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written based on a prompt from here

aurora: write a scene where your character sees the sunrise

wc: 873 rating: general

Eddie can’t sleep.

He caught a few hours, but he’s been tossing and turning for so long his skin is starting to feel raw against the sheets.

He climbs out of bed and pulls on the thick socks that were kicked off during his short lived slumber. Quietly making his way out of the room, Eddie allows the cool air to soothe his agitation, and gulps down a glass of water when he gets to the kitchen.

It’s still dark out, a few smattering of stars just peeking out behind the winter clouds that adorn the night sky.

He almost wants to step out to the small balcony and light up, but he knows it’s colder outside than it looks. For a second he thinks about waking up Steve, but he’s been working himself to the bone lately, so that’s a no go.

He settles for watching the TV at its lowest setting, criss-cross on the floor in front of it. There’s a bunch of cartoon reruns and he gets lost in it for a while, eyes glazed over as The Hardy Boys solve mystery after mystery. Soft huffs of laughter every time Wile E. Coyote fails to catch the roadrunner, usually getting blown up in the process. He wonders how that guy never gives up.

Probably the same way Eddie doesn’t.

Sighing, he gets to his feet and stations himself in front of the window. The sky’s a little brighter now, but not yet filled with pinks or oranges.

It’s kind of nice. Being awake and alone with the sky when most people are still asleep. It feels like a secret. Just something between him and the slowly rising sun.

It’s almost peaceful, the wild energy that’s been thrumming throughout his entire body finally spent. His warm puffs of breath slow against the window, the condensation starting to drip.

Time stops existing. It could be one or twenty sunrises that he’s witnessing, he really can’t tell. Doesn’t know how long it takes for the sky to open up and shine on the thick layer of snow coating the world beyond his little window.

Trees that lost their leaves months ago are frosted, long jagged branches now home to hundreds and hundreds of delicate flakes. Eddie kind of wants to yank on a branch until the snow falls from it, but he’s reluctant to disturb the smooth layer of white with his bootprints. He has the day off too, so he wasn’t really planning on stepping foot out of the apartment.

Instead, he picks his eyes back up to the sky, now draped in bright colors. He wonders what it’s like to be up there. Wonders if it’s any better than being down here.

He jumps a little when warm arms wrap around him from behind, the blanket that Steve’s brought with him brushing against the back of Eddie’s neck. It smells like Steve, like them. Eddie closes his eyes as he leans back into Steve’s chest, smiling softly when he rests his chin on Eddie’s shoulder.

“Missed you.” Steve’s voice is low and gravely, laced with sleep.

“Did I wake you?”

He shrugs, “don’t like sleeping without you. Could feel you were gone.”

He places his hands on the arms circling his stomach, “sorry, Stevie.”

Steve hums softly and settles more comfortably along Eddie’s back. His breaths start to get deeper and Eddie’s starting to think he’s fallen back asleep when a question is quietly muttered into his ear. “You okay?”

“Yeah, just- can’t stay asleep. You know how it is.”

And Steve does. He’s had plenty of nights just like this of his own. Nights that turned into days without getting a wink of sleep. Early mornings where all he could do was brew some coffee to get him through the rest of the day.

Sometimes, a lot of the time, there’s nothing to be done.

This isn’t the first sunrise Eddie’s watched and it definitely won’t be the last.

“C’mon,” Steve murmurs, unraveling from around Eddie and gripping at his wrist.

Eddie lets himself be tugged along to the living room, some Christmas movie now playing on the TV. Steve lays down on the couch, scooting as far back against the worn cushions as he can. Then he lifts the blanket up and waits for Eddie to crawl into the space in front of him, Eddie’s back to his front.

He doesn’t realize how cold he is until he’s enveloped in their comforter and its warmth. Until he’s got Steve’s arm under his neck like a pillow and their legs are tangled together.

Eddie closes his eyes again, sleep coming easier this time. Just before he drops off, he asks, “Stevie?”

“Hmm?”

“What do you think it’s like up in the sky?”

Steve hums inquisitively, mulling over his answer. Eventually, he replies with a simple, “probably lonely,” and he tightens his hold on Eddie, like he knows Eddie was thinking about heading up there.

And maybe he was, if only to see the sunrise from a different angle, but he’d much rather be right here.

He’d always rather be right here.

Eddie turns in Steve’s arms and tucks his head under his chin, falling asleep between one breath and another.

little secret

written for @steddiemicrofic june prompt ‘stuff’ wc: 483 | rated: G | cw: none

Eddie slumps on the couch, transfixed. 

The small box in his hand flips open again, and the ring that lies within steals the breath from his lungs. 

Gold, not silver, because it goes better with the tan Steve has held onto, even after all these years.

It’s been a long time coming, and they’ve waited and waited for things to be different- for the law to catch up with the people. But it hasn’t. And Eddie’s done waiting. He’s never cared much for the law anyway. 

Eddie freezes at the key turning in the lock of their front door. The box snaps closed and he sits up, floundering. The door opens before he can decide what to do with the ring. Right as Steve walks in, he shoves it into the crack between the cushion and the arm of the couch. 

Of course, Steve catches him, the greeting on his lips paused as he narrows his eyes. 

“What did you just stuff in there?”

Eddie tries to relax- definitely fails at looking innocent. 

“Stuff where?”

“In the couch.”

“Nothing.”

Steve grins, “Eddie,” with hands on his hips. 

“I didn’t stuff anything anywhere,” he rushes out. 

Steve chuckles and walks over to Eddie. He stands in front of him and they stare at each other, one fond and the other nervous. 

Leaning down to kiss Eddie, one hand gripping the back of the couch, Steve whispers, “you’re such a shit liar, babe.”

Eddie can’t even deny it. He always tells Steve everything, so this is kind of killing him. 

But now’s not the time. All he has is a ring. No plan, no speech prepared, and if he’s gonna do it, he’s gonna give Steve what he deserves. 

Eddie’s softened to the idea of romance by now, loves it actually. But Steve craves it- looks at Eddie like he hung the moon every time he gives it to him. 

So now’s not the right time. 

He smiles, “I didn’t stuff anything anywhere,” slower, and a little teasing. 

Steve straightens up, “is it drugs?”

“Nope.”

“Illegal?”

“Maybe.”

“Am I gonna pay for it later?”

“Hopefully.”

With a sigh, “you’re lucky I love you.”

Eddie melts. “I know,” and he grips at Steve’s hand, pressing his lips to his fourth finger in a gentle kiss. 

Steve squeezes back in response, surrendering as he walks away. “We’ll see how long you can keep your little secret.”

Eddie stares after him, the rightness of his little secret warming his chest. 

Later, when it’s the middle of the night and Eddie’s asleep, Steve sneaks into the living room. He contemplates, standing in front of the couch. 

Instead, he tip toes over to the vase on a shelf, the one Eddie steers clear of in fear of breaking it. 

He reaches in and pulls out his own little secret. 

Silver, not gold, because it goes better with Eddie’s pale skin.

last one

written for @steddiemicrofic july prompt "one" wc: 111 | rated: G | cw: none | tags: established relationship, fluff

“I really hope this is the last one.”

Softly running his fingers up and down Steve’s bare back, Eddie asks “last what?”

“Last time I have to do this,” he mumbles into Eddie’s neck, just on the brink of sleep. “Want you to be my last one, Eds.”

Eddie blinks down at him, warming at the way Steve relaxes into him— the way they’ve learned to relax into each other over time.

“You mean like, forever and shit?”

Steve nods, “mhm, yeah. Forever. And whatever comes after. Just like this.”

Eddie thinks about it for a second.

And then he relaxes into it. Into forever with Steve.

“Okay, Stevie. Last one.”

equilibrium

written for @steddiemicrofic october prompt "dress” wc: 350 | rated: E I cw: none | tags: established relationship, steve pov, borderline explicit sex

Eddie doesn’t bullshit around. It’s one of Steve’s favorite things about him. He exaggerates and aggravates, but he doesn’t dress up as someone else; sticks to his convictions, bends when he needs to. And when Steve pushes, Eddie isn’t afraid to push back.

Steve bitches and Eddie answers with a joke. Steve listens to his favorite station, Eddie flicks the dial to his own. A flirty smile for a pet name Steve pretends to hate.

Steve kisses him, Eddie kisses back harder. Grips at Eddie’s waist while ringed fingers twist into his hair. Pushes Eddie flat on his back, then Eddie pushes him into a seated position instead.

Steve doesn’t mind. Another one of his favorite things about Eddie is the way he looks climbing into his lap—determined, smug, unnecessarily contrary.

Likes it even more when he shoves Eddie’s pants down and away. Lives for the sound of his own zipper being undone. Lifts up enough for Eddie to pull denim tight around his thighs.

And when Eddie works himself open, Steve knocks his hand away and does it for him, baring his neck for Eddie to bite at in retaliation.

At this point, it’s usually less of a push and more of a give and take. A dance they’ve mastered.

Steve tears Eddie’s shirt off because he also likes when he gets Eddie to dress down, especially to nothing, and Eddie grinds on Steve’s fingers until his eyes blacken.

Steve sinks into him and he can’t think about much else after that. Only focuses on Eddie’s desperate moans, the way his fingers curl into his shirt, the privilege of seeing him bounce up and down. Feels nothing but tight silky heat, sweaty skin, and his own heart pounding with something other than exertion.

But his favorite part is right after, when Eddie kisses him softer, reminding Steve that they want each other just the same, in all the ways he almost gave up on. New ways he never knew existed.

And Steve never questions it, because Eddie never dresses up as a liar. Not when it matters like this.