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Pillows on the Floor

Sicktember Day 25:  Confused/Disoriented

Stranger Things: Steve Harrington/ Eddie Munson

Words: 500 | Rating: M | CW: mild cursing, mentions of violent nightmares, effects of violent nightmares, mentions of blood and physical harm

@sicktember

Summary: Steve is wary of sleeping next to Eddie again after Steve’s nightmare hurts the both of them.

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Eddie was already in bed when Steve exited the bathroom. In the soft lamp light of the bedroom, Steve could make out the healing scratches criss-crossed over Eddie’s arms. 

“You comin’ to bed?” Eddie asked. His brown eyes were filled with concern. 

“Not tonight.”

Eddie’s shoulders sagged. “Can you at least talk to me?”

Steve paused. He’d given Eddie the silent treatment for the past few days; all he could see when he looked at Eddie was how he’d hurt him. It’d been three nights of Steve sleeping downstairs.

Steve remembered the entire ordeal. He remembered the dream and how he’d been tied down, the buzzing of a bone saw in his ears. He remembered snapping awake screaming hoarsely, then arms around him, holding him. Steve was confined again, trapped again, and he thrashed to get away, to escape. Steve clawed at what held him, fighting against Eddie’s arms.

It wasn’t until Steve fell against the cold hardwood gasping in deep breaths that he heard Eddie’s pained moans from the bed. 

It wasn’t until Eddie clicked on the bedside lamp that Steve saw what he’d done.

“Steve?”

Eddie’s voice pulled Steve from the memory.

“It’s okay, they’re healing,” Eddie’s voice said gently.

“S’not that.” Steve’s voice was low, but he carefully sat on the edge of the bed next to Eddie. 

“Then what is it?”

Steve kept his gaze on the floor. “I freaked out, Eddie. I freaked and I hurt you.”

“I was the one that grabbed you,” Eddie admitted. “Stupid move, but I didn’t want you to fall head first off the bed. Wasn’t thinking.”

“You were trying to help, and I hurt you instead.”

Eddie reached his hand across the blanket, but paused halfway to Steve’s.

Steve glanced at Eddie’s hand and then slowly closed the distance between them as he poked Eddie’s hand with his own. 

They clasped their hands together, fingers intertwining and winding together. For a moment, Steve relished in Eddie’s presence.

Then, Steve spoke the words that kept fear cemented in his heart.

“It could be worse next time.” 

Eddie’s hand squeezed his hand in response and traced Steve’s knuckles gently. “We saw some dark shit over there. You more than me,” Eddie said. “And next time, maybe there’ll be pillows on the floor instead.”

Steve looked up suddenly in surprised confusion.  “Pillows on the floor?” “Yeah, if you’re going to be falling out of bed, you’ll at least land on something soft.”

Steve blinked. He’d never thought of that. “Like the couch cushions?” 

 “Actually, that would work. Want to try it?”

Steve nodded and so it was set up. As Steve carried a cushion and set it by the bed, he felt a weight shift and lift from him. 

He’d have something to catch him. 

The thought brought comfort, and it was easier to crawl into bed next to Eddie. It was easier to nudge into Eddie’s embrace.

In Eddie’s arms, Steve found sleep easier than he had in a long time.