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“Do you think I’m fat?”
It’s the weird tone in Steve’s voice that makes Eddie open his eyes and look at his boyfriend. It’s early morning, the blinds are still closed but the few rays of sunshine sneaking into their bedroom are enough to let Eddie see where Steve is standing in front of the mirror, in nothing but a towel. He just got out of the shower and should be getting ready for work, but something else seems to be troubling him in the moment.
“What are you talking about?” Eddie asks, confused. It’s way too early, Eddie’s brain is still trying to process the trauma of waking up. Still, he pulls himself up and sits because he’s got a feeling this is gonna be important.
Steve doesn’t look at Eddie, too busy looking at his own reflection. “I lost all my muscle,’ he says quietly, fingers pressing lightly at his soft belly. “And it’s been years since I last hit the gym.”
It’s true, all of it. When they were still in Hawkins, Steve used to work out a lot. But it’s been almost ten years since they moved and started their new life in Chicago. They’re not kids anymore; their bodies are not the same, their lives are not the same. They have responsibilities they didn’t have before; work keeps them busy all the time and raising the little girl still asleep in the other bedroom also demands a lot from them. It’s hard to find time to work out when they have so much on their plates.
Even so, Eddie can’t see what the issue there is. So Steve doesn’t have a six-pack anymore, and his belly is now softer and pouchy, so what? He’s still the hottest man Eddie’s ever laid eyes on.
“And what about it? It’s also been years since I last hit the gym too.”
Steve finally looks at him; he doesn’t seem impressed by Eddie’s reply. “You work in construction, Eddie. Your work is enough to keep you fit. I, on the other hand, spend my days sitting on my butt, answering calls and filing reports. The heaviest thing I’ve lifted in years is our grocery bags.”
“Okay, what’s this really about, sweetheart?” Eddie asks as he gets out of bed and crosses the bedroom to where Steve is still stealing glances at the mirror. Steve tries to shy away, but Eddie is fast to hold his wrist and to pull him in. Gently, Eddie cups his boyfriend’s face until Steve faces him. “Why are you bothered by this all of a sudden? Did I say or do anything to get you self-conscious?”
Steve’s eyes widen. “No, Eddie. God, that’s not it at all.”
“Then what?”
He doesn’t answer right away. Eddie waits patiently, thumbs brushing Steve’s cheeks in reassurance. His boyfriend lets out a small sigh.
“I ran into Carol yesterday when I was out having lunch with Sonia,’ Steve says without meeting Eddie’s eyes.
The way he says it tells Eddie he should probably know who the hell he’s talking about, but the name doesn’t ring any bells.
“Who’s Carol?”
“Perkins, Eddie. Carol Perkins. From Hawkins.”
“Oooh, you mean Tommy Hagan’s bitchy girlfriend.”
Eddie had not been friends with either of them, but he surely had known who they were. Hard to forget two people who spent years making your life miserable.
“She’s not Tommy’s girlfriend anymore, she dumped him soon after we finished school and married some oil millionaire.”
“Can’t say I’m surprised.”
“Yeah, me neither.”
“But wait, what is she doing in Chicago? And what the hell did she say to you?”
“Her sister lives here and just had a baby. She’s visiting, I guess.”
Ah, so they’re deflecting now.
“Steve,” Eddie says softly. “What did she tell you?”
“She didn’t, like, mock me or anything. She just said she didn’t really recognize me at first because I wasn’t so chubby last time she saw me.”
It’s a good thing Eddie wasn’t there when this happened, because if he saw anyone saying this kind of bullshit to Steve, he’d not be able to control himself. His face is already burning with anger just from hearing about it, for fuck’s sake.
“Who the fuck does she think she is to say something like this to you?”
Steve bites his bottom lip. “But, I mean, it’s not like she’s wrong, is it? I am kinda chubby now. I’m way past my high school athlete years.”
Eddie hates Carol Perkins, he decides right then and there. Not for all the years she spent making up rumors about him when they were in school, not for the times she mocked him and watched with an amused grin as her ex-boyfriend bullied him; Eddie couldn’t care less about that shit. But the moment she just shows up in their lives again and decides she has any right to make Steve feel less than the amazing, gorgeous man that he is? If Eddie ever sees that woman again, they’re gonna be having some serious, thorough talk about keeping her unsolicited opinions to herself.
Now, however, he has more pressing matters to deal with. With that in mind, Eddie kisses Steve, hard and deep until both of them are gasping for air and Steve is holding Eddie’s shoulders for dear life, dazzled and completely drunk with want.
“Wha—”
“You’re the most beautiful man I’ve ever seen in my life, Steve,” Eddie says, serious, looking him in the eye. He loves how red his boyfriend’s face is. “Don’t ever think otherwise just because some gold digger we knew in school is trying to make you feel bad.”
“But—” Steve tries to say, but Eddie kisses him again, bringing their bodies flush against each other.
“No buts, baby. You’re gorgeous.” He gives Steve another short kiss, before moving down to his neck. He bites down hard, making Steve moan and grip his hair tight, then sooths the spot with a reverent kiss. “Did I ever do anything that made you think I don’t like your body just the way it is? Did I ever make you feel unwanted?”
“No,” Steve whines, trembling when Eddie bites him again.
“Then that’s your answer. Carol Perkins can go fuck herself.”
With another whine, Steve pulls Eddie’s face up for another deep kiss. Eddie is more than happy to comply, hands already untangling the knot to get rid of Steve’s towel as they stumble back to their bed.
They’re probably gonna be late for work, they’re also gonna have to stop for breakfast before dropping Sarah off in school, but Eddie is not gonna let Steve get out of that room before he can show him just how beautiful and hot he really thinks he is. And judging by the way Steve’s digging his nails in his back and moaning as Eddie lavishes his chest with attention, he is more than okay with Eddie’s plans.