𝐈𝐟 𝐎𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐖𝐞 𝐇𝐚𝐝 𝐈𝐭 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐖𝐚𝐲 (𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐞☠♥)

Chapter 3: How Long Can Nights Get?

TW: the slightest bit of self-harm at the start

"I'm almost done!" Robin chuckles, as she finishes wrapping Eddie's arm. He kicks his legs and squeals like a child; though it was funny, it didn't take away the burning in his arm from all the cleaning fluids in his scars.

Robin finished one of Eddie's arms, taking the other one, and began to clean it. He winces as he squeezes Steve's hand. Robin had Steve sit next to Eddie for comfort since, again; he seemed to be happier and a tad bit calmer around him. Even though he just freaked out thinking he was Vecna, it wasn't his fault. He really thought Steve left, so he considers his reason to freak out valid.

"You bitch." Eddie swears under his breath, gripping Steve's hand as Robin pours some Carbon Dioxide on Eddie's battered arm.

"You're okay," Steve reassures, getting Eddie's attention. They stare into each other's eyes while Eddie's start to water, "Focus on squeezing my hand." Eddie did what he was told, gripping it until his knuckles turned white.

Robin snickers as she watches as they stare into each other's souls. Eddie's eyes filled with rage, but he seemed to be enjoying it as he smiled, and Steve's filled with defense, but he also seemed to be liking it. She finishes wrapping his arms and sits and watches as they don't even realize she's done.

"This is the fruitiest arm wrestle I have ever seen," Robin smirks, seeing them both whip their heads towards her, letting go of each other. They both look nervous, neither of them having anything to say, "This silence is killing me so one of you say something."

"We weren't arm wrestling." Eddie is quick to speak, and Steve is too.

"What does fruity mean?" Steve asks with genuine confusion painted on his face. Robin laughs, going weak as she nearly falls over when she stands.

"I am leaving that for you two to discuss. I'd rather be alive to know how this one goes," Robin says, waving around her hands as she opens the front door, "If I'm alive by tomorrow, I will be hunting you down." She smiles, winking at Steve as she walks outside, closing the door behind her.

Eddie notices the gesture and is somewhat angered. She keeps acting like she knows something about them, but then winks at Steve like she was with him or something, which brings Eddie to ask, "Are you dating her?" Steve's eyebrows furrow as he looks over at Eddie.

"Absolutely not," He chuckles, rolling his eyes, "Were just friends, no, best friends," He pauses, "Why does everyone think we're dating?" He asks, seeming to be clueless.

"Maybe because friends don't wink at each other." Eddie replies, standing whilst he smiles seeming a bit aggressive and stiff.

"Are you mad?" Steve stands as well, noticing Eddie's frustration. Eddie ignores him as he walks to the bathroom to collect his lighter, "Robin likes girls Eddie, and if it wasn't obvious, I am not a girl."

"You can't just walk around saying that," Eddie snaps, turning around to face Steve, "Not with this world we live in. So, if you don't want your precious Robin to get her ass beat, shut up." He says, walking past Steve as he clenches the lighter in his hand. Eddie collapses on his couch, sighing as he does so.

"I don't get why you're so upset." Steve says, following Eddie, as he stops, putting his hands on his hips.

"You don't need to," Eddie says, looking away from Steve and over at his rack filled with tapes. He grabs one labeled, "Even The Nights Are Better – Air Supply." And waves it around in Steve's direction, "Play this. It's your kind of music." Eddie rolls his eyes. Steve takes the tape and puts it in Eddie's player. The song starts as Steve sits next to Eddie whilst he lights a joint.