#and Eddie declares rabbits the most metal little fuckers on the planet

[steddie-there]

Steve has wanted a rabbit since he was five years old and his kindergarten class went to the zoo and he got to hold a small grey rabbit with the softest ears imaginable.

He even asked his parents for one. But his mother said it was "frivolous" and why would he want such a dirty barnyard animal anyway? And his father said no son of his would ever own such a prissy little animal in the most disgusted tone of voice that Steve never asked again.

But now he and Eddie have their own apartment and he hasn't spoken to his parents in two years and when Eddie catches him staring wistfully at the little balls of fluff hopping around in the pet shop window one day, he manages to coax the whole story out of him. And when Eddie kisses him softly on the forehead like he always does when Steve shares some fucked up bit of his childhood, Steve feels another piece of his heart mend, like he always does when Eddie is soft with him.

What he doesn't expect is Eddie to then pull him into the pet shop and demand he pick whichever rabbit he wants. Or for Eddie to ask the girl working there what they'll need to keep a rabbit in their home. But he listens very attentively to everything she says and half an hour later, they're driving back home with a trunk full of hutch and litter box and food and toys and hay and the tiniest pet carrier on Eddie's lap.

He picks a black one, for Eddie's sake, although it has the littlest spot of white right in the middle of its bitty head, like a tiny kiss mark (Eddie's expression turns oh so soft when Steve says that). When Steve quietly asks Eddie what he thinks they should name it, Eddie immediately suggests Paul.

"Like Paul McCartney?" Steve asks, confused why Eddie would reference the Beatles.

"No, dude, like Paul Stanley, from KISS," Eddie says, accompanied by the most over dramatic "my boyfriend has no taste in music" eye roll.

And then they catch each other's eyes and start laughing so hard Steve almost has to pull the car over.

So now they have an apartment and a rabbit named Paul (McCartney/Stanley) and as they sit curled up together on the couch watching the little guy explore his new home, Steve doesn't think he's ever been happier.

Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7

ao3: And Rabbit Makes Three