Me neither. No more sunbathing in public pools, I guess.
[ It's a good attempt, and Steve would understand why Eddie tries to do that. After everything that had happened, Steve just piles one trauma over another and soldiers on. ]
Are you kidding? He never shuts up about you. It's always 'Eddie is so col, Eddie plays so well, Eddie has such pretty hair, Eddie, Eddie, Eddie...'. the kid adores you.
( Eddie stares at Steve's response and can't help but grin at that. He's glad that after everything, Henderson still likes him. He wouldn't have blamed Dustin for giving him the cold shoulder after nearly dying on him. )
He's still just as bad about you, you know. Of course, I get it now, too.
Why not? Not fond of sunlight or not into public pools? Because if it's the latter, I do have a private pool at home.
[ Dustin might have been mad at first, but it was all born of worry. He's a loud kid, both in voice and personality, and Steve knows that, but Dustin is also a softie at heart who just cares a lot for his friends. Of course, he still likes Eddie. ]
Uh huh, bit hard to believe after how much the little jerk enjoys sassing me on the regular. [ Then again, that's what little brothers do. Steve isn't even mad, so that's why he adds. ] The kid is as smart as they come, though, he will go to places.
Well I'm nothing special but I'm glad that you don't actively dislike me. I wouldn't be surprised if you did. [ He knows he was an asshole in the past, and even if he's trying to do better now, that doesn't immediately undo all his mistakes. ]
Cool, thanks. I'm putting my faith in your taste of music, Mundson.
And yes, I am. Usually the kids come and mess around, but this time it could just be the two of us. [Oh, that sounded better in his mind. Smoother, definitelly. And less awkward. Shit. How does he fix this?] I mean, if you want a more quiet evening. Dustin and the others always cause a ruckus when they are around.
[Nailed it. ]
Oh. That's great to know. Sometimes it feels like all people see me as is the idiot that King Steve used to be. So thanks, Eddie.
[ Steve is painfully self-aware of the kind of person he was once, and he's honestly trying to do better and amend past hurts. It's not easy to outrun his past self, though, and often it feels like most people will always see him as the worst version of himself, so knowing that Eddie never truly hated him is a relief.
He cares about Eddie's opinion a lot, maybe more than what's platonic in a friendship. ]
You better deliver then, now I have expectations. Musician hands, isn't it? I've been told you're very skilled with them too.
( He hasn’t heard about Barb, and that's probably for the best right now.
Just the two of us. Eddie is definitely losing his mind, there is no way Steve actually wants to spend time just one-on-one with him...usually their hangouts at least involve Robin, if not the kids. )
A quiet evening sounds nice. So long as the twerps don't hear about it, we should be able to avoid their inevitable crashing of said quiet evening.
( As it turns out, Eddie has been a tad hypocritical himself. It took making amends with Lucas to reconcile that part of himself who was so adamant that all sports were bad to recognize that so long as one didn't sacrifice that nerdy part, they could enjoy sports if they wanted. It helped Eddie see Steve in a new light, in the end. )
King Steve wouldn't have dove into the lake first. He also wouldn't have dragged my ass out of hell. You're not an idiot, you're probably one of the bravest people I know.
( He smiles at Steve's comment, shaking his head. Oh, the can of worms Steve has just unleashed. )
You think about my hands, huh? I could give you a demonstration, if you wanted.
That's great. It's a heated pool, too, just so you know.
[ Probably for the better. Steve hasn't forgotten Barb, he doesn't think he would ever do, even if he doesn't bring her up like Nancy might have done in the past. Like the rest of his traumatic experiences, Steve keeps that one locked up in a not-so-little box in the back of his mind.
And he loves the teens and Robin, and would quite literally die for them if need be, but even Steve needs a break from them from time to time. And also, yeah, he would like to get to know Eddie better without people getting in the way of whatever that leads to. He doesn't consider that the feeling might be mutual; Eddie might have only started to tolerate him because of their mutual friendship with Dustin, so he's pleasantly surprised by the other man's answer. ]
It could be doable, we just need to make sure they're at the arcade or somewhere similar where they won't miss us for an afternoon.
[ In fact, maybe he can ask Robin or Nancy to watch them and make sure they don't get in trouble, which would mean the adults also won't interrupt Eddie and him. Two birds, one stone, and all that.
It's not the first time Eddie reassures him that he's a better person now or brave, even if Steve doubts it often, but he doesn't know what to do with himself when someone actually compliments him because it happens so rarely...So yeah, he might be looking a little flustered all of a sudden because that smile Eddie shot in his direction is doing funny things to his stomach. ]
You were pretty badass and brave yourself, playing to distract the demobats and then going out to fight them off alone. [ Steve smiles back and then his brows knit together and he gives Eddie's shoulder a nudge. ] But you almost gave us a heart attack! We thought the demobats killed you, so don't pull that shit again.
[ He's not mad-mad, but he had been worried sick when his group had come back from Vecna's house to find Dusting freaking out over a heavily injured Eddie. And now, sometimes, he wanted to reach out and touch Eddie in some way to make sure the guy was still there, safe and alive.
When the implications of their back and forth and Eddie's subjective tone dawn on Steve, that previous fluster on his face turns into a proper blush. And what the shit, he's usually more put together than this. Steve opens his mouth, but when nothing immediately comes out, he closes it again and gives himself a moment to reboot his brain. Then he goes with; ]
Don't make offers you cannot carry out, Mundson. [ Steve says, his tone is casual, half flirting and half daring, and there's a small smile on his lips. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
tyvm for this
Date: 2024-09-30 02:02 am (UTC)( There's also Eddie's tattoo, which he's desperately trying to reclaim instead of associating it with the worst Spring Break of his life. )
Glad to see that little twerp still thinks so highly of me. I've got plenty of recs, maybe a mixtape might be in order?
No problem o7
Date: 2024-09-30 07:43 am (UTC)[ It's a good attempt, and Steve would understand why Eddie tries to do that. After everything that had happened, Steve just piles one trauma over another and soldiers on. ]
Are you kidding? He never shuts up about you. It's always 'Eddie is so col, Eddie plays so well, Eddie has such pretty hair, Eddie, Eddie, Eddie...'. the kid adores you.
If that's not too much trouble, I'd like that.
no subject
Date: 2024-09-30 08:49 pm (UTC)( Eddie stares at Steve's response and can't help but grin at that. He's glad that after everything, Henderson still likes him. He wouldn't have blamed Dustin for giving him the cold shoulder after nearly dying on him. )
He's still just as bad about you, you know. Of course, I get it now, too.
And it too much trouble. I like making mixtapes.
no subject
Date: 2024-09-30 09:02 pm (UTC)[ Dustin might have been mad at first, but it was all born of worry. He's a loud kid, both in voice and personality, and Steve knows that, but Dustin is also a softie at heart who just cares a lot for his friends. Of course, he still likes Eddie. ]
Uh huh, bit hard to believe after how much the little jerk enjoys sassing me on the regular. [ Then again, that's what little brothers do. Steve isn't even mad, so that's why he adds. ] The kid is as smart as they come, though, he will go to places.
Well I'm nothing special but I'm glad that you don't actively dislike me. I wouldn't be surprised if you did. [ He knows he was an asshole in the past, and even if he's trying to do better now, that doesn't immediately undo all his mistakes. ]
Cool, thanks. I'm putting my faith in your taste of music, Mundson.
no subject
Date: 2024-10-02 03:58 pm (UTC)( And once upon a time he had been envious of that pool. Now, though, it blows his mind that Steve is practically inviting him to use it. )
I mean, if you're offering, then yeah. I might take you up on that.
I never hated you or anything. I was cautious about you, yeah, because your friends were the worst, but I couldn't hate you even if I tried.
( That's the problem with high school crushes. They spring up on you when you least expect them. )
You've got nothing to worry about, Harrington, you're in good hands.
no subject
Date: 2024-10-02 04:40 pm (UTC)And yes, I am. Usually the kids come and mess around, but this time it could just be the two of us. [Oh, that sounded better in his mind. Smoother, definitelly. And less awkward. Shit. How does he fix this?] I mean, if you want a more quiet evening. Dustin and the others always cause a ruckus when they are around.
[Nailed it. ]
Oh. That's great to know. Sometimes it feels like all people see me as is the idiot that King Steve used to be. So thanks, Eddie.
[ Steve is painfully self-aware of the kind of person he was once, and he's honestly trying to do better and amend past hurts. It's not easy to outrun his past self, though, and often it feels like most people will always see him as the worst version of himself, so knowing that Eddie never truly hated him is a relief.
He cares about Eddie's opinion a lot, maybe more than what's platonic in a friendship. ]
You better deliver then, now I have expectations. Musician hands, isn't it? I've been told you're very skilled with them too.
no subject
Date: 2024-10-03 02:38 pm (UTC)( He hasn’t heard about Barb, and that's probably for the best right now.
Just the two of us. Eddie is definitely losing his mind, there is no way Steve actually wants to spend time just one-on-one with him...usually their hangouts at least involve Robin, if not the kids. )
A quiet evening sounds nice. So long as the twerps don't hear about it, we should be able to avoid their inevitable crashing of said quiet evening.
( As it turns out, Eddie has been a tad hypocritical himself. It took making amends with Lucas to reconcile that part of himself who was so adamant that all sports were bad to recognize that so long as one didn't sacrifice that nerdy part, they could enjoy sports if they wanted. It helped Eddie see Steve in a new light, in the end. )
King Steve wouldn't have dove into the lake first. He also wouldn't have dragged my ass out of hell. You're not an idiot, you're probably one of the bravest people I know.
( He smiles at Steve's comment, shaking his head. Oh, the can of worms Steve has just unleashed. )
You think about my hands, huh? I could give you a demonstration, if you wanted.
no subject
Date: 2024-10-03 03:19 pm (UTC)[ Probably for the better. Steve hasn't forgotten Barb, he doesn't think he would ever do, even if he doesn't bring her up like Nancy might have done in the past. Like the rest of his traumatic experiences, Steve keeps that one locked up in a not-so-little box in the back of his mind.
And he loves the teens and Robin, and would quite literally die for them if need be, but even Steve needs a break from them from time to time. And also, yeah, he would like to get to know Eddie better without people getting in the way of whatever that leads to. He doesn't consider that the feeling might be mutual; Eddie might have only started to tolerate him because of their mutual friendship with Dustin, so he's pleasantly surprised by the other man's answer. ]
It could be doable, we just need to make sure they're at the arcade or somewhere similar where they won't miss us for an afternoon.
[ In fact, maybe he can ask Robin or Nancy to watch them and make sure they don't get in trouble, which would mean the adults also won't interrupt Eddie and him. Two birds, one stone, and all that.
It's not the first time Eddie reassures him that he's a better person now or brave, even if Steve doubts it often, but he doesn't know what to do with himself when someone actually compliments him because it happens so rarely...So yeah, he might be looking a little flustered all of a sudden because that smile Eddie shot in his direction is doing funny things to his stomach. ]
You were pretty badass and brave yourself, playing to distract the demobats and then going out to fight them off alone. [ Steve smiles back and then his brows knit together and he gives Eddie's shoulder a nudge. ] But you almost gave us a heart attack! We thought the demobats killed you, so don't pull that shit again.
[ He's not mad-mad, but he had been worried sick when his group had come back from Vecna's house to find Dusting freaking out over a heavily injured Eddie. And now, sometimes, he wanted to reach out and touch Eddie in some way to make sure the guy was still there, safe and alive.
When the implications of their back and forth and Eddie's subjective tone dawn on Steve, that previous fluster on his face turns into a proper blush. And what the shit, he's usually more put together than this. Steve opens his mouth, but when nothing immediately comes out, he closes it again and gives himself a moment to reboot his brain. Then he goes with; ]
Don't make offers you cannot carry out, Mundson. [ Steve says, his tone is casual, half flirting and half daring, and there's a small smile on his lips. ]