[ At the sudden stop of the car, Eddie swivels back around to regard Steve with surprise. He isn't used to this level of caring from anyone in his life. Apart from maybe his uncle. ]
I haven't slept more than, like, three hours a night since everything happened. And, uh, no one will hire me even though my name's been cleared, so.
[ There's guilt etched all over his face, because he hates it, hates having to admit that he can't do this on his own as much as he wants to. ]
[ As Steve listens he realises he's been kind of a shitty friend. Fun hangouts for him have likely been a lifeline of contact for someone shunned by the entire town, traumatised and alone. And it's not like all of them don't have nightmares, sure, but it's worse for Eddie. Will. Max.
He glances through the back window of the car and restarts the engine after a moment's silence. Does a u-turn in the road, heading back to Eddie's place. ]
Whatever we can't fit in my car tonight we'll come back for tomorrow, okay? Let's grab what we can, [ a smile flicks Eddie's way, hopefully reassuring him he's not alone and that Steve isn't leaving him behind, not tonight or ever again, ] just don't forget your toothbrush. I only have one of those.
[ Eddie's mouth drops open, stunned as he realizes that Steve is being serious. He's never really felt truly welcome anywhere before. Wayne did his best, and he'll always love his uncle for taking him in, but it isn't the same when he feels like an afterthought.
But this? Eddie feels a warmth spreading from his chest to his fingertips. ]
We're really doing this. [ It's a bit delayed, but a grin slowly forms as he fiddles with one of his rings, eyes trained out the window as he watches the scenery bring them closer and closer to the trailer park once more. ] This is... thank you.
The house is too empty for just me, you'd be doing me a favour by moving in.
[ He doesn't know what else to say, overwhelmed by the idea of not just having Eddie around for the night, but apparently forever. It's not a bad nervousness, just ... thrilling. ]
There are a few guest rooms, you can take your pick. One's right next to mine, actually.
You sure your parents won't mind if I just...suddenly am living there?
[ Eddie can feel his heart racing at the thought of maybe finally feeling like he belongs somewhere. Even if it's just staying in on of Steve's bedrooms until he can find his footing.
Because he will feel like shit if he's just relying on Steve to keep him afloat for the rest of his life. ]
But if I do get the choice, I'd definitely choose the one next to yours.
They're never around, dude, trust me. I haven't seen them for like a year.
[ The older he gets, the more they travel. He doesn't care, Steve's parents have always been their own people and he's just his dad's heir, a technicality. ]
I get bad dreams too, gonna apologise in advance for any time I wake you up if we're sharing a wall.
[ He shrugs about his parents, blinking widely a moment later at the invitation to sleep next to Eddie. Mindful of the fact Eddie is being kind, Steve tries to straddle the line between grateful and testing the waters. ]
It's not like that would be a hardship.
[ His smile flickers, touching his eyes before he refocuses on the road. ]
[ Whatever Eddie's smile is at this point, it vanishes as Steve elaborates on the whereabouts about his parents. He knows all too well what absent parents are like, though maybe on a different sort of level. He knows he shouldn't be comparing himself to Steve, but he can't help it sometimes. He can't help wondering what it would have been like, to grow up with what Steve had.
Apparently not all that much differently, in the parental department. ]
Well I'm happy to, you know, make the place feel less empty, then.
[ And now the smile is back, lighting up his entire face. ]
You'd better not snore, though. And I can't promise I wouldn't hog the covers.
[ He keeps the tone light and playful, teasing, in the event Steve decides to walk this back, back into the safe confines of platonic with a capital P instead of whatever muddy waters Eddie seems to be steering them towards. ]
[ Steve smiles innocently at the road ahead like he might be telling the truth if it weren't for the twinkle in his eyes. He snores a little, light and soft when exhausted.
He pauses before catching a breath, adding, ]
Let's get you settled tonight and see how well you like it next door, if you get stressed out in the night [ the most casual of shrugs as he parks them right back in front of the trailer, glancing over, ] I have a big bed.
[ It's all too easy to slip into this banter with Steve. It doesn't even feel the least bit strained, which should probably feel weirder, but apparently bonding over shared trauma will do that to you.
As Steve parks in front of the trailer, Eddie looks over with an almost dazed expression, as if he never expected his life to lead to this moment, where he's about to become a much more permanent fixture in Steve's life. ]
That sounds like a plan I can get behind. [ A small grin forms as he starts to get out of the car before leaning back over to the driver's side, towards Steve. ] You ready to see how much of my shit we can cram into your car?
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no subject
I haven't slept more than, like, three hours a night since everything happened. And, uh, no one will hire me even though my name's been cleared, so.
[ There's guilt etched all over his face, because he hates it, hates having to admit that he can't do this on his own as much as he wants to. ]
no subject
He glances through the back window of the car and restarts the engine after a moment's silence. Does a u-turn in the road, heading back to Eddie's place. ]
Whatever we can't fit in my car tonight we'll come back for tomorrow, okay? Let's grab what we can, [ a smile flicks Eddie's way, hopefully reassuring him he's not alone and that Steve isn't leaving him behind, not tonight or ever again, ] just don't forget your toothbrush. I only have one of those.
no subject
But this? Eddie feels a warmth spreading from his chest to his fingertips. ]
We're really doing this. [ It's a bit delayed, but a grin slowly forms as he fiddles with one of his rings, eyes trained out the window as he watches the scenery bring them closer and closer to the trailer park once more. ] This is... thank you.
no subject
[ He doesn't know what else to say, overwhelmed by the idea of not just having Eddie around for the night, but apparently forever. It's not a bad nervousness, just ... thrilling. ]
There are a few guest rooms, you can take your pick. One's right next to mine, actually.
no subject
[ Eddie can feel his heart racing at the thought of maybe finally feeling like he belongs somewhere. Even if it's just staying in on of Steve's bedrooms until he can find his footing.
Because he will feel like shit if he's just relying on Steve to keep him afloat for the rest of his life. ]
But if I do get the choice, I'd definitely choose the one next to yours.
no subject
[ The older he gets, the more they travel. He doesn't care, Steve's parents have always been their own people and he's just his dad's heir, a technicality. ]
I get bad dreams too, gonna apologise in advance for any time I wake you up if we're sharing a wall.
no subject
[ He knew Steve's parents weren't around a lot, but he figured Steve at least saw them more frequently than that. ]
You know, if you get bad dreams, like. I don't mind being woken up. Or if it'd help having someone sleep next to you.
no subject
[ He shrugs about his parents, blinking widely a moment later at the invitation to sleep next to Eddie. Mindful of the fact Eddie is being kind, Steve tries to straddle the line between grateful and testing the waters. ]
It's not like that would be a hardship.
[ His smile flickers, touching his eyes before he refocuses on the road. ]
no subject
Apparently not all that much differently, in the parental department. ]
Well I'm happy to, you know, make the place feel less empty, then.
[ And now the smile is back, lighting up his entire face. ]
You'd better not snore, though. And I can't promise I wouldn't hog the covers.
[ He keeps the tone light and playful, teasing, in the event Steve decides to walk this back, back into the safe confines of platonic with a capital P instead of whatever muddy waters Eddie seems to be steering them towards. ]
no subject
[ Steve smiles innocently at the road ahead like he might be telling the truth if it weren't for the twinkle in his eyes. He snores a little, light and soft when exhausted.
He pauses before catching a breath, adding, ]
Let's get you settled tonight and see how well you like it next door, if you get stressed out in the night [ the most casual of shrugs as he parks them right back in front of the trailer, glancing over, ] I have a big bed.
no subject
As Steve parks in front of the trailer, Eddie looks over with an almost dazed expression, as if he never expected his life to lead to this moment, where he's about to become a much more permanent fixture in Steve's life. ]
That sounds like a plan I can get behind. [ A small grin forms as he starts to get out of the car before leaning back over to the driver's side, towards Steve. ] You ready to see how much of my shit we can cram into your car?