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Over the last few years of dating Steve, Eddie has started to notice a few things like his boyfriend would sometimes switch to Italian when he's pissed off. Mother henning the now teenagers he used to babysit years ago before any of them had met or got to know Eddie, but the most recent thing the metalhead has noticed is that his Stevie, has been practically carrying around a wolf plushie lovey he had gotten Steve on their first date, he sees his beau carrying it where ever he goes. Okay well not everywhere per-say, more like Steve will have it with him, at least once or twice a week that Eddie has seen anyway. He's pretty sure his boyfriend even carries it around at home when he's not working, at the video store with Robin. So it's safe to say that it's basically been Steve's security blanket an plushie. Don't get him wrong, Eddie thinks it's absolutely adorable however he can't help but wonder if there is more to it. Which brings us to now, right now Eddie and Steve are hanging out together(it's so a date) in the bed of Eddie's(Wayne's) truck with fluffy blankets they are chilling on while enjoying Benny's burgers and milkshakes, together. And of course Circe the wolf lovely was sat a few inches away from Steve on the blanket but still still in arms length obviously.
Steve is in one of his boyfriend's shirts, a random beetles shirt that was one of Eddie's older ones with faded words on it and moth holes around the collar , he had paired it with dark jeans an black sneakers that had matching rainbow laces that Eddie has on his black slightly heeled boots right now. Anyway the two were sitting there in their, own moment truck parked in the forest just the two of them. Steve's head layed in Eddie's lap both sharing the fries they had previously dumped on a few napkins to double both the large fry from them both. The metalhead's free hand is tangled in the brunette's hair.
"Hey Stevie? Can I ask somethin precious?
"Hmm?"
"Darlin, Sugarplum, I'ma be blunt here. I ain't jugdin or nothin, but why do ya carry round that plush everywhere ya go so much, Honeybun?"
"...cuz"
Steve mumbles quietly against Eddie's thigh from where he's laying on said man's lap.
"Speak up darlin I can't hear when ya mumble like that sweet dumplin of mine"
"...cuz"
Steve repeats, a little louder this time, but his voice is soft, slurred around the edges. His fingers twist absently into the blanket beneath him, and Eddie can feel the way his boyfriend's shoulders tense just a bit where his head rests in his lap. Eddie doesn't push, he just keeps combing his fingers gently through Steve's honey-brown hair, scratching lightly at his scalp the way he knows helps him think. A warm breeze sweeps through the trees, rustling the dry autumn leaves around the truck, and the air smells faintly of pine, earth, and the salt from their fries. The kind of calm that only comes when you're far from Hawkins and the noise of everyone else's lives.
"'Cuz why, sweetheart?"
Eddie hums after a beat, his tone low and teasing, but gentle. "You can tell me. I promise I won't think it's weird."
Steve shifts a little, his cheek pressing closer into Eddie's thigh. His eyes blink slowly, half-lidded, a sleepy comfort spreading over his features. Circe, the grey wolf plush, sits nearby, her stitched smile soft and knowing in the fading light.
"She... reminds me of you," Steve admits finally, his voice barely above a whisper. "You gave her to me when we first started dating, remember? Said she looked like she could beat up an tear apart nightmares."
Eddie chuckles under his breath. "That does sound like me, yeah."
Steve hums again, quieter this time, his thumb brushing over the seam of Circe's ear as if smoothing down imaginary fur.
"When your not here like, when your on gigs or with the guys or even just working with Wayne, sometimes it just feels... quieter. Too quiet. And Circe makes it feel like you're still there, you know? Like she's watching over me for you....plush she um helps when em little"
The admission sits heavy between them, fragile and tender. Eddie's heart squeezes. He hadn't expected something so earnest, so heartbreakingly sweet. He watches Steve's expression, the slight pout of his lips, the furrow between his brows that always appears when he's trying to explain something important but doesn't have the right words.
Eddie leans down a bit, brushing a stray curl out of Steve's face. "That's what she's for, huh? My little wolf guardin my boy when I can't be around."
Steve's cheeks flush, a shy pink creeping up to his ears. "You're making fun of me."
"Baby. I'm not makin' fun of ya. I think it's perfect. I'm glad I got her for you." He hesitates, watching Steve's fingers tighten around the plush's paw. "You don't gotta hide that from me, ya know. You can keep her close as much as you want. You don't ever have to pretend."
Steve's breath catches, and he tilts his head up enough to meet Eddie's gaze. There's something childlike and unguarded in his eyes something Eddie has seen glimpses of before. The way Steve curls into him after a bad dream, the way his voice softens into something small when he's overtired, the way he gets so easily lost in comfort and safety when they're alone.
"...Even if I'm being kinda little?"
Steve asks in a whisper, the words trembling like he's afraid they'll break the magic of the moment. Eddie's thumb strokes slow circles over the back of Steve's hand. "Even then, sugar. Especially then."
Steve lets out a small, shaky sigh, something between a laugh and a breath of relief. He nuzzles into Eddie's lap again, his hand still clutching Circe's paw. His voice slips into that softer tone Eddie has grown to love, higher, gentler, full of innocence and sleepy warmth.
"Can... can Circe stay with us tonight?"
"Course she can, sweetheart." Eddie's grin is warm, almost reverent. "She can guard us both. Maybe she'll scare away my nightmares too, yeah?"
Steve giggles quietly at that an honest, boyish sound that makes Eddie's chest ache in the best way. The forest hums around them, the last gold light of dusk washing over the truck bed. Eddie keeps running his hand through Steve's hair, whispering little things, pet names, quiet praises, soft promises, until Steve's breathing evens out and the world feels utterly still.
Circe sits tucked safely between them, one soft paw resting against Steve's arm like she's keeping her promise. And Eddie, watching the way his boy curls up smaller against him, thinks he's never seen anything more perfect.
He presses a kiss to Steve's forehead and murmurs 'Sweet dreams, lil darlin' before pulling up a soft blanket they took with them, now covering his perfect boyfriend, an making sure he was tucking Circe close to Steve gently even if she was already in Steve's arms.