[ It's encouraging, to hear Eddie say that Cisco might be right, but there's more to do. Cisco knows, from his experience, how an idea like that can fester. He has to uproot it, completely, before it can ever dig in to the soil of Eddie's mind. He has to protect Eddie from getting caught in the same kind of reasoning that's still got its tendrils wrapped tightly around his own feelings about his powers.

He is already shaking his head before Eddie finishes. ]

Good and evil aren't encoded in your genes. That's something I have absolutely no doubt about - for you and Eobard or for anybody else. Your genes are just... genes. They decide if you're gonna be blond, not if you're gonna be a psycho murderer, alright? It's not like... he didn't do the things he did because he was born evil and had no choice in the matter.

[ There's an edge to the way he says that, harsh and unforgiving. He remembers, for a moment, all the bullshit excuses Eobard had made, about how he was only doing what he had to do, what anyone would do in his place. What complete fucking nonsense. ]

He decided to be a murdering creep. Just like you decided to be a badass detective, who wants to keep people safe so badly that he'll do whatever it takes. Sacrificing his life, or building a shield out of pure energy. Okay? Blood doesn't mean shit.

[ And then Cisco makes a quick decision. It's... unconventional, and a little strange, but he doesn't know any better way to cut through to Eddie. He takes the hand that had glowed, just now, and carefully, deliberately brings it up to hover a millimeter away from his chest, right over the heart. Cisco swallows, but he locks his eyes with Eddie and says: ]

See? That's how certain I am.