videostore | 𝙾𝙿𝙴𝙽.

[ steve knows what he is, and he knows what comes along with it. ever since he was turned, each full moon has been heavier than the last. his body twists, snaps, turns into something he doesn't recognize. he loses his mind, quite literally, the only thing he concerns himself with biting, drawing blood, eating raw flesh. it hurts, every time more brutal. when he wakes up somewhere in the woods naked, he doesn't like that, either. it's always up to someone else - namely eddie to take care of him afterward.

now, as steve walks into the abandoned building they found scouting for perfect places for him turn, he looks over his shoulder at eddie. his brows knit, and he doesn't want to hurt him, but there's always risk. even in the basement of the building, where no one can hear steve howl, he still is self-conscious, and so very scared. ]

You don't have to keep helping me.

I know.

[Steve sees it as an obligation, some onerous duty, but to Eddie it's simply helping out his partner. Steve suffers every month, had to ensure the pain of shifting, of losing his mind. The least Eddie can do is make sure he's as safe as possible, hidden and secure. And Eddie wants to be there in the morning with sweats and a blanket and arms to hold Steve as he shakes with the pain of the transformation, the toll it takes on his body.

Today's no different, at least so far. He'll help lock Steve up. And he'll beg Steve to let him stay, to trust him the way he trusts Steve. Eddie doesn't believe the wolf will hurt him.]

I want to.

You want to?

[ steve pauses, both of them formerly making their way down to basement. he stands a few stairs above eddie, his eyebrows knitting. his dark eyes are trained on eddie, the nights of restless sleep taking its toll in dark circles. he looks sweaty, face damp. his fingers flex, tense. it's been this way for days, the urge to rip and tear and eat. bloodlust rises, so steve clears his throat, making his way past eddie on the stairs to walk down onto the floor.

the basement is concrete and steel, all painted a dull gray. there is one chair in the middle, waiting for steve to sit. the door here is solid, thick with steel. he glances up at eddie, hair above his eyes, a pleading shininess to them. ]

You know that I have to do this alone.

I do.

[It's not easy. Eddie knows that; he sees Steve suffer every month. But it's not simple either, and no amount of wishful thinking will reduce any of the complexities. Eddie knows that Steve knows that Eddie will do anything to help. The problem is that there's not much that can even help.

He lets Steve pass him on the stairs, watches him move toward the chair. This part is the worst, locking Steve in what amounts to a cell. Restraining him, and not in the fun way.]

I know. But it's not quite time yet. I can at least keep you company.

[ it's times like these that steve feels as if he's taking advantage of eddie - he's never come to steve with something this big, this exhausting. he knows that it must be as hard on eddie as it is him - the staying up at night, the making sure he doesn't escape. he also puts up with steve's irritation at himself because of his urges. bloodlust is always an issue, steve taking his meat a little more raw now, able to digest it. the taste of blood is always on his tongue.

steve slips out of his shirt, tossing it to eddie, before he kicks off his sneakers while unzipping his fly. he strips naked, handing eddie each item of clothing. he looks wild-eyed, and the time is almost near. he reaches for eddie, hand at his waist. he wants to kiss him, wants to tell him that he loves him - in case something terrible does happen. he feels strong tonight, too strong, his arms bigger, his body already covered in a sheen layer of clamminess. ]

I know. Just stay until it starts. Then lock me up.

[There's no putting up with, not in Eddie's mind. Steve's suffering. Eddie can help. It's a simple equation for a complicated situation.

He takes each piece of clothing as Steve strips down; they've long since figured out this is the easiest way to avoid Steve constantly replacing his wardrobe. Eddie especially hates the thought of the winter, when Steve will have to sit here shivering until it's time. He presses close to Steve, when Steve reaches, not afraid of what lurks under his skin. So what if there's a beast there? Haven't they both been through hell already?

Leaning up, he fits his palm to Steve's cheek and kisses him. He's close; God, Eddie can practically see it lurking under his skin. But he's not scared. He knows it's probably stupid. One day maybe it'll even get him killed. But right now Steve's still Steve, still his Steve, and Eddie's going to kiss him until he remembers that.]

I will. You know I will.

[ when eddie kisses him, steve opens his mouth, hungry. he devours eddie, strong, arms at his back as he pulls him closer, closer. steve's tongue flicks before his jaw opens. he tilts his head, kissing harder, more passionate. when he breaks from eddie, he growls. he backs away, dark eyes flashing, blacked-out. he turns and enters the steel room, his skin sweaty. ]

Hurry up.

[ it isn't snappish, but there's something painful about not seeing eddie during the transformation. there's a lone window, right in the center of the door, but once steve's the beast, he doesn't remember.

or, at least, he doesn't think he does. steve sits in the chair, arms wrapped around his own shoulders as he begins to shift. a scream exits his throat, raw and full of strange hurt. the scream turns into a howl after a moment, his fingers curling. ]

Now!

[Steve kisses him full of passion and hunger and the beast and Eddie can't help but melt into it. He shouldn't; he knows better. But it feels so good, and part of him wants to give Steve something nice, as nice as he can before it's time. The change always puts Steve through the worst; he wants Steve to have something to cling to.

Wants Steve to trust him enough to stay in the room, but Eddie can't say that.]

Steve—

[The kiss is over far too soon. Eddie backs away, because Steve asks it if him and because the change is coming, he can see it. They don't have much time, and Steve's already moving toward the chair. Eddie's job is to get out, and lock the door.

The thing about the basement though, is that it's old. And sometimes the door sticks. And sometimes Steve's change congress upon him really, really fucking fast. Eddie hasn't missed with the door yet, but there's a first time for everything.]

[ steve feels as if his skin is on fire. stretched grotesquely, he's in a shape he's not supposed to be in, howls of pain and anger coming with the snapping of sharp teeth. hair grows, muscle defines, naked body of steve harrington long gone. as he wolf stands to its full height. a sniff to the air, back to eddie, but once steve gets ahold of the scent, he rounds on eddie.

the door, stuck, is cracked, but not enough to fit eddie's body. steve, or, rather, the wolf growls, crouching, splayed paws on the floor. another howl, another sniff, the growl slowly melting. steve's still in there, fighting, his mind overcome with the need to tear something apart, to taste blood. he approaches eddie slowly, hackles raised, but no longer growling.

when he arrives at eddie, he sniffs his leg, black jeans tight. steve then raises his head, staring up at eddie with those eyes, the ones that read nothing but steve. ]

Oh god—

[The door is stuck. Eddie can't get it to budge, despite checking it on their way down. Maybe it's just his luck running out, maybe it's just coincidence, but he can't get it to move, can't fulfill his promise to Steve to get out and lock Steve in.

He grabs at it again, this time pulling instead of pushing. He'll be a goner, locked in here, but if he can get it to latch enough to contain Steve then at least he can prevent Steve from getting out and hurting anyone else. He can hear the growling behind him, hear the intensity of it, and Eddie puts all his strength into pulling the door into the frame.

It latches, finally, as a nose sniffs at his leg. Eddie turns around, half afraid of what he'll see, but there's no mistaking those eyes. It's Steve, Eddie's Steve, the Steve he spends his nights curled around, tangled together in bed. Eddie presses his back to the wall, slowly sliding down to a seated position, disbelief causing words to come haltingly.]

Steve...? Are... do you know me?

𝙾𝙿𝙴𝙽.

@ 𝙼𝙴𝚃𝙰𝙻𝙻𝙴𝙳.

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject