Runnin' with the Devil

Calm Joy

[940 words]
~
Eddie sat on the floor with your acoustic guitar in his lap. Steve stayed standing next to your bedroom door and Robin sat next you in the bed until you shuffled over and laid your head in her lap. Eddie didn't see this happen as he was focused on re-tuning your guitar, but once he did, he had an odd look on his face. He didn't say anything about it but you could tell something was up.

"Hey Eddie, play—"

"I'm not taking requests right now, Steve."

Steve looked taken aback by Eddie's tone. It was the same tone he had taken before, stern and quick. Yet, no one commented on it. Eddie then strummed a few chords before starting to play a slow tune that you didn't recognize. After a few moments, you realized that it was something that he had written himself. It was a little odd to hear such a slow, tender sounding song coming from him but you weren't complaining. You simply laid there and enjoyed it.

~

"It's late, I think we should go, but we'll be back tomorrow to check on you y/n."

Steve interjected after about 30 minutes of Eddie playing songs. You lifted your head from Robin's lap to allow her to get up. Once she slid off the bed, you grabbed a pillow and laid your head back down.

"I'll bring a couple more movies to watch if you're up for it."

Robin offered and you smiled in return. Steve allowed Robin to leave the room first and paused before he left.

"Eddie, how much longer do you plan on staying?"

"I'm staying here tonight."

"And y/n is okay with that?"

You shared a light chuckle with Steve before nodding and motioning for him to go ahead and leave.

"Thanks guys! See you tomorrow!"

You yelled after the pair as Steve shut your bedroom door. You heard some muffled yells back but couldn't make out what they said. You shrugged and relaxed into the bed, watching as Eddie stared down at the guitar in his lap. You watched him for a moment before his eyes shot up to you. He flashed a slight smirk before pulling in a deep breath to continue playing.

"Eddie, you don't have to keep playing if you don't want to. I think I'm okay now."

"One more song and then I'm done, promise."

"Alright then, let's hear it."

You smiled back at him as he began to play again. When he began to sing, you watched as his eyes slowly shut and his face contort a bit as he fell into the music. This simple sight brought a calm joy to you. A joy that made you unable to truly comprehend the words flowing from his mouth. The only thing you retained from the song was that he had made it specifically for you. It wasn't one of those songs that made blanket statements about who the artist is enamored by, it was much more than that.

~

As the song came to a close, Eddie opened his eyes again and they immediately landed on you. An odd smile appeared on his face and shot back a slightly confused look at this. He strummed the final chord and you took it as your cue to speak.

"What's that look for?"

"What look?"

"That look. The one you're pulling right now."

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Okay, sure."

Eddie shook his head and took the guitar from his lap, placing it on the floor next to him. His eyes never left you as he did this. His expression quickly softened and he cocked his head to the side.

"So, you wanna tell me about that dream you had?"

"Not really. I'd rather not think about it anymore tonight."

"Okay. That's fine. Whenever you're ready to talk about it just tell me."

"Thank you Eddie."

With that, he stood up and walked to the door. You sat up quickly and he snapped his attention back to you at the rustling sound your blankets made.

"Where are you going?"

"I was gonna go lay on the couch."

"Why?"

"Do you not want me to? You kinda freaked out when you woke up with me there last time."

"Never mind that, just get over here."

"Alright, if you say so."

You then laid your head back down as Eddie moved to your bed with that same odd smirk he had before. He slid in behind you and you rolled over to face him. The smirk had faded as he situated himself in the bed. You moved yourself closer to him after he laid an arm out across the pillow you had been using previously. He laid his other hand on your hip and gazed down at you.

"You gonna be okay?"

"I think so."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes Eddie, I'll be okay. Now stop worrying and relax."

"Whatever you say baby bat."

"You really like that nickname, don't you?"

"Only because you go red every time I say it."

"I do not—"

"Yes you do."

You rolled your eyes and laughed. You then shifted up a bit and planted a kiss on his cheek. After the quick peck you felt an odd sensation roll down your spine. Confusion raised on your face and Eddie cocked his brow at you with a smirk.

"You missed."

"What?"

"You missed."

He then leaned his head in a bit a kissed you. That same odd sensation returned but it was a lot stronger. Your confusion caused you to pull away from him quickly. He shot back his own confused look.