lets run and play together

Dustin, Will, Mike, Lucas, and Erica complain to Steve about it. They ask him to do something to get Eddie to change the date. Steve tells them it’s impossible to change Eddie’s mind, especially regarding Hellfire, but given their persistence, he agrees to try, though he makes no promises; if Eddie won’t listen to them, he certainly won’t listen to him.

That same evening, Eddie is at Steve’s place, in the living room, having taken over his table to map out his new Campaign. Eddie is focused on a document when Steve comes up behind him and leans forward, planting both hands flat on the table and boxing Eddie in. Steve inhales before whispering into Eddie’s ear, “You should move Hellfire”. Eddie is completely out of touch with reality, and the only thing he manages to say is, “Okay”. Steve smiles and whispers, “Good boy,” letting his lips graze the shell of Eddie’s ear before pulling away completely and returning to what he was doing. Eddie remains motionless, trying to steady his racing heart and make sense of exactly what just happened.

The next day, Eddie announces that he has decided to change the date of the next Campaign. He gives no details and answers no questions. He tells them they should simply consider themselves lucky that, in his great kindness, he listened to their whining and approved their request.

drafts

My very first les-stonathan drawing

He knows Steve only does it with him, too. He has witnessed him talking with Robin (his voice is high-pitched, brighter and either animated or exhasperated depending on the topic), has overheard him talking to Nancy (not that high-pitched with her, and softer), and has heard him talk to Dustin (a little more authoritative in tone, but not nearly as low-pitched). But when talking to Jonathan, he keeps dropping to this low, gravely tone of voice, that sometimes sounds like a mockery, sometimes sounds like a challenge.

Jonathan is incredibly bothered by it every time it happens. And once he noticed it once, he couldn't stop noticing it—it happens every time Steve talks to him, it's like it's an unconscious reflex at this point. Jonathan can't fucking stop thinking about it. What the fuck does Steve want, doing that? What, is he trying to prove that he even sounds more masculine than Jonathan? Is it not enough to have a better build, better face, better hair, better clothes? To have money, popularity, both parents, a house with a pool? He's even taller than Jonathan by a few inches—why does he need to make his voice lower, as well?

Jonathan didn't even know he was insecure about sounding masculine. He never thought about it before. But it has to be it, right? It has to be an insecurity. Otherwise why would he be thinking about the sound of Steve's voice all the time? Why would he be paying that much attention to every aspect of how Steve sounds like, and mentally cataloging it like it's his job? Why would he be so annoyed with it?

And then something changed. One day, they were working at the radio station as usual, and Steve used that damn voice again to talk to Jonathan.

Except it was directly in Jonathan's ear.

It was casual, too, they were just passing each other and Steve stopped Jonathan by putting a hand on his shoulder, saying something like "let me know if those boxes are too heavy for you." It was the usual, mocking and challenging tone of voice. But he had leaned his head towards Jonathan's, and the sound of Steve's low-pitched, almost gravely voice was so much closer than he was used to.

It sent a shiver down his spine. A very distinctly not fear-related shiver.

Jonathan glared at Steve's way-too-close face for a moment too long, jaw tight, before shaking off the hand on his shoulder. "I got it," he said as he walked off, not looking back. Looking back would only give Steve the satisfaction of knowing he rattled Jonathan; that's never going to happen.