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Steve is tired. Quite frankly, he’s been tired for a while now. Monsters and trauma really fucked you up.
It has been a while since Vecna was defeated. Nonetheless, he could still feel his effects. His body just screamed for constant sleep and if he didn’t have a job and a bunch of kids to look out for, he probably would sleep all day.
So now he was in the shop, his eyelids heavy as he stared blankly at the door. Robin had been hovering around him all day, her usual bubbly energy demolished with the sight of him. Apparently he wasn’t as good at hiding it anymore as he used to be.
“Steve?”, Robing asked carefully as she came to stand next to him.
“Yeah?”
“Are you okay?”
“Never better.”
Robin gave him a look.
“Okay, I have been better but it’s nothing to worry about.”
“Steve, you look like you’re going to fall over any minute now. You’ve looked like this for quite a while, actually.”
For quite a while? What was that supposed to mean? He thought he hid it behind his smiles, dragging out the last droplets of energy inside him just so he seemed normal.
“What?”, he asked numbly.
“You don’t look well. And I’m not surprised because you haven’t given yourself a second of rest.”
“I don’t need rest.” He did.
“Bullshit.”
They looked at each other. Concern bloomed through Robin’s stern stare.
“It’s fine.”
She sighed. “I can’t force you to go home, but I think you should really consider a holiday. A day off. Anything. Just do something for yourself.”
“I don’t need that. I just need things back to normal.”
“That’s not how it works.”
“It’s how it has always worked before.” Steve was starting to sound like a petulant child but he didn’t care. At this point he didn’t even know why he was pushing himself so hard. Maybe he knew once he let go, he might not get up again. He pushed the thought away.
“Everyone has limits. And you’ve been doing unbelievable things for so long. You need rest. And you finally can because the Upside Down is gone for good.”
“We don’t know that with 100% certainty.”
“Maybe not. But we’re at 99.99 at this point so stop contradicting me and listen.”
Steve sighed and turned back to look at the door. “I don’t think I can.” He admitted quietly.
Robin touched his arm in a rare show of physical comfort. “You need to take care of yourself. Let me help you.”
Steve closed his eyes. “Sorry, I can’t.”
Robin let go of his arm and he still felt her gaze on him. He opened his eyes, determined to let the conversation die.
*
Ten minutes before the end of his shift a familiar face entered the shop.
“Hi Eddie.” Steve smiled from where he was standing next to the counter, getting everything in order to close.
Eddie jumped up on the counter next to him, elegantly sitting on it. “Hey Stevie.”
“What’s up?”
Eddie took a long look at him.
“I wanted to take you out.” He said.
“Wanted?”
“I’m having a change of heart.” Eddie replied evenly.
Steve raised an eyebrow at him.
“Don’t worry princess, I’ll still go to get us drunk some other time. Just not today.”
“Why not today?” Steve really didn’t mind a drink right now.
“I think I’m more on the mood for a good old movie night.” Eddie’s eyes darted around the shop. “Any movie you want to watch?”
“Uh, maybe Star Wars? Keith might actually fire me if I keep not knowing the different parts.”
“Sounds perfect!” Eddie hopped off the counter and sauntered to the right aisle, finding the movie with ease.
He stepped back to the counter. “Let me have the honour to be the last costumer of the day.”
“You know, I haven’t actually agreed to have a movie night with you.” Steve said on his way behind the counter.
“No, but it was implied when you told me which movie to watch.”
Steve looked at Eddie. He and his self assured smirk. The hair falling around his face. The doe eyes. Steve would never be able to say no to this man and he wasn’t ready to unpack that thought.
“Fair enough.” He admitted and checked out the movie for them.
*
Eddie and Steve were sitting on Eddie’s couch. They were somewhere in the middle of the movie. Plates with crumbs left from their pizza were scattered in front of them. It was just what Steve needed, he realised. Eddie put him at ease and sitting here, not being expected to speak and do anything, really, was all the wanted. They could just sit together.
His eyelids began to droop.
Eddie, the observant bastard, looked at him just that moment. Without saying a word he got up, took the folded blanket that lay in the corner sat back down, close to Steve.
“Lean here.” He said softly. Steve’s brain was blissfully empty, so he simply obeyed. He leaned to the side, shuffling a bit and suddenly he was laying against Eddie’s chest. Eddie opened the blanket and dropped it over them, cocooning them both in warmth. His arm snaked around Steve’s shoulder.
In the matter of seconds Steve was surrounded by warmth and Eddie. He was so comfortable. His chest felt light and the sheer rush of safety that went through him was almost overwhelming. Eddie drew small circles on Steve’s bizep. A shudder went through him. How was he so comfortable?
The movie continued but honestly, Steve had lost track. His mind was dreaming, somewhere far away. The movie nothing but background noise. The only thing what mattered was Eddie close to him.
His eyelids were drooping once again, but this time nothing interrupted him. Instead he cuddles in closer, wanted even more of that warmth. He felt Eddie’s head slightly leaning against his and the more warmth was flooding his veins. This was bliss.
He fell asleep with a small smile on his lips.
*
Steve didn’t know how long it was when he was gently woken up by Eddie. Those beautiful eyes were looking at him with so much care he could cry.
“Let’s go to bed, yeah?” Steve nodded. His body was still half asleep.
Eddie rose and gently took Steve’s wrist, pulling him up. He didn’t let go as he led Steve to his bedroom.
Steve was too tired to really comprehend what was happening. But he was save with Eddie, so let him lead while Steve remained half asleep, ready to black out again the second his head would hit a pillow.
Absentmindedly he realised that Eddie was tucking at his shirt. Steve just lifted his arms. Eddie looked up in surprise but gently lifted the shirt over his head.
A soft black shirt followed. It clearly was one of Eddie’s shirts that was currently pulled over Steve’s head. The soft fabric hugged him and Steve’s heart felt full being surrounded by something belonging to Eddie.
“Can you take off your pants?” Eddie asked, his voice soft.
Steve fumbled a bit but eventually they were off. Immediately Eddie pushed some sweats in his hand.
As he pulled them on, he noticed Eddie also getting changed. Pulling down the tight black jeans, replacing them by similar sweats. Steve had to remind himself to keep getting himself dressed instead of staring. By the time his tired muscles had pulled the sweats up to his waist, Eddie had also replaced his shirt for a bigger, plainer one.
Steve watched as Eddie pulled the rings from his fingers, gently putting them down on the bedside table.
Before he knew it, Eddie was standing in front of him again, pulling his wrist.
“Come on.” He said gently as he pulled Steve into the bed with him. In fluid movements Steve was pulled on Eddie’s chest again, one of Steve’s arms around his torso, his head resting close to Eddie’s chin.
Eddie lifted the sheets over them.
Steve was surrounded by warmth again. He sighed a big breath of relief. His eyes immediately closed and he couldn’t think anything but “safe”.
Eddie’s arms closed around him, cuddling closer. Steve buried his nose in Eddie’s chest, breathing him in. Smoke, weed, musk. And just Eddie, really. He smelled like Eddie and that was all Steve needed. He needed his friend. He needed his warmth. And deep down, he knew he needed his love.
*
Steve woke in a cocoon of limbs. Eddie’s arms were still around him, now added with his legs capturing Steve’s. It was perfect.
He slowly opened his eyes to see Eddie smile at him already.
“Morning.” Steve mumbled.
“Good afternoon.” Eddie grinned.
Steve frowned in confusion. His brain still too tired to catch up with what he was saying.
“It’s 3pm, princess.” Eddie said.
Steve tensed. “I had to be at work three hours ago.” Panic started to stream through him. He wanted to push up but Eddie pulled him against him again.
“I called Robin. You don’t have to worry about anything.”
“When did you call Robin?”
“Yesterday. Before I picked you up.”
Steve was so confused. “What?”
“She told me that you weren’t well, so I took care of it. I am taking care of it.”
“But I need to get to work-“
“No Stevie, you don’t need to do anything. Relax. You have to let yourself relax. Otherwise you won’t be able to get up again.”
Steve wanted to argue so bad, but the words caught in his throat when he looked into those beautiful doe eyes. Eddie smiled.
“Let me take care of you.”
“Okay.” It was a bit scary how quickly Steve agreed to Eddie.
Eddie’s arm moved and stroked a hand over Steve’s cheek. He wanted to purr. Involuntarily his eyes closed.
He snuggled against the hand and against Eddie. He wanted to get as close as possible. The thought made his head spin.
“Why are you doing this?” Steve mumbled.
“Because I care about you.” Eddie replied. Steve’s stomach swooped. His hand clutched Eddie’s shirt.
“Thank you.”
“Nothing to thank me for. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”
Why was Eddie being so sappy? Steve’s poor heart couldn’t take it. Tears stung his eyes but he refused to let them go.
Eddie’s hand moved around Steve’s head, starting to massage his scalp. Steve melted. It felt so good. Eddie’s hand moved in slow circles, pushing with just the right pressure.
Steve couldn’t take it any longer. His heart was about to explode out of his chest. He pulled back his face. Now he was able to scan Eddie. The hand in his hair stilled, but didn’t move away.
“Eddie…” He breathed. He moved his face forward, pushing their noses together. It was so tender. He was too close to Eddie’s face to see him clearly, so instead he closed his eyes and focused on feeling. Feeling Eddie.
These feelings were new, yet Eddie made them feel familiar and safe. That’s what Eddie always did. He made Steve feel safe.
“I think I love you.” Steve’s voice was barely above a whisper. They were close enough, though, so he was sure Eddie heard him.
Eddie gently moved their noses together and Steve wanted to die from the love that surged through him.
“I think I love you too.” Eddie whispered back.
Steve’s heart halted to then pump at double the speed. His tummy felt like exploding.
He pushed forward, gently putting their lips together. It wasn’t really a kiss, more of a touching of lips. Eddie ever so gently pushed against him.
It was sweet. It was full of love. It was all that they needed in this gentle moment, cuddled together sleepily. It made Steve happier than any other actual kiss had before. This touching of lips touched his soul in all the ways he needed right now. For now, while he was still recovering, he needed gentle love. And that is what he got.
He moved back and a giant smile broke out on his face. He cuddled his face into the crook of Eddie’s neck. He breathed him in.
Eddie’s hand in Steve’s hair started moving again, gently stroking. Steve was a puddle against him.
They lay there all day. Eddie occasionally got up to get them some food and water. But other than that they were content to rest in each other’s arms in silence.
Steve slept for most of it. His exhaustion had truly hit him and he was getting all the rest that his body so desperately needed. And Eddie was right there with him, taking care of him.