in the darkness - steddie ff.
summary: steve thought these were just nightmares of his dead lover eddie, but seems like the line between reality and dreams sometimes become blurry. because a heart that stopped beating is still capable of love
note: the dark topics were always one of my favourites!! itâs a really long fic, which i started before my mental health got bad again, but finished when i started to look for something to get out of its pit hole. it made me avoid writing for the last couple of months, time to get back to it !!
A hot night in July. Thatâs when it happened.
Steve was sitting on his balcony in the late night hours, drinking a cup of tea. He enjoyed the life of the rich way too often after his lover Eddie passed away in mysterious ways. No one knew how the accident happened really, and Steve was dreaming of him ever since the night he left. He sometimes thought he saw a shadow from the corner of his eye, but whenever he turned to take a better look, no one was there. He sort of became paranoid and his friends were honestly worried about him. Nancy adviced therapy, while Dustin offered late night talks with him. But Steve turned these off, telling his mates he is completely fine. Even if a part of him was missing, that Eddie took with him.
After a while he decided to get ready to sleep. He did his usual routine, and shifted to sleep quickly, his mind tired from the constant memory flashbacks he had through the day. All of them were of Eddie. Because Steve smiled and laughed, went on with his days, but the grief was slowly killing him, too.
As the clock striked midnight, a noise was heard from outside of his bedroom, somewhere down the hallway. Steve thought he must be dreaming, but as he heard something again, little drops of cold sweat started to appear on his forehead. He lighted the candle right on his bedside table and got it in his hand.Â
His bedroom door opened with a loud creak, and Steveâs heart jumped into his throat. He didnât even know what could have made the noise, but his guts were filled with horror and curiousness. He took each step slowly, ready for anything that was waiting for him in the darkness.
At least he thought he was ready for anything.
The wax was slowly running down on the side of the candle as Steve approached the sound in the kitchen. His kitchen was gigantic, you could basically get lost in it. Someone was there, facing the cabinet. Steveâs heartbeat was in his throat as he was looking at the back of the man. Long, dark curls were falling onto his shoulder and Steve thought he must be dreaming. His clothing was dark as well, giving his body a beautiful shape. Steve never believed in ghosts, which is well.. a good thing, since this person wasnât a ghost. He looked just as alive as Steve, and Steve started to get creeped out.
He bit his lip, bruising the soft skin on it with his teeth, while on the top of his tongue there was a name. A name that wanted to knock his tooth out to finally be heard. He rubbed his eyes, still holding into the last bit of hope of this all being only a fidgement of his imagination, a trick that his mind was playing on him.Â
He thought running would be the best option, so he started to back up, but he didnât dare to take his eyes off the person in front of him. He wasnât looking where he was going, so he accidentally knocked down a glass which luckily didnât break, but made a sharp noise in the silence.Â
Steveâs heart jumped into his throat once again as the person turned and now was facing him.
âE-Eddie?â Steveâs voice was weak, filled with fear. The candle was shaking in his hand and little drops of sweat started to form on the back of his neck.
âMy, my..â a grin creeped onto Eddieâs lips. He was thrilled and excited to see his lover again. He literally went through hell just to get back to him. âItâs so nice to finally see you again, my dear.â Eddie stepped closer and Steve and Steve almost screamed. He was so close to throwing the candle at him, risking that he burns down the whole house.
âNo, wait! Get away from me, you freak!â he cried out, stepping back as much as the wall would let him. Now there was no escape. âYou canât be him! He.. he..â
âDied?â Eddie tilted his head, curiousity hiding in his dark eyes. He was now so close to Steve, that if he reached out, he could have touched him. âDeath doesnât mean leaving, Steve.â Eddie gently shook his head, warm smile spreading on his lips. âI missed you so much, my dear.â he touched Steveâs face. Eddieâs hand was stone cold, like he didnât have any blood flowing in it, while Steveâs cheek was burning like the sun. âDidnât you miss me?â he asked as he took the candle, placing it to the near by table. Steve was shaking, terrified to close his eyes for even a moment. He didnât know what he could possibly do if he didnât pay attention.
âYou canât be him.â he said as he thickly swallowed. âItâs not possible.â Steve was mostly saying this to himself, because he was a bit scared that he might have gone mad. He should have listened to his dear friends when they offered help, but he had no clue about what was waiting for him.
âI am real, darling. I am so real, and I am here to take you with me.â Eddie said, leaning closer to his scared to death lover. He gently pressed his lips against Steveâs, who was still shaking like a leaf. He felt like his knees are about to give up as Eddie deepend the kiss, so he grabbed his arms and tried to keep himself steady. Eddieâs skin was like porcelain, but he kissed so hotly. Steve felt like every part of him was on fire, burning him to the core. He finally closed his eyes, his limbs giving in as Eddieâs hands wondered over his whole body. He was familiar with every inch of Steve, he knew every secret of his.
âPlease.â Steve didnât know what he was asking for. He was confused, scared and so, so lost.
âSteve, oh Steve!â Eddie raised his voice like a royalty before his most solemn speach. âPeople think that when your body starts to rot, all the love poures out through the holes on your skin, but it couldnât be farther from the truth. Love still lingers in the core of my bones and every part of me aches for you.â he breathed heavily onto Steveâs neck, as his lips found their perfect spot on the senstivie skin. âMy mind is fogged up with the thought of you and I canât seem to go on without you. I am your lover, right? Do you still want me, Steve?â Eddie touched Steveâs neck, which made the man jump.
âYouâre so cold..â he whined softly, eyes traicing over Eddieâs painfully gorgeous face. He used to paint him, sit in front of the canvas for days because he wanted everything to be perfect. Eddie just seemed to casually exist with all of the beauty of his, not even noticing the looks on the streets he got from strangers. And seems like death didnât change a single thing. He was just as beautiful as he was on the day Steve lost him in the accident. Everything stayed the same; the rasp of his voice, the gaze of his doe eyes, the shape of his mellow lips. Steveâs face got flustered just from the memory of where have those lips been on his body before and now he ached to his soul, pressing up against Eddie. He missed him, he longed for him and he felt like he is about to break under the weight of the grief. But now somehow Eddie was there, more alive than ever.
âRegardless of that, I have a burning desire for you, Steve..â he lowered his voice. He wrapped his hand around Steveâs wrist then placed it onto his hip, dangerously close to his crotch. He was flaming hot there and Steve might have gave a small, needy whine. He was at the edge of crying as he lied his head into the crock of Eddieâs neck, breathing heavily onto the ice cold skin.
âJesus Christ..â Steve murmured, the soft curls of Eddieâs tickling his face. âYouâre.. real?â
âHavenât you listened to me before, sweetheart?â Eddie asked, wrapping his other arm around Steveâs waist. âSo real, and so yours.â Steve finally moved his numb limbs, pulling Eddie closer to him, not even caring about how bizarre the situation was. He was fighting for air, his lungs were desperate. He was at the edge of hyperventilating. âBreath for me, my dear. I am here.â he whispered into Steveâs ear, who needed to listen and he started to feel a bit lightheaded. âNothing will take you away from me anymore.â he was brushing over Steveâs back, so gentle and careful.Â
Steve lifted his head, just to look into the eyes of death. He never seen such terrifying sight before, and he immediately backed up from Eddie, earning a dark glare. Steve clenched his fists as his jaw tensed. He was sure, that this is his lover, but in a much different, darker form that he had before. That once clean and delicate soul now was dirty and rough, and was painfully yearning for one thing: Steve.
âLeave.â Steve said, voice small, but steady. Eddie tilted his head, pressing his lips into a thin line.
âWhat does that suppose to mean, Stevie?â he asked, eyes dangerously dark. Steveâs gaze lingered over the wall, where one of his favorite paintings hang. He could barely see the outlines of it in the light of the candle, but he knew what that painting meant for him and Eddie.
âI watched you die, Eddie.â said Steve, avoiding eye contact âI donât want whatever took over you, to shatter my most precious memories of you. Youâre the love of my life, and as much as I want to, I just cannot give myself over the mirage of seeing you here, touching you, feeling you. Itâs all so fucking terrifying, Eddie. I am so damn terrified.â Eddie listened, not even taking a louder breath while Steve was talking. âYou have no clue how I felt on the first night alone. It was the loneliest night of my whole existence, and I wished to never live ever again after it. I prayed to some God, whoever is up in the skies to just take me, too.â he looked up at him âWhatever or whoever you are, do not shade the memory of my one true love.â
At first, Eddieâs shoulder shook a bit and Steve thought that he is about to start crying. But it was quite actually the opposite. The first few small giggles were like a thorn, pushed right through Steveâs heart. Eddieâs playful grin now became a bit evil, but something, something still lingered behind of it that still reminded Steve of who Eddie once was. Does death changes you?
âHavenât you listened, Steve?â Eddie sighed, as he softly shook his head âItâs. Me. I know exactly how much you still want me, because death never made a difference.â he took a few steps closer to him, and Steve just couldnât get himself to pull away again. His body was against what his mind wanted. âLet me take you with me, my dear.â
âNo.. no!â Steve snapped, then grabbed the candle and rushed out of the kitchen, leaving Eddie there.
It was the darkest hour of the night, when even the moon decided to hide behind some clouds that gathered on the sky. The candle wasnât enough source of light, Steve couldnât even see in front of him. He just hoped that he could find a way back to his room where he could lock himself away, and this nightmare would end as soon as he went to sleep again.
Suddenly, everything went silent. The wasnât any creaking, or owl hooting, but the silence, that ate him up. He stopped, like his legs froze, and desperately looked around in the darkness. In darkness, our minds are more likely to make up figures and movements that arenât actually there, but the brain just turns on the alarm to be careful, and this time Steveâs brain was right to do it.Â
He took a shaky breath, and in the next moment darkness fully hugged around him, as someone blew the candle. He almost let out a scream as he now just stood there, completely unaware of his surroundings. At this moment the moon decided to show her face again and shine through on the only window that wasnât covered by a curtain. And there was Eddie, face painted by the moon light.
âOh, Steve..â he sighed, looking at the helpless man, who didnât know what to do. His whole life flashed before his eyes as Eddie pulled him closer to him, now fully unsure what his intensions were. âWhy are you running from me? Donât you want me back?â he pouted, and Steveâs heart shattered in his chest. The darkness, the silence and emptiness around him, Eddieâs sharp and deep voice made his mind numb.
âI-I..â Steve swallowed as Eddie cupped his face, brushing his thumb over his skin.
âYouâre coming with me.â Eddie stated.
The next thing Steve felt was a sharp pain in his chest, then something cold running down on his torso. He couldnât really breathe and suddenly Eddieâs beautiful face started to became a blurry mess in front of him. His whole body felt heavy and everything in his mind became a blur.
âE-Eddie?â Steve coughed, then he looked down and saw one of those fancy knives that they got for their wedding from their friends, sticking out from his chest. His eyes widened, but oddly enough, he didnât panic. It was rather strange than scary. Maybe the main part of him really wanted to go with Eddie, and his body finally overtook his mind. His blood was all over him and the floor as he fell onto his knees. âEddie, please..â he held his hand, pressing his face to Eddieâs hip. âWhatâs going on..?â
âThe red means âI love youâ.â he giggled, caressing Steveâs soft curls.Steve felt weak as he looked into those beautiful, but cruel eyes. It felt like home, actually. âItâs you and me forever, sweetheart. Death will never do us apart.â