The Harrington's had a log fire. It was so laughably predictable that Eddie had almost burst a blood vessel the first time he saw it, trying to keep his mouth shit. The fireplace dominated the living room, a neat pile of chopped wood at its side. Of course, Eddie didn't get to see it in action for a few months because his friendship with Steve grew in the summer. No point burning a fire when you're already sweating every waking moment of the day.

But summer faded into Autumn, and one day, Eddie woke up freezing cold to snow covering the trailer park like an ugly Christmas card. The roads were covered in grey sludge that soaked through Eddie's sneakers instantly, and by the time he reached Steve's house, he was shivering.

Steve opened the door, took one look at Eddie, and shook his head. "Why didn't you drive? You look like a wet cat."

"Engine crapped out on me," Eddie said irritably, pushing past Steve to the wonderfully warm inside. Their friendship was established enough that he could do that without being kicked out. To his delight, the fire was already going and Eddie hurried to sit in front of it, the shivers abating after a few minutes. "Oh, that's better. You know how to treat your guests, Stevie."

"Good thing, too. Have you lost any toes yet?"

"Nope. Fingers are good as well, thank you."

"Don't get too comfortable. The kids are coming over in an hour, and they'll kick you out."

Eddie groaned but took Steve's advice, staying as close as possible to the fire until the inevitable invasion. Sure enough, when they arrived, Eddie was turfed out within minutes and banished to the kitchen to join Steve, who was chuckling in amusement.

"I told you so."

"Brats."

"Says the one who's been hogging the fire for over an hour now." Steve shied away from Eddie when he poked his side, laughing. "Careful, or I'll spill the cookies!"

"Oh, well, we can't have that." And Eddie stole one with a wink.

The fire was on all afternoon and well into the evening, burning up the entire supply of logs. When Steve threw the last one in - because he wouldn't allow any of the kids to do it - he sighed and stood up, hands on hips. "I'll have to chop some more if this is gonna be a regular thing."

Robin waggled her eyebrows at Eddie, and he looked away, deciding that his cheeks were burning because of the heat, not a blush. "That should be fun."

Steve, who hadn't noticed the exchange, groaned. "It's a ball ache."

"Eddie will help!" Robin ignored Eddie, shaking his head behind Steve's back, and she added sweetly, "Won't you?"

He had no choice but to agree when Steve turned to him, hopefully. "Fine."

Bundled up in his jacket and a blanket, Eddie followed Steve into the back garden. It turned out that 'helping' meant keeping Steve company because he wasn't required to sit and talk while Steve chopped the wood. But Eddie soon found that was hard enough because he kept getting distracted by Steve swinging the axe, the muscles in his arms rippling. And, because it was Steve and he was required to torture Eddie, he took off his shirt after ten minutes, complaining it was too hot. There was fucking snow on the ground, but Steve was sweating. Eddie was losing his mind.

"Do you think the kids will go get the wood?" Steve asked, taking another swing. "If we send them into the forest? Would save some time."

"Uh-huh."

"Or bribe them with some baking. That always works."

"Yeah, totally."

"Or maybe I could grow wings and spit fire?"

"That'd work." Eddie blinked when Steve laughed, refocusing to see him leaning on the axe, looking at him in amusement. "What?"

"Pay attention."

"I am!"

"I meant to what I'm saying, not doing."

Eddie felt his blush return with a vengeance, but he scoffed. "You've got a big head, Harrington."

"And you're obvious." Steve set the axe down and joined him on the lounger. He tugged on the blanket, pressing close to share Eddie's warmth. "Mmm, that's better."

"You're freezing," Eddie complained, even if he was perfectly content to stay there with Steve pressed into his side, sweaty and shirtless.

"You could warm me up."

"How?"

Steve was so close that Eddie could have counted the freckles in his eyes if he could hold the contact for more than half a second. His heart was hammering so loud that he was sure Steve could feel it, and he found himself laughing nervously, mouth opening to say something, anything, and no doubt ruining the moment. Steve beat him to it, though, leaning in to kiss him before any words came out, and he wasn't wrong. The kiss made Eddie burn, but in the best way.

When Steve pulled back, he searched Eddie's face and then broke into a smile. "Okay. I can't believe that worked."

"Sorry?"

"Nothing." Steve kissed him again, ending that train of thought. "Just something Robin said. Come on, help me get this inside before the fire goes out."

Eddie felt he would do pretty much anything if he got rewarded with those kisses, and he jumped up to help, ignoring Steve's laughter as he put his shirt back on. Inside, Robin raised her eyebrows and when Steve nodded, she looked all too smug. Too happy to care, Eddie ignored her because she'd been right. And he got Steve out of it, so what did it matter?

Sitting with Steve near the fire, Eddie felt it was going to be a long but comfortable winter.