causational | psl; after the kiss

[The answer is both encouraging and a little disappointing - it's good to know Cisco feels like they can talk about things, that he considers him a friend. But the fact that he'd worried about it changing things is sad in its own way.

Leaning in, he smiles softly at Cisco, and shakes his head.]

Look. Even if I hadn't returned the feeling, you could've talked to me about it. I promise. You've been really good to me, Cisco, and even without all this...I consider you a close friend. You're important to me. I wouldn't have let anything change. Okay?

[He tips his head to look at him, a smirk on his lips the entire time. He slides his hand down Eddie's arm, threading his fingers with his own and groans, soft and playful, leaning down to hide his face against Eddie's shoulder.] God, how do you exist?

[He's practically drunk on happiness in this moment. How had he gotten this lucky?]

[The way Cisco responds, with that groan, leaning over to press his face warm and soft against Eddie's shoulder, makes him laugh softly. He tilts his head and lets his own face rest into the warm hair at the crown of Cisco's head.]

What? How do you exist? It's not fair that someone as brilliant as you gets to be cute too.

[But he says it with an obvious smile in his voice, exhales into Cisco's hair.]

Mmm...wow. What a great way to wake up.

[Cisco feels his cheeks grow hot and he's suddenly glad his face is hidden, but he can hear the smile in Eddie's voice and it's amazing how it makes him smile. And he couldn't stop it even if he wanted to.] You really think so? [He doesn't actually mean for that to slip out, to let his insecurities ruin this beautiful thing that's happening, but he doesn't even have time to think about it before it tumbles out. It's softer than he'd meant it to be, but he has no doubt Eddie heard it.

He tips his head up at that last comment and grins a little wider.] Right? it's perfect. [He slides his thumb against the side of Eddie's hand.] Can we just stay here for awhile?

[Even from the short time they've been getting closer, Eddie's become really aware that Cisco has certain insecurities. He's noticed, over and over again, how Cisco will run himself down when it doesn't have anything to do with engineering. How it seems like his meta naming abilities and his tech savvy are the only things he really likes about himself. It makes Eddie sad, but it is what it is, it's part of Cisco, and if he's going to help it's going to take time.

But the fact is, the more a person is told something about themselves, the more likely they are to believe it. So Eddie stands a chance of helping change his mind, and there's no time like the present to start. He's got the patience and endurance to keep saying it until someday, even if it's far in the future, Cisco starts to believe it.]

Yeah, I really think so. You're brilliant, and cute, a great, loyal friend. You're kind and compassionate and funny and...you know, the whole package.

[Eddie's cheeks flush, he resists the temptation to comment that Cisco's tight jeans don't hurt either.]

Mmm, and yeah, you couldn't drag me out of this bed for anything.

[Lying back down, he rolls onto his back and gently pats his chest.]

More cuddling?

[His nose wrinkles in a way that's more amused disbelief than disgust and he shakes his head a little. He doesn't see it, but he also doesn't dispute it. If nothing else, he believes Eddie sees and means those things, and right now, in the giddy high of the moment, that's all that matters.]

Mmm, good. [He grins and slides down to rest against Eddie again, head pillowed on his chest, an arm loosely draped over him.] Cause this is exactly where I wanna be.

[And he doesn't even realize, until the words are out of his mouth, how much he really means that. Something warm swells in his chest and spreads everywhere at once. The sensation is familiar, the kind of thing that only comes with certain types of real happiness. He's missed that feeling, this light and warmth that Eddie seems to carry with him everywhere he goes. It's nice to have it again.]

[Eddie believes it, deeply and truly, and doesn't expect that he'll be changing his mind any time soon. Because his opinion of Cisco has only improved since they started hanging out more, and he thinks it could probably keep getting better for a really long time.

And it's dangerous to think that way. He'd thought that way about Iris and look how that had ended up.]

Same.

[It's soft, and genuine, and as Cisco drapes himself against his chest, his arm across his belly, he smiles and exhales heavily, obviously enjoying the contact. His hand drifts up, fingers digging into Cisco's warm hair, stroking it back gently.]

Mm, so you really had a crush on me? I didn't notice at all. Wow.

[He grins shyly, nodding.] Yeah... I tried not to be obvious about it. I didn't...want you to feel like I was taking advantage of you, of the situation... Coming off a breakup is kinda hard to navigate, you know? And I didn't want...i didn't wanna make it harder. You deserved the time to heal.

[As he speaks, a quiet, low rumble against Eddie's chest, his hand slides up, one finger tracing idle patterns against the material of his shirt. With the...permission? in place now, Cisco can't seem to stop touching him.]

[For a moment, Eddie's brows furrow, and he exhales softly. It's somehow a little funny and more than a little sweet, Cisco's concern. So Eddie brings his arms around Cisco's shoulders. Squeezes him tight, presses another kiss against the crown of his head.]

That's...really good of you.

[His voice is soft, and he cards his fingers back through Cisco's hair again, enjoying how smooth the strands are between his fingers, how soft they feel.]

That's why I like you, you know that, right? Because you're good. And cute. Really cute.

[Cisco relishes in that feeling like safety and security in Eddie's arms. He could really, really get used to that.] Isn't it just common decency to not pounce someone the second they break up with someone else?

[Almost involuntarily, Cisco's eyes slide shut as Eddie winds his fingers through his hair. And in response, he continues to draw patterns against Eddie's chest.] Mmm...you see me differently than I see me... [He frowns a little and opens his eyes, tipping his head back to squint up at him.] your way sounds better.

[Eddie laughs a little, tilts his head and makes a soft hum.]

Common decency isn't all that common, unfortunately. You're just a particularly good person, I think.

[A little, rueful smile, and he keeps working fingers through Cisco's hair, letting his short nails scrape slightly against the younger man's scalp. This is nice, feeling the solid heat of Cisco's body against his own, the weight of him, the way his fingers move against Eddie's chest. It makes him shiver a little.]

I thought I might. See you differently than you see yourself, I mean. [He pauses for a moment, as Cisco draws his head back and looks up at him. Tugging his hand free of Cisco's hair, he traces his lips with his thumb, then the line of his cheekbone.] My way is true. I think you're too hard on yourself.

[He feels his cheeks burn lightly at the compliment of being a good person. He never knows how to react to positive things said about himself, but he doesn't fight it this time. Eddie never sounds like he's trying to placate him or force some kind of platitude on him, it makes it easier to accept than with most people.

He likes the way he seems to be able to make Eddie shiver with just simple, playful, light touches. A small smile slips over his lips at the realization.

As Eddie traces his lips and trails his thumb across his cheek, Cisco bites his lip and his breath hitches slightly in his throat. He could ask a lot of questions about that, but he doesn't really want to. Instead, he shifts and leans up to press his lips against Eddie's, and there's still a tentativeness to it, cautious but eager.]

[Eddie's like that - he speaks his mind, he says what he's thinking, he's honest and terrible at lying. Terrible at platitudes, and terrible at faking it. He always has been. So he doesn't flatter, he just honestly says what he's thinking, especially when what he's thinking is good.

And it's nice to watch Cisco accept it a little, even if Eddie can tell he's struggling with the acceptance. It's something to work on, he thinks. Telling Cisco good things about himself until he believes them.

That soft little smile is addictive, and so is the soft hitch in Cisco's breath, and the kiss is even moreso. Cisco's mouth is warm and soft and Eddie leans in. His hand moves to the side of Cisco's face, cupping it, rubbing his thumb against the smooth line of his cheekbone, and he makes a soft, happy noise in his throat as he returns the kiss.]

psl; after the kiss

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