Chapter Text
As soon as Steve opens his eyes, he just knows it’s going to be one of those days. Those days where it’s hard to get out of bed because the world is spinning and Steve is going to spend the entire day wondering if everyone else finds life this hard or if it’s just a Steve thing.
This Steve thing isn’t something that can be fixed with drinking more water or diet or exercise. It’s just a thing that persists no matter what Steve does to prevent it. The doctors told him it’s POTS, but honestly, they never explained to Steve what it stood for or what it all meant. They had to deal with Max, and Steve honestly can’t say he blames them for brushing off his minor issue. Steve could live with it. Max might not have made it through the night if the doctors didn’t spend all their time with her.
Despite the fact that he woke up dizzy and he feels like he’s going to pass out if he stands up, Steve knows he still has to get up, just so that he’s not “lazy” like his dad always said he was on days like this. Steve plants his feet on the ground, pushing himself up slowly, and feeling his joints pop. His hips are tight and his muscles are straining despite not doing anything to cause them to feel this way.
Still, Steve pushes through. Afterall, it is Henderson’s birthday today and he has to prepare the house for the many guests that are going to be there tonight. Steve can’t help but think about how many hours there are until the party. To him, it feels like days.
Steve’s room spins as he walks out of the room, using the wall to guide him and praying to God that he’ll be able to stay upright until after the party.
Eddie notices that Steve is off as soon as he arrives early to Henderson’s party. He would describe the dark circles under Steve’s eyes as metal if he wasn’t so obviously struggling to stay standing, his hands shaking as he pulls the cake out of the oven.
“Dude, are you okay?” Eddie asks, concern lacing his voice.
Steve hates it. He hates being pitied for this little thing he has going on here.
Steve snaps in irritation, “Just dandy. Can you hand me the frosting?”
“Of course, princess,” Eddie says, sliding the frosting across the counter.
That’s another thing that’s irritating Steve. The use of pet names when Eddie so obviously doesn’t like him the way Steve likes him. It’s like the guy is just yanking his chain and giving him false hope. Those are the two things that Steve hates most: being pitied and being given false hope.
But he lets it slide, keeping the peace because today is not about Steve. This day is about Dustin and Steve will be damned if he lets his POTS and his little crush get in the way of celebrating his best bud.
“Thank you,” Steve says in Eddie’s general direction.
He grabs a knife, his hands trembling as he opens the frosting and scoops some out. He spreads it across the cake, surprised that it actually looks pretty decent considering the circumstances.
Eddie watches as a satisfied smile spreads across Steve’s face at his handiwork, and it makes Eddie swoon. He never thought that he’d find Steve Harrington, King of Hawkins High, cute. Apparently, surviving the end of the world changes a person though.
And he loves making Steve blush. It’s one of his favorite hobbies. What he doesn’t like is watching as Steve so obviously struggles through basic tasks when he could just ask for help. Eddie is literally standing right there, but it seems that Steve is determined to be independent.
Steve moves over to the kitchen sink, washing off the knife when he feels it. He breaks out in a cold sweat and he can’t feel his face.
All of a sudden, Edddie is by his side, grabbing the knife from his hands, and asking, “Stevie, what’s wrong?”
Steve is ghostly pale and panting a little, and just gives Eddie a little shake of his head before saying, “Eds, I’m alright.”
Irritation shoots through Eddie, “Like hell you are. Remember what you said to me? Don’t be the hero? Why don’t you follow your own advice for a hot second?”
Steve stares at him a second, turning around to begin sinking to the ground. Eddie is struck with horror as he feels Steve go boneless against him, and he lowers him the rest of the way to the ground by his wrists, leaning him against the cabinets. He stands up to flick the kitchen faucet off and crouches next to Steve.
If Eddie is being honest, he’s doing his best not to scream for Nancy or Robin or anyone, for Christ’s sake, because he’s freaking out and he doesn’t know what to do. His heart is going a million miles a minute and stops when he sees Steve’s eyes fluttering open.
“Good morning, sweetheart,” Eddie whispers, brushing Steve’s hair away from his face, “You ok?”
“I’m ok,” Steve whispers back, pausing before continuing, “You need to stop saying shit like that otherwise I’m going to get the wrong idea.”
Eddie chuckles, still panicking as Steve leans his face against Eddie’s shoulder, “I promise you, you have the right idea.”
“Eds,” Steve sounds exasperated, “Don’t. Don’t lead me on.”
Steve doesn’t know why he’s saying all of this. Maybe it’s because he’s still not fully conscious or maybe it’s because the world is blurry or maybe it’s just because he really, really wants to know what’s going on in Eddie’s head.
“Steve, look at me,” Steve’s eyes focus on him, a little unsteadily, “I would never lead you on. Okay? Honestly, it’s kinda mean of you to think I would do something like that.”
Steve is at war with himself, trying to figure out whether or not to pout or break out grinning, “I’m not trying to be mean, baby. Can I call you that now?”
Eddie grinning and blushing. It’s the most beautiful thing Steve has ever seen.
Eddie finally gets it together long enough to reply, “Yes, as long as you tell me what the hell just happened.”
Steve’s smile falls and so does Eddie’s stomach, wondering if he might’ve said the wrong thing, but Steve just explains, “The doctors call it POTS. I don’t really know what that means. I just know it makes me feel like shit most of the time and sometimes I pass out.”
Steve looks at Eddie, noticing that he isn’t looking at him with pity or like a freak, “What can I do to help, honey?”
Steve furrows his eyebrows at the question, “Honestly, I don’t know if there’s anything you can do.”
Eddie doesn’t like that answer, but he also realizes that Steve has probably never shared this with anyone ever. Steve doesn’t know what he wants or what he needs.
Eddie tries to help him figure it out, “What about a cold washcloth? And I can do the dishes at the end of the night.”
Steve nods his head, thinking that something cold on his neck couldn’t hurt. Eddie stands up, and grabs a rag from a drawer, and runs it under cold water. He lays it across Steve’s neck and sits back down, scooching in close so their shoulders bump.
“Do you know what sets it off?”
Steve thinks for a second, “Heat? Sometimes I have to take cold showers otherwise I’ll pass out. Um, sometimes if I’m really tired, I notice I feel worse. Well, I know everyone feels worse when they’re tired but like, I feel way worse than I should? Um, certain foods can make me nauseous. And it’s worse in the summertime, again, because of the heat.”
Steve’s blushing because he’s rambling but it feels good to get it off his chest. He’s never been able to tell anyone about this because he’s supposed to be the hero and the babysitter. He’s not supposed to struggle.
Steve basically says as much, “I feel weird talking about this because I’m not supposed to need help. I mean, I’m an adult. I shouldn’t be struggling like this.”
Eddie gives him a soft, reprimanding look, “Stevie, everyone needs help. And even if you just wanted help, and didn’t need it, that wouldn’t be asking too much either.”
Steve doesn’t realize he’s crying until Eddie brushes a tear from his cheek and pulls him in closer to his side, letting Steve lean his head against his shoulder.
Steve doesn’t know how long they stay there with Eddie’s arm around his shoulder and his hands in Steve’s hair, but Eddie could’ve stayed there forever. Alas, the universe had other plans because there’s a loud banging at Steve’s front door.
In between sniffles, Steve chokes out, “I gotta get up. The kids can’t see me like this.”
“Baby, you know they won’t judge you for this, right?”
Steve takes a shaky breath, exhaling through his mouth before responding, “I know,” and he does know, but he still says, “I just don’t want them to know I’ve been crying. I’m just gonna wash my face. Answer the door for me? Please?”
Eddie can see that Steve is basically begging for Eddie to help him keep this secret so he responds with a quiet, “Okay. I’ll check on you once they’re all settled in for a movie.”
Eddie ruffles Steve’s hair before getting up, pulling him up and making sure he’s not going to immediately keel over. He watches as Steve slowly makes his way up the stairs from his spot by the front door and only opens the door once Steve has disappeared from view.
“Hello my little munchkins,” Eddie drawls out at the party on his doorstep.
Well, Steve’s door step.
“Where’s Steve?” Dustin asks, a look of disappointment on his face.
“He’s just finishing up the final touches on his fabulous hair,” Eddie lies quickly, “Am I not enough for you?”
“No, I just figured he’d open the door since he lives here and you don’t,” Dustin replied, sassily.
“Happy birthday to you too, Dustin!!” Eddie says with false glee.
Dustin looks at him like he’s stupid, “Eddie, that doesn’t even make sense.”
“This life doesn’t make any sense,” Eddie deadpans, opening the door wider so everyone can file in, “Dustin, go ahead and pick a movie in the living room. Nancy and Robin brought the good shit for you. I’m sure Harrington will be down soon.”
The party makes their way to the living room, shouting their movie suggestions at Dustin who looks more and more irritated by them by the second. Eddie hears Nancy barking at them to settle down and to speak one at a time, damn it. Eddie slips upstairs, making his way to the bathroom.
He finds Steve sitting on the floor, rifling through one of the drawers.
“Whatcha looking for?” Eddie says quietly, noticing Steve winces a little at the sound of his voice in the quiet bathroom.
“Just some tylenol or something for my headache. Dustin is too loud for me to go down there without taking any. I can hear him from up here,” Steve grimaces, trying to open the pill bottle with shaky hands.
Eddie reaches out his hand, “Here.”
Steve rolls his eyes in exasperation, annoyed that he can’t open a damn pill bottle by himself, and hands over the bottle so Eddie can open it for him.
He smiles up at Eddie sheepishly when he pops it open, holding out his hands for the pills, “Thanks.”
“Not a problem, sweetheart.”
The pet name sends Steve’s poor heart into overdrive, but he tries not to think about it too hard because freaking out might cause him to pass out again, and they can’t have that. Eddie’s ego would be too big.
Steve tries but fails in not thinking about what else is too big.
Eddie helps him up off the floor, and Steve’s skin sparks where Eddie’s hands touch him.
“Ready?” Eddie looks at Steve with so much care and concern that Steve thinks his legs might turn to jelly again, and he’ll melt into the floor like a school girl.
He doesn’t do either of those things and just nods his head, letting Eddie take his arm at the top of the stairs.
Eddie explains, “Sorry, I’m just nervous you’re going to pass out, fall down the stairs, and everyone will think I pushed you. I can’t escape the murder allegations, you know?”
Steve huffs out a laugh, and lets Eddie help him down the stairs. He lets go before they get to the living room, which Steve is thankful for. He has to keep up the appearance of the strong, protective babysitter, if not for himself, for the kids.
Eddie leads him to the empty love seat and grabs Steve a blanket from the basket tucked between the wall and the couch. He drapes it over Steve once he’s sitting down, tucking him and Steve in.
Steve croaks out at Dustin, “What movie did you pick, birthday boy?”
“Back to the Future. We never did get to see the entire thing, you know, with the ‘mall fire’” Dustin finishes with air quotes.
Steve laughs, “Yeah, I don’t remember much of the movie but I remember it being confusing.”
“Well, maybe now that you’re not on drugs it will make more sense,” Dustin deadpans, rolling his eyes at Steve before turning back to the movie.
Eddie drapes his arm over Steve’s shoulders, pulling him in so he can rest his head. Steve sees Robin and Nancy giving the both of them a questioning look, but ignores it in favor of watching the movie and ignoring the feeling in his stomach.
Steve thinks it feels like a free fall on a roller coaster rather than butterflies, but Steve is an adrenaline junky so he loves the feeling. Eddie is still reeling from Steve’s earlier confession and the vulnerability allowed Eddie to see.
He feels both privileged and disgusted by the fact that Steve only let Eddie see him in that state. Why does Steve feel like he literally can’t ask for help? Who taught him that? Eddie thinks he already knows the answer to that question, and he’s trying to keep his anger at bay, soaking in the feeling of Steve cuddling into him like a fluffy cat.
They’re not even fifteen minutes into the movie when Eddie hears soft snores coming from Steve and a soft smile spreads over his face. He feels lucky that Steve trusts him enough to fall asleep literally on top of him and Eddie has to fight off a blush at that implications.
He looks up and catches Dustin’s eyes. Apparently, the kid has been watching him make a fool of himself, and Eddie watches as he exaggerates an eye roll, but catches Dustin’s smile as he turns back to the screen.
Eddie gently shakes Steve awake before Max can pour a glass of water on him after the movie is over, “Hey, babes. It’s cake time.”
“Cake time?” Steve replies, rubbing his eyes.
“Mhmm,” Eddie pulls Steve up, leading him into the kitchen.
Steve immediately realizes that the world is spinning a little less than a few hours before. The impromptu nap and the ibuprofen must be working, then, he thinks to himself.
Steve grabs a knife from the drawer, “Hey Robs, can you grab the candles from that cabinet?”
Robin grabs the candles from the cabinet he pointed at as Nancy places the cake on the table right before the kids swarm the table like a pack of demobats. Robin places the candles and Eddie whips out a lighter from his pocket, usually kept there for more nefarious purposes.
Steve starts out the stupid happy birthday song and the rest join in as Eddie lights the candles, telling Dustin to make a wish as they wrap up their horrible singing. Dustin blows out all the candles in one go.
The party claps, congratulating Dustin on his improved lung span, and he brushes their sarcasm off, saying “Eddie, just cut the damn cake.”
“Language!” Steve says, frowning at Dustin.
Eddie gives Steve a knowing look, “I think it’s the tone more than it is the language, Stevie.”
“Guys, I’m literally right here,” Dustin replies, scowling up at them.
Eddie pushes a plate with a huge ass slice of cake in front of Dustin, hoping to shut him up for a few minutes. It works, the whole table going silent as everyone gets their slices.
The quiet is peaceful, especially after the events of the Upside Down. There’s a sense of calm now that everyone is accounted for, now that they don’t have to worry about being possessed, and torn apart limb by limb.
The party heads out after finishing their cake since their parents subjected them to early curfews. If any of them are out past sundown, Hopper himself will be leading the search and rescue team within an hour of finding out they didn’t make it home on time.
Steve can’t help but feel relieved that he’s finally alone. Well, alone with Eddie.
It doesn’t seem like Eddie is planning on staying though because he’s pulling on his combat boots, “Where are you going?”
Eddie finishes putting on the first boot and stands, walking over to Steve on uneven legs, “I figured you’d want to rest, honey. Today was a long day for you.”
Steve furrows his eyebrows in confusion, “I want you to stay with me.”
Eddie lights up, “Really?”
“Yeah, Eds. I always want you to stay with me. Just couldn’t ask you before.”
It’s Eddie’s turn to look at Steve with confusion in his eyes, “Why couldn’t you ask me to stay before?”
Steve rolls his eyes, “Because straight guys don’t ask other guys to sleep in their bed with them and be the big spoon.”
“Oh,” Eddie blushes, “So, you don’t just want me to sleep in the guest bedroom, then?”
“No, sweetheart. I want you all up in my business.”
Eddie places his hands on Steve’s hips, leaning in to kiss Steve for the first time, “Well, I can’t say no to that.”
When they break apart for a breath, Eddie continues, “I always want to be up in your business, babes.”
Steve smiles, threading his hands in Eddie’s hair, “Good.”
And if Eddie begins free falling into Steve’s love the same way Steve is falling for him, that’s between him and God.