Steve is a heavy sleeper. The only time he's easy to wake up is when he's already on high alert- sometimes from everyday stress but usually because of the Upside Down. But if he goes to sleep feeling safe, content, it's near impossible to wake him before he's ready to wake up.
Eddie finds this out the hard way.
He wakes up with Steve wrapped tight around him, half on top of him, it's such a lovely change. Especially because of the nightmares. Nightmares that, with Steve beside him, he hadn't had.
But Steve won't move, no matter how much Eddie tries to wake him up. He quickly stops trying to be gentle, shaking him a little too hard.
Steve grumbles, snuggling closer, holding on a little tighter.
"For fucks sake," Eddie hisses. "Come on, Steve, I need to piss. Hey. Steve! Come on, man!"
Eddie eventually shoves Steve onto his back, jumping onto his feet. He almost winces, almost feels guilty for being too rough- but Steve turns back over, curls into the spot Eddie abandoned, still not waking up.
Steve has the nerve, later that morning when he finally wakes up, to look annoyed.
"How long have you been up?"
Eddie squints at the clock. "Like, half an hour? Ish?"
Steve grumbles, tucking himself into Eddies side, arms curling around his waist. "You could've stayed in bed."
It's too early for Eddie to really process that, files it away for later. It'd just ruin the moment anyway, and it's a nice moment. Steve tucks his face into Eddies nice, pressed so tight it feels like he wants to crawl under Eddies skin and stay there.
That should be a gross mental image, Eddie realizes. But he kind of likes the idea. Keeping Steve hidden away, happy and safe, where nothing can hurt him again...
It's nice, Eddie decides. As smothering as it is, knowing Steve feels safe enough to sleep so deeply, it's nice.
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