ic inbox.

[heatmetal]

[ his voicemail greeting is just a guitar riff ]

Comments

[retromix]

Jeez, of course you did.

[ Traitor! ]

Yeah, we uhhh. Tommy wrote a slur across the movie theater's titleboard and then when Nance and Jonathan came running into the backalley they found us all there. I was furious because I'd seen them in her bedroom the night before when I wanted to surprise her with a late-night visit. Long story short, Jonathan beat my face in.

Me and the others were sitting around on my car, Tommy got me a coke for my swelling eye, and they started talking about how they were going to get Jonathan back. I remember thinking That's so goddamn stupid, you started this. You painted the sign! I let you! Jonathan had every right to beat me up. It wasn't like I suddenly gained some perspective out of nowhere, I just got tired of all the pretending.

Anyway, I almost got beaten up by Tommy so I left. He shouted after me to run ... because up until that point, it was all I ever did.

[heatmetal]

[ ... Ah.

That last line hits a little too close to home. Eddie pulls his hand free from the carrier. ]

That's the hardest part, though. Breaking character and figuring out who you are underneath all the layers of other people's bullshit.

[retromix]

You're not wrong, it breaks your entire world down around you. Shit's scary as hell.

[ Oh, look! They're at the vets courtesy of satnav. Steve parks and unbuckles, leaning over to steal a quick kiss. ]

Let's go get your pussy checked out.

[ Steve's eyes almost twinkle with innocence as he leaves the car. ]

[heatmetal]

[ Eddie barks a laugh, rolling out of his seat with the carrier. ]

How long were you sitting in that one?

[ he'd like to hold hands obnoxiously but also: these need to be washed in case he picked something up from the critters. And while he doesn't give a shit, he remembers Steve's impression of Lady Macbeth post bone touching
So Once they're inside he's gonna lather his hands up with antiseptic hand wash ]

[retromix]

Longer than I'll ever admit.

[ Kitty gets the best treatment, Steve's mother hen mode turns on at the front desk as he describes where it came from, the state of the other cats, all that shit. He leaves his details so he can be contacted once the cat gets the all-clear while Eddie is busy disinfecting his hands. One of the veterinary attendants comes back out of the check-up room to let them know the kitten is very small and needs to kept overnight for observation, especially with all the medication he needs, and Steve's arm immediately slips around Eddie's waist. ]

That's good though, they can keep an eye on him while he's getting stronger. We can pick him up tomorrow.

[heatmetal]

[ there's a touch of disappointment that's quickly chased away by Steve's warmth, leaning in to nose obnoxiously at his cheek. ]

Guess we get one last night all to ourselves...

[ there's an audience and hes smart enough to not push it further. ]

[retromix]

[ Steve rubs a hand up and down Eddie's back, dropping a kiss on his temple before nodding to the door. ]

This must be how it feels when people have a baby. [ He laughs, slightly surprised by his own realisation. ] He's our little nugget.

[heatmetal]

[ ... Huh. Eddie strolls to the door, clicks his tongue. ]

You say that like we don't have four of them waiting for us at home.

[retromix]

Yeah, but this one's ours. You gave birth to him in a parking lot.

[ Laughing, he tosses his head back. ]

[heatmetal]

[ Eddie cackles, bumping hips with him and pulling him close. ]

While you sat in the car and listened to music! Thought you were a modern man, Harrington!

[retromix]

I just led you to him, the rest is your business.

[ Steve's laughter bubbles up louder. ]

[heatmetal]

I carried him for nine whole minutes and this is the support I get.

[ shaking his head dramatically]

[retromix]

He's gonna have to get a job tomorrow. Pull his weight.

[ Just before they split up at the car he gives Eddie's ass a smack to send him to the passenger side. ]

[heatmetal]

[ Eddie gasps, scandalized as he sits down, batting those big brown eyes ]

Green light, Stevie.

[retromix]

[ Pointing to his own eyes then Eddie's. ]

You put those away while I'm driving.

[heatmetal]

Mmm, I would but I'm fresh out of blindfolds.

[retromix]

There's at least one in your back pocket that I know of.

[ The sassiest glance down at Eddie's ass before Steve pulls them out of park. ]

[heatmetal]

Babe, I stopped wearing that when we started dating.

[ .... Though it is still folded in there in case he needs to mop up sweat. ]

[retromix]

[ What??? Steve looks surprised. ]

I thought you kept it tucked in there.

[heatmetal]

[ .... ]

I should've known you've been staring at my ass enough to call that bluff.

[retromix]

No, I just ... I mean, yeah.

[ He does stare a lot, never has a newly out bisexual been thirstier. ]

I thought you still wore it hanging out sometimes though. Like I was just missing those times whenever I looked? But you're not.

[ Steve's confusion softens, touched. How does he keep being surprised by every little thoughtful gesture? ]

Thanks, man.

[heatmetal]

I'd be pretty stupid to go cruising when I've got you, wouldn't I?

[ he raises his eyebrows. ]

I'm all in. But if we break up I'm taking Dustin and the cat. You can keep Sinclair, Red and Wheeler.

[retromix]

[ Why is that so touching? Maybe because it feels like a touchstone, some kind of stable reference point in their relationship? He never had that with Nancy. One day she loved him, the next she didn't; he was stupid enough to spew his idle daydreams that included her and for all her long gazes, her soft words, she couldn't wait to kiss Jonathan once they were reunited.

The paranoid voice in the back of his head that's been insisting he's going to lose Eddie somehow, to someone, is mollified by the simple fact Eddie doesn't wear his dumb bandana in his back pocket anymore.

Steve swallows, nodding. Yeah, it would be stupid to cruise while he's here! So ... stupid.

He glances sideways. ]

Guess we'd better not get divorced then, that'd get ugly.

[heatmetal]

Oh, I know. [ Eddie grins. ] Actually, scratch that. I'd want Mad Max too. We can trade Dustin off on weekends.

[retromix]

[ It feels like sunshine warms his chest from the inside-out. ]

He'd escape to visit me anyway, you know he would.