Chapter Text
The last few days were pretty rough for Eddie. Heck, the last few months were rough, but just over a week ago something shifted inside him. He got more… tired? No, it can’t be that, he slept well (though 4 hours a night was barely enough). Stuff just got a lot more exhausting, his movements got slower and his mood dropped drastically. And the pain. It was almost unbearable. His knees were slowly giving out from all of the standing behind the bar, kneeling on the floor to fix stuff, climbing a ladder at least two times a day. He needed a break, but how would The Breaker Box work without him? How would Volt work without him?
And the migraine? It was the worst of it all, a pain so sharp and so sudden, it felt like his skull was cut open with an axe. Even unhealthy amounts of painkillers couldn’t help, he was just condemned to this pain.
‘Human’s overusing the power again,’ he thought. He hoped this was the reason he was so “tired”, because it meant it was all temporary. He just had to wait a bit. Let the human do their stuff, they’ll realize the power might go out, they’ll go back to the norm. At least he hoped they would.
He managed to hide it from Volt and act like usual. Little smiles, waves from behind the bar, after-hours chats, everything was the same. Well, he thought it was.
It was just after closing, Volt was ushering out their last patrons, while Eddie was doing the dishes in peace. At least, in as much peace as he could have when a migraine was tearing his skull open, his knees were giving out and his hands were shaking slightly, but just enough to annoy him.
Eddie bristled when he felt a warm breath on his neck. He did everything in his power to appear as normal as possible, he rested his wrists at the edge of the sink in a weak attempt to stop his hands from shaking. He glanced at his friend, who was behind him, his eyes tired, but happy to see the man’s face. A face that made every second of the pain worth it.
“Everyone’s out?” he asked, even though he knew the answer. The silence after a long, loud day was like a blessing, Eddie could live in this silence forever. However, he knew that he would quickly get bored, lonely and would feel rather useless, so he accepted the noise.
Volt embraced Eddie, resting his head on his shoulder, taking deep, long breaths, just enjoying the moment. It was enough of an answer.
Eddie put down the glass he was cleaning and dried his hands well with a rag. He turned slightly and ran his finger through Volt’s sparkling, wavy hair. His pain was worth it, for moments like this.
A hiss escaped Eddie’s mouth when a wave of pain suddenly hit his sinuses. He turned his head away from his friend, already expecting Volt’s worried voice.
“You’re ok, spark?” Ah, here it was. Full of worry with a bit of sadness and a sprinkle of pain. Eddie hated it. Hated it with every ampere flowing through him, ever since he first heard it, when Volt just came into existence. He hated it, because he knew what it meant. His mask slipped. He showed Volt something’s wrong. He had to fix it. Quick.
“Ah, just a little headache from Johnny’s performance today, nothing to worry about, Volt.” Eddie grabbed Volt's hand, trying to assure him that he was telling the truth, that he’s ok, just a little headache.
Volt’s eyes narrowed, not really believing his friend. Eddie had tendencies to overwork himself, he knew that. But he also knew pushing him further would make things worse. Volt sighed quietly. He’ll let Eddie go away with it, but it’s the last time.
“Well, if you say so, spark. I’ll be cleaning near the stage if you need me.” Volt squeezed Eddie one last time and went to the supply closet to get the cleaning supplies.
With that both men threw themselves into their usual after-hours routine. While Volt was sweeping, mopping and cleaning all surfaces that needed to be cleaned, Eddie was taking care of all of tonight’s repairs: a flickering light in the entrance, a leaky beer tab, creaking door to the backroom and a faulty speaker.
The light was first on the list and the easiest to deal with. After a brief inspection Eddie went to the backroom, where he found a new lightbulb, the exact same one as the one he needed to change. He went back to the entrance, turned off the light, removed the old lightbulb and screwed in a new one.
Conversations and jokes were thrown through the empty building. Volt’s sweet laugh could be heard in every corner of the bar, maybe even outside of it. ‘It’s all worth it,’ Eddie kept repeating in his mind, ‘For him.”
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By the time Eddie was done, Volt already finished with cleaning, went to their apartment, changed into comfy clothes and poured them each a glass of bourbon. He sat down on a couch in the living room, putting both glasses on a coffee table and then stretching with a yawn.
“Why do you keep stealing my shirts, huh?” Eddie’s voice hit Volt’s ears. He looked to the side and there he was, standing in a doorframe, visibly exhausted, yet chuckling.
“Not my fault your clothes are way comfier than mine, Eddie.” Volt smiled, patting a spot on the couch next to him. “Come on, let’s have a drink.”
Eddie walked over to the couch slowly while fighting with his vest, trying to take it off, but it was no use. His mind got foggy from the headache and his hands couldn’t properly grab buckles. He looked like he would collapse any moment.
Volt got up quickly and one by one unbuckled Eddie’s vest, took it off and unbuttoned three top buttons of Eddie’s shirt. He looked at his friend’s face, bags under his eyes darker than usual, cheeks redder, he looked almost sick.
“You look exhausted, spark,” Volt said, barely above a whisper. “We’ll take a day off tomorrow and stay in the house.” He gently pulled him down and they both sat down on the couch.
“But the people-”
“Oh, they can go somewhere else, the world will keep spinning.”
“There’s a lot of fixing to do!”
“It won’t run away, Eddie...”
“But-”
“No buts, Eddison!” His face sparked with a blue glow, his voice was firm, almost threatening. If Eddie didn’t know him, he would’ve been terrified. But, well, he did know him. He knew how worried and protective Volt could get. He knew that, even though he flirted with everyone, Eddie was the only person he trusted enough to show himself fully. He knew him inside and out, yet this reaction surprised him a bit. It was understandable that Volt got angry, but to the point of the man glowing? That rarely happened.
“I… I’m sorry, spark. I shouldn’t scream.” Volt turned his head away, his sparky hair covering his face slightly. “I just can’t stand looking at you overwork yourself. You’re in pain, I can see that. Please, just let me help you for once.” He gently grabbed Eddie’s hand. “You’re my everything, Eddison.” He pressed a soft kiss on the back of his hand. Gentle, full of love, a bit stingy from the power flowing. Eddie was used to seeing Volt do that to others, but never in his entire existence did Volt kiss Eddie. Come to think of it, Eddie never kissed or was kissed by anyone.
Delicate sparks appeared at the ends of Eddie’s hair, his face blushed a little and eyes widened. But then, they softened, his pupils widened and he calmed himself enough to speak again.
“Oh alright, you dork… But only this one day, no more!”
Volt just nodded.
“Our drinks are getting warm,” Volt noticed. He took his glass and raised it slightly. “Happy day off?”
Eddie just laughed at that, took his glass and clinged Volt’s.
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“Well, it’s getting late. We should go to sleep, Volt,” Eddie said, putting his glass down on the table. His friend’s head was resting on his shoulder, though with how much weight he was putting down on him, Volt was almost laying on Eddie. He mumbled something, but didn’t move an inch.
“Ugh, just because we have a day off tomorrow, doesn’t mean we don’t have to go to sleep.” After a few (unsuccessful) attempts at moving Volt, Eddie rolled his eyes and carefully lifted his friend while getting up from the couch. He mumbled a few curses under his breath, as his knees cried, protesting, and his headache punched him again, though far less painful now. But no amount of pain could stop him, not when he was holding Volt, his dearest Volt.
“Oh come on, Eddiee, just one more drinkk,” Volt mumbled, but his words changed nothing.
In silence, Eddie carried Volt into their shared bedroom. It looked almost like a college dorm room, only their beds were slightly larger than average dorm room beds. Two desks, a shared wardrobe, a fluffy carpet and two nightstands next to the beds. They didn’t need anything fancy, so a basic, gray and white room was fine for them.
Eddie put Volt on his bed and turned to walk away to his own, but before he could make a step, Volt grabbed his wrist. Eddie turned his head to look at his friend, his tired, flushed, slightly drunk friend. His eyes looked sad and desperate, like he was a lost puppy. He didn’t even have to say a word, Eddie knew what he was about to ask and he couldn’t say no.
He undressed, leaving only his boxers, his usual bed attire, and laid down next to Volt, covering them both with a blanket. Almost instantly, Volt glued himself to his friend, embracing him with both his arms and his legs, his head resting on the man’s bare chest, listening to the electricity flowing through him.
Eddie just smiled, looking at Volt fondly. He put one of his hands on his head, stroking his hair slowly, while the other was around the man's waist, pulling him close.
“Goodnight, beloved,” he whispered, falling asleep.