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It’s a gloomy day. The rain beating down on the trailer roof is the only sound present at the moment, except for the shallow breathing coming from the two boys snuggled together on the couch. Steve would really like to keep it that way, and he’s doing his best to not let on how the finger randomly tracing patterns on his belly tickles, but it’s getting harder and harder the closer it inches toward its destination. He knows when it reaches its target he’s screwed. “Something bothering you, Steve?” However nonchalant Steve thought he was being, he should have known that Eddie was aware of what he was doing. Eddie’s always aware of what he’s doing to Steve, calculating and purposeful in his actions, big or small. Steve has half a second to register the smirk in Eddie’s voice before he’s slipped his finger inside and launched a full on attack on Steve’s belly button. Steve shrieks and folds over on himself, not that it does much to protect him. He grapples desperately with Eddie’s hands, one focused on burrowing a finger deep into Steve’s belly button, the other squeezing Steve’s side near his hip. “Stop Munson, please.” Steve manages to wheez out between rapid fire giggles. So much for silence. The hand near his side makes a sudden detour up behind Steve’s shoulder blades, scribbling furiously, and Steve’s body reflexively arches backward, exposing his belly even more. Eddie enjoys watching Steve's mind wrestle with the decision of which requires immediate attention, and his belly must win out because it’s only a second before Steve is folding in on himself once more, cackling the whole time. He’s mouthing “stop” and “please” over and over but Eddie will not be deterred. Steve’s smile is beaming as he gasps and giggles, writhing underneath Eddie’s soft touches. And how could Eddie ever resist this? Even though his laugh is laced with objection , the happiness radiating off his boyfriend is evident. While Steve’s smile is magnetic, his laugh is a downright addiction, pulling him in with a gravitational force Eddie couldn’t escape if he tried. It’s intoxicating, and Eddie finds himself high off the endorphins alone. He imagines Steve feels the same. Eddie would ask him, although he doubts Steve could articulate a response at the moment. His laughter has gone near silent, his defenses slowing down. Steve must be running out of energy. He’s gone practically boneless, draped over Eddie’s arm that has stopped tickling in favor of rubbing more firmly. A belly rub, a peace offering. A silent thank you to Steve for allowing Eddie to do this with such little resistance. The room has almost gone quiet again, except for the shallow breathing of the two boys cuddled on the couch. Eddie finds he’s holding his breath, hoping he didn’t take it too far. This is new, this relationship, this being with someone that holds so much of his heart it feels as though he may burst at any given moment. Steve, always aware, turns to look at Eddie. He smiles, a tired, happy sedated smile that says “thank you” without having to actually speak the words. A soft kiss and then Steve snuggles underneath Eddie’s chin, sighing contently. After a few moments, the silence in the room is punctuated with Steve’s soft snores. Eddie wraps his arms a little tighter and drifts off to the sound of rain beating down on the trailer roof. Not so gloomy after all.