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Eddie is a touchy guy. Fact.
Steve is a little bit of a slut for attention. Also fact.
He's come to terms with it. At first, the guy he only knew from jumping on tables at school and Dustin's worshipping getting all up in his space had freaked him out a little. He wasn't, still isn't, used to touch he doesn't initiate himself. So he'd pulled away despite a tiny part of him screaming inside for him to lean into it instead. But the thing with helping to save the world from literal hellspawn and almost dying in the process is, it kinda bonds you for life. Whether or not you like it.
So with Eddie officially knitted into their group like he'd always been there Steve figured… what was the harm in letting the guy touch?
The result was Eddie hanging off him like a limpet at any given opportunity and Steve rolling his eyes like he wasn't actively shifting his weight to make it easier. Hugs, arms thrown over shoulders, hand squeezes, hair ruffles (he maybe protested that one a little more), having his jaw grasped to be shaken like an unruly dog. These all became familiar touches to Steve.
It didn't go unnoticed by the Party but when friends become family via shared trauma a little teasing is mandatory anyway.
So here they find themselves, piled onto any available surface at casa Harrington watching Ghost Busters because the kids want to 'make better memories' about something and Steve is a pushover. He and Eddie are squeezed onto a loveseat that he's pretty sure his parents hadn't used once since they bought it, Eddie lounging comfortably with Steve practically sprawled over his lap.
See, Steve had been aiming for a spot on the floor next to Robin but Eddie had snagged his waist and reeled him in as he walked past. He thought about protesting, about calling for Rob to help him. But Eddie was warm and comfortable and the arm now resting across his stomach made his legs a little like jelly. So he stayed.
And now they're about halfway through the movie and Steve is starting to lose his mind a little.
His head is resting in the space between Eddie's neck and shoulder where it fits like it was meant to be cradled there. Every breath fills his lungs with EddieEddieEddie, all smoke and boy and something a little spicy-sweet. It shouldn't relax him the way that it does. But it's Eddie. And Eddie is safe.
"Is Steve seriously falling asleep right now?" Says Mike, with the usual snark he saves just for Steve.
Eddie's arm around his stomach tightens for a second, as if warning Steve not to move, before relaxing as his hand strokes soothing patterns over his shirt.
"Your babysitter's not on duty tonight, Wheeler, let the man relax if he wants to. I have it on good authority that I make an exquisite pillow." Eddie responds.
Steve can hear Mike scoff, but before he can say anything else Dustin chimes in.
"Drop it Mike, you know what those two are like and no one can hear over your talking."
"We've seen this before like a million times-"
"Boys." Eddie says, more stern than Steve thinks he's ever heard him. "Shut your mouths and watch the movie or I'm kicking you out so Steve can get some real sleep."
They shut their mouths.
Steve goes to move, to shuffle around and tell Eddie he's awake, that it's fine. But Eddie tightens his arm again and hushes him before he can.
"Shh, its okay sweetheart." His voice is low and crooning. "Just relax. Close your eyes."
Had Steve's eyes been closed? Maybe he had been dozing a little. But he didn't think he'd been asleep. It's hard to think, is the thing. With Eddie's fingers still swirling, pressing gently against his stomach. The noise of the tv, the teens mumbling and shifting in their own seats, it all fades away.
He finds he can't think of the words to say, so he hums instead, relaxing back into the hold. He feels Eddie chuckle more than hears it, and knows he's probably smiling a little stupid and slow at the feeling.
Steve's eyes drift shut but he doesn't sleep. He feels aware of nothing and everything at the same time. The rise and fall of Eddie's chest, the weight of his arm, the tickle of breath in his hair, and of course those fingertips smoothing, swirling, tapping.
Then his shirt lifts, just enough for Steve to feel cold skin on skin. He shivers. Eddie's hands are always cold, colder than the rest of him.
Burying his face into Eddie's neck he takes a deep breath in, smothering his senses in the man and is rewarded with another chuckle. The noise buzzes in his ear and Steve wants to open his mouth and bite. To swallow those sounds straight from the source.
"Steevie." Eddie singsongs lightly.
Steve just grumbles and moves his head back and forth, enjoying the way his lips feel brushing against Eddie's skin.
"Jesus." He hears Eddie whisper, his fingertips scratching lightly across Steve's stomach. "Look at me, honey."
Steve does, is a little helpless to it actually.
"There he is."
Eddie is smiling. His face is soft with it, eyes half shut and dimples not quite forming because it's the kind of smile that's sleepy and small. Just for Steve.
"Drifting a little, aren't you?" Eddie asks, and Steve blinks up at him as the question wades its way through his brain full of syrup before sinking in.
"Hm." He hums, frowning.
He's. He is feeling weird. Like he's floating or, or drifting yeah.
"Hey, hey, it's okay." Eddie reassures. He cups Steve's face with the hand that isn't resting, now still, on his stomach. "It's more than okay, baby. You let yourself relax. Was just letting you know the movie's over. Kids are passed out, everyone else has headed upstairs."
Eddie speaks slowly, like he's got all the time in the world for Steve.
"We can stay right here, or get you to bed." He offers.
Here is nice. Here is warm and comfortable and Eddie is here.
But Eddie should sleep in a proper bed. He'd wake up all aching sleeping like this and Steve doesn't-
"Easy, sweetheart." Eddie wipes away the tear that had fallen and Steve can't think about why there shouldn't be tears because he's being maneuvered up and onto wobbly legs. "Bed it is."
They make it upstairs somehow, Eddie behind Steve, holding his waist. Steve thinks maybe he leant back into Eddie's chest, that maybe he owes him an apology for not putting in more effort but his words are still lost and Eddie is still smiling his Steve-smile so maybe it's okay.
They're both in sweats, and while Eddie keeps his on to sleep, Steve doesn't like to. He stands in the middle of his room, lost without the weight of Eddie behind him. The man in question is puttering around the space, pulling the sheets back and switching on a lamp so he can shut the main light off.
He'll be warm. Eddie will stay and they'll sleep side by side and Steve wants that. But he'll be warm.
Somehow his limbs don't seem to receive the memo and he's just standing there like an idiot, staring down at his sweats like they personally offended him.
Steve feels the noise in his throat though he doesn't remember trying to make it. A whine. Pitiful like a kitten in the rain.
Eddie coos, drifting back into Steve's orbit where he can lean in and hope Eddie will fix things because he can't seem to do anything himself.
"You okay if I help you, big boy?" Eddie asks, thumbing at the waistband of Steve's sweats. "Too warm for you, hm?"
Steve breathes a sigh, of course Eddie will fix it. He always knows what Steve needs.
"Mhm." Steve nods.
Then Eddie is on his knees.
Steve's hands glue themselves to Eddie's shoulders, wobbling as Eddie pulls at the fabric, guiding it down Steve's legs. Eddie's eyes are focused, his cheeks a little flushed but Steve's not sure why.
His sweats pool at his feet and Eddie gives his calf a squeeze.
"Leg up for me." He says, quiet. Maybe breathless.
Steve does as he's asked, switching to the other leg when it's squeezed in turn. He smiles as Eddie stands, likes being face to face with him. Getting to drink in the sight of his pretty eyes and fluffy hair.
"Hi." He breathes, the first word he's said in maybe too long.
"Hi." Eddie smiles back.
He brings his hands up to cradle Steve's jaw, pulling gently till Steve tilts down and Eddie places a soft kiss to his head.
"Let's get you to bed." He murmurs, inching back till Steve can do nothing but follow.
***
And it just keeps happening.
Movie nights, smoke sessions, goddamn barbecues. No matter who they're surrounded by, Eddie somehow reduces the world to just him and Steve with just a few softly spoken words and even softer touches.
"You're clearly into him." Robin says, slumped over the Family Video counter and through a mouthful of skittles.
"No, Rob." Steve groans, shoving tapes onto the shelf in front of him half-heartedly. "Well. Yes." He amends. "But that's not what this is. I've been into guys before, you know this. The way Eddie makes me like… forget how to think that's- it's just different, okay?"
She takes a moment to consider, savouring the candy in her mouth.
"If you say so, dingus. What if you just asked Eddie? The guy is clearly all over you I'm sure he'd have something to say."
Steve gives her a look but she just smirks back. Not a chance in hell.
"Oh sure I'll just walk right up to him tell him all about how he seems to have the off switch for my brain and can he kiss me already or I'm gonna-"
The bell chimes and Steve cuts himself off. Robin's face contorts as she tries not to laugh and Steve knows exactly who's just walked in without having to turn around.
"Hey there birdie." Eddie says cheerfully. "Harrington."
And there! There something about his voice, something about the way he speaks to Steve that brings a blush to his face like he's being kissed not called by his last name.
He rolls his eyes as Eddie sidles up to him.
"Munson." He tries to emulate the tone but Eddie just smiles with his nose all wrinkled. Like Steve is a particularly cute puppy being stupid of attention.
"Come over tonight." Eddie asks. Not asks, really. Says. Like it's inevitable.
Steve blinks, blinks, blinks.
"Okay." He says.
"Okay." Eddie grins. Then he's twirling away, all flailing limbs to bother Robin in the hopes she'll share her candy.
She won't, but Steve thinks Eddie knows that already. He sticks around for another hour before leaving, checking with Steve once more that he'll see him later when he's at the door.
"And just like that, you've got a date." Robin says smugly once Eddie's van has sped out of the parking lot.
Fuck, does he have a date?
Robin cackles.
"Don't look so scared dingus. It'll be just like any other time you've seen him lately, only without any of us being forced to watch you snuggle."
He can't really argue there, but he pouts about it all the same.
***
Steve fusses with his shirt, wondering if it was too casual. He figured, well, if things were going to go the way they had been every hangout for a while now it would be silly to wear a polo. He'd tried to balance things out with a nice pair of jeans in case Eddie wasn't expecting casual casual but maybe that wasn't the right move either.
He resists the urge to cringe at his decision making skills when Eddie answers the door, clad in loose black sweats hanging low on his hips and one of his cropped shirts he sometimes sleeps in.
"Well don't you look pretty, princess." Eddie teases, and Steve ducks his head and ruffles his hair.
"Yeah yeah, Munson, I know. Forgive a guy for wanting to look nice." He responds, walking into the trailer as Eddie steps aside.
"Now, I called you pretty sweetheart what more do you want?"
Steve stops, turns to look at him and flushes pink.
"You- I-"
Eddie chuckles and brushes past him to the hall that leads to his room, squeezing Steve's hip as he goes.
"The prettiest, baby. But let's get you into something a little more comfortable, yeah?" He says, encouraging Steve to follow him.
Steve toes his shoes off by the door and makes his way into the cluttered room, perpetually in a state of 'a strangely metal-themed bomb just went off in here'. He's presented with some grey sweat shorts (Eddie's from gym classes he never attended) as Eddie eyes his shirt.
He reaches out, smoothing over the fabric, and subsequently Steve's chest, before humming.
"Soft. As much as I love to see you in my clothes maybe you can keep that one on." Eddie says with a grin. "I'll leave you change and get a movie."
Steve slips the shorts on and does feel much more comfortable. The trailer is warm and cozy and he and Eddie will end up huddled together like penguins soon enough so wearing something a little breathable is a smart move. It helps that they're pretty short - Steve knows his best assets okay?
Padding down the hallway again in socked feet, he reaches Eddie. The man is slouching comfortably on the couch with sodas and chips on the table in front, and takes his time looking up at Steve. He feels like he can't sit until Eddie's told him where to which is not at all a thing but…
He thinks back to every cuddle session they've had. Eddie always grabs him or leads him to where they're sitting for the night it's just become second nature to let himself be guided.
He thinks Eddie knows. Thinks he's basking in it a little.
"C'mere."
He pats his lap.
Steve goes.
It's a position he settles into easily now, the feeling of Eddie pressed against him a familiar one, and that thought makes him smile.
"No beer tonight?" He questions, movie already playing with the volume low. They both know they won't be watching it really.
Eddie takes a deep breath.
"No, not tonight honey."
He brings a hand up to rake through the back of Steve's hair. Steve shivers and hums, pleased.
"I thought that we should probably talk about some things." Eddie continues.
"Like how it's obvious I'm into you?" Steve says, a little whiny maybe.
Eddie's hand stills for a moment before he's chuckling, curling Steve tighter to him in a squeeze and then pulling back just enough to smack a kiss to Steve's cheek, complete with a mwah.
"Not quite the angle I was aiming for baby but that's good to know. I am so very into you too."
Steve looks up with a smile and Eddie lasts three entire seconds before kissing him again, this time slowly and softly right on his lips. Steve sighs into it, melting with the chaste press and guided by the hand still on his head.
His eyes flutter open (when had they closed?) at a gentle tug to the strands of his hair. He blinks blinks blinks, trying to find his way back to the room.
"That's what I wanted to talk about, sweetheart." Eddie says. "You drifting so sweetly for me."
"Drifting." Steve mumbles. "You called it that before."
Eddie hums, swaying slightly so Steve rocks with him.
"I think," He muses. "Touch, praise, all that good stuff, gets you a little loopy. And the fact that you're into me" he says this part like he's giddy and smooches Steve on the cheek again. Steve giggles. "probably helps."
There's a pause as Steve mulls that over. Eddie's right, it's the touch sure, the way he's spoken to, but none of that would do much for him if it wasn't coming from Eddie.
He nods.
"Right." Eddie continues. "You know what subspace is, sweetheart? What submitting to someone like that means?"
Steve frowns, shaking his head. Thinks maybe this is a serious conversation and he shouldn't be on Eddie's lap where it's already becoming harder to think. But he really, really doesn't want to move.
"It means trust, baby. So much trust, that I don't think I'll ever get over you giving to me. A sub trusts their dom, dominant, that's me," Eddie squeezes him for just a beat. "to help them feel good. Work out what they need and make sure they have it. Think for them so they can drift, and relax, and get out of that pretty head of theirs."
Steve shifts, snuggling into Eddie as if he could get somehow closer. Crawl right into his skin so the sound of his heartbeat was with him always.
"Want that. Can we? Now?" He mumbles.
"You're already a little down, sunshine." Eddie chuckles. "There's more we should talk about if you want it. More you can't consent to when you're not thinking straight."
Steve whines, a long, sad sound. He wants. Can't Eddie see?
"Okay, okay." Eddie soothes, hand gently tugging and then smoothing the strands of Steve's hair till he settles. "How about this. We snuggle and let you drift, just like we've done before, with a little extra because you've been so very good for me."
Steve shudders at the praise, moaning softly. The sound is distant to his own ears, but he feels the vibrations of it in his chest so knows it must come from him.
"Yes. Please." He manages.
"Such sweet manners." Eddie coos. "Okay, honey, open up."
And there are Eddie's fingers, right in front of Steve's mouth.
Those fingers that'd driven him half insane that first night. Always cool to the touch, always moving, rings catching the light. Steve wants them more than anything.
His mouth opens without resistance as Eddie pushes two digits inside, immediately smoothing over his tongue, hooking behind his teeth to pull Steve's jaw wider, spreading saliva over Steve's lips like lipgloss.
It should be gross. Should make Steve want to pull away, to scrunch his nose and bury his face in Eddie's chest, embarrassed.
Steve only moans again, tilting his head to gaze at Eddie and hope he knows Steve wants more. Anything.
"God your eyes are blown babylove. Can't wait to wine and dine you, gorgeous boy. You deserve it. Treat you right then take you home to play."
Eddie's words wash over him like molasses. It's all he can do to suck on his fingers, swirl his tongue around and in between them and try not to drool.
Before long, even the sugar-sweet words of Eddie's have lost meaning. He can hear them, can feel them against him. Knows Eddie is calling him sweet names, praising him. But the words themselves have become the melody of Eddie's speech. And he lets that soothe him like a lullaby.
He's hard, maybe. But his whole body tingles where he's touched. And he's good. He's good for Eddie. So he does little more than shift, whimper, then sigh as he presses his face into Eddie's neck, biting down so gently to keep his fingers inside.
"That's it." A voice rumbles. "I've got you. For as long as you need me."