Chapter Text
Eddie floated weightless in a deep dreamless sleep when he suddenly became faintly aware of something soft and warm being pressed against his left cheek. The sensation lasted for only a moment before it eased away back into the void. Eddie's brow furrowed in confusion, unsure of what had pressed against him or what it's intentions were.
He quickly realized the feeling was a very familiar one and caused him no sense of alarm or fear. Instead Eddie was left with a sense of calm and a deep longing for more. Eddie's mind was fogged with sleep and as he tried to place the familiar sensation another soft press and then another were placed against his cheeks. The more Eddie sought for the source of what he was feeling the more awake and aware he became until finally the answer dawned on him.
Eddie smiled in his sleep as he felt Steve begin to pepper his face with soft tender kisses. "Steve," Eddie sighed happily, unaware that he had spoken his husband's name through his sleep and out into the world. The older man heard a soft giggle before one last gentle kiss was pressed against his left cheek. "Time to wake up, Daddy," Steve said sweetly into his ear.
Eddie turned his head to the left, instinctively following the sound of Steve's voice and letting it guide him into waking. Eddie's dark brown eyes opened slowly and he was greeted with the sight of his husband laying propped up on his side next to him, Steve's head resting against the palm of his right hand. Steve smiled brightly at the older man as he watched Eddie wake. "Hi," Steve said softly as he reached out to push a stray lock of Eddie's hair away from his face, Steve's fingers gently caressing Eddie's left cheek as the younger man pulled his hand back. "Hi," Eddie replied lazily, his voice rough and deep from sleep.
The older man smiled at his husband sleepily, his eyes heavy and dark as he stared up at Steve adoringly. Steve being the first thing Eddie saw every morning when the older man opened his eyes was a gift that Eddie would forever cherish. The younger man's hair was tousled from sleep and he looked relaxed and refreshed. His soft brown eyes were bright and happy as he looked down at Eddie with a loving smile on his face. Eddie was relieved to see that Steve was fully back to himself, the older man's plan to essentially reboot his husband had thankfully worked.
The younger man smiled at Eddie sweetly before closing the short distance between them and placing a tender kiss to Eddie's lips. Eddie let out a soft hum, always happy to recieve even the smallest amount of affection from his husband. As the younger man pulled back, Eddie realized that Steve was much too far away from him and that this error needed to be remedied immediately.
Steve let out a surprised laugh as Eddie quickly rolled onto his side to face the younger man before wrapping his arms securely around Steve's middle and pulling himself until he was pressed flush up against the other man. Steve smiled and rolled his eyes in fond amusement as Eddie snuggled against him. Eddie tucked his head under the younger man's jaw and nuzzled his face against Steve's broad chest while at the same time hooking his right leg overtop of Steve's thighs. The older man hummed proudly, he had successfully trapped Steve in his embrace and Eddie let out a content sigh, all was right with the world again. Steve was so warm and the sweet scent of honeysuckle was all around him. The smell was downright intoxicating and Eddie inhaled deeply, a soft giggle slipping from the older man as his head swam from the sudden rush.
Eddie couldn't keep the smile from his face as he felt Steve press a kiss to the top of his head before the younger man's arms wrapped tightly around him. "Mm, s'much better," Eddie mumbled sleepily as he closed his eyes once more and hid himself against Steve's chest, a satisfied smile on his face. The older man hoped that his snuggles would convince Steve to stay safely in his arms for a little while longer. Eddie was in no mood to share the perfect being in his arms with the world right now...or ever really, if he was being totally honest with himself.
Steve smiled fondly as he looked down at the man currently wrapped around him like an oversized koala. Steve always loved how unabashedly cuddly Eddie was. His husband was a big teddy bear at heart and always took even the smallest of excuses to snuggle all over the younger man and Steve was always more than willing to let him. Steve reached up and began to run his fingers through Eddie's soft messy hair, being careful not to pull against any tangles he found in the dark waves. "Daddy," Steve prodded gently. Eddie let out a petulant whine and shook his head as he tightened his hold around Steve stubbornly.
Steve let out a soft laugh before he gently rubbed his cheek against the top of Eddie's head affectionately. The younger man breathed deep, the comforting earthy scent of sandalwood filling his lungs and Steve couldn't keep the love drunk smile off his face even if he wanted to. Steve was seriously tempted to give in to his husband and stay safely in Eddie's arms while leaving the world locked out of their refuge. The younger man managed to gather enough of his resolve however and placed a kiss to the top of Eddie's head in silent apology.
"I know Daddy, but we really do have to get up soon," Steve cooed sweetly. Steve would love nothing more than to lay wrapped in Eddie's arms all day, but they had a busy day ahead of them and they couldn't afford to lounge around now. It was well past time for them to lock in and get to work. Steve heard Eddie let out another whine before the older man nuzzled his face against his husband's chest one last time. Eddie breathed deep, smiling as the scent of honeysuckle overwhelmed him again and made his head spin.
The older man sighed in resignation as he loosened his hold and pulled back to look at the younger man. Steve's already weak resolve crumbled into dust as Eddie looked up at him with a small pout on his lips, the older man looking for all the world like a dejected puppy. The younger man couldn't stop himself as he closed the short distance between them and caught Eddie in a sweet kiss. Steve was determined to drive away the sad look on his husband's face, no matter how manufactured it may be. Eddie hummed happily as their lips met, the older man satisfied at having gotten his way. As Steve pulled back Eddie grinned at his husband, a mischievous sparkle in his dark eyes and before the younger man could react Eddie locked his arms around Steve's middle and rolled onto his back, using his strength to haul his husband completely on top of him.
Steve cried out in surprise as Eddie flipped them over before laughing as the younger man got settled on top of his husband. Eddie smiled up at Steve, feeling proud of himself for making the other man laugh. The older man unwrapped his right arm from around Steve and reached up to gently caress his husband's cheek. Steve immediately melted into Eddie's touch, he didn't think he would ever get used to how wonderful it felt to be touched by Eddie's rough warm hands.
"I love you so much Daddy," Steve said softly as he smiled down at the older man. Eddie smiled back at him fondly before his gaze trailed down to look at the collar around Steve's neck. The older man reached up and began to gently trace over the words with the tips of his fingers. "I love you too. My good sweet girl," Eddie said as he looked up into Steve's light brown eyes. Eddie finished tracing the words on Steve's collar and slid his hand around to the back of Steve's neck, drawing his husband down into another kiss.
Steve sighed as he parted his lips and Eddie licked into his mouth. The kiss was deep and lazy, neither man in any hurry to part from one another. Eddie trailed his left hand down to the small of Steve's back and moaned softly at how warm and soft his husband's skin felt beneath his calloused hand. The older man began to rub soft soothing circles onto Steve's back with the tips of his fingers, loving the contented sighs his touch drew from his husband.
The need for air eventually drove them apart and Steve giggled as Eddie nipped at his bottom lip playfully as he pulled away. "Alright my darling, I yield," Eddie said with a grin as he gently tapped the younger man twice on his upper arm as if he were tapping out of a fight. Steve laughed "I can't believe the undefeated Eddie Munson is tapping out against little ol me," the younger man replied with a teasing grin.
"What can I say princess, you've got me pinned and at your mercy. A good fighter always knows when he's been beaten," Eddie replied as he gently stroked Steve's cheek with his bruised knuckles. Steve smiled fondly as he leaned into Eddie's touch "You're not just a good fighter, you're the best, no one's better than you are," Steve replied, his tone serious and sure.
Eddie couldn't help but smile at his husband's absolute faith in him. "You don't think you may be a little biased on that account, princess?" Eddie asked, cocking an eyebrow at the younger man teasingly. Steve shook his head "No, I'm not biased at all. It's just a simple fact of life, Daddy. Same as the sky is blue and that Han shot first," Steve replied with a grin.
Eddie chuckled as Steve used his own words against him before reaching up to cup the back of his husband's neck. "Come here, you," Eddie said softly as he was unable to stop himself from drawing Steve down into a loving kiss. "I love you more than I could ever say, princess," Eddie said softly against Steve's lips. "I love you too Daddy and I always will," Steve replied before kissing Eddie tenderly one last time.
****
Eddie sat smoking a cigarette in his usual spot on the bathroom counter as he watched over Steve while his husband put the finishing touches on his makeup for the day. The older man loved the way Steve looked naturally of course and with or without makeup his husband was the most gorgeous being in the entire universe. But Eddie really loved seeing the way Steve's eyes would light up as his outward appearance reflected who he was on the inside.
Steve had done his eyes in a dark blue and black cat eye but had sprinkled gold flecks across the blue on his eyelids, giving the illusion of tiny painted stars across his eyes. His lashes were perfectly filled and curled from his mascara and his lips were painted a kissable rose gold. Steve studied himself for a moment before smiling in satisfaction and spritzing his face with a shimmering setting spray to give his face a bit of sparkle and help keep his masterpiece well protected for the day.
Eddie couldn't keep the dopey love struck smile off his face as he looked at Steve, the older man's dark brown eyes slowly looked his husband up and down, appreciatively drinking in his Steve's beauty. Eddie was quickly losing his will to be good as the need to touch Steve was becoming too overwhelming to ignore for much longer. His Steve looked like sex on legs and the younger man was absolutely dripping in gold.
Steve had 'accidentally' gotten into Eddie's t-shirt drawer and was wearing the older man's blue and yellow Wu Tang Clan shirt. Steve had fashionably tucked the front of the shirt loosely into his tight black shorts that came down to the mid point of his thighs. Beneath Steve's shorts, wide stitched black fishnet stockings covered his smooth tan legs and on his feet were a pair of black high heeled, red bottomed Louboutin booties.
Coiled around the younger man's neck was a solid gold choker fashioned to look like a snake with black diamonds for eyes. A small golden snake hung by its tail from Steve's ears to compliment the snake around the younger man's throat, each one with it's mouth open and fangs bared in warning. A collection of five thin golden bracelets were around each of the younger man's wrists, the loose bands jingling softly every time Steve moved. Around Steve's waist was a wide leather belt with three 24 karat golden chains hanging looped on both of Steve's hips.
His Steve looked like absolute royalty, like he was born to sit a throne with a golden crown upon his head, loved and adored by all his subjects. But only Eddie had been given permission to touch such divine beauty. To know how it felt to run their hands over Steve's warm sunkissed skin, to see Steve as he lay desperate and aching beneath them, to taste the sweetness between Steve's legs and hear Steve cry out their name in total ecstacy.
The older man didn't mind for people to look at Steve, in fact Eddie wanted them to. Eddie loved showing Steve off to the world, loved to see the lust in both men and women's eyes turn green with envy when they inevitably noticed him at Steve's side. It filled Eddie with a smug sense of pride to know that Steve had chosen him over all others. Steve was more valuable and precious to Eddie than all the money, jewels and gold that they owned and he guarded the younger man with an obsessive greed.
Eddie decided that he'd been good for well long enough as Steve had gotten ready but it was getting to be way too much of a chore to keep his hands to himself. He had been itching to touch the younger man and Eddie could deny himself no longer. The older man took one last drag from his cigarette, the smoke settling deep into his lungs, before haphazardly stubbing it out in the small ashtray next to him. Eddie exhaled as he slid off the bathroom counter, smoke curling out into the air around him and Steve glanced his way with a small smirk as the older man's black Balenciaga sneakers hit the tiled floor.
Steve watched Eddie's approach in the mirror, his husband's dark eyes looking him up and down like a predator sizing up its prey and it made a shiver of anticipation run up the younger man's spine. Eddie had tied his hair back into a messy bun for the day and was dressed simply in a loose fitting white Thrasher T-shirt and a pair of black baggy streetwear pants that cinched at the ankles. On Eddie's left wrist was one of the rolex watches Steve had gifted to him while his right held the same black and blue bandana folded, tucked and tied that he had worn the day before. Eddie's fingers were covered in silver rings and around Eddie's neck he wore a thick cuban link golden chain as well as another gold chain slightly longer with a large diamond covered 773 pendant hanging from it. The numbers were the area code for the west side of Chicago where East Garfield Park resided. Eddie had chosen his Glock 20 for the day and the gun was holstered onto his black leather belt on his right hip.
Eddie pressed himself against Steve's back, his calloused hands running down his husband's sides to grasp Steve's hips tightly. "Well, do I look alright, Daddy?" Steve asked with a knowing smirk as he leaned back against Eddie's strong chest. "God, you look so fucking sexy, baby girl. It's been torture waiting for you to finish getting all dolled up so I could touch you again," Eddie purred as he placed gentle kisses against the right side of Steve's neck. The younger man's throat was covered in fading bruises, Steve making no attempt to hide them but rather wearing Eddie's marks openly and proudly. Eddie nipped at the curve of Steve's neck, his hands sliding down to grip his husband's thighs.
Steve pressed his ass back against his husband as he turned his head to look at Eddie, his left hand gently cupping the older man's chin. "Poor Daddy, that must have been so awful," Steve replied with mock concern before ghosting his lips against Eddie's. "Such a good boy for waiting though," Steve purred with a smirk before nipping at Eddie's bottom lip playfully.
Steve gasped softly as Eddie's grip on his thighs tightened, the older man closing the miniscule space between them and catching Steve in a ravenous kiss. Steve was surprised at just how heated Eddie's response was to being called a good boy again. The younger man hadn't meant to get his husband so riled up with his teasing, he would have to be more careful about when and where he used the endearment from now on. Steve could feel Eddie's cock growing hard as he pressed against the younger man. Steve's own cock was beginning to stir between his legs and he knew if they didn't stop now that Steve would quickly find himself bent over the bathroom counter with Eddie's huge cock pounding into him.
As tempting as that sounded and it did sound very very tempting, they did actually have to get to work at some point this morning. Steve quickly broke off the kiss "Daddy wai-" was all Steve managed to get out before Eddie caught him once again. Eddie slid his hands to the inside of Steve's thighs, his fingers digging into the younger man's soft skin in a way that made Steve weak in the knees.
"God you drive me so fuckin crazy, princess," Eddie said, his voice dark and possessive as he moved to kiss and nip at Steve's jaw. The younger man moaned softly, unable to stop himself as he tipped his head back, a shiver of lust running through him at the feel of Eddie's lips on his skin and his husband's hands gripping his thighs tightly.
"D-Daddy we...we have to...to get to work soon," Steve forced himself to say, as much a reminder to himself as to Eddie. The older man growled in irritation as Steve's words cut through the haze of lust clouding his mind. He knew the younger man was right but that didn't mean Eddie had to be happy about it. Eddie rested his forehead against Steve's shoulder as he fought to get control of himself. Hearing Steve call him a good boy again had lit an undeniable fire within him and Eddie hadn't realized just how desperate he'd been to be bestowed the endearment again by his husband.
Eddie's grip on the inside of Steve's thighs loosened and he reluctantly slid his hands back up to cradle the younger man's hips once more. Steve couldn't help the small whine of disappointment that slipped out of him as Eddie managed to get control of himself, the younger man immediately regretting his decision to open his big fat mouth when he could have been bent over and halfway spread open for Eddie by now.
Eddie chuckled as he raised his head and caught Steve's gaze in the mirror. "Oh no, you don't get to whine after getting me all hot and bothered, then telling me we've got to get to work, princess. If I had my way you'd be bent over this counter with my fingers stretching open that sweet pussy of yours by now," Eddie teased with a grin.
Steve blushed even as he shivered at the mental image Eddie had conjured for him. "Wasn't meaning to get you so worked up, Daddy. I'm sorry," Steve apologized. Eddie smiled fondly at Steve as he shook his head before moving to press a sweet kiss to the younger man's cheek. "Don't need to apologize princess. I'm the one that went all lizard brained, you can't help it that I'm a total fucking nut case for you," Eddie replied with a wolfish grin.
Steve huffed out a soft laugh before turning his head to look at Eddie. "Love it though and you make me just as crazy for you ya know," Steve said sweetly before pressing a gentle kiss to Eddie's lips. "Must be why we're so perfect together, huh. My crazy matches your crazy," Eddie replied as he wrapped his arms around Steve's middle and held the younger man close. Steve smiled and let out a soft laugh before Eddie caught the younger man in a loving kiss.
"Come on, we should go before I change my mind about bending you over this counter," Eddie said with a wicked grin. Steve laughed and shook his head fondly before grabbing his gold Desert Eagle off the bathroom counter and slipping it into its holster on his hip. Steve turned to face Eddie and gave the older man a cocky smirk.
Eddie's eyes darkened as Steve pressed himself close, the younger man sliding his hand up Eddie's chest before reaching up to caress the older man's cheek gently. "Let's go kill a bunch of stupid old men and take their things," Steve purred darkly. Eddie grinned manicly "That's my Queen," the older man replied as he took Steve's hand in his, their fingers immediately interlocking and Steve smiled as he let Eddie guide him out of the penthouse and into whatever chaos the day held for them.
*****
The engine of Eddie's silver 1968 Ford Mustang GT 390 roared loudly as he sped through the barely opened gate into the walled off parking lot behind the bank. The car vibrated from the sinister drill beat of 'Took Her To The O' by King Von, the song being about the infamous O Block that Eddie and Steve knew all too well through their dealings with the Black Disciples that ran 64th and 65th street in Grand Crossing on Chicago's south side. Eddie wouldn't admit it out loud but he was feeling homesick and listening to music from and about Chicago was making him feel a little better.
Steve laughed as Eddie glanced his way, a wicked grin on his face as he sped over to an empty side of the lot before he shifted the car into first and turned the wheel sharply. The back end of the Mustang slung around, the tires squealed loudly and the engine roared as the car did three tight doughnuts in a row. Eddie expertly brought them out of their spin before he whipped the car into a spot close to the entrance of the building.
Steve was still laughing as Eddie parked and killed the engine and the older man couldn't help but feel proud of himself for making his husband laugh. "You better be glad Robin didn't see that or she'd be up your ass about endangering my life," Steve teased with a sly grin. Eddie rolled his eyes "I know I'm crazy, princess but you really think I'm crazy enough to do that with mother hen around?" Eddie asked with a smirk.
"Eddie!" They heard a familiar annoyed yell cut across the parking lot. Steve watched as Eddie's cocky smirk quickly turned into a pained wince. "Uh oh, you're in trouble," Steve said with a teasing smirk. "Shit. Bitch musta had her face glued to the windows or something," Eddie grumbled sourly. He turned his head to look out the driver side window to see Robin standing at the entrance to the bank with her hands on her hips and a very annoyed look on her face. Steve laughed, "You should have known she'd be watching out for us to get here. Don't worry though, ok. I promise I'll protect you, Daddy," Steve replied with a grin making Eddie chuckle. "You'd better, I'm not in the mood to be pecked at by your guard bird, princess," Eddie replied as he grinned back at Steve before opening the car door and getting out.
Eddie made his way around to the passengers side of the car, ignoring Robin as she began to stalk towards them. He could practically feel that she was trying her damndest to burn a hole through his head with her death glare. Steve smiled up at Eddie as the older man opened his door for him before he took his husband's offered hand and allowed Eddie to help him out of the car. Eddie smiled back at Steve as the younger man stood and closed the car door behind him. Before either man had a chance to do anything more Robin appeared and pushed Eddie out of the way before pulling Steve into a tight hug. "Jesus H. Christ, Birdie," Eddie said in annoyance only to be summarily ignored. Steve chuckled "Hey Birdie," he said fondly as he hugged her back. She moved back slightly and began to look him over worriedly.
"How are you feeling? Are you ok? Like really ok? Cause if you need another day it's totally fine we all understand. Everyone just wants you to be alright," Robin quickly rambled out as she studied his face for any sign of distress or inner turmoil. Steve gave Robin a fond smile, it always touched him deeply to know just how much she cared about him. "I'm alright now, Robin, I promise I am. I'm really sorry I made you worry so much," Steve replied, still feeling guilty for all the fuss and worry he'd caused his family.
Robin immediately shook her head, "Steve, please don't apologize, what happened wasn't your fault. I'm just so glad you're ok now," Robin said before hugging him tightly to her once more. Steve smiled and rested his head against hers as he hugged Robin back. "Thank you for coming to check on me yesterday and for bringing us lasagna for dinner. I really appreciate it," Steve said fondly. Robin chuckled as she moved back to look at him "Well I knew if I left it to your hubbie you'd have had to suffer through soggy lukewarm pizza rolls for dinner," Robin said with a grin. "Oh come on Robin he's not that bad, they'd have been hot at least," Steve replied with a matching grin making Robin laugh.
"You two do realize I'm right here and can hear you both slandering my cooking skills," Eddie said with a smirk. Eddie immediately regretted drawing attention to himself however as Robin quickly rounded on him. "Oh don't worry I haven't forgotten about you," Robin said with a glare. "Hands up, don't shoot," Eddie said as he threw up his hands and took a cautious step back. "I can't believe you'd be so irresponsible with Steve in the car. You could have wrecked and hurt him for God's sake. I mean what the hell were you even thinking, Eds?," Robin snapped at him.
Eddie glared back at her and as he opened his mouth to argue, Steve quickly got in between them. "Don't be mad at him Rob. It's my fault, I told him to do it," Steve said, hoping to quell his best friend's worry filled anger by placing the blame on himself. Robin looked at Steve unconvinced before glaring behind him at Eddie who was trying his best to look as innocent as possible. "Uh huh, yea sure and I'm Batman," Robin replied sarcastically.
"Come on, Birdie lighten the fuck up. Steve's a grown man let him live a little for Christ's sake. You're acting like I did a Dukes of Hazard jump into the parking lot or something. It was just a couple harmless doughnuts," Eddie said, feeling annoyed at her irritation with him. Eddie knew that it was Robin's worry for Steve and her anger about Sionis' presence in the city that was making her ultra protective of the younger man at the moment. But knowing that didn't make Eddie any less annoyed that he had seemingly become Robin's preferred target to yell at. Eddie would be damned if he let Robin make him feel bad about making Steve laugh.
"Oh don't you 'come on Birdie' me, Eds. You think that just because-" Robin started in on the older man. "Oook I think it's time we go find Vic, I'm gonna definitely need some back up here," Steve quickly interrupted her as he gently took Robin by the shoulders and began to steer her towards the bank entrance. "H-Hey! Steve stop it. I wasn't anywhere near done," Robin said in annoyance as she half heartedly fought against her best friend's resolve to get her away from his husband. Eddie began to laugh at her only to be instantly silenced by Steve giving him a cutting look over his shoulder.
"Shit. Way to go and put your foot right in it, Munson," Eddie said under his breath to himself. Eddie blew out a breath and his expression soured as he put his hands in his pockets and began to follow the two. He made sure to trail far enough behind them to keep well out of range of Robin's tongue lashing and Steve's annoyed looks.
Dustin was waiting for Eddie as they entered the bank, the younger man watching in amusement as Steve continued to guide Robin away from Eddie while looking around for Vickie to help him out. "What are you in trouble for now?" Dustin asked Eddie as the older man reached him. Eddie rolled his eyes "Oh ya know, just the audacity to have a little fun. Apparently it's against the law now," he said making Dustin laugh. "Hasn't it always been?" Dustin asked with a grin. Eddie huffed out a laugh and shook his head "Yea I guess you're right, how stupid of me to forget," the older man replied sarcastically.
Dustin laughed again before reaching into his pocket. "Speaking of fun, with everything going on the past few days I keep forgetting to give you this," the younger man said as he produced two baggies from his pocket. "Here, it's the two ounces of Bliss the Penguin gave you guys at the club that first night. I figured you guys would wanna try it and see what we're competing against," Dustin said as he handed Eddie the baggies.
Eddie looked at the Bliss in his hand, it looked like opaque red shards of glass, more akin to what meth looked like than anything else. "Good lookin out Brains," Eddie said as he slipped the baggies into his pocket before patting Dustin on the shoulder. The younger man gave him a goofy smile and nodded his head, happy to have his boss' praise. "Steve seems like he's doing alot better," Dustin said as he looked over at the other man.
Eddie followed Dustin's gaze over to his husband and smiled in amusement to see the younger man holding Robin's hand and gently coaxing her up the grand staircase. "He is ok, isn't he?" Dustin asked worriedly as he looked back at the older man. Eddie gave Dustin a reassuring smile "He's good, Dustin. You don't have to worry about Steve, ok. He's tougher than all of us put together," Eddie said and Dustin huffed out a laugh. "Ain't that the truth," Dustin replied with a small smile.
"What's the status on the info on Sionis?" Eddie asked. Dustin's smile faded and he looked at the older man seriously "Max and Lucas are getting it all together to give to you guys right now, we've got a lot to start with but this guy's compound is something else, Eddie. We're gonna need to do alot more recon before we can work out a plan on how to take him out," Dustin explained.
Eddie let out an aggravated sigh, he had figured that it would be the case after seeing the place for himself. But every day Sionis remained alive was another day of worry and stress for Steve. "Alright, you guys have done good, we're starting sales tomorrow so we need to make sure the dealers have enough merchandise for the demand," Eddie said. "Vic's been working on it since she got here, she's up in their office right now," Dustin said.
"Alright, let Max know we're all here and tell everyone from the round table to meet in the girl's office when they're ready ok," Eddie instructed. Dustin gave him a goofy salute "Will do, Boss," the younger man said with a grin, making Eddie chuckle and shake his head fondly at the younger man. "At ease, dipshit," Eddie replied with a grin and Dustin laughed.
Eddie and Dustin went their separate ways and as the older man made his way further into their base he could hear the song 'Chi-Town' by Da Brat being played loudly in the lower levels and it instantly made him smile. It seemed like he wasn't the only one feeling a little homesick today. Eddie began to slowly make his way up the marble steps to the administration level and couldn't help but to rap along softly to himself. 'Chi town, Chi town, the city where I'm from. As a kid to who I become, live to get what I want. Chi town the city with the best skyline. Born there that's home there in my lifetime. Chicago show em how we do. The best place some hate but they still come through. Chi town, the city with the best skyline. Born there that's home there in my lifetime.'
It was an old song from the early 2000's and always brought back happy memories of the summer block parties from when he and Vic were kids, where it was always played at least two or three times at each party. Block parties were a deep rooted summer tradition all across the city and were always a highlight of their summers even to this day. Eddie remembered the way the air would be filled with the smell of grilled food, hot asphalt, weed and alcohol and the sound of kids playing, laughter, talking, music and singing.
It never failed that at every party someone, usually their Uncle Hopper and their friend Josefina's dad Mr. Rivera, would inevitably bust open a fire hydrant for all the neighborhood kids to run around and get completely soaked in. The cool water always felt so good on a hot ass day when Eddie's clothes would stick to his skin from being drenched in sweat and it felt like the bottom of his cheap off brand Converse were melting onto the scorching sidewalk.
Eddie smiled at the happy memories the song had dug up in his mind. The only thing that would make them perfect was if Steve had been there too. Eddie had often wished there was some way for him to go back in time and meet Steve much sooner than when Eddie was 20 and Steve 19. To be able to go back and save his husband from all the pain and misery he had gone through all alone while he and Vic had been playing without a care in the world under the spray of a busted fire hydrant.
The older man sighed as he made it to the top of the steps and meandered towards Vic and Robin's office. Eddie decided he would call Wayne later on and check in with him. Eddie thought it would maybe help to alleviate some of his homesickness to hear his old man's voice and shoot the shit with him for awhile. The two of them had always been extremely close and not being able to see his Pops every day was taking some getting used to. Eddie never thought of Wayne as his uncle just as he never thought of Vickie as his cousin. Wayne was his father, full stop. His Pops hadn't hesitated to take Eddie in when his sperm donor had abandoned Eddie in the middle of a freezing February night on the steps of a church before disappearing from Chicago. The man known as Marco Agosti may have helped to give Eddie life but he was not and had never been his father.
Steve and Robin had already made it into the girl's office by the time Eddie finally got done with his stroll down memory lane and joined them. Vickie and Steve had managed to soothe Robin's ruffled feathers somewhat and his sister in law only gave Eddie a disapproving look as he entered the office. Vic however looked at her brother apologetically but Eddie only gave her a 'don't worry about it' shake of his head and a nonchalant shrug of his shoulders in return. Even though it had annoyed him, Eddie reminded himself that Robin was only trying to keep Steve safe and he couldn't really fault his sister in law for that, even though she could be a little overbearing at times.
Steve smiled brightly at Eddie as he approached and the older man was more relieved to see that his husband didn't seem to be irritated with him anymore than anything else. Eddie smiled back at the younger man before turning his attention back to Robin as he swallowed his pride a little. "I'm sorry Robin. Truce?" Eddie asked her as he reached the three. Robin narrowed her eyes at him suspiciously and Eddie realized he'd need to bring out the big guns to really secure her forgiveness. Eddie pouted slightly as he gave her puppy dog eyes and he had her almost instantly "Argh, dammit. You make it impossible to stay mad at you, ya know that?" Robin asked as she tried to hold back her smile.
"It's one of my many talents," Eddie replied with a shit eating grin making Robin and Vickie both roll their eyes at him fondly while Steve only smiled as if in agreement. "So, truce?" Eddie asked while cocking an eyebrow at her. Robin huffed out a laugh and shook her head "Yea, truce ya big lug," Robin replied before she sighed and seemed to swallow her own pride a bit. "And look I'm...I'm sorry too Eds I shouldn't have come at you sideways like that," Robin said sheepishly. Eddie smiled at her "It's all good, Birdie. Already forgotten ok," he said and Robin huffed out a soft laugh and nodded her head at him in agreement.
Eddie stuck his hand in his pocket and brought out one of the bags of Bliss Dustin had given him. "Here, I come bearing gifts," Eddie said with a smirk as he tossed the bag to Vickie. "The fuck is this?" Vickie asked as she held up the bag. "One of the ounces of Bliss the Penguin gave us that first night at the club. I figured we'd all try some tonight when we get home and see what we're competing against," Eddie explained. Vickie looked back down at the baggie of Bliss and shrugged before looking back up at her brother. "Alright, I'm down. Sounds like fun," Vickie said with a playful grin and Eddie grinned back at her, the two a mirror of the other.
"What's it supposed to be like?" Robin asked. Eddie shrugged "Fuck if I know, that's why we're gonna try it and find out," he said with a smirk. "Great, well hopefully it's not really some crazy poison or something like that," Robin replied. "I seriously doubt it, if the Penguin had wanted us dead he'd have just killed us that first night when he had the chance. From what we know about his come up he wasn't afraid to get his hands dirty. He just doesn't seem like the type of guy to use poison to me and even if he were to and he tried to take the credit for killing us with laced Bliss, some would see it as he was too afraid to take us on directly," Steve said. Eddie smiled at Steve proudly, the younger man's assessment of the Penguin and how the ugly old fuck liked to operate was spot on.
"Ok I guess we'll take your word for it and hope for the best seeing as how we've never had the displeasure to meet him," Robin replied. "Trust me, that's a good thing," Eddie replied. The last thing Eddie wanted to do was introduce his girls to the leacherous old creep. It was bad enough that he and Steve had met him twice already.
"Dustin said Max and Lucas are getting all the info they have on Sionis together for us. I told him to have everyone from the Round Table meet us in here whenever they're ready," Eddie said as he tried to glance over at Steve without the younger man knowing to gauge his reaction to Sionis being brought up.
Steve instantly caught Eddie's gaze however, the younger man always seemed hyper aware of whenever his husband's eyes were on him, and gave the older man a reassuring smile. "Ok, well while we wait on that I need you two to look over some things for when we start sales tomorrow," Vickie said as she walked over to her desk that was currently littered with papers and a map of the city. "Alright let's get to work," Eddie said as he looked over at Steve with a grin.
****
A little over an hour later they heard a knock on the door. "Come in," Eddie called out and the door opened to reveal Max and the rest of the round table behind her. They all filed in one after the other behind her; Dustin, Lucas, Erica, and Will bringing up the rear. Max had two large folders in her hands, both of which were stuffed full. Everyone moved over to the large conference table on the far side of the room. "Ok, this is everything we have so far but Dustin said he told you we're going to need to do a lot more recon before we try and take this guy on and I actually agree with him for once. We've never hit anything like this before and to take the whole operation down it's probably going to take a couple months to plan and run drills for tops, not to mention the amount of money in special equipment we'll need and even then the risk is gonna be high," Max said, trying to keep the worry from her voice as she opened the first folder and began to place high res photo copies of the pictures they had taken of Sionis' compound onto the table.
"He's taken every precaution, the walls are at least a foot and a half thick from what we can tell and made of blast proof material, topped in miles of barb and razor wire. Anyone who tried going over would be shredded to pieces in minutes. The place has got more cameras than I've ever seen, now they might not all work and some are for show but we have no way to know yet and so far we haven't found any blind spots to exploit. There's guards patrolling the perimeter wall and around the main administration building as well as the warehouse at all times, always in groups of three and armed to the teeth, while every entrance to both buildings is guarded by at least two men," Max said before quickly flipping through the pictures and drawing out one in particular and sliding it across the table towards Eddie and Steve. "Except for this smaller building here on the opposite side of the administration building and away from the warehouse and basically everything else. It's guarded day and night by no less than six men on the outside. It has to be where they're holding the people they plan to sell," Max said in disdain before she passed the rest of the folder over to Eddie who took the photos out and gave some to Steve, Vic and Robin to look through.
"The place has access to Gotham bay and as far as we can tell it's the side that's the least protected but there's plenty of men with choppers guarding the dock and there's two gun boats that patrol the area constantly. The gate is reinforced steel and the truck deliveries run like clockwork every hour on the hour coming and going. From what we can tell he does do legitimate shipping but every fifth truck has an air unit attatched which I'm guessing means those are the ones with people inside of them," Max said grimly.
Eddie looked at a picture of one of the trucks and grit his teeth together as he felt his stomach lurch. The older man remembering that the truck he had followed days earlier had an air unit mounted close to the front of the trailer. Eddie had been following a truck probably loaded with people who had been kidnapped and were to be sold into sex slavery and he hadn't even known it.
"I can see why the Penguin was so eager to have us agree to help take care of this asshole now," Vickie said as she studied the pictures of Sionis' compound closely. "No kidding, it looks like this guy has a small army," Robin replied. Eddie sighed and shook his head before looking up at Max and the others. "You guys have done good, what have you got on Roman Sionis?" Eddie asked. Max grabbed the second folder and flipped it open.
"Not alot unfortunately, so far mostly just what's on public record and rumors we managed to hear about from asking a few locals. This is him though," Max said as she laid out a photo from a news article of a white man in his early forties. He was reasonably attractive or would have been if his brown eyes weren't so cold and lifeless and his face not so hard. His hair was jet black and slicked back against his head and his lips were drawn in a thin line as if he were trying hard not to scowl at whoever was taking his photo.
"And these are pictures that we've managed to get of him so far," Max said as she handed another stack of photos to Eddie who once again split them. Max pulled out some papers from the folder next before continuing with their report. "So far what we know is he's 43 years old. His family has been in Gotham almost since the beginning and he's super old money. He inherited Sionis Shipping from his grandfather when he was 22 years old. His parents died rather suspiciously the year before when their car's brakes failed sending them over a guard rail and down a huge embankment where they slammed into a tree and then burned to death when the car caught fire. There were rumours that it was Roman that had done it and he was even taken in and questioned by the police. Apparently he hated his parents and the feeling was very mutual. They either never had enough evidence to charge him with anything or he paid them enough money to have it all swept under the rug. Either way a few months later his grandfather died and Roman inherited everything and after that the investigation into his parents death was officially ruled as a mechanical failure," Max explained.
"Great another old money psycho for us to take out," Robin said in disdain as she flipped through the stack of pictures. "God does he really wear a white pinstripe suit every day? Does this asshole think it's 1925 instead of 2025?" Steve asked, his nose wrinkling in judgement at Sionis' awful taste in fashion. Eddie couldn't help but chuckle at his husband's comment and the rest of the round table laughed as well, all except Vickie who stared at the photo in her hands in slowly dawning horror.
"Vic? What is it, what's wrong?" Eddie asked worriedly. Vickie looked up from her the photo at Eddie, looking like she had just seen a ghost. Eddie felt dread coil around his heart, whatever was in the photo in her hands had spooked his sister bad and Vickie wasn't one to be so easily frightened. "For fuck's sake what is it?" Eddie asked impatiently before reaching out and snatching the picture from her hands. "Eddie, no wait!" Vickie cried out as he looked down at the picture.
Eddie's eyes widened in disbelief and fear as he looked at the zoomed in photo of Sionis. It wasn't Sionis that had caught Eddie's eye though but the man standing next to him. A man Eddie hadn't seen since he had been abandoned on the steps of a church on a freezing night in February when Eddie was just seven years old. A man that looked almost exactly like Eddie but older. It was Marco Agosti, his father.
Eddie suddenly felt so cold, a shiver running up his spine and he heard Steve let out a horrified gasp next to him. "Oh my God...Eddie," Steve said in horror. "Everyone else out now," Eddie said through gritted teeth, his terror slowly overtaking his horror and disbelief.
"Boss what is it?" Lucas asked worriedly. "I SAID OUT GODDAMMIT!" Eddie yelled as he slammed his fist on the table, his fear bubbling over out of his control causing him to lash out. Everyone jumped at his sudden outburst and Max quickly herded the rest of the members of the round table out of the room, looking back at Eddie worriedly one last time before quickly shutting the door.
As soon as the door clicked shut Eddie gripped the table tightly in his hands and he hung his head, staring down at the picture in front of him in horror. "This can't be fuckin real. He can't be here, he can't be here. He can't be helping Sionis to...to...this is a nightmare. I'm having a fucking nightmare I have to be," Eddie rambled out, his voice getting more manic and terrified as he spoke.
The older man closed his eyes and shook his head "Wake up, Eddie. Wake up, wake up...please...please," Eddie rambled out to himself, praying that the next time he opened his eyes he would be laying in bed next to Steve as the younger man gently kissed him awake. But Eddie knew it was useless, one of his worst nightmares had crawled its way out of the dark pit of his mind and had manifested itself into the real waking world and was staring him straight in the face.
"Eddie...Eddie please look at me," Steve pleaded, hating to see his husband so terrified and distraught. The younger man moved to touch his husband on the arm to try and draw Eddie's eyes onto him instead of the picture of Marco. Steve felt his stomach turn over as Eddie immediately jerked away from Steve's touch. Eddie looked at his husband in anguish as he backed away from the three of them. The older man jerkily shook his head and wrapped his arms around himself tightly, feeling so cold. Eddie began to shiver, the terror he felt seeming to freeze him down to the bone and it stole his breath away. Steve, Vickie and Robin looked at him in frightened concern and Eddie grit his teeth as he closed his eyes and hung his head, hating that he looked so weak and pathetic in front of them.
Steve felt tears burn the edges of his eyes as he looked at his husband. Eddie looked like a wounded animal, terrified and backed into a corner. Steve took a steadying breath before blinking away his tears, Eddie needed his help and the younger man was determined to be there for his husband as Eddie was always there for him. "Eddie, baby I need you to look at me, please," Steve said gently as he took a cautious step forward.
Eddie shook his head jerkily and clamped his eyes shut even tighter, unable to face the man he loved. The older man was unable to stop himself from shivering and all he could see behind his eyes was Marco's face...his face and Eddie let out a choked sob. Steve took another step closer to the older man "Eddie I love you so much. Please look at me, I'm right here, Eddie let me help you, please," Steve said gently, his hand beginning to reach out towards Eddie but Steve quickly stopped himself not wanting to spook his husband again. The younger man desperately wanted to draw his husband into his arms and soothe Eddie's fear and pain away but he couldn't if Eddie wouldn't let him.
Steve looked over as Vickie came up next to him, she looked back at him completely distraught to see her brother so terrified. "Eddie, please look at us. It's gonna be ok, Eddie, we're here," Vickie said, trying to keep her voice calm for Eddie's sake. Eddie didn't respond to either of their pleas and Steve took another step forward, getting close enough to touch Eddie but holding back, not wanting to have Eddie draw further away from them again. "Eddie please, it's me, it's Steve. It's your Steve, please look at me Eddie...please," Steve pleaded, trying desperately to get through to his husband.
Eddie could hear Steve and Vickie pleading with him and he knew he couldn't hide forever. He could never hide forever even back when he was a little kid and his mother would hastily shove him into a new hiding spot to try and protect Eddie whenever Marco would come back home after being missing for days at a time sometimes even weeks and burst into the trailer drunk and coked up out of his mind.
It never mattered where his mother hid Eddie or how quiet he was as he listened to his mother being viciously beaten and sometimes even raped. Marco would always find Eddie after he was done with his mother and drag him out for his own beating. Eddie always tried to fight him, even back then he was fighting, always fighting but no matter how much Eddie would kick, hit, bite, and scratch it was never enough. Eddie had been too small, too weak to defend himself or his mother. Marco was bigger and stronger and more terrifying than any monster he'd seen on TV or in movies.
All kids were afraid of monsters it was only natural to hear fairytales of towering giants, vicious orcs, and ravenous werewolves and have an idea of what a monster looked like take shape in your mind from there. But Eddie had always known the truth, monsters didn't look scary they didn't have scales or claws or horns or sharp fangs. All monsters looked human and the worst monster Eddie had ever known looked exactly like him.
Steve let out a shakey sigh of relief as Eddie finally opened his eyes and looked up at them. Eddie's eyes were full of fear and pain and he stood shivering as if he were outside freezing in the dead of winter. Steve hated to see the man he loved more than anything hurting so deeply. "Is it ok if I touch you Eddie?" Steve asked gently. Eddie looked at him in trepidation for a moment before jerkily nodding his head. Steve felt relief flood through him as Eddie consented to let Steve touch him. The younger man raised his hand, making sure that his movements were slow and deliberate so as not to spook Eddie again.
Eddie watched Steve's hand as it slowly reached out towards him and touched him on his right forearm. Steve's touch was so gentle and familiar but more than that it was warm, so so warm. The older man felt almost frozen to his core and he couldn't stop shivering no matter how he tried but the warmth he felt from Steve's hand was like a lighted path in the darkness to him. Steve seemed to sense his need and got closer to him "It's ok Eddie, it's just me. I'm here baby, you're ok," Steve said softly and Eddie nodded his head once more. Steve slowly pulled his husband into his arms and the older man let out a shuddering breath in relief as Steve's warmth surrounded him, driving back the freezing cold that held Eddie in it's icy claws.
Eddie let out a choked cry and quickly wrapped his arms around Steve and held his husband to him tightly, his legs almost giving out on him at the relief he felt to feel warm again. "I'm sorry. Oh my God Steve I'm so so sorry," Eddie managed to choke out. Eddie held onto Steve tightly desperate to feel warm again and he hid his face in the crook of his husband's neck. "It's ok baby, it's ok. You have absolutely nothing to be sorry about, Eddie," Steve replied as he began to run his fingers through Eddie's long dark hair soothingly.
Steve looked over at Vickie and unwrapped an arm from around Eddie to make room for her and she immediately moved to wrap her arms around Eddie as well. "Vic," Eddie choked out as he moved to hold onto his sister, adding her warmth with Steve's. "I know Eds, I know. It's ok, we're right here," Vickie said as Eddie held onto the two of them tightly. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," Eddie whispered as he began to calm and his shivering finally began to subside. "It's ok Eddie, everything's ok. You don't have anything to be sorry about. We know Eds, its ok," Vickie said, thankful that Eddie was finally beginning to calm.
She didn't fault Eddie at all for his reaction to seeing his father again. If Vickie had seen her father, who had murdered her mother when she was 6, standing next to Roman Sionis of all people she would have reacted the exact same way. Vickie knew that the fact that Eddie's father was helping the man that had almost bought Steve from Roberto Gigante made the shock of Eddie seeing Marco again even worse for her brother.
"I'm gonna fuckin kill him," Eddie hissed angrily. "I swear to God I'm gonna fuckin kill them all," the older man vowed. The cold was gone and in it's place a raging fire began to burn it's way through Eddie. He wasn't a small, weak, frightened child anymore, cowering silently in a cramped cupboard as he waited fearfully for the monster to find him. Eddie was bigger and stronger now and he knew how to fight but more importantly how to kill. He was the Dragon, he was the monster that monsters feared and Eddie would rain down hellfire on Sionis and his father until they had both been sent back down to the depths of hell where they belonged.