cisco_ramon | (no subject)

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?"

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

cisco_ramon

"Wednesdays are perfect," Cisco replies, grinning widely. "Hopefully we won't have to move it too often," he adds. "I mean, I know how crazy things can be, but I'm already really looking forward to these movie nights."

And he means it; as much as he's enjoyed being out with Matt in public, the idea of getting to spend time with him alone makes Cisco feel giddy. He's not sure what might happen between them, but having the option to hold Matt's hand or lean against his side, maybe even to kiss him, it's something he already really wants.

A moment later their server arrives with their bill, and Cisco takes it off the table. "Do you mind if I pay?" he asks. "I know this didn't exactly start out as a date, but I feel like it was one. And a good one," he explains, his face heating with a blush.

From:

thoushaltnotkill

Matt probably could have snapped up the check, but he just sits back with a smile. A date. Yes. He likes that idea too. "Well, I guess that's only fair as long as I get to pick up the check next time." Because he wanted the next time, and the next. Long evenings with Cisco, walks, comfortable and easy together.

They take their time on the way out of the cafe, just walking aimlessly and enjoying the cool evening air.

The attack comes quickly. A concussive blast that throws them both hard against the brick wall of the office supply store they had been passing. Matt has just enough time to turn, to take the brunt of the impact across his shoulders and back and he hears Cisco go down hard, heart hammering in fear.

"STAR Labs. You work there. You were there that night." The voice is cold and calculating and Matt is on his feet in seconds, putting himself solidly between Cisco and the approaching man. This was going to end in violence, no amount of talking was going to slow him down, so he shifts his weight to the balls of his feet. Ready.

He was going to protect Cisco.

From:

cisco_ramon

Cisco spots the man about two seconds before the attack comes, noticing the aggressively determined way the man is stalking toward them directly. Cisco doesn't even have time to tense before a burst of white-blue light lances out of the man's eyes, catching him and Matt and tossing them sideways into a building like a pair of dolls. The impact is disorienting, but it doesn't take long for Cisco for all the pieces to fall into place, and he curses his own powers for being so damn inconsistent; he really could have used a warning about this.

"Okay, dude, listen, you are so not even close to the first person to come after us looking for revenge," Cisco says as he pushes himself to his knees, pushing his hand into his pocket to pull out his phone so he can call Barry. He barely has the words out when Matt moves into the path between himself and the angry metahuman, and Cisco knows Matt's a boxer and can take care of himself, but this isn't your run of the mill bad guy.

"Matt," he says, his voice a harsh whisper as he pushes to his feet. "I can't really explain right now, but this guy, he has powers. I know The Flash, I can call him to take care of this."

From:

thoushaltnotkill

Matt is angry. Angry about the interruption, angry at the threat to Cisco and angry at the way he can hear Cisco's hear triphammering in alarm. He's not standing aside. Metahuman or not, he's not letting this stand.

"I can handle this." The cane shifts in his hand, a weapon at the ready and his entire stance changes. Like lightning he attacks, quick and vicious blows, following the metahuman as he tries to use his power to blind or disorient Matt.

His senses cast out, mapping the alley and exactly where and how he needs to strike. Moving more efficiently in a fight than most sighted people.

From:

cisco_ramon

Cisco opens his mouth to protest, but he can't get a word out before Matt launches himself at the meta, somehow able to land blows and avoid punches and attacks like he has some sort of extra sensory perception that allows him to almost see. Cisco watches with wide eyes, his heart racing and his cellphone grasped in tight, shaking fingers, and in only a few minutes Matt has his adversary subdued, knocked unconscious in the middle of the street.

"Holy shit," Cisco breathes as he pushes himself standing, walking on numb legs to where Matt is standing over the unmoving meta. "How did you do that?" he asks, staring at Matt, thankful Matt can't see the look on his face.

[ooc: I am SO sorry this has taken so long. Work was really, really stressful leading up to my vacation (I'm out of town until Tuesday), and I'm just now finally working through my tags again. Please forgive me!]

From:

thoushaltnotkill

Matt is grateful that he can't see the look on Cisco's face. It's enough that he can hear the shaky fear in his voice. The uncertainty. Chest heaving he turns, angling his body away from Cisco. "You should call the police. Whatever he was after, he won't stop."

He swallows hard. Swallows again. "I'm sorry. He was going to hurt you or kill you and I couldn't.. I couldn't let that happen." Even if it meant that whatever they had felt, whatever they could have been was over.

"Are you all right?"

[NO worries at all hon. I figured RL was bombarding you and I'll backtag with Cisco forever and ever, so you worry about you and I'll be here when stuff settles!]

From:

cisco_ramon

The way Matt is responding, apologizing and almost closing himself off, makes Cisco's heart ache. Because he wasn't trying to make Matt feel embarrassed about his abilities; on the contrary, Cisco is impressed in a way that he can barely describe. That and he's curious about why and how Matt's learned to do all of this, because as much as boxing training makes sense, what Matt just did puts Oliver Queen to shame.

"I'm fine, I'm good," Cisco replies, fumbling with the phone in his hands. He's quick to type out a message to Barry, telling him what's happened, that he's safe but that they need to get this meta-human to the Pipeline. "I, uh, Bar-, The Flash. I sent a message to The Flash," he goes on, staying close to Matt's side but keeping his eyes on the unconscious meta on the ground. "He'll be here in a second to take the guy in."

There's a beat, just a couple of minutes before the red blur and gust of wind that signifies Barry's arrival comes, and Cisco looks over at Matt, sees the way his chest is heaving, the expression on his face more concerned with how Cisco sees him now than anything else. "Thank you," he says, reaching down to take Matt's hand. "You saved my life just now, and saying thank you hardly covers it, but..." He shakes his head. "Thank you, Matt."

From:

thoushaltnotkill

He's not upset. At least not upset in the sense that he felt Matt had been hiding anything from him. In fact - Cisco Ramon has The Flash on speed dial which would explain why he's not frightened of what he can do. It helps the tension bleed from his shoulders as he threads his fingers with Cisco's.

The Flash comes and goes quickly, taking their attacker and leaving behind only a gust of wind and a faint scent of ozone and coffee.

"I hope that means we can continue our walk? I'll understand if you'd rather head indoors," he offers, giving him an out if he needs it. But Matt hopes that out won't be necessary. "It's been a hell of a first date," a faint smile. With luck the second one won't be quite as eventful.

From:

cisco_ramon

Cisco hadn't told Barry about his date (mostly because he didn't want to jinx it â the last time he'd been excited to go out with someone and told everyone about it she'd ended up leaving him for her 4000 year old reincarnated boyfriend), so all he can do is offer a sheepish smile when Barry raises his eyes toward Matt standing at Cisco's side. Barry doesn't seem to notice that Matt can't see him, so he doesn't linger, just makes sure both Cisco and Matt are okay and then tosses the meta over his shoulder, running him back to STAR Labs.

Cisco's expecting the text he gets about ten seconds later, his phone vibrating in his hand. He taps out a quick reply (I'll tell you about it later), then shoves his phone back into his pocket.

"So you know how I'm a liaison to the CCPD?" he says, answering Matt's question in a more round about fashion. "I'm technically the liaison to for the meta-human task force," he finishes. "So this wasn't the first time this has happened to me, and it probably won't be the last," he adds with a laugh.

"What I'm saying is, I'm not letting anyone, even a revenge crazed meta-human, ruin our first date," he says then firmly. "And you just saved my life. If that doesn't earn you a first kiss, I don't know what would," he comments then, blushing. He hopes he's not crossing lines or getting way too far ahead of himself; maybe Matt's not even thinking about stuff like that yet, but Cisco definitely is, and he doesn't feel like it will hurt, letting Matt know where he is on the subject.

From:

thoushaltnotkill

Matt lets out a breath he hadn't even realized he was holding - Cisco is far from put off by what had happened. He understands. He isn't questioning, isn't running. While there's an odd connection between Cisco and the Flash it isn't one he's going to press or even question.

"Oh. Well. Metahumans then. That explains why you weren't afraid of what I did." Mention of a first kiss earns him a warm smile as he steps in a little closer. "You know, I think I'd like that."

Long fingers reach out, skimming along his jaw and once Matt has determined right where Cisco is, where he needs to be, he closes the distance between them with a soft, gentle kiss. The touch is soft and sweet and promises so much more between them. Countless date nights on the couch, movies and popcorn and everything in between.

He can't wait.

From:

cisco_ramon

Cisco was definitely not afraid, no. Astounded, yes, and even more curious about Matt's history, absolutely, but not at all scared. And the fact that Matt didn't seem particularly fazed by the meta he just took down (or the idea that metas exist, the fact of what they can do) bodes well, Cisco thinks. He's not chomping at the bit as far as sharing his own meta-human status, but he's seen what keeping that sort of thing from the person you're dating can do to a relationship, and if things even begin to get serious here, he's going to want to be honest with Matt, both about what he does and what he is.

He's snapped out of his reverie when Matt moves in close, lifting a hand and finding Cisco's jaw in a way that's not at all fumbling, like Matt knows exactly where Cisco is in space. Cisco doesn't have time to process anything before Matt is lowering his mouth over Cisco's, the press soft and shallow but heralding untold potential, promises for more, like the best teaser ever. Cisco's heart is hammering seconds later when Matt draws back, and he knows it was meant to be tantalizing, just a taste, but Cisco finds his lips chasing Matt's as they draw away, already longing for more.

"I, uh..." he says, then laughs softly, feeling breathless and dizzy. "That was really nice," he amends, his eyes moving over Matt's lips, noting the slight shine of saliva on them, making them even more alluring than usual.

From:

thoushaltnotkill

They'll have to talk, probably sooner rather than later about what had happened. For now it was enough that they would have that opportunity, that they would have the chance to still explore what was slowly blossoming between them. And as much as he doesn't want to give up the distance between them he does, pulling back just a bit. No rushing this. Matt wants to take this nice and slow and do everything right for Cisco. He deserves that and so much more.

"Very nice," he agrees. "And I hope this still means we're on for movie night?"

From:

cisco_ramon

Cisco can't imagine, considering everything they've been through on this first date, that there's anyone who would be able to say no to a second one. At least not anyone in their right mind.

"We are definitely on for movie night," he says, biting his lower lip around a grin. "But I have to warn you, I'm known for my not-so-smooth, yawn and put my arm around my date sort of moves."

From:

thoushaltnotkill

Matt's laugh is easy as they begin walking again, this time his fingers curling a little more certainly around his elbow. "I'll consider myself warned. Or I'll just have to beat you to it."

He's going to kiss him again before the night is over. One soft, sweet kiss simply isn't enough. "I will let you pick the movies and I will bring the beer since you're going to be doing most of the talking." Or until they get too distracted to even worry about what's playing.

Honestly? He's hoping for the latter.

From:

cisco_ramon

"Deal," Cisco replies, still smiling widely. He probably looks like a lunatic, grinning like the cat that ate the canary as he walks down the street, leading a blind man. Of course whatever anyone might think about the spectacle they make, they'd be way off. Matt doesn't need Cisco's help, for starters, and he's not really leading Matt anywhere, the two of them just walking aimlessly, wanting to spend a little more time together.

"Do you live near here?" Cisco asks idly, wondering if he can walk Matt home, maybe. He took a train here himself, and he's not going to be able to find the train station without the help of his GPS, so going out of his way isn't something that ever even enters his mind. Even if he ends up father away from where he needs to be, seeing Matt to his door makes something flutter in Cisco's belly that Cisco isn't about to ignore.

From:

thoushaltnotkill

"If the next cross street is Racine, then yes. About two blocks." Matt is more than happy to have the company on the way home. Maybe even invite Cisco in while he calls him a cab so he can get back to his own place safely. After a random metahuman attack, he'd much rather err on the side of caution.

And if there's the additional bonus of spending a little more time with him? So much the better. "You can come in when we get there," he offers. "Use Uber or call a cab from my apartment. I'd feel better knowing you got home safe."

From:

cisco_ramon

The next street is, in fact, Racine, and, as Matt hasn't directed him to make any turns, Cisco proceeds across it with Matt in tow. "Do you live on this street, or do I need to look for a turn?" he asks, knowing that Matt is more than able to lead him where they're going. Mostly Cisco just wants to remember the address. For future reference.

He wants to argue that the train is probably at least as safe as an Uber, but, unless metahumans are using taxis as a way to track down former employees of STAR Labs, he's probably wrong about that. And, on top of that, Cisco's not going to turn down an opportunity to see Matt's place, to spend even just a little more time with him, time alone.

"I think I'll take you up on that," he says, opting to forego the mildly terrible line that came to mind as well. "Thank you, Matt."

From:

thoushaltnotkill

"I'm right there at the corner," he points towards the building in question. No sense in hiding that he knows exactly where they are. He'd given up all hope of that pretense the moment the metahuman threatened Cisco and.. he didn't regret doing so.

Matt fishes out his keys and lets them into the building, taking him up the stairs to his apartment door. "The lightswitch is in the hallway," he offers, hanging up his cane and taking off his glasses, setting them on the counter beside his keys. Everything is placed deliberately, careful and methodical as Matt moves inside, letting Cisco take a moment to orient himself.

From:

cisco_ramon

Cisco knows a little bit about how blind people's other senses become sharper in order to compensate for their loss of sight, and he assumes Matt can hear things Cisco could never hope to unaided, but Matt's ability to know where they are, to sense what's coming, is starting to seem almost supernatural. It's not something that puts Cisco off guard (dealing with humans with superhuman abilities is kind of his thing), but it does make Cisco wonder if there's more to Matt's story that he doesn't know yet.

Of course there's more, he reminds himself. He and Matt have only just met, and it's not as if he's not keeping his own secrets. But, as even just a scientist, Cisco can't help how curious he is about how Matt does what he does.

Here in his own apartment, Matt walks around without any caution or hesitation, and it makes Cisco admire him that much more. His life will never be like it was before the particle accelerator exploded, but there are a lot of things in it that are still effortless easy and normal. It probably took Matt a long time to get to a place where he could relax and just be after his accident, and Cisco's not sure he's made of strong enough stuff to do something like that himself.

Flicking on the light switch, Cisco moves through Matt's living room, taking in the things that make it different than his own apartment. There's no television, no coffee table covered in books, no pictures on the walls. The furniture is on area rugs of different textures, and Cisco wonders if that's something Matt uses to orient himself in space. Crossing to the two big windows beside the couch, Cisco notices the light pouring in from outside is coming from a billboard that is so close to the building that it's like standing in the middle of Times Square.

"Can you see that billboard in your bedroom?" he asks as he turns around, then cringes and quickly rephrases. "I mean, is there a window tin there that faces the same direction as these ones?"

From:

thoushaltnotkill

The laugh that comes from the kitchen is an amused one. "There's a reason the rent here was so cheap." Matt returns with two beers, offering Cisco one. "And it's not like the light bothers me." He's been blind long enough to have almost forgotten what life was like before and Matt was at peace with that. He also found that making a sly joke about his blindness now and then tended to put people more at ease with it and with him. If he was okay with it, they should be as well right?

"The bedroom is towards the back, so no. You wouldn't be able to see it from there." And for one wild moment, Matt is tempted to tell him to go back there and see for himself.

But he's getting ahead of himself. First date is probably a little too soon for thinking that way.

From:

cisco_ramon

It's a nice apartment, spacious and clean, and Cisco can only imagine what a place like this would cost in this city if there wasn't a huge billboard outside that would make the place nearly uninhabitable by someone who didn't have the benefit of Matt's blindness. He knows Matt's a lawyer (and he's sure that lawyers make a lot more money than electrical engineers employed by research laboratories), but it sounds like even he would have a tough time affording this apartment if it weren't for the inconvenience discount.

He can't say he's not glad to hear that it's not as bright in the bedroom. It doesn't matter to Matt either way, and it's probably a bad idea to be thinking about things like this on a first date, but Cisco had immediately wondered what it would be like to sleep here, if he'd have to come up with a contingency to deal with the billboard when he stayed over.

Cisco clears his throat. "I'm glad to hear the bedroom doesn't suffer from the same problem," he says, lifting the beer Matt handed him to his nose so he can smell the flavors in it. "I mean, you know, for whenever you're entertaining," he adds with a nervous chuckle. He's making a joke, trying to deflect, not trying to imply that he thinks Matt might have any idea of taking him back there any time soon. The fact that he's thinking about that very eventuality is beside the point.

From:

thoushaltnotkill

Laywers tend to make a decent living, unless you were part of a two man practice just getting off the ground with a clientele who was too poor to afford much and sometimes paid in goods rather than cash. But it was a good life and one he wouldn't trade for anything. He and Foggy got to put their degrees to damned good use and really help people.

"It's quieter and darker from what I've been told." A wry grin, "not that I'd know but the last time Foggy had one too many I let him crash back there while I took the couch because the light wouldn't bother me."

As Cisco takes a sip of the beer and sets it aside, Matt reaches for his wrist, gently tugging him in a little closer. He can take his time with the kiss, sinking his hands into his hair and exploring the soft curves of his lips.

From:

cisco_ramon

It's probably pretty telling that Cisco feels an acute sense of relief when Matt mentions he knows about the ambient light level in the bedroom because Foggy's slept there before, not because his former (or current) lovers have told him so. It obviously doesn't mean that Matt hasn't taken people to bed since he's moved into this place, but Cisco's brain latches on to the information and runs gleefully away with it anyway.

He's about to comment on it (or tease Matt, maybe, about the sexual tension between him and Foggy), but then Matt reaches out and catches Cisco by the wrist, a quick, easy movement made without even the slightest bit of fumbling, and pulls him into a kiss. Cisco's mind goes completely blank the second Matt's lips find his, all the quips and contemplations alike falling into the ether, every synapse dedicated to feeling and tasting and experiencing this moment.

This is only their second kiss, but Cisco's already in love with Matt's mouth, his sweet, bee-stung lips and his perfect, straight teeth. Matt kisses like someone whose aim is to make an art of it, slow and gentle, searching and discovering. It's like Matt can read Cisco like a book, learning what Cisco likes so fast that it makes Cisco dizzy, his lips tingling and his heart racing. Cisco's hands find Matt's back, palms sliding over the fabric of his clothing, feeling the strength of Matt's muscles beneath the layers, bunching and flexing as his mouth works over Cisco's, very quickly taking him apart.

From:

thoushaltnotkill

He very probably shouldn't be doing this. He should have invited him up so he could call for a ride and seen him off with the promise of another date soon. But the simple act of hearing Cisco move around his apartment, hearing the way his foot brushed one of the area rugs, Matt wasn't ready to let him go yet. His presence was warm and inviting and in the privacy of his apartment he could dedicate himself to a far more thorough kiss.

Cisco doesn't disappoint. His lips are warm and soft, parting so easily for him that Matt delves in without hesitation. Every hitch in his breath, every twitch in Cisco's fingers along his back, he makes note of every reaction, learning what he likes.

Eventually the need for air drives them apart and Matt just rests his forehead on Cisco's, breathing him in. "This is okay, right?" Please. Please be okay.

From:

cisco_ramon

Cisco is so wrapped up in the kiss, every part of him focused on how Matt feels and tastes, that he feels even dizzier when Matt's lips break away, reality rushing back in abruptly. He blinks open his eyes but Matt's are still closed, his long eyelashes fanned out over his cheeks, lips kiss swollen and damp and beautiful, expression a little nervous. Normally a question like that would make Cisco laugh, as if there's any way a kiss that spectacular could be not okay, but Matt can't see his expression and Cisco doesn't want to risk Matt getting the wrong idea, so he manages to limit the reaction to a heavy exhale.

"It is so okay," he says, his hands smoothing down Matt's back and landing just above the waist of Matt's pants. "Like, so much more than okay," he adds, his body yearning to push close again, even closer than before, to feel every inch of Matt pressed up against him.