@steddielovemonth Day 2: Love is protection ❤️😉 @steddieas-shegoes
Mild smut under the cut
"Mmm, Eddie, fuck please," Steve moaned biting his lip to try and stay quiet, they hadn't exactly told Eddie's uncle yet. He'd been climbing through Eddie back window for weeks now, he almost ripped his jeans last night. It wasn't like they thought Wayne wouldn't accept them, he loved Steve and he knew Eddie was gay. But the fun of sneaking around hadn't quite worn off left, only Robin knew because movie nights were boring if they couldn't cuddle, plus Steve couldn't not tell his soulmate.
"Please what, baby, you need something?" Eddie responded teasingly. Steve would've glared at him if his fingers weren't dipping under Steve's waistband. "Lemme just grab a condom, sweetness." Robin liked to remind them about the news despite not wanting to know exactly where the condom would be going.
Eddie pulled open the bedside drawer, pulling out an empty box. "We finished that one this morning, did you not buy another one?"
Eddie looked at him confused, "But we never run out." Now it was Steve's turn at being confused. "Eddie, it's only a ten pack, of course we run out."
"But there's always condoms in here."
Steve's eyes widened, "There's always refills and you're not buying them?" He says slowly, connecting the dots faster than Eddie. "Eds, either the tooth fairy picked up a new hobby or your uncle has been refilling your fucking drawer," he explained flustered and definitely no longer in the mood.
Down the hall they could hear movement in the kitchen, Wayne clearly awake for dinner before work. They quickly got dressed and decided to face the music.
"Hey Wayne, hi Mr Clarke," Steve said sheepishly as if he'd been here the whole time and hadn't snuck in twenty minutes earlier.
"Steve, I've told you you can call me, Scott, Eds does."
"Right, Scott."
Eddie was looking so red looking at his uncle.
"Wayne?" He strangled out, "Have you been buying me condoms?"
"Protection is important, Eddie, your dear Robin keeps me updated."
"You've been talking about our sex life with Robin!"
Steve accepted the plate of food from Scott, sitting down to eat, might as well see this through now.
"Who did you think was buying them?"
"I thought it was a big box!"
"I'd put them on your bed, did they walk from the drawer?"
Steve had now started giggling, he loved his boyfriend but he could be oblivious when he wanted to be. Oh, he loved his boyfriend.
Eventually, Eddie calmed down enough to sit through dinner, and later, after they'd said good night to his uncles and were back in bed, Steve cuddled into his side.
"I love you, by the way, even if you think a condom fairy exists." Steve felt Eddie's grip tighten.
"Did you really tell me that you love me for the first time and say condom fairy in the same sentence?"
Steve laughed, "Yeah, seems like our kinda style."
"I love you too, Stevie, but I'm buying our condoms from now on."
Despite their family being a bit too involved in their extracurricular activities, they were both glad they had people that loved them enough to care.
Part 8 of Vegas AU that now has a name!! Thank you again @hbyrde36 💜
Betting It All On Love
Steve and Eddie did eventually get to talk more about family, laid sweaty and sated on the floor of Eddie’s bedroom. Steve wasn't entirely sure how they'd ended up sprawled out on the plush carpet, he knew full well it’d give him a three-day backache, but he couldn't find it in himself to give a shit. Not when his head was happily pillowed on Eddie’s chest, listening to the reverberations as much as Eddie’s voice as he told him about his childhood.
A doting mother tragically lost to childbirth. The enormous amount of guilt Eddie had carried for years because he’d been the one begging his parents for a sibling and when Al came home from the hospital alone, all he'd said was “the baby killed your mother” as though it was Eddie’s fault. A jailbird good-for-nothing father, incapable of putting anything, including his own child, before his imbecilic impulses and when Al had been sentenced to the rest of Eddie's childhood behind bars, Wayne had been willing to be separated from his husband and his kid if that had been what Eddie needed.
Of growing up with his uncles and his cousin, of their siblinglike bond, of never really missing his father when he had the two best dads in the whole world. The whole Munson-Clarke clan had started out in Hawkins, Scott and Wayne only choosing to leave when they’d decided they wanted Charlie. Mainly because they knew that their relationship was tolerated as two bachelors living under the same roof, but that the town would find it much less tolerable when they started raising a child together. That Scott had still never had the heart to leave his post at the school, because who else was going to teach kids the real facts and not the made-up ones the rest of the faculty were happy to go along with.
Steve confessed to being envious of them, of listening to Scott tell tales that started "This weekend my partner and I took our kids..." and wishing he could be one of them. Of getting to know Scott the man not just the teacher and the guilt he felt over the fact that he could've walked into Eddie's life long ago if only things had been different.
Eddie just hummed softly and pointed out that they’d known each other all along, that they had in fact gone to the same kindergarten and were actually friends once upon a time because Eddie had always had a tendency for strays and Steve had not been a confident child. He had spent the first two lunches sitting miserably alone on the swings before Eddie had waltzed over and commanded that Steve wasn't allowed to be sad any more because from then on they were best friends and best friends didn’t let best friends be sad.
They were back in bed by the time he told Eddie about his lonely childhood in a giant, empty house. About the string of nannies, about Sarah, his au pair from England who always spoke softly and smiled brightly and sung sweetly, who made cookies with him and taught him to swim, who left abruptly in the middle of the night, leaving a behind a white teddy bear and a promise that she loved him very much and that it wasn't his fault she had to leave.
A wife who couldn't trust her husband as far as she could throw him, jet-setting around the world to make sure the only thing he was doing was his job. Never bothering with Steve and only really making an effort to make sure he had someone to take care of him until sweet old Mrs Johnson had died in their living room the Friday they had left for their business trip. And because Steve had managed to deal with finding her cold lifeless body and fended for himself for the rest of the weekend, that had somehow proven to two grown adults that an nine-year-old boy didn't need taking care of any more.
What his parents never realised was, that was the first time Hopper had taken care of him. Steve had eaten and slept and was well groomed because he'd spent the weekend at the cabin, playing with El and climbing trees, trying to catch butterflies and getting covered in mud, all the things he was never allowed to do at home. He'd only really stopped going to Hop's during his parents absence when he'd become close with Tommy, who'd convinced him his life was great because he had unsupervised time to himself, so he could do whatever he wanted. Except all Steve had wanted was to spend time with other people, be near their noise and constant movement, just something, anything to fill the silent emptiness.
Christmases and holidays that were spent alone or getting into trouble with people who called themselves his friends, until the day Hop had said enough and hadn't taken no for an answer. Then he'd become The Babysitter, which had led him to Dustin and Claudia, a mom and a baby brother to add to his weird little found family. Who'd recommended Steve as a babysitter for Holly, where he'd properly met Nancy who had no interest in children, but that hadn't stopped him wanting to marry her, until she called him and their relationship bullshit of course.
Then he'd rebounded with Billy in the locker room showers, where he'd had the fastest sexuality crisis of all time when Billy had caught him staring and instead of punching him when his back had hit the tiled wall like he'd assumed, Billy had stuck his tongue in his mouth instead.
When Steve hadn't got the grades to get into college, and he lost out on a scholarship when Billy tripped him in the championship game because while he was tying his shoelace he was supposedly looking up one of the cheerleader's skirts, he assumed he'd stick around Hawkins until El and Dust graduated, but Billy had insisted he moved to the city with him. Made it sound like some fairytale dream, like their happily ever after, and it was great, until it wasn't. Until he’d finally had enough of being used and cheated on, which led him into the arms of his platonic soulmate who lived in the apartment across the hall, who rescued him not only from Billy but from himself.
It felt good to lay in the safe little bubble he always felt in Eddie’s presence and let it all out, even as they mourned for the little boys they once were, they were equally able to console one another, and Steve felt a weight finally lift off his shoulders.
Robin knew, in the way she knew everything, they’d always had heart-to-heart's but it wasn’t quite the same she needed to make jokes when a topic got too heavy, desperately had to inject some lightness into the dark.
But not Eddie, he listened and nodded solemnly, cried with him, teardrops leaking silently down his face and into his hair and when they were finished talking, he injected Steve full of the affection he’d been sorely missing, pressing kisses into every inch of his skin, squeezing their hands together, their wedding bands slotting neatly against one another, putting him back together in a way no one else had ever been able to.
By the time the sun was poking in around the heavy gold curtains, Steve had never felt closer to anyone than he had with Eddie, despite his earlier reservations he’d never had anyone he’d told everything to, never had anyone he’d wanted to, but it felt so easy to talk to him, like he understood, and maybe he did in a weird way. And as he turned his head slightly to look into Eddie’s eyes glistening in the slithers of early morning light, Steve knew he’d never felt so deeply for another human being. He opened his mouth to speak, trying to translate all he was feeling and thinking into coherent words, but it didn’t take him long to give up. The only words that wanted to flow easily out of his chest were far too big to say yet, or maybe not too big to say precisely, just too big to be heard.
Eddie raised his eyebrows expectantly, patiently waiting for Steve to say whatever he needed to, but he couldn’t say it, it’d break them if he did, and he felt selfishly like he desperately just needed to keep their bubble of protection and delusion for a little while longer, so he shut his mouth with a tiny shake of his head, a silent “never mind”, pushing closer into Eddie, translating all he was feeling into deep kisses and gentle caresses, silently loving Eddie as hard as he could and convincing his hormone flooded brain the feeling was mutual as they both eventually fell asleep happily tangled up in the blankets and one another.
It'd been years since Steve had last slept as deeply and as well as he had being Eddie's little spoon, even though they hadn't actually slept very much at all, he couldn't remember the last time he woke up feeling actually awake. Honestly, he wasn’t all that pleased about it, he was having a lovely dream of being somewhere tropical, the sounds of seagulls and crashing waves morphing into the dull thudding of Robin pounding on their door, shouting for Eddie, whose only possible offence could be snoring too loudly given he was still sound asleep.
"Ed!" bang bang bang "Eds!" bang bang bang "Eddie!" bang bang bang "Dorkus! You need to come out here before he comes in there!"
He? What the?
Steve wiggled out of Eddie's hold, leaving him to sleep peacefully, slipped on Eddie's boxers (mainly because he didn't know where his own were) and opened the bedroom door, gently pushing his best friend back into the living space. "What's going on?" he asked gruffly, only registering what was happening when Robin gestured towards the front door, where Chrissy was physically trying to keep someone out, “Sorry, we were expecting room service” she muttered as he moved instinctively towards the door.
The altercation only lasted for another second before Chrissy was shoved unceremoniously backwards into the room, only managing to keep her balance thanks to her years of training; Dan Carver practically flying the three feet into the living room as he tripped over his own feet and lost his balance, having the nerve to give Chrissy a dirty look as though it was her fault he was acting like a moron. Steve was immediately furious, felt his spine straighten and his face harden as he looked down at the idiot laying by his feet as he tried his hardest to keep a lid on his temper, he knew getting arrested for punching the dickhead wouldn't help anything.
Carver clambered to his feet, smoothing the lapels of his suit jacket as though the immaculate carpeting might’ve tainted it. He looked Steve up and down, narrowing in on Eddie’s boxers slung low on his hips, "Harrington!” he screeched indignantly, “So it's true?” Dan demanded to know, starting to pace the length of the sofa like a caged animal, "I thought Wheeler was playing some sick joke! But apparently not! So what? You two were fucking behind my back the whole time?" he accused, flailing his arms around as he yelled.
A derisive laugh crawled up Steve's throat, thanking his lucky stars that even when he was manic with rage, his poker face was as strong as ever, "Don't be dense, Carver, it suits you too well!" Steve stated evenly with a snarl.
His bitchy King Steve persona didn’t faze Dan though, not that Steve really expected it to, his family were well known for being a little batshit. Dan just snorted contemptuously and carried on with his diatribe "Well, what am I supposed to think when you come flaunting out here in his underwear?"
Steve raised one eyebrow slowly, the only outward indication he was losing his temper, "So what? Because he moved on faster than you did, that means he was cheating on you?" Steve queried condescendingly. That was a serious leap past logical, even for a Carver.
"Clearly" Dan scoffed as though Steve had just answered his question for him. And just the insinuation that Dan wanted to blame Eddie, that he wanted to assume Eddie just had Steve waiting in the wings, that Dan was accusing Eddie of being anything like Billy was making Steve's blood boil.
Steve sucked his teeth trying to keep himself calm, sucking in a rapid breath through his nose and rolling out his neck, towering further over Dan, "Okay, firstly, some rules," Steve instructed, "you always did need them," he muttered under his breath, it seemed to be the first time Carver even registered that he was in danger, looking up at Steve with wide eyes. "Do not, under any circumstance, insult my husband! Just because you made brainless life choices does not give you the right to disrespect him. Secondly, apologise to Chrissy!" Steve demanded, his voice as hard and cold as ice, pointing over to where Chrissy was being comforted by a visibly furious Robin on the couch, like he was scolding a particularly naughty child.
Dan’s whole body sagged, his shoulders slumping, his head bowed, muttering an apology to his feet. And yeah, Dan might be regretting all the choices he’s made in the past hour, but Steve was still fuming and King Steve wasn't one to back down until he was done tearing his victim apart, "And thank her for not having your ass thrown in jail for assaulting her," he barked as a command, because as if by his almost thirties he still didn’t understand that forcing someone bodily out of the way was most definitely not okay. Self-entitled brat! Steve thought, and then Finish him!! which sounded alarmingly like Tommy.
Steve didn’t really want to give himself too long to think about that, sucking in another breath and carrying on regardless, "Thirdly, who the hell gave you the right to come barging in here? Newsflash, buddy, you gave up your right to know anything about Eddie's life when you humiliated him in front of your nightmare family!" Steve was starting to yell, his voice raising and becoming less and less steady because the mere thought of the way Dan had broken up with Eddie made him so viscerally angry not even King Steve could contain it.
He took a deep breath, trying desperately to cling to the last of his control, purposefully lowering his voice back to normal, "But a quick FYI, I met Eddie less than 72 hours ago, and he's already the greatest person I've ever met! He's twice the man you've ever been, so don't you dare even try to blame him! You and your pretentious, ignorant, backward, dipwad family were lucky to even know him. You're fortunate he ever graced you with his presence and treated you all with the kindness and care none of you deserved, but I know he gave out in spades because that's just the kind of man he is. I don't know who the fu-"
"Steve," Eddie interrupted quietly, finally emerging from the bedroom, holding up one of the hotel's luxuriously fluffy dressing gowns, wrapping Steve up in it as he wandered over to him.
Steve deflated at Eddie’s gentle touch, "Sorry," Steve muttered, all the fury he'd felt towards Dan dissipating in the hold of Eddie's gaze.
Eddie smiled softly at him, tucking a stray bit of hair back behind Steve’s ear. Flicking his gaze quickly over Steve's shoulder, his expression hardening before he glanced back at Steve, "D'ya mind?" Eddie asked quietly, his eyes roaming all over Steve's face.
It was obvious what Eddie was asking, so obvious that Robin was already waiting by the front door with her hand outstretched, she already knew this was going to be a tough walk back to their room. Steve swallowed hard past the lump already forming in his throat, "No, of course not. I'll just..." Steve muttered, gesturing towards Robin. Eddie smiled gratefully, nodding. Steve hoped it meant he'd see him later, but he couldn’t know for sure.
Chrissy crossed the room, wrapping Eddie in a tight hug, "Do you?" she asked, the "want me to stay" unnecessary.
Eddie smiled gratefully at her but shook his head, "Nah, babe. I got this!" he sounded so determined, Steve was proud of him, even if this meant the end of their relationship, he wanted Eddie to have whatever he wanted, wanted him to be strong enough to reach out with both hands and take it.
Chrissy cupped his face, "Yes. You do!" she told him, the best friends having a quick eye conversation before she nodded sharply and let go, heading out of the suite.
Dan still hadn’t stopped staring at his feet, "Sorry," Dan muttered again as she passed him by.
Chrissy didn't even bother to answer, just gave him the finger and followed the other two out the door towards the stairs.
Both girls took each of Steve's hands as they ambled down the corridor, Robin making sure to be careful of his tattoo. Neither of them said anything as they headed downstairs, not that there was anything they could say to make it hurt any less, but he felt their comfort as they walked with him in silence.
Luckily, Robin had thought to shove their room key into her dressing gown and as soon as she let him in, he flopped face down on his bed, tears already leaking from his eyes. The girls to curled up together on Robin's bed, giving him the space Robin knew he was asking for, wrapping her and Chrissy in the blankets and putting on a movie. No one even spoke for a good few hours, Steve spent the endless time either sleeping, listening to snippets of film, crying silently or obsessively wondering what Eddie would do now his ex was back and clearly mad with jealousy.
Time passed as Steve flowed in and out of consciousness, he recognised at least two lines from two distinctly different films, both of Robin’s favourites, but he’d no idea how long they stayed, wasting away the precious hours of their holiday while Steve wallowed. Consciousness flowed back to him with the ringing of the phone, Robin fumbling for the receiver and her quiet “Hello? Dust, now isn’t a good time. No, we haven’t been shopping yet. It's a book Dusty, how badly can you need it. Well, if Steve promised, then he’ll get it for you, won’t he? For some reason, he can’t say no to you,” she muttered into the phone like she didn’t know Steve would die for the kid.
Steve pushed himself upright, holding out his hand to question whether Robin wanted him to take his little brother off her hands, “Your mum around?” she asked instead holding up a finger in a wait-a-minute gesture, “Dust. Dusty. Dustin! Words cannot express how little I care about Dork-dom or its robots! Put. Your. Mother. On. The. Phone,” she insisted, placing the warmed, hard plastic into Steve’s palm and wrapping his numb fingers around it.
He just about managed to get the phone to his ear, as Claudia answered with a cheery, “Hello?” A sob crawling out of Steve’s throat uninvited, his vision quickly blurring Robin sitting on the bed opposite him. “Steve?” Claudia asked, her voice immediately filled with concern, and it breaks him entirely; instead of the faux cheerful greeting he’d intended, what actually comes out of his mouth is a broken whine that sounds distinctly like “Mom!”, followed by another sob as Steve tries desperately to suck air into his lungs. “Steven, honey, what’s wrong?”
And where to start? It had all gone so horribly wrong. A few hours previously he was terribly stupidly in love and now… “Everything,” Steve whined, his voice catching before he could even finish the word. He can’t even remember the last time he felt so miserable, all he wanted was to curl up in his mom's embrace.
Claudia sighed heavily, like she was miserable because he was, “Oh, honey, do you need us to come? We’ll come. Don’t worry baby, it’ll be alright,” Claudia cooed softly, removing the phone slightly away from herself as she yelled, “DUSTIN!”
And it was as if the noise slapped Steve around the face, like being doused in cold water, quickly snapping him out of his funk and straight into a panic because if Claud came, she’d bring Dustin AND Hopper. And the last thing any of them needed was for Hop to end up in a Vegas prison because Steve was being dramatic over his own stupidity. Eddie didn't owe him anything and if being with Dan is what he wanted and what would make him happy then that was really all Steve cared about.
“No!” he blurted out as she was halfway through giving Dustin instructions on packing bags and going to the neighbours to ask Mrs Jones if she’d be okay to look after Mews. He could practically see Claudia’s eyebrows raising in the way she always did whenever Dustin was being a little shit, the whole “Excuse me! Who raised you?” look; it brings a slight smile to his face for the first time since he woke up that morning.
“Sorry, I just… I mean… I don’t need you guys to come, honestly, I’ll be okay. Robin’s here, and I’m just being silly. Really,” Steve admitted, and he heard Claudia’s unconvinced hum, so he does his best to explain what happened. She didn't speak once, listening intently and just sighs heavily when he was finished, muttering a few expletives and “those bloody Carvers!” under her breath. By the end of the call, she promised to stay home, and he promised to call and when Dustin started whining because he wasn’t going to get to go to Vegas after all, she tells him how much they love him and hangs up to deal with her youngest.
Steve tried to lean forward to put the receiver down and realised he can’t move. Chrissy was tucked under his spare arm holding him tightly around his middle and Robin was wrapped around his back, her face smushed into his shoulder blade, and he had no idea when they moved, but he was so very grateful for them. Except Steve's bladder was demanding that he move, so he pats Robin’s arm and squeezes Chris’ hand where she’s got his wrapped securely in both of hers and slouched off to the bathroom with a grunted hum when Robin asked if he was sure he was alright.
He caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror above the sink and realised he didn't look as bad as he thought he would. He looked rough, but given how he was feeling it wasn't exactly surprising. Realising he was still wearing Eddie's pants wasn't fun, it made him feel simultaneously glum yet consoled like being wrapped in Eddie’s embrace but, at the same time, like it might be the last one he ever received.
He didn't know why he was catastrophising the situation, why he was so convinced Eddie would go back to Dan. It wasn't like Eddie had been particularly pleased to see him. It was just, Steve knew he hadn't been his best self when he'd laid into Carver, but people from his King Steve days always seemed to bring out the worst in him.
And he knew how convincing Carver's could be. He'd been in debate classes with Dan, and he'd been to every one of Lucas' ball games, Jason had the gift of the gab too and sure all they had were manipulation tactics, but that didn't mean they didn't work.
But he also knew deep in his gut that he wasn’t giving Eddie enough credit, that convincing himself Eddie would go running back to someone who treat him like shit would be suggesting Eddie hadn’t seen how toxic their relationship had become, and how happy he’d been since he’d become single; even if he hadn’t been exactly thrilled about the way the relationship ended.
Steve tried to focus on the positives instead, he'd had an incredible few days with Eddie as his husband and if that was all he was destined for, he would think himself lucky for it. Eddie deserved to shape his life however he wanted to and if that meant a life without Steve, well it would be agony, but Eddie would be happy and that was all Steve could ask for.
And Chrissy was incredible, even though they'd shared a similar upbringing she hadn't let it change her. She was one of the most beautiful people he'd ever met, with her natural warmth that just drew people in and a megawatt smile that naturally made others grow. She was so strong and gutsy, he admired her so much, and he looked forward to getting to know her better. And he knew she and Robin would continue to work well together, they were like yin and yang, like two different pieces of a jigsaw puzzle that fit perfectly, and Steve couldn't be happier for them.
He hoped they were destined for a long and happy life together, he hoped he’d get to stand up at their wedding and talk about how they met and what a joy it was to watch their love blossom. He hoped Eddie would be by his side but if he wasn't, he wouldn't make them choose, he loved Robin too much to do that to her. Steve could just help with the planning, that was the important part, after all, no one got to spend any real time with brides on their wedding day anyway.
Not that Steve was spiralling or anything.
He was about to leave the bathroom when he heard the girls whispering loudly to one another, neither of them seeming to realise that in such a small space, the bathroom door wasn't much of a sound barrier. Not really wanting to interrupt, he started the shower. He needed to be done with his maudlin mood, they only had a few days left of their vacation, and he wasn’t about to waste any more of it.
He could cry over getting his heart broken when Sam sorted out the divorce paperwork. In the meantime, he could enjoy the rest of Nevada. He stepped under the hot spray with a sigh, the cascade of water had always been a sure-fire way for him to clear his head, a way to cleanse his mind as well as his body. It was odd going through his usual routine one-handed, but if nothing else he’d always have Rachel, his aptly named tattoo, to remind him that for a few days out of his life he’d had and been a husband.
Feeling refreshed and slightly less morose, he stepped out into the bedroom, surprised to find Chrissy missing. Less surprised by Robin launching clothing at him, "Get dressed, dingus! We're going out," she informed him as she stormed past him into the bathroom, not bothering to close the door behind her.
He spent a few moments standing on the spot, grinning wildly to himself, she really was the best friend anyone could ask for. She knew if it were up to him, he'd sit in the room and fret about Eddie and his potentially ending relationship for hours, she knew he needed a distraction and that he needed to have no way to wiggle out of it.
He might've had to go through hell to find her but it was so, so worth it. She was a true marvel, and he could only hope she knew how much he loved and appreciated her.
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Part 7 of Vegas AU!! It's so long but I'm so excited for you all to meet Charlie!! This is my first ever OC character I hope I did them justice 🤞 and apologies for being late it's Neil Gaiman's fault. I did have my weekend of editing planned out until he ripped out my heart and stomped on it so I spent last weekend as a burrito instead, sorry.
Part 1 -- Part 2 -- Part 3 -- Part 4 -- Part 5 -- Part 6
Eddie insisted they drop the car off at the hotel and walk to the parlour instead. Not that Steve minded, Eddie had assured them it wasn't far and although the streets were busy, the night air was cool and with Eddie by his side everything seemed kinda magical; almost like anything was possible.
Robin was already back to her usual self, chattering away with Chrissy. He couldn't hear what they were talking about precisely, but it was happy chatter filled with gasps and laughter, so he figured it wasn't for him to worry about. Chris was more than refreshed from her nap and seemed pretty relaxed again as she practically dragged Robin giddily down the sidewalk, fingers entwined and arms swinging adorably.
Steve couldn't help but smile at them, and Eddie seemed equally endeared, grinning fondly as he linked his pinkie with Steve's as they strolled along after their best friends. A street performer was playing a gentle tune on an acoustic guitar, the shop lights were casting a warm glow over the street and the scent of Italian spices were floating out of one of the restaurants as they passed by, all leading to this romantic air that felt more like Paris than Vegas.
The bubble was quickly broken by a group of dudes across the street heading in the opposite direction, whooping and hollering a chorus of "Vegas!" Eddie snorted derisively at the display, making Steve giggle. God, as if I was one of them! The jocks hadn’t seemed to have received the memo to grow the hell up, somehow still stuck in the delusion that because they were someone in high school that the world owed them a favour.
Steve had a feeling Eddie would’ve despised him in high school, and quite right, too. Nothing about Eddie screamed ex-jock, in fact Steve would put money on him being anything but. Not that he was sure what he could've been precisely. A band geek, maybe? Eddie knew a lot about instruments, chatted easily with Robin when she'd brought it up, but hadn't mentioned being in marching band himself.
Steve supposed he could’ve been a nerd, he knew Eddie was crazy smart, he easily kept up with other people even when Steve himself got entirely lost. And Steve could so easily picture it too, Eddie with cropped curls, big glasses and a bow tie. It was an adorable picture, but unlikely. No, Steve swinging closer to him being a theatre kid, especially given his and Chrissy's little display in the desert. Either that or maybe he'd been on the debate team, knowing a lot about everything and impassioned speeches were something they were good at.
He was distracted from his spiralling thoughts when Eddie bumped his shoulder playfully, "Whatcha thinkin' 'bout?" Eddie asked.
Steve glanced over, enjoying the sparkle in his eyes and the gentle smile gracing his face, "Who you were in high school. I'm torn between theatre or debate club?" Steve said softly, because the more he thought about it the more he swung towards theatre, but he hoped he wasn't way off, he didn't want to insult him.
Eddie let out a self-deprecating sigh, his expression shuttering, "Couldn't be more wrong, I'm afraid. I did help with staging a couple times, but I was- uh- well, I wasn't exactly liked in high school," Eddie admitted forlornly.
Steve's internal panic fell quickly from shit I've insulted him to huh? "Really?" Steve asked disbelievingly. Because surely not! Who wouldn't like Eddie?
"Yeah, nah, I was just the school freak. Eddie "The Freak" Munson. That was me for five years," Eddie muttered at the floor, like he was ashamed, like that was anything close to who he was.
Steve felt anger rise up his throat, the urge to protect Eddie putting his shackles up. He desperately wanted to go back to that time and place and make anyone who wanted to call Eddie that say it to his face, make his King Steve persona useful for something, make them apologise and grovel for ever making Eddie feel like he was anything less than the incredible man he was.
Steve stopped in his tracks to breathe through the sudden fury sitting in his chest. Chrissy and Robin were already waiting for them at the end of the street, a few more minutes wouldn't hurt. Eddie had stopped a pace or two away, still staring at the ground, still feeling the pain and humiliation those bastards had put him through for five years. But it was as though the rest of the world had melted away as Steve dragged Eddie to him by the hand, lifting his chin with gentle fingers and cupping his face; feeling simultaneously like he was holding something as exquisite as a butterfly and as substantial as the whole damn world.
"Eddie," Steve spoke softly, waiting for Eddie to look at him instead of over his shoulder, "Baby. That's not who you are! I didn't know you then, but I guarantee that's never been you! You are so much more than those small-minded, dickless, hopeless nobodies could ever even hope to comprehend! You're Eddie Munson! You're amazing!" Steve told him fiercely.
And if Steve wasn't in love before, seeing the adorable shade of crimson Eddie had gone and the bashful smile affixed to his face made Steve want to reach into his chest, pull out his beating heart and place it into Eddie's precious hands.
Their moment was quickly interrupted by his best friend, "Oi! Dingus and Dorkus!" Robin yelled from the corner, drawing both of their attention, "Less romancing, more moving, we haven't got all day!" she called, only half joking.
Eddie’s grin turned mischievous as he grabbed one of Steve's hands that were still dangling in mid-air and pulled him into a run to catch up with the girls, laughing like a little kid the whole way. Robin rolled her eyes as he and Eddie scampered passed them, dashing further down the road and skidding to a halt outside an inconspicuous shopfront; Chrissy and Robin skipping leisurely after them.
The four of them gathered on the pavement outside of Clarke's, it was a pretty indistinct store, only distinguishable from the surrounding shops in that the windows were covered with white film and the name was written calligraphy style, black lettering on a plain white background.
Eddie and Chris shared a look Steve couldn't quite decipher before Eddie took him by the hand and dragged him through the front door. The bell that jingled as they entered had barely finished tinkling before the person behind the counter came flying at them, "Eddieeee!" they exclaimed, throwing themselves into Eddie's open arms.
Steve could only stand there gawking at whoever the hell had just thrown themselves at his husband; trying desperately to push down the irritation he felt prickling his skin as they held Eddie longer than was strictly friendly. It didn’t help that they were gorgeous, tall and slim with an awesome purple mohawk, dressed casually in Converse, daisy dukes and a tie-dye vest that had “they/them” tagged all over it. And it really didn’t help that they were covered in tattoos, not just a few like Eddie, they probably had hundreds, every inch of skin he could see was covered in a multitude of different coloured inks.
Eddie had caught them easily and had wrapped them tightly in his arms, exclaiming, "Charlieeeeeeee! How're you?" he asked, squeezing Charlie tighter.
Steve wasn't jealous, he wasn't. That clawing, gnawing, burning sensation in his chest was just from fast food and a short burst of exercise. Steve tried to avert his eyes as Charlie pulled back, cupping Eddie's jaw in the same way Steve had just done to him not five minutes before, and he felt more than saw Robin reach for his hand, letting her touch soothe him.
"I'm good, I'm good, but how are you?” Charlie asked, tucking a piece of Eddie’s hair behind his ear, “Jeff said I might see you," they added, tilting their head with genuine concern.
And the thing was, Charlie seemed lovely, very compassionate and very concerned. Steve really was trying his hardest not to hate them, but he couldn't help feeling the desire to put himself in between them. To take Charlie's hands off of Eddie because it felt like someone had walked into his house and had started randomly touching his stuff; because Eddie felt like his and as much as he was trying to swallow that feeling down into the depths where it belonged, he could feel his hands unintentionally clenching, squeezing Robin’s hand tightly. He could feel his spine straightening and his shoulders squaring, like he'd come up against a bear instead of someone Eddie knew, and Steve had to consciously roll his shoulders, trying desperately to fight the overreaction.
Eddie didn't say anything in reply, but something on his face must draw Charlie's attention away from Eddie and to the group at large because Charlie let go of Eddie altogether and looked over at the girls, grinning fondly at Chris when he caught her eye. Then Charlie looked over at Steve, eyeing him like a cat, sizing him up before Charlie's smile turned a little lecherous, "Oh, but you got right back on the horse, didn't you?” Charlie said to Eddie approvingly, “Who's this pretty thing?” they asked, coming towards Steve, hands outstretched like a kid in a toy shop about to start picking up all the dolls.
Except Eddie stepped quickly into Steve's space, batting Charlie's hands away, "Hands off my husband, Kohl!" Eddie didn't sound mean per se, but there was a definite warning in his tone. Oh! That's hot!
Charlie baulked, eyes going wide in disbelief, "Your husband?!"
Eddie nodded decisively, "My husband," he confirmed. Charlie's face went through a multitude of expressions before settling on something that looked almost like pride. It seemed to spur Eddie on, he preened and wrapped an arm around Steve's waist, physically pulling him into their conversation, "Stevie, Sweetheart, my cousin, Charlie Clarke. Char, this is my better half, Steve Harrington," Eddie introduced.
Steve’s brain was short-circuiting. Eddie’s cousin, he’d been possessive over his cousin hugging him! God, I’m too tired for this. Luckily for Steve, autopilot took over, his stiff upbringing coming in handy for something as he shook Charlie's hand cordially, but he'd apparently married into a family of huggers because the two cousins laughed as Charlie threw their arms around Steve’s shoulders, squeezing him tight.
It'd been a while since Steve had felt so fucking stupid, in reality he had no right to be possessive over anything Eddie did, they were only technically married after all and just because they were continuing to have fun didn’t mean that he had a right to overreact like that.
Yet at the same time he couldn’t control that buoyant feeling, realising Eddie had chosen to introduce him to his family when he could’ve called Charlie and asked for a recommendation for Robin, or just taken her to any parlour on the strip, but Eddie had chosen to bring them to family. To his cousin who was proud of Eddie, and accepting of the fact that Eddie had got married, hadn’t even asked for details just threw their arms around Steve like he was one of them now. And god did it feel good to be introduced to someone as not only Eddie's husband but his better half. Which given half a chance was a title Steve'd happily wear proudly for the rest of his life.
A vision of them having a reception, Eddie walking him around the room introducing Steve as his husband to all his relatives, Steve doing the same with Eddie, popped unbidden into Steve's mind. Oh, Christ! I absolutely cannot think about that!
Releasing Steve with a genuine smile and patting Eddie affectionately on the cheek, Charlie chortled, "Well, he couldn't be your worse half could he!" they teased.
Eddie rolled his eyes playfully, nudging Steve with his elbow bringing him in on the joke, "Kohl's still bitter about being replaced," he taunted, winking at Steve conspiratorially.
Charlie scoffed, "I think you'll find, I replaced you with Vegas!" they jibed, making Eddie laugh heartily. Feigning pushing Charlie away as they kissed Eddie affectionately on the forehead, before wandering off to wrap Chris in a hug, "Chris! How're you, kitten?"
Chrissy beamed at Charlie, kissing them on the cheek, "I'm good, darling, I'm having the best time!" she told Charlie realising them and tugging Robin closer by the hand, "This is Robin, she'd like something done if you've got the time?" Chrissy asked so sweetly, Steve wondered how anyone could ever say no to her.
Charlie puffed out a breath in mock consideration, "For my favourite girl's girl?" they asked, rubbing their chin and looking Robin up and down, quickly caving from the facade, "I've got all the time in the world," Charlie added, already flipping the sign on the door from Open to Closed, flicking the lock, "Come on out back, tell me everything!" they said as the girls followed Charlie behind the counter through the open door into the backroom; Chrissy chatting away about their day, leaving Steve and Eddie truly alone for the first time since that morning.
Steve suddenly felt nauseous, he wasn’t sure whether it was the butterflies that’d suddenly sprung to life in his stomach or the worry that maybe somehow Eddie had sensed his reaction to Charlie, that maybe he’d be in trouble for being jealous. And the longer the moment lasted the two of them just staring at one another the more unsure Steve became, he wrung his hands, no longer knowing what to do with them.
He wanted to draw Eddie to him, put his hands all over him, like he was desperate just to touch him. And he hadn't ever felt like that, like he couldn't focus, couldn't control himself, like he wanted to be a giant, so he could keep Eddie in his pocket, like he wanted to shrink himself down, so he could live in Eddie's so he would never not be touching him.
His racing thoughts were staring to make him panic, he could feel his breaths getting short and faster but Eddie, his calming, steady Eddie just looked at him so softly like he was thoroughly endeared, pulled Steve into his arms in one swift motion and kissed him so soundly that every thought flitting around his head just floated away until there was nothing but the pressure of Eddie's lips, the smell of fading sunscreen, mixed with cologne and the underlying something that was just Eddie, and the fizzling excited feeling in Steve's sternum he felt every time their lips were locked.
It felt like they spent forever and barely any time at all in each other's embrace before Robin calling their names eventually broke through into Steve's consciousness, making him reluctantly pull away. Not that he could leave the safe little bubble Eddie had created for them right away. Steve had to rest his forehead against Eddie's to keep the connection for a few seconds longer, just to keep him close, to keep breathing him in while he got a hold of enough of his bearings to function. Eddie hummed quietly to himself, softly pecking Steve’s lips once more before taking his hand and leading him into the back room.
Robin snorted when they entered, and he couldn’t exactly blame her. It seemed he’d somehow managed to pull all of Eddie’s hair free of its tie and his lips, although kiss swollen, were pulled tightly into a sunny smile. "When you two are quite finished," Robin chastised with a raised eyebrow. Steve knew she was joking with them, but he couldn’t help the immediate rush of guilt he felt.
This was supposed to be their holiday together, supposed to be her special trip, her special day, yet he was wrapped up in someone he was stupidly desperately in love with and considering the chances of him ever seeing Eddie again as soon as they all went home were pretty slim, he felt terrible that he’d stopped focusing on his best friend.
Eddie didn’t seem too bothered, in fact he seemed more amused than anything, "I'm sorry Bobs, I just can't get enough," he purred, laughing raucously when she mimed gagging, turning back to the book in her lap with a roll of her eyes.
Charlie pressed a drink into their hands with a gentle "here you go" before flopping down next to the girls on the comfortable looking sofa. Robin was flicking through a stack of books filled with drawings, Chrissy pressed tightly to her side, looking over her shoulder. Eddie put his glass down on the coffee table and sat in the lazyboy next to his cousin, effortlessly pulling Steve into his lap, tucking his chin over his shoulder and wrapping his arms around his waist. It’d stopped surprising Steve that Eddie just did things like that, but he was thankful for his dexterity that he’d managed not to spill liquid all over the tiled floor in the process.
Steve placed his glass on his knee, watching Robin flick through the images, wondering what she’d pick. He half expected the cousins to start up a conversation and was trying to give them as much privacy as possible, so they could talk, even if it was only small talk.
Steve didn’t have cousins of his own, but Tommy had had three. They weren’t very close, but that was unsurprising he supposed given they lived on the other side of the country and only really saw each other every couple of years for family get together’s. Steve had been allowed to go to one once when Tommy’s gran had died. It had devastated Tommy, and Steve had only been allowed to be at the funeral to keep Tommy from crying and embarrassing the family. Apparently, 10 was too old to cry when you lost the only adult who'd ever really loved you.
He’d met Tommy’s cousins at the wake, and they were awful. The things they’d said to Tommy were way out of line and whether it was because they were grieving or just because that’s who they were Steve didn’t know; honestly he didn’t care, he was just glad when Tommy never spoke to them again. And he'd always thought that if that was what cousins did to each other, he was glad he'd never had any of his own.
Except neither cousin said anything, they just stared at each other for a while and then Charlie asked, "So, I hear you're from Hawkins?"
Steve pulled his eyes from where they’d glazed over watching the pages of the book flick, to Charlie. It was obviously aimed at him, and although they had asked almost conversationally, there was a fierceness in their eyes and a definite tone. Steve knew the beginnings of a grilling when he heard it, and he was suddenly glad for Eddie's proximity, especially when he wrapped his arms instinctively tighter around his waist.
Max had been the last person to give him the “what are your intentions” talk. It’d hurt mainly because he had thought she'd liked him, and he knew she'd hated Billy, especially after the incident with Lucas. He couldn’t afford to think about that now, if he had any hopes of making this work past this holiday, he had to make a good impression. And that was a thought that only continued to make him more nervous, the thought of fucking this up for good was unbearable, his heart rate kicking up and his mouth going impossibly dry.
He was so nervous he could only nod his affirmation, barely even registering the telltale smell that it wasn't water in his glass as he took a large swig, only realising that it was neat vodka when he choked as it burned down his gullet. Jesus Christ!
Eddie smacked Charlie's shin with the back of his hand while he rubbed soothing circles on Steve's back, "Jesus H Christ! Warn a person, Kohl! You mean bastard!" Eddie chastised, leaning forward to check Steve wasn't dying as he hacked up a lung, tears blurring his vision as he tried to breathe.
Charlie sprang off the couch, "Come now, Bear," they said, quickly crossing the room in two strides, "You know better than anyone that my fathers' were married long before I came along," Charlie quipped, pulling a bottle of water out of one of the cupboards and handing it to Steve with a whispered "Sorry, honey. Are you alright?" joining Eddie in rubbing his back gently, "Plus, I didn't hear you warn him either!" they said to Eddie accusingly.
Eddie sucked in a breath, no doubt ready to retort when Chrissy interrupted, "My darlings, are you fighting? You know how Pa hates it when you fight." Chris spoke softly and sweetly, but something about the way she said it made sure both cousins were quick to back down.
Eddie sighed heavily, back to fussing over Steve as Charlie sat back down on the sofa, making a point to look anywhere but at their cousin. A heavy quiet settled over the group, the only sounds in the room coming from the rustle of turning pages and the quiet music playing on a radio in the corner of the room; Endless Love sounding out of the tiny speaker.
Steve inadvertently caught Eddie's eye as he fretted over him, brushing Steve's hair back away from his forehead and combing his fingers through the hairs at the back of his neck, and the look in his eyes was enough to take Steve's breath away. Eddie was looking at him with such a deep intensity, Steve felt like he was being sucked into a vortex. Becoming almost overwhelming when Eddie started mouthing the lyrics, it felt like Eddie was the one saying the words, like he could possibly mean them and Steve felt it for a second, his own feelings mirrored back at him in Eddie's gaze.
But then Robin accidentally kicked the coffee table, swearing loudly and rubbing her foot, effectively snapping their attention to her and breaking the moment like popping a bubble. Chrissy carefully pushed the table away from Robin with her foot, effectively covering the sound as Steve gulped audibly.
He began purposefully glancing around the room as the song switched to Let's Stay Together, he knew he'd give himself away if he looked back at Eddie. Knew he'd be able to see Steve's true desires if their eyes met and something about Eddie seeing how deep the well of affection Steve felt for him went terrified the living crap out of him. And honestly, he wasn't sure his heart would survive it, if he saw and heard it reflected back from Eddie, and then he never saw him again. Steve knew it'd destroy him, there'd be nothing of him left for Robin to piece back together.
For the first time since hearing Eddie sing in his shower, Steve wished he'd stop when Eddie started crooning the words under his breath into Steve's shoulder where he'd pressed his face against him. Steve felt panic rising back up his throat, constricting his chest, and he knew he needed to focus on something else before he lost it completely.
He'd never been in a tattoo parlour before, it was a brand new experience he could throw all his attention at, and he'd never been more thankful. He had nothing to compare it to, but Clarke's seemed nice, white tiled floors that sparkled just so in the overhead lighting, but he knew a cursory glance wouldn't be enough to hold his attention enough to drag his anxiety back to neutral, so he began counting things trying to quell the emotions filling him and slow his rapidly beating heart.
Ten spotlights in the ceiling, nine bottles of something lined up on the counter against the wall, eight leaves on the potted plant in the corner, seven business cards on the pin board, six framed paintings, five hooks on the key hook by the backdoor, four different coloured painted walls, three workstations with comfortable looking black chairs like what you'd find at the dentist, two magazines on the coffee table and one tattoo artist, watching Steve intently.
Before Charlie had a chance to ask, Steve took in the thousands of photos of different body parts adorned with pretty patterns and colours all over the walls that threw a question blindly into his mind, "Did you do all of these?" he asked gruffly, his throat still not quite recovered, both from choking and the lump that had formed no matter how much he tried not to listen to Eddie, indicating the wall behind Charlie's head with a tilt of his own.
He cleared his throat inconspicuously, knowing he'd hit the jackpot question when Charlie's face split into a manic grin, almost the exact same look Robin had whenever someone asked her about her theories; ecstatically animated with sparkling eyes, like you could see the words being formed behind them.
"Not all, no, but I've done the majority. There's two other artists working here, but I've been here the longest," Charlie told him, glancing proudly around the room, calming Steve somewhat, "Do you have any?" Charlie enquired, giving Steve their undivided attention, clearly genuinely interested in the answer.
Steve shook his head, "Me? No. They're beautiful. I love Eddie's but erm..." and Steve realised he was about to say his parents wouldn't allow it, like they had any control over his life and he was so sick of having thoughts like that. He knew it was way past time he learned that he liked what he liked, and his parents would always be indifferent to it regardless of what he did, there was just no pleasing them. So if he liked tattoos, if having one was what he wanted, that was for him to decide; there was no right or wrong that would suddenly win their affections.
Luckily, Steve was saved from elaborating by Robin’s excited gasp as she pointed to a picture in the book she was flicking through, "That one! That's it! Can I have this one, Charlie?" she asked excitedly, bouncing up and down in her seat like a kid on the way to the seaside.
Steve clambered out of Eddie's lap, so they could all gather around the book, looking down at the page of drawings, "They're adorable, babe!" Chrissy declared joyfully, and she was right; it was a simple design, a little upside-down teardrop with giant eyes, the human depiction of an alien's head, but it was very cute.
Charlie grinned at Robin, "Perfect! You want colour or just as they are?" they asked, getting off the sofa and heading across the room towards one of the stations.
Robin didn't even hesitate, "Just as they are!" she decreed, jumping up and practically dancing around the room.
Somehow, the book had ended up in Chrissy’s lap, who was staring at the little picture with such adoration Steve wondered if you could force something into existence by pure thought alone. Luckily, Robin stopped moving long enough to notice, kneeling in front of Chrissy and looking up at her through her lashes, "Why don't you get one too?" Robin asked coyly.
The look of awe Chrissy was directing at his best friend nearly knocked him off his feet, "Really?" Chrissy asked with heartbreaking disbelief in her voice.
Except Robin panicked and suddenly second-guessed herself, she started backtracking, babbling, "Yeah, I mean, if you want. You don't have to, don't feel like you've got to. I just thought it'd be nice, y'know? And you seemed to like it, you said they were cute, but that doesn't mean you'd want them forever, right? Maybe you could get something different? Maybe we could all get one? Just like a souvenir?"
It'd been a long time since Steve had seen someone look at Robin like that, like she was the miracle Steve knew her to be. Chrissy was misty-eyed, her smile stretched so far across her face, Steve worried it might split in two. She looked like all her dreams had come true, and maybe they had; he knew all he'd wanted growing up was for someone to say yes to something he actually wanted.
"Bobbie!" Steve interrupted gently, nodding his head towards Chrissy, successfully redirecting Robin's attention away from her internal panic. The two girls beamed brightly at one another as Robin knelt up, crowding into Chrissy’s space; Chris nodding tearfully like she’d just accepted a marriage proposal instead of an invitation for a matching tattoo. Steve could stop himself from smiling affectionately at them, "That's a brilliant idea, if it's okay with Charlie?" he asked, turning purposefully away from the girls, giving them a moment of privacy.
Charlie grinned from their station, where they were busy getting set up, "This is my joy, doll, the more, the merrier!" they said affectionately, patting the chair, inviting Robin to come and sit.
“Yes! So we’re all getting one, right?” Robin asked, giving Steve a quick squeeze around the middle as she passed him.
Steve planted a kiss on the top of her head before she let go, “If you’re sure?” he asked, asking with his eyes as well as his mouth as she backed away from him towards Charlie, just to make sure she hadn’t backed herself into a corner, but she seemed pretty certain and who was he to deny her anything after he’d essentially ruined their platonic couples getaway by falling in love.
Chrissy sat with Robin while Charlie worked, holding her hand and talking her through it, even though it took surprisingly less time than Steve assumed it would. The radio in the corner only had time to play a few songs that he barely had time to register as he watched Robin intently, making sure she wasn't in too much pain or panicking, but she was fine, she was happy. When Charlie sat back with a satisfied grin and a questioning eyebrow, Robin looked down at the little alien looking up at her from her finger and grinned even as tears sprung into her eyes, sliding quickly down her cheeks.
It was so unlike her. Steve had always been a total wreck, a good song, a sad movie, he cried but not Robin; she was always the one making fun of him. This was unprecedented, and he didn’t really know what else to do other than to spring up and wrap his arms around her shoulders, pressing his face into her hair even as she insisted she was fine.
Robin put up with his fussing for a whole minute before she was patting his arm and trying to wriggle out of his grasp, “Honestly, dingus. I’m just… so happy. Look,” she said, wiggling her finger at Steve and laughing wetly.
He didn’t really want to leave her side, but Chrissy was trying her best not to crowd into them, even though Steve could tell she wanted to and when Eddie patted the sofa next to him softly, he knew he was right. Knew that from that moment on he wouldn’t always have to be the one to protect Robin. Knew that he’d find it hard to move over and let someone else help when he’d been the one doing it for so long, but that it was something he was going to have to wrap his head around.
He wandered melancholically back to the couch, letting Eddie wrap him in his arms listening to the rumble in his chest as he sang softly along with the songs coming from the radio, watching as Robin slid out of the chair and into Chrissy’s embrace, excitedly showing her her finger and seeing Chrissy mirror her excitement back.
Charlie did a bit of cleaning and tidying while the girls chatted before patting the chair again, and after asking Robin another twenty times if she was sure she wanted them to have matching tattoos, Chrissy sat for hers.
Steve couldn't help but admire her strength because she barely even flinched as Charlie pierced her skin. Robin had tried to be brave, but he’d recognised the signs she was trying not to show, the same signs from when she’d lay in agony on the couch once a month and Steve wouldn’t even need to ask, he’d just get the heat pad and, depending on the weather, either the rocky road ice cream or a hazelnut hot chocolate.
Chrissy didn’t even seem to notice and his admiration for her must shine through because Eddie pressed his face into his jaw, "This isn't her first," he whispered into Steve's ear. And it's not that it surprises him exactly, he just never would've guessed, but maybe having Eddie as a best friend taught her things he's yet to learn.
Steve hummed, pushing Eddie back into the sofa, so he could snuggle into Eddie's side. He felt safe, tucked under Eddie’s chin with his arms securely wrapped around him to feel the pain he was feeling for his younger self. He so wished he'd known the four of them when he was a teenager, wished he'd had the chance to be himself sooner, wished he was as sure of himself as Chrissy was.
Unfortunately, Eddie mistook his clinginess as nervousness, muttering in his ear, "You don't have to get one, if you don't want. I won't either, and then it'll just be a thing for them-"
"It's not that. I want to. I do," Steve interrupted quietly, "It's just... I realised earlier that the only reason I've never done a lot of things I want to do is that I'm still fearful of disappointing my parents, even though they're already disappointed and there won’t be anything I can ever do to change that. I just want to be more like Chrissy, she's living her life for herself, y'know?" he admitted, surprised at how good it felt to let that out.
Eddie nodded solemnly, pulling him closer and bringing one hand up, fingers splayed in the hair at the back of his head, "She wasn't always this way," Eddie muttered, playing absentmindedly with the strands, "It takes practice and good people around you who are ready to really see you and what you want and remind you it's okay to take it. I was as lucky to find her, as you were to find Robin, and we're both luckier still to have found you two," Eddie mumbled, placing a kiss into Steve's hair.
Eddie sighed heavily, "My dad wasn't a good man, but my uncle was. He realised I was in a bad place. Always getting into fights at school, no friends, no family. When my dad first went to prison, my uncle stayed with me at my dads, until I came home from school one day black and blue and on the edge of tears. He cleaned me up and calmed me down, and then he sat with me and asked me what I wanted. Asked me if I could live anywhere in the world, where would I want to live. And when I said I just wanted to live with him, he literally just picked me up and took me to live with his family."
He huffed wistfully, "They cleared out their office, so I could have my own room in their home, even though both Charlie and I said we'd be fine sharing. They made me feel so welcome and honestly, for years, I felt so left out because Charlie called Wayne dad, but I felt like I couldn't even though I wanted to more than anything. And then I met Chris, her stepdad was the one to rescue her, from her mother of all people, but she always called him dad. One day I asked her why, and she said to me, "Moms and dads aren't the people who give you life, they're the ones who raise you, who show up for you and love you no matter what"."
Both Chrissy and Robin were chatting vibrantly with Charlie, so they hadn't heard Eddie’s mumbled story, nor the sob that hiccuped out of Steve's chest, even though he had been trying his hardest to focus on their smiles in order to quell the flood roaring through him. Eddie tightened his grip, rubbing his thumb soothingly along Steve's ribs. His story was as beautiful as Eddie himself, and Steve knew deep down that he was right, that you can't live your life for people who never bothered to love you enough to even be classed as your parents.
Not when he had Hop and Claudia, who actually deserved the titles. They’d been taking care of him in the way his parents should’ve for as long as he could remember. They were the ones who loved him, who showed up for him, who he called when he had a bad day, who he knew he could rely on no matter what, who dropped everything to be at his side whenever he needed them.
He was lucky to have them, Claud was the one who fussed and coddled and cared; icing wounds, forcing him to eat home-cooked meals, doling out endless affection and letting him get away with murder. And Hop, well he’d come into his life on the day he needed a dad the most and honestly Steve wasn’t sure where he’d be if he hadn’t. Not that it had stopped Steve from putting the man through hell. Steve hadn’t wanted to, not really, he was just young and rebellious and angry, and he’d needed an outlet for that.
But Hop saw him and continued to see him, no matter how many times Steve acted out or tried to brush him off. Hop always stood there and took whatever Steve threw at him, calm and steady most of the time and even the times when Steve pushed too hard and Hop stormed off, he always came back. And although he might not have been the best at saying it, or showing it in any of the traditional ways, Steve knew Hop loved him. He was more of a dad than his own had ever been.
Admittedly, Hop was a little miffed when Steve came out, not because Steve was bi but because Steve had hidden the fact that the real reason he had moved to Indy was to be with Billy, to really be with him in a way they couldn't be in Hawkins. Except all Billy did was drag him out to Indy, continue to ignore and neglect him and make Steve feel like it was his fault he was acting that way, when in reality he was just cheating on Steve with just about anything with a pulse.
So yeah, Hop had been a little miffed but only because he hadn't been able to stop his boy from getting his heart broken, hadn't been able to give Billy a shovel talk so genuinely terrifying he wouldn't have dared to treat Steve that way, hadn't been able to do what he did best, which was protect his kids from harm, even if the only harm was heartbreak.
The Billy Incident had led to their agreement, anyone getting past the third date came to dinner with Hop, so they could be sized up and terrified before Steve had the chance to fall too hard and get his heart broken by someone just wanting to mess him around. And thinking about it, Steve was a little scared of what Hop's reaction was going to be when he found out Steve was already in deep; not that he thought Hop would be mad with him, just that he might be disappointed, which somehow seemed worse.
Steve wondered if Eddie's uncle would be equally unimpressed. If Eddie called him dad now. If his uncle knew how much Eddie loved and respected him. Not that he had time to ask because Charlie had finished with Chrissy and the cleaning and was in the process of calling Steve over, until Robin took one look at him, red-eyed and uncurling himself from Eddie's side and dragged him unceremoniously out of the room with an “excuse us” so she could check in with him.
She of course went on a minutes long rant, reminding him he didn't have to do anything he didn't want to, taking no interruptions, so Steve could explain that his being upset had nothing to do with a tattoo. When she did finally let him get a word in edgeways, he only had to say the word parents before she was nodding sagely, she might not understand exactly, but she saw the way his biological parents were with him in comparison to the way Hop and Claud treated him. She had once jokingly asked him if he was too old to be emancipated and adopted, and honestly, Steve kinda wished he wasn't too old for that.
By the time he’d convinced Robin that he was okay, Eddie already had his tattoo done like she'd ordered with a bark at them as she'd marched Steve out. He was sad he’d missed his opportunity to sit by Eddie’s side as the girls had got to, but he could hope he’d get another chance some other time. Steve sheepishly clambered into the chair next to Charlie, feeling excited and nervous all at once.
Everyone's eyes were on him, and he didn't want to be the wuss of the group, but Charlie was great, keeping him distracted with easy conversation, "So, you're from Hawkins, right? Did you go to Hawkins Middle?" It sounded a lot less like the Spanish Inquisition this time, more like curiosity, even if it was oddly specific for someone who grew up a few towns over. Steve happily hummed his affirmation, trying his hardest not to speak, so he wouldn't shout "OW!" like he wanted to, but then Charlie looked up at him, a truly mischievous smile spread across their face, "Taught by Mr Clarke?" they asked, eyes gleaming.
Steve's brows drew together because yeah he was, but how did-? "Oh my god! Your dad is Scott Clarke?" Steve yelled in astonishment as it all fell into place.
"The one and only!" Charlie proclaimed, laughing merrily and bending back over his finger, getting back to work.
And what the actual hell because Steve had grown up hearing stories of Mr Clarke's kids, Eddie and Charlie. Steve had spent a year looking forward to Monday mornings because Scott would be so excited to tell his students all about his weekend and all the weird and wonderful things he and his family had got up to.
Honestly, Steve had always been envious that they spent time doing things together, even if some of the stuff was weird as hell, like deconstructing and rebuilding the TV for fun. And Mr Clarke was the best teacher Steve had ever had, he was so caring and supportive and obliging, and had the patience of a saint, for those few middle school years all Steve wished for for Christmas was for his parents to be more like him.
Then, when Steve had become the kids' official babysitter, he'd really got to know Scott and he'd talk so proudly about his son's band, always inviting Steve to concerts, but heavy metal wasn't cool enough for King Steve and when he'd started up with Billy, he'd declared it lame, so Steve never went. But to think that maybe if he'd gone, he might have met Eddie all those years ago and neither of them would've had to suffer heartbreak and terrible partners.
Steve was broken from his musings by Charlie announcing "ta-da" and when he looked down, there was a little alien staring cutely back up at him. A souvenir. A reminder. An unspoken bond. Something they shared that'd outlive all of them. He'd never been happier with anything in his life.
The first words out of his mouth weren't the "thank you" he'd intended, but "Corroded Coffin" which snapped everyone's attention from Charlie's work to Steve.
"What did you say?" Chrissy asked breathlessly.
Steve shrugged, "Corroded Coffin. Scott, Mr Clarke, he talked endlessly about camping trips and hiking trails and a garage filled with, what I always imagined being absolute chaos, but knowing the way he kept his classroom was probably as neat as a pin. And then years later, I babysat kids in his AV club, and we'd chat, he told me about his kids band, Corroded Coffin," he admitted, refraining from imitating their dad.
"He talked about us?" Charlie asked, looking a little misty-eyed over at Eddie, who looked a little tearful himself.
Steve smiled wistfully at the memory, "All the time! We all knew stories about you two. The time you got stuck up a tree was a particular favourite," Steve informed them, making Chrissy cackle and Eddie and Charlie look varying degrees of offended.
"We weren't stuck!" Eddie yelled indignantly.
Steve couldn't help the giggle that crawled up his throat, "No? So Scott didn't have to call the fire brigade?" he asked faux innocently, sending the girls into hysterics.
Charlie found the funny side when Eddie blushed deeply, "Actually, I got down by myself eventually, Eddie was the one clinging to the trunk, wailing," they added, Chrissy flopping onto the couch, so she could roll around laughing.
Steve couldn't help feeling endeared by Eddie's pout as he muttered under his breath that it was Charlie's fault they were up the tree in the first place. Steve pulled him to him by his belt loop wrapping his arm around his waist and resting his head against his stomach and mumbling "You're so cute!" Eddie brushing his fingers through Steve's hair.
When Charlie had finished giggling, they called them all over so the four of them could put their matching fingers next to one another on the counter, Charlie using a Polaroid camera to snap a photograph for the wall. Charlie then proceeded to wrap up their tattooed fingers to keep them safe, giving Steve and Robin detailed instructions on how to care for their new tattoo.
They unfortunately didn't get to stay with Charlie much longer, they'd gone back to the sofa to chat some more when two of Charlie's colleagues, Tee and Bee, arrived. They were surprised to find the parlour so full on a random Wednesday night, but they were excited to meet Charlie's big brother.
Except after two more vodkas, Eddie decided when he heard You're The First, The Last, My Everything coming through the radio speaker, it was time to serenade Steve again, which after three vodkas Steve was absolutely fine with; Charlie on the other hand was just embarrassed to be the sibling of someone who considered "that" dancing.
They were promptly shooed out of the backroom and after a round of hugs and kisses, with many promises to see each other again soon, the two couples took a tipsy stroll back to their hotel, hollering loudly into the night.
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Based on this. I know I'm supposed to be working on my WIP but this just wouldn't leave me alone.
They met in Heaven. Steve was barely even old enough to be there, wide-eyed and in awe, like every baby gay that walked into the most prominent gay bar in England.
Eddie remembered the feeling well, it had only been a few years since he'd stood there for the first time himself but from his spot on the dance floor he could see the vultures circling. And just like looking like a tourist in the middle of Trafalgar Square, it's easy to end up in a bad situation if you're on your own and don't have a good poker face.
Eddie’s first time he'd been with Chrissy, his childhood best friend and given his mum insisted she move in with them after her dad had gone berserk when he'd caught her snogging Jessie, he supposed that also made her his sister. That's just how she was, his mum, just so full of love and kindness and generosity and for someone who'd been through all she had, it always amazed Eddie. His dad was AWOL, never even spoke to Uncle Wayne, they suspected he was in prison given the amount of time he'd been gone. Not that Eddie cared, his mum was his hero, hardworking, endlessly compassionate, staunch and all in all just out-of-this-world.
And between his mum and Wayne and Scott, Eddie and Chrissy had all the parents they were ever going to need. His uncles only lived two doors down, so the five of them ate dinner together most days, they were an amazing support for all of them, had been throughout Eddie's life. He knew how incredibly lucky he was to have them, hell he knew just how blessed he was just to have a family that accepted him. But the three of them loved so unconditionally, they made amazing role models, not just to him and Chrissy but to Scott's students too, the couple just wanted kids to grow up in a different world to the one they grew up in.
So Eddie couldn't in all good conscious just stand there and let this little baby bird get swallowed up. He didn't even wait for the song to end, completely forgetting his dance partner Jack or James or whatever, he just dashed over all overly friendly, "Hey! Where've you been? We thought you weren't coming!" He was shouting absurdly loud but it did the trick, prying eyes slinking back into the shadows.
Steve was initially confused but Eddie used the excuse of a friendly hug to tell him he was attracting all the wrong kinds of attention. In fact, Eddie's pretty sure he told him he was "far too pretty to stand in the middle of a gay bar gawping like a newbie" but it didn't matter, Steve had just been grateful to be rescued.
He'd only just arrived in London, he didn't even know anyone in the city but he just couldn't sleep until he'd at least tried being in the club, Eddie didn't need to be a mind reader to see Steve had found whatever he was looking for.
Eddie knew how important it was to have a community, especially for someone new to not only the city but to themselves (he'd always had Chrissy, she'd been by his side through all of it, just as he'd done for her, he wouldn't be him without her) so he'd taken Steve to meet Chrissy and Gareth and Jeff.
They'd all hit it off immediately, Steve was a sweet little angel with a razorsharp tongue, what wasn't to like! The five of them were fast friends who spent every spare minute hanging out together, quickly becoming a group of six when Steve rescued Robin after she'd walked into Heaven doing the very same thing Steve had. And those two were insane, it was like they'd been separated at birth, Eddie was surprised to find out they didn't share actual brain cells.
And god they were all just so close! They barely left each other's sight those first few years, they got jobs together, flats together, had dinner parties and sleepovers, went for coffee and on shopping sprees, Steve and Chrissy even went jogging together in the park when they weren’t too hungover from a night on the lash, they were settled in their domestic little London life. Looking back, the years spent in their tiny shitty flat was when Eddie was happiest, just the six of them, skint and hungover but full of life and completely content.
The girls were the first to fall in love, Eddie was unsurprised, he knew full well it'd been love at first sight for Chrissy, and from Steve's drunken ramblings (which was the only time he'd spill Robin's secrets) Eddie was pretty sure the same could be said for Robin. Jeff and Gare had been fuckbuddies for years but they finally got together after Jeff's particularly nasty breakup with Danny. Jesus H Christ! Gare had hated him! Basically from the moment he'd met the guy, it was speculation amongst the others as to whether it was a problem with Dan or a problem with someone else shagging Jeff. Things came to an explosive end when Dan cheated on Jeff, in the club bathroom of all places! Gare was about ready to take Dan outside, probably would've if Steve hadn't got involved until Jeff calmed him down enough to convince Gare to take him home instead.
Eddie had fallen so gradually for Steve he hadn't really even noticed it was happening until they were in Heaven one night and the light caught Steve just at the right angle as he was dancing and the realisation just plonked itself down in Eddie's head and heart, like oh! Oh fuck, I'm in love with him. Not that Eddie ever told him that, of course, Steve had come back to Eddie sweaty and panting and Eddie for the first time in his life, he'd been completely speechless. Then Steve had kissed him playfully on the cheek as an excuse to steal his wallet and all Eddie could do was laugh as he disappeared into the crowd to buy another round.
And it was all going amazing until, just as Eddie was bucking up the courage to tell Steve that he was kinda sorta maybe in love with him, everyone's career started to take off.
A random audition landed Steve a place in a boyband, where godforbid anyone is openly queer, the girls started a tour, and a summer anthem flung him, Jeff and Gare into the stratosphere overnight. And it was fine, love confessions could wait, they had time, Steve's contract was only for two years and who knew how long their popularity would last, they could be a one-hit wonder for all he knew. So those first few years, the six of them just focused on the music and making sure not to party too hard. They all really thought they’d done it, they’d made it big and they were happy, but it didn't take long for the cracks to start showing and then quick as a flash everything started to crumble.
Both he and Steve ended up solo acts, the boyband eventually running out of steam and his band ending when Jeff and Gareth imploded somewhere over the North Atlantic.
Not that it took long until they were back to being the best of mates though, with that much history you either part ways for life or you wiggle through the awkward stage and be the best friends you've always been. That's how Jeff described it anyway and given they both eventually met other people, and Gare's godfather to Jeff's little one (who's two going on eighty, Robin keeps calling them an old soul, he's never quite sure whether she means it literally or figuratively) Eddie's inclined to believe him.
Chrissy and Robin were the only two who actually managed to stay together, both musically and romantically; they're set to get married soon, he's happy for them, he is! And he's excited to walk Chris down the aisle, doesn't mean he also can't be a little jealous.
Because he and Steve, they're still acting like teenagers! Sneaking around, texting constantly, seeing each other whenever they can get five minutes on the same continent, and as much as Eddie still feels blissed out from their whole week together on an equatorial island in the middle of nowhere, being a teenager is only fun for so long.
Musically, it's going great! It is! He's producing bigger and better than ever, which'll happen when you're completely free of creative restrictions, and it's great, but sometimes there's such a thing as too much freedom and no-one's there to rein him in or talk some sense into him when he needs it.
Steve's also enjoying his solo career, he's bigger than ever, freer, his fans adore him, the general populous prefer his music now it's just him and none of them are surprised by how huge he's become, it's rare that someone so beautiful is also an absolute fucking gem as well as a creative genius.
So it's all going great! And Eddie looks forward to every second he gets to spend in Steve's arms, whether it's hours or days hauled up in a hotel room together (or on the luckier times, at home together). Because honestly there's no place he's happier than with his Sweetheart but he knows they can't have anything more, they can only ever have hidden moments and undeclared feelings, and it's kinda starting to feel like it's killing him because every time either of them leave, Eddie's leaving a little bit more of his heart with Steve.
And he isn't sure there's much left to give.
But the group are all still best mates, so he can't talk to any of them about it, can't talk to his manager because she's practically married to the guy who just also happens to be Steve's manager, can't talk to his therapist because they just come out with dumb comments like "why don't you just tell him how you feel?", can't even call home about it because they just want him to get down on one knee and propose and he can't tell anyone outside his immediate circle about how he's feeling because what if it gets out?
So he just does what he always has, he channels all these feelings into a cover of a song he hasn't been able to stop listening to since he first heard it because it's speaking to him and this is the only way to make it stop.
And when he steps off stage after its debut and he's met with nothing but a whole twenty-four hours of radio silence, it starts to make him nervous, then it makes him jittery and then it just makes him sad.
So he's alone in his hotel room, like he often is these days. The only thing he had planned for the evening was waiting for the videos to start pouring in from Steve's concert because his fans are wild in the very best way. And he can't blame them; he often feels the same way when he sees Steve perform and something about seeing the videos settles something in his feral goblin brain.
He's just laying in bed, channel flipping, eating Doritos and generally feeling sorry for himself when Nancy (his manager) calls, tells him to get dressed now! Chrissy has tickets for a thing, which should've been a massive tip off because one, why wouldn't Chris just call herself? And two, why is Nancy, Queen of planning every last detail down to the milliseconds, being so damn vague? But the silence has him all off kilter so he just does as he's told on autopilot.
He's dressed and in a limo and outside the stadium Steve has sold out before he even has time to register what's happening. And the whole group are there and they all have VIP tickets and yet they've barely said two words to him.
Eddie wants to ask what the fuck is going on but he daren't, he's a strong believer in not asking questions you don't want the answers to and he feels like he really won't want the answer whether it's a good or bad one so he just follows quietly while they chat about the terrible two's and trying to deal with stroppy wedding planners.
Eventually, they get situated and then the concert starts and for the first few minutes, Eddie stays shell-shocked in his seat but Steve's voice wraps around him like silk, like it always does, and before he knows it they're all on their feet, dancing and singing along, having a whale of a time, it almost feels like everything's back to normal but then there's a costume change.
Steve comes out in his full Danny Zuko outfit that he'd worn that very first Halloween all those years ago, and of course he still looks as good now as he had then. Dare Eddie say he might even look a little better now that he's grown into all of his features, now he's a little more muscular and he's got the swagger of a man comfortable with himself and the way he looks.
Everyone's going mental, his fans, the group, Jeff recognises the outfit first and starts ragging on Eddie, with full mimicry and big eyes "but Jeff didn't you see him, he's just so sexy!" making Eddie sound like the chick from Aqua. They'd all been hammered that night, Eddie's surprised he even remembers, can't deny it though, Steve had looked sexy, still does. Eddie'd take Steve over John Travolta any day of the week, but honestly he's kinda glad for the teasing, that's just Jeff's way of showing love and a bit of normality feels nice.
Especially because as he watches Steve strutting around the stage, chatting with fans and waiting for the screaming to die down, Eddie finds he's actually trembling. Then Steve speaks, settling thousands of people by just putting the microphone against his lips, like he's got them all under a spell and god it's so alluring Eddie's starting to feel a little hot under the collar.
And then his words float across the stadium, "A special song, for the very special someone in my life. There seems to have been some miscommunication between us, so I'm hoping this'll make things clearer," he tells the crowd, turning his attention to the VIP seating, searching for him until their eyes meet, smiling the smile Steve only ever seems to have for him and Eddie just melts.
He recognises the song immediately, of course he does, he knows it inside and out, knows it in his very bones because they've watched this movie together a thousand times, in a thousand cities, howling along or turning the characters into muppets or impersonating other celebrities because what if so and so had played…? because when they're together they can just be themselves, they can laugh and be silly like they used to when they were younger but to Eddie it never matters how he's singing, Steve always sounds beautiful even when he's purposefully trying to sound terrible.
But right now he's just Steve singing a song to Eddie, for Eddie, completely from the heart, in front of thousands of people, in front of the whole world and Eddie can't breathe.
Because how stupid could he be? How could he have got it so wrong? His Steve, his beloved Stevie, his Sweetheart. The years they've spent together! And yeah, in the beginning, they'd both been with other people, but it never lasted because really for both of them, it's only ever been the other one, probably from that very first moment, so eventually they just stopped trying, stopped involving other people and were just them whenever they could find the time to be together.
And yeah they never actually discussed being together and that clearly wasn't the smartest thing to do because that seems to be what's tripped them up because in private they're a couple in every way that matters. He's Steve's, it's just a fact of life. He thought Steve knew that!
Their family know that! They don't even have separate families, for god's sake, they might all have different surnames but whoever calls it's always "And how's Steve?" or "How's our boy?" like he's an extension of Eddie, like they're EddieandSteve. Even some of their fans have cottoned on, creating their own little subgroup, with cutesy names and "evidence" of the length and depth of their relationship.
It's only by the grace of god and Nancy and Jon's (Steve's manager) careful planning and scheming that means they've made it this long without the press finding out, he and Steve rolling around in bed laughing, the night after they've walked down a red carpet together, even having the audacity to hold hands sometimes and just howling at how clueless the tabloids are, because they've only ever been seen as bachelors, bros supporting one another and as Robin has pointed out on many occasion, it's ridiculous that so few people have spotted the ridiculously besotted, gooey eyes Eddie always has for Steve.
So they know they're not single but somehow they've both got their wires crossed because he somehow thought he was someone to keep Steve's bed warm and Steve has given him his heart and assumes Eddie doesn't want him! And how after all this time have they managed to get it so wrong?
The song ends and Eddie just flops into his seat and sits in wonderment, not really hearing and only seeing the tunnel vision of Steve doing his thing, just trying desperately to understand how he missed the signs that Steve loves him and how the hell he's going to untangle the mess he's made.
But before he knows it the concert ends and he's no closer to an answer and he's so far up in his head Eddie doesn't remember much else, just flashes of moments. Chris' encouraging smile, Robin's curled lip, Gare's arm around him, being backstage, his phone vibrating in his pocket, knocking on the dressing room door.
Then it's all Steve, his tentative smile, the shine in his eyes, his hair still wet from the shower dripping onto his t-shirt making glistening trails down his neck. His damp collar, his arms around Eddie, the sandalwood of his products, peppermint toothpaste and that underlying something that's just Steve.
Quiet, hesitant greetings in the silence, Eddie just opening his mouth and letting it all out, everything he's been holding in for so long, apologies and admissions and declarations, finally ready for the chips to just fall where they may, and he knows he's rambling, can tell by the endeared look on Steve's face, by the way he runs his thumb over Eddie's bottom lip knowing full well it'll stop his blathering in its tracks.
Using the opportunity to lean in, bumping their noses together, knowing Eddie will close the gap, will chase his lips with his own, will be thoroughly distracted from his thoughts as his whole world becomes Steve, Steve, Steve.
Eventually they come up for air, Eddie sitting in Steve's lap, content to rest their foreheads together, just feeling each other close and breathing the same air. Eddie, unable to stop playing with the still damp hair at the nape of Steve's neck, can't quite manage to wipe the stupid, lovesick grin off his face.
It takes a moment to register what he's doing as Steve wiggles Eddie's continuously vibrating phone out of his pocket, it had been ringing for so long Eddie hadn't even really noticed it but no doubt it's driving Steve crazy. Steve hates phones, he makes them all put them in a bowl when they hang out together, only Jon is allowed anything to hide behind but that's because he and his DSLR are inseparable.
It's his mum calling, Steve answers and she actually squeals! She loves Steve so much, she has from the moment they met, she treats him like he's her son and honestly if he didn't know that that's just the way she was he'd probably be a bit jealous, especially when he's only ever home for such short periods of time and her and Wayne sit around the breakfast table gushing over Steve's latest whatever, it drives him a little crazy.
Steve had barely been gone an hour the first time Eddie took him home for the weekend before they both started practically begging Eddie to marry him, they've only become more insistant since Chris and Robin's announcement, luckily Uncle Scott always has his back, rescues him from their tinkering with a "leave the boy alone, he'll ask him when he's ready" which is only somewhat helpful.
"So it's true?" she wants to know, Steve kisses Eddie's cheek, hums an affirmative and she screams so much Steve drops the phone onto the couch with a laugh, it goes on and on, like she's won the bloody lottery, the noise coming through the phone only interrupted by Charlie barking, confirming Eddie's suspicion that she's at Wayne and Scott's. Because he loves his family but they're abysmal when it comes to technology and thank god for Uncle Scott because he's the only one who can handle anything more complex than a TV remote.
And it hits him like a freight train because that means this whole thing was planned, and of course it was, he doesn't know why he's only just realising that, but it means that Steve heard him, that he saw and he heard and that this was his response.
It explains why Robin was so pissed, explains why no-one had anything to say because the whole group probably wanted to bang their heads together because what the fuck after all this time, how were they still not understanding each other?
And Eddie can't quite believe his luck, because they've had this massive communication hiccup but Steve just declared his devotion to him anyway, not only in front of his thousands of screaming, adoring fans but in front of the people who matter the most, because yeah the public finding out had been a sticking point once upon a time but none of that had ever really mattered.
Steve declaring his love to him in front of their loved ones though, even after Eddie's massive fuck up, even after he managed to get so stuck in his own head, even after he let that song corrupt what he knew in his heart, he just couldn't quite believe it. Steve's just…
Jesus H Christ!
He's everything!
"Marry me," Eddie blurts and Steve looks surprised for all of two seconds before he's nodding a watery kiss against Eddie's lips.
His mum starts screaming again, "He said yes, right? Eds! Eddie! Answer me!" Then there's the sound of the phone being handed to someone else, it's Wayne, "Eddie! Boy, answer your mother before she deafens us all!"
Eddie breaks away from Steve just enough to grumble "He said yes!" into the phone before turning the damn thing off. They’ve had enough distractions, enough time apart. For now, he just wants five minutes with his fiancé in his arms, before she calls Chrissy and the maniacs come piling in.
Written for @steddiemas day 22. santa shenanigans. This is part two of Santa Steve, my contribution for day 7 of @steddieholidaydrabbles, insipred by the tags used by @steddieasitgoes in her reblog of the fic. Can be read as stand-alone, too, I suppose. Under cut due to Steve's boner and Eddie's filthy mouth.
rating: t | words: 664 | tags: established steddie, kissing, background wayne/scott, christmas morning, presents, awkward boners, silliness, mall santa steve references, photos.
‘What’s this?’ Steve asked when he opened Eddie’s gift, which turned out to be a small photo-album, the fir-green covers bearing a pattern of little stars.
Eddie was looking at him with a somewhat manic grin on his face, almost vibrating out of his skin.
Wayne and Scott were looking on with indulgent smiles on their faces as they sat on the sofa side by side, not necessarily cuddling, but their sides were pressed together and with easy intimacy all the same. Steve looked at them and saw him and Eddie having a future together, which was far removed from the way he’d grown up thinking that all he could ever have was a certain kind of life, a job, a wife and kids. Now he had Eddie, which meant a different sort of life that he’d expected, but not a bad one.
‘Open it,’ Eddie told him, his gaze boring right into Steve’s soul, it felt like.
HIs excitement almost made Steve want to be contrary and do the exact opposite, to save it for later, but Eddie’s big wet cow eyes were too much for him and he was kinda scared that he’d vibrate right out of his seat if given half a chance.
Steve’s eyes went back to the photo album in his hands and he flicked the cover open and saw… he glanced up at Eddie to still see that grin on his face, that spot of mania plastered across his face. ‘Is this…’ He asked, his brain processing sluggishly.
‘Go on, check the rest out,’ Eddie encouraged.
He flipped through the album, each page had a photo of him dressed in his mall Santa costume with Eddie perched on his lap, the last with Eddie pressing a kiss to his cheek, after which he’d been banned from sitting on Santa’s lap by the “Santa committee” or whatever the mall people organizing Santa and his elves were called.
Steve felt a blush creeping over his cheeks. He looked at Eddie again, that same grin still very much in place on his face, his eyes still too big and bright and mischievous.
‘Do you like it?
Steve flicked through the photos, remembering all the innuendoes and the blatant flirting, as well as the things that had happened when he got home after each one had been taken.
‘Uh… yeah.’ he wishes they were somewhere a bit more private, and not opening their presents with the two men who were basically his in-laws, but Eddie had wanted to go to Wayne and Scott’s to spend the holidays there, hence this moment on Christmas morning, all of them sitting in the neat living-room in their pajamas with mugs of hot chocolate and a tray of gingerbread cookies while opening presents.
He was not popping a company inappropriate boner, he wasn’t. He crossed his legs, making Eddie lean in to whisper against his ear.
‘You like it, dontcha… Santa?’
‘Eddie…’ His voice was not strangled, not at all. He curled over the album, held it closed over his chest. He heard Wayne chuckling from the sofa, muttering something he didn’t quite catch, then Scott’s muffled reply.
Suddenly, his lap was full of Eddie and he was being kissed, the album trapped between them with Steve’s hands and he squealed into his mouth. Eddie kissed him thoroughly, making him forget where he was, all his focus solely on him as he was devoured and the boner was very much present.
Steve came out of the kiss, a bit dazed and gasping, hoping he didn’t make a fool of himself in front of the two older men.
‘Uh…’
‘Don’t worry, Uncle Scott dragged Wayne into the kitchen to “give us privacy.”’
Steve dropped his head over Eddie’s shoulder. ‘You’re a menace.’
‘But you love me anyway.’ Eddie kissed the top of his head, one hand reaching down to grope his ass.
‘Yeah, yeah.’
Then Steve drew him into a kiss of his own, no less heated.
