Steddie Hands, Steddie Heart

Chapter 4 - The Morning

Author's Note: Oh, Steve. You clueless, clueless boy. Also, if you need help understanding the position they're found in by Robin peep the image above.

Steve woke up to the aroma of freshly brewed coffee. He inhaled deeply, breathing in the bold scent as well as a musky smell of worn leather, smoke, and sweat. His head was resting against something soft and warm. For the first time in a long time, Steve felt safe. It took him a few moments in his groggy state to recognize the position he was in. His head was resting against the shoulder of none other than Eddie Munson. Eddie's arms were around him, and they were both in the awkward sitting position that they had been in last night after Steve's episode, when Steve had practically crashed into Eddie's arms.

Shit. The events of the night before came flooding back to Steve. The movie. The major freak-out that he had in front of Eddie. He groaned in embarrassment. That was absolutely not the plan for the night. People weren't supposed to see Steve like that. Eddie wasn't supposed to see Steve like that. Steve was supposed to be the nonchalant, albeit somewhat dumb one of his group. He wasn't supposed to be affected by the things he's seen in the Upside Down. Or at the very least not outwardly. He just simply wasn't expected to have the emotional depth to think that far into what he's experienced.

Steve jumped slightly at the sound of someone clearing their throat. Steve looked up to see Robin, sitting on a stool, with a gray mug in her hand with a smug look on her face.

"Good morning, Romeo," she teased quietly, before taking a sip from her mug. "Sleep well?"

Steve felt his neck flush. Having slightly awakened from his groggy state, Steve now recognized how compromising the position he was in might look like to an outsider. Eddie, hunched forward, arms around him. Steve practically cuddling Eddie, whose unconscious state was saving him from having to deal with the embarrassing situation that Steve was now facing.

"I swear it's not what it looks like," Steve said.

Robin cocked an eyebrow.

"Sure it isn't. Coffee?" she asked.

"Yes, please." Steve replied, trying his best to separate himself from Eddie without waking him up.

By the time he detangled himself from Eddie, Robin was holding out a fresh cup of coffee for him. He gratefully took the mug from her outstretched hand and thanked her. He took a long sip and sighed contently, the caffeine doing him good. Only then did he realize how exhausted he felt. His episode from the night before left him feeling totally fatigued. Not to mention the fact that his neck was absolutely killing him from sleeping in such an awkward position all night. Nevertheless, the coffee did wake him up a bit.

"Where's Nance?" he asked, noting the brunette's absence.

"She left a while ago. Had some stuff to do." Robin answered vaguely, her eyes softening.

"You like her. Right?"

Robin's eyes widened for a second in surprise before pursing her lips.

"Yeah. Yeah, I guess I do. Please don't tell her."

"I would never." Steve replied softly with a smile.

"How about you?" Robin implored.

"Huh? Robin, you know I've been over Nancy for a long time now-"

"No. I mean you and-" Robin cut herself off, seeming to decide something in her head.

"And who?" Steve asked.

"Nothing. It's just- did you know, Steve, that liking girls and guys is a thing?"

Steve set down his coffee and pondered the thought. He actually had no idea that was an actual thing. It was an interesting idea to Steve. He felt something in him shift, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. It was like a puzzle piece snapped into place somewhere inside him. Wherever that happened inside him, however, it definitely wasn't his brain.

"No, I didn't, actually. But maybe Nancy is one of those. Yeah? Maybe you've got a shot with her, is that what you're getting at?" Steve wondered aloud.

Robin pinched the bridge of her nose with her left thumb and pointer finger.

"Sure Steve, that's exactly what I'm getting at." Robin said sarcastically.

Steve, being the clueless man he is, didn't pick up on Robin's tone and took another sip of his coffee. Instead he turned to look at Eddie, who was still asleep in the same spot Steve had left him in. Steve fought back a dopey grin. Eddie just looked so...peaceful. For once, his face was void of the ridiculously cartoonish expressions that typically graced his features. His jaw was unclenched, his brow slack, and Steve could see a rogue curl shifting repeatedly as Eddie breathed in and out through his nose.

"I'm going to go," Robin said, rolling her eyes. "Before your antics give me an even bigger headache."

"Oh. Uh, sure. You need a lift, right? Let me just get my stuff together."

Robin shook her head.

"Lucky for you, I already have a ride lined up. I've been awake for a while now. Made a call. They should be here any minute. I thought you and Eddie might want to...talk," she explained.

Steve nodded his head, rubbing at the back of his neck, which was still sore from last night's awkward sleeping position. He wondered how much Robin had pieced together about what happened last night. Despite Robin's rambling, she was very intelligent, and Steve knew this about her. Steve also knew that he really should talk to Eddie about what happened last night. If the look of understanding and near-pity was anything to go by, Robin had probably pieced together what happened to leave Steve and Eddie in that position. However, as much as he adored Robin as a best friend, he didn't feel ready to share his deepest, darkest struggles with her just yet, so he wasn't all that opposed to her leaving him to sort his shit out with Eddie instead, who had witnessed Steve break down first hand.

Robin practically chugged the last of her coffee, putting her mug in the sink and saluting Steve as she left the trailer to catch her ride.

"See ya." Steve called after her before the door closed.

Now he was left in Eddie's trailer. Just him and the metalhead, left together to talk about their feelings, or something. This should be good.