“I feel relaxed around you, princess.”
Steve hums, blinks a few times, drowsy and content. He nuzzles his nose against Billy’s chin, who huffs and puffs a bit, trying to blow a brown strand of hair away that tickles and turns the page in whatever fantasy novel Dustin had lent him this week.
“Yeah?” A smile forms on Steve’s lips around that one soft question.
There is no need for Billy to tell him, no need to spill out what Steve can feel so intensely in his boyfriend’s soft posture, melting together with him in all the right ways, in the warm arm thrown around his neck and the cold toes wormed under his tights. There is no need for Billy to tell him, but that he does shows how far they have come -
- how far from Billy being alone and screaming his anger at the world, fighting his own monster, the one that tainted his soul rotten and his skin black
- how far from Steve being heartbroken and numbing his sadness in childish chatter, fighting rotten monsters for a chance not to die alone
- how far from dying
- from breaking
“Yeah.” Billy’s soft breath tickles over the sunny spot on Steves nose.
They have come so far. Surrounded by sunshine in their own apartment. Surrounded by friends who do care about them, both of them. Surrounded by love.
Steve twists his body and curls closer, tucking Billy’s chin down for a soft and chaste kiss, lips lingering, breath mixing, smiles matching.
“Good.”
