here comes your man
s. harrington x f!reader, 2.1k
summary: you go to pick up your very drunk boyfriend from the bar after a well deserved night out warnings: alcohol consumption, swearing, reader uses she/her pronouns
a/n: i was half asleep when i wrote this so all i can say is my bad, and i hope my three am deleirum brings you some joy
Hey⦠you might wanna come pick up your Stevie-Boy. Heās a bit wrecked...
It was a phone call you had half expected, though you didnāt mind admitting that you wished it had not come at 3am on your Saturday night. Steve had been so excited for a night out with the boys ā work seemed to be piling onto him more than usual, and more often than not youād find him half asleep on the couch by 8pm, arm propped uncomfortably beneath his head and back twisting awkwardly. This night came along with the extra TLC you prescribed him this week, taking on a little extra responsibility around the house so he might relax even just for a moment. Steve was a caretaker by trade, and doing things for himself seemed to hark back to a time where he only did things for himself. It took a lot for him to rewire that belief in his brain ā self care did not mean selfish, he was a good person.Ā
You thought that the time out with his friends would remind him of that; how wonderful he was, how loved he was. He could be without responsibility for a night and simply enjoy himself. And enjoy himself he was⦠you hadnāt heard such an amused lilt to Eddieās tone for a long time. You spent the drive over pondering just what kind of state your boyfriend might be in, your eyes heavy, body cooling with the iced air that blew through windows opened in an attempt to keep yourself awake. Eddie at least had sounded coherent, so you figured you would not be alone in the battle to try and haul your boyfriend into your beat up car.Ā
Dressed for the comfort of your own home, it took one disgruntled look towards a stubborn bouncer to let you past without paying an entry fee. You wondered how often this happened ā half asleep partners turning up moments before closing to take their inebriated darling home. The thought made you chuckle softly to yourself, body weaving through the stragglers of the night still dancing to a wrapping up DJ.Ā
Eddie had told you theyād meet you by the lounges when you arrived, though Steve was nowhere to be seen as you approached your tired looking friend, his face pleased, if not a little weary.Ā
āWhere is he?ā You questioned, letting Eddie lean down to wrap his arms around you tightly, his weight pressing heavier on you that you had expected under the influence of what you assumed had been many, many shots.Ā
āAt the bar. I thought heād crashed half an hour ago, but heās had a second wave.āĀ
You felt the short burst of laughter bubble up, an unsurprised uh-huh leaving your lips at the notion, eyes drifting towards the thinning crowd collected for the last call. Eddie let you go with a shrug, stepping back to let you go.Ā
āAlright, Iāll go get him. Iāll wave if I need you, ākay?ā The nod you received was answer enough, and you set off leisurely towards your unsuspecting boyfriend.Ā
Steve was half hunched over the bar, palm rolling an empty shot glass flatly across the sticky surface as he waited for an already busy bartender. You couldnāt see his face, but you could picture the expression with such clarity ā eyes heavy, blinking slowly as they tracked blearily across the back of the bar, that sweet, contented smile plastered on his lips for no reason at all.Ā
Following suit, you leaned yourself up against the bar beside him, elbows propping you up to rest your head in your palms.Ā
āYou getting another drink, handsome?āĀ
Steve made a soft sort of mumbling sound, his head lulling to the side as he leaned away ever so slightly. āMm, yeah⦠think so.āĀ
You nodded, smiling at the way he swayed on his feet. āOh, I see. You wanna have some water with me?āĀ
Steve rubbed harshly at his face, eyes screwing shut tightly before blinking hazily at you. āNo, thanks.āĀ
His gaze turned away, his grip on the shot glass faltering for a moment, reflexes only just catching it before rolling over the edge. You reached slowly to pluck it from his hand, though he recoiled sluggishly at the contact, forcing your brow up into a curious arch.Ā
āHow about I take you home, then? Seems like theyāre wrapping up.āĀ
Steve sighed, hands running through his hair in that same familiar flustered motion you were so acquainted with. Ordinarily, Steve would have been bouncing out of his skin to see you, but right now, he seemed like he wanted to be anywhere else.Ā
āLook, itās nice of you to ask, but ām taken. My girlfriendās cominā to get me.āĀ
Oh, how sweet. Youād never seen Steve so far gone that he hadnāt recognised you, but now that you focused your own tired eyes, you could see that his own were barely open to begin with. Your smile widened, amusement settling over you at the sweetness of him.Ā
āReally? Youāre not even gonna look at me? Maybe Iām worth breaking the rules for.āĀ
He scoffed at that, body straightening up as much as his addled state could allow, his feet stumbling beneath him to put another feet of distance between the two of you.Ā
āIām sure you are fāsomeone else, but ām not interested.ā His tone was more clipped now, friendliness falling away in the hopes of deterring you. āNot another girl in the world for me but her.āĀ
God, he was sweet, and more in love with you than you could have ever hoped for a person to be. Your heart ached, entirely overwhelmed with adoration for this man who was waiting for you.Ā
āWell thatās very lovely.ā You cooed, turning sideways to look at him, one arm dropping to your side while the other hand continued to prop your chin up, helping to hide that rosy blush that seemed to stain your cheeks. āI really think you should look at me, though, Stevie.ā
You watched as the thought crossed his mind, a slow understanding that something about this interaction seemed out of place. It seemed to take another moment for reality to set in, his body turning and eyes widening comically as they came into focus.Ā
āHoney!āĀ
It had you in hysterics, the way his arm gave out from under him, narrowly avoiding his torso from smacking down against the bar top as he lurched towards you. Your arms extended out to catch him, meeting him halfway until his body was pressed tenderly against yours, eager hands creeping up to cup your cheeks, holding your face towards his so he might really look at you.Ā
āYouāre here!āĀ
Your laughter rang out happily, eyes crinkled at the delight mirrored in his own.Ā
āYeah, baby, of course I am. Wanted to make sure you got home safe.āĀ
If an iris could change shape, then you were certain you saw Steveās melt into delicate hearts just at the thought of you coming out to take care of him. His thumbs ran adoring lines across your cheekbones, trembling slightly with restraint.Ā
āSāgood to me.ā He mumbled, words drowning out within the still deafening music that surrounded you. āMissed you.āĀ
You felt him slump against you ever so slightly, still conscious of weighing too heavily against you even in his inebriated state, though how he was holding himself up anymore was anyoneās guess. It was your sign to wave Eddie over, though, who without fuss looped a supporting arm around Steveās back.Ā
āYou gonna let your girl take us home, then? Iām gonna pass out, man, Iām so wrecked.āĀ
Steveās brow furrowed, alarmed to have been so suddenly pulled back from you to lean on Eddie, and he reached out a hand in a needy sort of motion towards you. āI wanna dance with her before we go.āĀ
Too sweet for his own wellbeing, you offered him a sympathetic look, slipping yourself under his other arm to help prop him up.Ā
āWe can dance at home just you and me, okay? In our pjs too ā wonāt that be nice. We just donāt wanna keep Eddie waiting too long; heās all danced out.āĀ
You watched the contemplative look cross his features, leaving him distracted enough for Eddie to start guiding the three of you towards the door without much fuss from Steve.Ā
āDid you have fun though Ed? Really?ā Steve asked, genuine concern threading through his tone as he addressed his friend who managed an affirming nod in response.Ā
āLoads. Weāll all go out again soon, but Iāve gotta give you back to your sweetheart before she gets too jealous.āĀ
Steveās nod was so serious as he processed the words, entirely missing the small look of amusement shared between you and Eddie as you pulled yourselves from the establishment.Ā
āYeah.ā He agreed, his head lulling sideways to rest on the crown of your own. āShe needs me.āĀ
It had sounded like a joke when he said it, but even you could sense the small severity behind the words, almost reassuring himself of the truth behind them. Of course you needed him.Ā
āYeah, she does.ā You confirmed, kissing at his shoulder clumsily as you tried to focus on your steps, narrowly avoiding toppling the three of you right over uneven pavements underfoot. āI always need you, honey.āĀ
You did not need to look at Steve to know that he was smiling ā you felt it as you held him, felt it in his touch and the heat of his body carefully wrapped around yours. At least this night felt like a success in your eyes. Steve was happy, and you had done your part to make him so. Heād be awfully hungover tomorrow morning, but heād be happy, and that was all that seemed to matter to you in the moment.Ā
Eddie managed to hold Steve upright while you fiddled with the lock of your car door, the boy now contently distracted with regaling tales of the night to the man who had witnessed them first hand. Getting him into the car was easy enough, tucking him cautiously into the front seat, your body leaning over him to click his seatbelt into place, his hand lifting to rub at your lower back in thanks.Ā
āYouāre the best, yāknow, baby? The real best. The best best.āĀ
You paused to smile at him, head shaking in amusement before brushing your lips against his cheek, relishing in the way his hand gripped excitedly at you for the briefest of moments. āI could say the same about you, yāknow.āĀ
āNuh uh.āĀ
A groan sounded from outside the car, drawn out and exasperated beyond compare. āJesus H Christ, Iām begging for someone to take me home. Itās so fucking late, guys.āĀ
You pulled back with a laugh to witness Eddieās petulance, your hand coming out to gesture to the back seat. āThen get in the car, dingus, and Iāll take you home.ā
āYeah, what she said!ā Steve slurred from the front seat, the battle against his weariness now long lost, eyes closed and head resting heavily against its back, unable to hold itself up any longer.Ā
Eddie clambered into the back with a half assed eye roll, splaying out across the work back seat until he, too, was one with the upholstery. āYou guys arenāt gonna be gross and sayinā i love youās all the way home, are you?āĀ
Steveās eyes widened in horror. āOh shit, I havenāt said I love you yet!āĀ
The charming little frown that spread across his face was enough to melt you in your entirety, your hand reaching out to brush his check with affection, his nose nuzzling sweetly into the cup of your palm. āIām not worried about it; I know you do.āĀ
āYeah, but I do love you. I was thinkinā it the whole time, thinkinā youāre so pretty nā all. So pretty that I couldn't remember to say it.āĀ
Eddie just huffed again in the back seat, his complaints overtly ignored despite the growing expletives.
āI love you too, Stevie. How about we get Eds home and get you some water, then we can be as sweet as we wanna be.āĀ
Steveās lips pressed into your palm, his kiss unhurried and uncoordinated as the alcohol hindered his usual grace, a mumbled mākay tickling your skin as he spoke.Ā
You looked up into the rearview mirror, dropping your hand to Steveās knee for the boy to hold, keeping his neediness satiated for the time being as he grasped it between his own eagerly. āYou hear that, Eds? Youāre in the clear. Letās get you boys home.āĀ
A grumbled thank god and the creaks of the backseat window being clumsily wound down was enough incentive to start your travels, a pleased smile gracing your lips to know that Steve had been given exactly the night he deserved after all.Ā












