Beds and Rings || Steddie ||

15 ~ Maybe this time I'd have a hero (Part 2)

[CW! This chapter contains: Shouting, mention of guns/gunshots- stay safe and enjoy!]

STEVE'S POV
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Eddie smiles at me. And he smiles like he's about to cry. I couldn't stand it anymore. He was just so perfect, and he was right in front of me, just sitting there. I mean, how could a man as perfect as he was just sit there? I fidgeted with the new ring on my finger, his favourite ring. And still he just sat there, smiling, staring.

I took a breath.
"Eddie, I- there's something I need to tell you," I push the words out of me. My heart is beating faster then I can think and my stomach is churning but I can't figure out if it's good or bad. Have I been reading this wrong? Is this all a mistake? Should I have waited longer to tell him, or ignore the feelings? Or would that only make me lose him completely?

It's too late now, though. I said it. The words are out there. Right now, it would be harder to lie than it would be to tell the truth.

The sentence catches him off guard. His gaze breaks and I can see his eyes moving, anxious to read my face. He looks almost, concerned, though, as if he thinks I'm about to reveal to him 'Surprise! It's actually me! Vecna!'

"What? What's wrong?" He asks.

"No. No, nothing," I shake my head, "nothing's wrong." I add before I chicken out. He gives in reply a single confused look, so I try again. I remember this morning with Robin, me trying so hard to push the words out, her comforting me. Maybe, if I just try. Maybe it will be ok.

"Eddie I- I wanted to say... Thanks," I push, I try, I have to do this, "...for the ring. It um, means a lot. And for what you said about it. I wanted you to know that I think about you a lot, too. Especially lately. And, um, I guess what I'm trying to say is-"

But I don't finish my sentence because he grabs me and kisses me. It feels strong, and powerful, and everything I had wanted since I had met him. I melt into the kiss, his hands on my face and mine on his. And the kiss feels electric and I never want it to end.

He tastes exactly how the T-shirt he gave me had smelt. He tasted addictive.

EDDIE'S POV
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I just kissed Steve Harrington. The Steve Harrington. Every teenage girls dream, right?

I pulled him in and I kissed him. I didn't let go until I was out of breath. When I pull away his eyes are wide and his face is red.

"Woah. Eddie-" He begins but I stop him, dread swelling up inside my heart because the last time I did this it didn't go well. The last time I did this I became The Freak.

"I- shit I'm sorry. I just thought..." My voice trails off and I choke up.

"No! Eddie, I really like you. A lot. And I'm happy you kissed me," he says, grinning like an idiot. He cups my face with his hand and kisses me again, as if to prove that he actually does like me.

I bury my face in his shoulder and laugh. What the fuck even is my life? We sit there like that for a while, partly in disbelief, partly because it's dark now and where would we go? Steve is telling me about his encounter with Robin this morning, and I'm laughing, and we're sitting there being idiots together when the building is doused with light for two seconds and falls into darkness again.

I freeze. Who was there?

I didn't need an answer to know exactly who.

Jason fucking Carver. Because of course. Because even after ruining my life he won't rest until he's taken every last bit of power from me.

Steve is the first to stand but I pull him down.

"Don't stand, he'll see you," I whisper. I barely recognise my own voice. I sound terrified.

"MUNSON! HEY, I KNOW YOU'RE IN THERE." Jason yells, banging on the door with a pistol. From the sound of it he's alone, but I've learned he's more powerful when nobody's around. "JUST COME OUT HERE AND WE CAN HAVE A NICE FRIENDLY CHAT..."

I can feel subconscious tears run down my face, and I see steve look back at me, worried. He unscrews a metal pipe from behind him that was once part of a shelf and takes my hand.

"I'm going out there, Eddie," he says sternly. It's not a question, but I protest anyway.

"No. Please, don't leave. I can't lose you. Not now," I beg.

He pulls me in for another kiss, but this time I push all my might into it. It's more passionate now, more desperate. He doesn't know what Jason is capable of. He has a gun, for god's sake. If he gets hurt, then it's my fault. Chrissy was bad enough, but this? Chrissy was a friend, I didn't know her that well but... Steve? I don't know if I could live with myself.

Steve pulls away hesitantly and smiles, A sad smile.
"I won't get hurt. I promise. Besides, I'm your Dizzt, right? The hero."

I laugh and nod and watch as he makes his way to the entrance of the store, pipe in hand. I can't watch, I don't want to. After a few minutes their voices get louder.

Then I hear a gunshot.