Steddie timeloop au where Steve has tried everything to change what happened and get out of the loop but nothing ever fully works, he never manages to save Eddie and the loops keep happening.
This time he's determined to play everything through like the first time to remind himself how it started and hopefully get some new ideas on how to fix it. (Except for the new hiding place for Erica, where she won't be spotted so Jason never finds them. He's not willing to risk Max)
But when Eddie calls out to him and tells him "Make him pay" after that lengthy dose of eye contact he can't help himself. He steps close, grabs Eddie by the sides of his jacket and pulls him even closer, stares at his lips before looking back into Eddie's eyes. "I will. I promise you, I will."
And while Eddie dot exe stops working for a few seconds he closes up the jacket and adds "And please keep your jacket closed, I have a feeling you might need the extra padding."
Little does he know that this is literally what saves Eddie's life and ends the loop. Sure, he's pretty chewed up but the leather gave just enough protection they can get him to a hospital in time. And when Steve is crashing from the adrenaline and realizes the loop isn't restarting.... he can't help but slap his hand on whatever poor surface is closest and go "The JACKET??!?!? All this time-! And it was the jacket???"
Anyway for a good while Eddie is pretty damn convinced Steve can see visions of the future
