#a few bat nibbles won't break my firm belief that Eddie beats the odds and gives the whole town the finger

[undreaming-fanfiction]

Doesn’t it make you mad?

They have been together for over a year now and Steve is restless. He is so used to being obvious and shameless with his affection that the whole pretend we're just friends so they don't lynch us gets under his skin and sits there like a barbed wire. He doesn't want much, just kiss Eddie without checking the whole street and darkened windows like a private detective. He wants to hold his hand and not drop it the second someone comes round the corner. To reach out when Eddie's hair gets stuck on the nearest tree branch, fence or anything, untangle them and not have to move his hands away like his skin'd peel off if any part of Eddie touches him for too long.  

It all boils over one day when they come back from a grocery run. Some of their former classmates are there, smooching the life out of each other and Steve feels a pang of jealousy. He doesn't want to hide what he feels for Eddie, he wants to show him off for the whole world to see. "He chose me!" he wants to scream in their faces. Instead, he grabs a box of Honeycomb behind the girl's head and mutters "wow, breathing is sure overrated, huh?", not even attempting to cover up his annoyance.

"Doesn't it make you mad?" he asks, slamming a milk carton on the counter of their shared home. They even lied to their landlord because god forbid that two men love each other. They have two rooms, two beds, as if they need them. The kids, however, see the extra room as their personal sleepover zone and Steve already knows they're never getting rid of the little shits. Especially since Eddie has a special bookcase for his Dragons and the other thing right there.

Eddie just quirks an eyebrow and gently wrestles the milk from Steve's grip. "Easy, Stevie. One would think you're trying to apply enough pressure to turn this into butter." He haphazardly tosses a few items into the fridge before turning back. "Sorry, what is supposed to make me mad?"

"All of it. Hiding, acting like we're doing something wrong. All while those sleazebags swap spit in the middle of the store and no one bats an eye." 

He blinks and crosses arms in front of his body. "I thought we talked about this, Steve. That you knew what you were getting into. It's just not the same, can't be." He opens the fridge and starts actually sorting the groceries with fidgety fingers. "I hope you're not having second thoughts, big boy," he forces his voice to sound casual when the question is anything but.

"Oh no, no no no. Eddie. Not in a million years." The door slams shut and the bag is left forgotten on the counter as Steve spins Eddie around, gently removing a strand of hair that is somehow again stuck to his lips. "It's the opposite," he breathes and mindlessly strokes Eddie's cheek.

Eddie's brow furrows. "Oookay? You'll have to clarify that because I'm not sure what you're getting at." He doesn't move away though.

"It's just..." Steve is fumbling over his words, trying to gesticulate and hold Eddie's face at the same time. "I want better for you. I don't want to give the impression that you're a dirty secret I'm ashamed of. I want to...I don't know. Have my arm around you. Give you my jacket when you get cold. Because you always get cold. All those things. And it's just so fucking frustrating that I have to choose between keeping you safe and showing you how I feel." He looks at the ground, Eddie's shoes suddenly very interesting. "It's stupid, I know."

And Eddie just beams at him, radiant as ever, and covers Steve's hand with his. "You hopeless romantic," he teases and gives Steve a gentle peck on his lips. "Seriously though. It's fine."

Steve gives him a doubtful look. "Fine? Really?"

The long hair tangles everywhere as Eddie furiously shakes his head. "Ah, no. It totally sucks. What I mean by fine is - even if you're allowed to do something or if it's accepted, it doesn't mean you'll do it. I know you would," he quickly interrupts Steve when he hears a sharp intake of breath. "But many people don't. God, I hate even mentioning them, but take your parents, Steve. Holding hands in public, so sweet, so perfect," he mocks, "but as soon as they don't have an audience, they drop the charade. It's crazy common. So I'd much rather have this," he gestures between them, not-so-accidentally brushing Steve's chest in the process. "I'd rather have us. Sure, sometimes it's like navigating a minefield out there, but maybe it will change one day. Maybe it won't. But even now, there are so many little things you sneak in in public that show me that I might be dirty," he snickers and Steve smacks his thigh in retaliation, "but I'm definitely no secret. When you light my cigarette, or pick me up after work...it's real and it's ours."

There is a comfortable silence between them and Steve relaxes against Eddie. Just when Eddie thinks the fridge door is becoming a bit uncomfortable, Steve speaks again. "I get it. That's...that's true." He pauses for a second. "I still want to kiss you silly on the street though."

Eddie laughs and pulls him closer, comfort be damned. "Me too, Stevie. But how about this. You can still fuck me silly right here. No streets needed for that. Although kissing is strongly recommended."

That completely breaks the tension and Steve howls in laughter, his fingers already sneaking underneath Eddie's t-shirt. "Those are some impressive negotiation skills, Munson."

"Thanks," Eddie grins and returns the favor. "I'll have you know, my boyfriend loves them."

#steddie #steddie brainrot #steve x eddie #steve harrington #eddie munson #steddie drabble #steddie fanfiction #st crack #stranger things fanfiction #strangerthingsfanfiction #stranger things #I just want to see some healing in this series #is that too much to ask for #also eddie wasn't doomed from the start you sadistic brothers #a few bat nibbles won't break my firm belief that Eddie beats the odds and gives the whole town the finger #stranger things drabble