Sober Up

my favorite color is you (you keep me young and that's how I wanna be)

Eddie guided Steve through the front door of his trailer, carefully leading him through. Steve looked exhausted, as if he had barely enough energy to stay upright, much less care about the exact direction he was walking in, which led to him bumping into quite a few doorframes before Eddie decided to just grab him by the arm and start leading him around. Almost immediately after they crossed the threshold, Eddie brought Steve to the couch and sat him down, telling him to stay there and not move while he got some blankets and water.

Steve, too tired to do anything but listen to Eddie and protest weakly, stayed right where he was, dreading the conversation that he knew was coming soon after they were both comfortable. He waited on the couch, surveying Eddie's living room and noticing how different it was from his own. His eyes caught on the pictures decorating the walls, showcasing Eddie's assorted achievements and triumphs. One in particular caught Steve's eye, in which a ten-year-old Eddie smiled widely at the camera, his face covered in dirt and sweat as he held up some sort of sports trophy, and Wayne ruffled his hair, still buzzed short.

Steve's chest ached as he imagined what it must be like to have a family that actually cares about you, even if it is just your uncle. He would've given anything, barring his friends, to have a real family that actually loved him. Before he could get too far down that path, his thoughts returned to the impending conversation with Eddie, and he began to wonder whether he could get away with saying that he was just feeling a bit under the weather and that he was actually completely fine.

Eddie walked in, interrupting Steve's train of thought while carrying blankets and bottles of water. He gently set the blankets down on top of Steve and handed him one of the water bottles, sitting down next to Steve and making himself comfortable.

"So, you wanna tell me what's been going on with you?" Eddie asked gently, trying to show Steve that he wasn't mad or upset, just that he was worried about him.

"Would you believe me if I said that I'm just sick?" Steve asked with a small smile that didn't reach his eyes. Eddie frowned, and Steve deflated, knowing that there was no way out of this conversation.

"Fine," Steve said, finally deciding to let all of his secrets out, and let someone else in.

"Has anyone ever told you about what happened at Starcourt mall last year?" Steve asked Eddie, pain creeping into his voice with each syllable.

"It burned down, right?" Eddie asked, trying to be sympathetic, but too confused to make it very convincing.

"There's... more to it than that," Steve said solemnly, and Eddie nodded.

"Do you want me to start at the beginning?" Steve questioned, and Eddie nodded once again. Steve took a deep breath, bracing himself for the full weight of the story that he was about to tell, and launches into the tale.

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"After that night..." Steve trailed off, unable to finish the rest of his sentence. His eyes started to fill with tears, and he choked back a sob.

Eddie moved his hand towards Steve's, letting him know that if he wanted to, he could grab it. Steve took the unspoken offer, and clutched Eddie's hand tightly, needing the comforting touch. Eddie took that as okay to touch Steve further, and he began to use his other hand to rub soothing circles into Steve's thigh, trying to ease his pain.

That one simple motion was the final straw for Steve, and he collapsed into Eddie's chest, finally letting himself cry for the first time in years (other than earlier that night), and hugging Eddie tightly, actually letting himself be vulnerable for once. Eddie tensed for a moment at the sudden movement, before hugging Steve in return and whispering comforting words into his ear, trying his best to soothe Steve.