psl; after the kiss

[causational]

continued from here

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[thisismadfreaky]

As Eddie releases all the pent of emotions he'd refused to really allow himself to feel, Cisco just holds him, cradling him close as he can, hands moving in comforting circles against his back or threading gently through his hair, or muttering quiet, soothing things to help keep him calm. Anything, anything at all that would just silently let him know he's here, he isn't alone in this and he has someone to cling to and be the life raft he needs right now.

The moment isn't as long as Cisco would have expected, but he knows Eddie is far from out of the woods on this. But it's good. It's good that he's making it through the first of this. He can't help smiling weakly at those two simple words. He kisses Eddie's forehead and mumbles a soft, "Good."

With that, he gently moves Eddie further under the water in the shower and helps him wash away whatever grime remains. And eventually, they slip out of the shower and into fresh clothes, which he can only imagine feel a thousand times better to Eddie than they possibly could to Cisco himself.

Once they're dressed, he threads his fingers through Eddie's own and guides him easily into the bedroom, where he sits on the bed with him, thumb moving in gentle circles against the edge of Eddie's hand in what he hopes is a comforting way. "You hungry?" He asks softly, looking up at him, eyes searching his boyfriend's face for any indication of what he might need just now. He wants nothing more in this moment than to do any-and-everything that will help Eddie feel more comfortable in his own skin.

[causational]

Everything is perfect about how Cisco handles Eddie's grief - he doesn't draw attention to it, doesn't coddle, doesn't make Eddie feel weak. He just stands still and offers support, he holds him gently and makes soft murmuring wordless noises, he touches his hair and rubs his back and is simply present, allows Eddie to excise all of the ugly things going on inside himself, lets him cry it out. And when Eddie's gotten it out and feels alright again, not perfect, not okay, but capable of continuing on without falling apart, he lifts his head and looks at Cisco like he's his everything.

In that moment, he absolutely is.

So he lets Cisco help him wash off and gets into clean clothes, robotic but with Cisco's gentle help, and when Cisco leads him into the bedroom, he sits heavily on the bed. At that question of whether he's hungry, Eddie manages a tiny, wry smile.

"I'm...really hungry, actually. Feeding me wasn't..."

For a moment, his voice chokes off, and then he speaks again, quietly and a little hoarse.

"Feeding me wasn't exactly his top priority."

[thisismadfreaky]

Cisco notices the way Eddie is really just going through the motions, more robotic in his movements than present for it. But he won't push about that right now because he doesn't have to ask why he's so detached from the moment. It's understandable in ways Cisco wished he didn't know.

He doesn't push Eddie when his voice gives out midway through what he was saying. His hand finds a spot on Eddie's back to rub gentle circles against while he recovers and finishes the thought. It's a painful thing, but not very surprising, considering the source. "Maybe something light, like soup or something?" he suggests. He definitely wouldn't want to give him something that would turn his stomach.