#sleepy steve

I flipped to the next page of my book, trying to block out the noise and focus on the story as someone came into the living room. I'd been trying to finish the newest book in my favorite series for a while, and I'd decided to do so on the couch in the living room of Avengers Tower. If I wanted to be confident no one would disturb my reading, I would've stayed in my room, but I wanted to venture out of my cave for a little bit, and most people were training or on missions, so it felt likely that no one would bother me.

Apparently, I was wrong. Someone flopped down onto the couch right next to me with a heavy sigh. I wouldn't have set down my book, except I recognized that sigh. It was my boyfriend, Steve Rogers, sounding more exhausted than he usually ever let people see.

I bookmarked my page and set my book aside, then turned to Steve. He had bags under his eyes and looked like he was about to pass out, right where he was. Usually, he was a pretty upbeat person, but clearly something was weighing on him today.

"Hey babe," I said, shifting on the couch so I was facing Steve. "What's wrong?"

He shook his head. "Nothing. It's just... the job's wearing on me a little more than usual."

"What do you mean?" I asked, shuffling a little closer and putting a hand on his arm. Steve didn't look at me, just kept staring holes in the ground.

"I've been running around putting out fires and getting the shit kicked out of me for days. I don't think I've slept more than a few twenty-minute naps in... four days?"

"Oh my gosh, Steve!" I cried, wrapping one arm around him and pulling him into me. His head landed on my chest, and slowly, he leaned the rest of his weight against me.

"I'm just so tired," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. I pursed my lips, but didn't say anything. I hated seeing him like this, and I hated what this job did to him sometimes. But at the end of the day, he loved it. Nothing would ever convince him to give it up.

I pulled Steve a little closer as I gently stroked his hair. I could feel him focusing on taking deep breaths and staying calm, so I slowly leaned back until we were reclined on the couch, Steve on top of me with his head on my chest.

"I'm so sorry you've had such a bad stretch of days," I mumbled, wrapping myself around him tightly. He just hummed in response. I kept running my hands through his hair, trying to help him relax and make him feel safe despite everything he'd gone through.

After a few minutes, I felt the tension fade out of Steve's body. His breathing evened out, and I quickly realized he'd fallen asleep.

I smiled to myself. About damn time he got some rest.

We stayed like that for a long time, and I'd just started to drift off myself when I heard footsteps and loud voices coming up from the training room. I turned to glare at the doorway whoever it was would have to come through, trying to move as little as possible so I didn't disturb Steve.

After a few seconds, Tony and Bruce appeared, chatting away about some science project or other they were working on. They stopped short when they saw me, and Tony opened his mouth (probably to ask why I was glaring), but he stopped short when I put my finger to my mouth in an aggressive shushing gesture.

They both gave me questioning looks, so I pointed sharply at Steve, who by some miracle was still passed out on top of me. He must've really been exhausted to sleep through the noise and activity no matter how hard I'd been trying to limit it.

Bruce and Tony tiptoed over until they got close enough to see Steve. Bruce nodded and clearly understood why he needed to be quiet. Tony got an evil gleam in his eye.

"Hey!" I hissed, smacking him in the arm to get him to look at me. Our eyes locked, and I slowly shook my head, giving him a stare that promised death and pain if he acted on whatever idea was clearly bouncing around in his head.

I could literally see the gears turning in Stark's head as he weighed his options. Bruce put a hand on his shoulder and nodded towards the lab, giving Tony another activity to do other than messing with my boyfriend, which I appreciated. Still, it took Tony a minute to consider. And I didn't let up with my stare once during that minute.

Fortunately for Steve, although I wasn't as involved in the superhero business as I used to be, I'd proven time and time again that I could hang with the assassins in our group skill-wise, which made me a dangerous enemy if someone in the Tower chose to piss me off.

After a little bit more considering, Tony seemed to remember this, and my history in the training room and on the battlefield won out. He rolled his eyes and huffed, but turned and headed for the lab instead of waking up Steve. Bruce smiled, giving me a wave as he headed off with Tony. I waved back and watched the two men disappear, then went back to gently stroking Steve's hair.

Absolutely nobody was going to get in the way of him getting some much needed rest if I had anything to say about it. The two of us were too comfortable, and cuddling on the couch was too rare to shorten it any more than we absolutely had to.

And because he was so unconcerned, he dropped by Steve’s house, Robin and kids in tow. 

“Steve, open up man! You good in there?” Eddie asked loudly, banging on the front door. Distantly, Eddie could hear a baby crying, now what the fuck was that about? He pounded on the door again, “Dude, seriously.” He called, looking over to Robin who was wringing her hands together nervously. He heard some shuffling from the other side of the door. 

It swung open to reveal a half dead looking Steve Harrington. “Hey.”

“Hey? Dingus, we thought you were dead!” Robin screeched, Steve raised a hand, “Shh. Please, I just got her to go down.” Eddie arched an eyebrow. The crying he heard from earlier resumed, “Oh fuck. Okay. okay. Come in, just be quiet please.” Steve said, practically stumbling as he opened the door for the group to pile in. 

They gathered semi-awkwardly in the living room as Steve disappeared into the depths of the house, the crying getting louder as Steve returned with a small bundle cradled carefully in his arms. He was bouncing the figure slightly, humming softly as he did so. “Steve, what the fuck,” Eddie couldn’t stop the words before they were tumbling out of his mouth. He watched as Steve sighed, taking in the bags that hung around his eyes. “That’s a baby, Steve.” Dustin practically whispered as the baby finally stopped crying. 

They watched close as Steve shuffled over to the couch, plopping down gently, settling the baby on his lap. “This is Florence, she’s my moms but. I guess my mom got if fucked up on the birth certificate because she wrote Stephano the third instead of the second, so now she’s legally mine. My dad wants nothing to do with her.” Steve blew out a puff of air, rubbing a gentle hand over Florence’s head. “I’ve been calling her Flo, uh. She likes to cry. A lot. In the middle of the night… So.” Eddie sighed, scrubbing a hand over his face, “Dude. When’s the last time you got some sleep?” Steve shrugged, “Uh, I think I’ve gotten a few hours since Flo’s been here… She got here… Uh. Monday, I think?” Robin’s jaw dropped, “Steve, it’s friday. Why didn’t you call anyone for help?”

Steve shook his head, letting it fall back onto the couch. “I didn’t realize it had been that long, I’m sorry.” He trailed tiredly. The kids had now gathered on the floor, grabbing pillows and blankets and piling them up into some sort of nest. Eddie shifted, reaching for the tiny human in Steve’s arms. “Woah, uh.” Steve said, sitting up. “It’s cool, Stevie. I used to babysit all the time. I got her.” Eddie soothed, cuddling Flo close as Steve handed her over. 

“Get some sleep, Steve-o. You need it, bad.” Eddie instructed gently, Robin nodding in agreement, “Yeah man. You look like shit.” She said, not so gently. Her statement went unnoticed though, because as soon as Eddie had a hold of Flo, Steve was out like a light, drool and all. 

Eddie could see the resemblance between him and his sister, especially with the matching drool running down both their sleeping faces. Eddie smiled fondly as he watched Steve sleep, only breaking out of his trance when Robin smacked him lightly on the arm, careful not to disturb Flo. “Dude, you got a crush on him or something?” Eddie had the decency to look shocked, “Wh- What. Psh, no.” He spluttered, flipping Dustin off when he turned around with a ‘really?’ look on his face. “Mind your business, Henderson.” Dustin turned around rolling his eyes, returning to his conversation with the other kids. 

Robin was still looking at him, “You do, don't you?” She asked softly. Eddie sighed, nodding. “I mean, I didn’t- ugh. He’s a good guy y’know? I just. Why did it have to be him? I mean… He’s straight.” Robin looked at him, shrugging, “I mean. You never know…” She said Eddie turned to her, “Are you saying King Steve isn't straight?” Eddie asked incredulously. Robin shrugged again, raising her hands. “Look, all I’m saying is he’s explained to me his fantasies about Han Solo…” Eddie laughed, “He has fantasies about Han Solo?” Robin nodded, “Yup,” She said, popping the ‘p’ “Heard ‘em myself.” 

“In my defense, Han Solo is hot, Rob.” Steve said groggily, sitting up, watching as Eddie swallowed nervously. “Don’t worry Eds. I like you too. Ever since you pressed that bottle to my neck, ‘n if I’m being honest, you holding Flo right now only makes it worse.” Steve explained tiredly, shifting until his head was resting on Eddie’s shoulder. “We’ll talk properly later.” He said, nuzzling in, missing the way Edddie’s face had turned bright red. Robin looked at the two, a grin spreading across her face, “Told ya. Say ‘Hello’ to parenthood, Munson.” She laughed, patting him on the back, and settling into the couch for a nap, or what seemed to be the activity of the day, Eddie decided, looking around at the sleeping bodies. He sighed, looking at Flo, “Nap time it is, huh, Kid?” He said, hoisting her up onto his shoulder, holding her in place, and resting his eyes with everyone else.  

—

When he woke up, Flo was no longer in his arms, and the kids and Robin were gone too, along with Steve, who he could hear in the kitchen, relaxing him a bit. He stood up, stretching his back, sighing as it popped and cracked from sleeping on the couch. 

He wandered into the kitchen, almost falling in love with the sight in front of him. Steve was holding Flo, dancing gently around the kitchen with her in his arms as he prepared a bottle. “G’mornin’ Eds!” Steve cheered, seeming much more rested than when he last saw him. Eddie arched an eyebrow, checking his watch, gasping lightly in surprise when he realized he’d slept through the night and into the next day, no wonder his back was all jacked up. Steve walked over to him, leaning against him, sighing as Eddie wrapped his arms around him and Flo. “I know we need to talk, but let me say this before we get all serious, I’m bisexual, this isn’t some type of experiment for me, I- I’m falling in love with you Eddie.” Steve looked up at him, tears brimming his eyes, Eddie sighed, leaning further into the hug. “Stevie. I’m falling in love with you too.” 

“Really?”

“Mhm. I’m gonna kiss you now.”

“Kay,” He said, meeting Eddie’s lips in a sweet kiss, minding the baby in his arms. They pulled a part with a smooch, “We’re gonna have to get Rob to babysit,” Eddie said before leaning in to place another peck on Steve’s lips.

“Oh gross!” 

Eddie turned around, looking at Robin and the kids who’d let themselves in, holding bags of what Eddie could only guess was the holy grail of Mcdonalds breakfast. “Oh shit, breakfast?” Robin rolled her eyes, handing him the bag, “Here you go, you animal.”