sp1dyb0y1008

Rain patters against the window in your chambers; cold wind throwing a chill into the room and making your bones ache.

It’s late. The tapestried curtains on your four poster bed are open just enough to let moonlight seep through and cover you.

Remnants of a fire lay slowly dying in the hearth, and the scent of woodsmoke and medicinal herbs cast a blanket over the room. The chill was beginning to hurt.

With all your resolution, you wrestled your exhausted and pain laden frame to the edge of the mattress.

In your haste and fatigue, you were less than careful about how you stood up- still not fully used to the idea of having to think about it at all.

As you stand, there’s an audible pop. The bed post creaks under your weight as you catch yourself from falling. Your knee fully dislocates; and though you’ve become accustomed to pain- this one hurts.

At this hour, there’s not many roaming the halls of the castle to hear your cry.

Eddie hears it. He’s attuned to it.

He knows all your sounds, though some more than others have him lying awake at night. It can’t be helped- his room is adjacent to yours for your own protection. He is your loyal servant in all things, and his devotion to you is unspoken and palpable.

Bolting upright, Eddie barely manages to throw on his breeches and night shirt before clambering to your door.

The old wood groans as Eddie knocks, tentatively so as not to alarm you.

‘Your highness, are you hurt?’

You’re almost embarrassed.

‘Can I- is there anything I can do to help?’

Oh, how you resented asking for assistance. Alas, you could hardly stay upright, and your heart rate began creeping up.

Suddenly, the floor started to seem particularly appealing; in the sense that you were heading straight for it.

For a few moments, your vision blurs and darkens and in the next breath, there’s a pair of strong arms around your middle, steadying you.

The touch is respectful - reverent, even. A spark fizzes across your skin and erupts in goosebumps.

Eddie places you back on the edge of the bed, soft silk sheets folding around your form.

‘My apologies- I didn’t mean to wake you.’ Your voice soft and self flagellating, gaze pointed at the floor.

He doesn’t know what on earth possesses him. He knows it’s forbidden, it’s above his station- but he can’t help it.

Eddie cups your chin, thumb grazing so slightly over your cheek you could almost miss it. That is, if you weren’t hyper aware of his skin on yours.

He lifts your gaze to his, eyes full of kindness and infinite affection.

‘Your life is my life, highness.’

Silence lingers a moment, charged but oddly comfortable. The hint of a smile puts you at ease as his hand slips from your face.

‘What can I do?’

Rain turns to hail and begins to pound against the glass panes of the window. The thrumming in your heart dances along with it.

‘Can you- help me put my knee back in place?’

He blushes. Gods above, you can see it.

Eddie knows you’re in pain. His primary instinct is to rid you of it- but his deepest urges still surface.

To touch you there. That valley of skin between your thighs. To feel the softness, the warmth.

To trail his fingers up, and up until-

No. He can’t think of it.

You shudder almost imperceptibly as he kneels and his large hands bracket the joint of your knee.

His touch is determined but careful, and you can’t help but notice how he searches your face for any signs of discomfort.

He lowers his voice to almost a whisper,

‘Did you hear that Countess Lovenia’s Knight uses a sword made of cheese?’

The remark is spontaneous and utterly nonsense and leaves you with a puzzled expression. For a split second you weigh the possibility of such a thing.

‘A what?’

‘A sword made of cheese. I heard it was extra sharp.’

A beat of silence.

His eyes are glittered with mirth, a wolfish grin spreading across his face.

It’s ridiculous. It’s so incredibly childish, and you cannot help but begin to giggle.

His laughter mingles with yours, and he takes the opportunity of distraction to gently shift your joint back into place.

It hurts, but somehow it doesn’t matter as much. You could take all the pain in the world if it meant he could touch you.

You let out a little noise of discomfort before composing yourself, and more importantly, remembering yourself.

Eddie’s palm burns into the side of your thigh, just above your knee. He takes a moment to massage the soft flesh there, to ease the tension, before he, too, remembered himself.

His touch leaves yours.

‘Is there anything else I could do?’ He asks.

‘Perhaps, if it’s no trouble-‘

‘None at all.’

Gods, your heart aches.

‘Perhaps then you might relight the fire?’

He nods, dutifully, and stands.

Eddie makes quick work of the fire; a skill no doubt mastered through necessity.

Warmth bleeds back into the room, though even without it you could have run a fever by now.

As he makes for the door to leave you to your privacy, he turns his head over his shoulder. The outline of his prominent, aquiline nose is so breathtaking it quickens your pulse.

‘Anything you would ask of me, highness, I would do. My sword is yours….’ He pauses. ‘As am I.’

Then he’s gone, and you’re left to a crackling fire, and the softening patter of rain.

Potentially interested parties(?)

@justsheerfilth1

@thecreelhouse @urhoneycombwitch @tomtomslongdong @thornsnvultures

and i am thinking about being in a chokehold in a sexual manner. LOL.

nancy and robin had been ganging up on you all week. every time you saw them—between classes or hunched over a table in the library—one of them would bring it up. friday night. the bar.

"you’re coming! no excuses!"

and every time, you found a way out.

the excuses piled up, and you knew they saw right through them. but what were you supposed to say?

"oh sorry, i can't. i’ve been spending every friday night smuggling my boyfriend through my dorm window after curfew, praying the institution doesn't catch us tangled up in my sheets by morning!"

that wasn't exactly conversation material.

still, you could feel eddie watching you across the cafeteria table when nancy brought it up again—her arms crossed, robin chiming in with that sharp, persuasive grin. you gave them the usual shrug. they exchanged a look and dropped it, but eddie didn't.

later, in your dorm room, he cornered you about it.

his voice was quieter than you expected. careful. he said he'd noticed. said he knew you were skipping things you might actually want to do, and that if it was because of him—because of your friday nights together—he didn't want to be the reason you were missing out.

"i’m not going anywhere," he told you, thumb tracing lazy circles on your knee. "you can go out with your friends. i’ll still be here when you get back."

you waved him off. told him bars were loud and sticky and full of people you didn't care to talk to. shrugged like it was nothing, ‘cause to you it was.

he just rolled his eyes, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.

"you’re so stubborn." he muttered, but there was no bite in it. just fond exasperation, like he'd long since accepted that you were the most stubborn person he'd ever met—and somehow, annoyingly, he loved you anyway.

the library was your last stand.

you were buried in a stack of notes when nancy slid into the seat across from you. robin followed, dropping her bag on the floor with a theatrical sigh.

"you’re coming tonight," nancy said. no question. no room to wiggle.

you opened your mouth for once of your famous excuses, but robin cut you off before you could even get the words out.

"don’t even think about it. i saw your syllabus. you don't have anything due until next wednesday."

nancy leaned forward, her voice softening. "we miss you. and i know you and eddie have your thing on fridays, but... you can have both, you know. friends and a boyfriend."

you looked between them—nancy’s earnest, steady gaze, robin’s raised eyebrow waiting for another excuse that wouldn't work.

"fine," you breathed out. "fine. i’ll go."

robin pumped her fist. nancy smiled, small and relieved.

"finally!"

when you pushed open the door to your dorm room, eddie was sprawled across your bed. one arm was tucked behind his head, the other holding a battered paperback he wasn't really reading. his eyes found you the second you walked in.

"what’s that look for?" he asked, closing the book and setting it aside.

"i’m going out tonight," you said, crossing to your closet. "with nancy and robin."

he blinked. then a slow grin spread across his face. "no shit. they finally wore you down?"

"don’t look so pleased."

"i’m very pleased." he propped himself up on his elbows, watching as you rifled through hangers. "you deserve to have fun, sweetheart. go get drunk. do a bad shot. dance like a dork."

you shot him a look over your shoulder. "i don't dance."

"you will after three cheap beers."

you pulled out a black dress—something you rarely wore, a little lower-cut than your usual rotation. eddie went quiet as you changed, not bothering to hide the fact that he was watching. you could feel his eyes on you as you sat down at your tiny desk mirror, digging through a makeup bag that had seen better days.

he didn't say anything while you did your eyeliner. didn’t say anything while you brushed a little color onto your cheeks. but when you stood up and reached for a pair of silver hoops, sliding the first one through your ear, you heard him shift on the bed.

a low, appreciative whistle cut through the quiet.

"jesus, sweetheart." his voice was rough, almost reverent. "come here. i gotta tell you somethin'."

he crooked his fingers, beckoning you closer with that lazy, wolfish grin that always made your stomach flip.

you felt heat creep up your neck, but you held your ground, fumbling with the second earring as you giggled. "no! you're gonna make me late."

"i know i’m gonna make you late." he sat up fully now, swinging his legs over the edge of the bed. "that’s kind of the point."

you finally got the second hoop in and turned to face him, hands on your hips. "eddie."

he held his hands up in mock surrender, chuckling low in his throat. "i know, i know. i’m just playing with you." his eyes slowly traveled over you once more, like he was memorizing the sight. when they met yours again, the teasing had softened into something warmer. something sincere.

"but really." his voice dropped. "you look beautiful."

you felt your cheeks go pink. "yeah?"

"yeah." he stood up, crossed the room in two steps, and tucked a strand of hair behind your ear—gentle, careful, like you were something precious. "they’re lucky to have you tonight. but i’m luckier, 'cause i get you back when it's over."

you bit your lip, fighting a smile. "you gonna be okay when you get back to your apartment alone?"

"please." he snorted, stepping back toward the bed and flopping onto it dramatically. "i’ve got my guitar, i’ve got my cigarettes, and i’ve got a six-pack in the mini-fridge. i’ll be living the dream."

he winked at you. "go have fun. call me if the drinks are shit."

you grabbed your purse, paused at the door, and looked back at him—all messy hair and warm eyes, stretched out on your bed.

"i will," you said softly.

and for once, you were actually looking forward to the night.

the three of you slipped out of the dorm like thieves, giggling while you slipped into the cool night air. bu the time you reached the bar—a dim, sticky-floored place called the rusty nail that robin swore had "character"—you'd already nearly tripped over a curb and laughed so hard your ribs ached.

robin shook her head as she took in the sight of you in your dress, grabbing your arm and pulling you toward the door. "eddie is so lucky. so, so lucky. i hope he knows it."

"he knows it," you said, and the thought made you smile a little wider.

inside, the bar was everything a college dive should be—dim lighting, sticky tables, the smell of stale beer and cheap perfume. a jukebox warbled in the corner, and a handful of people were scattered across the bar stools and booths. the three of you claimed a high-top near the back, close enough to the little stage area where a microphone stand sat waiting, flanked by a pair of speakers that had definitely seen better days.

nancy ordered the first round—three shots of something amber and a pitcher of beer—and by the time the second round came around, you were all loose and loud and happy in the way only a friday night with your people could make you.

"so," nancy said, swirling the last of her drink, "i’m taking a break. a real one. no dating, no 'talking,' none of it. i’m done."

robin nodded. "for how long?"

"at least until midterms." nancy shrugged. "i keep getting distracted. and i'm tired of feeling like my brain is split in half—half for school, half for whatever guy is currently being an idiot."

"hell yeah," you said, raising your glass. "to being your own priority."

nancy clinked her glass against yours.

robin groaned, dropping her head onto the table. "well, i went on a date with this girl from my psych class. she seemed great. funny, smart, nice smile. we went to that coffee shop on fourth street."

"and?"

"and she spent forty-five minutes talking about her cat." robin lifted her head, looking traumatized. "forty-five. minutes. i know everything about that cat. i know its favorite brand of wet food. i know its sleep schedule. i know that it once got its head stuck in a pringles can."

you burst out laughing, nearly choking on your drink. "that’s not that bad—"

"no, i mean—i like cats. i do! but i went on a date with her, not her goddamn cat."

"did you tell her that?"

robin gave you a flat look. "i told her i had to go home and do some laundry."

nancy wiped a tear from her eye. "that’s such bullshit.”

"it worked, though."

the three of you dissolved into laughter, the kind that made your stomach hurt and your face ache. the pitcher ran dry, and nancy signaled for another round.

as the night stretched on, the little stage at the front of the bar came alive. a guy with a guitar climbed up and played a few covers—nothing special, but the small crowd that had gathered cheered anyway. you knew eddie would’ve played better. still, a couple of girls followed, doing a slightly off-key duet.

robin nudged you, a glint in her eye. "you know... there's a microphone up there."

you scoffed, shaking your head even as a smile tugged at your lips. "no way. absolutely not. i’m not getting up there."

"chicken," nancy sing-songed.

"drunk," you shot back, pointing at her. "you’re drunk, and you're both trying to corrupt me."

"we’re all drunk," nancy said, raising her fresh beer. "that’s the point."

you laughed, leaning back in your chair, watching the next person step up to the mic—a middle-aged man in a flannel who launched into a surprisingly soulful rendition of an old country song.

the jukebox felt louder, the laughter easier, and your limbs felt like they belonged to someone else—someone lighter, braver, a little unsteady on her feet.

robin was mid-story about her psych professor when you pushed back from the table, the chair legs scraping against the floor.

"—and i swear to god, when he turned his head like a little animal—where are you going?"

you didn't answer. you were already moving, weaving between tables with the careful precision of someone who was absolutely not in control but refused to admit it. the floor tilted gently beneath you, and you let it carry you toward the table in the corner where a group of seniors had left their drinks unattended while they argued over a pool game.

you put your hands on the edge of the table. hoistes yourself up. found your footing in a pair of heels that had no business supporting anyone at this angle.

and then you danced.

it was sort of raunchy. messy, joyful, running your hands through your hair kind dancing. it was the kind that came from some deep place that didn't care about looking cool, but you did anyway. your hips swayed, your head tipped back, and a laugh escaped you.

the bar noticed.

a guy in a trucker hat let out a sharp whistle. someone else whooped. a few people clapped, pounding their hands on the sticky tabletops. you grinned down at them, drunk on the attention and the beer and the sheer electric thrill of being alive on a friday night.

robin cupped her hands around her mouth. "that’s my friend!"

nancy was laughing so hard she'd buried her face in her arms.

the song on the jukebox ended, and the stage lights—two flickering bulbs in rusted cages—caught your eye. the microphone stand sat empty, waiting. the guitar player from earlier was packing up his case.

you didn't think. you just jumped off the table, stumbled, caught yourself on a chair, and made your way to the stage.

the bartender—a grizzled man named frank who'd seen weirder things than a drunk girl in a little black dress commandeering his stage—just shook his head and waved a rag in your general direction. "don’t break the mic."

you grabbed the microphone, the metal cool and familiar in your hand. the speakers hummed. a few heads turned.

and then you opened your mouth, and the first words of i love rock 'n' roll came out raw and raspy and a little off-key, but loud.

a few people in the crowd started to clap along. the bartender sighed, but he was smiling. someone turned up the sound system, and an instrumental track kicked in from the jukebox, syncing up just enough to make it work.

you swayed on your feet, gripping the mic stand like it was the only thing keeping you upright—because it was. your voice climbed, roughened by the alcohol and the joy of it, and by the time you hit the chorus, half the bar was singing along with you.

you stumbled sideways, nearly toppling off the stage, and caught yourself with a giggle that bled into the next line.

robin watched from the high-top, her expression a mix of pure delight and dawning concern. she turned to nancy. "okay. she’s really drunk."

"i know. i’m glad she’s having fun, but i feel like she’s gonna hurt herself."

as if to prove their point, you nearly pitched forward off the stage again, saving yourself at the last second by grabbing the speaker. the crowd cheered anyway.

robin slid off her stool. "i’ll go call eddie."

nancy raised her glass. "tell him she's putting on a show."

the payphone was mounted to the wall near the bathrooms, its cord curled like a question mark. robin fumbled a quarter out of her pocket, fed it into the slot, and dialed the number she'd memorized from the sticky note on your fridge.

it rang twice. three times.

a click. eddie’s voice came through, a little distracted, like he'd been in the middle of something. "hello?"

"hey. it’s robin."

a pause. the sound of a guitar being set down. "robin? everything okay?"

"yeah, yeah, everyone's fine. just—" she glanced over her shoulder at the stage, where you were currently belting out the bridge with your eyes closed and one arm thrown dramatically to the ceiling. "your girl had a little too much over here. she’s... she's having a good time, but i think she needs a ride home before she tries to crowd-surf or something."

there was a beat of silence. and then, unmistakably, the tinny echo of joan jett bleeding through the phone line.

eddie’s voice came back, warm with amusement. "is that her singing in the background?"

"uh huh."

a low chuckle escaped him, rough and fond. "wow, she's actually not bad."

"she’s something," robin said, watching you nearly trip over a cable. "look, can you come pick her up? i’d drive her, but i’ve had three beers and nancy’s had four, and i don't trust either of us."

"yeah, yeah, i’ll get there in a bit." a rustling sound, like he was grabbing his keys. "rusty nail, right?"

"yup."

"keep her from breaking an ankle. i’m on my way."

the line went dead.

robin hung up the phone and turned back to the chaos, just in time to see you take a bow—wobbly, triumphant, arms spread wide—as the song crashed to its end and the bar erupted in applause.

she shook her head, grinning despite herself. "your boyfriend's coming to get you," she called out.

you didn't hear her. you were already launching into the opening riff of bad reputation.

the bass still thrummed through the floorboards when eddie pushed through the back door of the bar. his eyes swept the room, past the pool tables, past the knot of people by the dartboard, until they landed on the small stage.

and there you were.

the song had just ended, the last note bleeding into scattered applause, and eddie felt a small pang of disappointment. he’d been hoping to catch you singing. but he'd missed it by seconds.

still, the sight of you stopped him where he stood.

you were leaning down to accept a drink from some guy at the edge of the stage, your hair falling forward as you wrapped your fingers around the glass. coke. a couple of cherries floating among the ice cubes, stems poking up like little flags.

"oh, thanks!" you said, your voice carrying that warm, syrupy sweetness that always did something to his chest. you smiled at the guy—bright, genuine, the kind of smile you gave everyone—and eddie’s lips twitched. even through the pleasant haze of whatever you'd been drinking, it clearly hadn't occurred to you that the guy might have been hitting on you. you just saw a nice person handing you a soda. endearing didn't even begin to cover it.

then your gaze drifted across the room and landed on him.

your whole face lit up.

"eddie!" you called out, your voice cutting through the ambient noise like a beacon. you raised your free hand, waving at him with the kind of unguarded enthusiasm that made a few heads turn. "that’s my boyfriend! hi!"

a ripple moved through the crowd. some of the guys near the bar shot eddie looks that ranged from jealous scowls to grudging nods of approval—the kind of damn, good for him acknowledgment that he'd gotten used to since he started showing up places with you on his arm. he felt a grin tug at his mouth, equal parts pride and amusement, as he made his way toward the stage.

"uh huh, hi," he said, his voice warm and a little rough as he stopped in front of you. he looked up, taking in the flush on your cheeks, the slight glassiness in your eyes. "you ready to get down now?"

your face crumpled into a pout. "what? no! i’m having fun, eds."

he knew that pout. had seen it a hundred times—when he tried to take the last slice of pizza, when he suggested turning off a movie you were invested in, when bedtime rolled around and you weren't done with your night yet.

"i know you are," he said gently, stepping closer until his boots were almost against the stage lip. "but it's getting late. why don't i take you home, yeah?"

you held his gaze for a long moment, considering. then, almost lazily, you plucked one of the cherries from your drink by its stem, brought it to your lips, and slid it into your mouth. you sucked on it slowly, thoughtfully, your eyes still on his, completely oblivious to the effect it was having on him.

eddie’s jaw tightened. he kept his hands at his sides and told himself to behave.

be a gentleman, she's drunk and you're taking her home like a good boyfriend.

finally, you sighed as you took the cherry out. "fine."

"alright." he reached out, his fingers brushing yours as he gently took the glass from your hand. "give me this." he set it down on a nearby table—still half-full, the remaining cherries bobbing forlornly in the melting ice—and let you keep the one you were working on. you didn't protest, just held the stem between your fingers.

you reached for him, and he caught your hand, steadying you as you stepped down from the stage. but instead of letting you walk, he hooked an arm under your knees and another around your back, lifting you off your feet in one smooth motion. you let out a surprised laugh, your free hand curling around his shoulder as he cradled you against his chest.

a few people whistled. someone catcalled. eddie just shook his head, a lopsided grin on his face, and carried you toward the door.

on the way out, he spotted robin and nancy at a corner booth, nursing what looked like matching cocktails. he paused, shifting your weight slightly. "you two gonna be alright getting home?"

nancy nodded, her smile knowing and a little amused. "we usually grab a taxi. go. take care of her."

"always do," eddie said, and meant it.

the night air hit you as he pushed through the exit, cool and clean after the stuffy bar. the parking lot was mostly empty, the streetlights casting pools of orange light across the asphalt. his van sat near the back—a 1990 dodge ram, boxy and red, with a few dings in the paint and a bumper sticker from a show three summers ago. it was a far cry from the rattling old van he'd driven in high school. this one had actual working seatbelts. air conditioning, even, that worked all the time instead of when it felt like cooperating. it was practical—room for the band's gear, room for amps and drum cases and tangled cables after late-night gigs.

but eddie had made a habit of pointing out, with a wink and a shit-eating grin, that the space had other uses too.

he carried you around to the passenger side, careful not to bump your head on the door frame as he set you down on the bench seat. you were still holding that cherry, he noticed. still working on it with focused determination.

he shut the door gently, rounded the hood, and slid into the driver's seat. the engine turned over with a low rumble, and he glanced over at you—your head tipped back against the headrest, your eyes half-closed, that cherry stem still dangling from your fingers.

"comfortable?" he asked, his voice softer than he'd intended.

you hummed in response, a sound that could have meant anything, and eddie felt something warm and quiet settle in his ribs. he put the van in gear and pulled out of the lot, the bar's neon glow shrinking in the rearview mirror as he drove you both home.

eddie guided you through the door of his apartment with a steady hand on the small of your back, your feet stumbling just slightly over the threshold. the familiar scent of him—leather and cigarette smoke—wrapped around you as he kicked the door shut behind you both.

"dorm’s out," he said, his voice low and careful, like he was explaining something to a spooked animal. "people would've caught me sneaking you in, no question. you're staying here tonight. i’ll drop you off in the morning before anyone's awake, unless you just want to stay here. it’s the weekend anyway."

you murmured something in agreement, not really tracking the logistics, just letting the warmth of his hand guide you. he led you to his bed, and you sank onto the edge of the mattress, the springs groaning under your weight. a guitar leaned against the wall nearby, and a thin layer of ash dusted the nightstand.

you sighed and let yourself fall backward, the cheap ceiling tiles swimming lazily above you as eddie disappeared into the kitchen. you heard the fridge open, the clink of a glass, the rush of tap water.

when he came back, he was holding a glass of water. he set it down on the nightstand beside you, the little ceramic coaster you'd bought him from a gas station months ago catching the condensation.

"eds," you said, your voice carrying that particular sweetness you knew he couldn't ignore. you rolled onto your side, looking up at him through your lashes. "can you help with the zipper?"

innocence dripped from the question like honey, but the glint in your eyes told a different story entirely.

eddie’s jaw went tight. you saw the muscle jump beneath his skin, the way his throat worked as he swallowed. his eyes traced the line of your back where the dress pulled taut, and for a moment, he forgot how to breathe. his fingers twitched at his sides.

but he caught himself. he always did.

"yeah," he said, the word coming out rougher than he meant. he cleared his throat and tried again. "yeah, mhm. but nothing funny, alright?"

he sat down on the edge of the bed behind you, the mattress dipping under his weight. his fingers found the tiny metal tab at the nape of your neck, and he pulled—slow, deliberate, the zipper teeth parting one by one like a held breath releasing. the fabric loosened around your shoulders, and he forced himself to look away from the skin being revealed inch by inch.

when he was done, he pulled his hands back like he'd been burned.

you twisted to face him, the dress slipping dangerously at your collarbone. "but why? you don't want to play with me?"

the sound that escaped him was somewhere between a laugh and a groan. he dragged a hand over his face, mussing his hair further. "you know i do. god, you know i do." he leaned in, and you felt the ghost of his lips against your forehead—featherlight, reverent.

"but you're drunk. when you're sober—when you're you and not a couple of drinks in—i’ll play with you all you want. i promise."

he pulled back, and there was something soft in his brown eyes, something tender that cut through the haze of alcohol better than any glass of water could.

"gonna grab you something to wear," he said, his voice steadier now. "drink that water. every drop."

you huffed dramatically, but you reached for the glass anyway, the cool rim pressing against your lips as you took a sip. the water was cold and clean, and it grounded you just a little.

across the room, eddie was rummaging through his dresser, muttering under his breath as he pushed aside band tees and balled-up socks. the drawer stuck halfway, and he had to yank it, swearing softly when a cascade of loose guitar picks spilled onto the floor. he ignored them, finally pulling out a faded black shirt—the one with the faded slayer logo, the one you always stole—and a pair of shorts.

he turned back, and there you were: sprawled across his bed, bare-shouldered, water glass in hand, watching him like he was the only thing in the room worth looking at.

eddie’s heart stuttered.

he crossed back to the bed, the borrowed clothes folded over his arm. he stopped at the edge of the mattress, looking down at you—sprawled out, bare-shouldered, holding that glass of water like a prop you'd forgotten you were holding.

"alright, you," he said, his voice soft but carrying that familiar edge of teasing. he tapped the bottom of the glass. "set it down. doctor’s orders."

you gave him a mock salute, the motion sloppy and exaggerated, and placed the glass on the nightstand with a clumsy clink. "yes, sir."

he huffed a laugh, shaking his head. the mattress dipped as he climbed up beside you, his knees bracketing your hip. his hands found your shoulders first as he pulled the rest of the dress down.

"arms up," he murmured.

you lifted them, and he guided the fabric over your head, the dress slipping away like water. he folded it once, twice, and set it aside without looking at it. his eyes stayed on you—on your face, specifically, pointedly avoiding anywhere else.

you sat there in your bra and underwear, the room’s dim light painting soft shadows across your skin, and eddie’s jaw tightened. but his hands stayed steady. gentle.

he grabbed the shirt and worked it over your head. your face emerged through the collar, hair mussed, and he couldn't help the small smile that tugged at his mouth. he smoothed the fabric down your sides, his knuckles brushing your ribs with the lightest touch.

"now the shorts," he said, reaching for the shorts. "lift up for me."

you did, a little uncoordinated, and he guided the waistband up your legs, over your hips, adjusting the lace so it sat right. his fingers lingered for just a second at your hip, a quiet reassurance, before he pulled his hands away.

"there. decent." he said it like a joke, but his voice was warm. "almost a shame to cover up, but—" he caught himself, clearing his throat. "anyway. are you good? comfortable?"

you nodded, already sinking into the pillows, the fabric of his shirt bunched around your neck. he’d crawled up beside you, propping himself on one elbow, and looked down at you with an expression so soft it made your chest ache.

he leaned in and kissed you. just a brush of lips—slow, tender, tasting faintly of the beer from earlier. but he didn’t care.

you tilted your chin up, chasing more, and he felt the shift in pressure, the way your mouth parted against his. he chuckled, the sound vibrating through his chest and into yours.

"behave," he murmured against your lips.

you giggled, the sound light and buzzy, and nodded. but your hand found the collar of his shirt, fingers curling into the fabric, holding him there before he could pull back even an inch.

he looked down at your grip, then back up at your face, his gaze tender. "what are you holding onto me for?" he murmured.

you shrugged, the motion small and sleepy. "nothin’. just wanted to cuddle with you before i knock out." your voice dipped softer. "maybe watch some tv or something."

his heart clenched. something hot and tender swelled behind his ribs, and he had to look away for a second to collect himself. when he looked back, his eyes were softer.

"yeah?" he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "that all you want?"

"for now." your smile was sleepy, sweet, a little bit teasing even through the haze.

he kissed you again—slower this time, like he was savoring the shape of your mouth.

"alright," he said, the word a quiet surrender.

he shifted, letting you settle against his chest, your cheek finding the worn fabric of his shirt. his arm wrapped around you, hand finding your hair, fingers threading through the strands with an absent, practiced tenderness. with his free hand, he fumbled for the remote on the nightstand, clicking the tv on to some late-night rerun—static and color bleeding across the screen.

not even fifteen minutes later, your breathing had gone slow and even, your fingers slack against his shirt. the tv flickered unwatched, some commercial jingle playing to an empty room.

eddie didn't move. he just kept running his fingers through your hair, watching the rise and fall of your back, thinking that this—right here—was better than anything he could’ve done on a late friday night.

There was nothing you could do. Hawkins public pool? Not a chance! That place was more crowded then when Starcourt was opened. Steve’s house? Not really the best option if i’m not interested in breaking in. This summer, his parents didn’t take a long vacation somewhere in Europe and decided to stay home. So you could kiss the pool and air conditioning goodbye.

The solution was to stay in front of the fan the entire day. At night, you slept with the window open scared for your life that some bug would come in. But you needed it open if you didn’t want to melt.

Today was no different. As a matter of fact, each day passing by seemed to grow hotter. You were inside, with the freezer door opened, preparing yourself a fresh lemonade when the phone rang.

“Mom, can you get it for me?” You yelled, quickly closing the freezer door before your mother could see it. She was mad at you for doing it.

“It’s for you hun!” She yelled back, extending her hand towards you. “Get off of the freezer, please?”

“Sorry.” You mumbled apologetically when you got close to her. You took the phone from her hands and sat down on the couch close to the phone. “Hello?”

“What you doin’ on the freezer?” A very familiar voice came from the phone and you couldn’t help the smile growing on your face.

“Oh, you know. Cooling my ass off before I become a puddle on the floor.” You giggled as you answered him.

“And is it working?” You knew that he was smiling from his tone. You felt butterflies in your stomach just talking to him.

“It definitely is! When you don’t feel your fingers anymore from the cold is when you know it’s working.”

“Oh really? I’m going to try it out, hold on…”

You giggled again and he joined you.

“Come back here! What’s up, Eds?”

“So, I called to ask if you were free today. I know, it’s like they open the gates from hell in here. But I miss you…”

In the last few weeks Eddie came over to your place because the trailer got so hot during the day, like a furnace. But your mom didn’t let you stay alone in your bedroom and made sure to sit in the living room with both of you. She ment well but it gave you no privacy even to talk. Eddie said he didn’t mind but it was obvious how uncomfortable he was. You tried to to go on dates on different places but it wasn’t the best option.

Your relationship was still new. Only for a while you’ve been together so it was important to be around each other like that. To get to know each other better as a couple.

“Plus, my uncle went on a fishing trip with some friend from work. I got the place to myself for at least three days.” Eddie mumbled, containing his excitement and hoping you’d say yes. “What do you say?”

“Will you close the hell gates for me?” You teased him and you knew he smiled at the joke.

“I can’t promise you that. We can try the freezer, though.” He teased back and you giggled.

“Of course. I’ll be there in ten.” You got up from the couch, ready to hang up and go to his place as soon as you could. “Do I need to bring something?”

“Besides you frozen ass and your pretty lips so I can kiss the shit out of them… No, I think you’re good.” He said and you rolled your eyes at his sarcasm.

“Alright, I’ll see you in ten.” Your cheeks hurt from smiling so much. But that was just normal when talking to Eddie.

“Bye, sweetheart.” He hung up but his voice kept ringing in your head.

You quickly took a few pair of clothes and the essentials before getting off to the trailer park. You took the car and, as you said, in ten minutes, you were there. Before you could get close to the front door, you saw Eddie sitting on the couch on the porch, smoking a cigarette. He didn’t have a shirt on, showing off his tattoos.

“Are you trying to show off or something?” You dropped your duffle bag on the floor and joined him on the couch. He blew the cigarette smoke away and looked back at you.

“Maybe…” He smiled and kissed your lips. The strong taste of cigarette was on his lips but also something minty.

“What are you doing out here?” You looked at him while he gave another puff. There was droplets of sweat on his chest.

“If you think that is hot out here, wait until you come in.” He got up, took your bag and opened the door. It was like getting inside an oven. It was definitely hotter inside. He was right, the hell gates were open indeed.

“How is that possible? Is like a hundred degrees hotter in here!” You tag along with him in his room. He sat down on his bed, putting your bag close to it.

“I told you. Hell gates are down the hall.” He put out the cigarette in the ashtray and took your hand. “ If I were you, I would take off some clothes.”

You weren’t wearing many layers. Just a shirt you stole from him and shorts.

“You mean, to get naked?” You replied sarcastically.

“I won’t complain.” He had a mischievous smirk on his face. You put your hand on his lips and he grabbed your wrist, pulling you down, tickling you, to lay on the bed with him. Even the sheets were hot, like they were ironed not long ago. “Jokes aside, you should get comfortable. It’s too hot. Remember to drink water okay?”

“Look at you, all worried about me getting dehydrated.” You smiled and he tickled your neck making you giggle.

“Well, I rented a movie earlier. We can watch it, if you want...” He mumbled and you just caressed his cheek, admiring his beautiful face and his pretty eyes. You gave a peck on his lips before getting up.

“I’m totally down for it. And I know you said I shouldn’t bring anything but,” You opened your bag and took off another little bag. “You left these at my place the last time you were there.”

There were reese‘s pieces, m&m’s and his favorites, red hots. So Eddie took the bag and your hand and guided you to the living room. He put the VHS on and sat by your side on the couch to watch the movie. The beginning of Friday 13th appeared on tv.

“You’re missing halloween already?” You asked, leaning into him despite the heat and he didn’t complain. As a matter of fact, he pulled you closer.

“Are you kidding? Since the beginning of summer.” He took a handful of red hots and threw it in his mouth. “I’m actually doing some sort of summerween and watching scary movies to get me in the mood.”

“Yeah, I can’t wait for fall!” You copied him and ate the cinnamon candy.

So you sat there in silence watching the movie and eating the candy. The only thing keeping you to from melting down was the fan that could hardly fresh you two. You were halfway through the movie when a thunder struck very loud making you two jump. You just looked at him scared and just laughed at you. The second one came louder than the previous one making him jump. The power went off as the rain started to fall hard.

“That’s karma, you know.” You teased him from laughing at you. You two were in the dark right now. Eddie stood up and went outside, you followed him. There was a heavy curtain of rain, making everything a little blurry, but you could see the neighbors coming out of their trailers to see what was happening. Apparently, the power went off in the entire trailer park.

“Well, isn’t that just great?!” He said sarcastically. “Thank god you’re here.” He hugged your waist and kissed your temple. You two stayed out there for a moment, seeing the rain fall.

When you got back in, Eddie went over to the kitchen to light up some candles. You went over to his room. It was the only place that was a little bit cooler.

“We’re definitely going to be in the dark until tomorrow. When the power goes off in here, it takes forever for them to come and fix it.” He placed the candle on his bedside table lighting up two others, setting a nice and cozy atmosphere. “Sorry about that…”

“It’s alright.” You laid down on the bed and he joined you. “I’m glad I’m here, with you. It’s too bad we didn’t get to the end of the movie.”

“I thought you were scared.” He teased you.

“Maybe. But now it’s a good opportunity for you to fill me in on what happened with Jeff and that cheerleader.” You reminded him of this gossip he didn’t fill you with the details.

So, in the light of candles, you and Eddie just sat in the bed and talked about everything and nothing. But, without a fan on, and with the windows closed so the rain couldn’t come in, the candles, everything just made the room hotter and hotter, and you couldn’t keep your clothes on anymore.

“Wait Eds…” You stood up and took off your shirt and your shorts, staying only in your underwear. You sat back where you were. “Alright, go on.”

Eddie looked at you like you went out of your mind. You did that so nonchalantly, like taking off your clothes in front of him was nothing. As if few weeks ago, when you had sex for the first time, you weren’t so shy to take off your clothes.

“What?” You asked, not understanding why he got so quiet all of a sudden.

“Nothing…” Eddie murmured, not really knowing how to react. “You’re in your underwear…”

“Sorry, it’s too hot.. Is this ok?” Your cheeks blushed hard under his gaze, kind of regretting for taking off your clothes.

“Yes! I-I mean… Sorry, it’s fine sweetheart. Just got me by surprise. It’s ok” He reassured you, encouraging you to keep talking to him.

So you did. You continued to talk about which was your favorite song in the last Metallica album. But Eddie was no longer paying attention. He wasn’t looking at you and his fingers were tracing your arms.

“Eddie… Did I say something that upset you? I know I said I preferred ‘Orion’ but ‘Master of Puppets’ is just as good.” You brought his gaze back to you. “It’s the clothes right? I’ll put them back on.”

“No! It’s not- It’s just… You’re so pretty.” He whispered and it got you by surprise, making you blush. “I need to get used to seeing you like this. Not that it’s a problem. But you’re so… Did you have those spots before?”

“Yeah.” You giggled as he traced his fingers over them, like he was marking his own constellations on your skin. “They were there before.”

“I think I was so nervous the first time I saw you naked that I didn’t notice them.” His tone was soft as he came closer to you. “How stupid of me…”

“It’s alright.” You looked down, a bit shy from the attention now.

“I like them.” His hands came to your face and he kissed your cheek. “I like how you have them all over you. It’s pretty.” And he gave another kiss.

“My mom has them too. I guess it’s a family thing.” You caressed his head as he went down to kiss your neck. “There’s actually a saying, kind of a myth I think, that the spots you have is the place where the love of your life, in past lives, used to kiss you.”

“I hope I was all of them.” He said making your cheeks burn, but now from the attention and love he was giving to you. “I want to kiss every one of them again. Make a path so in the next life I can find you again and kiss you again.”

He did as he said. He started kissing your spots. On your neck, your chest, your belly…

“It’s gonna take a little while to kiss them all.” You whispered, already out of breath from his sweet kisses.

“Can I take these off?” He ignored you, tugging at the stripes of your bra. You just nodded.

He took off your bra, kissing the spots he missed along the way and got to the waistband of your panties. He gently caressed the skin underneath it, waiting to see if you would change your mind. You just squeezed his other hand and he understood that he could keep going. He took it off and kissed the few spots that were there, making you squirm with his kisses. Eddie squeezed your hips, making you look at him.

“Can you turn over for me, please?” He asked as gently as his touch. You did as he said and got on your stomach for him. He repeated his actions. He really was marking you with his kisses, tracing a path in them, giving you goosebumps. When he got at your lower back he came back up again and hugged you, kind of lifting you from the mattress.

“Eddie, please…” You whisper to him and he just hummed in return. “Eds, I need you.” The sound of your sweet voice gave Eddie the goosebumps and there was nothing he could do but to please you.

So he got off of your back to take off his pants and underwear. You turned over and saw him under the candle lights. The orange shades reflected on his skin and his hair, making him look almost ethereal. He was so beautiful, more than he would ever know.

He came back, hovering his naked body over yours. He looked at you with eyes full of devotion and lust and you were sure that you were no different. Without hesitation you kiss his lips and he kisses you back. It’s sweet as always but more intense. You could still taste the cinnamon in his lips. You felt him hard against your thigh and you couldn’t help but smile into the kiss.

“Didn’t know my spots were so hot.” You teased him, tugging lightly on his hair.

“It’s the person the spots are placed on, sweetheart.” He kissed you again before going over to the bedside table to get a condom. In a second he puts it on and goes back to you.

Before putting into you, he hovered over you and took your hand. He got close to you and sank his dick all the way in. It slipped easily by how wet you were but still made you two sigh in satisfaction. Your legs hiked up, wrapping around his waist and changing the way he got into you.

“Fuck… Jesus, you feel so good.” He moaned and all you could do was squeeze his hand in return.

The rhythm of his hips got faster, making you moan louder than you wanted. The rain still fell hard outside so you didn’t think anyone would hear what you two were doing in that room. His hips rolled into you and you followed his moves, enjoying the way your clit rubbed against his body when he bottom out. He was all over you, even his hair formed a curtain around you, so all you could acknowledge was him.

It felt so good. Your bodies moving in sync, the sweet little nothings he said to you… But suddenly you felt hot. Not that feeling in your gut when you were having sex, it was more intense. You were overheating.

“Fuck, Eddie wait! I can’t breathe!” You squeezed his hands and he stopped immediately, giving you some room.

“Oh god, shit. Are you ok? Did I do something…” He was out of breath to from the effort and the heat. He released your hands but not letting you go completely.

“No. It’s good, it’s just too hot.” You put your hand on your forehead and realized how sweaty you were. Your chest was covered in droplets of sweat. Eddie was no different from you. He looked so good… Wait.

“Do you wanna stop?” He asked, worried about.

“No! Can we just change the position?”

Eddie flipped you over without separating the two of you making you gasp. He was fast.

“Is this ok?” He was now lying down and you were on top of him siting on his dick. The new position made him go all the way in. You felt him so deep you weren’t sure if you could think straight. “Do you think you can do it?”

He asked with no intention on being sarcastic, actually worried if you were alright, but you couldn’t miss the chance.

“Is that a challenge?” He smiled from cheek to cheek.

“Let’s see how you do, then.”

You started to bounce on him, chasing your own orgasm. Eddie gripped your hips, helping you find a rhythm while he thrusted up. It was a whole new sensation. It was definitely better to breathe in this position but it was still hot. You felt sweat running down your back. But that wasn’t important now, you changed the movements of your hips, feeling your thighs burn, you just rode his dick, putting your hair up in a made shift ponytail. You thought you would go insane from pleasure. All you could do was moan and call for him.

Eddie was holding back not to blow his load. He was sure he was in heaven. Your body was holy, he was sure of that. You boobs bouncing, your waist and hips moving against his crotch in a way.. It was too hot. His bangs were sticking to his face but he didn’t care. You were dripping too. Holding your hair up as you moved your hips and throw your head back in pleasure was something he could never wash off from his eyelids. If he had to die he wanted this to be the last thing he saw.

“Oh fuck, that’s it. Sweetheart, I can’t take it anymore. I’m fucking cumming!” He said as he held on your hips for dear life.

You were right there with him, so close. You leaned forward so you could move faster. Eddie continued to thrust up and, to help you get there with him, he rubbed your clit. That was it for you.

“Oh Eddie, yes!” You moaned as you came, squeezing Eddie’s dick and bringing him to pure bliss with you.

As you came down from your high you felt weak. You could hold yourself up so you just fell on his chest. His heart was beating as fast as yours as you two caught your breath. He gently laid you down by his side and he left the room. You were out of breath, shaking a little and sweating like a pig. When Eddie came back he brought a towel and a cold glass of water. He just sat by your side to clean you up as you drank the water.

“You good?” His voice was a bit hoarse. He sounded so hot after sex. You just wanted to do it all over again. You didn’t have the strength to answer so you just nodded. “Come on, talk to me.”

“I’m good.” You replied, still catching your breath. He pulled you closer to his body and you laid your head on his chest. He caressed your back and kissed your head. “I’m disgusting.”

“You could never. It’s just a little bit of sweat.” He made you look up at him. His eyes were even bigger.

“I didn’t know my spots would get you this hot.” You teased him and he smiled down at you.

“Me neither. What can I do, I have a sexy girlfriend from different lifetimes and has beautiful spots. I’m just a man.” He leaned towards you to give you a gentle kiss. The room smelled like sex and candles.

“I think you’re gonna have to change the sheets.” You said and he groaned in protest, too tired to do anything. “ Don’t be gross, I’ll help you.”

The rain was still falling, not as hard as before, but it was still there.

“You want to take a shower?” Eddie asked.

“Eds, the power is still off.”

“Then let’s take a cold shower together, cool off a bit before going to sleep.” He sat up and you copied him. “It will be good, come on.”

“Wait. I won the challenge!” You happily remembered what you discussed during it. “I did good, didn’t I?”

“Really good. You should be on top more.” He suggested, kissing your temple before getting up and helping you get on your feet. You were still shaking a little.

“Oh no, it’s too exhausting!” You teased and he laughed at your words.

“It keeps you humble, doesn’t it?”

────────

“Babe, where’s the last place you’d seen it?”

You had been searching for twenty minutes, tearing apart Eddie’s bedroom to assist him in his frantic hunt for his missing guitar pick- his lucky guitar pick. The one that he couldn’t go on stage without. It was a bad omen, a tragedy, and a complete disaster if he played without it that night. So now, here you are, taking part in your boyfriend’s two-person search party.

“Jesus, I don’t know…” Eddie groans “I can’t fucking remember.”

“You know, babe, if you maybe cleaned up every once in a while like Wayne tells you to-“

“Sweetheart, I know, okay?” Eddie sighs “Can you please just spare me the lecture? Pretty please? I’m already stressed.”

“Okay, Eds.” You reply “Just calm down. We’ll find it. Have you looked under your bed?”

“No.” He shook his head “Could you? I’m gonna go check the laundry basket in the bathroom. Maybe I left it in one of my pants pockets.”

As Eddie walks out of his bedroom, you sink to the floor- getting on your hands and knees to search underneath his bed. You tilt your head to the side, trying to catch a glimpse of what was underneath his mattress- feeling around for anything that could be his guitar pick.

Your hands felt around several miscellaneous items. A few comic books that had surely ended up abandoned after Eddie had fallen asleep reading them, sending them to a graveyard housed between his wall and the mattress. The further you dug underneath the labyrinth of junk under his bed, the more disturbed you became.

Old condom wrappers from your past hookups, a beat up spiral notebook, a Dungeons and Dragons manual, dirty socks, a yo-yo, and- to your horror- a pizza box that housed hard, stale pieces of crust. You wrinkle up your nose in disgust, dragging it out from underneath the bed as you slid it across the floor. You would definitely be giving him a lecture later about how disgusting he was.

As you kept digging, you used your arm to reach further- your fingertips brushing up against something hard and rectangular. Your interest was piqued. You pressed the side of your head down onto the floor, trying to get low enough to get a peek. Down further, almost out of reach was a beaten-up black shoebox. You knew that it probably wasn’t where his guitar pick was hiding but you were curious.

You stretch the tips of your fingers, using them to inch the box closer to you so that you could grab onto it- sliding it out from underneath the bed. The lid was well-worn. You wondered what was inside, knowing that it was neither his white Reebok sneakers or his black boots. Really, it was probably where he stored his old acrylic paint sets that he used to paint his DnD miniatures.

You stared down at the box in front of you, knowing that you shouldn’t snoop through your boyfriend’s stuff. You and Eddie were completely open with each other and shared a lot in your relationship but you still couldn’t help but feel guilty about potentially violating his privacy. You should put it back where you found it. You should leave the lid closed. You should forget that you had even found it in the first place. But that damn shoebox was like a siren’s call to you.

Open me.

Open me.

Open me.

Your curiosity got the best of you. Before you could stop yourself, you pluck off the lid- setting it on the floor beside you as you peer into the box. You weren’t sure what you had been expecting but you weren’t expecting what you saw. Several copies for something called Heavy Metal.

They looked just like every other comic that Eddie owned, adorned with colorful illustrations in various art styles, genres, and characters. Just like his favorites; Uncanny X-Men, Saga Of The Swamp Thing, The Warlord, and Dragonlance for example. However, you found it odd that these ones were stuffed away in a box and not on his bookshelf where he usually kept them.

Maybe these ones were rare? You thought. But that couldn’t be it because all of his rare comics were carefully stored in protective sleeves and categorized by series- it was the only thing in his life that was organized. Why would these ones be here and not with the others?

Your eyes sweep over the cover of the issue that was on top of the stack. Pictured was an illustration of a woman. She was dressed (if you could even call it that) in a thin, barely there black fabric that only covered her breasts and her crotch- the rest of the material flowing behind her like a cape. Otherwise, everything else was exposed. You’ve never seen any of the female heroines in Eddie’s comics drawn this scantily clad. It took you aback.

Your eyes continue to sweep over the cover, ignoring the way that the heroine was wrapped up in a fierce green dragon. This was definitely on par for Eddie. However, when your eyes traveled further up, you caught sight of the text at the top near the magazine title. In yellow text it read, “the adult illustrated fantasy magazine.”

Adult.

If you weren’t intrigued before, you definitely were now.

You open the strange magazine, beginning to thumb through the pages as your eyes skimmed over the contents. You didn’t know what you expected but it certainly wasn’t what you ended up finding on the pages.

Your eyes widen in shock as you are met with comic strip pages filled with naked women. Their nude bodies drawn in crude situations and perverse sexual scenarios. The pictures were so graphic, hypersexualized, and over-exaggerated to the point that your face began to heat up. Not only did your boyfriend own one of these dirty magazines but he owned several.

Your head was reeling as you continued sifting through the box. Issue after issue after issue. Six in total. Way more than what he needed. As you lifted them out of the shoebox, you were greeted with something worse; a VHS porno tape. It lacked its cardboard cover sleeve but you could read the title on the front of the tape; Wet and Messy Vol. 2.

Was this really the shit that your boyfriend was into?

“Hey, baby, I found it! It was in the pocket of my-“

Eddie walks into the room, holding up his lucky guitar pick in triumph. When his eyes landed on you, he went speechless. The last thing he expected to see when he walked back into his room was his girlfriend kneeling on the floor with his “secret stash” box open in front of you. But as soon as he noticed the VHS tape clutched in your hand and his collection of dirty mags in a pile on the floor, his mouth went completely dry.

“Shit.”