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[Eddie sees it, the moment it dawns on Cisco that he's right, that Eddie's eyes looked like Eobard's and that maybe they have some things in common. The moment he sees Cisco's face go a bit pale, his eyes widen like that, Eddie shifts, draws back a little from Cisco to give him space, to let him decide how he wants to deal with this. For a moment, his gut feels cold, his heart is beating hard, and he licks his lips, watching Cisco as if he's a frightened animal Eddie's a little afraid to touch.

But then Cisco is speaking to him in that gentle, reassuring voice, saying 'hey hey hey' over and over, taking his face between his hands in that gentle way and looking him in the face. Eddie's about to apologize when Cisco starts explaining. He's quiet and lets Cisco talk until he's done, until he's explained where he's coming from, and then Eddie smiles, just a little.]

I guess you're right. I don't feel evil. I just...you know I worry, because somehow, Eobard and I...we come from the same family, the same blood, and what if that's in it?

[ 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.

[It's a worry, digging at the back of his mind, and Eddie clings to what Cisco is saying, tries to believe him, that good and evil aren't encoded in the genes, that it's something that he chooses for himself. That Eobard hadn't been helplessly born evil, and the way Cisco says that, the firmness of it, his voice tinged with a kind of harsh, judgemental certainty, makes Eddie feel a little more secure, a little reassured about that. There's no doubt Cisco believes what he's saying, that Eddie isn't like Eobard, that being evil doesn't run in families, that it's not in his blood, in his DNA, that it's about the choices he makes.]

I guess, I just...it's hard not to worry...

[Licking his lips, he falls quiet as Cisco shifts and takes his hand between his own, lifts it and brings it up to his chest, leaving it there, barely a millimeter from his chest, close enough that Eddie can feel the heat of his body through his T-shirt. Eddie's blue eyes flick back up to Cisco's face, and he exhales a little, resists the urge to press his palm against Cisco's chest, to touch.]

Okay. I trust you.

[Laughing softly, he shakes his head.]

I just don't trust myself, you know? All of a sudden, I'm thinking about every bad and uncharitable thought I've ever had, all the times I've had to keep my temper, and the times I've given in.

[ When Eddie says it's hard not to worry, the tiniest flicker of a smile pulls at one corner of Cisco's mouth, and he nods. He knows that, all too well. Is he expecting too much, wanting to keep Eddie entirely free from worry, when he is still so plagued by his own doubts and fears about going evil? This is certainly a case of "do as I say and not as I do" if there has ever been one. It's such a hard balance to strike - not wanting to enable Eddie, to entrench that worry at all, but also not wanting to demand a superhuman amount of acceptance from him. ]

I get it. If you can't stop worrying entirely. I mean... you know how hard it's been for me to stop even a little. I just- I don't want you to go through the same thing. I don't want him- hurting you, I guess. Not any more.

[ Cisco gives a little tiny shrug, at that. He releases Eddie's wrist, but he doesn't back away, or break eye contact. His heart is racing so fast he almost thinks Eddie should be able to feel it, despite that small space between them. But it's not fear. He trusts Eddie, enough to put his hand that close to his heart. And regardless of how much Eddie will understand the impact of that gesture, Cisco knows it. He's doing it for himself, too. Affirming to himself that he trusts Eddie, more than... well, anyone.

He nods, a touch glumly, when Eddie talks about how he's suddenly re-evaluating his flaws, his temper, thinking about how he might misuse his powers. Quietly, with just a touch of dry humor, Cisco remarks: ]

Golly, this is sounding familiar...

[ It's not funny - not really. But there's no point in trying to hide it. They're very different men, in many ways. But it would seem that, when it comes to getting superpowers, many of their concerns run parallel. Which means that, hopefully, Cisco will know what to say, to lessen Eddie's fears. ]

Even the best heroes aren't perfect. Barry's got a temper, and plenty of uncharitable thoughts. He's messed up before, but he's still the Flash. I think... I don't think it's bad, to be wary. But you're not on your own. You've got me, and I've got your back, and I won't let you go dark side, okay? If you don't trust yourself... trust me, not to let that happen.

[When Cisco says he gets it, and that he doesn't want Eobard hurting him, not anymore, something unwinds a bit in Eddie's chest, and he manages a smile, eyes on Cisco's face. Eddie's hand is still close to Cisco's chest, and after a moment, tentatively, he curls his fingers forward and brushes them against the warm fabric of Cisco's shirt, cautiously, carefully.]

I get that. I don't want him hurting you anymore either. So I know...how you're feeling, I guess.

[Eddie falls quiet when Cisco starts quietly reassuring him, that even the best heroes aren't perfect, that Barry has flaws and a temper and he's still the Flash, and a hero. That it isn't bad to be cautious, but that he's not alone, he's got Cisco, who won't let him go darkside. Eddie laughs at that, softly, a little tentatively, he doesn't have to know the reference to understand it, and he nods a bit.]

How about this? You have my back, and I have yours. You help me with my powers, and I'll help you with yours? Neither of us is going to go darkside, okay?

[ When Eddie moves his hand forward, touches his fingers to Cisco's chest, he doesn't flinch, or move away. His eyes flicker down, for just a moment, and his breath catches in his throat; Cisco doesn't want to think it's fear, making his heart beat so fast, so he leans forward just a little, into the touch, showing that he isn't worried. If anyone in the precinct is watching them, it is going to look very strange, but right now Cisco doesn't care. He keeps his eyes on Eddie's, matching the soft smile that follows his little laugh. ]

It's a deal.

[ And strangely, Cisco actually is kind of looking forward to it. Less so the part about working on his own powers, of course, but Eddie had already seen the worst of those, in the forest that day. And his stupid vibes had contributed to their whole ill-advised hookup during the blackout. As far as shame and embarrassment go, for his powers, he's kind of already passed that first hurdle, with Eddie.

Cisco shifts the conversation gently, seeing the opportunity to bring Eddie's mind back to the positives, to the good he can do and the way that this is, quite literally, a dream come true for him. ]

Does this mean I get to pick a name for you, since you're going to pick one for me? And you better believe I'm gonna make you a suit, once I know enough about how your powers function that I can work in some tech to enhance them and help you with control.

[When Cisco doesn't flinch, doesn't draw back as Eddie touches his chest, Eddie relaxes just a bit. Cisco's breath catches, it's impossible to miss that, but it's only a moment of hesitation before Eddie is gently pressing his palm against Cisco's chest too, feeling the warmth of his body soaking into it, while Cisco looks him in the eyes and smiles at him.

And of course it looks strange, in the middle of the precinct, but the fact is, Eddie doesn't care, because this is what he needed, after all the fear and confusion over the past few hours. He'd needed someone to say that they believed in him, to say that they trusted him, to offer to help him train.

It always seems to be Cisco who comes through for him like this, lately.

Eddie's smile widens when Cisco asks if he can pick a name for him, and he laughs, a little self-deprecatingly.]

I mean, I think it's a bit early for that, and I definitely haven't thought up a good name for you yet, but...I definitely need to practice before I get a name and a suit.

[Taking a breath, he calms himself, then drops his hand from Cisco's chest and picks up the sandwich he brought again. For a moment, he distracts himself with taking a bite, chewing and swallowing, enjoying the sensation of eating, and then, quietly, he speaks again.]

Thanks, Cisco.

Well, then, practice it is.

[ Cisco thinks about saying that Barry hadn't known what the he was doing when he first got his suit, that he had had a name almost before he'd actually saved anyone. But Cisco doesn't want to give the impression that he is rushing Eddie. It's a lot to process, and if he says it feels early for those things, Cisco isn't gonna question it.

That won't stop him from making plans in his head, though. Like, for instance, the fact that Eddie costume is going to have to be a deep blue, the same as the color of that energy that had glowed through his skin for just a moment. Cisco doesn't think he'd ever seen a blue quite that rich. It's different, from the tinted shade of his vibes, from the energy he had shot from his hand that one time. Darker, more intensely saturated, more... warm. ]

Not today, though. I think you've had more than enough excitement.

[ Cisco wishes he could drag Eddie from the precinct and back home at once, but there's a distinctly ominous look about all that paperwork sitting by his elbow. Probably a lot more to do, considering two civilians had almost killed each other, and are probably in custody, and apparently there is a robot dog involved somehow??? ]

You look like you've still got some stuff to finish up - how 'bout I cook dinner, for once? Least I can do. And maybe we can watch a movie after? I'm thinking something with swords and realllll stilted dialogue, what do you say?

[ He wants Eddie to see that this is not the end of anything, that the world hasn't turned completely upside-down (even though it has). One of the strangest things for Cisco had been how life simply moved on, from day to day, in all its banal details, even when he was, impossibly, somehow, suddenly a metahuman. ]

Practice sounds good.

[Something in Eddie relaxes when Cisco says that they won't be practicing today, that he's not going to pressure Eddie to take up a mantle and name and start superhero work right away. It's something he'd be interested in, maybe, but the idea of it is too overwhelming right now. First, he needs to know what he's doing, to be confident and comfortable before he relies on them.

When Cisco suggests he go home and make dinner and they watch a movie together, Eddie smiles broadly at him, reaches out and takes his hands and squeezes, tight and warm.]

I would love that. Something brainless and actiony sounds perfect, especially if you're cooking. I don't think I've ever had an actual meal you cooked before, I'm excited.

[The excitement is obvious, genuine on his face, and he exhales.]

Seriously, thanks again. I feel so much better than I did earlier.

I know, I've been totally taking advantage of the fact that if I just wait long enough, you'll make something amazing and I can just steal some. Time to step it up.

[ Cisco gets to his feet, but also takes a moment to rather theatrically push up the sleeves of his shirt, like he is getting ready for some sort of important and arduous task, and he wants to be ready. ]

Pressure's on. I better go get planning.

[ He doesn't know what he'll make, but it is only logical that it should be something a little special. That he should make today into a bit of a celebration. Help to drive home the idea that Eddie's new powers are something good, something to cause joy rather than worry. Cisco doesn't have the time or skill for anything really elaborate, but he thinks he can manage something nice enough it'll be clear he was aiming for a special meal.

When Eddie thanks him one last time, Cisco just beams at him, claps him on the shoulder, and then heads out. Maybe some kind of curry, or some arepas... that would be pretty easy, and Eddie might not have ever had them before... ]

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