‘What He Needs 🍼’ AO3 Moodboard
Billy watched from the hallway, Eddie perched on the counter, shoulders hunched, hands fisted in the front of Steve’s shirt like he was holding on for dear life. His face was flushed deep pink, curls sticking damply to his forehead, lips parted as he breathed a little too fast.
Billy’s gaze shifted to Steve, who stood between Eddie’s knees, one hand braced on the counter to steady himself, the other still holding the small cup of medicine. His shoulders had started to slump, the earlier patience wearing thin into quiet exhaustion.
“Eddie,” Steve tried again, voice gentle but fraying at the edges, “you said you’d be brave for me, remember?”
Eddie’s response was immediate.
A sharp shake of his head, curls sticking to his flushed cheeks as his lower lip wobbled. “Don’t wanna,” he whined, turning his face away again. “It’s yucky.”
“Yeah, I know but it’ll make you feel better—”
Eddie made a louder, more insistent noise, twisting slightly on the counter. “No, no—!”
Billy exhaled through his nose before he crossed into the kitchen.
His hands landing on Steve’s hips—firm, but gentle—thumbs pressing in just enough to get his attention.
Steve startled slightly at the contact, glancing back over his shoulder.
“Move,” he said, quieter than expected. Not sharp. Certain.
Billy didn’t even look at him at first, his focus already on Eddie—but his hands gave a small, grounding squeeze, guiding Steve back a half-step.
Billy stepped into the space he left behind without hesitation.
He took the medicine from Steve’s hand in one smooth motion, barely glancing at it before setting his attention fully on Eddie.
Eddie had already gone still.
There was still resistance there, but it had changed shape—less push, more uncertainty.
“No—”
“Open your mouth.”
—-
Eddie gets sick and regresses hard—whiny, clingy, and refusing to cooperate. Steve does his best to be gentle, but it’s Billy who finally gets through to him.
Turns out, Eddie needs both softness and structure to get through it.
Read the 1st Chapter on AO3 🍼
