[It's easy to fill in the blanks, and Eddie gets it. It's why he'd never come out to Iris or anyone in Central City, even though he'd had ample opportunity to bring it up. It simply hadn't seemed important, and stood a chance of causing major problems in his relationships - who knew if Iris would be attracted to him anymore, if Joe would look at him as an equal, a dozen other reasons that all seem to make perfect sense when you're deciding whether or not to reveal something vulnerable.

Even now, he's already afraid of it. Of having to expose himself like that to Iris in this situation, how awkward and hard it's going to be, especially with all the grief and guilt he already feels about the situation. But Cisco is here, sitting between his legs, resting against his chest, and saying that he told Caitlin he makes him happy, and he's worth the temporary discomfort.

Eddie squeezes gently around Cisco's shoulders, closes his eyes, and exhales into his hair.]

I'm glad. Glad that I make you happy. [His voice is soft and a little rough with emotion.] And yeah. I guess they don't, I just...

[He exhales.]

I don't want to hurt Iris. And I don't think there's going to be any way I can avoid it.