Ok, but Eddie cuts his hair because he is insecure and thinks Steve is only dating him because he has long hair "as a girl " and things Steve is missing to date girls.
When in the reality Steve is deeply in love with Eddie and got worried when he saw that Eddie cut his hair.
Hurt/comfort/fluff
Wayne had seen how his nephew cared for his hair. It was a moniker for his rebellion against how men should wear their hair short and on the other side where it was his freedom from his father. Freedom to choose whatever he may please. Personally, he never minded it, finding the charm of it quickly as it was his boy that chose it.
Many times Wayne had encouraged him quietly to grow it out longer if he wanted, even if money was a tad tight for the month. It was good for him to express himself. Wayne always tried to instil that in Eddie, telling him many times that he was shaping up to be a good man whenever he could or needed.
So when he arrived back home, checking Eddie's room first before heading to bed. Seeing the tight-curled ball that was his nephew in blankets as the Harrington boy seemed to encompass Eddie. As if protecting him from anything outside the cocoon of blankets and pillows was unthinkable.
Wayne didn't notice the dark chunks of curls until he was walking past the bathroom. He felt his blood freeze and his body still. It was like he was a statue. Forced to stare at the hair that Eddie treasured so much, scattered in the sink as if... as if it was not important. Like a useless letter of a dead man already wet and torn and only his spirit haunted the basin.
A part of Wayne wanted to wake Eddie and Steve. Demand, threaten and potentially harm the person that made Eddie cut his hair. He couldn't do it in the end. Couldn't, because his boy looked like he was finally getting some good sleep and wouldn't wake up in tears and screams and clawing at his throat.
In the morning, Wayne heard the ruckus. The shimmering of a lover's quarrel just barely heating up as he stumbled up and witnessed it.
Eddie was standing, head lowered and he looked close to tears — no, teary-eyed and barely containing his voice so it wouldn't crack and wobble. "Do you hate it?" It was quiet, "Tell me, Harrington, do you hate it?" A demand, searching for a certain answer, waiting for a shoe to fall.
Wayne knew Steve was no good at words at times as he spoke best with actions and gifts. Steve was slow at approaching as if trying to not spook a scared lamb. "No," Steve said finally, as he finally surged up to Eddie and then stopped as if scared at how Eddie would react.
"Then why do you look so scared?"
"Because...Sunshine, you loved your hair long, I'm — scared about why you cut it." Steve finally moved to hold Eddie's hands, "I'm scared about you hurting yourself by doing this and–and I wasn't there to help!" There were tears in his eyes, but he kept looking into Eddie's eyes, something Wayne falters at when he sees tears.
"That's all?" Eddie looked closed off, waiting for the catch.
"Yes, Eds." Steve finally stood up, keeping their hands linked. "That's all I'm worried about,"
Eddie stared for a while, "Even if I want to keep it short, just like this," Wayne felt his heart catch in this throat.
Steve put his forehead on Eddie's, "You're still Eddie, you're still my Eddie." There was a nod, and Wayne thought it was a good idea to leave the two alone.
Omg, this is beautiful 😭
