themaninthelightning:

The steady tap-tap-tap of his makeshift cane let Cisco know that Eobard was moving further into the room. There were bits and pieces of assuredly astonishing tech scattered across the floor. At any other time, Eobard would be keenly interested in examining each piece, because any mechanical invention from Cisco’s hands was guaranteed to be genius. The fact that Cisco was also ignoring them, leaving them messy and battered, was a major indicator of his distress.

Cisco sounded uncharacteristically muted. The young man was clearly convinced of his guilt. Eobard gave him a few moments of silence in reply, realizing that he wouldn’t easily rally Cisco toward a solution. Had to be more circumspect in his approach. “Can you tell me what happened?” he asked instead, leaning against a nearby desk, careful to maintain a few feet of distance between him and Cisco. He remembered well that getting close only created more tension.

“It was all a blur. There was this darkness inside me that reminded me of some things that made this redhot anger bubble up inside of me while I was testing out my powers before Bar and Patty got here. Then the anger just boiled over and things started shaking, and I took cover under the desk in the cortex.” Cisco babbled, his voice cracking here and there with the dryness of his throat from crying. “Then, Bar and Patty got here and a cabinet fell on her, and Gah! I can’t forgive myself for what I’ve done. I’ll never be able to. Do you remember how to work the pipeline? Someone has to work it from the outside.” He was implying that he needed to be locked up, this darkness was taking over his life, and the light felt like it might never shine through.

Cisco lifted his head and looked at the ruin around him before looking up at Eobard. There were dark circles under his eyes, and there was a distinct redness that covered his entire face. “This isn’t something that can be forgiven. I shouldn’t still be here. I should be off where I can’t hurt anyone.”