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There was a new café near their place and Robin had insisted on visiting it on their day off.
Personally, Steve wasn't a fan of coffee. Years of working in customer service had soured his taste for it. And his current line of work didn't help cure his occupational trauma, either. These days, caffeine had become a means of survival rather than something enjoyable to his wired nervous system.
Of course, he wouldn't blame Robin for liking the beverage of depression. In her defense, her girlfriend, Chrissy, was a barista, and she had been conducting taste tests for the blonde long before they became an item.
It was sweet to watch his girls be happy and disgustingly in love with each other. And no, they never made him feel like a third wheel when they all hung out together. A thing that always left Steve secure with a knowledge of their love for him.
"You sure the coffee won't bother you?" Robin asked for the umpteenth time. "Because the café won't go anywhere and we can always visit it later when you feel up to it."
"She's right," Chrissy piped up. "Let's make grilled cheese and watch Love Island on the couch. Then, we'll nap and order pizzas for dinner."
Steve smiled fondly at his friends and squeezed their hands. Although their concern was warranted, he didn't feel like cooped up in their apartment all day. He might've had a tough shift last night that might've resulted in his bathroom episode and nonverbal morning, but a steaming cup of chai and some baked goods would make his day feel better.
I'm okay. He signed. Let's go on our date.
"Welcome to Hellfire. What can I do for you in this fine morning, ladies and gentleman?" A familiar baritone voice greeted them warmly and pulled Steve out of his reveries.
When he looked up, he felt the floor drop out beneath him and had to pinch his thigh to stop himself from making any inappropriate noises. The man standing behind the counter—Eddie—looked just like the last time they parted (tattooed, piercings, piping hot) except for the new lip ring and the shorter curls that were gathered in a low tiny ponytail.
Eddie crushed the barista's look, Steve decided. He was spotted in a black crewneck and matching jeans, the maroon apron with his name pin on it somehow accentuated his toned biceps and broad shoulders. He had big button eyes, Steve obsessively noted, they were dark brown like the coffee beans and brightened with recognition at the sight of him.
"Hey," Eddie said, plump lips curved up in a lazy smile. "Mind telling me your secret potion, pretty?"
Steve let out a squeak and felt his cheeks burn terribly. He felt strangely underdressed in his pink striped polo, khakis, and loafers. Eddie just looked so cool and hot that he struggled to keep himself from staring. Because staring was rude and he definitely didn't want to make a bad first (second?) impression.
Standing beside him, Robin squeezed his hand.
You good?
He squeezed back lightly and then shook her hand.
Good, but S.O.S!!!
Robin cleared her throat, doing her best to choke back her guffaw at his gay panic. Chrissy gave them both an amused look.
"Oh, he'd like a hot chai and three chocolate muffins, thanks," Robin said, which garnered her a brief confused look from Eddie before he plastered back on an easy smile.
"'Course, what else can I get you guys?"
When they settled at a table in the corner with their orders, Steve waited until Robin sat down next to him before sagging against her with a sigh.
"So who is he?" Chrissy asked from Robin's other side, half leaning across her lap to steal a muffin from his dish.
In return, Steve snatched her croissant to chew on it, shrugging.
"Don't tell me he's your Teddy?" Robin gasped quietly, and he raised his fist to cough behind it, felt both his cheeks and the ink on his lower back tinged with heat.
Steve could never be normal about anything. He knew this well enough, his friends knew this well enough, and his exes knew this intimately.
Case in point: Robin.
She was his platonic soulmate, bestest friend in the whole world, twin sister as she often joked with a tone that said she might as well be speaking with her heart nestled next to his.
Fortunately, she felt the same about him, matched his energy, his intensity, and his affection that used to chase other people away. She loved him as her own person, and he loved her as his own soul. They were a package deal that seemed uncommon in the eyes of their society.
His past relationships all boiled down to: me or her?
And his answer every single time was Robin.
Despite his failed love life, Steve always considered himself blessed and lucky. For one, he got to meet Robin and have her endless love and steady support in his life. He had gotten away from his parents and the miserable future written down for him since birth. Together with Robin, he had built a life of his own and—
Anyway, Steve had digressed.
It was common knowledge that he couldn't be normal about anything. Anyone who knew him could attest to that.
After one random night out many months ago, he had come home from the best sex of his life, and with a startling realization that he had lost his heart to the handsome man who had made him scream his throat hoarse.
But he didn't have his number, and when he went back to the bar many times after that, Eddie was never there and well, Steve could take a hint or two and knew when to stop.
So he had stopped searching for Eddie in the crowd and went on with his life and tried not to feel heartbroken about it.
In hindsight, getting drunk and making a rash decision to get a tramp stamp for his heartbreaker hadn't been a good coping mechanism, either.
"Teddy, Eddie," Robin muttered, munching on her bagel thoughtfully. "They rhyme, don't they?"
"You know what else does rhyme with Eddie?" Chrissy chimed in, the impish gleam in her eyes already told Steve what was about to come out of her mouth. He held up his hand.
Don't–
"D-A-D-D-Y," Chrissy whispered, giggling with Robin. Steve groaned.
"Too bad," Robin guffawed, voice still kept carefully low for his sake. "It's not daddy."
Chrissy perked up and turned her gaze to his beet-red face.
"Oh? Is it pa– Mm!"
A hand slapped over her mouth and it belonged to Robin who seemed just as astounded as Chrissy. Steve huffed, reminded Robin that they were twins and had perfected the art of projecting their thoughts and will onto each other.
"You two and your twin-ness," Chrissy bemoaned once Robin's hand lifted, as if she wasn't wearing a couple shirt with her girlfriend.
She took a long sip of her mocha, and Steve and Robin did the same with their drinks. He almost asked Robin to let him try her latte, but knew better than to tempt fate and consume caffeine when he wasn't in the mood for it. Not until he got back to his shift, at least.
Being an EMT always put Steve on edge. Sometimes the adrenaline was all he lived for, and yet, most of the time, he wished he could lie down and sleep for the rest of his life. His job was hectic and ran him down to his bones, but he would never dream of walking away from it.
It was just who he was fundamentally. He loved helping people, being needed, being useful, being good.
Spontaneously, a memory of Eddie calling him good girl in that sinful husky voice popped up in his brain and caused the subsided blush on his cheeks to burn hotly anew.
"Don't look, but he's looking at you," Robin murmured in his ear.
Steve, foolhardy, glanced up despite his best friend's advice and collided with a dark intense gaze that struck a jolt behind his solar plexus. He gulped with an audible click and averted his eyes, ducking his head like a demure maiden.
The rest of their morning went by in a blur. Steve spent most of it zoning out, stealing glances at a certain barista, nodding absently to whatever Robin and Chrissy were up to. Still, he tried to join them from time to time with anecdotes from his shifts, or complaining about Dustin's recent attempts to get him into DnD.
It wouldn't annoy him so much if the younger boy didn't keep gushing about how cool and funny and perfect the DM was. And sure, Steve felt bad that he hadn't bothered to remember the guy's name, but between his odd schedules and caffeinated brain, he had forgotten entirely about it.
Then again, every once in a while (every time they hung out on Saturday), Dustin would steadfastly tell him play by play about his DnD session and conveniently try to convince him that he and this DM guy (Dee? Jake? Frodo?) would be great friends if he deigned to drop by and sit in a session.
("Just this once, Steve. I swear you're gonna love it!")
It wasn't that Steve didn't want to humor Dustin and go see for himself what was so special about a nerdy tabletop game. He just didn't have the time, which sucked. Still, he couldn't just drop out for a fortnight when the manpower shortage was always a pressing issue in his field, could he?
"Or, you know," Chrissy said, "you can take one of your many unused day-offs and go have fun with Dustin for a change."
"Yeah, sometimes, taking a step back to recuperate is part of the job." Robin patted his back. "You were the one who told me this, by the way."
Steve rolled his eyes at her sassy tone and shook his head with a fond smile.
"Just think about it, okay?" Robin squeezed his shoulder lightly, clearly still worried about him behind all that lightheartedness.
Wrapping his arm around her, he pressed a kiss to her forehead and laced his hand with Chrissy's over her lap. Steve used to wish he had a sibling when he was a kid, and now he finally had two.
When they were about to leave, Eddie had approached them—or more specifically, Steve with a dark red thermos and a black takeaway box that had Hellfire's logo on them. The name and those distinct evil horns niggled at something in the back of his mind, but Steve dismissed it the instant Eddie stood before him.
"Here," Eddie said, slightly breathless, and pushed everything into Steve's hands. "For the road."
"Let me pay–"
"Nah, don't worry 'bout it." Eddie shook his head at Robin, then gave Steve a lopsided smile. "My treats. Just– Uh, just pay us another visit if they're up to your taste."
Steve opened his mouth to offer his thanks, but immediately remembered that he couldn't do it at the moment.
"It's nice to see you again, sweetheart," Eddie said kindly, his hand made an aborted movement that looked like he wanted to reach out and touch Steve, before he thought better and used it to sign instead.
See you later. Eddie threw him a wink before turning away to head back behind the counter.
Robin and Chrissy, thankfully, didn't say anything until they were back at their place.
"For the road!" Robin said.
"It's nice to see you again, sweetheart!" Chrissy said.
"Just pay me another visit if you wanna taste my love again!" They chorused, squealing on both sides of Steve as they clung to him.
He blushed and shoved them for the teasing, but a giddy smile still stretched on his lips. Gosh, what a man.
The next time he stopped by Hellfire was three days later. He had just gotten off his twenty-four-hour shift and was dead on his feet. As he trudged through the door, he was greeted by an empty café save for the staff who were in the process of cleaning up.
"We're closed," informed a redhead who walked past him with a mop.
"Oh," Steve breathed out and squinted down at his watch to check that— Yeah, it was late. Ten p.m. might be nothing to night owls like him, but it made perfect sense to be a coffee shop's closing time.
"Um, sorry," he mumbled under his breath and backpedaled. "Guess I'll visit later, then."
"Steve! Wait!"
Despite his sleep deprivation, his head still snapped up out of pure reflex at his name being called.
Eddie was holding a tote bag when he caught up to him by the door. Before Steve could second-guess himself, he held out his hands to accept it from the taller man. A glance inside revealed a thermos and a takeaway box just like last time.
"For the road, right?" He glanced up through his eyelashes, biting his lip.
"Ye– Yeah." Eddie smiled, almost bashful, and rubbed the back of his neck while gesturing at the bag in Steve's hands. "There's latte in the thermos and chocolate muffins in the box. They're ready for consumption, but you may want to heat 'em up once you get home."
"Thank you," Steve said softly when it appeared that Eddie was expecting a response, too sleep-deprived to be on his game. Maybe he should heed Robin and Chrissy's advice and take some time away from work.
Steve blinked back to reality when he felt something soft pressed on his forehead. He raised his hand to touch the tingling spot and looked up to meet Eddie's dark brown eyes, gentle and warm with affection.
"Sweet dreams, angel."
That night, Steve dreamed about the kisses Eddie had painted on every inch of him many months ago. The next morning, he woke up to the sweet memory of latte and chocolate muffins lingering on his tongue.
Steve remembered to carry the thermoses with him this time. Upon arriving, he found Eddie smoking on the wooden bench on the café's veranda. His apron was nowhere in sight, just his black Dio T-shirt, ripped jeans, and well-worn sneakers. Aside from Steve's blue polo, their outfits were almost identical.
Taking off his sunglasses, he sat down beside Eddie and balanced the tote bag on his lap with the thermoses clanking inside.
At three p.m., the sun had gone past its boiling point and the breeze was pleasant enough for a walk down the busy streets. Steve wouldn't say he was fond of going outside during this hour, but his little trip to Hellfire hadn't been as bad due to it being only two blocks away from the building he and the girls lived in.
The rush hour would return soon and Hellfire would be bustling with college students and white collars again, but until then, he could have Eddie to himself.
"How did you know I wanted to try the latte?" He asked in lieu of a greeting.
Exhaling white tendrils through his nostrils, Eddie snuffed out the cigarette in his astray pouch and pocketed it. Then he flashed Steve a smile, canines and dimples on full display.
"You kept glancing at your friend's–"
"She's Robin."
"–Robin's order with a look that said Ahh, I really wanna have a taste but I can't right now for some reasons."
Steve huffed out a laugh.
"Yeah," Eddie chucked, arm extending on the backrest behind Steve's shoulders. "Kinda cute, though."
"Kinda?" Steve raised a brow.
"It was very cute," Eddie amended quickly, "made me wanna eat you."
"Cannibalism is a crime," Steve pointed out, tone solemn despite the upward twitch on the corner of his mouth.
"Eh." Eddie shrugged lightly. "Unless you're a muffin."
"I'm a very big muffin." Steve crossed his arms over his chest, flexing his biceps a little and biting back a giggle when Eddie's eyes immediately cast on them. "You're gonna choke if you try to eat me."
"Worth it." Eddie suddenly leaned in to lick a stripe on his cheek.
"What the–" Steve yelped at the slimy saliva and pushed Eddie's face away, the man's laughter spilled between his fingers. He couldn't help his own giggles despite the gross noise he made when Eddie licked his palm as well. "Ew– What the fuck, man?"
Eddie's ringed hand curled around his wrist as the man mimed biting him.
"What d'you mean? I'm just eatin' my sweet little muffin."
Cheeks aflame, Steve glanced around briefly to see if they got an audience and felt relieved that none of the pedestrians paid attention to them. Yeah, that was New York for you.
Eventually, the humor receded and Steve felt his tummy swarming with buzzing bees at the charged tension between them. Eddie's breath turned scalding against his stinging skin, pupils blown so wide that the brown was reduced to a thin halo.
Steve licked his lips, took in a shuddery breath as those dark eyes tracked his movements.
"Hey, Eds," he whispered.
"Hmm?"
"Would your boss get mad at me if I steal you for an hour?"
Holding his gaze, Eddie pressed a heated kiss to his palm.
"Babygirl, I'm the boss."
Steve swallowed dryly, realized that he kind of had a thing for that. He felt the slow smile grow on Eddie's lips.
"And I don't think an hour will be enough, angel cheeks."
It was five p.m. when Steve got back to his shared apartment with Robin and Chrissy. He was just on time for their dinner prep.
Robin glanced up from the sizzling pan when he joined her and Chrissy in the kitchen.
"We still have– Wow, did you get maimed by something on your way home?"
Inexplicable heat crawled up his face and Steve slapped a hand on his bruised neck, didn't know where the shyness came from. It wasn't the first time the girls saw the aftermath of his escapades.
"Let me guess." Chrissy poked her head from Robin's other side. "It's Papa Bear's, isn't it?"
The mention of his tramp stamp made Steve pout.
"I haven't had a chance to show him that, yet."
Embarrassingly enough, they had spent two hours just making out and grinding on each other like teenagers. Steve wouldn't be so distracted if it didn't feel so good.
Worse, they had been caught by the same redhead whom Steve had seen the previous night—Max—in the breakroom when she came to hurry Eddie outside with the air of a tired minimum wage worker whose boss was playing hooky with a customer while their shop was fast approaching its rush hour.
All in all, Steve's mission of getting to know Eddie better had been half successful. He would've asked Eddie out after Hellfire was closed if he didn't have a midnight shift waiting for him.
"Poor baby." Robin reached up and patted his head sympathetically. "C'mon, go help us peel those potatoes. We're gonna have chili tonight."
Steve perked up at that and immediately moved to the sink where a basket of potatoes was sitting.
"We'll also have a peach cobbler," Chrissy sing-songed, "Grandma Buckley's recipe."
"One of these days, all three of us gotta get married," Steve said, grinning. "You guys can't keep going after my heart like this and refusing to be my partners for life."
"And break your teddy bear's heart?" Robin shared a conspiratorial look with Chrissy.
"He's not–" Steve spluttered, nearly dropped the peeler in his hand. "This has nothing to do with him at all!"
"Uh-huh, as if you wouldn't pull a Vegas the moment he says the L word," Robin quipped.
Steve made an indignant noise (definitely not a whine) in his throat, having no plausible comebacks for that because he had almost proposed on the spot half an hour ago when Eddie wrenched a mind-blowing orgasm out of him.
"C'mon, guys," he ended up whining as Robin and Chrissy sniggered.
The bell above the door chimed as they entered Hellfire. The place was less crowded during lunch period and Steve was mildly disappointed when he didn't see Eddie behind the counter. Robin rubbed soothing circles on the back of his hand with her thumb.
"Welcome to Hellfire, how can I help you?" A girl about Max's age with short brown curls greeted them warmly. Her name pin was decorated with colorful flowers and read Jane.
As Robin gave out their orders, he tuned out her voice and took in the shop properly. There were a couple of college students and regulars scattered around the place, they spent their lunch break chatting with each other, or on their laptops and phones in the corners.
The figurine display shelf had obtained some new ones, which Steve recalled vaguely had been on Dustin's wish list for months. When he settled down with Robin at a table near the counter, he kept glancing at the staff door that led to the breakroom every minute in hopes he would catch a glimpse of Eddie.
And he did see Eddie laughing with someone in there. The sound of his joy was carrying and contagious even when contained behind a door and some walls, and Steve just had to smile with him.
"You always have a soft spot for loudmouths, huh?" Robin nudged his side teasingly.
He lifted his mug to take a noisy sip of his latte. Over the brim of it, he wiggled his brow at her meaningfully.
She wiggled her brow back.
"Didn't say I'm not also one myself, babe."
He huffed quietly and rolled his eyes, but still held his hand up with his middle and fourth fingers folded. She mimicked him and knocked her hand against his. They giggled quietly at each other. Man, no wonder people always mistook them for a couple.
Not that they helped their case when they tended to live out of each other's closets and share literally everything together. Chrissy coming into the picture only gave them more options.
For instance, he had borrowed Robin's sage green cardigan and Chrissy's pastel sweater for comfort today. His only low effort contributions were the baggy jeans with neutral colored patches, white wool socks, and pastel crocs.
"What got you girls so giggly like that?"
Steve whipped his head up to find Eddie standing behind him. He bit the inside of his cheek, fighting hard not to climb Eddie like a tree no matter how delectable the man looked in that grey sleeveless shirt. But fucking hell. Those tattooed arms must be out for his blood because they had no business to look like that.
Like they could throw him around, choke him, bend him over, break him—
"Oh hey, Eddie," Robin said, waving at the man casually. "We were just talking about you."
That was it. Steve was going to reconsider his friendship with her.
Eddie flopped down into the chair on his other side and leaned right up against him, tickling his pink cheek with warm breath.
"Are we now?"
Steve glanced between Robin's shit eating grin and Eddie's cocky smirk, before nodding hesitantly. The sudden invasion of Eddie's body heat and smoky musk cologne evoked goosebumps on his skin. His nipples stiffened beneath his shirt and arousal licked at his tailbone.
"Missed you too, pretty," Eddie murmured with a quick peck on his cheek.
Steve squirmed, trying to stay on his best behavior when Eddie's arm draped around his shoulders as the man struck up a conversation with Robin.
Before he realized it, the tension had bled out of his body and a hazy fog had settled over his mind, making him feel slightly lightheaded. Steve was perfectly aware of what Eddie and Robin were saying, even offering his own opinions when asked, but with Eddie, he always felt lighter, floaty somehow.
All memories about the other night's stressful shift had been forgotten. In its place was Eddie's warmth and deep soothing voice, Robin's constant support and endless understanding.
Steve looked down at his lap where his hands were joined with his soulmates, romantic and platonic; and smiled softly.
Before they parted, Eddie gave him a tote bag to go. It was milk tea this time with his ever-favorite chocolate muffins.
"For the road," Eddie said, and then pressed a heated kiss to his ear. "And for my sweetest girl."
And yeah, Steve really needed to get a grip or he was going to drop on his knee and pull a Vegas just as Robin had predicted.
"Careful there, Teddy," he said, tugging a smirking Eddie closer by the chain around his neck. "If you keep this up, you should consider calling me your girlfriend soon."
As those big eyes widened imperceptibly, Steve didn't wait for an answer. He grabbed Robin's hand and got them both the fuck out of there before Eddie could come back to his senses and reject him.
Hopper had been quick to sign his request. Apparently, he indeed had so many unused day-offs that he could take a whole year of sabbatical from work and no one would make a noise about that.
Nevertheless, Steve only took a week off so he could recover from the burnout and finally tagged along with Dustin to one of his game nights.
"What's your nerd club called again?" He asked when the boy entered his bedroom and held up a black T-shirt with a big logo emblazoned on the front that read—
"Hellfire!" Dustin exclaimed, bouncing a little on his feet. "You're gonna love it, Steve! I know beneath all that jock veneer, you're as much a nerd as myself!"
"I'm still hot either way," Steve grumbled and snatched the shirt from Dustin who rolled his eyes at him. He swore all this attitude was the kid's fault and not learned from him like Robin kept saying.
"Really, Steven? Is that your only concern right now?"
After changing the shirts, Steve turned around to see Dustin standing with his hands on his hips. He automatically assumed the pose and maybe Robin was on to something about Dustin being his long-lost baby brother.
"My only concern right now is if this Hellfire place happens to be that new fantasy themed café across Byers' Record?"
As Dustin's face was split in a huge grin that looked kind of manic and a touch too familiar, Steve's only thought was Huh. So the DM guy's name is Eddie.
Steve still wasn't sure if he should just... turn up like this. It had been almost a week since he had dropped the bombshell on Eddie's lap and fled like a coward. After that day, he had used his odd schedule as an excuse to stop visiting Hellfire and seeing Eddie.
God, Steve missed him.
Although Robin and Chrissy had firmly stayed on his side, he knew how unfair all of this was to Eddie. He wasn't even sure he deserved to be Eddie's friend anymore.
What if he crossed some lines for coming when Eddie didn't expect him? What if Dustin hadn't told Eddie about him— What if Dustin had told Eddie about him and the man decided to hate him? What if Eddie didn't like jocks? What if he only liked Steve now and not the one Dustin had known for years? Maybe he had been right not to have exchanged numbers with Eddie—
"Steve, stop fretting," Dustin said.
"I'm not fretting!" Steve protested. "I'm just–"
"Overthinking about everything and planning to skedaddle the second I take my eyes off you!" Dustin threw up his hands dramatically. "God, Steve. You're worse than Mew and I'm speaking from experience!"
They had opted for walking to the café because obviously, it would be a waste of gas even if it was only a two-minute drive. It took them ten minutes on foot and honestly, what better excuse for Steve and Dustin to spend their superfluous energy on?
And thus, they walked. Steve was starting to regret his decision seeing as without his chauffeur duty, he got nothing to keep Dustin from pestering him.
"I'd never skedaddle," he said pointedly. "And before you start accusing me of fretting again, I was just wondering how you and this DM guy met? I didn't remember seeing him when I visited your campus last month, correct?"
"For the thousandth time, his name is Eddie," Dustin said, "and I didn't meet him in college. I came across him on Hellfire's YouTube channel–"
By the time they arrived at the café, Steve had managed to calm his nerves by listening to Dustin rambling away about DnD and Hellfire and one Eddie Munson.
Who lit up like a Christmas tree when catching Steve trailing inside after Dustin. The gang was all there, including Max and her girlfriend Jane, looking cozy in the loveseat. At the center of the shop, all the tables had been pushed together to create a long one that fitted everyone and their knick-knacks.
"Hi, I'm Steve." He smiled awkwardly and wiggled his fingers in a little wave when everyone looked up at him. After a pregnant pause, those who didn't know him nodded their acknowledgment and greeted him cordially enough, while those who knew him returned his wave.
Eddie was up and out of his seat before Steve could blink. Not a second later, he found himself gathered in those strong tattooed arms and his feet lifted off the floor as Eddie squeezed him in a bear hug.
"I've missed you, darlin'," Eddie said, pressing a tender kiss to his temple that made his breath hitch.
Steve wrapped his arms around Eddie's neck and clung on just as fiercely.
"Missed you, too, Daddy," he whispered, voice thick with emotion, hoping that Eddie could hear everything he wanted to say to him.
Eddie hummed under his breath and pressed another soft kiss to his forehead, then his eyelids, nose, and mouth. They would continue comforting each other with soft words and kisses if their bubble wasn't popped.
Someone cleared their throat behind Eddie and Steve finally remembered where he was. Blushing scarlet, he squirmed in Eddie's arms and tried not to look in Dustin's direction, knowing the younger boy would never let him live this down.
When Eddie set him back on his feet, the man still had an arm around his waist and turned to face the others with a winning smile.
"Everyone, this is my boyfriend, Steve!"
For a moment, no one knew what to say and neither did Steve. To be honest, after everything he had done, he didn't expect Eddie to still welcome him with open arms, let alone be totally down for being his boyfriend.
"Hey, that's unfair!" Dustin objected loudly. "I'm his brother! I should be the one introducing him first!"
And just like that, everyone was laughing. Steve sneaked a glance at Eddie and found the man already watching him.
"This okay?" Eddie asked quietly.
Perhaps, they should've discussed their relationship before making any announcements. Then again, as Steve gazed into those warm chocolate eyes, he had never been more sure in his life.
He leaned up to press a dopey smile on Eddie's stubbled chin, letting himself melt further in Eddie's arm.
"More than okay."
+1
Hellfire was still closed when Steve entered the café. And yet, behind the counter already stood Eddie, looking so fine in his trademark black tee and maroon apron that Steve momentarily forgot what he was here for.
"Welcome to Hellfire," Eddie greeted brightly, turning away from the coffee machine to look at Steve. "What can I do for you in this fine morning, beautiful traveler?"
Leaning an elbow on the lacquered wooden surface, Steve glanced up through his lashes.
"Hi, my boyfriend said your place serves some of the best drinks in this city. Can I have a hot chocolate and some muffins to go with it, please?"
"Of course." Eddie copied him and leaned an elbow on the counter, handsome face coming closer to his own. "Would you like any added flavors, sweetheart?"
Steve felt his cheeks flush under the other man's attentive gaze.
"May– be, a kiss on the side?" He mumbled around a large teary yawn and rubbed his eyes. Ugh, he really needed to get into bed now.
Warm, calloused fingers wrapped around his wrist and tugged his hand aside. Before he could react to it, plump lips already muffled his surprised noise with a chaste kiss.
"There," Eddie murmured, thumbing his bottom lip gently. "One kiss on the side for my beautiful traveler."
"Thank you," Steve said shyly, still feeling like a schoolgirl with her crush even after two years of dating this man. "How, uh, how much?"
"For you, pretty?" Eddie smiled, fond, and pecked the corner of his mouth softly. "It's always on the house."
Moments later, with a tray of his hot chocolate and muffins present before him, Steve had half a mind to climb over the counter and nestle in Eddie's loving arms. Instead, he reached out to grab Eddie's collar and yank him into a quick, filthy kiss that was all teeth and tongues.
When he drew back, Eddie made a confused noise and chased after him blindly with a dazed look, but he had danced out of Eddie's reach before the man could catch him.
"For the road." He winked and turned on his heel to head upstairs for their flat.
"Welcome home, brat!" Eddie yelled after him.
"Thank you, Papa Bear!"
"Be good, Steve!" Came Eddie's fond-strangled exasperation.
Steve giggled to himself. Yeah, he could be good. Very, very good.
++1
The restroom had become their favorite hangout spot recently.
Ostensibly, Eddie didn't want his precious smoke break to be interrupted by those ankle-biters, to which Max, Jane, Dustin, and Erica had objected vehemently. In reality, Eddie was allergic to even a feeble possibility of anyone walking in on him and Steve and seeing what they got up to.
"Fuck, you're beautiful," Eddie groaned, hips stuttering to a halt and fingers digging bruises into his soft waist.
"Gunna make a mess," Steve mumbled deliriously as abundant warmth flooded his inner walls, nails scratching uselessly on the bathroom's tiled wall for purchase.
A feverish, open-mouthed kiss was pressed on his nape.
"Can't help it, babygirl," Eddie murmured against his flushed sweaty skin. "We're tryin', remember? Gotta do it right so it will catch."
Steve arched his back further and clenched around the pulsing length inside him. Sharp teeth clamped down on the juncture of his shoulder and neck, no doubt marking him with the same incisions littered all over his chest and inner thighs.
His eyes rolled back, mouth slack with high-pitched mewls and saliva. He convulsed in another orgasm, overstimulated, as Eddie was still coming and coming and—
He hiccuped, reaching down to lace his hand with Eddie's broader one that was stroking his full belly.
Things had gotten worse (or better depending on who was asked) ever since he moved in with Eddie. The second Eddie saw his tramp stamp, there wasn't a day he wouldn't randomly get bent over the nearest flat surfaces so Eddie could yank his pants down to look.
In a matter of three days, the man had gone from just looking to just touching and then to straight up railing him stupid any given opportunities.
If Steve had a womb, he would've already gotten knocked up the first night they stumbled into bed together. Still, the lack of equipment didn't discourage Eddie one bit. If anything, the man had taken that as a challenge to be conquered and grow more competitive as days went by.
Even a busy café didn't prevent Eddie from trying to impregnate him. A couple of smoke breaks were all it took for Eddie to pump him full and dripping.
"Squeeze," Eddie instructed lowly after pulling out. Steve complied with a whimper. He felt so slutty standing there on his wobbly legs as Eddie pulled up his panties and shorts for him, ignoring the absolute mess that was trickling down the back of his thighs.
Before they exited the restroom, Eddie reeled him into a heated kiss that got his spent dick drooling and twitching valiantly. He whined, arms coming up to loop around Eddie's broad shoulders.
"I know, doll," Eddie murmured against his lips, big hands a hot brand on his waist and lower back. "We're gonna close soon. I'll see you later in bed, okay?"
"Mhm." Steve gave a small nod.
"Good girl." Eddie pressed another kiss on his pouting mouth. "Now go take a rest. You can shower, but don't wash your little cunt." A light pinch on his ass. "That's mine to take care of."
Steve nodded again, blushing hotly at Eddie's crudeness.
After kissing him breathless once more, Eddie finally let him go.
Steve didn't know how he had managed to clean up, change into his pjs, and tuck himself in; but as he let his droopy eyes flutter close, he knew Daddy would be there when he woke up and love him.