stolen kisses • steddie

26.

26.

As Steve started to come to, he heard a very faint beeping sound and a few muffled voices speaking softly. He turned his head and slowly opened his eyes as the one voice seemed to go away, and was met with a loving gaze from Eddie.

"Thank god you're awake," Eddie wrapped Steve in a gentle hug and let out a sigh. "I'm so sorry."

"For what, Eds?" Steve mumbled, squinting at the bright hospital lights that seemed to be shining directly in his eyes.

"For letting them do this to you," Eddie cupped Steve's face and pressed a small kiss to his lips.

"This isn't your fault, Eddie. They're assholes who have it out for us, and there was nothing that could've been done to prevent them attacking me," Steve spoke softly, he still felt weak and was in a good amount of pain and Eddie could tell.

"Don't strain yourself to talk. It's okay. We don't have to talk. I'm just glad you're okay," Eddie wrapped Steve in a gentle hug again, and Steve hugged him back. He couldn't move all that much but wanted to show his appreciation for Eddie.

"Hey, Eds?" Steve said quietly in a somewhat worried tone.

"What's wrong?"

"I can't hear you all that well," Steve gave Eddie a worried look. "Say something to me, in this ear."

Eddie leaned over and spoke softly into Steve's right ear, leaning back and looking to Steve for a response. Steve's expression dropped when he realized he didn't hear a single thing Eddie said. Eddie noticed this and reached for Steve's hand, holding it tightly. "Fuck."

"Everything's kind of muffled in this ear too," Steve pointed at his left ear, letting out a sigh and glancing over at Eddie, who was on the verge of tears.

"I'm so sorry," Eddie shook his head, holding Steve's hand tightly. "I didn't mean for this to happen."

"This isn't your fault, my love. I promise you. Please don't beat yourself up for it," Steve held Eddie's hand tightly with both of his hands, and pressed a kiss to the back of Eddie's hand. "I'll just have to learn to read lips and maybe learn sign language. Robin might know some."

"I'm here for you, whatever you need," Eddie nodded, pulling his hand away from Steve's when there was a knock at the door.

Chief Hopper came in again, happy to see that Steve was awake. "Hi, again, boys. How are you feeling, Harrington?"

"Not great, but getting better, I guess," Steve shrugged, slightly confused as to why Hopper was here.

"I just came to ask a few questions, if you're up for it," Hopper sat down in a chair a few feet away from Eddie. "It's about what happened tonight."

Steve nodded. "You'll just have to talk a little bit louder, I guess I'm technically hard of hearing now."

"I can imagine, with how many fights you've been in, boy," Hopper leaned back in his chair slightly. "What exactly happened tonight?"

"Well, I had just gotten back to Eddie's trailer after work, and there was a knock at the door. I was staying there because of issues with my parents, and not a lot of people knew that. I went to go open the door and I was immediately put into a headlock," Steve explained, wincing as he felt a migraine coming on. "Jason and three other Hawkins High basketball players attacked me. One held a knife to my throat, one held me down, and the other two punched and kicked me until I was too weak to fight back."

"And it was Jason Carver for sure?" Hopper leaned forward in the chair.

"I'm one hundred percent sure," Steve ran a hand through his hair, giving Eddie a short glance before facing Hopper again. "I remembered the one who held the knife to my throat, that was Andy. The other two I didn't recognize."