Cisco lets out a soft, surprised noise that fades into a delighted laugh as Eddie flips their positions. He isn't sure what is going through Eddie's mind, but Cisco knows he never wants to see the light in his eyes dim. He makes a silent promise to do everything he can to keep that light shining.

His cheeks go red at the shower of compliments and kisses, but he's grinning the entire time. Usually, Cisco's pretty terrible at accepting compliments, he gets awkward about them because his personal view of himself is so twisted and glass-half-empty and low, largely thanks to the way other people in his life have treated him and his own anxieties convincing him that he was lesser than he is. But being with Eddie made him realize that maybe that self-perception was wrong. It was still hard sometimes, to simply accept the compliments like 'you're gorgeous' without the initial kneejerk reaction to deny it or scoff at the idea, but Eddie was kind of wearing some of that down, easing those beliefs away little bit by little bit.

And it's that realization, the one that says he actually is starting to believe some of this now, that has breath catching in his throat and his chest growing tight with emotion as Eddie leans down to nuzzle him. "I love you," he whispers again, voice tight, but still very clearly elated, an impossible to break smile on his lips.