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The relief Eddie feels when Steve agrees to stay is almost like a drug itself. He still rolls a joint for each of them, of course.
The movie is just as bad as Gareth promised, and Eddie finds himself looking at Steve almost as much as he does at the screen. With just a few puffs in, he's loose-limbed and relaxed, chuckling at the more ridiculous of the director's choices. It's a little terrifying that they know how blood looks from their own experience, but they try not to think about it right now.
The movie is slowly coming to an end, when Eddie notices Steve's eyes drooping. He doesn't feel as tired himself, the adrenaline of their encounter fighting with his weed tolerance, but he imagines it took a lot of stress from Steve to come here. He's glad he could provide his friend with a safe space and comfort to finally relax. He plucks the almost finished joint out of his hand and Steve only blinks at him sleepily.
"It's okay man, you can sleep here," Eddie reassures him while snuffing the joint out. "I can play you the end tomorrow."
Steve makes a noise that sounds like agreement and wraps the borrowed flannel shirt (double borrowed, since eons ago it used to be Wayne's) tighter around himself.
Eddie watches him settle against the back of the couch and wonders what he can do to make this man feel loved and wanted. How he can overwrite whatever cruel thoughts the world has taught him. For now, all he can do is reach for the blanket on the back of the couch and hand it to Steve, who gratefully pulls it over himself.
====
The memories of going to sleep are hazy, but slowly Eddie comes to while scratching the dog sleeping next to him. He hums in contentment, happy to wake up close to a warm body, even if it's just a pet. He nuzzles against its nape while scratching along its spine, his senses slowly clearing up.
"I'm gonna go make breakfast," he says eventually. "I better see human Steve in the kitchen before I'm done."
Despite how cozy the bed is, he steps over the dog, whose tail pats loudly against the mattress. Eddie eyes him, unamused.
"I'm serious. Only humans are getting scrambled eggs on my watch."
Twenty minutes later, he's happy to see Steve sitting at his kitchen table, dressed in the same sweatpants from last night. His chest is bare, but he'll let it slide this time. He picks up a mug from the cupboard.
"How do you take your coffee, buddy?"
Both of them freeze.
Eddie lets out an awkward cough, pouring coffee into the mug.
"Sorry about that. Force of habit I guess. Uh, milk?"
"Yes, please." Steve nods so Eddie leaves enough space in the mug to pour in some milk. "No sugar."
Eddie nods, and he can feel Steve's stare on his back.
"I don't mind," he says, and Eddie whips around to stare at him. "You calling me that. It's nice."
Eddie hums, adding milk to the coffee.
"Yeah?" He cocks his head, handing him the mug. "Here you go, buddy. Enjoy," he says and reaches out to scratch the back of Steve's head.
He doesn't back down, even when he realizes what he's doing, and he can see that Steve reacts just as instinctually, leaning his head into the touch. But then he jolts away.
"Fuck, sorry."
Eddie frowns.
"Don't be sorry. You're my friend, just like the dog. I can scratch you a bit."
Steve doesn't look convinced. He sips on his coffee to focus his attention elsewhere.
"It's good, thank you," he says, licking his lips. "Shouldn't you be keeping an eye on the pan?"
"This conversation isn't over, Harrington!" Eddie declares, skipping back to the stove. Thankfully, he has a habit of making his eggs on a low fire so they turn out as creamy as possible. Scrambled eggs were the only thing in his life he was able to find patience for.
"Any plans for today?" he asks later as he sets the plates for Steve and himself. He pours them both more coffee, remembering to add milk to Steve's. He smiles at him thankfully.
"Not really," he shrugs. It looks like he's trying to find the right words without incriminating himself too much, so Eddie patiently waits for his next words. "All I've been doing lately is walking around the dog park, so..." he trails off.
He's implying that it's all been dog-Steve lately, human-Steve making no plans to hang out with his friends or go on dates. Eddie feels like it's his mission to change that. For whatever reason.
"We could start preparing for the end-of-summer party," he offers. "Make a grocery list and shit and go shopping."
"It's almost a month from now," Steve points out.
"Good, plenty of time for planning."
Steve just stares at him over the rim of his mug.
"Robin was going to help me," he says in the last-ditch attempt at being difficult.
Eddie raises his palms.
"And I'm not stepping on her toes, but you gotta spread your friend circle a bit, man. The more the merrier."
Steve sips on his coffee, thinking about Eddie's offer. Eventually, he nods.
"Okay. Do you have something to write on?"
Tags: @noodle-shenaniganery @jaytriesstrangerthings @imaginary-maggie-waggie @samsoble @croatoan-like-its-hot
@dragonmama76 @storyranger @scoops-aboy86
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there are no happy people.
One of the main themes of Alice’s books is that there are no happy people. In Solitaire, Tori says it and thinks it throughout the book, and Alice continues with that theme throughout all of their books. In solitaire, there are no happy people. Micheal isn’t happy, Charlie isn’t happy, Lucas isn’t happy, Becky isn’t happy, Tori isn’t happy. There are no happy people. Radio silence, there are no happy people. Aled isn't happy, Frances isn't happy, Dan isn't happy, Carys isn't happy. There are no happy people. Loveless, there are no happy people. Pip isn't happy, Rooney isn't happy, Sunil isn't happy, Jason isn’t happy, Georgia isn’t happy. There are no happy people. In I was born for this, there are no happy people. Rowan isn't happy, Juliet isn't happy, Angel isn't happy, Lister isn't happy, Jimmy isn't happy. There are no happy people. Heartstopper, there are no happy people. Nick isn't happy, Tao isn't happy, Elle isn't happy, Tara isn't happy, Darcy isn't happy, Charlie isn’t happy. There are no happy people. In every one of Alice’s novels, she starts with a character who isn't happy and knows it, who isn't happy and doesn’t know what to do about it or how to help it. And then throughout the novels, the character learns more about the people around them and realizes that, there are no happy people. Everyone they thought was happy and had perfect lives, doesn’t. And then towards the end of the novel, the character feels less alone in their sadness because they realize they are not the only one. There are no happy people, and that’s what can make the not-happy people happy again.
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