It takes Wayne Munson a single movie night with Eddie and Steve to see that his nephew finally found the right person to settle down with.
Eddie doesn’t explicitly state that, nor does he explain the nature of his and Steve’s relationship, but he doesn’t need to. Wayne can see how much they care for each other; he can see the devotion reflected in every glance they share, the care behind every innocent touch.
It’s so different from how they are with their other friends that it’s impossible not to notice the contrast.
And it’s endearing for Wayne to witness his loudmouthed nephew becoming softer and quieter when he’s around Steve, especially when Steve’s in a somber mood, but it’s also comforting to see that Steve is pretty much the same with Eddie. Wayne’s always worried about Eddie’s future; about how lonely and dangerous it could be for someone like him, but part of these worries is appeased now that Wayne knows Steve’s going to be right there with Eddie.
So Wayne accepts Steve in their household easily. He opens their home to that boy and treats him like family because that’s what he is –or maybe what he’s going to be sooner or later, depending on how brave Eddie can be. And it feels natural how Steve just fits in their routine as if he was supposed to be there all along.
Steve spends almost every night with them; they cook dinner together, have movie nights and watch football matches. They bicker over music and nerdy games and Eddie’s fashion sense and Steve’s complex haircare routine. There are expensive shampoo bottles in their tiny bathroom and three hundred dollars sweaters in their laundry and so much laughter and joy like never before.
And it’s right. Even if people in town might think it weird, even if they might be a bunch of bigoted pricks once they clock the true nature of Steve and Eddie’s bond, it’s still right because those boys, his boys, are truly happy and that’s all that matters to Wayne.
“Why are you looking at us funny?” Eddie whispers one night, when he catches his uncle watching him and Steve.
They’re supposed to be watching a football game, but Steve’s all snuggled up against Eddie’s shoulder, fast asleep and snoring softly.
Wayne shakes his head. “Nothing,” he whispers back. “Just happy that you boys found each other, I guess.”
Eddie blushes all the way to the roots of his hair, but Wayne doesn’t miss the way his nephew’s arms tighten around Steve and brings him closer. “Yeah, me too,” he mutters.
Their eyes turn back to the TV, and no one says anything else, but they don’t need to. Wayne knows Eddie gets what he means, and that’s enough.
