Work Text:
Now alone in the darkened ice cream shop, having him so close, Steve's mind raced through how they'd gotten to this point. He would've never imagined that the doe-eyed brunette metalhead with too much energy and a complete disregard for personal space was exactly what was missing in his life. Years of keeping 'The Freak' at bay because of his own confusion and what everyone would think and yet, he'd turned out to be everything his pathetic, hopelessly romantic little heart had been longing for. He guessed those two concussions knocked a lot more than common sense into him.
Good.
To think he could've avoided all the meaningless crap of these last— he wasn't even sure how long. Maybe, if he'd taken his head out of his ass sooner he would've been keenly self-aware of what was always there. None of that mattered now though (or maybe the now is what made it matter). Regardless, he likes to think that, in the grand scheme of things, the journey was necessary to appreciate the end result all the better. At least that's what those all-too-predictable teen movies had him believe. Not that this was at all predictable.
The slight pressure of Eddie's hands flat on his chest slowly urging him back further into the room brought Steve out of his thoughts. He smirked and hooked each of his index fingers on a belt loop to pull Eddie along. A set of heavy lidded hazel eyes trained on the other's mischievous chocolate brown one's. Neither dared look away, noses and lips close in giddy hesitation. Steve gasped in surprise as the back of his legs hit the sofa.
"Guess this is were we make port, sailor," Eddie chuckled at his silly joke, breath warm on Steve's cheek. He gently pushed Steve down to sit. Steve obliged easily enough and tried to pull Eddie on top of him but the other was having none of it. Hands quickly sprawled on either side of Steve's head resting on the back of the sofa. He hovered teasingly as Steve tugged on the loops, letting out a little whine when Eddie still wouldn't budge.
"All good things and what-not as they say–patience big boy."
He wriggled his hips with a wink so Steve would let go and he did so with a reluctant sigh. He crossed his arms over his eyes and pouted. That little gesture was all the encouragement Eddie needed. He took each of Steve's wrists in his hands and pinned them over his head. Steve looked up eyes dark, pupils blown wide and licked his bottom lip, Eddie's eyes following the movement hungrily. Clearing his throat he leaned next to Steve's ear brushing his lips over the shell which drew out a wonderfully obscene sound that Eddie committed to memory instantly.
"Hmmm, don't worry sailor," Eddie whispered trying to elicit more of those delocious whimpers from the other as Steve's breath quickened. "I'm gonna make you feel real good—"
Steve bucked up his hips searching for the much needed friction through his now too tight shorts.
"Eddie..." Steve sighs, eyes fluttering shut.
At this Eddie trailed airy kisses down Steve's jawline until he ended up nuzzling in the crook of his neck. He delighted in the feeling as Steve writhed under his touch.
"Ed–Eddie p-please," he stuttered, barely able to ignore the temptation to just grab him and flip him, successfully pinning Eddie under him instead. Eddie smiled and hummed in satisfaction against Steve's warm skin.
"I'm getting there sweetheart," he teased.
Letting go of Steve's wrists he slid his hands purposefully down over Steve's chest coming to rest on the belt of his uniform shorts. It took Steve a couple of seconds for his mind to catch up with the fact that Eddie was undoing his buckle. When it did he grabbed Eddie's wrists, snapping his eyes open in surprise.
"Woah—"
What met his gaze was a startled and fearful Eddie. Steve quickly softened his expression and loosened his grip.
"Hey—hey," he said soothingly, bringing one hand up towards Eddie's cheek but Eddie pulled back, eyes half shut, still very much afraid and defensively expectant. "Eddie no... hey I–I'm not gonna—" the end of that thought stuck in his throat. The wave of realization that crashed over him at the fact that Eddie's first instinct was to expect violence and accepting it made him nauseous. He swallowed down the lump on his throat.
"Oh, Eddie please can you–please look at me?" The softness in his voice was betrayed by his strained tone. Resting the hand he was still holding on his thigh he covered it with his own, tracing gentle circles over it with his thumb. That seemed to somewhat do the trick. Eddie let out a slow breath and turned towards Steve though he didn't meet his eyes. His gaze lingered over their connected hands instead.
"Baby, I'm so sorry," he whispered. "I didn't mean to–" He squeezed his eyes shut trying to keep the rushing emotions and the all to familiar headache at bay. He took a deep, steadying breath. "I didn't mean to scare you. I'm sorry." He leaned forward, eyes pleading. "I like you so fucking much and I dont' want you to think this just something to pass the time or some meaningless experiment or—" he took another deep breath and added quietly, "bullshit."
Steve made to move his still awkwardly hovering hand closer to Eddie's chin, making sure he could see it and, this time Eddie leaned into it. He guided Eddie's gaze up to meet his.
"Eddie, I would never hurt you," he said earnestly.
"I–I know Steve, I, I know but—" he shook his head. "It's just, well, I just thought–"
Steve cupped his cheek and Eddie leaned into his hand pressing his free hand over Steve's.
"I'm not—you don't have to do anything you don't want to," he met Eddie's eyes to drive the point home. "Ever. I mean it."
Steve's mind was going a mile a minute as he watched Eddie let the words sink in, eyes closed. He's going over everything he's just said and then he's talking again.
"I mean we haven't even kissed so I would never expect—" he cuts himself off realizing what he's just blurted out. It wasn't the first thing on his mind but it was what slipped out. A deep flush ran up his cheeks as Eddie looked at him wide eyed. Steve let out a self-deprecating laugh trying to hide his embarrassment. Eddie half giggles involuntarily and the deep flush on Steve is now mirrored on Eddie's cheeks though he tries to hide it behind his wild waves. After a moment he looks up at Steve through his lashes and finds him staring back with big hazel eyes, besotted grin plastered on his face. Steve wipes away a rogue tear coming down Eddie's cheek and Eddie closes his eyes and sighs. Steve didn't want to even think about Eddie's past experiences that had warranted this kind of reaction. He knew that they would have to talk about it at some point but, Steve had already made up his mind. He was going to do his best to show Eddie he deserved so much better. To be happy, to be loved and—oh.
Guess there's no turning back from that now.
"I can hear the gears turning at how hard you're thinking," Eddie's melodic voice broke through Steve's thoughts. They both let out a laugh.
"Just wondering..."
"Wondering what exactly?"
"Wondering when we would sort out all this kissing we haven't done," Steve shrugged innocently.
"Well big boy, come meet me down here and see what happens..."
He eagerly kneeled on the floor, expertly slotting Eddie between his knees and leaned halfway forward waiting for Eddie. He doesn't have to wait long. The kiss was slow and steady, each using their lips to ask permission and communicate everything they were feeling all at once. Eddie regained his boldness and licked Steve's lips which parted immediately. Arms tight around each other the deeper the kiss went until coming up for air was a necessity neither one wanted to aknowledge. Breathless, they parted but, only so.
"Maybe we should try this up there," Eddie motioned towards the sofa once their breaths had somewhat evened out. "My legs are going numb."
"I can definitely work with that."
Steve winked and got on the couch, effortlessly pulling Eddie onto his lap in one swift movent. There would be enough time for everything else. For now Steve was happy doing his best to make feel Eddie safe and cared for. No rush necessary.
~