Chapter Text
Eddie blinked slowly, pulling back from the way the “casino” lights had trapped him in a hypnotic state. “Sorry, what did you say Benny?”
Benny throws his arms behind his head. “Well, space cadet, I said it’s hotter than Texas in here.” He pulls at his jacket collar. “Seriously, you’d think a multi million dollar company could afford some AC.” He mutters under his breath.
“We could sit by the fountain. It’s probably cooler over there.” Eddie suggests.
“Good idea Eds!”
Benny pushes open the big double doors and strolls over to the fountain bench, plopping down on it. Eddie follows suit. He notices Benny tugging at his jacket again. He smiles at him.
“If the jacket’s bothering you, just take it off.”
Benny stops tugging at it and shoots a glare at Eddie. “I don’t know, don’t you think they’d yell at me for ‘tampering with my predetermined outfit?” He throws finger quotes around his last words.
“Besides, I don’t see YOU trying to fix your outfit.”
Eddie looks down at himself. “What’s wrong with my outfit?”
Benny bites back a laugh. “Well, your jacket covers half of your torso,” He glances back at Eddie’s face. “and your hair obscures your vision. Can you even see through that mop?” He teases.
Eddie just shrugs. “Mostly”
“Do you usually wear it like that?”
Eddie’s face splits with a grin. “Why? You saying it looks bad?” He teases back.
“No!” Benny replies honestly. “I just can’t imagine you doing all that while you’re in the can.” He makes a lid motion with his hands.
“Nah, you’re right. I never styled it like this.” Eddie looks up in thought. “I think they’re just trying to cover up my eye.”
A puzzled expression paints itself onto Benny’s face. “Your eye? What’s wrong with your eye?”
“Oh, nothing major, it’s just-“
Benny jumps off the bench and faces Eddie, cutting him off.
“OMG DO YOU HAVE A FAKE EYE LEMME SEE LEMME SEE.”
“What?” Eddie says incredulously. “No, it’s just-“
Benny cuts him off again as he uses his hand to lift up Eddie’s bangs. “Why would hair and makeup hide something this coo-OH that’s quite the shiner you’ve got there Eds.” He grimaces as he sees Eddie’s black eye.
“As I was TRYING to tell you,” Eddie says scathingly. “It’s nothing trivial. I just have a black eye.”
Benny’s hand is still placed on Eddie’s forehead, holding his bangs in place. He leans in uncomfortably close to inspect his eye.
“How’d you even get it?”
“Got in a fight before they put me to sleep. Well,” Eddie breaks eye contact before looking at Benny again. “not like I started it.”
Benny reels. “PUT YOU TO SLEEP? EDDIE, THIS IS ONLY A DAY OLD?” He takes his hand off Eddie’s hair so he can throw his arms up in exasperation.
“Relax, Benny, it’s just a black eye.” Eddie scoffs.
“IT’S NOT BOTHERING YOU?”
“Well, it’s throbbing a little bit. But I’ve been through much worse.” He shrugs, not at all bothered by his injury and unfazed by Benny’s reaction.
“We need to fix this! You just said it’s throbbing.”
“Benny, it’s not that bad. Besides, you can’t really ‘fix’ a black eye.” Eddie leans back against the bench. “The only medicine is time.”
“Can’t we…” Benny raises his hand to his face in thought. “I dunno, ice it or something?”
Eddie thinks for a moment. “The ice would reduce the swelling but it’s not gonna make it go away.” He points out.
Benny sticks his tongue out. “Well OBVIOUSLY it’s not gonna go away. We just want the pain to stop!” He raises a finger and points it towards Eddie. “We can’t have you being even a LITTLE distracted during the first game.”
Eddie smirks at him. “I played roulette with it only hours old.” He sits up so he can lean closer to Benny. “Did I seem distracted to you?”
“If we didn’t even out you would have died because of how bad you did.” Benny deadpans.
Eddie’s mouth opens and closes as he searches for a response. “We-well roulette’s a game of luck anyway!”
“GOD, just let me get you ice Eds.”
“Where are you getting ice, Benny?” He raises an eyebrow.
“It doesn’t have to be ice.” He pauses. “Just something cold.”
“And where are you getting something cold?” Eddie asks as he crosses his arms.
Benny shuffles his feet around as he thinks before he gasps. “A beer!”
“That’s seriously what you’re thinking about right now.”
“Nooooo.” Benny rolls his eyes. “I can get a canned beer from the bar. I mean, who serves lukewarm beer?”
“I guess.”
“C’mon Eds!”
Benny grabs Eddie’s arm to pull him off the bench and starts dragging him through the hallway. Once they reach the bar, he lets him go.
“Go si’ down.” He says quickly, throwing the words over his shoulder as he skims the menu.
Eddie obliges and scoots into the booth in the corner. A few minutes later, Benny slides into the booth holding a small can.
“Score! Here, turn to me.”
Benny and Eddie face each other, knees touching. Benny lifts up Eddie’s bangs with his hand again and gently places the can on his eye.
“There!”
The can is cool and slightly wet from condensation. As the seconds tick by, Eddie can feel the throbbing dissipate. He feels himself breathe a sigh of relief. He hadn’t realized how much his eye was actually bothering him until the pain was relieved.
“Feel any better?” Benny asks gently.
Eddie meets his eyes. “Yeah, it actually does. Thanks for helping me out Benny.” He fiddles with his tie. “It’s much more comfortable now.”
Benny smiles brightly. “Great! You’re back in action.”
He absentmindedly swipes his thumb through Eddie’s hair whenever a strand starts to fall from his grip. It catches Eddie off guard how nice the repetitive motion feels. He finds himself starting to lean into the touch before he stops himself.
Eddie feels his face start to heat at the internal embarrassment. Thank god Benny didn’t seem to notice, as he was lost in a space journey of his own. However, the embarrassment keeps building and after a few minutes, Eddie can’t take it anymore.
He awkwardly clears his throat before speaking. “Uh, Benny?”
Benny’s eyes snap back to his. “Yeah?”
“I can uh…hold the can.” He slowly raises his hand until it rests on the beer.
Benny’s eyes widened. “Oh, right, sorry!” He makes sure Eddie is holding the can before he fully lets go. He sits up again, putting his hands on his knees.
“Aren’t you glad you let me buy you a beer?”
Eddie rolls his eyes but his expression is anything but annoyed. “Yes, yes, you were right.” He gives him a sincere look. “Thank you.”
“No problem man.” He reaches across the table to grab what looks like a glass of whiskey before throwing his arm around Eddie’s shoulder.
“Is that whiskey?”
“Yeah.” Benny lids his eyes. “I need alcohol in my system to flirt properly.” He takes a sip. “I’d never do a shoddy job for you.” He winks.
Benny’s flirtiness and proximity only add fuel to the fire on Eddie’s face. Unfortunately, it seems Benny has finally noticed.
“Looking a little hot, Eds.” He smirks. “If the jacket’s bothering you, just take it off.”
“Fuck off.” Eddie mutters.
“Hey, Orca Man!” A distant voice calls.
Eddie and Benny turn their heads to the door to see Sailor strolling into the bar.
“The first game is going to start soon. We’d better hoist our sails!” He notices the beer can. “Say Orca Man, why’d you got pop on your face?”
Eddie knowingly glances at Benny.
“It’s a long story.”