#also Eddie dreams of staging a revolt and overthrowing the HOA

[solarmorrigan]

Warm Me Up

For the @steddie-spooktober day 21 prompt: "It's warm in here..." Rated: T | Words: 610 | CW: None | Tags: established relationship, modern AU, homeowners steddie, unfortunately they have a HOA, they are also disgustingly in love, fluff Divider credit: @steddiecameraroll-graphics

“It is unreasonably cold for October,” Eddie declares as he comes banging in through the front door, the redness in his nose and cheeks lending credibility to his claim. “Why did I have to rake the leaves today?”

Steve watches with amusement as Eddie sets about staggering out of his boots and shedding his numerous outer layers. It’s all well and good for Steve; today is his day off, and he’s been enjoying it to the fullest – that is, he’s been lying on the couch all afternoon with a blanket and the fall issue of Better Homes & Gardens (shut up, they have good recipes). Eddie, meanwhile–

“Someone had to rake them up before the HOA came after us,” Steve ignores Eddie’s reflexive hiss at the mention of their neighborhood Homeowner’s Association, “and you lost the coin toss.”

“I still think you cheated,” Eddie grumbles, hanging his coat on the coatrack and stomping over towards the couch in his sock feet and sweater.

“How?” Steve asks.

“Somehow,” Eddie decides, before tugging at the blanket spread over Steve’s legs. “Now let me in.”

Indulgently, Steve puts aside his magazine and lifts the blanket so Eddie can lay down on top of him, tucking the blanket back in around them both when he’s settled.

“Owning a house is for the birds,” Eddie says, his face buried in Steve’s chest.

“That’s not what you were saying when we first moved in,” Steve reminds him with a smirk. “If I remember, you were very excited to own a house. And christen just about every surface in it.”

Eddie harumphs into the fabric of Steve’s sweatshirt before looking up at him, chin balanced on Steve’s sternum. “I like you. Anywhere I get to be with you is a place I’m excited to be.”

“Not when you have to rake the leaves, though,” Steve says, because if he melted every time Eddie made a sweet, sweeping declaration of love like that, he’d never get anything done.

“Not when I have to rake the fucking leaves,” Eddie agrees vehemently. “I’m still cold.”

Steve’s intended reply—a pat on the head and a coo of “poor baby”—is lost when Eddie abruptly scooches downwards and disappears beneath the blanket.

“What’re you– hey!” Steve yelps as the hem of his sweatshirt is lifted and Eddie unceremoniously shoves his head in. “Will you get out of there? You’re– ohmygodyournoseiscold!”

From beneath Steve’s sweatshirt, where he’s just pressed the cold tip of his nose into the soft stretch of skin above Steve’s bellybutton, Eddie cackles. Steve smacks the vague shape of his head.

“Get out of there!”

“Nooo, don’t make me go,” Eddie whines, wrapping his arms around Steve’s hips and scooting a little further up under his shirt. “It’s warm in here.”

Steve huffs. “You’re stretching out my sweatshirt.”

“I’ll buy you a new one. I’ll buy you ten new ones. I’m cozy,” Eddie insists, nuzzling in against Steve’s sternum; his nose has warmed a bit by now, but the fan of his breath against his skin still makes Steve shiver.

Then, with a sigh and a roll of his eyes, Steve reaches up and tugs at the neck of his sweatshirt, scooting down until the fabric has gone up and over his head and he’s face to face with Eddie in the warm, shadowed space inside his shirt.

“Hi.” Eddie grins.

“Hi.” Steve can’t help but smile back.

Eddie closes the scant space between them, pressing his lips to Steve’s. “Fancy meeting you here,” he says as he pulls back.

“Well, I had to see for myself, but you’re right,” Steve admits, still smiling. “It is warm in here.”