Hidden Within the Shadows

winter months

Adrian's birthday was today. He wasn't sure how to get his brain to filter it through. It was his birthday and it was the first (of many) that he wouldn't spend with his sister. He'd woken up at five in the morning when Wayne had returned from his night shift at the plant. Eddie was fast asleep beside him in the cramped bed that they shared. Eddie's mouth was slightly open, and he was snoring quietly. He wasn't wearing a nightshirt either, which Adrain usually appreciated.

Fuck. He was sixteen. Nancy was sixteen too.

Would she be awake early too? Would she have even been able to sleep the night prior? Knowing that Adrian was out there somewhere, but didn't know his exact location - she'd been the one who'd gotten him into this. That was something Adrian would never be able to forgive her for. She'd effectively ruined his life and cost him a family. But at the same time, he found a new one with Eddie and Wayne. It was complicated and tore Adrian up from the inside out.

Eddie made a noise beside him, shifting in his spot. Adrian took his chance and pushed himself into Eddie's space. Eddie put his arm around Adrian, still very much asleep, and held onto him. Adrian pressed his face into Eddie's chest. It didn't matter. When Eddie woke up, they'd celebrate it like no other, and Adrian would do his best to forget about the Wheelers. He wasn't a Wheeler anymore, was he? Ted Wheeler had made sure enough of that.

But at the same time, he couldn't get them out of his mind. Would it be a sombre sweet sixteen? Would Nancy feel bad, or would she bask in the attention, now the sole person they celebrated the birth of? It always felt like she'd been angry that they'd had to share a birthday. Well, now she had it all to herself.

Adrian shut his eyes and tried his best to get some more sleep. Maybe he dipped in and out of unconsciousness, never truly going into a deep enough slumber. The next few hours passed in a haze, caught between sleep and wakefulness. It was good enough, getting just enough sleep to get on with the rest of the day.

"Hey," Eddie said into Adrian's hair, voice roughened from sleep. It was about eight in the morning now, an early wake-up on Eddie's behalf. Maybe he was excited. "Happy birthday," he whispered, kissing Adrian's temple.

"Thanks," he said, smiling a little. He put a hand on Eddie's face, fingertips lost in his hair. "You're up early,"

"I want to celebrate you all day," Eddie told him, turning his head a little to kiss Adrian's fingers.

"You're such a sap," Adrian said, but he was smiling now. Fuck, he loved Eddie. "Any plans for the day?"

Eddie smiled crookedly, then stretched. "Well, I was thinking birthday sex until noon, and then we can stuff ourselves sick with that cake Wayne got you. Oh, and you have to open your presents,"

"Presents?" Adrian repeated, eyes widening a little. "You know you didn't have to Eddie," he said.

"I know I didn't have to, but I wanted to. There's a difference there, Adrian," he said. "I figured since you wear all my old clothes, it was about time you got some of your own." Eddie sat up in bed and stretched a little before he twisted and leaned over the edge of the bed to grab the present underneath.

Adrian admired the faint outline of the muscles before Eddie was sitting upright again. "Here. Happy birthday, babe," he held out the small present.

Adrian smiled, feeling overly fond. "Thank you," he said before he tore the wrapping paper away. Fuck, Eddie!" he laughed, and opened up the t-shirt, looking at the Iron Maiden The Number of the Beast album art printed on the front. "Holy shit, man,"

"You like it?" Eddie asked, a smile stretching over his face.

"Fuck yeah, I do," Adrian said before he wrapped Eddie in a hug. "You're the best, Eddie,"