Random OneShots

Big house, empty home

By: Pluttskutt on Ao3

Steddie

~~~~

The sun shimmered in the pool. Leaves floated around in it as if they belonged there, and Steve was busy fishing them up to show them that they did in fact not belong there when a bass from a car caught his attention. He looked up and saw a truck driving up his driveway, and put up his hand high to wave. Fought the twist his stomach made at the thought of seeing Eddie again.

   The music stopped, and soon enough Eddie appeared. His head rolled around the house, and the pool, and he let out a whistle. "I have this sudden urge to apologise for inviting you into my home, you live like this?" he shuffled over to Steve by the poolside.

   Steve smiled and removed his sunglasses to look at Eddie. Eddie, who wore his Hellfire Club shirt, jacket tossed over his shoulder, and those ripped black jeans to his house. His house. He felt a stupid smile on his face that was the cause of none other than Eddie. "I like your home," he dropped the net on the ground, "welcome, I tidied up the living room for you," he walked through the backdoor back into the house. Cast a glance behind him to be sure Eddie followed. He'd worn that shirt back then, when he had worked on his final touches.

   Eddie followed behind, and let out a sound of amazement when they entered. "It's so... white," he looked around the hallway, every photograph, and stopped by the trophy case, "these yours?"

   "Yeah, from the swim team," Steve replied, not really looking, "back when I was actually good at something, you can hang your jacket here," he pointed at the hanger, "and the living room is-"

   "You have a dining hall!" Eddie gasped, "I thought they were made up," he spun his head up to the crown in the ceiling.

   "Yeah, big house, anyways-"

   "Don't you have a basement? We can be there, I don't want us to disturb your family," Eddie interrupted. Looked around the living room. His eyes stuck to the TV. It was larger than the one in his room.

   "My parents aren't home, and I'll be doing laundry anyway so I'll be the one disturbing you, just sit up here," he motioned at the sofas and ottoman with his hand, "bathroom is upstairs, and if you follow me to the kitchen to wrap up this tour," he walked again. Had to keep walking. Had to not think about the fact that he was alone with Eddie in his house.

   Eddie sauntered behind. "Living room's bigger than the trailer," he mumbled and followed closely behind. He looked at the wallpaper, the perfect family photos, and the artwork on the walls, and nearly walked into Steve when he stopped.

   "Fridge, take whatever you want, and I'll put the snacks out for your club when everyone gets here, uhm..." he snapped his fingers, "pizza! You're ordering pizza for dinner, I'm not sure how long you're staying but-" he turned to look at Eddie "-what?"

   Eddie's head leant to the left, and he watched him with big eyes and an adorable smile on his lips. "You bought us snacks?" he couldn't believe it. Steve wasn't even friends with the others in the club. Well, the children, of course. The snacks had to be for them mainly.

   "Yeah, well, I bought myself snacks and figured you know, what's some more?" he turned back and opened a cabinet. Pulled out the two bags full of snacks and put them on the counter. "This should be enough with the pizzas, I hope, I also- what?" Steve couldn't handle those big eyes looking at him the way he did.

   Eddie walked over and peeked into the bags. "How long do you expect us to stay?" Oh, red strings. Steve's favourite.

   Steve shrugged. "I... Well, last time it was like four hours? And you said you had like two games left, so I figured with a dinner break you'd stay a while to complete it," he turned to the fridge and took out a soda as an offering to Eddie, who accepted without a word, "I think Mike said that Nancy would pick him up with Dustin and Erica, but I don't know how the others get home," he got himself a soda from the fridge. The others. Was Eddie not included? He had planned to ask Eddie to stay longer but hadn't done that yet. Awkward.

   "We drive," Eddie said, "so you're like... okay with us taking over your house for the whole day?" Surreal. Free reigns in a house that looked like this? Maniac. He didn't know what he was doing.

   "I'll be out by the pool, or in the basement so I won't disturb you," he shrugged. Sipped his soda. Tried not to think about how close they were standing. Alone. In his house.

   Eddie crossed an arm over his waist and leaned back against the counter, "your presence would never disturb me," he said, looking directly into Steve's eyes, and saw Steve's cheeks blush pink.

   "Very funny," Steve mocked, and walked out of the kitchen, "let's get your nerd crap in here before everyone arrives," he decided.

   Eddie watched him, grin on his face, and hurried after. He didn't have to tell Steve to be careful. Unlike their last session, Steve didn't threaten to drop a box unless someone took it. He did comment on how much work Eddie put into this, how well he had done, and how the kids would really appreciate it. They finished setting everything up just on time as the kids arrived with Nancy.

   Steve walked up to her and leaned in through the window to speak, whilst Eddie got everyone inside. He showed them the unlimited snacks, and the pizza pamphlet put out by Steve, and then the last members walked through the door with Steve as their guide.

   "Hey!" Dustin looked at Steve, "you told me I look like a nerd in this shirt," he pointed at his Hellfire shirt.

   Steve raised an eyebrow, "yeah? What about it?" he grabbed two bags of red strings.

   "Why haven't you told Eddie he looks like a nerd?" Mike questioned. He'd been made fun of too by both Steve and his sister. Slander. He wouldn't stand for it.

   Steve looked at him. Raised an eyebrow. "Because Eddie looks cool," the reply earned him a bunch of retorts he wasn't interested in so he hushed them down. "What? You're gonna tell me that in your mind, you look like that-" he pointed at Eddie "-when you put on that shirt? That's really cute." He grabbed everything he wanted and left to soak in the pool.