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Eddie just wanted a quiet night, you know? A few days ago he and the city hero, King (to which Eddie wanted to scoff at the name but it was the People who had named him so there was no helping it) fought and he needed a few days to recover.
They both did. King gave as good as he got but always tried to keep the blows from being fatal.
And really, Eddie could see why they called him King. Handsome, kind; he always stood proud.
But Eddie had seen other sides of him; had seen the days where the pain got too much, where he was forcing a smile through it all.
Eddie speculated he had some kind of chronic pain.
ANYWAYS, so here Eddie was, minding his business, sipping some hot chocolate while he listened to the rolling thunder. It was his favorite type of night, a bit cold with a night thunderstorm. He relaxed further into his cocoon of blankets only to freeze at the sound of knocking.
Who the absolute fuck would be out at this time? In this weather?
The knock sounded again and Eddie slowly stood up and made his way to the door. His left hand darken into black, blackened veins climbing up his arm as his nails sharpened into claws. Just as he reached the door, the person knocked again, this time it was harder.
Eddie placed his weaponised hand on the wall by the door, just out of view, ran his tongue over his fangs, and he opened his door.
And there was static in his ears. His breath caught because it was simultaneously the most beautiful yet most terrifying sight he had ever seen.
King was standing there, in his civilian clothes, drenched not just in rain but blood as well. His worn out yellow sweater was mostly stained red and the rain was washing away the blood smudged across his face and hands.
He was beautiful, in a way Eddie hadn’t known before.
He was terrifying, in a way Eddie had always known.
Eddie opened his mouth but King beat him to it.
“Do you know how to hide a body?”
Eddie blinked then blinked again.
“Excuse me?”
Steve shifted and it was only then that Eddie saw the damage around his neck. It was rubbed raw, in a way that cut the skin open, that cut it deeply. It was a wound that Eddie knew, one that even he was squeamish about.
Someone had wrapped something around King’s neck and dragged him roughly. More than roughly. They were trying to snap his neck.
“I need help, hiding a body… Well bodies. I need help, Kas.”
Wasn’t that something? To be honest, Eddie thought he was dead.
“Well, sweetheart,” King flinched at the nickname Eddie loved to use so much for him, “Let’s get you cleaned up first and you can tell me what happened.” He stepped aside and let King inside, not bothering to hide his arm now.
King raised his eyebrow, rather weakly Eddie noticed, but didn’t say anything. Eddie watched him for a moment as he closed the door. Eddie led him to the bathroom, snagging a pair of sweats and a sweater from his room.
Along the way, King told his story.
“I was with my kids,” Eddie raised his eyebrow and Steve shifted, “Well, not biological, but… but they’re like us.”
Eddie nodded at that, that was understandable.
“There’s a whole gaggle of them, Kas, and they’re so GOOD.”
Eddie knew what King meant. Not good like a hero was, good like a child was, just genuinely good and kind. Good in a way that even most villains wanted to protect.
“They’re good… so good and… And Jason Carver found their base.”
Eddie tensed. Jason was the son of the previous mayor and had some kind of personal vendetta against anyone like them, anyone with an ability. A religious zealot. He would become violent, but always got a pass.
“He ambushed us all… I couldn’t use my full strength and his group used the kids against me.”
Eddie knew where this was going. “Are the kids okay?”
King stopped at the bathroom and gave a weak smirk. “Birdie got them away.”
“And that’s when you killed them.”
“That’s when I killed them… They hurt my kids, Kas… “ His voice was tired but there was no regret in it. King took the clothes and closed the bathroom door.
Eddie stood there for a moment before leaning back on the wall, hand over his heart. He could feel his heart thumping loudly and he had to resist the rip it out, again. Jeff would absolutely kill him if he had to fix him up again.
He could NOT catch feelings for a hero, of all people. Not only was it a bad idea relationship wise…. It was a total cliche! And Eddie was anything but cliche!
….
…….
…………
Godfuckingdamnit! Why did King have to be so fucking hot?!
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Eddie didn’t care that King knew where his base was now, or his civilian home. He couldn’t bring himself to care as he watched the dark look in King’s eyes as the bodies were destroyed. There was something more to King, something Eddie wanted to rip through his heart and soul to find.
“King-”
“Steve.”
Eddie froze. He froze and he held on tight for the barest of moments before something snapped.
He slammed King, STEVE, into the wall roughly, kissing him. Steve gripped at Eddie’s hair but didn’t pull away. Eddie grinned sharply and pressed up against him before moving to his neck.
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Steve was sleeping soundly in Eddie’s bed when a gaggle of kids ended up on his doorstep and it turned out one of them could find just about anyone if she knew what they looked liked.
They were long and annoying and bitchy and Eddie already fucking loved them. He could see what Steve meant when he called them good. But he absolutely refused to let them into the room.
He had a feeling Steve wouldn’t want them to see him naked.
“Don’t know what Steve sees in you, you look like a loser,” The youngest snipped and Eddie felt himself grin.
“Erica!” Her brother, Lucas, snapped.
“Just the facts!”
“I’m sorry, we barged in… We’re just really worried,” Will said quietly. He held onto Ele’s hand, as if she was his life line.
“It’s okay. Just let me wake him up.” Eddie smiled at the shy boy before slipping into his room. He closed the door and turned to Steve, eyes tracing the bites along his back. The sheets had fallen to his hips and Eddie almost wanted to start another round.
Instead, he sat on the bed next to him and gently ran a hand through his hair, scratching at his scalp. “Come on, sweetheart. You got some visitors.”
Steve shifted and opened one eye. “What?”
“You’re kids tracked you down.”
Steve was quiet for a moment before he jumped up. “Shit! SHIT!” he rushed around, quickly getting dressed as Eddie snickered. He watched as Steve rushed out of the room, already scolding the kids and Eddie felt… content, almost happy. Maybe in a few more late night dates he’d make Steve his, completely, fully.
His heart thumped loudly and he gripped over it, grinning.