grouphugs | [MEME] time to stay warm

There are certain things Cisco hates. He hates banana flavored candy and people who hate Star Wars. He hates when people get mad about his commentaries through movies and pine-scented air freshener. But he would totally accept all of these things if meant he never had to be cold because that, sir, is just miserable. That biting, bone-deep, can't-get-warm-no-matter-what-you-do cold is just the worst. And when the heat went out in the apartment because of some freak snow storm no one could have had a chance to predict--and Cisco has half a mind to wonder if it's a meta they just haven't found yet--that's exactly what he has to deal with.

One good thing does come out of it, though: A perfectly good reason to lay in bed, piled under blankets and curled against his boyfriend who, thankfully, is a pretty good human-shaped space heater.

"This sucks." He mumbles, the pout he's wearing perfectly clear in his voice. "I hate winter."

Eddie's always hated being too hot - the kind of sweltering heat that comes sometimes in the summer, that leaves his skin bright red and sweaty, that makes him want to claw his own skin off just to get some relief. He's always been pretty good with the cold, whether it's because of his European roots, or because he works out a lot, he's not sure.

Either way, he's really pleased that he's good at handling the cold, because it comes in really, really handy in situations like this. Situations where Cisco's smaller, soft body is curled up against his, his cold face pressed into the crook of Eddie's neck. He can feel how cold the tip of Cisco's nose is, the way his lips tremble a little as he shivers. So Eddie slides his hands up under Cisco's shirt, rubs against the small of his back, firm and gentle, his own hands warmer than Cisco's skin.

"I always liked winter better than summer. I mean, you can always put on more clothes, but there's only so much you can take off..."

Cisco is comfortably curled against Eddie, nuzzling against his neck, arm looped around his boyfriend's waist. He's not sure how he's still cold, it's annoying really, but Eddie's rubbing his back and his hands are warm and God, he could just sink into that feeling forever, warm and comfortable and safe. Eddie kind of had that feeling about him, all the time, and Cisco always soaked up as much of it as he could any time they're together.

"This is a fair and true point, but--" He shudders a little and tries, impossibly, to press closer to Eddie. "it's like once I'm cold, it's impossible to get comfortable again. Or at least, it takes longer than I want it to? I'm impatient. Maybe that's the problem," He grins, a true signal that it's not a self-deprecating statement, but an actual joke-- even if he really can be impatient sometimes. It's hardly one of his worst qualities, honestly.

Eddie can understand his boyfriend's distress, so he keeps trying to do his best to help - he rubs up and down his back, massaging and squeezing to try to work some heat into him, his muscles and skin. Cisco feels kind of small like this, curled up, his nose cold, his body shivering a little, and Eddie feels a sort of surge of protectiveness.

"Maybe. But I don't care if it's impatience or anything else. I just want to make you feel better."

It's true, gently spoken, and Eddie moves one of his hands just enough to pull the thick comforter up over their heads, tilting his own down so his warm breath catches under the covers. It's darker this way, the space under the blanket warm and dark, and he can't see Cisco, but he can smell him. It's a familiar, comforting smell, Cisco's skin and his sweat and his conditioner.

"Then again, I can't complain too much if it means I get to curl up under the blankets for half a day with you...."

"Mmm." He can't stop the soft groan that escapes at the amazing way Eddie's hands feel against his skin. The warmth is nice and the massage is an added bonus, enough to make him go nearly boneless next to his boyfriend. "I know," he mumbles, sounding all too relaxed. "you're kinda amazing that way." He says, the smile on his face obvious in the tone of his voice.

The smile widens into a grin when Eddie tugs the blankets over their heads. "Mmm, hi." He tilts his head up and catches Eddie's lips against his own for a short, sweet moment. "I definitely don't hate curling up with you." He says, sliding his hand across Eddie's chest, fingers drawing idle patters against his shirt. "You're my safe space." His voice is soft and quiet, like he's telling a secret meant only for Eddie's ears.

That sound is music to Eddie's ears - the way Cisco responds to his touches is mesmerizing, he loves hearing it, all the little sounds that he makes when Eddie touches him. Cisco, he thinks, is someone who deserves to be made to feel good. Someone who probably doesn't get this kind of attention nearly often enough. That's something he definitely wants to remedy, has every intention of making sure Cisco gets used to.

"Hi." he murmurs, voice soft as he kisses Cisco back, eyes falling half-shut, "I definitely don't hate curling up with you either. I know you're feeling cold, but you're...so warm, and soft, and..."

Pausing, he slides his hand down the curve of Cisco's spine to the small of his back, letting it rest there warmly, and he's about to continue when Cisco says, softly, that Eddie is his safe space. For a moment, Eddie can't breathe, he can't move or think. His lips part and he forces himself to breathe for a moment, then he's hauling Cisco up, pulling him onto his chest so he can look up at him in the dimness under the blankets, a hand coming up to cup his face.

"That's..." his voice trails off, his eyes on Cisco's, "I'm so glad, Cisco. That's all I want to be."

Cisco can hear the hitch in Eddie's breath and for a fraction of a second, he thinks maybe he's screwed up somehow, crossed some line he shouldn't have, even if he can't figure out where or what it would have been.

Then, Eddie's tugging him up to lay on top of him. Cisco lets out a soft, surprised noise, but it's tangled with some sort of half-scoff, half-laugh at the same time. He's about to speak, but Eddie's hand finds his cheek and there's just something so soft and tender about the air between them that he stays silent, listening instead.

A wide grin breaks out across his face, "Well, mission: accomplished, because you are..." He chuckles lightly, unbridled joy bubbling up in his chest and he leans down to claim Eddie's lips.

It always feels so easy, with Cisco. Being this way, the gentleness and vulnerability between them. He likes that Cisco can feel safe enough with him to expose this part of himself, this soft vulnerability that Eddie can now see clearly, just under the surface. And then Cisco smiles, and Eddie can feel it as much as he can see it, in the way that Cisco's muscles and skin move under his fingers.

It's perfect, fragile and sweet and wonderful beyond reason, and then Cisco is kissing him.

Eddie smiles, his hands moving up into Cisco's hair as he kisses back, fingers combing in at the warm roots of his hair so he can scrape blunt nails gently against Cisco's scalp. Cisco's mouth is warm and soft and Eddie explores it, eyes half-closed, tongue pressing forward, pulls back after a moment to close teeth against Cisco's lower lip and tug gently. It's slow, and easy, and Eddie keeps stroking and tugging against Cisco's hair while he kisses, explores. It's so easy, losing track of time, losing track of everything but the way Cisco's mouth feels against his.

Cisco sinks into the kiss, practically melting against Eddie as he lets his mouth explores and god, his fingers in his hair is amazing. Eddie knows all the right ways to touch him and it's just perfect.

He moans softly and leans deeper into the kiss, his hands traveling down Eddie's side before slipping under his shirt. Eventually, he has to break for air, but he doesn't go very far, keeping his forehead resting against Eddie's, staring down at him with a goofy little crooked grin. "I love you." his voice is soft and sweet, eyes bright.

It's perfect, Eddie thinks, as Cisco pulls away from him just a little, to catch his breath, and he can feel the heat of Cisco's breath against his mouth while they both breathe. Eddie's fingers are still in his hair, he savours the warm smooth strands as they slide against his skin, the way Cisco's warm smooth palms feel against his sides. And when the younger man looks at him with that tiny crooked smile, his dark eyes bright with warm affection, and he says 'I love you' so openly, so easily, Eddie's breath catches in his throat.

Lifting his hand, he strokes Cisco's hair behind his ear, he leans in and presses his forehead against his boyfriend's, his eyes sink half shut, and he feels like his heart is beating double-time in his chest. It takes a few long moments before he can speak past the lump in his throat, and when he does, it's a little choked.

It's just been a long time since he heard 'I love you' and even longer since he really believed it was true and without reservation.

"I love you too, babe. So much."

It isn't until the pause after those words slipped out that it really registers what he said and then there's a skip in his heartbeat as he stays, frozen, leaning against Eddie, waiting for him to react. He doesn't even know what to expect, he just hopes it's not too soon or--

Oh.

Hearing it from Eddie, choked up and emotional in the moment, makes Cisco's heart melt. A wide grin spreads across his face and his hand goes up to cup Eddie's cheek. This is such a raw, open, perfect moment and he doesn't want to break it. Instead he just punctuates it with a soft kiss to Eddie's lips, warm and sweet.

It is perfect, he thinks. Curled up together, feeling safe, the contact of their bodies, the weight of Cisco against him, solid and secure and good...it's exactly how he would've wanted this moment if he'd planned for it. For it to be a moment where they're feeling so safe and comfortable.

Cisco's mouth tastes good, it's warm and sweet against his as he leans down to kiss his mouth, and Eddie's eyes sink shut, he responds in the same way. He pours his affection into it because Cisco, he knows, doesn't always take words at face value. Knows that sometimes Cisco needs to feel things in order to trust them.

Gently, while he keeps kissing, he strokes back Cisco's hair, he combs fingers through it, gentle, caressing motions, laden with affection.

The thing about Eddie is... he just knows Cisco so well. Because he took the time, he bothered to pay attention to the little stuff, and he just had this knack for always knowing what Cisco needed at any given moment. Eddie was attentive in ways people he'd dated in the past never were and it was kind of amazing. He understood that sometimes he needed more than just words to fully trust things and, God, he can feel the meaning and the honesty in his words in the way Eddie kisses him, the way he touches him.

He hums softly into Eddie's mouth as his fingers slide through his hair, his own fingers slide against the material of Eddie's shirt against his chest. Eventually, the kiss comes to a natural end and he keeps his forehead pressed to Eddie's own, still grinning. "You're amazing, Eddie."

There's something so vulnerable about Cisco, so fragile and open, and hopeful, especially in this moment, and that vulnerable, fragile, open, hopeful thing makes Eddie feel a surge of protectiveness. Makes him want to make Cisco feel safe and loved and warm and wanted. Wants to make him believe that he's worth being wanted.

When Cisco murmurs that he's amazing, those warm fingers tracing up and down the plane of his chest, Eddie laughs softly, eyes bright, and then rolls Cisco over onto his back. Rolls with him so he can pin the younger man underneath him and grin down at him, weight balanced on his elbows. Leaning down, he kisses Cisco's face, presses his lips against Cisco's lower lip, the corner of his mouth, the line of his jaw, his cheek.

And between kisses, he speaks, his voice soft and rough, "Mm...not as amazing...as you...Cisco Ramon...you're so gorgeous...you have a great mouth...and beautiful eyes...and your hair..."

Ducking his head, he nuzzles into Cisco's hair, inhales the scent of it.

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.

It's something Eddie sees in Cisco, clear as day, probably obvious because he's been that person, the guy who doesn't think he deserves things. Sometimes he still is that guy. It was one of the things that drew him to Cisco, he thinks, seeing those signs, seeing those particular tendencies, and wanting so much to help ease them, help Cisco feel better about himself. To see what Eddie sees when he looks at him - a beautiful, intelligent, charming young man.

Eddie knows from experience that it will take work to convince Cisco that the bad things he believes about himself aren't all true, and that the good things Eddie says about him mostly are. But that's okay. It's work Eddie is willing to put in, enjoys putting in. Little by little, repetition by repetition, he's determined to make Cisco accept it, and if he can accept it, maybe he'll believe it.

So when Cisco doesn't argue back, just says he loves him, Eddie smiles at him, beaming bright and warm, "I love you back, Cisco Ramon."

Leaning down, he gently kisses Cisco's lower lip, "Mmmm, you know. I'm really glad it's so cold today."

Oh, God, he's never going to get tired of hearing that. Those words spread through him and he just can't stop grinning. He wonders if there's anything in the entire world better than this. He thinks probably not.

"Mmm..." he leans up into the kiss, fingers curling in the material of Eddie's shirt. "yeah...suddenly it's not so bad." He couldn't think of a better way to spend a way-too-cold day.

[MEME] time to stay warm

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