Eddie is a massive flirt, we know this. He loves flirting with Steve and getting away with it knowing that he would've never been able to do this back in the King Steve days.
He loves seeing Steve get all flustered and blushing and his little shy smile. He loves calling Steve every pet name under the sun, big boy, sweetheart, angel, princess, Stevie.
Eddie isn't even meaning anything by it really, sure Steve is attractive Eddie has known this for years, but Steve is his straight best friend now and this is all fun and games.
Until it isn't and Eddie really feels like he's falling in love with Steve and it hurts. Because sure Steve gets flustered but anyone would, and he calls Steve sweetheart but he's not Eddie's sweetheart. So he starts withdrawing from Steve, less touches, no more flirting, no more nicknames.
Steve doesn't understand what he did wrong, why was Eddie pulling away. Why was he Steve now and not Stevie? Did Eddie work out that Steve was in love with him? Had Steve made him uncomfortable?
Steve starts getting really depressed over these thoughts and pulls away from everyone. Robin cannot stand to see her best friend like this and so confronts Eddie about it.
Eddie can't believe what he's hearing, he thought Steve only liked the flirting because of his ego. Steve liked him?
It's pouring rain when Steve hears a knock on his door, he doesn't really want to answer it, perfectly content to wallow in his blanket cocoon. The knocking is insistent though and Steve starts to worry it's one of the kids and they're hurt or something.
So he opens the door,
"Hey sweetheart."
