#away. the thought of cool being so applicable to both of them 💔

[loveinhawkins]

yes it was my headcanon & I am in love with this, just as i am with your sondheim lover Steve thoughts & further west side story thoughts, & I will be thinking about “I wanted to know how it felt,” & “Easy, Action,” forever ❤️❤️❤️

Watching West Side Story and thinking of Sondheim Fan Steve and theater kid Eddie who did the show at some point (I think this was @loveinhawkins’s hc?) and here we are— “I played Action, once.” “What?” Steve answers, as if that sentence doesn’t tilt his entire world on its axis. “When?” Eddie flips onto his back, his tee shirt creeping up the long, pale expanse of his torso. “Middle school-ish? I think I was 12.” “Why don’t I remember this?” “It was before I moved here.” His arm is thrown over his eyes, his voice even. He chuckles. “I wasn’t even into theater. My dad thrust me into it cause it meant I’d have something to do after school, eheh.” Something sharp wrenches in Steve’s guts. “Kinda a weird production for a middle school,” he says. “Some adult themes, right?” “It was a community theater. I was the youngest member of the cast.” “A community theater cast you as Action?!” Eddie laughs. “The casting director was trying to make a point. “ He raises his arms, flops his hands to fall over his wrists. “Look at this sweet boy. Isn’t he so young. Isn’t he so misunderstood? Isn’t this all so tragic?” He pauses. “I think…she was trying to tell me something.” He clicks his tongue. “I didn’t get it then.” Steve rolls onto his side, settles his hand on the side of Eddie’s face. “Show me?”

Eddie’s eyes are huge and glittering. “Show you what, baby?” Baby knifes though him. He slides to the floor. He slides his hand to curl around the nape of Eddie’s neck. “I auditioned for Anita once,” Steve giggles. “They thought it was joke, and I guess it was a little. But I wanted it. I wanted.” He pulls Eddie closer. “Show me?” Eddie’s breath comes out in short, impatient bursts. His back arches; he melts into the supportive touch of Steve’s hand on his lower back.

“I auditioned for Maria,” he murmurs. “Mm?” “I wanted…” He pushes his face into Steve’s chest. “I wanted to know how it felt.” “What, baby?” “How it felt to be loved.” His laugh vibrates against the base of Steve’s throat. “Sad, right?” Steve feels him trying to pull back. He crosses his wrists to lock at the top of his spine, his fingers crawling into his hair.  “Easy, Action,” he whispers, and kisses him.