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[flowlikewater]

( GENJI IS WITH YOU )
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Comments

[flowlikewater]

Doctors would not lie about that sort of thing.
>But you need to take care of yourself as well. Can you sit down, take some deep breaths?
>Do you need someone there with you?

[ Genji's already getting ready just in case. ]

[franciscoramon]

but what if they missed something?

he already died once.
i saw it.

[ He'd been right there, looking on, from a few feet away. ]

it happened so fast.
what if there's a complication and by the time anyone realizes it he's gone?

[flowlikewater]

Cisco.
>Take some deep breaths. Remember what we've talked about.

[ A pause in messages to give him space. ]

He is being taken care of. No one is going to leave his side.
>You said it yourself, he has come back from worse.
>Deep breaths. Focus. The worst is over.

[franciscoramon]

ok

[ Cisco uses that pause; he closes his eyes, covers his face with his hands, and just focuses on deep breaths. He and Genji had practiced this together, enough times that Cisco had joked about it being excessive. But Genji had been right. All that practice meant it was easier, to repeat that process now, when he really needs it.

After a solid two minutes, Cisco texts back: ]

okay
you're right
i'm working on deep breaths
i just feel so helpless

[ Cisco doesn't think of himself as a control freak, typically, but this kind of powerlessness is terrifying to him. ]

i didn't vibe though
the whole time he was in surgery
i didn't have a panic attack or vibe

[ He does think that part of that might be because of that strange feeling of detachment and unreality, but... maybe that's at least a little better, than outright terror would have been. Sure, it was unsettling, that feeling of calm. It probably wouldn't be healthy long term. But it got him through. ]

[flowlikewater]

[ Genji is relieved when he responds. ]

Waiting is the hardest part.
>And you are not wrong for being worried.
>Of course someone you love in pain will be hard.
>But you and him will both be fine.

[ Now that it doesn't seem like Genji will have to rush to the hospital, he sits back down on his bed. ]

That is good to hear!
>You have been making very good progress.
>You are strong, Cisco. Far stronger than you give yourself credit for.

[franciscoramon]

[ Those words may mean something to Cisco, in a few days, when things are not so fraught. For now, Cisco is having a hard time imagining himself in any way strong. So he simply says: ]

i have a good teacher.

[ There are no more text from him for a little while; but even though Eddie's out of surgery, it's still going to be a while before Cisco can see him. So, an hour or so later, he texts: ]

the guys from the shootout are both dead.
i know that i shouldn't be, but i'm kind of glad.