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I paced back and forth anxiously, feeling the tile through my heels as my thoughts raced. Why hadn't Cisco answered my calls yet?
It's fine, Caity. He's probably just busy.
"I know," I took a shaky breath and curled a strand of hair around my finger, leaning against the wall nearby. "I'm just nervous."
Of course, you are. You just need to try and calm down before you sike yourself out.
"You're right." I closed my eyes and felt the air rush in and out of my nose, trying to focus on slowing my heartbeat. I re-opened them, feeling reinvigorated, and looked around the place I'd decided to bring Cisco to. The hall where the particle accelerator opened was cold and held some sensitive memories, but it was important, and where Cisco and I really met for the first time. It was the perfect place to, hopefully, meet again.
The sound of my phone ringing snapped me out of my haze, and I pulled it out of my pocket so quickly I almost dropped it. My heart picked up when I saw it was Cisco, but I answered, trying to keep my hands from shaking.
"Hey, Cait. I saw I missed some calls from you. Is everything okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine," My chest warmed as I heard his voice. "Where are you right now?"
"I'm on my way to STAR Labs, about five minutes away if traffic doesn't suck me in. Why do you ask? Trying to hide something from me?"
"Definitely not," I let out a nervous laugh. "Could you meet me by the particle accelerator when you get here?"
"Sure, see you soon!" He hung up, and I set the phone down without thinking. I was really about to do this. There was no turning back now.
Hey. It'll be okay.
"I hope so," I slid down the side of the wall and sat down, staring off into space in an attempt to stop the bile from rising in my throat.
After a few minutes of silence, I heard the sound of keys jingling at the end of the hall, and Cisco rounded the corner, a smile on his face.
"So, what's up?"
"I just wanted to talk to you," I stood up slowly, trying to keep my legs from shaking. "Do you have a few minutes?"
"I always have time for you, Cait." He smiled and stepped closer to me, and I could see his face clearly as he angled himself alongside the wall next to me.
"I-" My voice hitched in my throat, and Cisco looked at me worriedly. "Sorry, it's just hard for me to say this."
"Take your time."
Come on, Caity. You can do this.
"When I came back after Crisis, I had a conversation with Frost on my first day back. We were talking about how Ralph made her realize that she could live her life the way she wanted and there were so many wonderful things she hadn't experienced yet. But, the thing that she said that I remember the most was that she found someone who made her feel human."
I paused for a moment and looked up at Cisco. He was still there, listening to me and looking at me with this curiosity in his eyes like I was telling him the secrets of the universe. It gave me the confidence I needed, and I swallowed before continuing.
"You're what makes me human, Cisco." I reached over and rested my hand over his. "You're the one that keeps me going and gives me hope for the future. You're the one that helps me realize that no matter what the metahumans of Central City throw at us, I can have a happy ending. And I want that happy ending to be with you if you want yours to be with me."
Cisco said nothing, and I looked up at him for the first time since I told him the truth. His lips were stretched out into an insatiable smile, and he placed his other hand over mine.
"Cait, you make me feel like I'm so much more than human. You give me the strength to be Vibe, you know, to be this larger-than-life hero that everybody wants me to be. I don't just fight for all of Central City, I fight for you, and I'll fight for us until I can't anymore."
"I won't ever let it get to that, but I appreciate the sentiment," I said, and Cisco laughed hard, a sound that filled the whole room around us. My lips hurt as it felt like my whole face was being inflated with joy, a smile spreading across my face faster than ever before.
"So, does this mean you'll let me take you out to dinner? Friday night, maybe?" Cisco said earnestly, his voice quiet.
"Yes, yes, yes!" My voice was loud now, but I didn't care and couldn't even notice.
"Good, because for a minute there I was worried you meant you loved me as a friend." I laughed incredulously but Cisco just raised his eyebrows. "I'm serious! You aren't the best at giving straight answers, Doctor Snow."
"I'll work on it," I giggled, and a silence settled over the room quickly, with Cisco and I still clutching hands as we leaned against the wall, now sitting on the floor.
"So," Cisco turned even more in my direction. "what now?"
"I'm not sure," I said. "All I know is that I've got a hot date on Friday and I'll be counting down the days."
"Really?" He leaned in closer to me. "You mean that? That's your date's hot?"
"He's one of kind," I whispered, realizing how close Cisco's face was to mine. What was I supposed to do now?
Kiss him, dumbass!
And so I did. I leaned in and let our lips collide, a feeling of euphoria washing over me as we settled into each other, his hand running gently through the hair just above my ear. I kissed him again, leaning into his body as my hand curled into his chest, feeling the heat of his body against my own. He pulled back suddenly, and I furled my eyebrows at him, worried.
"Did I do something wrong?" I questioned, tilting my head slightly sideways.
"No, no, not at all," Cisco smiled slightly, tears slightly clouding his vision. "You just-" He stopped.
"I just?"
"You have no idea how long I've been waiting to do that." He grinned, and I bit my lip, laughing as he leaned back into me, our lips interlacing like they were puzzle pieces, meant for one another from the start.
•••
author's note:
hello everyone! so sorry for the hiatus, I've got a lot of things going on irl now so I'm really busy during the week. still, despite everything happening, I really wanted to finish thawing hearts and get cisco and caity together, which I did. yay!!
thank you so much for all of the love and support that I've gotten on this story!! I never expected to get any reads on thawing hearts, let alone almost a thousand.
as always, interact if you wish and have a lovely day! <3
