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Steve was heading into a free weekend and he had envisioned how his day was gonna go down to the millisecond.
Unfortunately, Mark had asked him to hang back to help customers still milling in the store — despite the fact they closed 20 minutes ago — and to finish stocking the returned videos on the floor. They’d had a busy weekend and it took him a total of 40 minutes to get everyone out of the store and begin restocking. In an attempt to get everything done as fast as possible, it had slipped his mind to call Robin and Eddie to let them know he’d be late, even well past when Mark had left the store after receiving the till. That had resulted in Steve being startled when the phone went off as he was sorting through the last of the VHS tapes.
“Family Video, Steve speaking,” Steve says as he picks up the phone.
“Thank god,” Robin sighs in relief over the line. “Eddie suggested you were probably still stuck at work, but I know it doesn’t take you more than 30 minutes to finish tilling out and I started spiraling.”
There’s a minor scuffle and Eddie’s voice cuts in with a small laugh. “She almost had me convinced we were gonna find your car flipped over on the side of the road. So we just called to make sure you were in one piece.”
“It slipped my mind to call. Sorry,” Steve replies. “Wanna come help me finish stocking tapes?”
“It’s my day off,” Robin tells him. “But if I had a license, I’d drive over to you immediately.”
“That’s why you’re my favorite.”
“Hello! I’m right here,” Eddie says dramatically. “I thought we had something special, Stevie.”
“You know it’s different with you.”
“How’s it different?” Eddie and Robin say simultaneously. Steve smacks himself on the forehead.
“Uh—Well, like, Robin was my friend first and also she’s a girl and Eddie’s not a girl. I’m going to stop talking,” Steve finishes, defeated. He’s met with amused noises from the both of them. “Hanging up so I can finish this shit and meet at your place.”
He finishes up in less than 10 minutes and rushes out into the cold night air. Steve drags his feet to his car and then begins the drive to Eddie’s place. He has to put the windows down and the music up to keep himself fully alert, taking a moment to enjoy the feeling of the wind in his hair. He drives to Eddie’s on autopilot for the last half of the drive — too caught up on how all his plans for the night went awry. He’d wanted to surprise them with pizza after his shift and maybe smoke a little before a movie. Mostly, he’d counted on getting to have a talk with Eddie. Now, he’d feel lucky to eat and catch even half of a movie.
When he makes it to Eddie’s, the exhaustion has really gotten Steve. He make his way up two flights of stairs that drains him further. He knocks on the door and doesn’t even bother to say hello before he enters and throws himself onto the empty couch, face down.
“No, no, no,” Robin’s voice says as she shoves at him. “If you fall asleep, I’ll never forgive you.”
Steve’s words are slurred, the couch too soft for his own good, “Just a little nap.” Robin grabs his arm and tugs until he falls to the floor. “Buckley, what the fuck?!”
It’a Eddie who extends a hand out to Steve, “Robin is right in the sense you probably need to eat before sleeping.” He’s looking at Robin like she’s grown another head as he helps Steve lift himself up just enough to land back on the couch.
“That’s exactly what I meant,” she grins at Eddie but it does’t meet her eyes that flick back to Steve like she’s trying to mind beam something to him. “Do you have something for him to eat?”
“No, I brought up food for fun,” he angles himself so only Steve can see him roll his eyes. “Sorry, you’re gonna be starving,” he pats Steve on the head before vanishing into the kitchen.
“Are you still trying to have that conversation tonight?” Robin asks after Eddie’s left the room, taking a seat to his left on the couch.
“What are you saying?” Steve pinches the bridge of his nose. “I’m so hungry and tired and you’re communicating in code.”
“Remember the plan to talk to—,” she cuts herself off and looks towards the arch that leads to the kitchen. “I’ve been pushing you to do this for months, but you look dead on your feet. We need you fully alert, Lover Boy.”
Oh. “Yeah, I don’t think so,” Steve replies sinking further into the couch.
“Thank god. I was genuinely concerned you were gonna say something stupid. You can’t help it, but it’s still very cringe,” Robin pats his arm.
“You’re the worst friend I’ve ever had,” Steve frowns at her.
“It’s an honor,” Robin says with a roll of her eyes. “So it’s for sure not happening today?”
“What’s not happening today?” Eddie asks from behind them. Robin tenses and her head shoots up. Steve can feel himself curl into Robin’s side so he doesn’t have to look in Eddie’s direction.
“Steve doesn’t think he can do a movie. I told him it’s alright,” Robin lightly rubs at Steve’s back in fake sympathy. “Is that cool, Eddie?”
“Yeah, no worries. We can just put something on in the background and chill. You’re tired, right? Wanna smoke and pass out?” Eddie says with a waggle of his brows as he sets down a plate holding a simple sandwich with chips on the side and a glass of water on the coffee table. He moves to pull something out of his jacket pocket and reveals a coke. “Couldn’t figure out which one you might prefer, so I grabbed you both. I also have—,” he’s digging around in the other pockets that line his jacket, “Ah ha! This bad boy.” He brings out a pre-wrapped joint and sets it beside Steve’s food on the coffee table.
“I would make you an honest man if I wasn’t strictly into women, Munson,” Robin says as she grabs the joint like it’s something precious. Robin’s eyes slide over to Steve as if asking for his blessing.
“You can get started without me,” Steve says as he makes a grab for the plate of food and takes a giant bite out of the sandwich. “Thanks, Eddie.”
“Wow,” Robin shakes her head at him.
“What?” Steve says around a mouthful.
“I offer you food, weed, and shelter and Robin is the only person thanking me properly,” Eddie presses the back of his hand against his forehead and crumples to the floor. “Make sure they put that I died from a broken heart on my tombstone.”
Steve rolls his eyes, but humors Eddie regardless. “Eddie, you are the light of my life. The moon to my stars. Will you—“ Steve leans closer to Eddie who has sat up and rested his head against the side of the couch, “please let me finish this sandwich?”
“Oh, fuck off,” Eddie shoves at his shoulder and Steve lets the momentum settle him against the back of the couch. “How are you even friends with him?” is directed at Robin.
“Honestly, I’m hoping it counts as my one, great act of kindness. The equivalent of doing charity except I don’t think I’m becoming a better person, at all,” Robin stage whispers to Eddie while holding the joint up to her mouth and flicking on the lighter.
“I’m literally sitting right here,” Steve says as the flame comes to life and begins burning the edges of the rolling paper.
“Can you go a moment without needing attention? The adults are talking,” Eddie chastises before turning back to Robin.
“I’m literally older than Robin,” Steve says defensively.
“Only physically. Mentally, I am years ahead of your time. Probably more well-adjusted, too.” Robin starts laughing at the look on Steve’s face and Eddie joins in with her. Steve does his best attempt to frown and tries to hide his smile by taking another bite of the sandwich. When he locks eyes with Eddie, he can tell from the look in his eye he knows Steve finds it as funny as the both of them.
“Yeah, whatever,” Steve cracks open the can of Coke and follows the wisps of smoke as they dissipate into the air. “Your uncle doesn’t mind the smell?”
“Dude, he partakes,” Eddie huffs out a laugh before bringing the joint up to his mouth. He’s holding it between his middle and pointer finger and he licks his lips slightly before he wraps his lips around it. Steve watches Eddie take a long and steady hit holding it as he moves to offer it up to Steve.
Steve wishes he wasn’t someone that freaks out over the fact his mouth is about to be where Eddie’s has been but he’s feeling tired and indulgent. He takes the joint between his thumb and pointer finger and brings it up to his mouth. Eddie’s stash is strong — it almost knocked Steve on his ass the first time they’d smoked together. He inhales slow and steady. Miraculously, he doesn’t have a coughing fit this time. He’d wanted Eddie to think he was cool so badly he underestimated the size of the hits he was taking and was left gasping for air on more than one occasion. Steve notices Eddie exhales in smoke rings.
“Reminds me of Waterful Ring Toss,” Steve blurts out and watches as Eddie curls into himself with laughter. He moves to rest closer to Steve after he’s settled.
“You hang out with kids too much,” Robin says as she swipes the joint from his hand.
“But doesn’t it?”
Robin offers the joint over to Eddie, “Do it again.”
“What am I a circus act?”
“It’d explain why you act like a clown,” Steve says with a shrug.
“I could kick the two of you out, right now,” Eddie tells them before taking another long hit while smacking Steve’s shin.
“Finish it off, dude,” Steve waves away the joint Eddie offers up to him. “Should we get out of here, Robin?” Steve turns to her for an answer, he feels a little more awake, but the weed isn't helping.
“Hmm,” Robin murmurs. “It’d serve him right for the threat.” Eddie starts the smoke rings up again. “Hey, it kinda does remind me of that.” Robin takes the joint from him and takes the final puff before crushing the end of the joint into the ashtray.
“Get out. I would actually feel so at peace in silence,” Eddie tells them.
“You heard the man, Robin,” Steve makes a show of pretending to get ready to get up off the couch and Eddie’s hand smacks down on his thigh and clamps down.
“You’re tired. Sleep here,” Eddie tells him. Steve feels the exhaustion hit him all at once once Eddie acknowledges it and nods.
“Knew you’d miss us,” Robin says as she gets up off the floor. Looking at Steve, “Couch or floor?”
“Steve’s taking the bed,” Eddie says from beside them.
“Dude, I’m not taking your fucking bed. The couch is fine.”
“I’ll take the bed.” Robin looks over at Eddie and quickly says, “Or not.” She’s got this look in her eye that Steve doesn’t like. “What if you and Eddie shared the bed? He’s still a good host and you’d be comfy.”
Steve narrows his eyes at her and tries to channel the question of what the hell is wrong with her with his thoughts alone.
“Sounds like an even trade. Right, Stevie?” Eddie asks so nonchalantly like they share they bed all the time but the color on his cheeks betrays his tone.
They don’t.
The one and only time they’d shared the bed had been a couple months back after Steve had gotten plastered out of his mind at a party they’d had at his place. He and Eddie had gotten caught up in conversation and decided to move up to the stair landing for less noise except Steve had kept going and they’d ended up in his room. He’d been drowsy drunk, Eddie looking soft in the dim light of his bedside table lamp. He’d thrown himself back onto his bed and flopped around until he spotted Eddie who had moved to the bookshelf at the foot of his bed. Eddie had preoccupied himself with finding the spines of his books incredibly fascinating until Steve had enough and said Get over here, extending his hand for Eddie to take before pulling him down on the bed half on top of Steve. They’d awkwardly shuffled around until Steve’s back was facing the wall curled into the space between he and Eddie. They’d talked some more until Steve dropped into a dreamless sleep. When he’d come to in the morning with a hangover to end all hangovers, Eddie was gone.
Lost in thought, Steve replies, “Yeah. Fair.” He watches as Eddie stands up and grabs at his wrist in one go.
“Come on, sleepyhead. I think you’re about to keel over,” Eddie tugs at him and tucks his arm under Steve’s shoulder helping him get steady. They walk to the last door in the hall that leads to Eddie’s room attached all along their sides, feet catching against each other’s. Steve is loopy from the weed and exhaustion that he giggles as they fumble their way to Eddie’s room. “Not fucking funny,” Eddie groans from beside him. “You’re heavy as shit.”
“All muscle, baby,” Steve replies as Eddie pushes the door to his room open and slips out from under Steve’s weight.
“I’m sure of it,” Eddie pokes a finger against Steve’s pudgy middle, smiling softly.
Steve squirms against it, ticklish. “Be nice.”
“Didn’t mean anything by it. I kinda like it. Makes you seem more real. If you actually had a six-pack, my self-esteem would take a major hit,” Eddie admits.
Steve snorts. “You’re like way prettier than me, dude.” He turns to find Eddie frowning at him before he turns to rummage around in his dresser. “You’re welcome,” Steve says because he cannot shut up.
“Thanks. I’ll save that ego boost under lock and key for when I really need it,” Eddie says dismissively.
“You know I’m not fucking with you when I say that, right? I mean it.”
“What does it matter if you are or aren’t?” Eddie freezes in his movement.
Steve chooses to admit the truth.
“Cause I do.”. Eddie turns to look at him over his shoulder. “ Mean it, that is.” He watches Eddie turn his body so it’s facing Steve, his back resting against the dresser.
“What do you mean by it?” Eddie’s arms come up to cross against his chest, hands under his armpits like he needs to take a hold of himself to get through this moment.
Steve can feel his hands shaking lightly at his side before he curls them into fists, feels his nails dig into the sensitive skin of his palm. He’d planned this. The whole speech prepared in his head and he’s blanking. Full of nerves and staring into Eddie’s big, brown eyes Steve forgets every word in the English language. He shuts his eyes hoping for some assistance from the powers that be to settle his nerves. It’s a little easier to think clearly without looking at Eddie. “It means that I mean it, Eddie,” Steve says repeating the words from before. “It means that I want—,” Steve huffs out a breath. “God, you freak me the fuck out. You’re unintentionally the most intense person I’ve ever met only because you set my nerves on fire.”
“Oh, yeah?” Eddie’s voice is no louder than a faint whisper.
“Yeah, really,” Steve says with eyes still shut.
“Why do I freak you out, Steve? Maybe, I can stop doing it.”
“Don’t,” Steve’s response is quick and he should feel embarrassed but mostly he feels like this conversation isn’t really happening. “It freaks me out in a good way. Like when you watch a scary movie and they get you with a satisfying jump scare.”
“I really hope comparing me to a horror movie isn’t your idea of a compliment,” Eddie says with a groan.
“I’m sorry,” Steve is still very tired, he uncurls his fists.
“I'm just kidding, Steve,” Steve can hear the smile in his voice. “Wanna open your eyes or are you gonna fall asleep standing up? My coffins are all getting cleaned, so.”
“I want—,” Steve pauses. He wants so much. He wants to tell Eddie how he feels. He wants a chance to be loved in return.
“Steve, look at me,” Eddie’s voice is unsteady. “Come on, show me those doe eyes, sweetie.” Steve’s eyes open in reaction to the term of endearment. “There you are,” Eddie brings up his other hand to hold the side of Steve’s face. His eyes look bright and there’s a smile forming at the edge of his lips. “You don’t have to tell me anything if you’re not ready.” His voice is gentle and a bit too knowing for Steve’s taste. Eddie always makes him feel like he’s been put through a CT scan. Too seen.
“No, I have to,” he says with a shake of his head. Eddie’s palm is warm against his cheek. “I want—,” Steve hates that he keeps tripping up during his admission and steels himself with a clench of his fists. “I want to be the reason you hide a bashful smile behind the ends of your hair. I want to make you laugh until both our stomachs ache. I mean that there is never enough time to spend around you. I always feel like we’re running out of time. Most days it feels like I’ve spent too much time wanting you and not enough having you.” Steve jump out of his skin when Eddie’s fingers wrap around the skin of his wrist.
“You’re looking a little pained,” Eddie points out, hand slipping off Steve’s face.
Steve opens his eyes in search of Eddie’s gaze. He has to dip his head and give his knees a little bend to catch his eyes. “I’m sorry.”
“What for?” Eddie’s smile is gentle. “So did you have that all planned or did you come up with on the fly?”
“Sort of. Not really. I kept fucking it up,” Steve feels himself deflate. His mood going a little more sour from exhaustion.
“You didn’t fuck it up,” Eddie assures him while placing his hand gently on Steve’s bicep. “I can offer you a re-do on your little love confession, if you want.”
“Not sappy enough to call it that,” Steve mumbles and pulls away from Eddie’s hand.
“Au contraire, Harrington. I think you’re the most romantic boy I’ve ever met in real life. Not that any have tried to romance me, but you’re at the top of the list. All sleepy and bleary eyed telling me you want me,” Eddie’s eyes are soft around the edges, a small smile plays at his lips. “You look dead on your feet, Stevie. Let’s get you into bed and pick this back up in the morning, yeah?”
Steve nods and pulls Eddie along with him with the help of the fingers he still has wrapped around Steve’s wrist. He feel Eddie come to a stop when they hit the edge of the bed.
“Kick off your jeans and sweater. You’re not wearing all your people clothes on my clean sheets,” Eddie tells him.
Steve tugs his wrist free and rips off his sweater as Eddie moves to remove his jeans leaving him in a t-shirt and a pair of red boxers that hang low on his hips. Steve’s fingers fumble against the button of his jeans and he has to try extremely hard to refocus on the original task at hand. Eddie swats both of his hands out of the way and pops open the button for him with a single hand. The skin where his knuckle touched right below Steve’s navel tingles. Steve unzips his jeans and rids himself of them quickly until he and Eddie are standing there — t-shirt and boxers — staring at the bed as if it’ll give them the answers they need.
Steve looks at Eddie from the corner of his eye and sees his face molds into one of resolve as he gingerly sets a knee on the bed before crawling to the edge against the wall. It’s a big enough bed that they wouldn’t even have to touch throughout the night. He watches Eddie settle against the mattress, turning onto his side to face Steve, hair fanned out against the pillow and hands curled against his chest. Eddie raises a brow at him like he’s asking You coming? Steve is still exhausted out of his mind and just that bit too high to do much other than the immediate impulse. He crawls into the bed as close to Eddie as possible without actually touching. Their hands are centimeters apart. They don’t do much but stare at each other. The light in the room still on and their even breathing filling the room. Steve watches Eddie’s left pinky twitch like he wanted to reach out for Steve’s hand laid out between them and stretches his out in invitation. Eddie unfurls his pinky one more time and slowly curls it around Steve’s.
They fall asleep like that connected only at the pinkies.
Steve isn’t an early riser. He’s never been someone who gets excited a the prospect of getting up and out of bed. Today, he can sense the bright light of the early morning peeking through the window from behind his eyelids. He can feel he’s still on the edge of sleep - limbs heavy and mind fuzzy - exactly as the birds begin chirping outside. He huffs heavily through his nose and screws his eyes shut tighter. It’s Saturday, he should be allowed to sleep in.
“I always figured you for a morning person.” Eddie’s voice is soft in the quiet of the room. Steve can feel the furrow in his brow as he keeps one eye closed and pops open the other to squint at Eddie. “Wakey wakey, Steve,” he punctuates this by giving their linked hands a shake.
“Shut the fuck up,” Steve says nothing else before pulling the duvet up and over both their heads. Steve is trying to cope with holding hands with Eddie while in bed with Eddie after the events of last night. He’s not quite sure where they stand. Eddie hadn’t made a mention of reciprocation. Steve’s feeling a little too raw this early in the morning to gather the courage to ask.
He can feel Eddie’s laughter shake the mattress below both of their bodies. Steve opts for turning his face into the pillow instead of thinking too much about that. “Robin came to check in if you were awake like 15 minutes ago. She said she’d give you another 30 minutes tops.”
Steve releases a groan muffled by the pillow. He breathes in deeply and keeps his eyes closed, still refusing to accept his role in the life of the living. The pillow smells like smoke and a hint of lavender. He wonders if the juncture between Eddie’s neck and his shoulder would smell the same. “Tell her I’ve died,” Steve says while trying to shake the thought out of his head.
“No can do, Steve-o,” Eddie says sympathetically. “Robin requested she be alerted once you’re awake.”
“Why doesn’t she go back to sleep?” Steve says as he flings the duvet half off him. “Wait. You’ve just been laying here watching me sleep for 15 minutes?”
Eddie blushes and is trying to not look Steve in the eye but still jokes, “Who said I wasn’t awake before then?”
“Creep,” Steve snickers.
“Creepiest,” Eddie says before carefully unhooking their pinkies and turning onto his back. Steve gives his pinky a little stretch already missing the contact. Eddie kicks off the bit of the sheets that became tangled in his legs leaving them both exposed to the chilly air from when the air conditioning must’ve kicked in during the night. Steve reaches for Eddie’s arm and misses. It’s more of a graze of fingertips, but Eddie still turns back to him. “You promised to talk,” is all Steve says.
Eddie brings his hand up to brush his fingers from Steve’s left temple, down his cheekbone. “That I did.”
“So are we gonna talk?” Steve prods.
“Ideally, yes. Realistically, it’s 9am and I’m having a crisis,” Eddie says as he turn to look at the ceiling.
Steve just waits.
“When I promised to talk, I didn’t think it would just be me doing the talking,” his hands come up, fingers pressing hard into his sockets. “Last night was a lot for me. Understatement of the fucking year, actually. Not just what you said,” Eddie says skirting around the subject. “The whole night before you even got here. Robin was being so fucking weird and kept saying she couldn’t wait till you got off work. Then she’s got me convinced you’ve died. Before you laugh, it’s Hawkins. I really didn’t know what to think, like, you always call. Almost like you’re training to be the PTA president. An honor you should already be granted, by the way. Christ,” Eddie’s hands drag down the rest of his face, “Can you laugh at my jokes or say something?” ‘
“You should try being funnier,” Steve replies like he’s not holding his breath lest it be too loud and he miss something Eddie says.
“Fucking worst person to have feelings for. Life was easier when you were just an unattainable straight guy in my head. And then you get here,” Eddie says picking up from where he left off. Steve feels like he’s reeling. “You get here and you’re all tired with no manners. I make you a sandwich, because if I have to keep looking at you all drowsy and soft I was going to go crazy. And then we couldn’t just get high and go to sleep. You get all nervous and spill out your feelings. I wanted to kiss you so bad. I still do,” Eddie turns his head back to Steve.
He looks the softest Steve has ever seen him. The sun has come out from behind the clouds, the stream of light haloing Eddie from behind. Steve’s chest aches a little. He feels like when the Grinch’s heart grew three sizes. That’s how much love for Eddie fits tucked under his ribs.
“I love you,” Steve can tell how fond he sounds. All his cards are laid out on the table. It’s really just up to Eddie.
Eddie who is staring at him with his bottom lip sucked into his mouth — unmoving and unblinking. Steve flips onto his back to stare at the ceiling. Feelings at 9am is so fucked up. He’s not fully awake yet despite how sobering Eddie telling Steve how much he wants to kiss him felt. He doesn’t know what to think apart from the fact that there’s a sleep warm Eddie laying across him and he’s fucked it up enough somehow that he’s blearily staring up at the stippled ceiling while Eddie doesn’t utter a word. The sounds of Robin moving about the kitchen cut through the quiet. Steve thinks that he can either lay in this bed forever waiting for Eddie to do literally anything or go join Robin in the living room. He pushes himself up into a sitting position and stretches his arms above his bed before rubbing the sleep out of his eyes.
“Don’t go,” Eddie’s voice is small from beside him, shaky. “I was— am still processing. I feel like I got hit with an anvil. Do you just go around saying what you feel at any given time or am I special?”
“You’re special,” Steve turns to be able to look down at him.
“I’m in hell,” Eddie says dramatically. “You’re too earnest, dude. It’s giving me a complex.”
“Cause I’m being honest?” Steve frowns down at him.
“Honesty is a completely different ballpark, man. I love to lie, you can’t take that from me. You’re so sincere and you make it look so easy. I can’t flirt with you without making fun of you,” Eddie tells him and Steve snorts in response. “What?”
“That actually gives me a new perspective on a lot of situations. I was mildly concerned for like 48 hours that I would just accept getting mocked as a form of attention. Not my proudest moment,” Steve says as he brings his legs up to rest his cheek on his knee, facing Eddie. “But you were also really sweet without meaning to. I was so confused about how I felt about you for months. My next words threaten to give you a bigger head than you already have,” Steve warns and pauses. “You were the catalyst for my self discovery, or whatever.” Eddie is trying his hardest to tamp down a grin and Steve would respect the effort more if his dimples weren’t deep imprints on his cheeks. “Don’t let it get to your head,” he says while looking anywhere but Eddie’s face.
“Come on, Stevie,” Eddie says as his hand comes to clasp around Steve’s ankle. “Don’t tell me you’re embarrassed.”
“Not embarrassed,” Steve says but the longer he avoids eye contact the clearer the real answer becomes.
“I’m honored, really. Guy like you looking at me? Never,” Eddie laughs without humor. “Steve, I was gone the second you offered me kindness without a second thought. You tearing apart that demo bat while all dirty and shirtless and so brave just solidified it,” Eddie’s eyes go a little glassy.
Steve can feel the heat rising to his face. “Ozzy, right?”
“You remember the most mundane shit,” Eddie says without preamble. “This one time Dustin mentioned he had lost his favorite pen and he had completely forgotten about it by the next day but you had like 3 packs of them for him after school waiting in your car. You’re perceptive when you want to be and it pisses me off. My whole thing is stay away and you’re a moth to a flame so I have to deal being, like, known and shit,” Steve watches him shudder a little. “You eat Robin’s shitty oatmeal raisin cookies against your will because you lied about liking them and don’t want to break her heart. Steve, you’re quite possibly the best person I know. The best person I’ve ever known.” Eddie pauses, but he looks like he’s readying himself to say something else. Steve can feel his own hands tremble a little against where they’re wrapped around his legs. “I’m— I’m not sure I can say it back yet. I’ve never been in—uhm—that so…I really like you Steve. So much,” Eddie’s voice is quiet but fierce.
“You don’t have to say it back if you’re not sure. I’m just wondering if there’s a chance you’d like to try and see,” Steve’s hand moves to Eddie’s wrist. He feels Eddie’s hand unwrap from around his ankle and drop down to the bed— palm up. “You know you could just ask, right?” Steve teases him.
“It’s sweeter when you silently acknowledge it and hold my hand instead of being a smartass,” Eddie replies.
Steve just watches him.
“Fine! Steve will you do me the great honor of holding my hand?” Eddie punctuates this with a pout.
Steve wants to kiss it off his face. “Can I kiss you?”
“Are you gonna hold my hand? I asked nicely and everything,” Eddie retorts.
“Holding hands while sharing a kiss is so romantic,” Steve makes his voice sound breathy as he scoots closer to Eddie’s form. He interlocks their fingers and uses it to bring Eddie’s right arm up over his head bent at the elbow. His legs slot between Eddie’s and his right hand comes to rest next to Eddie’s head propping himself up to be able to look down at him. “This work?”
Eddie’s eyes are wide under him and he licks his lips as he gives two drawn out nods.
“God, you’re so pretty like this. So pretty all the time,” Steve can feel his voice has dropped low and Eddie’s blush makes him nearly irresistible. Steve worries at his bottom lip as he leans in closer to Eddie. He can almost feel Eddie’s quick intakes of breath make contact against his skin as he tilts his head just so. If Eddie wanted to, he could press up and close the distance. Eddie doesn’t. He just keeps staring at Steve with eyes impossibly wider than before. “Gonna—“ Steve forgoes the nicety and moves in until their lips brush against each other. It’s not quite a kiss, but it breaks the dam. Eddie surges up to slot their lips together, his left hand coming to rest on the back of Steve’s neck pulling him down. The kiss is wet. Eddie kisses sloppy like he wants to devour Steve whole. The prospect isn’t that off-putting to Steve. God, what the fuck? Steve pulls away first, watches the string of saliva between their mouths break. Sloppy. He lifts himself up as far as Eddie will let him— which isn’t very far— considering the hand still on the back of his neck. “You’re gonna kill me,” Steve leaves it at that, doesn’t know what else to say.
“That sounds like a glowing review,” Eddie tells him with a smirk. “Wanna kiss me some more?”
“No please?”
“Let me rephrase. We’re going to kiss some more,” Eddie says he tugs him back in at the same time as there’s a swift knock on the door.
They don’t get the chance to untangle before Robin is barging through the door. Robin takes one look at them and then throws her head back so she’s staring at the ceiling. “I’m not mad, I’m just disappointed. Locks exist.”
Steve flops down so all his weight is resting on Eddie and rests his head against his shoulder. “Waiting until people tell you to come in does, too.” He feels Eddie huff a laugh under him.
“In my defense, I thought you were still asleep,” Robin replies.
“Stop staring at the ceiling. We’re literally still dressed,” Steve says as he makes a half-hearted attempt at throwing a pillow at her. It misses by a few inches.
“I didn’t know what 8 months of unresolved sexual tension was gonna bring to the table,” Robin says as she looks at them with her hands on her hips. “That was less scarring than I expected. And you’re a liar.” She looks at Steve accusingly.
“I didn’t lie. It just kinda happened,” Steve mumbles.
“What just kinda happened?” Eddie asks from under him, his voice rumbling against Steve’s chest.
“You two.”
“Is this why she was being weird yesterday?” Eddie shoves at Steve’s shoulder to get him look at him.
“I was being weird?” Robin asks.
“You’re not subtle,” Steve and Eddie says simultaneously.
“Okay, assholes. Wanna go get breakfast so we can celebrate your gay union?”
“I’d kill for some french toast,” Eddie says.
“Fine,” Steve says and flops off of Eddie onto the mattress. “Robin, respectfully, get out.”
“I’m feeling gracious so you get 10 minutes to meet me in the living room,” Robin shuts the door behind her.
Eddie doesn’t give it a single second before he’s saying, “You actually planned that last night?”
“I had a plan, yes. None of last night was to plan except the feelings part,” Steve admits.
“You really are all goo on the inside, huh?”
“I hate you,” Steve tells him.
“Very believable. We’ll get you that Oscar after breakfast,” Eddie replies before throwing himself over Steve, both knees on either side and leans down so close, Steve things he’s going to kiss him again. In one move, Eddie is up and out of bed. “Get up, I’m hungry,” Eddie’s giving him a smile like the cat that got the cream.
“You’re a dick,” Steve tells him before essentially rolling out of bed, having to catch himself on the edge of the bed before slipping on the floor.
“I make your knees weak, Harrington?” Eddie snorts while watching him struggle to get up.
“You’re so annoying,” Steve tells him once he’s standing upright.
Eddie comes in close, tugging at the hem of Steve’s shirt to bring him closer. “Keep talking sweet to me.”
Steve shoves him away and reaches for his pants and chooses to forgo his sweater. “Breakfast is waiting,” he says as he pulls his pants up.
“A little kiss to tide me over then?” Eddie looks at him expectantly.
Steve tries to give him a reprimanding look and fails miserable because he’s pulling Eddie closer and planting a chaste kiss on his mouth.
“I think I’ll keep you,” Eddie’s tone is serious, eyes soft.
“I was just thinking the same thing,” Steve grins big and dumb at Eddie who returns a grin of his own, eyes twinkling.