be sure to wear flowers (in your hair)

by hopewithfeathers

Summary:

Eddie's whole life comes to a screeching halt when Steve Harrington walks into his flower shop one day in December.

Notes:

• For Ayes.

a winter rom-com gift for Ayes. I hope you enjoy!! ❤️️

thank you everyone for reading!! you can also come find me on twitter too! ❤️️

The new snow crunches thick under Eddie’s boots as he treks towards the shop. The morning is crisp, the wind harsh against his bare cheeks, but at least Shire Stems and Seeds looks beautiful against the white backdrop, like something out of a fairytale. There’s snow collecting in the awning above the door, dusty like powdered sugar. Eddie is definitely going to have to shovel the front sidewalk.

Despite it being the middle of December, by the time Eddie shovels the front walk and turns the heat up inside for the flowers, he’s sweating through his puffy winter jacket. He strips down as he restocks blooms and waters the front plants, and then takes a couple bouquet orders over the phone.

He’s arranging a cluster of tulips and baby’s-breath in nothing but a t-shirt, his black inked sleeves on full display and his hair tied up in a messy bun, when Steve fucking Harrington walks into his shop. He’s windswept and shivering from the blustery Chicago wind, a mustard yellow beanie over his beloved hair and–shit, a pair of dark-framed glasses perched on his nose, too.

Steve is older, definitely, but Eddie recognizes him right away. Steve’s hair, from what he can tell, is a little longer. There are noticeable laugh lines in the corner of his eyes when he smiles at Eddie. That smile still lights up Eddie’s whole body, makes him warm and jittery and light all the way down to his still cold toes. It’s a little bit devastating, and a lot infuriating.

In part, because Eddie’s sure Steve doesn’t remember him. It’s not like they interacted directly in school. Eddie hated him on principal, although secretly pined over him, because who fucking didn’t? Steve was gorgeous, and unattainable, and totally unaware of Eddie’s existence until Eddie started throwing himself on top of lunch room tables and yelling about conformity and how idiotic sports were. He can still see Gareth and Jeff smirking at him, since they were the only ones who knew how down-bad Eddie’s crush was on a certain jock.

But Eddie knows he looks different, too. In high school he’d only been on T for a couple months, and it was before top surgery. He’s filled out a lot, especially in his shoulders. He has a good dusting of stubble on his face, a lot more tattoos, and multiple facial piercings. Sure, he’s wearing black, but it's under a bright green apron.

And what are the fucking odds that Steve Harrington chooses Eddie’s shop to walk into? They both went to school in nowhere, Indiana, but Eddie didn’t even know Steve lived here, now. Eddie honestly thinks this might be an elaborate prank and Jeff is about to jump out from the back and shout surprise, I knew you had it bad for him in high school! Your face is so fucking red, man!

“Hello,” Eddie says, too late. He’s panicking so hard inside his head right now. He smiles at Steve, he can’t not smile at him. “How can I help you?”

“Hi,” Steve says. He’s a little breathless as he makes his way over to the front counter. “I’m actually here to order some flowers for my best friend’s wedding. I’m the best man–” he beams, and it’s so fucking cute, Eddie’s going to fucking die– “and she wants me to pick some out, you know? Do you do bulk orders like that, for weddings?” Steve flushes, like he’s just realizing he talked Eddie’s ear off, and his nose goes a little pinker with it.

“Of course,” Eddie says. He grins, flailing his hands outward in a sweeping gesture to the whole shop. “I can do anything you want, man. Centerpieces, bridal bouquets, whatever. What are their colors?”

“Dark green and lilac,” Steve says. “Oh, and gold, too.” He leans forward, resting his elbows on the counter. He’s still shivering a little, but it’s cold as shit today and Steve brought an entire inch of snow in with him, so Eddie doesn’t blame him.

“Hmm,” Eddie says, turning around to survey the shop. It’s arranged just how he likes it–organized chaos–but he knows where everything is. “Okay, maybe some gardenias and some snowdrops? We could do carnations or roses, but they’re kind of cliché. Unless your best friend and her partner are into that?”

Steve makes a face, laughs, and then shakes his head. It’s stupidly cute, and makes Eddie have the insane urge to reach over and rub the winter chill from his cheeks.

“Definitely not the cliché wedding type. Either of them. I think Robin’s future wife would prefer the least cliche thing you have.”

“A person after my own heart,” Eddie jokes dramatically, thumping his fist against his chest and fake swooning to get Steve to laugh again. He does, a lot, and lets out this little snort that makes Eddie instantly feel the most victorious he’s ever felt in his whole life. He wants to record that noise, listen to it on repeat for the rest of his existence. “Okay,” he says, pivoting away from Steve and hurrying around the counter. “Let’s try some peonies too, they come in a purply color, and of course we’ll add some dark green grasses it in too to bring in the green theme. Anything else they want in there? Pinecones? Berries? That kind of thing?”

“Uh,” Steve stammers. He looks lost. Eddie chuckles. “I got you, big boy, don’t worry,” he says, and immediately cringes. Get it fucking together. Eddie’s face is flaming now, but he swallows and busies himself with gathering an assortment of flowers. Steve’s eyes follow him to the right side of the store, trail him as he opens cabinets and even when he ducks into the back to grab a few more items.

Eddie lists his ideas in his head for the different arrangements he could do, winter themed arrangements, but not too common, something different.

“Okay,” he says. He blows out a huge breath, flicks his eyes up to Steve. Steve is still watching him, but there’s a smile turning his lips up, a softness behind his eyes that makes Eddie break out into a sweat. “Give me a couple days to put some ideas together and we can go from there, yeah? Do you–I mean, are you in the city?”

“Yeah,” Steve says, still smiling. “I live near here. Should I give you my number?”

“Yeah,” Eddie says, too fast. “Yeah, for sure. Then I can call you when they’re ready.” Like he does. For every customer. Because he’s a professional.

“Great,” Steve says. He laughs again, just a little, but it’s not in a mean way. Eddie only wants to hide a little bit.

“Great,” Eddie echoes, then squeezes his eyes shut, taking a shaky breath. Actually, fuck this, he hopes the ground swallows him whole right this second.

Steve steps back up to the counter, and right, yeah, Eddie needs to write his number down. The computer system he has is old as shit, meaning he usually writes down customer information anyway instead of relying on the software that busts every other week, but he’s extra thankful for it now. He starts writing down Steve H before he realizes he’s not supposed to know Steve’s name, and freezes.

He looks up, biting his lip, but Steve is grinning at him. And–Eddie has his entire breath knocked out of him.

“Munson, right?” Steve says. He leans forward into Eddie’s space, elbows on the counter and dark eyes focused on his face.

Eddie makes some kind of noise. There’s no way Steve knows his name, no fucking way he remembers him from high school. His mouth must be hanging open, because Steve smirks, leaning forward and grabbing the pen from Eddie’s slack grip. He writes his number in the space Eddie left, pausing for a second, and doodling a little heart after. What the fuck.

“I remember you,” Steve tells him. “How could I forget, with all your dramatic lunchroom speeches?”

“Oh, fuck you, Harrington,” Eddie says, but it’s strangled and weak. He’s pretty sure his voice fucking cracks, which it hasn’t done in years, thanks so much. Steve laughs, loud and bright, and rubs a hand over his cute ass beanie like he meant to run it through his hair instead. He glances down at the trans flag pin on Eddie’s apron pocket, and his eyes get caught on his bridge and eyebrow piercings on the way back up.

“Hmm,” Steve says. “You can text me at that number, too. If–you know. If you want.”

“Oh.”

“Yeah. Uh. I’ll see you around, Munson.”

“Eddie. It’s–Eddie.”

“Eddie,” Steve smiles. “I’ll talk to you soon.”

“Okay,” Eddie says dumbly. He watches Steve leave, the bell jingling as the door shuts behind him. He sticks his hands in his pockets and turns left, shaking himself a little like he’s psyching himself up for the cold. It’s–it’s something. Eddie’s going to try not to think about what that something might be.

💐

Eddie gets Steve’s arrangements done by the next morning, but he holds off on texting Steve about them. Mostly because he told Steve it would take a few days, and that seems over eager. Even though it is business. But Eddie takes the post it that Steve wrote his number on home, keeps it on his cork board in the kitchen and stares at the seven little digits and the tiny, black inked heart right after them. He wants to text Steve so badly, but he’s worried he overshot their entire interaction–after all, he flirted with Steve, maybe Steve was just trying to be nice? To let him down gently? If Steve actually remembers him from high school, there’s no way he’d actually want Eddie to text him. Eddie was fucking obnoxious in high school, still is honestly, and Steve was a pretty boy jock that Eddie could barely allow himself to lust after, even in the company of his very queer friends.

Two days after Steve had come into his shop, Eddie texts him.

Hey, Steve. It’s Eddie, from Shire Stems and Seeds. Your flowers are all ready, whenever you can come take a look at them!

Eddie puts his phone down, not expecting Steve to respond right away, but as he flits around his kitchen making toast and coffee and feeding his cat, Took, his breakfast, his phone pings with an incoming text.

Hey Eddie! I can stop by this morning, actually! If that’s okay?

Eddie stares down at Steve’s response, his heart pounding in his chest with equal parts nerves and exhilaration. He’s going to see Steve again today? Fuck, he has to get changed, put on a different outfit before he leaves for work.

Sure man no problem. I’ll be in at nine.

Oh, it’s man now? 🙁

Eddie gapes at Steve’s text, no fucking idea how to respond to that in the slightest. He remembers his flirty big boy from the other day and flushes, nearly upending his coffee mug all over his favorite jacket. Jesus christ. Eddie must take too long trying to formulate an articulate response, because Steve texts him again before he can.

Just messing with you Eddie. See you soon!

Eddie stumbles into the shop that morning in a daze. He upends two vases and a stack of fresh flowers (luckily none of them are Steve’s) before he even gets a customer. Steve comes in at nine-thirty, when Eddie is helping an older woman pick out a bouquet for her granddaughter, and Eddie startles so bad he nearly knocks her in the head with the bundle of pink roses.

“Sorry,” Eddie says, but luckily she’s nice and smiles at Eddie, bemused. Steve keeps himself busy by checking out the other flower displays, hovering just out of Eddie’s space, and Eddie takes a deep, steadying breath. He checks the woman out, watches her leave, before he finally looks at Steve.

Steve’s cheeks are all pink with the cold like they were yesterday. He’s wearing a different beanie today with stripes and a small pink pom pom on top, and it’s so dumb and so adorable that Eddie has to really school his face into something resembling professionalism and non-insanity.

“Hey,” Steve says, and it’s kind of soft and amused. Eddie nearly turns around and flees through the back entrance.

“Hi,” Eddie squeaks back. Steve laughs, and Eddie blushes against his will, warmth flooding his entire face–he tugs a lock of hair in front of his mouth like a curtain. 

"Sorry If I… freaked you out, this morning,” Steve says.

“No! No, I. I’m just. Surprised? I was surprised,” Eddie says.

“I gave you my number,” Steve points out. “To text me. Not just for the flowers.”

“No, I. Oh. I mean–” Eddie groans, slapping both of his hands against his face to hide from Steve’s smirk. “Sorry. I’m stupid.”

“Are you this nervous every time a guy tries to ask you out?”

All Eddie can hear is a guy tries to ask you out over and over again on a loop in his brain. He finally gets some control of his body back, rubbing his cheeks and fiddling with the rings on his left hand.

“No,” Eddie admits. “Just when the guy is Steve Harrington.”

“Oh?” Steve grins, but he’s looking a little pink, too. Eddie beams. At least his ineptitude is good for something. “Did you have a crush on me in high school or something?”

“Nope,” Eddie says, turning on his heel and ducking into the back under the guise of getting Steve’s flowers (but also actually getting Steve’s flowers). “We’re not doing that, nope.”

Eddie grins like a fucking idiot when he hears Steve’s loud, startled laugh from the front of the store. Eddie clears his throat, comes out to the front again with three small bouquets in his arms.

“Alright,” he says. “So, I did this one with this big bunch of greenery here, and this is king protea and the gardenias, so not really a lot of color in this one. But some couples love the pinecones.” Steve looks at the flowers, smiles at Eddie. Eddie sucks in a breath.

He tells Steve about the other options he put together–white peonies, big greenery for the dark green aspect, some hydrangeas, white lilac, and lilac tulips. The last one, Eddie’s personal favorite, with white anemones and lots of big eucalyptus. It has fall thistle, craspedia to bring in the gold, and some winter berries sprinkled throughout.

“Whichever one you choose, we can base the rest of the flowers off of that,” Eddie explains. “We can decorate the space, do centerpieces if you want, the whole thing. Or, if you don’t think any of these suit them, I can do some other ones.”

“No, I really love this one,” Steve says. He points to the anemone bouquet. “I think Nancy and Rob would really love these.” Eddie beams.

“Awesome.”

Eddie explains the wedding process, how he’ll create the pieces closer to their date in February, and give Steve an estimate of the cost before he starts work on everything. Steve gazes at him with a soft look that gets Eddie incredibly flustered and makes him ramble a bit, though Steve doesn’t seem to mind.

Steve leaves the shop after thanking Eddie profusely, and Eddie watches him go. Steve ducks his head against the wind outside, letting some snow flurries blow in on his way out.

💐

Eddie doesn’t expect to hear from Steve after that, not until Eddie gets back to him about his flowers. Even if he did insinuate he was trying to ask Eddie out last time he saw him in person–but that was before how he saw how fumbly and dorky Eddie could be.

It’s only the next night, after Eddie has gotten off work and gone home to feed Took, that Steve texts him. Took is on Eddie’s lap, purring happily as Eddie strokes over the cat’s back and scratches behind his ears.

So are you a big Lord of the Rings fan?

Eddie stares at the message, heart pounding. It sounds like Steve is making conversation just to talk to him, like they weren’t basically mortal enemies (at least by status) in high school.

haha yeah! I’ve seen all the movies a bunch of times and read the books too

There’s no need to let Steve know exactly how many times he’s watched the movies. That he owns all the extended editions and watches them all the way through every Christmas. Eddie hesitates for only a minute, but thinks fuck it, and snaps a pictures of Took curled up in a black and white spotted ball on his lap.

my cat’s name is Took

Oh my god, he is adorable! I love cats!!

Oh no, Eddie thinks deliriously. He almost throws his phone across the room when Steve sends him a picture of himself touching noses and grinning with a gray tabby perched on his chest. Eddie melts so entirely that he’s worried his heart has actually fallen out of his chest cavity. Steve’s cheeks are a little pink and Eddie can see he’s biting his lip on a laugh.

me too! what’s your cat’s name?

She’s actually Rob’s cat. Well, started off as both of ours, but she chose Robin. Robin’s taking her when she and Nance get their own place. But her name is Billie.

soooo cute 💗

She is! Anyway, my little bro (not actually my brother, but might as well be) talks about LOTR literally constantly, that’s why I was asking!

i mean...my shop is named after the series, so 😉

Oh, the shop is yours?? Man, that’s so cool! How did you get into flowers?

Eddie smiles like an idiot. He texts Steve all throughout cooking dinner for himself, tells him all about the garden he had with his mom when she was still alive and he was just a kid, how he thinks at least some of her green thumb rubbed off on him. He tells him about his extensive houseplant collection, his pothos and monsteras and jade plants. They’re still texting when Eddie crawls into bed with Took curled up between his legs like a little heated blanket.

I gotta crash. Can I text you again sometime?

yeah definitely

goodnight 😊

Goodnight Eddie! 😊

It takes Eddie a long time to fall asleep. He can’t stop thinking about Steve’s soft smile on him the other day, how it felt to have all his attention, and how he wants to keep it for as long as Steve will let him.

He smiles at the ceiling, petting over Took’s soft fur. When he finally drifts off, he dreams about anemones and Steve's cheeks, pink from the cold.

💐

It doesn’t take long for Eddie to realize that Steve is nothing like the person Eddie thought he was in high school.

Obviously, Eddie hadn’t known Steve at all back then, but he’d had his own preconceived notions about him. Steve never fucked with Eddie and his group like some of his old high school posse did, but he put on this cocky front and sauntered around the hallways like he owned them–King Steve and his lowly subjects. It was part of the reason Eddie always hated him back then, even with his massive, unwelcome crush–because there were these moments that Eddie swore he could see past Steve’s mask, that Steve was sad, and lonely, and just as lost as the rest of them. ‘

The Steve of seven years later is hilarious. He makes Eddie laugh almost constantly with his dry humor and sarcasm. He gossips to Eddie about his coworkers’ family dramas and bitches about ignorant parents and the school board he works for–Eddie finds out he’s a kindergarten teacher, which he never would’ve guessed. But Steve loves kids, it’s clear in the way he talks about the ones he works with, and how he says they make the whole headache of their parents and the other teachers worth it. His closest friends are two lesbians and a kid he used to babysit sometimes, who he still talks to weekly on the phone and who is studying at MIT, of all places.

Eddie can tell how much Steve loves Dustin, just by the way he talks about him. Steve tells Eddie that Dustin is into D&D, which starts Eddie on a whole half hour info dump about his next campaign with his group–and throughout it, Steve listens, and not the fake kind of listening, either.

Eddie can tell Steve is loyal, fierce in his love for the people who are in his corner. It makes Eddie ache desperately to be a part of it, as soon as it is. In turn, he tells Steve about Wayne, and about Jeff and Gareth and their combined friends’ trip they take every year.

This Steve, the one Eddie is truly getting to know, might be interested in him. That’s a thing Eddie’s trying to convince himself of, no matter how much his logical brain is rebelling against him.

Steve texts him one morning, a cheerful good morning!! text with a heart emoji and a blurry picture of Steve’s face buried in his pillow and Billie sitting fully on top of his head. Eddie laughs sleepily (what a fucking sight to wake up to, honestly), and sends back a selfie of him and Took, who had migrated during the night to the next pillow over. Took blinks slowly at him, disgruntled and squinty-eyed, and Eddie grins at him, presses a quick kiss to his nose.

The shop isn’t busy. It’s a Thursday, so Steve’s working, but they text on his lunch break. He tells him about how he and Robin have been roommates since they graduated high school, but only just moved to Chicago last year, and suddenly something clicks in Eddie’s brain.

wait. not robin buckley??

Haha, yeah! The very same

oh shit!!

Eddie and Robin hadn’t really talked in school, but she was in band, so there was kind of a solidarity there that Eddie didn’t have with most other classmates. Eddie remembers seeing her laugh once when he was performing some of his usual antics at lunch, and she was also at the one meeting of the GSA Eddie had attended senior year. Eddie can’t believe that they all decided to move to Chicago. Even though it’s the closest big city to where they all grew up, he still can’t believe Steve somehow picked his flower shop to walk into that morning.

Eddie finds out Robin is marrying Nancy Wheeler, and nearly has a fit about it. He’s in bed that night, and talking to Steve on the phone, and seriously. The only other person he talks to on the phone is Wayne.

“Wait, wait, wait. Robin is marrying Nancy Wheeler? Steve, didn’t you date Nancy?!”

Steve scoffs in Eddie’s ear, but he sounds flustered.

“Yeah,” he says, “Like a lifetime ago. And that was before I realized I’m only interested in guys.”

It’s quiet for a few seconds, until Eddie can string enough words together to respond.

“Oh. You’re–oh.”

“Yeah. Thought that was pretty obvious,” Steve says. He chuckles, but it gets caught in his throat on the way out.

“It doesn’t bother you that I’m trans?” Eddie says, because if Steve has a problem with it, he’d rather figure that out now, before he gets attached (well, more attached) and gets his heart broken. And it’s not like they’ve even said what this is, they’re just talking, nothing else at all–

“No, Eddie,” Steve says quietly. “Not at all. I’m actually–I’ve been figuring myself out lately, too. I still use he/him, but I don’t think I’m–fully, a guy? I’m nonbinary, I think, but I don’t know for sure yet. Hah. I’m still figuring all this out.” Steve is rambling a bit, and it’s so cute to be on the other side of it this time. Eddie smiles so hard his left dimple pops out on his cheek.

“Thank you for telling me, Stevie. Let me know if your pronouns change, okay?”

“I will.”

Like it’s that fucking easy. And the thing is, it is easy between them. They never talked in high school, or even interacted, besides a couple times when Tommy H shoved Eddie too hard into a locker in the hallway and Steve said come on, man, stop that and shot Eddie a look he couldn’t interpret. But Eddie feels like he’s known Steve a lot longer than a few weeks.

They talk about music they like, which is so vastly different it’s almost laughable–Eddie listens to 80s metal, Tool, Clutch, and Tenacious D, Steve listens to Leith Ross, Noah Kahan, and Hozier. Steve only drinks black coffee if he drinks it at all, and Eddie gets his pumped with caramel every single time. Steve watches mostly sitcoms or reality tv, and Eddie loves anything fantasy related. Steve listens to him talk his hyperfixations and actually seems to want to hear about them more.

It’s crazy, but thrilling. Eddie is giddy all the time, texting Steve constantly, and is so spaced out on his weekly call with Wayne that Wayne asks him point blank if he’s seeing someone.

“What,” Eddie dismisses. “What gave you that idea, old man?”

“You just sound happy, that’s all. I haven’t heard you this happy in a long time, Ed.”

And it’s like–yeah, Eddie loves his job, most of the time. He has a blast at D&D every week coming up with wild stories and fucking around with his group. He has a nice life, for the most part. It’s loads better than high school in Hawkins was, even if Eddie misses Wayne every day.

But he’s lonely, too. The few relationships he’s had have been lifeless, and ended quickly. He’s had some hookups, but every time he’s tried to get close to someone, they end up dropping him. It’s like he’s only good for a quick fuck, or second rate company when someone is lonely like him.

“I–okay,” Eddie says, and Wayne whoops. “No, It’s not–we’re just talking, right now! But I hope it’s going there. I really like him, Wayne.”

Wayne tells him to be careful, and to keep him posted, all the normal things a dad says, but Eddie can tell he’s hoping for the best, just like Eddie is.

💐

Steve texts him on a Saturday, after Eddie leaves the shop for the day.

Hey, what are you doing tonight?

nothing. rotting on my couch with my cat. why?

As fun as that sounds … 😉 Do you want to go get drinks?

yeah definitely!! where were you thinking?

I was thinking Hops? If you know it? If that sounds good!

sure! sounds good to me. at 7:30?

Perfect 😘

Eddie spends the entire time before he leaves for drinks with Steve having an anxiety attack about whether or not they’re going on a date, if he should dress up or not, if he should style his hair any differently than usual. He ends up wearing what he’d normally wear out with the guys: one of his nicer pairs of dark jeans, an only slightly ripped Judas Priest tee with the arm holes cut out, and his favorite leather jacket. He debates for a full twenty minutes whether to put his hair up in a bun or leave it hanging around his face, but in the end decides to wear it down.

He slips every silver ring he owns on his fingers along with his guitar pick necklace, and practically runs out his front door before he can add anything that he’ll regret, like eyeliner. He feeds Took, scratches the cat’s ears in goodbye, and stumbles out into the snow. On his six block walk to the bar, he realized he probably should’ve put on an actual winter coat. Or at least some gloves and a hat. Jesus Christ.

He enters Hops shivering, arms wrapped around his middle, and spots Steve sitting in a booth near the back of the dive bar. Steve looks up, beams, and waves him over. He frowns over his glasses when Eddie gets closer, a pinch between his eyebrows that has Eddie panicking in two seconds flat, before Steve says:

“Is that all you wore? Eddie, it’s fucking December. You’re going to freeze like that.”

Steve, himself, is sans beanie, but his hair is ruffled like he wore one on the way here, and his winter coat is shoved onto the seat next to him. He’s wearing a gray sweater, it looks soft as fuck, and warm. Eddie winces.

“I know. I’m usually not this stupid, I promise. I just wasn’t thinking.”

“Seems to be a theme with you,” Steve says, but he’s smiling, and Eddie can recognize the teasing glint in his eye. “C’mere, sit down and get warm. What do you want to drink?”

Steve stands, taking his coat and draping it over Eddie’s shoulders once he’s sitting across from him. Steve goes to the bar and gets Eddie his gin and tonic, and Eddie sits there, only trembling a little now, with Steve’s jacket engulfing his upper body. It’s puffy, and Eddie can still feel Steve’s body heat and smell his cologne–something spicy and woodsy that Eddie is instantly addicted to.

He tries to look totally sane and normal when Steve slides in across from him again, sliding Eddie’s drink to him.

“Better?” Steve asks.

“Mmhm,” Eddie says honestly. “Thanks.”

Steve smiles, and Eddie could sit here for days and watch him smile like that. He’s so fucking gorgeous. They talk about work, the shop and Steve’s kids, and Eddie gets to watch Steve light up in real time talking about his work and teaching kids to read and write and whatever else kindergarteners do.

“Okay, so the other week this kid–” Steve stops to break into a fit of laughter. “Just straight up told me I had a big nose. Like no–no lead up, just that. I just started laughing.”

“Your nose is perfect,” Eddie tells him, because it is. It fits his face and it’s strong, pointy, and he scrunches it up when he laughs. Eddie lets Steve’s coat drop from around his shoulders, leaning forward and grinning at Steve. He can see the freckles on Steve’s face, a couple around his nose and two under his left eye. Eddie wants to kiss them.

Steve leans right back into Eddie’s space, eyes soft and crinkled at the edges. Eddie is hypnotized. So fucking stuck and tethered and greedy for any part of Steve.

They sit there talking for hours. Eddie makes Steve laugh so many times he’s giddy with it, the tight, happy feeling in his chest expanding out and out, until he’s scared he’ll explode and get his gut juices all over Steve’s pretty face. Steve’s cheeks are dusted pink with drink–neither of them are drunk, but Steve’s had three or four and is giggling more freely, so he’s definitely tipsy, at least. Eddie feels drunk, but he’s only had two, determined to sip slowly, so he thinks it must be Steve’s proximity instead.

“Tell me something I don’t know about you,” Steve says. Which, in hindsight, is a hilarious question, because there’s so many things Steve doesn’t know about him. But Eddie thinks he knows what he means.

“Uh.” He thinks about it for a minute. “I did shit in school, which I’m sure you know. But I’m really good at playing guitar. I can play by ear too, so if I know the song, I can figure out how to play it in a couple minutes.”

Eddie flushes, scared Steve will think he’s boasting. Steve whistles, looks impressed and intrigued, and Eddie relaxes.

“Damn, Munson, that’s–really cool.”

“You were gonna say sexy, weren’t you?” Eddie teases. “I heard that pause, Stevie.”

“Haha,” Steve deadpans, but he’s actually blushing this time–Eddie grins so hard his cheeks hurt. He can’t believe this is his life right now.

“Your turn though,” Eddie says. “Tell me something I don’t know about you.”

“Okay. Get ready. I’ve actually never seen any of the Lord of the Rings movies all the way through.”

“Excuse me, what?”

“They’re long as fuck!” Steve shrieks, but he’s laughing. “I always fall asleep, okay? Sue me.”

“Okay, nope, unacceptable.” Eddie’s laughing too, can’t stop staring at the way Steve is clutching his stomach, wincing helplessly like it aches. “We’re gonna fix that.”

When they finally leave, it’s past ten. They exit the bar, lingering at the doorway. It’s snowing, light little flurries that land on Steve’s exposed nose, the yellow beanie he’s crammed back on his head, his eyelashes.

“I had a lot of fun,” Steve says quietly. He looks a bit nervous suddenly, and Eddie wants to reach out and envelope him in his arms. He’s so fucked.

“Me too,” Eddie says. They’re both quiet, just watching each other for moment, and Eddie–fuck. “Do you–want to come over?”

Steve’s lips quirk.

“Come over to your place?”

“Yeah. We can get a head start on that movie.” Steve groans, but he laughs, too.

"On one condition.”

“Uh, sure. What?”

“You wear my coat.”

“Dude, no way! Then you’ll be freezing. I’m the idiot who forgot. I’ll be fine.”

“I run really warm,” Steve says. “I’ll be fine. And I have my hat.” He’s already unzipping his coat and handing it over, and Eddie sighs. He knows he should protest more, but the coat is really warm, and he really wants Steve to come over.

“Alright. Fine.”

Steve smirks at him, and Eddie gets a little weak in the knees. They walk together the six blocks back to Eddie’s place, and Steve only shivers a little bit. Eddie, guilty, walks close enough that Steve can probably feel the warmth from his body, so their shoulders and arms brush every few steps. Eddie digs his keys out of his jean pocket, and leads Steve up the four stairs to his front door. He’s in a small, one-bedroom townhouse in Andersonville, and it’s perfectly big enough for just him and Took. Eddie still has his black wreath up from Halloween, and a welcome mat that says there’s some horrors in this house, complete with a ghost doing the splits.

His heart is pounding in his chest as he fumbles with cold metal, turning the tumblers with a resounding click. He jimmies the front doorknob (it’s always been a bit finicky), then holds the door open for Steve with a sweeping and here we are gesture.

“My humble abode, sir,” Eddie says, bowing low at the waist. Steve shoves him, gently, and scoffs.

“God. You’re just as big a dork as you were in high school.”

“You bet your ass, baby,” Eddie tells him, and Steve laughs, walks forward into the apartment. Took prances up to them in the doorway, meowing loudly and rubbing up against Eddie’s legs. “Hey, bud.”

Steve drops to the floor immediately, folding his legs underneath him and making kissy noises at Took. Took looks at him skeptically for a moment, sniffing at Steve’s offered fingers, before he meows again and headbutts into them. Steve beams.

“You are so cute, aren’t you? Such a sweet little man.”

Took is fully rubbing against Steve’s side now, little rumbly purrs coming from his chest. Eddie stares at him, shocked. It took him a full year for him to warm up enough for Gareth to do that.

“Holy shit,” Eddie says. “He–never does that. To new people.”

“Guess I’m a good one,” Steve jokes, and Eddie clears his throat, feeling color burst along his cheekbones. He steps away instead of answering, and makes his way over to the kitchen cupboards.

“Want some hot cocoa? Or tea?”

“Ooh, cocoa sounds good.”

Eddie leaves Steve to watch the milk simmering on the stove (the only way to make cocoa, as he learned from Wayne) while he goes to get changed, and brings Steve a sweatshirt to swap out for his now damp sweater. Steve tries to protest, but the snowflakes are still melting in the hair under his beanie, so Eddie won’t hear it. He gives Steve one of his oversized Metallica hoodies, and he looks adorable in it, cradling his mug of cocoa and draped over Eddie’s couch.

“Alright,” Eddie says, “This is the beginning of your education.” Steve rolls his eyes so hard Eddie’s surprised they’re still attached to his skull.

“God, you sound like Dustin. Are we really watching…a three hour movie right now? I’m definitely gonna fall asleep, man.”

“No,” Eddie says. He collapses besides Steve, swats him on the leg. “We’re only starting it. Manageable chunks, Harrington.”

Steve shakes his head, but he’s biting down a smile. Eddie can tell.

They sit close together on the couch, but in Eddie’s defense, it isn’t that big. It’s more of a loveseat, actually. Eddie sits with one leg up on the cushion, just brushing Steve’s knee, and the other socked foot on the floor.

To Steve’s credit, he makes it halfway through the Fellowship, all the way to Rivendell. Eddie tries not to talk his fucking ear off, because he wants Steve to actually watch the movie. Steve is watching, for the most part. He lights up when Aragorn comes in (of course he does), makes comments that Frodo and Sam are definitely in love (obviously Eddie agrees wholeheartedly), and makes appropriate noises of distress when Frodo is dying and they’re being chased by the wraiths.

Once Frodo wakes up in Rivendell, Steve starts yawning and rubbing his eyes. He makes a little squeaky sigh noise after he yawns that makes Eddie want to fucking squeeze him. Eddie laughs when Steve nods off a little, head dipping down towards his chest. He makes a soft, sleepy noise when Eddie pokes him in the thigh.

“Time to sleep I think, yeah?” Eddie says.

“Oh,” Steve mumbles. “Maybe, yeah. Sorry.”

“You’re fine, big boy,” Eddie says. “It’s late. C’mon, you can crash here. I’ll even let you take the bed.”

Steve shakes himself, shaking his head.

“No, man, I’m not taking your bed. I can sleep on the couch.” Eddie raises his eyebrows skeptically.

“Stevie, this couch is barely big enough for me. You’re not gonna fit on it.”

“We’re the same height!”

Eddie flushes, feeling caught out.

“Yeah, but you’re… broader.” he swallows. “Your shoulders.”

“My shoulders, huh?” And Steve’s got this flirty, mischievous smile on his face that makes Eddie lose whatever train of thought he still had. “Okay. But you said it yourself you barely fit. We can just share the bed. If…that’s okay?”

Alarm bells go off in Eddie’s head, and not because he doesn’t trust Steve–because he doesn’t trust himself to stay away from him in his sleep, to share a space with this man so small that it might as well be no space at all, as far as Eddie’s feelings are concerned.

“Oh,” Eddie says helplessly. “Yeah. Okay.”

“I can go home if you’d rather,” Steve says quickly, mistaking Eddie’s hesitation. “Really. I won’t fall asleep walking. Or, seriously, I”ll just take the couch–”

Eddie crowds into Steve’s space, gripping his hand around Steve’s elbow, which Steve had lifted up to run through his hair. Steve stops, takes a breath.

“Stevie. No, it’s okay. I don’t mind, really.”

I don’t mind is the biggest understatement, actually. Eddie would love to share his bed with Steve (even though he’s now wishing he’d thought ahead and cleaned his sheets), share his body heat and smell and feel him so close and wiggle until they’re pressed all together–

Okay. It’s getting out of hand, now.

“Okay,” Steve says, but he’s biting at his bottom lip. Eddie grabs his hand before he can talk himself out of it, tugging him gently down the hall to his room.

“Uh, sorry,” Eddie winces. He kicks a pile of clothes into the corner near his hamper, thank god it’s not underwear at least, Jesus. His red electric is on his bed, so he lets go of Steve’s hand with a little squeeze and puts her in her spot on the wall. “Fuck, sorry,” Eddie says, because he left his fucking T shot supplies out on his bedside table.

“Ed, hey, don’t apologize,” Steve says. “It just looks like you live here, man.”

“Okay,” Eddie says. He grabs his T and shoves it in his bedside drawer. Steve comes up behind him, wraps his arms around Eddie from behind. He’s fucking broad, and warm, and Eddie can’t help but sag a little into him. Steve jostles them a little, side to side, and Eddie laughs.

“How are you fucking real,” Eddie mumbles without thinking.

“I promise I am,” Steve says. It doesn’t sound like he’s running for the hills. He doesn’t even shove Eddie away. Actually, he kisses the back of Eddie’s head, just like that. Kisses him like it’s nothing, like everything he could ever possibly say to Eddie is in that simple press of lips.

“God,” Eddie says, and he hates that he sounds choked up.

“Should I not–”

“No,” Eddie yelps, “No, I–that wasn’t a bad god. Can you just–turn around?” Steve unwraps his arms from Eddie’s waist, and Eddie turns instead to face him. Steve is watching him carefully with soft, dark eyes. Eddie steps into him, closer still, and cups his palms against Steve’s cheeks.

“You’re real,” Eddie says, mostly to himself. Steve smiles, just a little quirk of one side of his mouth, and Eddie kisses him. Steve’s mouth is warm and eager against his, but he mellows Eddie’s frantic movements with patient strokes of his tongue, rubs both his thumbs over the dip of Eddie’s hip bones. Steve scrapes his teeth along Eddie’s bottom lip and Eddie moans a little. He flushes, rips his mouth away from Steve’s and buries his face in Steve’s neck, panting. As first kisses go, it’s a lot–but in the best way. Eddie’s had rough first kisses, awkward ones too, but this was neither–Steve is tender with him, like he–like he’s willing to take it slow with him.

“We should sleep,” Steve says quietly, but he still hasn’t stepped away. He kisses Eddie’s temple, strokes up his back, and Eddie really never wants to leave this exact spot.

“Yeah, okay,” Eddie agrees.

Eddie loans Steve a clean t-shirt and some comfy pants. They take turns in the bathroom with their nighttime routine, and it’s so fucking domestic that Eddie kind of wants to scream about it. He knows he’s in over his head, too fucking deep, he barely knows Steve–but he already feels so safe with him, somehow.

They crawl into Eddie’s bed together, soft and sleepy, and Eddie faces Steve, can’t help it. Steve is already facing him, smiling that sweet smile, and when he sees Eddie watching he rolls in towards him so that they’re smushed together. Steve wraps both arms around Eddie, pulling him closer like a clingy koala and nuzzling the side of his face against Eddie’s.

“Is this okay?” Steve whispers. “Sorry. I’m–sorry. I know it’s probably too much.”

“Don’t you dare,” Eddie warns, when Steve goes to pull away. “Don’t move.” Eddie is warm, and cradled, and feels so fucking–good. For the first time in he can’t remember how long. When he hooks up with men, it’s a quick one and done. They don’t cuddle afterwards, they don’t linger, or talk.

Instead, with Steve–they haven’t even had sex (yet, Eddie hopes), but it seems like this, to Steve, is just as important. Tears prick at Eddie’s eyes, and he clutches one hand in Steve’s shirt and wraps the other around his waist. Steve relaxes in little degrees, when Eddie doesn’t pull away.

Steve sighs into Eddie’s hair, murmurs, “you smell so good,” and Eddie prays that Steve can’t hear the soft sound he makes in response. Steve falls asleep fast, going heavy and dozy in Eddie’s arms. Eddie lies awake for a lot longer, Steve’s breath over his neck making him shiver every so often.

When he finally falls asleep, it feels like hours later. He wakes up when the bathroom door opens, and Steve steps out. Eddie squints at him–he’s towel drying his dripping wet hair, and wearing the same soft sweater and jeans he wore to the bar last night.

“Good morning,” Steve says. He’s smirking at Eddie, probably because his bedhead is atrocious and he looks barely alive. “I hope it’s okay I showered. I didn’t want to wake you up.”

“Mm, yr’good,” Eddie mumbles. Steve laughs, and Eddie buries his face back in his pillow and groans. He opens his eyes wide when Steve kneels on the mattress, crawling forward towards him and presses into Eddie’s space to press a kiss to his forehead.

Oh. So they’re doing that now, huh.

“Mmph,” Eddie says.

“I gotta go,” Steve says, frowning. He does sound sorry about it. “I’m picking up Robin today and we’re gonna to do a venue tour.”

Eddie sits up, rubs his eyes. He grins when Steve’s eyes trail over his stomach where his shirt has ridden up, down the strip of hair there and linger. Steve’s throat bobs when he swallows. Eddie full body stretches, flopping back onto the mattress and watching Steve through heavy-lidded eyes. His shirt has exposed even more of his chest now, and he knows Steve can see the bottom of his top surgery scars and the vine tattoos woven around them. Steve slams his eyes shut, making a pained face, like Eddie is really torturing him. Eddie laughs.

“And I’m never going to get out of here if I don’t leave now, am I,” Steve says. He’s smiling too, but his cheeks are pink. He kisses Eddie’s cheek this time, and Eddie turns his head to catch Steve’s lips, just a chaste, closed-mouth kiss before he pulls away. Steve’s face is even more pink when he stands up again, ruffles a hand through Eddie’s hair.

“Probably not,” Eddie says. “You can stay here with me instead and we can make out.”

“Mm,” Steve says, but he licks his lips. “I’ll call you.”

“Okay,” Eddie says, smiling. “See you, Stevie.”

Steve texts him not even five hours later, when Eddie is doing some laundry and chores around the apartment. Took is following him around, meowing, because Eddie isn’t giving him enough attention. Eddie feels his phone vibrate in his pocket as he’s closing the dryer door, and Took uses that exact moment of distraction to jump onto his back, scrambling up to his shoulders.

Hey so. Question.

shoot stevie

Do you want to go to Robin and Nancy’s wedding with me? As my date?

are you allowed to invite me to their wedding babe?

I have a plus one!!! Just didn’t have one I wanted to invite until now.

oh okay

then definitely yes 🖤

❤️❤️

💐

Eddie knows now, logically, that he and Steve are definitely something. Steve definitely likes him, or at least wants to stick around long enough until they have sex (says the mean voice in Eddie’s head, at least). Every time Steve looks at him, Eddie is absolutely sure that Steve actually wants to spend time with him, to be with him, but whenever they’re apart the doubts start to creep up on him, like they’re known to do.

They keep up their texting and phone calls. They talk almost every night before they go to sleep, to the point that Eddie has trouble falling asleep if he doesn’t hear Steve’s voice on the other line. They talk each other to sleep sometimes, and Eddie can’t even be offended when he’s telling Steve about his latest D&D session one night and hears Steve’s gentle snores on the other line. He does give Steve shit for it the next morning, of course, but he really didn’t mind–it was actually soothing, keeping the phone next to him and listening to Steve’s sleep sounds as he drifted off himself.

In the last month or so leading up to the wedding, Steve barely has any time, and Eddie is working a lot too, getting Robin and Nancy’s flowers finished up, and filling other customer orders. February is a busy wedding month, not to mention Valentine’s day, and Eddie is so fucking swamped with orders that he doesn’t even realize like. It’s Valentine’s Day, until a stressed-looking delivery guy stumbles through the shop door with a styrofoam drink carrier and hands Eddie a small cup of coffee.

“Oh,” Eddie says, bewildered. “I didn’t–”

“It’s from Steve,” the guy clarifies, grinning, before rushing out the door again. Eddie looks down at the to-go cup. There’s a little note taped to the side of it, and he peels it off and unfolds it.

Thought you could use a pickmeup, the note says. Hope you’re having a good day! ❤️Steve

Eddie swears there’s remnants of a little heart made out of foam when he takes the lid of his latte off.

thank you for the coffee 🖤

You’re welcome. Do you have any time for dinner tonight?

yeah i do!! 7:30?

Yes!! Can you come to mine?

Eddie realizes Steve asked him out for a date, on Valentine’s Day, like twenty minutes later and promptly spends the rest of the day freaking out about it. He makes Steve a bouquet that screams Steve to him: little yellow coneflowers, some small pink tulips, and he can’t resist adding in some ranunculus, too. The flowers mean that Steve dazzles him, charms him, and Eddie laughs to himself as he gets the bundle ready for dinner that night.

He knocks on Steve’s apartment door later, clutching the bouquet in one hand and only trembling a little bit out of nerves. He’s never done this. He’s never had a romantic date, least of all on Valentine’s Day, because most men that don’t want to commit emotionally would never go out with someone on February fourteenth. Steve answers the door looking a little frazzled, his hair more ruffled than usual and a stained dish towel thrown over his left shoulder. Eddie’s about to apologize for arriving exactly on time, but Steve beams at him, his shoulders drooping like a huge fucking weight is lifted off him, just by Eddie being there. Eddie sort of wants to start crying about it, but he refrains.

“Hey, Ed,” Steve greets. “C’mon in.”

Eddie hasn’t been to Steve and Robin’s place yet. It’s small, but neat (besides the kitchen, where a pot of something simmers on the stove and recently used dishes are scattered), and really cozy. The large green sofa takes up most of the living room area, where Billie sprawls across the top and glares at Eddie.

“Hi, pretty girl,” Eddie coos at her while he struggles one-handed out of his coat and boots. He turns around to Steve, but Steve is laughing at him. “Hi, Stevie,” Eddie says, sheepishly.

“Hey,” Steve says again. “Are those for me?”

Eddie looks down, like an idiot, and remembers the flowers in his fist. He thinks about joking that they’re for Billie, but doesn’t, in the end.

“Yeah. I just–yeah. They’re for you.” He holds the bouquet out for Steve, who takes it from him, eyes going soft and the sweet smile taking up most of his face. Eddie likes him so fucking much.

“Thank you,” Steve says. He looks pleased, and turns around to rummage around in the kitchen cabinets for a vase. “You can sit down anywhere you want. The pasta is almost ready.”

Eddie hops up onto the other side of the kitchen counter without really thinking about it, but Steve doesn't scold him for it. He stirs a bit at the big pot of pasta, then turns and grins at Eddie sitting there like he doesn’t belong anywhere else. He crowds up into Eddie’s space, and Eddie opens his legs up for him immediately. Steve leans in, pauses to look at Eddie and tilt his head. Eddie meets him in the middle.

“Hi,” Steve says, kinda dazed, when they pull away from the kiss.

“Mm, hi,” Eddie says, kisses him again. He gets kind of lost in it, meeting Steve’s warm mouth again and again. He could spend hours like this, could get drunk off of it. This is the most they’ve kissed at one time, and Eddie thinks he might be about to have a problem, so he says, “uh, the pasta,” into Steve’s lips, and Steve pulls away and curses, turning around to stir the pasta again and turn off the burner.

“It’s ready,” Steve tells him, smiling. He kisses Eddie again, tugging at him, and Eddie laughs, wrapping his legs around Steve’s waist so he can help him down from the counter.

The pasta, which, okay, Eddie was expecting maybe some spaghetti or something simple like that–but it’s shrimp scampi, with fresh shrimp and the creamy sauce is fucking delicious. It’s so good.

“This is so good,” Eddie says through a mouthful of pasta. “I didn’t know you could cook.”

“I’m average,” Steve protests. “But I’m glad you like it.”

“This is not average,” Eddie says. He inhales more pasta. Steve smiles at him across their kitchen table, pours them both some red wine and it’s like–a full-ass date. Steve set up the table with fancy looking dish ware and a couple lit candles in the middle, and a cute floral tablecloth.

Eddie definitely teases him for the florals, once he stops eating, but actually loves that Steve has it, and not to mention it’s very appropriate, for them.

After they’ve cleaned up, which Eddie insists on helping with, Steve disappears into the living room, and pulls out the Lord of the Rings, extended edition copies.

“I thought we could finish the Fellowship,” he says shyly. “Since I haven’t watched the rest of it yet.”

“I would love to,” Eddie says, instead of I fucking love you or you bought the copies even though I already own them, Stevie? or another of the thousands of too-eager thoughts rattling around in his brain.

They sit close to each other on the couch again, but Eddie bravely throws his legs over Steve’s lap this time. His socked foot brushes Steve’s thigh, and Steve sighs delightedly, putting one hand over Eddie’s legs and squeezing his calf. Eddie’s mostly quiet so Steve can watch the movie, but he watches his reactions–Steve loves the hobbits the most, Eddie thinks, but Aragorn is a close second.

“He’s your type, huh?” Eddie jokes, shaking out his long, curly hair, and Steve laughs and shoves him.

“Shut the fuck up,” he says. Steve doesn’t doze off this time, but he gets very emotional when Sam follows Frodo and the boat into the water even though he can’t swim. He wacks Eddie in the arm with his flailing hand, bouncing up and down on the couch a little and widening his eyes at Eddie.

“He’s so fucking in love with him,” Steve says.

“Yeah,” Eddie says dumbly. He knows the fucking feeling.

When the movie ends, Steve is sad about the fellowship breaking up, and Boromir's death. He’s pouting, and it’s so fucking cute, and Eddie– he takes the remote from Steve’s hand, in case he’s going to try to put on something else, and squirms fully into Steve’s lap, throwing one leg over him and fully straddling him. Before he can worry he’s being too much, Steve flushes sweetly across the tops of his cheeks, eyes going big and disbelieving, and the pout melting off his face. 

“Oh. hi,” Steve says.

“Hi,” Eddie responds. He cups his hands around Steve’s jaw and tilts his face up. “Can I kiss you?”

“Mmhm,” Steve breathes, low and rough sounding. His eyes are already closed, and Eddie has to just lean his forehead against Steve’s for a moment to get ahold of himself. He brings a gentle hand up to remove Steve’s glasses, folding them and setting them on the couch arm next to them.

Steve tastes like pasta and wine. He makes this soft little noise into Eddie’s mouth like he can’t help it, and Eddie strokes his thumbs along his jaw, kissing him deep and thorough. He wants to ruin him.

“Fuck, I like you so much,” Eddie breathes before he even thinks about what he’s saying. Steve moans and shifts underneath him, bringing his big hands up to hang on to Eddie’s hair. Eddie tilts his head a little and makes a noise, kissing Steve again, and bites a little on Steve’s lower lip.

“You can pull it,” Eddie mumbles. Steve does, too gently, like he’s testing the waters. Eddie huffs a moan into his mouth, wriggling closer and accidentally dragging their crotches together. A low pulse of heat jolts through Eddie’s belly and he gasps. Steve pulls him closer, rubbing up against him and tugging Eddie’s hair again–harder this time, and Eddie whimpers, his lips going slack and sloppy over Steve’s.

“Is this okay?” Steve whispers, like Eddie didn’t basically throw himself at Steve. “We can slow down, if you want.”

Eddie laughs into Steve’s cheek, pulling away for a second so he can kiss the stubble along Steve’s jaw and pepper some open mouthed kisses down the soft skin of his throat. Steve bares his entire neck to him like a submissive puppy, and the little rumble of desire that grips Eddie’s entire body makes him shiver.

“I don’t want to slow down,” Eddie says. “I’m good if you’re good, baby. You’re good?”

“Yeah,” Steve says, and it’s all high and breathy and Eddie wants to devour him. “Let’s go to my room though.”

Steve lifts Eddie off the couch, starts trying to walk with Eddie’s legs still wrapped around him, and then realizes they’re not going to get there fast enough, so he sets him down with a little kiss to his forehead and then starts dragging him down the hallway by his hand, instead. Eddie laughs the whole way, bright and giddy. Steve backs himself up and falls across his mattress, dragging Eddie down on top of him with a little oof that’s so much cuter than it has any right to be. Eddie shoves one of his legs in between Steve’s two spread ones, leaning down and kissing him again. Steve surges up to meet him, and they make out for a few long minutes. Eddie gets lost in it again until Steve starts making these little aborted hip movements, twitching them up into Eddie’s and making these soft little noises that go straight to Eddie’s throbbing dick.

“Gonna suck your dick, okay, baby?”

“Oh, fuck,” Steve breathes, but he’s nodding so hard that Eddie laughs at him, taking Steve’s head in his hands and pressing kisses to his perfect, pointy nose and his forehead. “You don’t have to–” Steve says quickly, after Eddie’s already wiggling down the bed and unzipping Steve’s jeans.

“Oh, trust me, Stevie. I fucking want to.”

Eddie gets Steve’s pants and underwear off, Steve lifting his hips to help him out. Steve is fucking gorgeous, pink and curved towards his stomach and already leaking, and the saliva that floods Eddie’s mouth is sudden and overwhelming.

Eddie has given blowjobs before, but it’s never been like this. Never to someone he likes so much, someone that fills him with so much unbridled affection when Eddie glances up at his pink cheeks, his blown, dark eyes, and the way he’s already panting, watching Eddie.

Eddie sucks Steve within an inch of his life, slurping and drooling and bobbing his head like he knows he’s good at. Steve breathes in these little harsh pants under him, and he doesn’t choke Eddie out without asking like a lot of his other dates have done, doesn’t dirty talk him and call him a fucking slut or use his mouth like just a hole, and–it’s not like Eddie is against any of those things (especially if Steve did them, fucking hell), but it just feels. More.

Steve clenches his hands in his own sheets so hard Eddie is afraid they’ll rip, tossing his head back to display his entire beautiful throat. He swallows over and over again and bites his own mouth. Eddie pops off him for a moment and grins at Steve when he makes this soft punched out moan, looking down at Eddie with hazy eyes.

“Pull my hair,” Eddie says, like a command. “Want you to, baby.”

Steve gets his warm hands in Eddie’s waves, clenching there instead, and Eddie goes back to work. Steve is still trying to hold back, but Eddie gives a particularly hard suck over the head and flicks his tongue on the sensitive underside, and Steve yelps, gripping Eddie’s hair until it’s painful. “Yes, like that,” Eddie whimpers, “Like that, feels so good, baby–”

“I’m gonna come,” Steve breathes, voice hoarse and aching, trying to pull Eddie off him this time. Eddie goes when Steve tugs him up his body, wraps his hand around Steve instead and finishes him with a couple brutal twists. Steve is beautiful when he comes. His face goes slack and his mouth drops open, his forehead gets this little furrow in it the second before he lets go.

“Mmm, oh fuck, Ed,” Steve whines, grabbing Eddie around the neck and kissing him while he’s still leaking over Eddie’s fist. Eddie shivers, rubbing himself shamelessly against Steve’s leg until Steve chuckles, twisting and switching their positions so that Eddie is looking up at him instead. Steve lifts his own shirt over his head and uses it to wipe Eddie’s come covered hand, before he throws it over his shoulder onto the floor. Eddie laughs, squirming out of his own clothes with Steve’s help, until he’s naked and vulnerable and feels–feels a little nervous, but nothing he can’t handle.

“Okay?” Steve asks him, and Eddie kisses him for it.

“Yeah. I’m good.”

Steve traces the top surgery scars over Eddie’s chest and strokes a finger over the vine tattoos there, licks and then sucks enthusiastically at Eddie’s nipple piercings until Eddie's writhing and begging him to please–please touch him–

Steve eats him out until all Eddie can do is pant these embarrassing whimpers and “mm fuck, mm, steve”s up at the ceiling. He’s never been this fucked up before, nobody’s ever taken care of him like this, like he means something to them. Steve’s mouth is fucking sinful and hot, and he uses two thick fingers to fuck Eddie until he’s shouting, coming in between them both with a harsh groan and scratching down Steve’s shoulders.

“Oh, Jesus,” Eddie says when he can catch his breath again. “You’re so fucking good at that, oh my god.”

Steve laughs, licks his lips, and pulls Eddie close to him so that their sweaty bodies stick together.

“Do you…will you stay?” Steve asks. His voice is quiet, hesitant, and Eddie turns around so he’s facing him. Steve has both arms wrapped around his waist, and Eddie presses closer, tangling his fingers in Steve’s sweaty hair at the nape of his neck.

“Yeah, Stevie. I’ll stay.”

💐

It’s not until later the next day, when Eddie is heading to work after waking up warm and groggy in Steve’s arms, that he realizes Steve never said he likes him back.

It’s a stupid thing to fixate on, he knows that, logically. Steve was so sweet with him, so responsive and clingy with him afterwards. Steve wanted him to stay. He snored into Eddie’s neck all night and Eddie woke up to Steve pressing little kisses to the same spot.

Eddie’s day doesn’t go well, after he leaves Steve’s. He slips on a patch of ice on the way to work and lands flat on his ass–which, he isn’t hurt, but still, it’s fucking humiliating (and his ass is sore). He has to deal with a last minute customer demanding three bouquets and who won’t take no for an answer, so he’s already in a bad mood before lunch time. To top it all off, his skin feels all itchy and wrong like it gets sometimes when he’s feeling particularly dysphoric, and no matter how many times he adjusts his sweater, it doesn’t help.

He texts Steve in the afternoon, desperate to turn the day around. He’s angry and on the verge of frustrated tears, and he just wants to go home–but it would be even better if Steve were there, too.

hey, do you maybe want to come over tonight? we can get pizza and watch a movie!

I can’t tonight, Ed, sorry. :( More wedding stuff with Robs! Thursday?

Thursday is good! 😊

Cool! Miss you ❤️

For some reason, that’s what does it. Eddie has to go in the back and sob for a little bit in the bathroom, even though nothing is really wrong. Steve has wedding stuff with Robin, totally normal and reasonable, and Eddie is being clingy and mopey.

Eddie’s week doesn’t get better after that. Work is crazy and he’s rushing to get things done before the last week of the month. Steve has to cancel on Thursday because of some last minute wedding preparations, which is fine, and Eddie’s fine, actually, because he stays late at work anyway making sure the rest of Robin and Nancy’s flowers are ready to go the following week. They’re getting married on the twenty-second.

He wallows at home by himself on Friday and watches episodes of Scooby Doo that he’s seen a billion times, and cuddles with Took. He falls asleep in front of the tv, aching and exhausted, and wakes up to his phone vibrating against his leg.

“H-hello?”

“Hey, babe,” Steve says, and Eddie melts a little into his couch cushions. “What are you doing?”

“Mm, watching tv,” Eddie says sleepily. He looks at the time on his phone. It’s a little after eight.

“Tired, hmm?” Steve asks softly. “I didn’t wake you up, did I?”

“No,” Eddie mumbles. “Just a little.” Steve laughs, and it’s tired-sounding, too.

“I hope this is okay,” Steve says after a minute. He sounds nervous. Eddie rubs his eyes. “I got you… something. You should go check outside.”

“Oh?” Eddie says, getting up. He stretches, picks up Took where he’s curled up into Eddie’s stomach, and sets him down on the cushion next to him. Took gives an annoyed little meow, but otherwise just goes back to sleep.

When Eddie opens his front door, Steve is standing there, looking bashful and cold. There’s little snowflakes in his hair.

“You’re my present?” Eddie asks, and Steve blushes, but Eddie pulls him inside before he can answer.

“I probably shouldn’t have just showed up,” Steve babbles. “I just–really wanted to see you, and Robin is at Nancy’s tonight, but I know we didn’t plan anything–”

“Steve,” Eddie says. He wraps Steve in his arms and kisses him.

They don’t have sex that night. They take their turns in Eddie’s bathroom (Steve brought a small overnight bag, which Eddie teases him for, a little), and Eddie waits until Steve’s done before he pulls him towards his bed. Steve looks unsure, and Eddie’s never seen that expression on his face before.

“I want you to stay,” Eddie says. “Please stay.”

“Okay,” Steve whispers.

They curl up together facing each other, this time. Steve looks tired too, his eyes are all droopy and glazed looking. Eddie reaches up to run his hands through Steve’s hair, ruffling it to get some of the crusty hairspray out–it mostly works. He smells like almond and cedar, woodsy but warm, and Eddie buries his nose in Steve’s neck and inhales.

“Mm,” Steve hums, pulling him closer.

After sleeping alone for so many years, Eddie never imagined it would be so easy to fall asleep to another person’s breathing.

💐

The wedding is surreal. Robin and Nancy get married at the Harold Washington Library, in the Winter Garden room. There’s an ivy-covered awning set up for the ceremony, and gold chairs set up with an aisle in the middle. The crowd isn’t huge, maybe a hundred people.

There’s clusters of tables set up all along the outskirts of the big marble room, dressed up with tablecloths, eucalyptus branches as table runners and candles and one of Eddie’s floral arrangements as a centerpiece. Eddie’s never been to one of the weddings he’s done flowers for–delivered the arrangements and set them up, of course, but never attended it. It’s sort of crazy, in the best way. He’s wearing his best black dress pants and a blazer.

Steve, when the bridal party comes out, is dressed in a charcoal suit, with a lilac shirt underneath and a matching boutonniere with aster and lavender pinned to his lapel. He looks so fucking stunning that Eddie loses his breath for a moment. Steve catches his eye and beams, like seeing Eddie in the crowd just made his whole day, and isn’t that fucking something? Eddie smiles back, waving like a lovesick idiot, and Steve shakes his head at him fondly.

Robin is wearing a suit too, but it’s in a dark green. She looks gorgeous as she stands under the arch waiting for Nancy. Nancy’s silk dress is simple, but ethereal on her, almost a sheer white with lace sleeves and white baby’s-breath wound in her hair. Her eyes are locked on Robin, even as her dad walks her down the aisle and kisses her cheek.

Their vows are short, but sweet. Steve has been crying the whole time, which makes Eddie’s chest fucking ache with how much he likes him. The girls are teary-eyed too, Robin keeps tilting her head up to the ceiling to will the tears away. She whoops out loud when the officiant declares them wives and spins Nancy around before their kiss–everyone cheers.

They have a short cocktail hour before the actual reception, and Eddie nearly drops his glass of champagne when Robin comes bounding up to him right away

“Eddie Munson,” she says. “Oh my god.”

“Robin Buckley,” Eddie says back, like a shithead. “Or–is it Wheeler now?” He grins.

“That’s Robin Buckley-Wheeler to you, asshole,” she laughs, and then she wraps him in a crushing hug. “Sorry,” she says when they separate. “Steve talks about you so much I feel like I know you already.”

Eddie swallows, his face going hot. Robin giggles, wrapping her arm around Eddie’s shoulders, and just then Steve pops up in between them.

“Are you harassing my–Eddie? Wait, I mean–shit.”

“Your…?” Eddie swoons, pretending to faint, but he doesn’t miss the fact that Steve still opens his arms to catch him.

At the same time, Robin cackles, says, “your Eddie?”

Eddie opens his eyes, tilting his head back to grin at Steve. He’s never seen his face this red before.

“Shut up, both of you,” Steve says. He lifts Eddie up and shoves him away, but not hard–he’s smiling, and doesn’t let him get too far. He pulls him back in by his jacket, kisses him gently on the lips. Eddie smiles into the kiss. “You look fucking incredible,” Steve whispers in his ear before he pulls back. Eddie shivers.

“Look who’s talking,” Eddie scoffs. He squeezes Steve’s arms, runs his hands up to his shoulders, before he wraps his hands around Steve’s cheeks and leans in to kiss him again.

“I’m gonna vomit,” Robin declares. “You two are disgusting. But also adorable.”

“Robin,” Nancy chastises, but she’s smirking. She wriggles under her new wife’s arm. “Hi, Eddie. Nice to officially meet you. And thank you for all the beautiful flowers!”

“Oh, you’re welcome.” Eddie says. “Congratulations, both of you.”

Nancy and Eddie hadn’t interacted at all in school, but he knew of her, mostly once she started dating Steve. Ugh. He’s going to try not to think about it, because that’s a little bit weird. Technically, she’s Steve’s ex-girlfriend, and he and Eddie are–dating, now? They’re definitely at least dating right?

Eddie’s mind wanders to what Steve had been about to say before. My friend? My boyfriend? Eddie’s heart gives a happy little jump at the thought of Steve calling him his boyfriend, even in his head, and almost accidentally out loud.

The girls leave to go greet their other guests. Steve stays, and they walk around a bit. Steve guides Eddie around with a hand on the small of his back, and normally Eddie hates that, the very idea of it, but the way Steve does it–it’s sweet, and also a little possessive, since they’re in public. But instead of making Eddie mad, he revels in it, basking in Steve’s attention.

It’s fun, actually. Eddie has fun, even when they get to the dancing. He’s not a dancer by any means, usually has to get drunk before he flails his body around. But there’s an open bar, and Eddie downs a couple of whiskey sours, and Steve asks him to dance, so he’s not going to say no.

They dance to Whitney Houston and Queen first, bodies close but not touching. They laugh a lot at each other, and it’s so fucking refreshing. Then, Etta James comes on and Steve pulls Eddie into him. Eddie’s actually a hair taller than Steve, which he loves, so he puts both hands on Steve’s waist, and Steve wraps both his arms around Eddie’s neck.

Their faces are so close, so Eddie tilts his head and kisses Steve. Steve sighs, kisses him back.

“I was going to ask you tonight, you know,” Steve says softly, when they pull back. Eddie’s eyes flutter open, and he presses his mouth to Steve’s cheek, leans against him.

“Ask me what, Stevie?”

“You know. If…if you’d be my boyfriend?”

“Oh, your boyfriend, hmm?” Eddie says, but he’s smiling so wide it hurts. He pecks Steve’s cheek, his temple, the two moles under his left eye.

“Yeah,” Steve says. “If you want to be.”

“Yes. Yes, baby. I want to be your boyfriend.” Steve’s whole body sags a little in Eddie’s arms, like relief–like he thought Eddie was going to say no to him. “Dumbass,” Eddie says, all affection, and Steve laughs against his neck. “So, this means you really like me right?”

“Uh, yes,” Steve pulls back and stares at Eddie. “I thought that was very obvious.”

“Well–yeah, I don’t know! I thought you did, but I wasn’t. You know. Sure.”

“I really like you,” Steve says quietly. “So much, Eddie. Too much, probably.”

“No,” Eddie says automatically.

“No?”

“Not too much.”

Steve looks at him, eyes soft. They get quiet then, dance for a while longer. Afterwards, Eddie steals a white anemone from one of the centerpieces and sticks it behind Steve’s ear. Steve loves it, Eddie can tell. He wears the flower for the rest of the night. 

They drink a little bit more, but not much. Eddie wants to be tipsy and feel good, but he doesn’t want to drink so much that he’s stumbling home–it’s been about a week since the Valentine's day sex, and he wants to do it again. Tonight, if possible. He wants to go home with Steve.

They step outside to get some air after a while, out to a little balcony area with some tables and hanging string lights. It’s just them, sipping their drinks and watching the other guests on the dance floor.

“I’m sorry I made you think I didn’t like you,” Steve says after a while. “I didn’t mean to.” Eddie shakes his head, knocking his shoulder against Steve’s–he slides his hand down into Steve’s and holds it, squeezing his fingers.

“Don’t apologize,” Eddie says. “It wasn’t your fault. I just–I’ve had relationships in the past, and not good ones. Like-I was used, and it just makes me think too much, sometimes.”

Steve goes stiff next to him, frowning.

“Like they used you for sex?”

“Yeah. They never really cared about me, you know? It wasn’t all their fault–I mean, a couple of them told me they only wanted sex, I just got my hopes up.”

“I’m sorry,” Steve says. “I–definitely don’t want just sex with you.”

Eddie laughs, shoving him a little. Steve squeezes his fingers, then brings Eddie’s hand up to kiss the back of it. Eddie smiles at him, leans in so that he’s resting most of his weight on Steve. He’s getting sleepy, but not enough to suggest they leave yet.

“I don’t want just sex with you either, Stevie.”

“I’ve had the opposite problem, actually, ” Steve says. “I–the reason I was holding back a little.”

“Mmhm?”

“I was worried I was too much,” Steve says. He’s looking at the ground now, clears his throat. “All my relationships. I loved them…too much, I think? I’m clingy.” He’s talking fast now, like he’s trying to get it all out before he changes his mind. “I want to be next to you all the time, I want to be touching all the time. I just–it’s like. Obviously, we don’t have to do any of that if it makes you uncomfortable–”

“Steve,” Eddie says. “Honey, take a breath, okay?” Steve clamps his mouth shut, bites his lower lip a little. “You don’t have to worry. I love touching. I’m clingy, too. If we weren’t in public right now and I had to be semi-decent, I’d be wrapped around you like a human octopus.”

Steve laughs, leans more of his own weight into Eddie’s. Eddie tilts his head, kisses Steve’s cheek and then the corner of his mouth.

“You won’t scare me away,” Eddie says. “I promise.” Steve nods, but he swallows, darts his eyes away from Eddie. Eddie doesn’t know how he can convince Steve he’s telling the truth, except with just–time. “If anything, I’m worried I’ll scare you away.”

“You won’t.”

“I’m disgusting,” Eddie tells him. “Seriously. I haven’t changed my sheets in like–three weeks now?” Steve barks a laugh, poking Eddie in the side with their clasped hands. Eddie shrieks, but Steve pulls him back even tighter into his side so he can’t wiggle away. “And I have like three days worth of dishes in my sink right now. Oh–I definitely drool in my sleep, like a lot–”

“Oh, I know,” Steve says, smirking at him. Eddie collapses in giggles, shrieking louder when Steve tickles him in the side again. “Still not scared away. We are gonna fix the sheet thing, though.”

“Hmm, we’ll see,” Eddie says, wiggling his eyebrows. Steve kisses him, still chuckling, and Eddie lets his brain go quiet, humming like it does when Steve puts his mouth on him. Steve tastes like champagne and mint, and Eddie groans, shoving Steve back into the railing behind them. “You look so good in this fucking suit,” Eddie growls. “But I’m gonna rip it off you, later.”

“Jesus,” Steve says, but his eyes are blown out and his face is all pink again. Eddie grins.

“Come on, big boy,” Eddie says. “Let’s go dance again.”

Steve dances with both Nancy and Robin, and with Nancy’s mom, too. All four of them dance together, swaying close and yelling the lyrics at each other above the noise–Eddie already feels connected to them in an unexplainable way, something he probably shouldn’t be feeling yet, but it’s impossible not to.

They dance until Eddie’s feet are protesting in his black combat boots, all of them sweating and exhausted, but happy. Eddie doesn’t remember ever being this happy before, and it feels good.

“Ready to go home?” Steve asks. He hesitates after, like he might correct himself on the home bit, but he doesn’t. Eddie smiles.

“Yeah, baby. Let’s go.”

They say their goodnights and congratulations again to Nancy and Robin–Nancy winks at Eddie, and Robin says “see you around, Eddie,” in such a certain way that it makes Eddie’s chest hurt. Steve hugs both the girls and kisses Robin on the top of her head.

They have to get their coats and bundle up for the way back to Steve’s place (I’m not sleeping in your bed again til we wash the sheets, dude, which. okay, fair). They take the L to Lincoln Square and Eddie starts fully yawning before they even get to their stop. He doesn’t realize he dozed off a little, head pillowed in the crook of Steve’s neck, until Steve nudges him gently.

“Time to get off,” Steve whispers. He kisses the side of Eddie’s head and keeps an arm around his waist so he doesn’t stumble. Eddie wakes up a little once they get back out into the cold, the wind freezing on his cheeks. Steve’s is only a five minute walk from the stop, thank god, where they both kick out of their shoes and wrestle with their coats.

“Hi, Billie,” Eddie greets her sleepily. She meows at him, even lets him pet across her back on his way past her. “Hey, uh, Stevie? Can I borrow some clothes?”

“”Course,” Steve says. He gives Eddie a warm pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt that smells like his laundry detergent. Eddie tries not to be obvious about sniffing it.

By the time they crawl into bed, Eddie's limbs are heavy like lead, in that good achy way that comes from truly enjoying himself, like after a crazy D&D campaign or a live show.

“Oh my god,” Eddie moans, when he’s finally under the blankets. “I’m so fucking tired, what the fuck.” Steve laughs, shimmying over to Eddie and wrapping his whole body around him, burying his still-cold nose in Eddie’s hair. “I wanted to have sex,” he complains.

“We can have sex in the morning,” Steve mumbles. He sounds sleepy too, voice rough and low, and it makes Eddie throb in his pants a little–fucking rip off.

“Ugh,” Eddie says, but he’s not actually mad. He yawns again and Steve yawns right after him, making his little squeaky noise after that makes them both laugh. “Okay, yeah. Morning sex.”

“Mmhm,” Steve hums. Eddie can tell he’s already falling asleep, his warm breath puffing against the back of Eddie’s neck. Eddie wriggles back until he’s even more flush with Steve. 

“‘Night, Stevie,” he says, turning to press a kiss to Steve’s chin. Steve’s response is grumbled into Eddie’s neck, but he’s probably no longer conscious. God, Eddie likes him so much. He wraps his hands around Steve’s that are over his stomach, squeezing. He falls asleep to Steve’s heavy breaths, like a lullaby, heavy and comfortable.

💐

Eddie wakes up to the sun streaming in through the cracks in Steve’s blinds. He’s so bleary-eyed he barely opens them all the way, and the heavy weight on top of him isn’t helping. Eddie groans, wrapping his arms around Steve’s body–he’s half on top of Eddie, his face buried in Eddie’s chest and still passed out cold. Eddie can’t help the smile that spreads across his face, making his cheeks ache. He stretches as slowly as he can.

Eddie dozes for a little longer, Steve’s snores lulling him back into a muted, fuzzy headspace. He starts playing with Steve’s soft hair, running it between his fingers and rubbing at his scalp like he’s a cat. Steve stirs, making a soft little mmhf? and twitching awake.

“Good morning,” Eddie says groggily.

“Mmh, g’morning,” Steve mumbles.

“You’re so fucking cute,” Eddie says, hugging Steve closer. Steve’s already limp on top of him, but Eddie wants him heavier on his body, closer, crawling inside his ribcage. Steve laughs against him, rough and throaty with his sleepy voice. Eddie needs to calm down, probably.

“G’mme a minute to wake up,” Steve says. He stretches languidly, and starts pressing kisses to Eddie’s chest over his shirt, then up to his neck and collarbone. Eddie shudders, tipping his head back so Steve can have more access to the skin there. Steve’s mouth is warm, and Eddie shivers all over, trying to subtly rub himself against Steve’s leg. “Alright, awake now,” Steve says, sounding a little choked. Okay, not subtle, then. Oops. “What do you need, Ed?”

“I–” Eddie starts. “Will you fuck me?” He hasn’t let anyone fuck him in so long, mostly because he has trust issues, and when he’s not comfortable with someone it’s easier for him to top. But he is comfortable with Steve. He trusts him.

“Oh, fuck,” Steve says. “Are you sure, baby?”

“Mmhm,” Eddie says, arching his back into Steve. “I want you that close, please.”

“Okay, yeah. Fuck, yeah, we can do that.”

Steve kisses him. It’s so intimate and warm, tasting his sleep breath and hearing him moan against Eddie’s lips. Eddie kisses him desperately, flinging his arms around Steve’s neck and tugging him closer. Steve takes him apart with lips and tongue, nipping at Eddie’s lips and touching him under his shirt, his big hands stroking his stomach.

“Can I touch you here?” Steve asks, tugging up Eddie’s shirt like a question. Eddie nods, pulls off the shirt himself and flings it sideways and to the floor. Steve laughs, and then his hands are on Eddie’s chest. He rubs gentle fingers over Eddie’s nipples, flicking at the piercings there, and Eddie’s mouth drops open in a soft moan. Steve runs his other hand over the myriad of tattoos on Eddie's chest, the ring tattoo around his belly button, the thick vine work around his top surgery scars, the detailed bat spread out over his abs. “You’re so fucking gorgeous,” Steve says, and puts his mouth to Eddie’s skin.

He licks over Eddie’s sensitive nipples, sucking them into his mouth. Eddie’s throbs between his legs, probably soaking Steve’s sweatpants, which–okay, he’s not mad about that.

Steve fingers him carefully, more thoroughly than Eddie’s ever been fingered before, like he wants Eddie to feel good and loved and cherished. Which is so sweet, but Eddie suddenly feels like he's burning up from the inside out. 

"Can you-another, c'mon," Eddie says. Steve does add another finger, and the stretch is blissful. Eddie's never been this ready to be full before. "Okay, need you now, Stevie." Steve gets himself ready, but has to lean his head against Eddie's knee for a moment, kissing that spot while he's there. 

He fucks Eddie deep and a little rough when Eddie begs him for it. He feels so fucking good inside him, but the reason Eddie loses it completely is the little whimpering noises that Steve makes against Eddie’s neck when he thrusts in and out, like he can’t hold them back.

“Eddie, Eddie, I–oh, fuck,” Steve chokes, and he drops over the edge with a rough sigh. Eddie wishes he could feel Steve's come splash against his insides, but the feeling of Steve losing it against him is more than enough. He shudders in Eddie’s arms, reaching in between their bodies to rub Eddie’s dick, and then Eddie’s vision is going blotchy around the edges and his orgasm flows over him, slow and warm and intense.

They lie there for a few minutes, trying to catch their breath, until Steve pulls out with only a slight wince from both of them. He ties off the condom and throws it in the general direction of the bathroom. Eddie laughs, and then they’re both giggling.

“Holy shit,” Eddie says. “You’re so fucking good, Stevie.” Steve sighs against him, smiling against Eddie’s collarbone. 

“You’re good, too,” Steve says. Eddie has Steve tucked against his side, rubbing his hand over his back. “You feel amazing.”

“Awesome, because we’re definitely doing that again. Multiple times.”

Steve snorts.

“I’m counting on it,” he says. “I want to do everything with you.” He says it just like that, brave and looking right into Eddie’s eyes. “I want everything with you.”

Eddie smiles, kisses Steve’s forehead, and pushes back a strand of his sweaty hair.

“I want everything with you too, Stevie,” he says.

Steve’s nose crinkles with how hard he smiles. He tangles their fingers together on Eddie’s belly, pressing a kiss to a few of Eddie’s black painted fingernails.

He looks like he believes him.