To Hell and Back Again

Chapter Thirty-Three

Steve stood silently on the back porch, the cold air hitting his cheeks. He pulled his hands into his sleeves, covering them so they didn't get chapped from the cold. A quiet chirp came from one of the trees, a birds head poking out through the leaves. Steve smiled. He liked to think about what he'd do if he was a bird. He'd definitely build a nice ass nest. He sniffed the air, the smell of cold and leaves filled his senses. A slight bonfire smell accented the air. Steve felt a hand on his shoulder, he turned to see Eddie. He was shirtless, the cold making him shiver. "Hey." He said quietly, his eyes barely open from just waking up. Steve unzipped his jacket.
"Come here." Steve looped his finger in one of Eddie's belt loops and pulled him forward. He stood in front of Steve as Steve wrapped his jacket around Eddie, holding him to his chest. "Happy birthday." Steve whispered into his ear, resting his chin on Eddie's shoulder. His voice was almost seductive, making Eddie melt a bit. Eddie frowned at the thought of his birthday. Every single year on his birthday something bad happens. He wasn't looking forward to this year's mishap. Eddie leaned his back against Steve's chest.
"I don't want to do anything big today. I'm sorry." Eddie turned to Steve, pulling out of his jacket. Steve nodded and placed his hands on the sides of Eddie's face. His thumb caressed Eddie's jawline.
"I have a night planned, just the two of us. We can see Wayne tomorrow." Steve rubbed his thumb against Eddie's cheek. Eddie smiled and leaned his head against Steve's chest. He felt a heavy weight in his stomach. Something was going to happen, he knew it. Whether it was today or tomorrow, something was going to go wrong. Eddie felt Steve kiss the top of his head. He wrapped his arms around Steve's waist and held him, not wanting to let go. He looked up to Steve. "Look at this bird." Steve turned Eddie around, holding him in his jacket like he was before. A small grey bird was perched on a bare tree branch. "She hasn't migrated yet." Steve pointed to the branch where the bird was, a nest was perched in the tree a couple branches up. "Her eggs just hatched and she doesn't want to leave them. So she's staying in the cold." Steve smiled at the small bird, higher than they could ever go.
"Why are you so interested in birds?" Eddie turned, a huge smile on his face.
"Well-"
"Your nose." Eddie backed away a bit to see Steve's nose was bleeding.
"Oh fuck. I'm sorry." Steve opened the back door, disappearing into the downstairs bathroom. The water started running as Eddie followed.
"Is it just nose bleeds? No dreams or clocks, right?" Eddie watched Steve splash water onto his face. His eyes met Steve's in the mirror.
"No." Steve grabbed the hand towel hanging next to the mirror, wiping off his face. "Not recently."
"Not recently?" Eddie leaned against the door frame. "So it's happened before? Why didn't you tell me, Steve?"
"Once. I had one dream that- no. We aren't doing this today." Steve grabbed Eddie's shoulders and shook him lightly. "Not on your birthday." Steve patted the side of Eddie's face then pushed past him. Eddie blinked a couple times. He turned to face where Steve was and furrowed his eyebrows.
"Are you going to make me breakfast?" Eddie watched as Steve walked into the kitchen. He shook his head,
"It's one. You slept past breakfast." Steve watched as Eddie pulled himself towards the kitchen. The broken coffee table still resided in the center of Steve's living room, the leg snapped off but propped under it to hold it up. "I can make you lunch?" Steve opened the fridge, scanning the shelves.
"No, it's alright." Eddie leaned against the counter. Steve's eyes met Eddie's.
"You have to eat." Steve tilted his head, making sad eyes towards Eddie.
"I'm not hungry." Eddie returned the look. He shifted around. The house was cold, leaving Eddie with goosebumps on his arms.
"Hey, would you run out to the garage and get me my dad's tool box? I'm gonna try and fix that table." Steve slid his jacket off his shoulders, handing it to Eddie. Eddie beamed and took the jacket, sliding it on. It was a tad too big for him but he wasn't going to complain. It even smelled like Steve, a faint scent of cologne and cigarettes. Eddie walked towards the front door, taking one last glimpse of Steve before he walked outside. Steve was standing over the stove, a buttered cheese sandwich in the pan. Eddie slid outside, making his way over to the garage door. He lifted the door. Inside was a large box, wrapped in black and gold wrapping paper, a large bow on top to top it all off. Eddie approached the box, a small card rested on the top.
Happy Birthday, Ed
Love, Steve
Eddie smiled at the card. "There's no toolbox." Eddie heard from behind him. He turned to see Steve standing with a grilled cheese, a candle stuck in the top. Eddie laughed a little as Steve used a match to light the candle. "Do you want me to sing happy birthday?" Eddie nodded excitedly as Steve handed him the grilled cheese. Steve took a deep breath, "Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday to Eddie, happy birthday to you." Eddie smiled softly, blowing out the candle.
"A grilled cheese? Really?" Eddie took Steve's hand in his, holding the plate in the other. The grilled cheese was burnt, almost black.
"I will eat it if you don't want it." Steve joked as he took the plate and set it down on a work bench his dad had left. "Did you make a wish?" Steve put his hands on Eddie's cheeks, slightly pushing his cheeks together. Eddie nodded through Steve's hands.
"My grilled cheese is burnt."
"Oh shut up." Steve pulled Eddie's lips to his. Eddie gave in to the kiss, his hands holding onto Steve's waist. Eddie smiled through the kiss. Maybe this birthday wouldn't be a bad one after all. "Are you going to open your present?" Steve pulled away from the kiss for a brief second. Eddie nodded, refusing to let go of Steve. Steve wiggled a bit as Eddie's lips traveled down to his neck.
"Are you sure you're not my birthday present?" Eddie's hand slid under the back of Steve's shirt.
"You have me every day of the year and I'm getting anxious for you to see what I got you." Although, Eddie didn't care about whatever expensive thing Steve had gotten him. He didn't care about the material objects. He wanted Steve. "You're gonna love it, come on." Steve wiggled out of Eddie's arms. Eddie let out a soft sigh. He turned around, Steve peering over his shoulder as he took the lid off the wrapped box.
"No." Eddie was shocked. He turned, his eyes practically glimmering at what he saw. Steve bounced up and down with excitement.
"Do you like it?" Steve was ready to squeal at how excited he was. Some would say Steve was way more excited than Eddie.
"A warlock?" Eddie carefully lifted the guitar out of the box. His fingers ran across the blood red guitar. He was infatuated with it. "Steve, you shouldn't have." He couldn't even imagine how much it cost, let alone how on earth Steve got his hands on a BC Rich Warlock.
"Do you like it?" Steve asked again, hoping for the answer he wanted. Eddie couldn't pull his eyes away from the guitar.
"Are you kidding me? I think I like it more than you." Eddie beamed towards Steve. He set down the guitar back in the box. "I love you, Stevie." Eddie wrapped his arms around Steve's neck. He left several pecks on Steve's lips.
"Are you gonna play me something?" Steve pushed Eddie's hair behind his ear, revealing his huge smile more.
"Maybe." Eddie glanced towards the guitar. "I'm scared to play it. It's sick."
"Well it's yours. So you should play it." Steve cleared his throat. His smile twice as big as Eddie's. "Write me a song." Steve whispered into Eddie's ear. His eyes got wide.
"I couldn't write something good enough for you." Eddie's heart felt like it was melting. There was no possible way to thank Steve for the guitar. His heart felt all fluttery every time he tried. Eddie turned to Steve, his heart racing.