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Steve woke slowly to the sun streaming through Eddie's partially opened black out curtains and directly into his face, he grumbled and buried his face into the pillow he claimed as his on Eddie's bed. He made a happy noise as he breathed in Eddie's scent (a mix of his spicy cinnamon cologne, Head & Shoulders shampoo, and cigarette smoke. Used to have weed mixed in but after the Upside Down (and Russians) neither can stand being high anymore) and stretched out over the bed, his right hand reaching out for his boyfriend but coming back empty. His happy noise turned to a sad whine and he finally lifted his head from the bed, "Eddie?" He called out, voice rough from sleep. He got no answer, so he pushed himself up and out of the warm bed to search for his wayward boyfriend.
He didn't truly open his eyes until he was at the bedroom door, pulling on one of Eddie's band hoodies as he stumbled out of Eddie's bedroom and towards the main living area of the Munsons' new double wide trailer. "Eddiiieee." He whined, registering the scent of waffles, eggs, and cooked potatoes as he got closer to the kitchen. He made a happy hum at the smell, rubbing his eye with a hoodie sleeve as he finally locates his boyfriend at the stove. He stood and woke up a bit more as he enjoyed the older boy in such a cozy scene, his long curls thrown up in a messy pony tail and dressed in just his adorkable Jack Skellington pajama pants as he fried ham steaks and eggs in Wayne's beloved cast iron skillet.
Steve shuffled noisily up behind the taller boy (neither of them do well with surprises now) and he wrapped his arms around Eddie's waist. He snuggled into Eddie's warmth and hummed happily, pressing a kiss to the patch of freckles on his shoulder. "Morning." He breathed, doing his best koala impression against Eddie's back. "Morning, sweetheart. You're just in time, I'm almost done with breakfast." Eddie said, twisting enough to pull Steve into his side and pressing a coffee flavored to his lips.
Steve hummed happily, draping his arms around Eddie's slim waist. "Didn't have to make me breakfast, Eds." He said, kissing his jawline and tracing finger tips into barely there abs he adores so much. "Oh I know but you always make me breakfast and I wanted to return the favor for once." The metalhead told him, kissing his forehead before ushering him to sit at the breakfast bar and pouring him his overly sweet coffee.
"Mmm, being suspicious Eds but I'll wait for you to bring it up." He teased, cupping his hands around the warm mug (it's in the shape of a cartoon skull) and taking a long sip of it. He watched his boyfriend finish making their breakfast, the older boy keeping a running commentary about the food, the trip to his grandparents house in a few months for Christmas (inviting Steve, which makes his chest fuzzy) and their gremlins shenanigans during D&D meetings (Mike was getting jealous of Will and Gareth having an in campaign romance, maybe he was finally getting a clue). Steve never felt so content and full in his heart than in these quiet mornings with the older boy, he was so stupidly in love with him. "Breakfast, baby boy." Eddie said, placing a plate in front of Steve before filling up his own plate and sitting next to his boyfriend. He had already put out condiments and jam before he started cooking, knowing how his boyfriend smothered his hashbrowns and eggs in ketchup.
He watched, amused, as Steve did just that as well as put grape jam on his waffle instead of syrup. He focused on his own food, putting some A1 sauce on his ham steak and ketchup on his potatoes before digging into the food he slaved over. It was a comfortable silence as they ate, Steve slowly but surely waking up fully and pulling Eddie into a conversation. It was only after Steve got up to pour them both another mug of coffee (Eddie was using one that said "Keep Calm and DON'T Trust Your DM to Save You') that he noticed the ring on his right hand, on his right ring finger.
He stared at it, it wasn't as clunky as Eddie's regular rings but it wasn't a dainty thing. It had a heart cradled in two hands with a crown over it and it looked older. He toyed with it for a moment before his hand was taken into Eddie's pale slender ones, his boyfriend looking at him with a nervous but determined face. "Eddie?" He breathed, heart squeezing when a kiss was pressed to his knuckles before Eddie took a breath. "It's called a claddagh ring and this one belonged to my great grandfather." The older man started, cradling Steve's hand in his and playing with his shorter fingers. "Depending on how you wear, it shows your relationship status. Right hand with the heart out, you're single and your heart is free. Right hand with the heart in, you and your heart are taken. If it's on your left hand with the heart out, you're engaged and if the heart is inward you're married." He explained, making Steve look down at the ring and his breath catching when he sees the heart pointed inward. "Memaw gave it to me before I even told her I was gay, told me that she was going to give it to my younger cousin when she came of age to give to her future husband but she felt like it should be mine now. I...I never thought I'd find someone I'd want to give such a family heirloom to." Eddie said, looking up into Steve's eyes and tightening the hold he had on Steve's hands when he sees tears in his boyfriend's eyes. He pressed a kiss to Steve's palm and brushes away his tears with a lovesick dopey smile. "I know we've only been together for a few months but I want you to have it, want you to have something to remind you that I love you and I'm here for the long haul. Maybe, hopefully, one day we'll move that to your left hand or I'll buy you a ring but until then...would you wear this to show the world you're mine?" He asked, pressing their foreheads together and brushing more tears away from Steve's face with his thumbs.
Steve gave a little emotional laugh, "You're a goddamn sap, Edward Wayne Munson." He said, cupping Eddie's face and kissing him deeply. "Of course I'll wear it, I'd love to let people know the most amazing and sweet man owns my heart." He said against his lips, giggling when he was scooped into Eddie's lap and held tight. "I love you, Eds." "I love you too, angel. I'm so lucky." Eddie laughed, kissing his hand once more. They curled into each other and finished their coffee, enjoying a few more peaceful moments before they had to go to work and deal with the public.
Steve spent the day smiling down at and playing with the ring on his finger, so in love with his dorky metalhead