Everybody thank @madigoround for their beautiful beautiful brain and please keep in mind I’ve never been high. Nor have I been around anyone high for an extended amount of time. I don’t know what it looks like; as a result, if this is completely inaccurate… sorry.
Steve’s a therapist, and he’s mostly a good one, or so he thinks. So he’s been told. Got his degree and everything, but, well.
Nancy had called him an idiot too many times for it not to be true.
Robin’ nickname for him was dingus.
And right now, he felt like both of those.
He’s on his way to his office for a session. He hadn’t kept super great track of the timer on his last session, meaning they’d gone twenty minutes over by the time they ended, and he only had time for a quick bathroom break.
He was ravenous, passing by Eddie’s room, and saw a small jar of gummies.
That in and of itself wasn’t a problem; they shared practically everything but toothbrushes at that point, so he knew Eddie would be fine with him taking the gummies, especially given the circumstances.
He should’ve thought about why Eddie had gummies in the first place.
Steve had eaten a few handfuls, by his best estimate, before he decided to stop. He wanted to curb his hunger, not get rid of it entirely.
Another session goes by, and he’s feeling good, like he’s really getting through to his client.
He’s half an hour into his next client when he realizes what he’s feeling. “Shit,” he mouths, and turns to his screen. “Chloe? I’m so sorry, I have to go. We can make this up next week, though, if you’re available?”
“Oh,” Chloe said, brows furrowed. “Yeah. Um. Is everything okay?”
He flounders for a second before fixing a smile on his face. His professional smile, or at least he hopes so. “Nothing you need to worry about.”
“Oh. Okay. I guess, um, I’ll email you about next week?”
“That would be perfect. Thanks so much for understanding.” He sent her another smile before logging off and lunging for his phone, hoping against all hopes Eddie would hear it.
“Steve? Aren’t you working? Is everything okay?”
“Eddie.” He swallowed. “Y’know those gummies on your nightstand?”
“Fuck,” Eddie said quietly. “Tell me you didn’t-”
“Okay. Okay. Um, how many?”
“Okay. Could be worse. Could be better, but could be worse. Um… I’ll be home in twenty, okay?”
“What? Eds, no, c’mon, you’re working…”
“Yeah, and you’ve never had edibles before, Stevie-boy. Edible trips are different. I’ll be home in twenty. Ah… thirty. I don’t think we have many snacks left.”
“M’kay. You’re a good friend, Eds.”
Eddie chuckled. “Sure, Stevie. Hang tight, I’ll be there in thirty, okay?”
Eddie hung up, and Steve was left to try to remember what he was doing. Right. Clients. He sent out an email to his next few, saying he’d have to reschedule, before his fingers started feeling funny.
He looked at them, really looked, and watched as they rippled in the light.
A chuckle from the doorway dragged his attention away from his ripply fingers. “Having fun there, Stevie?”
“Eds,” Steve breathed. “I don’t think I’m real.”
Eddie smiled at him. It was a nice smile. “No? ‘S that a good thing?”
Steve shrugged. “‘S a thing.” He cocked his head. “You’re not smiling.” He smiles when Eddie did again, grinning when Eddie chuckled.
“You’re past the clouds right now, aren’t you?”
“No. ‘M with you. ‘Cept I don’t exist.” A sudden thought occurs to him; as sudden as a thought can when his brain is swimming in molasses. “If I don’t exist, I can’t kiss you.”
Eddie’s eyes widen. They’re nice eyes. “Is, uh, that something you want to do?”
“Yeah,” Steve breathed. “All the time. “Y’re so pretty.”
“Jesus,” Eddie muttered, and Steve giggled.
“Mhm. ‘S a funny word.” His eyes widen. “Eddie. Eds. I’m hungry.”
“I’m sure you are, Stevie-boy. Let’s get you some food, huh? I’ve got some chips for you.”
“Eddie.” This was serious. He needed Eddie to listen. “I ate some of the gummies from your room.”
Eddie chuckled. “I know. It’s okay. Though I bet you’ll think twice about it next time.” He knelt down in front of Steve’s chair. “Think you can walk?”
“I don’t exist,” Steve reminded him. “I can fly.”
Eddie laughed. “Not gonna lie, I’d kinda like to see you try. But as amusing as that would be, I think we should keep our feet on the ground, m’kay?”
“M’kay,” Steve agrees. “I’ll walk. I can walk. I’m walking.”
“Steve, pal, you haven’t moved.”
Steve frowned. “‘M not pal.”
Eddie chuckled again. “Sorry, Stevie. On second thought, why don’t you stay here and I’ll go grab the snacks?”
Steve gazed at Eddie. “You’re smart.” He poked a cheek that was quickly turning pink. “And pink.”
“Yeah. Okay.” Eddie stood abruptly, leaving Steve reeling from the height difference. “I’ll be right back, okay?”
“M’kay,” Steve agreed, tilting his head back to look up at the ceiling. He frowned. “The ceiling’s laughing at me.” Eddie didn’t answer, but that’s okay. Eddie was helping.
Eddie came back into his field of view, holding up a plastic bag. “I’ve got our snacks. Wanna join me on the floor?”
“Yuh-huh,” Steve said, and the next thing he knew he was waking up.
“What,” he murmured, lifting his head to look around. He wasn’t in his room, and the momentary panic abated once he realized he was in Eddie’s.
Like he’d been waiting for Steve to speak, Eddie spoke up. “Y’wake?”
Steve blinked. “Are you?”
Eddie hummed. “‘M fine. Remember last night?”
Steve wrinkled his nose. “Something about the gummies?”
“Yup. You ate a few handfuls. Called me before the full effect hit, which was good. Turned into a koala most of the way through the night and wouldn’t let me go. I dragged your sorry ass here and we both conked out.”
Steve groaned, rubbing a hand over his face. “Sorry, man. Feel free to ignore everything I said. I don’t even know what I said, but I know it’s awful.”
“Not awful,” Eddie said in that mild way he had that meant he was mostly lying. “I mean, you did say you wanted to kiss me. All the time. Apparently you find me pretty.” He grinned. “Any truth to that?”
Steve groaned, pulling his pillow over his head and wondering if he could suffocate himself. “Maybe,” he muttered, hoping beyond hope that Eddie would ignore him, leave him to die.
No such dice. Gentle fingers unclenched his from the pillow, pulling it off his face only to toss it at their feet. “Steve,” Eddie murmured, taking a breath. “I, um. Maybe think you’re also pretty. And maybe want to kiss you.” Twin smiles begin to grow. “I’m not saying all the time, or anything…”
“You’re so full of shit,” Steve told him, grinning, before pulling him in for a kiss.