This one is romantic. If you don't like, don't read. If you do, here's a first. Enjoy!
Steve still doesn't make a habit of sitting with him at lunch or driving him home on his Vespa. That is still too obvious, too much for people to read into. But outside of school, things are very much different. They may take separate ways home, but nine out of ten times they meet up afterwards, whether it be for creepslayerz business or just to hang out.
On this particular day they wait until nightfall and then Steve comes around, throwing rocks at Eli's window per usual. Time and again Eli tells the idiot it is completely unnecessary, but his only response is a lopsided grin. Tonight is no different. Eli supposes that is why he too doesn't change his habit. He climbs out his window and hops to the ground. His mother knows about their friendship and late night shenanigans, yes, but there is a kind of thrill about sneaking out like this.
"Want to go to the football field?" Steve tilts his head. It's easier to get there than the clearing. He doesn't feel up to trekking through the woods.
Eli frowns. "Isn't there a ball game tonight?" Besides, there's always a risk they'll set the alarms off if they aren't careful.
Steve blows out a breath. "Yeah, you're right." He completely forgot about that. Friday's have gone from being the best day to being one of the worst. Stupid games. "Isn't there somewhere else we can go? Somewhere less…troll infested?" Since Gunmar took over Heartstone there is no telling where trolls might be in the forest. And really that is the more pressing issue than having to put in the effort to tromp through the woods.
Eli folds a hand around his elbow and leans his chin against his clenched fist. "I mean…" he says slowly, "what about your house?" He shrugs. "Isn't coach at the game?"
Steve claps. "That's right! Which means mom'll be there too. Perfect, Peppers." He nudges him with his elbow.
Eli stumbles and rubs at the spot, but smiles nonetheless.
"Let's go." Steve hurries down the street toward the Vespa. Despite how much Eli's parents have taken to him, prison mom still isn't too keen on his Vespa and so any time they go out he has to park it a couple blocks away just in case.
They jump on and make it to Steve's house in record time. Eli has become steadily more comfortable with the vehicle and what started out as cruises has escalated to the point they zoom to their destinations. "You go in and turn all the lights off, alright?" Eli says as he wanders to the backyard. "It'll be more like we're out of the city the darker we can make it."
Steve does as he is told quick enough and exits to the back to find Eli sitting in the middle of the yard. Eli's eyes shine as he stares with wide eyed captivation at the stars twinkling above them. Steve asks, "Do you know the shapes?" He sits next to Eli, his gaze never leaving the boy.
Eli doesn't blink nor does he look Steve's way. "You mean constellations?" he giggles.
Steve smiles. "Yeah, those thingies."
"Yeah!" Eli bounces once and jerks a hand up to point. "See those?" He traces the stars. "If you look hard, it kind of looks like a bear, yeah?" He peers in Steve's direction.
Steve follows Eli's finger, really taking in the sight. "Yeah," he breathes, a spark of intrigue lighting in his own eyes.
Eli beams. "It's called the Ursa Major. And inside it, there's a smaller set, well, okay, it's actually not a constellation, it's an asterism, but it's called the Big Dipper." He points it out. "It's the tail of the bear."
Steve chuckles, a fond smile softening his face. "Know any others?" He doesn't care what the nerd talks about. Sometimes he just likes the sound of his voice.
"Well, there's Orion too, but that's a winter constellation so you can't see it right now." He begins to notice his arm getting heavy from holding it up too long and switches them, resting his other on the billowy grass. Only the texture isn't right. It's rough and doesn't give beneath his hand and-he snaps his eyes down- it's Steve.
Steve starts and blinks down at the presence. He doesn't move, he doesn't even breathe.
Eli jerks his hand away and goes rigid, his face turning red. "S-Sorry! I didn't-I mean, I wasn't-" his words stumbles over each other.
Steve lifts his gaze to meet Eli's. For a beat he is quiet and his expression blank, fully aware of just how important his next choice is. Then he smiles. "It's okay." His heart beats a little faster as he reaches for Eli's hand, his hand swallowing Eli's whole.
Eli stares wide eyed for a long moment, his mind reeling. "O-Okay," he squeaks. True, he'd always hoped that something like this would come about, but he had shoved such possibilities into the truly crazy section of his brain, somewhere not even trolls occupied.
Steve squeezes Eli's small hand and releases it, resting his hand on the ground once more. He pretends to be looking at the sky again, but that couldn't be farther from the truth. He is ever attune to Eli and the decision he has to make.
Eli eyes Steve's hand. He was all but told to go on ahead. He swallows hard. Alright. He reaches out, this time with purpose, and lays his hand over Steve's. He waits with baited breath for this fragile moment to shatter.
Steve smirks as he watches Eli so beside himself. "Which planet is it that we can see from here?" He does his best to relax him.
Eli blinks. "Oh, um, Venus. It's the brightest. That one." Steve hasn't pulled away, so he dares to go a bit further. It isn't much, but he laces his fingers with Steve's and it sends his heart aflutter.
Steve turns his head in the opposite direction of Eli in a vain attempt to hide the blush rising in his own cheeks, but holds his gaze on Eli. The boy's green eyes are particularly soft and brilliant right now, offset by the blush in his cheeks. "You sure it's not a satellite?"
Eli puffs his lips out, but the sentiment lacks the usual pout. "I'm never wrong."
Steve smiles to himself. "I know you aren't." There's no one smarter.
Depending on how well this one does I may do more that are more on the romantic side. We'll see. Please review!