goddammits | (no subject)

[Eddie laughs and it's rich and honest, shaking his head a little as he downs half his beer, throat bobbing as he gulps it, then runs his tongue over his lower lip. He's a little flushed, now, both at Cisco's compliment and the first buzzing hints of intoxication.]

Oh please. I'm just a cop. And if I left the hospital, I'd miss all the people there. I mean. The nurses always tell me they feel safer with me around.

[His eyes are bright, and he shrugs, then finishes his beer and pulls two more shots over.]

I'm gonna grab another beer. This microbrew is really good. You want one?

Just a cop, uh-huh. And I bet the nurses feel safer with you around.

[ There's an eyebrow waggle that accompanies his comment that definitely implies the nurses are getting something other than just safety out of the bargain. Hell, if his job had the added bonus of getting to watch Eddie Thawne stand around in uniform, he'd feel "safer", too. ]

Yeah, sure. Thanks.

[Eddie laughs, and shakes his head.]

Yeah yeah, I know they're flirting. [The smile stays in place, and he stands up, going around the table and nudging Cisco's shoulder with his hand.] Don't worry, I only have eyes for you.

[It's jocular, teasing, but there's a certain level of truth to it - Eddie isn't really looking for a relationship with a woman right now. Every time he thinks about it, he thinks of Iris and the thought hurts. Right now, his friendships are far more important.

He's back in a few minutes with two beers, and sets one down in front of Cisco.]

So. Second shot, or do you wanna wait?

[ Teasing or not, that brings heat to Cisco's cheeks, and makes his stomach flip again in a way that has nothing to do with the alcohol. He's still a little flushed when Eddie comes back, but he tries to cover it by gulping down a mouthful of beer. ]

I'm good, let's do this.

[ Because doing shots is easier than thinking about the warm feeling Eddie flirting with him gives him. He knows nothing's going to come of it. He knows Eddie still misses Iris and everything they had that he gave up to save their friends back home. And that just makes him feel like kind of a bad friend for lusting after him. ]

You're a brave man.

[The flush on Cisco's cheeks could be easy to miss under the half-light, but Eddie's observant, he's paying attention. But he also figures Cisco's probably just half-drunk and that's why he's feeling a little warm, resolves to grab him a glass of water next time he's up at the bar.

Eddie can't help being a little clueless - he's still not used to being the object of crushes, and aside from the pretty blatant flirting from the nurses, he doesn't usually detect them. So he simply licks his hand, eyes on Cisco's face and a smile playing around the corners of his mouth, and sprinkles salt on it before handing the shaker over.]

Alright. Let's do this thing.

[ He can't help but watch Eddie's tongue dart out over his hand, but he shakes himself a little, internally. He's being pathetic, there's no reason why he should ruin a fun night out with his friend by pining like this. So he licks and salts his hand, clinks shots with Eddie, and downs it, sucking a lime and chasing the whole thing with his beer as he sets the shot glass down. ]

Cheers!

[Eddie takes his shot with Cisco, sucks his lime and takes a swig of his beer afterward, exhaling heavily. The second shot hit him hard, and his head is spinning a little.]

Wow. I am seriously feeling this. And I can't tell if you're just better at keeping a straight face drunk than I am or if you're just better at holding your alcohol than I am.

[After all, Cisco is smaller than him and has drunk more - he should be way more drunk, but he looks like the same cheerful Cisco. For a moment, Eddie stares at him, brows drawn together in the middle, considering him and how he's smaller and his hair looks nice, then he forces a little smile.

[ Cisco considers this for a second as the second shot settles. ]

...Nope. I'm definitely kinda drunk.

[ There's a brief delay, one that belies that, yeah, his processing speed is a little slower than normal, but then he bursts into a grin and laughs. ]

I think shot number three should probably wait, huh? Whoo.

[ He helps himself to more nachos. His head is a little swimmy after that last one, and he can feel the heat in his cheeks that's not from blushing this time. ]

...Man, we should totally do this more often. Maybe not the, yknow, the tequila, but beer and nachos? We deserve beer and nachos!

[Eddie's brow raises a little, and his head tilts, which leaves him feeling like he's swaying a little in place even though he's not quite moving. Cisco's grin and laugh as he announces that he's drunk and they should wait on the third shot is cute, as is the way he says 'whoo' in that dizzy tone before going for the nachos again.

He doesn't quite realize he's just staring at Cisco and grinning a little, or that the moment drags on for a long time, until after Cisco's finished his chips and commented that they should do this more often. Giving his head a little shake, he inhales sharply, catching his breath.]

Wow, yeah it should. And we should, too.

[It takes them about a half hour to sober up enough to take that last shot, and then another hour to get sober enough to walk home without shamelessly stumbling everywhere, and they spend the time chatting about work and mutual friends and nothing else in particular. As they're heading into the house, Eddie gets swamped with a wave of loneliness and reaches out to tug at Cisco's sleeve.]

Hey, what's that video game we played last time we were doing pizza and beer and you had people over? I wanna play that.

[ Even though they waited to sober up enough to walk, Cisco was still weaving a little, and he wound up bumping into Eddie a fair few times on the quick walk home, one time even full on tripping, laughing as he catches himself on Eddie, bracing a hand on his abs. And hey, if he lingered a little, who could blame him?

When they get home, Cisco's admittedly in a better mood than he was when he left work, but he's even happier when Eddie catches the sleeve of his hoodie before Cisco can disappear up into his room alone. ]

Smash Bros! Man, I love that game, especially when I'm drunk.

[It's easy to tell that Cisco's a little further gone than him while they walk home, because Cisco is weaving far more than he is, stumbles and braces against him, and Eddie registers that Cisco's hand presses against his belly, stays there longer than is necessarily required.

He doesn't mind. Not even a little, and, in fact, he's grinning as they keep walking. It's been a while since he had someone do something like that, that sort of lingering touch that implies things about how they're looking at him and thinking about him. Drunk as he is, it doesn't bother him that it's Cisco, he isn't worrying about the friendship.

When Cisco says he loves playing that game drunk, Eddie nods abruptly, and gives Cisco's sleeve another little tug.]

Fire it up? I'm gonna get out of my jeans, I'll meet you in your room?

[It's a testament to how starved for affection and companionship he is that he so bluntly invites himself up to Cisco's room, without much semblance of manners.]

Uh, yeah...

[ It takes Cisco's alcohol-fogged mind a moment to realize that Eddie's going to put other pants on before meeting him in his room. He starts to head for the stairs, then doubles back to the kitchen to grab a couple of glasses with ice, and a bottle of the first hard liquor he lands his hands on: whiskey. This is a good idea, right?

He's sprawled lazily across his bed, eyes closed and head leaned back against an arm tucked behind his head when Eddie comes in. Two controllers and the whiskey bottle are beside him on the bed, his TV playing the Start screen of the newest Smash Bros. game. ]

[Eddie heads up to his room and changes - slides on a thermal shirt with a hood and a pair of presentable sweatpants - heads to Cisco's room barefoot, knocks on the door before nudging it open and slipping inside with a little grin.

Cisco is sprawled on the bed with his arm behind his head and his eyes closed, and Eddie stares for a moment. He looks cute with the lights from the start menu playing over his face, his lashes making dark crescents against his cheeks. A moment later, he laughs, when he sees the bottle of whiskey and the glasses.

Crossing the room, he sits down on the bed and shakes his head.]

Really? More booze?

Hey, hey, that's the rules of Super Smashed Bros. You gotta drink if you lose.

[ He shuffles up into a sitting position and passes Eddie a controller, taking a moment to glance at him. He's always been really thankful that Eddie's casualwear of choice involves perfectly-fit thermal shirts. As much as Eddie rocks a well-tailored shirt, dressing down like this suits him, too. ]

Well, I better not lose then, considering how drunk I already am.

[For a moment, he sits up, one leg folded and the foot tucked under the knee of the opposite leg, then he leans backward on the pillows, offering Cisco a little grin. His shirt is a little wide-collared, and the position pulls the fabric a little, exposes half his collarbone, his necklace lying against his chest, outside the shirt.

He feels like maybe he's a little sexy, and he likes the feeling. Likes letting Cisco look at him.]

Then again, I think you might be a little worse off than me. Less body mass, more alcohol.

Definitely less body mass...

[ He didn't entirely mean to say that out loud, but okay, he's just blatantly checking Eddie out at this point. He feels like he's being stealthy about it, but he's flushed and fantasizing about putting his mouth on that exposed collarbone. He licks his lips, then bites his lip and looks away, his head spinning a little. ]

So, uh—[ He pauses, clearing his throat. ]

I'm the reigning champion, obviously, so you can pick your character first.

[Eddie has not had enough alcohol to miss the way Cisco is looking at him when he says that, or the way he licks then bites at his mouth and looks away from him before moving on to the next topic. And for a moment, Eddie's mind goes empty while the connotations of the look, the comment, sink in.

And he doesn't mind. He should, but he doesn't. He actually likes it, the attention, Cisco's eyes on him.

Shifting against the bed, he tilts his head and smiles at Cisco, shrugging a little.]

Right. Pick my character.

[He selects the first one that catches his eye - Link, on pure aesthetics, nothing really serious.]

There. And you know what? I think we should up the ante a little, though. Just a drink isn't enough.

Link! Good choice, man, good choice.

[ Cisco picks Kirby. Overpowered he may be, but Cisco is way too drunk to not go the easy option. ]

...What kind of upping the ante?

[Eddie shoots him a little grin.]

Maybe the winner gets to ask the loser to do something? Something he can do tonight, preferably in the room. No dishes for a week or whatever.

[It's mostly because he's curious about what Cisco might ask him - he has no delusions about the fact he's probably going to lose.]

[ Cisco's mouth goes dry. Did Eddie really just say that? He knows immediately that he has to lose now, because there's no way he can pass that chance up without screwing up their friendship. So he laughs and nods, but is absolutely going to throw this so Eddie wins. ]

Sure, man, like truth or dare, but decided by Nintendo. Deal.

[Cisco's agreement is quick and easy, and he nods, mouth curving into a slightly crooked grin. That look on Cisco's face is stuck in his head, and he's curious, the alcohol making it easy to ignore all the implications about their friendship.]

Absolutely. You'd better start thinking up some dares, because I'm terrible at this game.

I'm pretty terrible at dares, dude...

[ He regrets picking Kirby now. He avoids any of his stronger attacks, but once they get going, it's clear the Eddie's not kidding, he's really not good at this. Cisco wonders how many times can he "accidentally" run off the edge of the map before it's too obvious.

Actually, the more in his head about their wager he gets, the worse he's playing, to the point where they're almost pretty evenly matched. ]

You seriously can't think of anything you want me to do?

[A little smirk, but then they're playing. And Eddie is bad at this game, but Cisco is seriously screwing up, even if Eddie is mostly interested in losing he doesn't think that's what's going to happen here.

And it doesn't. The first round ends with abysmal scores for both of them, and Eddie's just slightly better. Groaning, he drops his controller and shakes his head.]

Seriously? Amazing. Go on, take your shot.

Ha, man, I must be drunker than I thought...

[ He pours a couple of fingers of whiskey into his glass and knocks it back, grimacing a little. The tequila at the bar was definitely better quality than his whiskey, this stuff burns a little. ]

So, uh, what are you gonna ask me to do?

[ He licks the remains of the whiskey off his lips, looking over at Eddie with the kind of wide eyed curiosity that only really happens when you're drunk. ]

No kidding, I don't think I've ever won this game before. And winning against you?

[Eddie watches as Cisco drinks his whiskey, trying to figure out what dare to inflict on him. He hadn't really anticipated winning, and the whole thing was mostly to see what Cisco would ask him after that look earlier, the way he'd licked his lips.

Cisco is doing it again, too, his tongue snaking over his lips, and looking up at him with wide eyes as he asks what he's about to be asked to do. Eddie licks his own lips, watching him for a moment.]

Tell me what you meant by that body mass comment earlier.