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Break Those Chains That Bind You

Chapter 10: And His Heart Grew Three Sizes That Day

Notes:

It's not Christmas, but I'm posting this bc finals

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

Like Thanksgiving, Eddie and Wayne found out that Steve hadn't ever really had a proper Christmas with anyone, so they had him join theirs, and Susan and Max came over too. 

Honestly, as soon as Steve saw Eddie, Max, Wayne, and Susan squeezed into the Munson living room with its brand new couch and small Charlie-Brown sized Christmas tree with an ornament from each of them and a tiny black star covered in red glitter(courtesy of Eddie and Max)on the top, he burst into tears. 

Eddie and Max jumped up, ready to comfort him frantically, but he promised they were happy tears. This wasn't, by any means, and orthodox Christmas compared to other families. 

But this little collection of people who lived close to each other in the trailer park coming together for holidays that were important and about family and love just dug at his heart in a way nothing else could.

They exchanged gifts–Steve gave Wayne his couch already, Susan got a new throw blanket for her couch since she slept there to give Max the only room in their small trailer, Max got a kit for detaching and attaching wheels to her skateboard, and Eddie got a new ring, silver wings curving around his finger. 

"I thought it suited you." Steve told him bashfully, looked away. 

"I love it!" Eddie pulled him close to plant a kiss on his cheek and to suffocate him in a hug. Steve laughed, hugging him back. Everyone else gave their gifts and then Steve and Susan brought out pastries, cookies, brownies, and chocolate truffles Steve had worked hard to perfect in time to make them for Christmas. 

§~•~§~•~§

Later, when Steve and Eddie went back to Eddie's room to chill while Susan, Max, and Wayne watched a holiday movie on the TV, they sat on the bed together. Eddie sat criss cross and Steve sat with his knees pulled to his chest. He took out a small box from his pocket and presented it to Eddie, who immediately looked suspicious. 

Steve smacked him on the arm, knowing what he was thinking. "It's not like that, dork!" He laughed. "Just open it." He insisted. 

Eddie did so and then took the ring out of the box, examining ever part of it. It was silver to go with all of his rings, but it was slightly different from the general metalhead badass vibe the others gave off.

The ring was two skeleton hands forming a crude heart with the phalanges. Eddie looked up at Steve in askance and Steve moved to swing a leg over the metalhead's hips, sitting in his lap and settling his arms around Eddie's neck. Eddie didn't say a word, only swallowed as he let his free hand settle on Steve's hip while the other still held the ring between them. 

"This year was fucked up and I had a terrible time during most of it." Steve started. "But, when I burnt down my house and moved here and met you, things were better. And....I want them to stay better. So....please go out with me?" He requested, looking to Eddie nervously. 

Eddie pulled him closer and slotted their lips together. They fit together so perfectly, Eddie couldn't get enough. He pressed Steve against his body as close as he could possibly manage. Steve made a noise and pressed back, wrapping his legs around Eddie's waist when Eddie moved so he was over Steve on all fours. He was clinging into Eddie like he never wanted to let go and the sentiment was firmly returned. 

Steve slipped the ring onto Eddie's right ring finger and Eddie groaned into the kiss. He broke away and trailed kisses along Steve's jaw and Steve sighed softly. 

Eddie pulled away, breathing hard, and took in how much of a mess Steve was–flushed cheeks, spit-slick and swollen lips, and a forming red mark just under his jaw where Eddie bit down because he just couldn't resist. Honey-brown eyes peered up at Eddie with warmth and pure happiness and want behind crooked-sitting glasses. 

"God this is a dream come true, but we should probably stop before we get walked in one by someone. Tomorrow?" Eddie suggested.

Steve nodded, and pulled him down for another kiss. Eddie pulled him up and pressed him against the headboard. They didn't pull away until neither of them could breathe. 

"Okay, okay, now we'll stop." Steve gasped.

"Mh, in a second." Eddie mumbled against the skin of Steve's neck, moving to nibble on his jaw.

"Eddieeeee–" Steve pulled away. "We can't!" 

Eddie chuckled. "You're so easy, Honey." He left one last kiss on the you her man's lips. "Okay, we'll stop. But tomorrow, imma keep you in this bed all day, Sweetheart. That's a promise." He murmured into his boyfriend's ear with relish. 

"It fucking better be." Steve huffed, fixing his sweater and straightening his glasses before they fell off his face. 

They fell asleep cuddling in Eddie's bed after wishing the Mayfields' well and sending them home. Wayne noticed the ring on Eddie's right ring finger and the darkening mark on Steve's neck when he checked on the boys in his nephew's room and chuckled to himself. 

"These damn kids...." He sighed in contentment.

Notes:

Short and hot, just like me 🙃

Hope you enjoyed! Ten chapters is my new record for how long I can drag out a slowburn romance before the characters at least kiss for real. Onto Season 4!!! 😆

Notes:

Steve's gonna recover the Steve way–i.e. he's gonna recover in a way that seems really messy and not actually like he's recovering at all, but I promise he is.

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