Eddie looked up from his campaign notes as someone knocked on the door. He glanced at the clock and frowned. Who the hell was calling on him at eleven at night? His eyes widened when he opened the door to find his boyfriend beaten and bloody, swaying on the doorstep.

"Holy shit, Steve!" Eddie caught him as he stumbled inside and took the bag from his hand, tossing it aside. He guided Steve to the sofa and sat him down. Then he got a firm hold on his chin and tilted his head towards the light, wincing as the wounds were thrown into sharp relief. "What happened?"

Steve mumbled something but almost immediately started coughing.

"Okay, let me get some things." Eddie grabbed the first aid kit and a glass of water. "Drink." He pressed the glass into Steve's hands and set to work cleaning him up.

It wasn't as bad as he'd originally feared. With the blood cleaned up, he could see several nasty cuts on Steve's face and he'd have a shiner for a while but the rest of his body seemed intact. With the cuts cleaned and taped together, Eddie rocked backwards and squeezed his thighs.

"What happened?"

"My dad..." Steve winced as his voice came out croaky and drank some more, clearing his throat. "I told him, about us."

"You... what?" Eddie asked in stunned disbelief. "You told your parents?"

Steve nodded and managed a wry smile. "Yeah. As you can see, he isn't happy about having a queer for a son. Well, his words were 'I don't have a son anymore' but you get the gist."

"I'm so sorry."

"Don't be. I'd rather have you than pretend to be something I'm not." Steve's smile softened into something more real as he reached out to cradle Eddie's face. His thumb ran gently across his cheekbone. "But uh, I do have a request."

"Yeah?"

"Can I crash here? Just until I can find a place to stay, I kinda got kicked out."

"They kicked you out?!"

"Yep. Gave me an ultimatum. Either I broke up with you or they'd cut all ties with me. And I'm not planning to break up with you anytime soon."

Despite the seriousness of the situation, Eddie felt ridiculously happy. There had always been a small voice at the back of his head saying Steve would leave him eventually, that he'd never tell people about their relationship and it would always be a secret. He was glad to have that stupid voice proven wrong.

"You can stay as long as you want, son." They both turned to see Wayne in the narrow hallway.

"I'm sorry, Wayne, I didn't mean to wake you."

Wayne frowned at Steve then moved forward to pat his shoulder. "I mean it, you're always welcome here. I know your dad ain't much of a man or got any love in him. Don't think we'd ever turn you away for being who you are."

Steve's good eye filled with tears and he quickly wiped his face. "Thank you."

"Go get some rest, we'll sort everything out in the morning."

Eddie helped Steve into his bedroom and kissed him chastely. "I'll be right there." He said when Steve grabbed his arm. "Just gonna grab something for the pain."

"Don't be long." Steve sounded so small and fragile that Eddie could only nod and hurry away. Wayne was still in the kitchen and Eddie hugged him tightly. "Thank you."

"No need to thank me, I'm only doing what's right." Wayne patted him on the back and then handed him a fresh glass of water and painkillers. "Get these in him."

Eddie nodded and started back towards his room.

"Eds?"

"Yeah?"

Wayne smiled and nodded at his bedroom door. "He's a keeper that one, don't let him go."

Eddie smiled so wide it hurt. "Wouldn't dream of it. Night Wayne."

"Goodnight, kiddo."

Steve smiled sleepily as he sat next to him. "Hey."

"Hey, come on, sit up and have these." Eddie helped him with the painkillers and gently rested him back against the pillows. Steve dropped off almost immediately.

He stripped to his underwear and switched off the light, climbing in beside his sleeping boyfriend. Even in sleep Steve still moved closer and slung an arm over his waist. Eddie smiled and kissed his forehead. Steve was definitely a keeper.