[ Cisco's not sure whether that was meant to be a joke or not, but he exhales a tiny huff of a laugh, regardless. He keeps that steady, almost hypnotic tone to his voice as he responds: ]

Okay, you got me there. Guess I got shoes on the brain. Doesn't matter what you focus on, really. You can look at the- books on the shelves, if you want to. Count how many of them are blue, or how many have got titles that start with H. The point's not the thing itself, it's giving your brain a super-easy task to focus on. Something repetitive but kinda specific, too.

[ There is a loud series of cracks, then, sudden enough that even Cisco jumps. They are much louder and much closer than the fireworks had been. He turns to see a cluster of teenagers standing in the street close to the door of the bookshop, setting off firecrackers. He is about to storm over and chew them out, when he sees them bolt, running off as a harried-looking member of the Guard (they were running security on the fireworks, apparently? who knew...) chases them away. ]

Hey, Finn, just remember, match my breathing. You're totally safe. It's just a bunch of stupid fireworks, and I'm not going anywhere, okay? So you're safe.

[ He can't pretend that there aren't dangers, here in the Quarantine. Can't tell Finn that the war he's probably thinking of is back in his world, and everything's peaceful here. There are monsters. There are dangers. Both Finn's best friends had been to the hospital in the last month. That's got to be stressful. Not to mention, the guy who'd nearly killed him is here, in this place. But it's got to help, right? Knowing he's not alone? That Cisco's here, and has his back?

So Cisco goes back to modeling slow, deep breathing, never taking his eyes off Finn. ]