Listen, I love Steddie being all cute and sweet together. Of course I do. But I feel like we don’t let them be weird enough sometimes. Like sickeningly sweet and strange. I’m talking annoyingly into each other in front of their friends. Butterfly kisses. Baby talk. Meowing at each other. Making their friends cringe at how awkward it is to be in a room with them. You know, true love.
Eddie plopped onto the couch, even making Steve bounce a little as he did.
“What’re we watchin’?”
“Some new documentary everyone at work was raving about”, Steve answered. “Popcorn?”
“What’s it about?”
“I don’t think popcorn has a specific creed or anything.”
“The doc you doof”, Eddie grinned.
“Hmm, try again.”
“The doc, you shimmering, gleaming diamond of a man who I have pledged myself to for all eternity.”
“Better. And I don’t know, they just said it’s about some new historic find”, Steve shrugged.
“I think if it’s that big a deal we would’ve been there.” Eddie grabbed a handful of popcorn.
“Says the guy who took sooo long to pack we missed one of the biggest ships in the world.”
Eddie’s eyes got wide and he turned his full body to Steve even as the show was starting. “Are you still angry at me for making us miss the Titanic?”
“I’m glad we didn’t get on in the end, but we had a good cabin. And I spent a full week scheduling my outfits to coordinate.”
“Only you could find a reason to be mad about not being on a sunken ship.”
“Shh, they’re explaining.”
“We’ve used the most up to date forensics and if we’re correct, this couple has been writing love letters for over a century”, said one of the historians.
The narrator added, “While this box of letters was found in the 1950s, the notes are dated back to the 1910s.”
“That could be us", Eddie teased.
Steve’s jaw had dropped. “That is us.”
Eddie blinked in confusion and turned back to the screen, eyes squinting as the camera panned over love letters. A historian held up a drawing of a nude young man that was censored for audiences.
“This pair of lovers wrote back and forth and a few are even accompanied by some of this tasteful artwork.”
Steve slapped Eddie’s arm. “I told you the movers forgot a box!”
“Ow! Clearly you weren’t missing it, it’s been at a museum for years!”
“Now everybody who watches netflix has seen that drawing”, Steve bemoaned.
Eddie watched as the historians went through more of their things, trying to piece together their eternal lives. “Well, she did say it was tasteful. And I have to agree.”
“I know you like it. It was only meant for you.” Steve crossed his arms.
“Imagine me, being so far away, learning a new trade. And I open up the mail and get a gift like that”, Eddie leaned over and moved some of Steve’s hair to kiss behind his ear.
“Yeah, well, I didn’t want you to get lonel-is that my wedding ring?!”, Steve pushed Eddie away and stood up to get a closer look at the tv. “I’m calling those collectors right now!”
While he stomped off with his phone to try and figure out who to contact, Eddie’s eyes narrowed again.
“That was when we got hitched in the 30s! The one I got you now is way better! Steve! Steve?”
Thinking of Steve who’s washing machine broke, so he has to go to the city’s laundromat. It’s late, he didn’t expect anyone to be there. But he notices Eddie Munson sitting on one of the empty chairs, reading.
Steve debates whether he wants to just turn, leave and save this embarrassment for later but he really needs those clean clothes. It’s been long overdue.
So he goes and reads the manual on how to start the washing cycle. He sets up the timer, puts in the change and nothing happens. He’s almost about to panic, because he didn’t bring more change. He re-reads the instructions again. He did everything correct.
“You need to double check the door,” a voice says behind him.
“Huh?”
“Sometimes it doesn’t close properly.” It’s Eddie, he appears from behind Steve, pulls on the door handle and slams it back shut. The laundromat beeps and starts.
“Oh. Thanks,” Steve says but Eddie is already on the way back to his chair.
The cycle is set to 40 minutes. After that Steve can put the clothes into the dryer or just take and air dry them at home. Which would be less convenient but at least he will not have to die of boredom. He drums his fingers on his thighs.
There’s only two machines running, his and Eddie’s. He wonders how many times a week does Eddie go here. He shoots him a glance. Eddie’s now scribbling something into a big notebook.
Steve looks back at the laundromat. How the fuck is he going to survive 40 minutes. He didn’t think of bringing anything with him. He could theoretically go to his car. Hide in there until it’s over…
“Wanna play cards?” Eddie calls, holding a deck in his hand.
And god, Steve would do anything right now to not be bored.
—
I just need Steve figuring out laundry, meeting Eddie there from time to time by accident, before they set up actual landry meetings, they spend the time playing games. And oh well… falling in love in the process.
Follow up since the reactions have been so funny. Very important that people know the pink trainers are called “pink beans” in Japanese. How delightful!!!!!
Hi, I'm Nitro (Haley for irl friends). Previous url: jolteonerrex502. My life revolves around tv, movies, and video games. I'm currently obsessed with: Steddie (Stranger Things) and Monster High. I was born in 1993. I live in MA, USA. Transmasc non binary. Aroace. They/he.
