Eddie laughed, too. Maybe it was a silly thought to have. Maybe stoic had been entirely in the wrong ball park, but he had expected something else from Steve anyway, was learning to forget about all of those expectations and unravel who his friend really was. That was more fun than trying to decipher what, if anything, about the rumors were true. “King Steve… are you not him anymore?” He asked, “You’ll always be a king to me.” It was punctuated with an exaggerated wink, as if to make Steve more endeared to him. He wondered how much of his own bullshit would work, how much Steve really liked him.
“I do really like you, or haven’t I made that obvious?” He asked, his tone completely serious even as he looked at Steve with the easiest smile in the world, the warmth of it a little glittering sparkle in Eddie’s big, brown eyes. He gasped a little when called Eddie-Bear, had to stifle a little girlish squeal and stop himself from kicking his feet. Instead, he sat up a little taller, shook his hear back. “I guess you can call me that.” He said, trying to sound cool yet feeling the heat in his cheeks rising and spreading like wildfire.
Eddie watched Steve intently the entire time he changed into the pajamas but he had a feeling the display was a show just for him anyway given the way Steve was moving. Of course, it could have been because he was in pain, but Eddie wasn’t complaining. The view was nice and he’d take any opportunity to look at Harrington shirtless.
“Nah, I don’t care to share with the class. You got a big brain in that big head of yours, I’m sure you can guess what kind of shit I think about where you’re concerned, Stevie.” He said with a shark-like grin before barking a laugh, his head tipping back with the force of it. “Steve! You’re out of your pants right now, I’d say two joints is exactly what it takes…” Eddie teased but he was already coming over the second the spot next to Steve was patted by the other’s hand. He didn’t need convincing. “Sure.” He said, slipping back into the spot which was still warm. He slipped his arms very gently around Steve so as not to hurt any of the bruising he saw when the shirt came off, and he rest his chin on the other’s shoulder. “You smell nice. This comforting enough?”
