To Hell and Back Again

Chapter Sixteen

(Gets a little steamy. Reader discretion advised <3)

Steve closed the door behind Eddie as they stumbled home from going to Illinois. It was a long way there but an even longer way back and they still had no answers besides Eddie was a vampire/zombie. Steve was starting to warm up to the fact that Eddie would live forever. Although, Eddie knew that meant watching Steve die and having no way to go down with him. Maybe a silver bullet... or is that werewolves? A stake to the heart or a shot to the brain. Maybe he would have to be killed using the vampire/zombie version of kryptonite. "I think that's the last road trip I can handle for a while..." Steve stretched out his back.
"Oh, damn it. I was hoping we could go to Alaska next." Eddie joked. He set down the backpack he had taken with him. "You know what you need?" Steve raised his eyebrows. "A shower." Eddie finished the sentence as Steve turned around and gawked with shock.
"You're an ass." Steve smiled and started up the stairs. "I think I will. It's been a minute. But if my hair is dirty then it's easier to shape." He felt his messy, un-hairsprayed hair and frowned. "No, you're right I need a shower." He went to his room and started rummaging through his pajamas. He pulled out a pair of flannel pajama pants and set them on top of his dresser.
"Your hair looks fine." Eddie started to take off his shoes. "I'm talking about your armpits." Eddie tried to keep a serious face and held back his laugh. Steve turned around with an appalled look.
"You're seriously an asshole." Steve grabbed a towel out of his closet and went into the bathroom. "Never once have I told you that you stink. Never once. I've been in the car for two days and in that time I threw up twice." He peeked his head out the door, "I have a right to stink at least a little bit." He left the door open a crack and got into the shower.
"You've never said anything about me smelling bad because I never do. I always smell like flowers and unicorns or some shit." Eddie followed Steve into the bathroom and took off his clothes. "But i would much rather smell like you." He got into the shower with Steve. Steve turned around astonished.
"What are you doing, Munson?" He turned around and put his hands on Eddie's jaw.
"Taking a shower." The steam flooded the bathroom so barely anything was visible. Steve leaned his head into Eddie's neck as he was pinned against the wall of the shower. The only thing he could hear was the water falling over their bodies and Eddie whispering, "you're beautiful," into his ear. Steve leaned against the wall and put his legs around Eddie's waist. He left gentle butterfly kisses on Eddie's neck. His stomach was in knots. Something about this moment was perfect. There was no stress, there was no fear, no worries, just their bodies together. Eddie's mouth rested against Steve's shoulder. He turned and kissed Steve passionately but softly. Their lips lingered together but not touching. Their was an unspoken feeling between the two of them as Eddie held his hands on Steve's hips. Their bodies were curved into each other. Steve's eyes met Eddie's as he let out a small stifled moan, interrupted by Eddie's lips touching his. He could see a pure softness in Eddie's eyes. He was so gentle but rough at the same time. His calloused hands explored Steve's stomach, thighs, and back.
"I love you." Steve whispered into Eddie's ear softly. Eddie pushed his face into Steve's shoulder again. Steve's legs wrapped tighter around Eddie's waist as he tilted his head back and moaned. Eddie breathed heavily into Steve's shoulder. For a minute, Steve thought he could feel Eddie's heart beat again.
"I love you, more than anything."

Steve laid on the end of the bed with a towel around his waist. Eddie was getting dressed in fresh clothes. "I'm too tired to get dressed." Steve sat up and looked at Eddie as he fastened his belt.
"Do you have to work today?" Eddie put the towel over his head and bent over and he rubbed his hair down.
"Nope. I'm off until Monday." Steve rubbed his face and pushed back his wet hair. "I thought maybe we could spend the weekend together because we've been out so much recently."
"Well, I actually wanted to talk to you about that." Eddie walked over to Steve sat on the bed next to him as he put on his socks. "I want to introduce you to my uncle. He's never really met you."
"L-like 'this is Steve, he's my boyfriend' or 'this is Steve, he's my close friend I live with.'" Steve faced Eddie with wide eyes.
"This is Steve, he's the love of my life and I want you to accept it." He smiled and leaned back onto the bed with Steve. "So, maybe you should get dressed because he'll be here for dinner." Steve's eyes got wider.
"Dinner? We don't have anything made or anything ready, Ed. You can't just spring this on me."
"No, it'll be okay. He's bringing pizza."
"And how do you know he's going to be okay with us? We're inviting him into our house, Ed. What if he flips out?"
"He liked Freddy Mercury." Eddie shrug.
"Okay..." Steve stands up and goes over to the closet. "Should I wear something nice or just my regular clothes?"
"Hey, lover boy. Don't over think it. It's pizza." Steve gave Eddie a dirty look and blushed a little. He grabbed out a nice sweater his mom had bought him for Christmas one year. "Cashmere? Really?"
"It's not cashmere." Steve slid it on then put on his boxers and pants.
"Cashmere and skinny jeans? Damn, you're really leaving an impression, lover boy." Steve blushed harder.
"Why do you call me that?" He buttoned his pants.
"Because you're my lover boy." Eddie smiled and leaned forward. "If you didn't like it then you wouldn't be blushing."
"I'm not blushing." Steve walked into the bathroom and pulled a hairdryer out from under the sink. Eddie got up and followed him.
"No, what are you doing?" Eddie grabbed the blow dryer and put it under the sink. "That's going to give you heat damage. You let it air dry then you style it. Learn from the master."
"Mhm. The master. They didn't call you Eddie 'the hair' Munson." Steve elbowed Eddie.

Steve sat across from Wayne. He's hands fidgeted under the table as he watched Wayne take a drink of his water. "Listen, Steve. I don't know how you did it being so young and all but this house is nice. Must have been pricey." Steve smiled and looked down at his hands as Eddie brought over three plates and sat them next to the box of pizza.
"No, it's not my house. It's my parent's. I told them I didn't want to leave Hawkins and they gave it to me because it was paid off." Steve took a slice of pizza.
"That's a nice deal you got. I also want to say thank you for helping out my boy." Wayne was intimidating but he was kind. He had a fatherly charm about him.
"Wayne..." Eddie groaned as he took a bite of pizza.
"Edward, shut up. I'm talking to your friend." He leaned forward. "I have seen Eddie go through some tough shit. He's been through a lot, and you helping him was that breath of fresh air we all needed. So I'd like to thank you."
"It's my pleasure to help Eddie, Mr. Munson." Steve smiled.
"Call me, Wayne."
"Listen, Wayne. I want to talk to you about something important." Eddie put his hands on the table and sighed. "Steve is my boyfriend." He blurted out. Steve turned white and looked down at the table.
"I'm not stupid, Eddie. You asked to borrow two hundred dollars to pay someone back who loaned you money to buy a gift for your friend and I come over and Steve's wearing a ring. Also, there's no reason why any of your friends would be this timid around me."
"Eddie. How much was the ring?"
"It was actually more than you think. I had savings." Eddie smiled and looked back at Wayne. "Wayne, I love Steve. I'm glad you don't have a problem with it."
"Of course I don't have a problem with it. Boy, you've been like this for as long as I can remember. The way you looked at Clint Eastwood? Please," Wayne laughed and smiled at him and reached across the table to grab his hand. "Now what is the ring for? Are you two planning on getting married?" Steve choked on his pizza.
"N-no. Wayne, we can't get married. They don't allow it." Eddie's eyes were sad.
"Boy, a marriage is a bond between two people. Whether or not it's legal, it's a union, not a piece of paper to make it official."
"Can I intervene for a second?" Steve looked at Wayne. "I'm not ready to get married. I feel like I'm too young to even think about that. It's an promise ring."
"Ah, I see." Wayne leaned back in his chair. "Well that's cute." He looked at Steve and stared daggers into his eyes. "You're not ready for marriage? Are you telling me you don't love my Eddie?" Steve's eyes got huge and he waved his hands in the air.
"No! I mean yes! I l-love him I just-"
"I'm messing with you, kid. You need to calm down a little."
Not long after, Eddie hugged Wayne. "I love you, Wayne, thank you." Eddie pushed his face into Wayne's shoulder. Eddie pulled away from the hug. Wayne grabbed Steve's shoulders and hugged him.
"You treat my boy good. You're family now, Steve." Steve's heart got all fluttery.
"I will, thank you, Wayne." Wayne nodded and left.
"Eddie, how much was the ring?"
"It doesn't matter." Eddie smiled and wrapped his arms around Steve. "I'm just glad i don't have to hide you from Wayne."
"Me too, Ed. Me too." Steve crossed his arms and stood in the foyer.
"You okay?" Eddie put his hand on Steve's crossed arms.
"Yeah... I'm just thinking about what he said. It's probably nice having such a supporting family..." Steve started to walk towards the stairs. Eddie reached and grabbed his arm, spinning him around and into his arms.
"You do have a supporting family. Robin, Dustin, Max, Lucas, me, Joyce, Wayne? We all love you. Regardless of who you love." He put his thumb on Steve's chin and kissed him.
"Oh shut up." Steve blushed and looked away.
"No." Eddie kissed him again.
"How much did the ring cost?" Steve asked again, his lips inches away from Eddie's.
"More than your monthly supply of hairspray that's for sure."
"Eddie..." Eddie kissed Steve again. "Stop kissing me and answer the question."
"A little over a grand."
"EDWARD!" Steve's eyes got huge and he pulled away a little bit.
"Cant return it now... it's chipped." Eddie laughed and kissed Steve again. Steve rolled his eyes and melted into Eddie's arms.