There’s actual sneezing in this part!!! YAY!!! More mechanically inclined Eddie because I like the idea of him being good at fixing things.
I hope writing their dynamic right, I’m not totally sure but I’m having fun!!!
Looks like there might be a part 3 if people are still interested, we’ll see but anyway enjoy!!!
Eddie spent the next hour fiddling with the heating unit, glancing anxiously at Steve watching as his budding cold slowly progressed shifting into his head.
Steve leaned heavily on the counter, a hand pressed to his forehead like he was trying to will away a headache. He was on the phone listening to a customer drone on about a movie they wanted but didn’t know the title.
It sounded like his sinus had turned to sludge, with every syrupy sniffle. The general brain fog that came with being sick hazing over his expression.
Eddie’s heart constricted hearing Steve’s breath snag for what had to be the millionth time in an hour.
He watched as he put Steve bent away from the phone as much as he could before pressing a loose fist under his nose,“ Hhhh…hah..hh'DKNGt! Hh’DKXnsh! hhHH’KDSsh!”
Eddie watched Steve snap to the side with three barely contained stifles, before straightening up with a shudder. The warmth the loaned jacket provided him long gone, replaced by the biting chill that had taken up residency in the small store.
At this rate he really was worried that the other boy was going to turn into a popsicle with how badly he was trembling.
Thankfully Eddie found the problem and what part he’d need to fix it.
“I think I found the source of your problem,” He told Steve he got off the phone, “I’m gonna go pick up the part, do you need me to get anything else to hold you over while I’m out?”
“A dew immude systeb,” Steve croaked sniffling thickly, opening the cash register digging around pulling out some money, “here hopefully this’ll cover the price of the part, let be kdow if it doesd’t…”
Eddie could barely understand Steve around the congestion that flooded his voice.
Honestly he expected Steve to be more whiny when he was sick but was just mostly quiet and too out of it for Eddie's comfort.
He took the money wincing as he watched Steve basically grind the heel of his palm into his socket, trying to relieve some of the pressure there.
“I’m going to be blunt, you sound bad Harrington,” Eddie told him, folding his arms over his chest, “you sure you don’t need anything else, painkillers maybe?”
“I just wadt it to dot be so cold,”Steve sighed, another shiver rattling his body, “fix the heater add you will be by dew best friedd.”
Eddie had to bite down hard on his tongue to resist saying, something stupid because of the big fat crush he had on the other boy. Steve was sick as a dog right now he didn’t need flirting, he needed medicine and to be in bed.
If the closest to comfort he could provide was a functioning heater then he was going to fix a heater.
“Alright, I’ll be back soon,”Eddie said, grabbing his keys off the counter, “resist the urge to turn into a popsicle before then, princess.”
~
Eddie exited the store sliding into his van tossing the plastic bags onto the passenger seat, and to-go cup with something warm into his cup holder.
He knew Steve didn’t ask for anything but he couldn’t in good conscience leave the other boy as sick as he was without some supplies. Rolling into the parking lot of Family Movie, he hopped out of his van with snagging his items.
Shouldering the door as his hands were full, he was met with the sight of Steve leaning over the computer as a customer just laid into him about something.
There really was no sympathy in this town for anyone, not even for the sick.
“I’b sorry sir, we dod’t have that tape id stock,” Steve told the man in his best customer service voice, “I cad help you fidd adnother tape, or you cad leave your codtact idforbatiod.”
The man opened his mouth but before he could say anything Eddie butt into the conversation, at least there was one good thing about having the reputation of town freak.
“The man says they don’t have the movie in stock, so back off.” Eddie said, watching the man visibly pale when he saw him scrambling to get out of the store.
“You kdow you’re bad for bussidess Mudson…”Steve said, but Eddie could see that he was visibly relieved that the customer was gone.
“Not my fault that guy was making an ass of himself.” Eddie said, pushing the to-go cup at Steve before unloading his haul.
“What’s all of this?” Steve asked, taking the cup curling around it’s warmth, as he watched Eddie unload the plastic bags. There was tissues, medicine, cough drops, and a glass thermometer.
“Look I know you said you didn’t need anything, but I disagree,” Eddie said, removing the thermometer from the packaging, “and before asking no I didn’t buy all this on Family Video’s dime, this is all out of pocket.”
“That…” Steve started rubbing his face with his hands, “actually bakes me feel worse, at least let me pay you back for sobe of this.”
“Don’t even think about it,” Eddie said, finishing reading the instructions on the thermometer sticking it in Steve's mouth before he could protest, “just be a good boy and keep this under your tongue for a few minutes, while I work on your heating problem.”
It was a little fun watching Steve’s brain short circuit in real time when Eddie called him a good boy, but he didn’t linger long he still had a heater to repair.
Eddie made quick work of repairing the heater replacing the broken part with the new one, and with one flip of a switch the heater whirred to life.
“Never thought I’d say this Mudsod,” Steve said, removing the thermometer setting it on the counter, “but I thigk you’re by hero.”
Eddie felt a warm flush creep up his face at Steve’s words, his heart thrumming in his chest as he busied himself with the thermometer.
“Jesus Steve, do you do anything in halves?” He mumbled when he saw the reading, “I bet you didn’t even take anything this morning.” When he didn’t receive a reply he looked up at the other boy.
Steve wasn’t listening as he rubbed the heel of his palm into his nose, mouth hanging open slightly as his breath hitched, “Hhhhhh…”
“You look ridiculous, just sneeze already.” Eddie rolled his eyes, tearing open the tissue box pressing a few into Steve's hand.
He snagged the tissues burying his nose into them, “ ‘TSCHH! ‘TSCHHUUu! Hh’DKXnsh!” Snapping in half nearly hitting his head against the counter with three harsh sneezes.
“Jesus…”Eddie said, measuring out medicine while Steve blew his nose, “there’s really no one else to cover for you.”
“No,” Steve croaked, taking the medicine from Eddie downing it like a shot, “ it’s usually just be add Robid…add Keith but God knows where he is…”
“Jeeze…”Eddie mumbled, “have you even had a break, like at all today?”
Steve shook his head, regretting it when it made him a bit light headed forcing him to grab onto the counter.
“Look, give me your vest,” The metal head said, holding his hand out to take it, “let me man the counter for a bit, go take a break, finish off your coco, let the medicine kick in.”
“I dod’t think I’b, allowed to do that.” Steve answered, eyeing Eddie warily, still clearly needing some convincing.
“Steve, we're practically alone in the store, who's gonna know,” Eddie told him, still holding his hand out expectantly, “come on babysitter, let someone fuss over you for a change.”
Steve didn’t feel like arguing so he relented, shrugging off Eddie’s jacket before handing over his family video vest. “Thirty bidutes, that’s all I’b takigg,” He told the long haired man pointedly, “dod’t let be stay back there ady logger, clear?”
“Crystal.”Eddie answered, sliding on the green vest watching the other boy leave disappearing into the back room.
No sneezing in this part unfortunately because I couldn’t figure out where to fit it in...honestly I wasn’t expecting this fic to get this long, lol. Anyway there will be another part to this!!!
Hopefully someone enjoys reading it because it was fun to write!!!
Steve knew that he should have called out of work this morning.
He’d spent a good ten minutes staring at the phone trying to gauge whether he was sick enough to call out, when he was startled out of his daze when it began to ring.
Picking up the receiver, Steve wasn’t all too shocked to find Robin on the other end, he was already at least ten minutes late picking her up for work. He was shocked to hear that she sounded like crap.
By the end of the conversation, Steve had made up his mind that Robin sounded much worse than he felt and that he would be covering her shift.
It meant doing a double shift but nothing he couldn’t handle by himself. That was almost two hours ago.
His whole head felt entirely too hot, and he wished some of that heat would transfer to the rest of his body as a sharp chill ran down his spine tugging his flimsy cotton jacket around him.
It wasn’t nearly warm enough for the weather outside, but Steve couldn’t remember which kid he’d lent his good jacket to last. He figured it would last him until he made it to Family Video.
What Keith had failed to mention this morning when he’d called and told him he’d be covering Robin's shift was that the heating was out. So when he walked in this morning he was greeted by a piece of paper shoved into his hands with instructions to figure it out.
Now here Steve was leaned over the counter at family movie with his face pressed into his hands as if it would ease the pressure of the congestion he could feel building in his sinuses.
He’d been on the phone with the heating company for nearly a half an hour, going round and round with them about whether or not they could send someone to fix the heating. After the second time being put on hold, Steve is ready to just give up.
He wanted to sit down where he was standing and just cry, when he heard someone enter the store.
Straightening up he tried his best to look like he wasn’t ready to have a complete mental breakdown in the middle of his crappy job. His posture relaxed a little when he saw it was just Eddie.
Waving at the other man, he watched Eddie open his mouth to say something before thinking better of it when he realized Steve was on the phone.
Instead he hoisted himself up sitting on the counter, for once waiting patiently for Steve to get off the phone.
“I’m on hold.” Steve croaked gesturing to the receiver, clearing his throat with a wince.
Eddie takes this as an invitation to start up a conversation. “I hope it’s with someone interesting.” He says with a cheeky little grin that makes Steve's heart do a backflip.
“With the heating company,” Steve rolled his eyes at the implication that he'd be using the work phone for that, “but if that’s what you consider interesting, then who am I to judge?”
“I was wondering why it felt like an icebox in here,” Eddie complained shivering as he pulled his jacket tighter around his shoulders, “I think it’s colder in here than out there, bet you I can see my breath.”
Steve watched as Eddie blew a breath of air out of his mouth coming out in a puff of steam from his lips. For a minute he found himself mesmerized watching him.
A voice on the other line drew his attention away though, so he pressed a finger to his lips silencing the other man.
He talked with them for a minute using his best customer service voice, but the longer they talked the more quickly he deflated. Realizing that the heating wouldn’t be getting fixed any time soon.
“Alright…I understand…thank you…” Steve said, before handing up resisting the urge to slam down the phone. He ground the heel of his palm into his eye socket groaning.
“I take it the phone call didn’t go over all that well,” Eddie winced, watching a slight tremor run through Steve's lean frame,“Jesus Harrington, don’t you have a warmer jacket.”
“Leant it to one of the kids, can’t remember which one…probably Dustin…” Steve explained, looking up at Eddie who was already shrugging off his jacket, “hey nooo, don’t do that.”
“Just shut up for a second, okay, “ Eddie said, sliding off the counter so he was on the same side as Steve, “let someone else take care of you for once.”
He slid his leather jacket over Steve’s shoulders, watching as the other man carefully slid his arms into his jacket.
“Aren’t you going to get cold now?” He asked.
“I appreciate the concern but I think I’ll live with just a sweatshirt,” Eddie poked fun at his concern, “and unlike you I own more than one winter coat.”
Steve huffed rolling his eyes, but he practically sunk into the jacket grateful for the extra warmth, the leather still warm from Eddie's own body heat.
“Now point me in the direction of your heater, I’ll take a look at it for you,” Eddie told him earning a raised eyebrow from the other boy, “come on I can’t make it worst can I, can’t risk letting my friends at Family video turn into popsicles…where is Robin by the way?”
“Out sick…”Steve told him, pulling out an old tool kit that looked like it’s seen better days before leading him in the direction of their heating unit, “I’m covering her shifts today.”
“I hate to break it to you Harrington,” Eddie started, looking Steve over with his eyes, “but you're not sounding too hot yourself, big boy.”
Steve felt his face heat up, as his brain felt like it was short circuiting. “S’just a cold, I’ll live…”He finally manages to choke out, watching Eddie open up the unit.
“If you say so…”Eddie mumbles, most of his attention focused on the heating unit.
