Probably never gonna do anything with this, but I've been thinking of an au where Eddie is a giant prince and Steve is his knight.
Eddie is kind and humble but he also fully takes advantage of the fact that he's a prince to get his favorite knight to always be posted by him.
Sulking on his throne, draped over the chair until Steve walks in and he immediately perks up.
Eddie's the prince. He's fair, kind, a bit playful but he can be commanding when he needs to be. He knows how to do his duty, knows when to be serious and knows when to be a dramatic little shit.
Steve is one of the knights who work for him. He's been training officially since he was 15, under the table since he was 12 and worked as a squire. He's good at his job, confident, isn't the best at battle plans but is good at finding flaws in them.
Eddie thought Steve was good looking, but thought he was an ass like most noblemen. He's pleasantly surprised to find that he's wrong and when he learned how kind he was he became smitten. He often finds his gaze drifting to the knight whenever they're in the same room.
Steve thought Eddie was a spoiled prince. He was loud, dramatic, always complaining(whining) that his classes aren't teaching him anything new. Turns out that whining wasn't for show - Eddie is wicked smart at delegating and settling court cases. He knows how to run the kingdom, he's good at strategizing. He needs a bit of work when it comes to sword play but when your only opponent could be the King, that's a given.
It starts when they're doing a ball rehearsal. The king's voice is droning on, explaining how the noblemen will walk down and greet them both, and of course Eddie's heard this all before so his gaze is drifting.
Eddie likes to size up the newer knights. His favorite hobby is messing with the more pompous ones just so they don't get an inflated ego. His eyes land on Steve.
This is Steve's first ball. He's paying attention. He wants to be perfect. But of course he sees the prince staring at him from his throne, feels that burning gaze, and when it doesn't move he looks up against his better judgment.
That's a mistake.
Instantly he's pinned by those big intense eyes. And it gets worse. The second their eyes meet Eddie kinda gets a glimmer in them. His expression doesn't change much, but it makes him look all the more scary. His chin is on his hand, his elbow on the armrest of his throne.
And now his lips are pursing, he's blowing Steve a kiss and winking and Steve can feel his face heating up. A fact that doesn't go unnoticed by the Prince if his eyes lighting up is any indication.
It grows from there. Eddie finds ways to corner him like he does with the other knights. Only instead of getting mad Steve finds himself getting flustered. He never pushes Eddie away unless it's something important he has to actually listen to. And during a meeting where they discuss plans to increase their farmlands Eddie maps out a perfect plan and Steve realizes he's gone for him.
Royalty isn't really the same as in our world. They're chosen through blood, spouses being given temporary growth in order to bear children who remain giant. But they are fully allowed to choose a mate separately, and it is not unheard of for a giant to marry someone other than their child's parent. So Steve and Eddie being together, while uncommon, is not wholly unrealistic.
One day Steve is summoned to the throne room. It's daunting, being alone with two giants. But he's surprised by the kindness in the King's voice.
"I understand the prince has been courting you."
Steve doesn't know how to respond, but thankfully he doesn't have to.
"I will not deter him, nor you. But if you would like him to stop, you may speak now."
"I...it is not proper."
"I did not ask if it was proper. I asked if you'd like him to stop."
And Steve finds that he doesn't.
Then, as they get older, Eddie and Steve grow close. They actually like each other's company, but they can't see each other often due to how different their lives are. This won't do in Eddie's mind.
Eddie finds out he can ask for specific staff. A specific cook, a maid, and, much to the amusement of the king, a specific knight. And he does at first. He asks for Steve, gets to see him more. But even though Steve likes hanging out with Eddie, it gets in the way of his duties. Steve enjoys being a knight. He's good at protecting others, and he feels bound to do his job.
Eddie is a little upset to hear this, but he never blames Steve, never holds it against him.
Instead he makes it a game.
Once a week, then once a month when they both get older, Eddie will refuse to get out of bed. He'll ignore everyone, pout at his staff who he's fond of, and drape himself dramatically over the mattress and stick his head under the pillow until someone summons Steve. Often with a fond 'your prince is in one of his moods again'.
So Steve walks over, uses a passage in the wall that leads him to the nightstand. He's gotten used to being the size of a barbie doll, so he isn't deterred when he finds himself in the giant's room. He calls out. "My prince."
Eddie grunts. It used to intimidate Steve. Now it just makes him rolls his eyes. "Prince Edward."
Eddie groans and shifts his head under the pillow.
"Eddie."
That makes Eddie yank the pillow off his head. It's hard to see his eyes through his mess of hair, but there, they shine in the daylight.
"It's time to get up, your highness."
Eddie huffs. "I don't want to."
"You have duties to attend to."
"Sounds dull."
Steve takes a step closer. "But you must."
"Says who?"
Another step closer. "Eddie, if you don't get up right now I'm gonna stick my sword-"
It happens so fast, and Steve really should've seen it coming. Eddie snatches Steve off the nightstand and cuddles him to his face. Steve squawks and bats at Eddie instinctively. "Your highness, this is highly improper!"
But Steve finds himself surrounded by Eddie all the same. He knows that giant nose would be buried in his stomach if it wasn't for his chestplate.
With a sigh he tries again. "Eddie, get up."
"No."
"Yes, get up. We both have a lot to do today."
"Or you could stay here with me."
"I can't sleep in my armor."
"That can be fixed."
Steve shakes his head. "You know I can't do that."
Eddie's voice is a mumble, the knight can hear the pout in it. "You could. We could take off to the hills, spend the day together. I'm taller than everyone, they can't stop me."
"Or," Steve moves the curtain of hair out the way just enough to press a kiss to Eddie's nose, "you could get up, go to your classes, and I could join you for dinner."
"That's not as fun." But Steve can tell by the way the nose scrunches up that the prince is letting himself be swayed.
"What, you don't want me to come to dinner?"
"Dinner and Lunch?"
"Dinner," he runs his hand along the fingers around his waist, "and I'll spend the evening with you."
Eddie knows that's the best he can do. "So kind of you, little knight."
Steve laughs. "Now go brush your teeth. Your breath stinks."
