[ that is the problem, though, isn't it? how none of them really communicate any of this. how steve wouldn't even know where to start. he hasn't thought much about what this sort of stuff does to people, how steve could think back on the growing list of things that are traumatic that he's just sort of accepted happens. and maybe it's because the kids, god, the kids have gone through so much worse. dustin has gone through so much worse. and how is steve supposed to sit and let this affect him when that kid just gets up every day and keeps going?
so, you know, he doesn't. doesn't let it affect him (as much as he can). he gets up and he goes to work and he just keeps putting one foot in front of the other, a lot like he does now. one foot, and then the next, a hand to eddie's back, not quite shoving him up the stairs. and yeah, eddie might shoot him a grin over his shoulder, and yeah, that grin might be a little unwieldy and a little loose but it's still there, because eddie is still there, and steve doesn't bother holding back the partial smile that follows his rolled eyes. ]
Yeah, yeah. [ but eddie is still walking up the stairs, still following steve's guidance, and for all the sharp words or sarcastic remarks, he's not really putting up a fight. steve sees eddie' reach for the handrail and slows down a bit in his pushing, if only because he doesn't want to send him off-balance. plus, steve can be patience, waiting to make sure eddie's steady again before he continues up after him, glancing up just in time to see eddie shoot that look over his shoulder. to catch the suggestive-ness about it.
and steve, to his credit, just sort of laughs. ] I guess I kind of am. Guess that happens when I end up babysitting whenever the world is going to shit. [ not that anyone ever - the kids especially - listen to him. ever. but that's besides the point. right now? right now steve will be as bossy as he needs to be if it means getting eddie settled, keeping eddie okay.
and right now, for steve, that means getting him up into that guest room and getting him cleaned up and bandaged, considering steve is pretty sure he can smell the blood that currently coats eddie's clothes. ] Up here on the right.
[ considering that eddie noticed about steve's reaction to the house itself, the guest room is probably a fantastic representation of that same feeling. it's nice, nice enough, decorated to the best of steve's mom's ability. the colors, the painting on the wall, the bed. but there's a kind of distance even still, a kind of sterile feeling despite the tasteful interior decorating. but steve doesn't really care, because it does have a bed, and it does have an en-suite with a shower, and steve's room is right down the hall.
as soon as eddie steps inside, though, steve's hand leaves his back and he's moving again, turning on the lights in the main room and also the bathroom, pulling out towels, checking to see if there's any first aid stuff under the sink or if he put it all in his backpack which he did leave downstairs. ]
I'll get a change of clothes for you- [ steve says, still rustling around under the sink. he lets out a sigh, mostly because yeah, no, there's nothing here, which is annoying, but not the worst thing in the world. he assumes, distantly, that eddie will be trying to peel off that vest, that jacket, the bandana that is somehow still tied around the top of his head. ] -but there are towels and stuff in here. Don't worry about the sheets or anything, Robin showed me this great trick to get blood out of everything, and it's not like my parents even come up here even when they're home.
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so, you know, he doesn't. doesn't let it affect him (as much as he can). he gets up and he goes to work and he just keeps putting one foot in front of the other, a lot like he does now. one foot, and then the next, a hand to eddie's back, not quite shoving him up the stairs. and yeah, eddie might shoot him a grin over his shoulder, and yeah, that grin might be a little unwieldy and a little loose but it's still there, because eddie is still there, and steve doesn't bother holding back the partial smile that follows his rolled eyes. ]
Yeah, yeah. [ but eddie is still walking up the stairs, still following steve's guidance, and for all the sharp words or sarcastic remarks, he's not really putting up a fight. steve sees eddie' reach for the handrail and slows down a bit in his pushing, if only because he doesn't want to send him off-balance. plus, steve can be patience, waiting to make sure eddie's steady again before he continues up after him, glancing up just in time to see eddie shoot that look over his shoulder. to catch the suggestive-ness about it.
and steve, to his credit, just sort of laughs. ] I guess I kind of am. Guess that happens when I end up babysitting whenever the world is going to shit. [ not that anyone ever - the kids especially - listen to him. ever. but that's besides the point. right now? right now steve will be as bossy as he needs to be if it means getting eddie settled, keeping eddie okay.
and right now, for steve, that means getting him up into that guest room and getting him cleaned up and bandaged, considering steve is pretty sure he can smell the blood that currently coats eddie's clothes. ] Up here on the right.
[ considering that eddie noticed about steve's reaction to the house itself, the guest room is probably a fantastic representation of that same feeling. it's nice, nice enough, decorated to the best of steve's mom's ability. the colors, the painting on the wall, the bed. but there's a kind of distance even still, a kind of sterile feeling despite the tasteful interior decorating. but steve doesn't really care, because it does have a bed, and it does have an en-suite with a shower, and steve's room is right down the hall.
as soon as eddie steps inside, though, steve's hand leaves his back and he's moving again, turning on the lights in the main room and also the bathroom, pulling out towels, checking to see if there's any first aid stuff under the sink or if he put it all in his backpack which he did leave downstairs. ]
I'll get a change of clothes for you- [ steve says, still rustling around under the sink. he lets out a sigh, mostly because yeah, no, there's nothing here, which is annoying, but not the worst thing in the world. he assumes, distantly, that eddie will be trying to peel off that vest, that jacket, the bandana that is somehow still tied around the top of his head. ] -but there are towels and stuff in here. Don't worry about the sheets or anything, Robin showed me this great trick to get blood out of everything, and it's not like my parents even come up here even when they're home.