#had to change how I format en dashes because wordcounter.net counts any words connected by an em dash as one 😭

[pizzaqueen]

Cute when you win

Written for the prompt ‘pool’ for @steddiemicrofic

442 words / Rated G or T / established relationship

“Red three, corner right pocket.”

“My right or your right?” Eddie grins across the table at Steve.

A haze of cigarette smoke hangs in the air, lending a dreamlike feeling to the nearly empty bar. It’s late, almost closing time, and Eddie and Steve have been playing pool for hours. Steve rolls his eyes but otherwise ignores Eddie’s remark.

“Corner right pocket,” Steve repeats. The light above the pool table haloes Steve as he leans over, the muscles in his forearm flexing as he lines up his cue and takes the shot, sinking the ball with ease. He straightens, brows raised, spreading his hands. “Told you.”

“You know you don’t have to try to impress me right?” Eddie says, hands wrapped around his cue, smiling fondly. “I’ll let you in on a secret, Steve: I’m already impressed.”

“Who said I’m trying to impress you?” Steve slips the cue behind his back, hip grazing the edge of the table. “Eight ball, left side.” He winks, takes the shot, and wins the game.

Eddie tips his head back with a groan. “Fuck. I don’t know if I think it’s annoying you beat me at four games in a row, or if I think it’s hot.”

“You know what I think?” Steve moves around the table to stand by Eddie.

“No, what do you think?”

“I think you think it’s hot.” Steve leans against the pool table, crossing his arms. “That’s why you let me win twice.”

“Me? I’d never do that just to see that cute little smile you get when you win.”

“Uh-huh.” Steve shrugs. “I mean, I am pretty cute, so… I guess I can let it slide this time.”

“And if you weren’t going to let it slide,” Eddie says, leaning closer, “what would you do?”

The only answer he gets is a grin and a twinkle in Steve’s eyes that makes his heart beat hard. “Hey, wanna play again?”

Eddie shakes his head. “You know what I think?”

Steve’s lips twitch. “No, what do you think?”

“I think we should go home.”

“That”— Steve pushes away from the table —“is my kind of thought.” He takes their cues over to the rack, then gestures with his head. “Giddy up, time’s a-wastin’.”

“So bossy,” Eddie says, but he follows Steve through the bar and into the balmy night air. “Hey, wanna come back again tomorrow night? Shoot some more pool?”

Their hands brush between them as they walk, tantalizing and teasing. “Yeah,” Steve says, “but don’t let me win. I wanna beat you for real.”

Eddie snorts but he says, “Deal,” and, street deserted, takes a chance and holds Steve’s hand.

#steddie #Steddie fic #Steddie fanfic #Steve x eddie #pizzaqueenfic #had to change how I format en dashes because wordcounter.net counts any words connected by an em dash as one 😭 #em dashes* #i understand hyphenated words but plenty of style manuals suggest no space when using an em dash for a whatsit oh it doesn’t matter lol #anyway I haven’t written much in ages so I’m really nervous about this #but it was fun! #steddiemicrofic