Work Text:
Steve Harrington’s eyes are glowing.
Before today, Eddie would probably have chalked it down to an optical illusion. That weird thing that hazel eyes do when the light hits them just right, turning them almost golden.
He knows that it’s not a trick of the light now - and not just because Buckley drew all the blinds in the Harringtons’ spacious living room, and they’ve been in here long enough for dusk to fall.
“So what you’re telling me,” he rasps. His throat is scratchy with nerves. “Is that he’s some sort of sex demon? Like a succubus?”
He knows it’s impolite, talking about other people in the room like they’re not even there. Then again, Steve hasn’t said a single word to him since he dragged him off the school parking lot and into his car, leaving all the talking to Buckley while he sulked against the far wall of the living room. His eyes have never once left Eddie.
Buckley, who has finally stopped pacing, looks up from her spot in the armchair across from Eddie’s.
“Almost,” she says. Her tone makes it evident that she’s impressed. “He’s an incubus, that’s the male equivalent. He has the bit that goes in.” Eddie stares. She shrugs.
“If you need a mnemonic aid.”
Steve rolls his eyes. They’re two golden pinpricks in the gloom.
Eddie only realizes he’s been staring at them when Buckley leans forward to touch his arm, and he almost flinches out of his armchair.
“Do you need a break? I know it’s a lot to take in, believe me.”
Eddie shakes his head. His temples are throbbing and he's woozy as fuck, but a break is about the furthest thing from his mind right now. It's not every day you find out that the guy you've been obsessing over is actually a sex demon, and that the wet dreams you've been having were more than just figments of your horny fantasies.
“So for how long has this been going on?” he asks. “Him going around fucking people in their dreams? And how come you know about it? Did he-”
“Ew, no,” she snorts. “He's not my type.”
The frown that creeps into the space between his brows makes Eddie’s headache flare up.
“Um, okay? How does that have anything to do with-”
“It doesn't work on everyone,” Steve says. Eddie thinks he sees his lips curl into a familiar, pleased smile. It makes something warm and tight slither low in his abdomen, and he shuffles uncomfortably in his chair. “Just people who are already … interested in me, at least on some subconscious level.”
He lets the words settle, and Eddie feels his arousal mingle with humiliation - the same strange mix he knows from his dreams. From Steve whispering lovely, filthy things while bending and manipulating his body to his liking, while slowly reducing him to a pathetic, whimpering thing whose only purpose and desire it is to be fucked.
“You said I shouldn’t remember,” he blurts. “How did you mean that?”
Steve huffs in frustration and runs a hand through his hair.
“Exactly how I said it. Usually, all that people recall about the dreams are the general vibes, not that I was in them. I dunno why it’s different with you.”
“Maybe it has to do with the Upside Down?” Buckley suggests. “It has messed with your powers before, right?”
Oh, yeah. The mirror dimension that has apparently been existing right under the noses of the unsuspecting townsfolk for years. Eddie would be tempted to believe that this is all another dream, if it wasn’t for the fact that neither Steve nor him are naked.
“No.” Now it's Steve's turn to start pacing. “Maybe, I dunno. I mean, if it's growing stronger again, then maybe …”
“... that would explain why you've been so hungry lately,” Buckley finishes the sentence. Eddie wonders if they have some freaky telepathy shit going on. “No offense, but Eddie looks like shit. You need to be more careful.”
“I know,” Steve groans. “I don't need the full lecture on the shady ethics of my energy supply. I wasn't even meaning to feed on him again. Not that soon at least, but-”
“Maybe we can work something out?”
Eddie doesn't realize he spoke out loud until Steve and Buckley whirl on him.
“What do you mean?” Steve says.
His eyes are two golden orbs in the darkening room, round and incredulous with surprise. Like he can't believe what he just heard.
Eddie can't say he blames him. He can't believe what he just said. After everything he just learned, he should be appalled. He should book it out of here, tell Steve never to talk to him again, pack Wayne and their stuff, and get as far away from this freak show of a town as fast as possible.
Except Steve talking about not feeding off him again makes something inside of him twist. The thought of another body writhing under Steve’s makes him want to scream and claw the imaginary person's eyes out.
“A schedule,” is what he says. “Like … You can have me every two weeks or something, leave me enough time to recuperate. If this Upside Down thing is really coming back, you'll need plenty of energy, and it's better to take it from someone who's in the know than just ravishing unsuspecting people in their sleep.”
For a long while, nobody says anything. Eddie feels Buckley's eyes bore into the side of his head, but he can't look away from Steve.
“You said I was the best you've ever had.”
Steve needs a second to blink the surprise from his face. It must feel weird, having his own words quoted back at him. Then, his mouth curls into a slow, warm smile, and it’s all Eddie can do to not drop to his knees right then and there.
“You know what? This might actually work.”