cisco_ramon | (no subject)

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Cisco's not that nervous. It's not a date, after all; it's just trivia, and Cisco's going to buy Matt a drink and then they'll see where it goes from there. So he's not nervous.

Okay, maybe just a bit.

Josie's is a standard sort of American pub, TVs on the wall and top 40 music playing over the sound system. The atmosphere is casual, which is a relief since Cisco went ahead with his standard t-shirt/hoodie combo, opting for comfortable. It's not like he can impress Matt with the way he dresses anyway.

Showing his ID to the guy at the door, he heads toward the bar, more and more butterflies coming to life in his belly as he gets closer. He spots Matt immediately, recognizing him by the set of his shoulders and his perfect, shining hair. Taking a deep breath, Cisco approaches him, hoping Matt will like the cologne he selected, the scent of his conditioner. He knows Matt's other senses will be stronger to compensate for his blindness, and he wants to give Matt something he can identify him by, something pleasant.

Moving to stand just beside him, Cisco carefully touches the outside of Matt's upper arm, saying gently, "Matt?"

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"A few," he admits. "The Dresden books are pretty good, a good voice actor I've heard before."

Matt chuckles and shakes his head. "I'm sure it's fine. Foggy knew I was meeting you here." Likely he'll catch hell about it on the way in to the office tomorrow, but Matt was fine with that.

"Let's find someplace a little quieter." As Cisco settles the tab he picks up his cane. "Do you mind if I take your arm?"

"Wait, that's James Masters, isn't it?" Cisco asks in reply. "I've heard a couple of those," he adds, then grins softly. "Do you think his voice is hot?"

Cisco returns Matt's soft laugh. "Did you tell him you had a hot date?" he jokes, sure that Matt didn't tell his friend Foggy anything of the sort. "And no, I don't mind," he tells Matt, shifting his arm so he bumps Matt's forearm with his elbow gently, letting Matt know where he is so he can hold on.

As Matt takes his arm and walks them out of the bar, Cisco's stomach goes fluttery again. He's not sure where Matt's thinking they could go, but quieter means they can talk more, which means Matt must be enjoying talking to him. He's definitely having a nice time with Matt.

"What were you thinking?" he asks once they're out on the street. "A cafe or a diner maybe?"

His smile is vaguely sly. "Among others." Cisco's voice is warm and appealing and he would much rather spend time with him than hazarding guesses at trivia.

There's another chuckle as he can make out Foggy's voice, clearly they aren't escaping unnoticed. But that's all right. He's having a normal, regular night out which is a rarity. Pretty sure his best friend will understand.

The air outside is cooler, freshened by the breeze and he takes a deep breath, keeping his hand settled lightly on Cisco's arm. "There's that outdoor cafe a block down? They have good food and I don't know about you but I could stand to eat something."

Cisco blushes, and his instinct is to think that there's no way Matt means his voice, but the way Matt says it, the little smile he offers, Cisco allows himself to feel a little flattered. The cool air feels good on his warm face, and he slows his pace from the way he usually walks, always in a hurry. He wants to savor this moment, strolling along with Matt on his arm, and he knows it's more necessity than chivalry, but it still feels nice.

"I think I see the cafe you mean," Cisco says, noticing a patio with chairs and tables a ways down with. It doesn't look busy and Cisco's glad; he's really looking forward to getting to talk with Matt more, getting to know him better.

It isn't long before they're there, and the hostess shows them to a table, Cisco stopping so Matt can find the back of his chair with his hand before he moves around to sit himself, the feet of metal chair scraping against the stone patio as he pulls it out.

"This is nice," he remarks as he picks up the menu in front of him, giving it a quick once over.

The air outside is cool and fresh and it helps open up more sensations for Matt to track. The meals being served around them, the fresh coffee, the cool sharp scent of wine. An ideal place to sit and just focus on Cisco.

"It's a good place. I've been here once or twice." A slight wince as he hands the menu to Cisco. "And they don't have anything in braille."

The wince is replaced by another smile as an idea strikes. "Although you did pick a pretty good beer at Josie's. Maybe I can trust you to pick out something else good?"

Cisco frowns at himself. The menu is just one more thing he takes for granted in a world that doesn't really accommodate the disabled, one more thing he didn't even consider until Matt made a comment about it. He doesn't know how far this will go beyond two dates, but Cisco makes a note to be more cognizant about all of these things, prepared to offer assistance whenever he can.

"How hungry are you?" he asks, starting simply. "Are you thinking maybe appetizers, or something more substantial?"

It's simply a facet of his existence. Matt can tell that the man two tables down is one more creme brulee away from heart trouble but he can't read words on paper. "How about something simple," he suggests. "Protein heavy is good, and um, no olives."

Matt is well aware he's asking a lot as it is and tries his best to reassure him. "I'm used to it. I'm not that picky, really."

"I don't like olives either," Cisco says with a soft laugh, moving past the awkwardness of the situation (and Cisco's idiotic stumbling). "But I do like quesadillas. Would you be interested in splitting one of those?" he asks, lifting his eyes to watch Matt's face.

He understands why Matt wears the reflective glasses (or he thinks he does, but he doesn't know for certain) and he realizes that Matt won't be able to see Cisco looking into his eyes, but Cisco can't help wanting to see them anyway.

"I'm a big fan of their quesadillas. Make sure to get plenty of their guacamole," he suggests. "They make it from scratch every morning. It's pretty good stuff."

There's a clear moment of hesitation before Matt takes off his glasses and tucks them into his shirt pocket. Even though he can't see, he doesn't want anything between them now. Cisco is bright and kind and genuine enough that he wants to make the effort, to hold nothing back.

Well. At least within reason.

"Absolutely," Cisco replies with a grin. "I'm so glad you like guacamole. That's a deal breaker for me," he adds, hoping Matt can tell he's joking by the tone of his voice.

But then Matt reaches up and takes off his glasses, and it's like Matt was reading his mind before, like somehow he knows that Cisco wants to see him, all of him, exactly as he is. Cisco knew there was a chance he'd be able to see damage to Matt's eyes, but he isn't surprised by the fact that they look entirely normal, dark and warm (and, frankly, very pretty). He feels grateful that he gets to see them, but a little sad at the same time that Matt won't ever be able to look into anyone's eyes himself. It just seems so unfair, and he knows Matt probably has a fulfilling life even without his sight, he doesn't see Matt as less in any way, he just feel enormously sympathetic.

"Can I ask... Were you born blind?" he finds the courage to question, hoping it's not too soon, that Matt won't think he's being insensitive.

"Then I'm relieved I passed," a soft chuckle in return. He can hear the warmth in his voice, the hint of a smile in his tease.

"No," he shakes his head. "There was an accident when I was a kid. I was outside the gym waiting for my Dad when I saw this truck rounding a corner, it was going too fast, I was sure it was going to lose half it's load on the sidewalk." He can still see those moments so perfectly in his mind. "I ran. Ran as fast as I could to push an old man out of the way. I was fast enough for him, but not me."

"It was some kind of radioactive chemical." He never bothered to learn exactly what. "I woke up in the hospital a day later completely blind."

And if Foggy could see him now. Glasses off, talking easily about the accident that had blinded him. There's something nice about it though, not having to hide. He can tell Cisco anything and there isn't even a moment of hesitation.

As soon as Matt says he was born being able to see, Cisco knows the story that follows is going to be tragic. Even if it had been something as simple as a virus or a congenital defect, having something and then losing it is always difficult. Cisco's lucky that he's never really had to experience something like that.

"You saved that man's life," Cisco says, sounding stunned, overwhelmed by the heaviness of the story. It says so much about Matt that his first instinct was to help someone else, to dive in fearlessly, heedless of his own safety. It reminds Cisco of Barry and the stories he's heard about what Barry was like when he was a kid, and Cisco has no idea how someone as comparatively self centered as him has wound up with two people who care so much more about everyone else in his life.

"That... Matt, that's an amazing sacrifice," he goes on, and he's sure Matt knows, doesn't need to be told, but he can't not address it.

Praise is something Matt has never really gotten used to and he ducks his head a bit at the shift in the tone of Cisco's voice. "It was terrifying at first. But I had a lot of good help. I'm at peace with it."

"But hey," it only takes him a beat to locate Cisco's hand and give it a squeeze. "On to happier topics. Favorite music?"

It's obvious this is a topic that Matt doesn't want to dwell on, and Cisco is more than happy with the change of subject. The last thing he wants is to make Matt uncomfortable on their first date (or ever, really). Cisco shifts his hand just a little so he can brush his thumb along the side of Matt's, rubbing the skin softly.

"I like all kinds of music," he replies. "Classic rock, R&B, pop, techno," he rattles off. "I've even been know to listen to the soundtracks of Broadway musicals, every now and then."

This is nice, simply sitting with his hand in Cisco's while they talk and wait for a bite to eat. All of this from one random misdial. "I don't know if I can say that I like techno," he offers. "But there's something about being able to feel the beat. It's a different sensation."

"I like to put on a little classic rock some nights when I'm working. Or some blues. But Celtic punk is a must for working out."

"I mostly use techno as an excuse to dance," Cisco replies, still stroking Matt's hand with his thumb as they talk. "I'm a terrible dancer, for the record," he adds. "I'm a little glad you won't ever have to see that particular train wreck," he jokes.

"What sort of exercise do you usually do?" he asks then, curious. "You can't tell, but I'm not the kind of guy who works out much," he offers by way of explanation. "But I have a friend who's pretty big on running."

He laughs at the joke and while it might be okay that he doesn't see him dance, he does want to see that smile. At least in some fashion. It sounds warm and inviting, open and friendly like the man himself. "Believe it or not, boxing. I still go to the same gym my father trained at. He used to be a boxer too."

"Can I ask you something? And feel free to say no, but the best way for me to get a sense of what someone looks like is by touch. Would you mind?"

"Wow, that's amazing," Cisco says, and to say he's impressed would be an understatement. Boxing is one of those things that requires more coordination that Cisco can manage with two functioning eyeballs, and Matt may have had a bit of experience from before his accident, but the fact that he can still do it, using only sound and vibrations as a guide, is an incredible feat. "I'd love to watch you do it sometime," Cisco says, then quickly amends, "Box, I mean. See you box." He laughs softly in embarrassment.

But the tone of the moment shifts quickly, and Matt's eyes still don't look focused, but there's a quality to Matt's expression, like he's encouraging Cisco to see how genuine he's being. Cisco takes a soft breath, and he wouldn't say no (he doesn't want to), but he wants his voice to be sure when he replies.

"You can touch me," he says, his tone confident and inviting. "Anywhere you want, honestly," he adds with another laugh, and though he's playing it off as a bit of a joke, he absolutely means it.

His laugh is warm and easy with Cisco's, squeezing their joined hands. "If you like, I think we can work something out." Movie night, a trip to the ring, it was becoming clear that they weren't going to run out of things to do together anytime soon. More dates, more time to spend with Cisco.

Permission is given and he shifts a little closer to raise both hands. "Well, let's start with this?" Because he wants to explore further, to touch more. Long, sensitive fingers find the crown of his head, moving gently down his forehead, wide cheekbones, full soft lips and a dimple in the center of his chin that Matt can't help but find endearing as hell. His hair is soft and thick, just a hint of curl and he wants to plunge his hands completely into it.

"You're a very attractive man, Cisco."

It's a interesting sensation, the way Matt's fingertips map Cisco's face, slowly finding each of his features, likely building a mental image. The touch itself is gentle, feather-light, and it doesn't tickle the way Cisco thought it might, but it leaves Cisco's skin tingling. He licks his lips just after Matt's fingers brush across them, chasing Matt's taste, and he laughs breathlessly when Matt announces his verdict, utterly charmed.

"Thank you," he says, blushing as he thinks about what it might be like to feel Matt's hands elsewhere, if Matt will find any other parts of him attractive once he's felt them. The thought makes heat spread through more of Cisco's body, and he clears his throat softly.

"Do you, um. It's it, like, proportions you notice?" he asks. "I know there's supposedly an equation for equating how attractive a human face is, the distance between the eyes, how far between your hairline and your chin your nose is positioned, that sort of thing."

"I remember a bit," he admits, "at least a little about how people look so it's easier to take what I feel and extrapolate I little. For example, now I know that you have very long, very soft hair, a nice smile and a dimple in your chin." All of which were terribly endearing and Matt would be a liar if he said he wasn't tempted to see if his lips tasted as soft as they felt.

"It's just a different point of reference. I pay attention to voice, intonation more than anything, and I will bet dessert that Cisco is short for Francisco," he hazards with a small smile.

Cisco tucks his lower lip beneath his teeth as he listens to Matt speak, and the more he learns about how Matt has adapted to the loss of his sight, the more impressed and amazed Cisco is with the incredible person Matt has turned out to be, despite how difficult his life must be sometimes.

"It is short for Francisco," Cisco confirms with a smile. "My full name is Francisco David Ramon. I was born in Santiago de Cali, Columbia, but I've lived in Central City for... Well, almost twenty years, I guess. Not counting when I was away at college," he tells Matt, giving him a few more details.

"Do you ever ask people to describe themselves?" he asks after a moment. "Like, would you be able to get a better mental image if I told you what color my skin is, and my eyes? That kind of thing?"

"You don't have to," he assures him. "When you're blind you perceive people a little.. differently." Matt's head cants to the side and he reaches for his drink to take a sip. "And I believe that's our dinner on the way over."

The quesadilla is delivered and it only takes a moment or two for Matt to get oriented and Cisco to direct him to where the guacamole was so he could manage without wearing it. It isn't awkward. In fact, it's easy and they fall back to chatting comfortably, swapping terrible jokes and generally having a wonderful time together.

.. he does have to pause and pat Cisco on the back when the revelation that he had never seen Star Trek sends him into a startled cough.

And maybe Matt lets his hand linger a moment longer as Cisco drags in a few deep breaths. "Somehow I have the feeling we're going to have several upcoming movie nights now."

The food at the cafe turns out to be really good (and the guacamole is even better than Matt's shining review had made it out to be), but the company is even better. Even learning that Matt had somehow never seen a single episode of any Star Trek series (or any of the 13 films) can't tarnish how much Cisco likes Matt already (and he can't say he minds the feeling of Matt's strong hand, thumping him on the back and then rubbing in soothing circles when Cisco accidentally inhales some of his water in surprise).

"Oh, the list of movies I want to show you, it's already very lengthy," he replies, still a little breathless from his coughing fit. "I hope you don't have any serious plans for the next seven or eight months," he jokes, but really all he can think about is how he doesn't want this date to end, and how soon he can ask for a second one without coming across as insane.

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