Chapter 6

Dustin and Mike spent almost an hour asking Eddie questions about his condition and what they could do to help him. Steve Stepped out onto the patio to clear his head and get away from all the noise. He breathed in the cool summer air and tried to relax. His mind couldn't stop thinking about Eddie's bite on his neck. Though the wound had vanished, he still felt a tingle from where Eddie's lips had been. He absentmindedly rubbed the spot as he stared out over the pool.

The part that scared him most is that he hadn't hated it. Yeah, getting your throat ripped up hurt, but it was Eddie, and for some reason that changed things. It was like his whole body had gone alight. A jolt of excitement before the pain registered in his brain.

He shook the thought away, trying to think of literally anything else. Why was he having these thoughts about a boy? And Eddie of all people? They were nothing alike with hardly anything in common. He was just so confused about what it all meant. Was he gay now? No, he still loved Nancy, even if he'd let her go. Plus, he'd always liked girls. That was never up for debate. So why did being around Eddie make him feel the same as when a hot girl gave him the time of day?

"Fuck." Steve breathed, to himself. 'I'm completely fucked aren't I' he thought as he ran his fingers through his hair.

"Harrignton, Dustin and Mike bounced." Eddie said from the doorway, leaning against the frame.

"Hey…um cool. Should we try and get some more sleep?" Steve asked, trying to hide the nervous quiver of his voice.

"I don't think I'm gonna be able to after all that excitement, but you're welcome to." Eddie replied with a smirk.

"I'm not sure I could if I wanted to honestly. My head is just spinning right now." Steve answered. The thought of trying to sleep next to Eddie again after his realization caused his stomach to do flips.

Eddie strode out of the doorway towards Steve and stood next to him. He glanced at Steve's face, which was distant. He was worrying his bottom lip in thought.

"Are you okay?" Eddie asked earnestly. He wanted to just reach out and touch

Steve, but he held himself back. Now really didn't seem like the time and he was starting to think that maybe these small touches were more than that to him, which made him so confused. He thought maybe it wasn't normal to feel like this about a friend, and that thought scared him to no end.

"I'm fine. I told you." Steve said, sounding almost angry at the question.

"I don't mean physically Steve. I can see you're 'fine', but I mean in your head." Eddie retorted, knocking his elbow against Steve's playfully. A sudden jolt fired through him at the touch and his breath stopped short.

Steve sighed and leaned closer to Eddie, his face still facing the view. "I just… I don't know how to deal with all this stuff." Steve said, the anger having left his voice vacant. "I keep having all these thoughts that make me question everything about myself." Steve was trying to keep it vague. He really didn't have the courage to tell Eddie about his most recent confusion about his feelings. He couldn't risk losing him right now, and Eddie was just a friend. A good friend, who he liked to hold hands with. He sighed again glancing at Eddie.

"What kind of thoughts?" Eddie inquired, his own confusing thoughts rushing into his mind again.

"Just… Stuff." Steve answered simply, shrugging his shoulders. He was such a coward. He could fight off crazy monsters all day, but tell his friend he might like him more than a friend? That was far too terrifying to handle right now.

"Well, I'm not one to pry, but if you wanna talk about it at all I'm here for you man." Eddie placed a hand on Steve's back and rubbed it soothingly before turning to head inside.

Realizing Eddie was leaving Steve turned, panic leaking into his voice. "I'm still glad you're here." He said, cursing how frantic he sounded. "Even after all that shit that happened. I'm still really happy you're here." He said more calmly, trying to even out his breathing.

"I'm happy to be here." Eddie returned, pausing and turning his head to look at Steve. His eyes looked sad, like he'd hoped for something more to be said, but he continued inside.

Steve sighed and decided to follow Eddie inside, shutting the door behind him.

"Are you hungry?" Steve asked, walking to the kitchen.

"Starving, but I don't think you're gonna want to volunteer to feed me." Eddie replied, half joking. "Regular food doesn't really seem to sit well with me anymore." he quipped, patting his stomach.

"Ah shit, yeah I guess we're gonna have to figure that out." Steve hissed in a breath and ran his hand through his hair. "It's not super likely we're gonna be able to nab anything from the hospital. It's packed with people after the earthquake. They need all the blood they can get." Steve pondered. He pursed his lips and looked over at Eddie, raising his eyebrows.

"What?" Eddie asked, confused before it dawned on him. "No, absolutely not! I am not drinking from you Harrington! I could kill you for fuck's sake!" Eddie had his hands in front of him like he was pushing something away, shaking his head. If he drank from Steve again there was no telling what would happen. He wasn't sure he could stop himself from ripping out the other boy's neck a second time, but his stomach still ached with hunger, though not as bad as it had been before.

"It doesn't really seem like you have much of an option at this point." Steve responded with a wicked grin. He certainly wouldn't mind that feeling again, and maybe it would tide over these feelings he was having about Eddie. Maybe if he got used to the touch they would subside, and he could just go back to being normal again.

"Steve I… I can't… I don't know if I can stop. I don't want to hurt you." Eddie replied, unable to meet Steve's eyes anymore. He would rather starve than hurt Steve again, especially on purpose. No matter how right it had felt in the moment, taking in his delicious smell and pressing his body against his…

Eddie shook himself out of his thoughts and felt himself starting to blush.

"You will." Steve said, his voice confident and strong in his decision. He'd be damned if he was going to let Eddie starve, just because his circumstances had changed. He'd made the ultimate sacrifice and now it was Steve's turn to take on that burden. He grabbed a knife from the block and held it up in front of his face, raising his brows at Eddie. "So, am I gonna do this, or are you?" He asked in a serious tone.

'Fuck he's going to be the end of me' Eddie thought to himself before striding to Steve. Stopping a few mere inches from his face. He held out his hand for Steve's wrist.

When Steve obliged, placing his exposed wrist in the other boy's hand Eddie licked his lips. He was so fucking hungry, and Steve smelled so good. Eddie gingerly brought Steve's wrist to his mouth, gently brushing his lips against it, causing the other boy to shiver. He met Steve's unfocused gaze with a smile and bit down on the tender flesh.

The rush of blood nearly made Eddie black out. It was so warm and spicy. Like the best apple cider, spiked with whiskey. Euphoria rushed through him, like he'd just downed 3 shots in a row. He moaned into Steve's wrist as he gulped down mouthful after mouthful.

Steve held back a groan as Eddie bit him. His head fell back as the jolt of pain was followed by a feeling of bliss. He bit his lip to prevent any sounds from escaping his lips as Eddie lapped at his wrist. The moan that escaped Eddie drove him crazy. 'Fuck this is back firing' Steve thought to himself as Eddie slowed his drinking.

Eddie was feeling better, sated at least and he let his drinking slowly come to a stop. He retracted his teeth and gently licked the punctures he'd created on Steve's wrist and looked up.

Steve's face looked like he'd just smoked a bowl, his features serine. "Didn't realize you were into this kind of thing Harrington." He whispered his words a touch sultrier than intended.

Hearing the other boy speak, Steve opened his eyes and righted his head.

"I'm not 'into that sort of thing'" Steve replied. "It just… feels good. Not like you expect bleeding out to feel." He took his wrist back, rubbing his opposite thumb over the already closing wound.

Eddie smirked, revealing a perfect dimple and chuckled lightly. "Well, I'm happy I could be of service." He continued to flirt, winking at Steve.

"Are you… full?" Steve asked. He wasn't even lightheaded yet. Usually even donating blood made him a little lightheaded.

"Enough." Eddie replied, licking his lips clean of blood.

"Are you sure? Because I'm still fine." Steve countered, offering up his wrist again.

"Yeah, I'm not hungry anymore." Eddie replied, brushing Steve's offered wrist away. "At least not for that." he said, jokingly raising his brow in innuendo.

Steve smirked and shrugged.

"What? No witty come back or eye roll?" Eddie asked, confused at the lack of pushback on his teasing. Usually, Harrington got all worked up at those sorts of jokes. He at least expected a smartass comment or quip about how he 'didn't roll that way' or something.

Steve seemed to catch himself, realizing how that looked. "Um… well I… can't help you in that department." He said in a weak attempt to recover. He busied himself with washing his wrist in the sink.

Eddie eyed him for a second and reached to turn off the water. "Have I at last genuinely embarrassed the great Harrigton?" Eddie queried in a tone of fake amazement.

"No. I just didn't have anything to say to that." Steve retorted as he dried his wrist off with a towel.

"You always have something to say Harrington." Eddie countered. He could see Steve starting to sweat. He was nervous? What did he have to be nervous about? He was Steve Harrington. Popular, rich, good-looking Steve Harrington, king of Hawkin's high.

"Well not this time Munson. I'm tired alright?" Steve was obviously getting agitated by all Eddie's questioning, but that made Eddie want to push that much more.

"You're not that tired. You thought about it." Eddie's smirk widened into a wicked grin as he placed his elbows on the counter across from Steve.

'Fuck. He can't know.' Steve thought. He was starting to panic. He could NOT admit that was exactly what had happened. This wasn't him. He didn't get flustered like this. He was Steve Harrington for fuck's sake.

"Thought about what." He said fainting disinterest. While placing the towel nonchalantly on the counter.

"Being hungry for something other than food." Eddie replied coyly, raising his brows.

"I'm a guy, of course I do." Steve said, pretending to be ignorant of Eddie's deeper meaning.

"With me." Eddie gestured to himself, still shirtless and dressed only in the pj pants Steve had lent him when he realized they were both still in just boxers when Dustin and Mike had come by.

Steve snickered "As if Munson." he replied, trying to hide the blush he could feel spreading across his cheeks at that moment.

He gleaned up from the counter to see Eddie wearing a shit-eating grin.

"Fuck off." Steve said, giving up on the endeavor all together.

"I have too, Steve." Eddie said, his grin faltering. Steve's breath came out in a whoosh like he'd been punched in the gut.

"What?"