camarod | - INBOX -

[ Not even going to argue it anymore.

Later, once his braincells have remerged: ]

I don't want to go out with my back hurting, can you come over? I'll make mac n cheese.

gimme an hour to shower, been a busy one. you need anything? painkillers?

[he's less than an hour, really. showers the mess off himself, dresses in his nicest, tightest jeans and a silk shirt he leaves open, as usual. He dresses up nice because hell, he's celebrating Steve's virginity loss.

He does grab some painkiller - some energy drinks too. Billy's nothing if not knowledgeable in how to get your energy back post-railing. ]

2 mins

[ Steve's apartment is, all things said, a breath of fresh air from the claustrophobic (but homely) den that Eddie has created. The windows are open and sheer curtains drift with a warm breeze, the scent of cooking cheese and pasta filling the apartment. Steve wears sweatpants and a new lilac tshirt, taking it easy since his lower body is punishing him for letting Eddie rearrange his guts for half the night, and he texts back quickly. Door's open.

Dark purple lovebites litter his neck, a large one under his ear where Eddie learned how to get him off with minimal effort. ]

[There's a cigarette lit in his mouth when he opens the door, sunglasses perched on his nose and hair a little mussed from the ride over. He gives a low whistle when he slides the glasses off, moving into Steve's space with a grin that says i'm so proud of you. The closer he gets the more he sees, ignores that lingering desire to touch the marks. To see more.

It passes: he drops the painkillers onto the counter, takes a seat at it and fits his tongue against his teeth as he tracks the little purple sparks across Steve's neck properly. ] He went to town on you.

Yeah, yeah, Laugh it up ...

[ Unable not to smile, he shakes his head and gratefully accepts the painkillers with a nod. When he reaches up into a cupboard for a glass his clothes ride open, revealing another lovebite beside his hip. ]

Seriously though, he has way more energy than he lets on. I don't know where he gets it from.

[Oh, yes, hello there - ]

Pretty sure it's the drugs, man. [He looks away fast before Steve turns around, this is already weird enough territory. ] Or the ADD.

Both, more than likely. Hey, those shirts I promised are on the back of that stool next to you, by the way.

[ A black one from Eddie and a pale stripy blue from Steve. He actively doesn't think about all the ways he supports his friends. ]

Why are you wearing silk? You came over to eat cheese. Get over here, plate yourself up, it's done.

[ There may be chunks of broccoli and bacon in there too. Steve has an appetite today. ]

I need an excuse to wear silk? Geez.

[It smells good. Smells real unhealthy and amazing, like the kind of thing Neil would never let him have. Up he gets to plate up, goes for the broccoli like a man possessed and glances, briefly, to the shirts. Wonders if he is straight up losing his mind. ]

- Thanks. Not sure when I'll get round to it, but, you know.

All yours, keep them. I insist.

[ Support doesn't mean he wants details! Not primly, anyway. ]

Do you want your present now or after we've eaten?

I'm not gonna jizz on your shirt, relax.

[Promise!] Yeah, yeah. Let me see what I've got.

I thought that was the whole point?

[ But, fine. Be a mysterious porn star. Steve plucks a brown bag off the counter, handing it over with the little Artificer inside, guns ablazing at the mini's sides. ]

Since you're Mister All-American ... seemed appropriate.

Nah, nah - they like it better if it’s on skin. I mean who doesn’t.

[ what a totally regular conversation to have with his good pal Steve.

He plucks the mini out - tries very hard to have a normal reaction. Finds himself snorting, appalled and then he softens, touched. ]

Thanks, man. The guns really sell it.

[ Gross. Rolling his eyes as he takes his pasta to the breakfast bar, he eats while watching Billy open his stupid little gift. ]

Thought it was a good pun. [ Pretty witty, if he does say so himself. ] So, aside from the obvious rolling around covered in various fluids, what have you been up to? You good?

No it’s - yeah. Great. [perhaps this is the moment he realises this is going to be a problem. sitting at Steve’s breakfast bar with pasta, a dumb little gift and a smile that won’t break. his insides do something new that feels like a flip, or a dip, or something. ]

I’m real good too. Bored shitless sometimes, but it’s - not exactly super hero material over here.

You sure about that? Your dick's sure working overdrive, maybe it got a power boost.

[ Someone's a little cheekier today, chomping his pasta. ]

The power to come three times in a row? I can see the headlines now.

[The pasta is good, and he will demonstrate this by finishing the whole thing -]

Only three?

[ If a man could look aloof while eating pasta ...

Three spaced out, maybe, but he's all wrung dry for the day and night ahead potentially. Possibly. Eddie may have fried his perception of time while they were rolling around. ]

Not all of us have the benefit of Munson’s generosity.

[does Billy look like he’s being fingered, etc etc.]

[ Blushing, he doesn't deny it. Eddie is ... good. A good person, as well as generous and kind, and it makes Steve feel all kinds of ways.

Tapping the last of his pasta around his bowl, Steve looks made up with how things are going and admits, ]

He said, sort of accidentally, that he loves me.

[ Pasta has never been gazed at so tenderly. ]

Feels like the floor is getting farther and farther away from me, I don't know if that makes sense. It's kind of wild.

[The thing in his gut goes again; twists sharp in a way that doesn’t feel like jealousy. It feels frighteningly like longing, like a fragile dichotomy between that and happiness. He’s just getting used to happiness, too, and the longing throws him.

It’s probably not fine, after all. Still, he keeps his grin.]

Careful, that’s a lot of big moves at once.

I don't do things by halves, apparently.

[ He remembers Eddie chastising him for not being tactful enough around Billy, Billy's crush more accurately, and looks up with guilt faintly seeping into a frown. ]

You don't have to listen to this. I'm rambling, sorry. I didn't ask you over to ... I don't know, be an audience.

You want me to a brag too? Make it a little less weird?

[he could. it wouldn’t stop the turbulence, but he could.]

No! No, I get it. I just ... feel like we both have Eddie in common so talking about him is easy with you.

It’s fine. I’m happy for you or whatever.

[and like he is. he gives a shit about them both in a way he isn’t really used to and yeah, shit, it’s nice to be trusted. ]

Brag away.

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