actually yes, I forgot to eat this morning."
"How does a burger sound? Your probably are craving meat, right?"
"I'm not blood thirsty, but you better get me one without mayonnaise though or that might change." Cisco knew he didn't mean it, yet it still made him double check the burger. Cisco handed the burger over to Hartley and quickly withdrawn his hand.
"Your scared of me."
"No I'm not! Cisco lied.
"Yes you are, I saw how quickly you snatched your hand away from me!"
"Maybe I am, do you see how sharp your teeth are and did you hear how you growled!" Cisco pointed at Hartley's mouth.
"I'm not going to hurt you. I never wanted to hurt you." Hartley said.
"What do you mean you never wanted to hurt me? You were always such an dick!"
"I was just jealous of how Wells liked you more than me." Hartley confessed, "Yes I know it's childish."
"It kind of is, but I also didn't respond in the best way."
"Your anger was justified though."
"Maybe. You know, your not so bad when your not being a dick."
"Your not so bad either."
"Your tail is wagging." Cisco had to confess, Hartley with wolf ears and a fluffy tail is kinda of cute.