clusterfuckcentral

“You aren’t coming with me?” Eddie asked, frowning when Steve took his place on the driver's side. 

Steve shut the door behind him, smiling at him through the window, “She thinks it’s best to talk separately.” 

The traitor even waved as Eddie started to march into the woods, happy to leave him to his fate. It was deserved, admittedly, but it didn’t help the heavy pit growing in Eddie’s stomach.

It didn’t take long to find her. She was waiting on the first bench around, her head resting in her hands while her elbows rested on the table. She had a thermos next to her, with two half drunken cups, both on her side of the table. He could see Steve here in his mind’s eye, nervous and fidgety while prepared for the lecture of his life. Only to be met with hot chocolate and complete understanding. 

Eddie had a suspicion that he wouldn’t be getting the same treatment. 

“I’m surprised you showed,” She said, narrowing her eyes as he got closer.

“Well y’know…” Eddie trailed off, sitting down across from her, “The whole love thing.”

“Is that what you’re calling it now?” She asked, flicking at one of the handles of the cups in front of her. 

Eddie’s eye twitched at the comment but he didn’t take the bait. He wasn’t here to fight. At least not so soon, “That’s what I’ve always called it.” 

“Funny,” Robin said, “That’s not how I remember it.”

She didn’t offer more than that, opting to stare right at him instead. More than happy to sit in the thick tension. Eddie rapped his hands against the table, nervous and annoyed. All while trying his damndest not to show it. 

He was starting to think that she got off on making people sweat.

“Kinda feels like I’m getting fired,” He tried eventually, giving her an awkward smile, “Is that what this is?”

“I wish,” Robin mumbled, letting her glare do most of the talking. It had to be some kind of talent to look so hateful, “For some reason, he thinks your dumb shit is reasonable. But I sure as fuck don’t.”

“Understandable.”

“I don’t like you,” She went on, barely acknowledging that he had spoken, “I don’t trust you. And I wish you had stayed gone.”

“I’m not my biggest fan either,” Eddie admitted, sitting up a little straighter. He stared right back at her, “But I’m not going anywhere.”

“Up until you have another gay panic,” Robin said, rolling her eyes, “Then you’ll be running for the hills.”

Eddie folded his hands in front of him, reminding himself that he didn’t have a leg to stand on when it came to biting back. Besides, he had already won. This was just clean up in the broader picture of their love story.

So why couldn’t he stop fucking shaking? 

“Robin,” He said, miraculously steady despite the effect she had on him, “I’d be running to him. I know I fucked up. I know I’m an asshole. I know you hate me. But none of that means I’m going anywhere.”

“That’s easy to say when you don’t have to pick him up after,” She snapped, genuine hurt coloring every word, “I trusted you to take care of him. I won’t make that mistake again. I’m definitely not looking forward to a year from now. Though I am prepared to sneak him into my dorm room when you eventually ditch him for some random bitch.”

Eddie flinched, torn between being pissed at the accusation and horrified at the image, “I would never do that!”

“But you did!” Robin sniped, “And now he’s going to live with you? In a city he barely knows with a manwhore? Yeah, I’m sure that will work out.”

“Of course it will!” Eddie yelled back, completely cracking under the pressure of the conversation. He stood up, sick with a mix of guilt, fear, and conviction, “I’m not some mindless horndog waiting to, fuck, just screw over the man I love? For what? Pussy? I’m not that fucking shallow!”

“Then why’d you do it in the first place?” Robin asked, oddly calm despite her previous harshness. 

Eddie was too lost to see it, slapping his hands against the table, "Because I was a fucking idiot! Trust me, I know. But I’m not going to give up on the best thing that ever happened to me when I know I can be better!”

“So you aren’t going to fuck this up again?” Robin pressed, “You’re just going to go from oppressive dick head to his guardian angel overnight?”

“I’ll be his damn dog if he wants me too!” Eddie said, rapidly losing his righteous steam. He slumped back down on the bench, mumbling under his breath, “I’d rather die than fuck this up again.”

Eddie’s eye twitched, but he nodded. Clenching his teeth while Steve walked away. Vaguely wondering in the back of his mind if he should have just kidnapped him. He rapped his fingers against the wheel as he waited for him to come back, growing more impatient with every second.

What was there to even talk about? They were together, Eddie was done being a stupid dick, the end. Why did she have to be so involved? 

Maybe because you’re a creepy pervert who just happened to get lucky. 

Eddie groaned at the thought, rubbing his forehead while a headache came on. So what if he a creep? For some godforsaken reason Steve was into it. And vice versa.

Even thinking about him deleting those messages made Eddie shiver pleasantly. They were perfect for each other. She couldn’t get in the way of that.

Right? 

He closed his eyes, deciding he would keep this particular monologue to himself. If Robin wanted him to snivel and beg at her feet, fuck it. He’d do it. Whatever kept the peace and had Steve happy with him was what Eddie would do. 

He was in the middle of swallowing back every single bit of pride he had when Steve came back into view. Practically skipping back to the car. He looked far too pleased for someone who should have gotten his ass chewed out.

Eddie stared at him, a little bit of optimism peaking through his own nerves came at the sight of him. Steve smiled at him, leaning into the driver’s side window. He didn’t waste anytime, “She’s not mad!”

“She’s not?” Eddie asked, shocked at the very idea. 

“Well, she’s not mad at me,” Steve said happily, “She understands my side of things completely. Yours? I don’t know. But at least we’re fine.”

“Pretty…” Eddie mumbled, tracing a finger over his work. He looked back to Steve’s face, pleased at how heavily he was breathing. He pressed himself closer, grinning when he felt an erection pressing against his thigh. He kissed him one more time, lingering a hair’s breadth away.

“You have no idea,” Eddie murmured, “How much I’ve missed you.”

Steve nodded dumbly, his eyes half lidded as he rushed to agree, “Me too. So much.”

Eddie dropped to his knees, clutching at the fabric of Steve’s jeans as he stared up at him. 

“Can I?” He asked, completely incapable of hiding the desperation in his voice. 

Steve put a hand over his mouth as he nodded, like it was surprising that Eddie was borderline begging to suck his dick. If he wasn’t so desperate he’d roll his eyes. It was hardly out of character for him. 

The yes was all he needed before he was fumbling to tear off his belt. He ripped Steve’ jeans down, clumsily going for his underwear next. Steve’s hands fumbled for his shoulders, resting on them lightly as he let out a shaky breath. Eddie licked his lips as he stared, taking it all in. Blood was rushing to Steve’s cock, giving Eddie the pleasure of seeing him harden in real time. His thighs were already shaking, his body melting under Eddie’s hands.

He was tempted to start where he should, especially when he saw the wetness already glistening at the tip. But Eddie couldn’t help himself. He buried his face into the crease of his thigh like the lech he was, breathing him in with a shaky sigh. Eddie’s eyes fluttered shut, drunk on the scent he wished he could bottle up. 

He let his mouth fall open, tasting him there for good measure. Enjoying every bit of saltiness he could get his tongue on. He fucking loved it. His own cock kicked in his jeans, straining against the fabric while Steve shivered above him. 

A part of him still couldn’t even believe that he was here. From misery to magic. It made Eddie want to savor everything. To do everything in his power to make Steve fully regret the past two weeks. 

He let his mouth wander, happy to ignore the tense hands clutching at him while he sloppily kissed at every inch of skin available to him. But he avoided his cock, more than happy to watch it twitch and leak while he made him wait.

“I-I thought you were making things up to me,” Steve whined, his hips shaking while Eddie let out an ecstatic laugh at his feet, “It’s starting to feel like a punishment.”

“Not punishment,” Eddie signed, nuzzling against his thigh. He looked up at him from under his lashes, grinning, “Is it a crime to admire you?”

“How bad?”

Eddie didn’t look up, “Real bad.”

Eddie nearly cringed when Wayne patted his back, too comforting for his liking, “I’m sorry kiddo. But it happens-”

“It’s not happening,” Eddie interrupted. He sat up a little straighter, finally looking at him. He hated how concerned he seemed, like the fight was already over, “He isn’t getting rid of me that easy.”

Wayne shook his head at him, “I think that sounded better in your head, son. You can’t force the kid to hear you out.”

Yes. I can.

Eddie didn’t regret the instant thought, no matter how grossly possessive it was. He adored Steve. Letting him go without a bigger fight would just be stupid. They were talking about soulmate shit here for God’s sake. He refused to give that up just because he… he momentarily lost his mind a few months ago. 

Eddie groaned, rubbing a hand over his face while another wave of guilt washed over him. He needed to shave. And shower. Sleep probably wouldn’t have been a bad idea either. But all Eddie could do was obsess. 

Wayne sighed at his silence, “Sometimes you gotta just let people go, Eddie.”

“When they want to let go, maybe,” Eddie huffed, crossing his arms over his chest. Aware enough despite his deficiencies to be offended at the very idea, “But that’s not what’s going on here.”

“Then what is?” Wayne asked.

Eddie frowned, realizing that he didn’t want to tell him. It was too stupid, too humiliating to spread around. Plus, it wasn’t going to matter. Not in the long run. 

“He still loves me,” Eddie settled on, eyes trained down to his lap, “But he’s stubborn. For good reason. I’m an asshole. It’s just not enough to be the end. I can make up for it.”

“You sure about that?” He could hear the concern in Wayne’s voice shifting. Morphing into something less worried about his nephew’s potential heartbreak and more so about his seemingly oncoming mental breakdown, “I’m not going to let you torture that boy if he don't want you.”

Eddie cringed at the calm, sharp words. He couldn’t exactly blame him. It was obvious that he’d been dumped. His fuck up seemingly too big. The “right” thing to do would have been to lick his wounds and move on. Acknowledge that it was over and stop there. But Eddie didn’t give a shit about hypothetical rightness. He only cared about getting his boyfriend back. If Steve wanted things to be over, he'd need to say it to Eddie's face. Otherwise, he simply refused to accept it. 

“I’m not going to force anything,” He said carefully, “But he needs to know the truth before he makes a choice. I just happen to know what choice he’s going to make afterward.”

Eddie didn’t look back up at Wayne, too afraid at what he’d see. He could feel him shaking his head. But he didn’t fight him on it. Wayne sighed, giving him one more pat on the back before standing. 

He walked away, stopping at his the entryway to his room, his hand resting on the door frame before he turned to say, “I hope you’re right.”

“I am,” Eddie said, automatic. An unnatural confidence that couldn’t help but seep out of his mouth, “Don’t worry about it. He’ll be back before the end of the week.”

It wasn’t enough to satisfy Wayne. He paused, prompting him, “And…?”

“And I won’t fuck up again,” Eddie mumbled, chastised but sincere, “He’ll never have another reason to leave.”

Wayne sighed but left it at that, abandoning him to his thoughts.

Eddie didn’t care how stupid he sounded, he still believed it. He was going to make himself believe it. He was going to get Steve back, no matter what it took.

He was his.