Boys Don't Cry - Steddie

Chapter 15

A few days later, Eddie found himself in the hospital waiting room, sitting next to Steve. He drummed his hands anxiously on the arm of his chair. Steve nudged him slightly with his elbow, trying to ease his anxieties about getting his stitches removed.

Eventually his name was called, which inevitably led to stares from nearly everyone in the room. Steve gave him an encouraging smile and two thumbs up as he followed the nurse out of the waiting room.

Getting the stitches out felt weird. He expected it to hurt, but all he got was a dull tugging sensation. And more bandages. Lots more bandages. Apparently the wounds were more likely to bleed or, as the doctor so delicately put it, split open now that the stitches were out. He got wrapped up like fine china before they sent him back out to Steve.

"Ready?" He asked, standing up as Eddie approached.

"Yeah, I hate being here."

Steve smiled and pointed at the bag in Eddie's hand, "At least you get a treat bag."

He smiled and held it up, shaking it in front of his face, "You jealous, Harrington?"

Steve scoffed and held the door open for Eddie, "Far from it."

"Are you saying you DON'T want my life supply of medical grade bandages?" Eddie pretended to take offense to Steve declining his bag.

"That's exactly what I'm saying."

The drive home was relatively quiet other than Steve's radio playing softly in the background. Eddie leaned his head against the window and watched as buildings and trees went by. Steve would glance at him every now and then. He knew. He could feel it, but he kept his eyes trained on the window. The silence was unusual for them, but somehow it wasn't uncomfortable.

When they got back to Steve's house, Eddie quickly made himself at home on the couch, sprawling out with a somewhat dissatisfied huff.

Steve walked over and looked down at him with his arms crossed like he was talking to one of the kids, "What's wrong?"

"Bored," he answered simply, looking up at Steve.

"Well what do you want to do?"

"I dunno... can't do much of anything really. I don't want to go out."

"You can't just hide for the rest of your life because of a few people staring at you, Eddie."

"You saw the trailer, Steve. If people get that pissed off about where I live imagine what'll happen if I pass the wrong person on the street."

"I'll be there with you-"

"That doesn't make me feel any better," he deadpanned.

Steve nudged him over to take a seat on the couch with him, "What do you do for fun that doesn't require going out?"

"Not much... play guitar, dnd, plan campaigns, read sometimes."

"You could play guitar?"

"She doesn't sound the same unplugged."

"What about reading?"

"I've been reading. I'm bored of reading."

"You're so picky," Steve teased, combing his fingers through Eddie's hair absentmindedly. "What about the... dnd."

Eddie just stared up at him blankly, "Was that a joke?"

"No?"

"You need people to play Dungeons and Dragons, Steve."

"Can't you plan your quest or whatever?"

"There's no point..." he sighed. "The Hellfire club is pretty much disbanded I'm pretty sure..." Eddie glanced up at Steve again, "Unless..."