Ship; Steddie

Fluff

By Redburn on Ao3

Stan has been working longer shifts and Eddie just wants to be a supportive husband.

~

Eddie shifts around a bit until he's comfortable against the frame of the door, peering down at the lecture taking place with a small smile.

The class itself was a rather large one, at least twice as big as his own. It was an impressive feat, keeping the attention of all of these students sitting straight in their uncomfortable wooden seats, pens scribbling and fingers typing away.

Even after years of working together and watching each other teach hundreds of times, it still manages to light a fire of pride in Eddie's chest as he looks down at his husband - the professor of this particular course - as he runs through the principles of financial accounting. Never before had Eddie thought anyone could keep him focused and interested in a topic like this, but as he watches Stan move about at the bottom of the room, poised movements and calculated speech, Eddie is sure he wouldn't mind listening to this for the rest of his life.

There was only 10 minutes left until this class would be dismissed, so Eddie had decided to wait for Stan by his classroom before heading out to lunch together, all the while enjoying the view for all it has to offer. And Stan, never wanting to drag things out, recited the studies to be completed by next lesson before ending the class at exactly 12 on the dot.

Students begin piling out of the room so Eddie steps out of the frame of the door, checking his emails on his phone in the hallway until it was safe to try and step back inside. Two girls walk past him before he can, and it's hard to ignore the tail end of their conversation.

"God, I know Professor Uris is married, but that doesn't mean I can't enjoy staring at him for the entire hour," one gushes as she turns to her friend.

"That's a fucking mood," the other one agrees and lets out a dramatic groan.

Eddie watches them go and can't do anything else but laugh under his breath. He descends the steps of the classroom before finally reaching the bottom, watching as Stan begins to shut down the power-point presentation he had set up minutes before.

"Hey handsome," Eddie greets, unable to help himself.

Stan's head snaps up and then a gentle smile appears, but he doesn't leave the laptop yet until he's done. "Were you spying on me again?"

The tone is playfully teasing, Eddie can tell. So he turns around and takes a seat at the front, hands clasped in front of him as he stares ahead. "Can you blame me? I think you'd be voted the 'Hottest Professor' on this campus if a poll ever takes place."

Stan gives him a funny look as he finally closes the laptop with a 'click'. "What are you talking about?"

"Oh, nothing," Eddie says, dusting away some loose crumbs on the desk. "I just overheard some of your fans in the hallway."

Stan raises an eyebrow that's mostly obscured by the frame of his glasses. Eddie swears he's never seen glasses look sexier on anyone. "I find that hard to believe."

"Well believe it, gorgeous," Eddie smiles up at him and bats his eyelashes. "Now, dazzle me with your accounting charm. Woo me, oh great lecturer."

"Didn't you want to walk over to that Vietnamese place for lunch? The queue piles up quickly there. We should hurry."

"You take the fun out of everything," Eddie says with a pout.

Stan stares at him for a moment before walking over and leaning down so they're now eye level. Eddie performs a kissing motion. Stan shakes his head slowly, gaze now hooded.

"You know what happens to students who don't behave?" Stan asks, moving in until his lips are by Eddie's ear. "They get punished."

A pleasant shiver runs down his neck and along Eddie's arms, and before he can retaliate, Stan is moving away and over to collect his messenger bag.

"Come on, let's go."

Eddie takes a few seconds to calm down the heat coursing through him before following after his husband, muttering "Tease," under his breath.

*

"Man, if there was ever a 'Hottest Professor' vote taken on campus, I'd totally bag the crown," Richie says the next day while he's waiting for his coffee to brew. Eddie had only just mentioned in passing that he thinks Stan would win, so of course Richie had to share his opinion. "Plus, students love a professor who can joke around with them."

"I guess graciousness wouldn't make an appearance in your ruling, then," Eddie says, making sure to get both chicken and lettuce when he stabs at the salad in front of him.

"I'd be more worried about the attention getting to his head," Mike grins from over on the couches. "Students could probably just bat their eyelashes at him and he'd give them a passing grade."

"Hey, no," Richie objects, spilling some sugar on the counter as his hands flail about. "How dare you. I follow the proper guides to grading, just like everyone else."

"Yeah, otherwise Beverly would probably have your ass fired," Eddie says around a mouthful of food.

"Oh, she can fire my ass in more ways than one," Richie winks, and Ben throws a stress ball at him from across the room.

"Gross," Eddie mutters.

"Besides, you and Stan the Man blow each other's chucks every other night, of course you're biased," Richie continues, sliding into the seat opposite Eddie as he mimes a blowjob.

Eddie narrows his eyes. "I didn't need a visual, thanks."

"I'll have to object to that, Rich," Mike says. "Stan is a very attractive gentleman."

"I think Richard here is just jealous I'm actually getting some every week," Eddie says through a smirk, and Ben makes an 'ooo' sound.

"Now, now children," Mike scolds, but there's a smile playing at his lips as he shakes his head. "We're all adults here, remember?"

"What have I missed now?" comes Stan's voice as he steps into the staff lounge.

"Well, I'm glad you asked Stanny-" Richie starts.

"No."

"But-"

"No." Stan repeats.

"Unfair," Richie almost pouts. Sometimes Eddie really does wonder how he got a job as a professor. "Married couples should not work together. You guys get an advantage over the rest of us. Tag teamers." He whispers the last part.

"You don't have to be married to gang up on someone," Ben interjects.

"Clearly," Richie fakes offence.

Stan walks over to take the seat next to Eddie, pulling out an identical salad. He'd made it up for the both of them this morning - something about needing to use up the chicken before it went bad.

"Aw, look at that," Richie nods and grins down at their food.

"If I didn't know any better, I'd think Richie wants to get married," Stan muses, setting out his lunch until it's neatly presented on the table. Eddie looks to Richie with a quirked brow.

"Hey, don't get me wrong, I love love," Richie says, and they hear Ben chuckle from behind them. "But as you said before, you don't need to be married to share something with someone, including salad."

"I'll share a salad with you, buddy," Mike says to Richie sympathetically.

Richie reaches out a hand to him dramatically. "Bless your heart, Mikey, you're my only hoe."

Mike gives him some finger guns before Ben's cutting in with a question to distract them. Eddie never quite knows how the lunch hour they share at work continuously manages to stay this manic, but it's always a nice break in between class after class and numbly grading more papers than he can count sometimes.

Early on in their relationship, Eddie found out Stan has this unique ability to calm him down, to some degree. During days where he gets too stressed about work, Stan was always there with some words of advice, or to give him a massage with his skilled hands. Even just having his husband sitting next to him was enough for Eddie to slump down in his chair and rest his head on Stan's shoulder.

Stan's left hand reaches down to squeeze Eddie's thigh gently. "Hey," he murmurs into the side of Eddie's face. "I have to work late again tonight. Sorry I'll have miss dinner."

Eddie turns his head to meet his eyes, offering up a smile. "That's alright. I can heat some up for you when you get home?"

"Sounds good," Stan says and kisses his temple.

"Hey, if Stan's not going to join you, I'll happily eat whatever food you make, Eds," Richie says, obviously having eavesdropped. "It makes me sad, thinking about you eating alone."

"Richie, you eat alone almost every night," Stan deadpans.

"By choice," Richie says.

"I know," Ben calls over to them. "We should sign Rich up for The Bachelor."

"Ugh, that biphobic garbage? No thanks," Richie laughs.

"Come on Ben, you should know better," Mike says.

"Sorry, sorry," Ben says and holds up his hands.

"Maybe I'll make my own show," Richie starts, standing up slowly as his eyes grow wide. "I'll call it Dicked in Paradise. All of the contestants have to walk around in a banana costume - no fancy dress here. And instead of a ceremonial rose, you get a dildo."

"That man has a PhD," Stan whispers, as if a small part of him is dying. Eddie can't help but laugh into his shoulder.

*

At the sound of rapping on the door, Eddie places the knife back down on the chopping board and curiously walks over to open it.

"Oh my God," Eddie lets out a small laugh when he sees who it is. "You were serious when you said you were coming over to eat our food?"

"Serious as a heart attack, Spaghetti Man," Richie says and sidesteps Eddie into his apartment, carrying a six-pack with him. Eddie is used to it at this point and closes the door after him. "So, what are we having?"

Together they spend the next hour drinking Richie's beers as they slowly prepare all of the ingredients for a Thai green curry. Although, there was less preparation involved and more drinking, since any time Richie tried to help out with cutting up the vegetables Eddie would freak out, convinced Richie was going to hurt himself and get blood all over the counter.

"I'm not that incompetent with a knife you know," Richie insists, though he lets Eddie take the knife away anyway and reaches for his drink again.

"And yet you're over here stealing our dinner instead of making your own."

"Touché," Richie grins.

"How you and Bill manage to survive by yourselves is beyond me," Eddie says, sliding the vegetables off the chopping board and into the large pan simmering away. "I'm glad you're his neighbour or else I'm sure he wouldn't remember to dress himself half the time."

"Hey, don't be knocking our swanky bachelor pads," Richie says, and Eddie mouths 'swanky' with a shake of his head. "We're totally competent people and perfectly happy the way things are. Oh-" Richie waves his hand at the food. "Can I take home a serve for Bill?"

"You're both ridiculous."

When the food is ready, Richie piles up a massive serve for himself before moving out to the lounge room to eat. Typically, Eddie and Stan eat together at the table, so it's always a bizarre feeling to change spots. But he settles down comfortably on the couch as Richie asks if they can have Seinfeld play on in the background.

"What's Stan the Man doing anyway?" Richie asks around a mouthful of food.

Eddie plays with his rice as he answers, "Helping out Cindy with her overflow. I think they only have a week's worth of paperwork left."

"He's a trooper, that one," Richie says, attention briefly torn when the screen shows Kramer as he drops hundreds of nickels on the counter to pay for his food.

"It's been stressing him out a bit, and I know he feels bad about not being home as often," Eddie continues, not sure why he's even saying any of this. But he knows Richie wouldn't offer any pity, just a willing ear to listen. "I just wish he wouldn't worry so much."

"Show him that, then," Richie says, and Eddie looks at him, not expecting to receive any kind of advice in return.

"How do you mean?"

"Just, like-" Richie starts, shifting around on the cushions and making a small noise. "Next time he's home, do, like, fancy shit for him. Don't tell him not to worry - prove that there's no need for him too. Dress up nice or take him out for a night on the town or buy a new sex toy, whatever. The future is yours, my friend."

"Thanks," Eddie deadpans.

"Eds, I know he's been missing you, too. Lord knows I hear it often enough," Richie mumbles with an eye-roll.

Eddie feels his chest bloom with warmth, and decides to take Richie's advice. He'll treat Stan to a full day of delicacies and hopefully, if it all goes well, they can both forget about work for one night and spend it together instead.

*

Eddie begins his plan by starting small.

For the remaining week when Stan will be working later most days, Eddie does things for his husband in ways that aren't too extravagant, but enough to show he cares and that he supports him. Thanks to Eddie's class being considerably smaller, and also having two sub teachers helping him with his students, he managed to wrap up the bulk of his work two weeks previous.

So Eddie uses his free time to continue cooking meals for them at home, testing out a few different recipes from a vegetarian cookbook Mike had gotten Stan for Christmas last year. Two of them had been great successes, and Stan promised to cook them again for them both one night.

Eddie goes out one evening to purchase some new bed sheets he's had his eyes on for a couple of months now. By the time he's changed them over and Stan stumbles home, dead on his feet, Eddie drags him off to bed, tucking him underneath the covers and smiling at the surprised but pleased look Stan throws at him.

He even indulges Stan in the morning when Eddie feels his arousal press into his lower back, rutting against him ever so softly in the early light of the morning. During times like this at work, they tend to forget about pleasuring each other, simply being too busy. But Eddie can't deny Stan this, missing it just as much, and goes down on him before they hop on over to share a quick shower.

In the six years they've been together, and married for two, Eddie has learned a lot about what it takes to make a commitment work. He knows being bitter towards Stan's dedication to work would only end in them both being frustrated and upset, so he stays as understanding as he can. He'd been hesitant, in the beginning of their relationship, to go for what he really wanted. But Stan always proves to him, in his own way, how much he loves Eddie for who he is, patiently waiting for Eddie to come to terms with their developing coupling. They compliment each other in ways Eddie's never experienced with another partner, and while they do have their arguments, Eddie's never felt more confident in a relationship before.

The journey was never stopping, and he knew he was ready to stick around until the end.

And finally, on the Saturday after Stan had officially completed his work, Eddie makes no move to wake them both up, instead taking the opportunity to doze, drifting in and out of sleep as he watches Stan softly lying next to him. It was as if a weight was lifted off both of them during the night, and Eddie plans to utilise this freedom to its fullest.

Eventually, once he's feeling more awake, he slips out of bed and over to the bathroom. He cleans himself up, sloshing around a decent amount of mouthwash before combing through his curls. When he walks back out, Stan has moved onto his back, hands clasped behind his head and eyes shut. Eddie sinks back onto the mattress and shimmies over to Stan, running a hand delicately over his chest.

"Morning," Stan murmurs, curling an arm around Eddie to bring him in closer. He opens his eyes and smiles softly. "What's that I hear? A whole day, uninterrupted, to spend with my husband? Surely not..."

Eddie smiles back, cupping both sides of Stan's face and leaning down to kiss him, gentle and slow, before pulling back with a wet sound. "You better believe it."

"We definitely don't have any commitments today?" Stan checks. Eddie shakes his head, having previously made sure to keep this day open.

"To start, I thought we could make breakfast together," Eddie suggests, now running his fingers through the curls behind Stan's ears.

"Sure," Stan says, caressing one of Eddie's wrists. "I'm making my coffee Irish today. I think I deserve it."

Eddie laughs quietly before leaning down to kiss him again.

*

"I think you might have a coffee addiction," Stan muses, holding the door open as Eddie steps out of the bustling Starbucks.

"My love for coffee is perfectly average and nothing to worry about," Eddie says, handing over one grande cup to Stan as they continue down the path. "Not my fault you asked for tea."

Stan smiles before taking a light sip of his hot drink. Today is a beautiful spring day, and Eddie couldn't be more glad for it. He'd spent last night preparing everything before Stan got home, checking the weather to make sure there wouldn't be any light showers the next day.

He reaches out to twine their fingers together, and Stan squeezes back, swinging their hands between them slightly.

"So, where are you taking me?" Stan asks.

After their breakfast adventures that morning they had lazed about on the couch, doing the crossword together. Though Eddie spent most of his time kissing along Stan's neck to distract him, and eventually it paid off when Stan got up to drag them both back to the bedroom. It had been hard to drag Stan into the shower and out of the apartment after that, but Eddie had promised it would be worth it.

"Well," Eddie starts, side-eyeing him. "What do you think I have in my bag?"

Stan turns to look at it, as if just realising it's there. "I have no idea. Tap shoes? Overdue library books? More whiskey so I can I make my tea Irish too?"

Eddie frowns at him funny. "I brought a picnic lunch for us."

"Ah, so close," Stan says, and Eddie bumps their hips together lightly.

They walk along through the city streets, basking in the feeling of not having to layer up anymore in the crisp winter air. The sun feels nice against Eddie's skin, and as they're waiting to cross at some lights he performs another checklist in his head to make sure he's remembered everything. They make their way to the outer city limits where the botanical garden's is located. There are couples and families everywhere, all enjoying the day for what it is, and Eddie pulls Stan around until they find a spot not yet overrun by people.

Eddie sets his backpack down and retrieves a blanket, laying it out messily until Stan ends up straightening it out. They settle down, partially shaded by the tree above, and Eddie carefully removes all of the containers of food he brought along with them.

"I won't be needing dinner after this meal," Stan laughs as he eyes the large spread before them.

"I wanted to be over-prepared today," Eddie says, somewhat bashfully. When he looks up, Stan is watching him closely, and without another word, leans over to kiss Eddie softly.

"Thank you."

Eddie smiles. "You're welcome, handsome."

"Ah, I knew you just married me for my good looks," Stan teases, resting on his elbow as he reaches out to grab one of the egg salad sandwiches Eddie made up.

"Yup," Eddie says, taking the other sandwich half and biting into it. "You're my trophy husband for sure."

"For you baby, I'll be anything," Stan says and hums contently, and Eddie is still surprised when he feels his cheeks flush slightly.

With his feet being exposed to the sun Eddie ends up slipping off his stuffy shoes after about 20 minutes, and Stan, cheekily acting as if it were botanical garden visiting protocol, does the same. The sky was mostly void of clouds, but there is a nice breeze blowing by that helps with some of the heat. At one point, a soccer ball lands near them and Eddie, never wanting to miss an opportunity, attempts to kick it back to the kids but ends up narrowly missing the pond featurette.

"If your aim was to get it as far away from the kids as possible then you did it, honey," Stan teases when Eddie returns.

"Funny," Eddie says and throws a single grape at him.

"Don't waste grapes," Stan whispers.

Eddie waggles his eyebrows and grabs an entire bunch, standing again and backing up a few steps, challenging. "I bet I can get ten in my mouth - in a row."

"That's childs play," Stan says through squinted eyes, taking the bet. "The usual wager?"

"Bring it."

When they were out of grapes and couldn't possibly eat any more food, Eddie stops them both and suggests they catch up on their reading, eager to finish off a book he's two thirds in.

"I didn't bring my glasses, though," Stan points out until Eddie grabs them from his bag along with Stan's bookmarked George Shearing autobiography. "My, you sure do think of everything."

Eddie smiles smugly before they both make themselves comfortable on the rug, with Stan's head resting in Eddie's lap so he can run his fingers through Stan's hair. Eddie notices it's getting to that almost-too-long stage, but figures another week or so won't hurt him as he twirls a long curl around his finger.

It isn't until later that Eddie finds he had fallen asleep, his own glasses askew on his face as he wakes up to Stan smiling behind his phone as he finishes snapping a picture of him.

"Ugh, I hate you," Eddie grumbles.

"I think we should come here more often," Stan says with a grin.

*

When they make it back to their apartment an hour later Eddie knows he should probably start putting all of the leftover food away and rinse out the containers, but it's to no shock that his body is desperately crying out for a nice bubble bath and some red wine instead. But then, if he's being even more honest, all he really wants is to head to the bedroom to clock in some much needed time to reacquaint himself with Stan's hands and legs and chest and his everything.

"Thank you for that lovely Eddie-cation," Stan murmurs into Eddie's temple.

Eddie smiles, shifting one hand up and under Stan's shirt as the other runs lightly over Stan's collarbone. Stan's hands have found their own way to Eddie's hips as he draws their bodies together, foreheads bumping as Eddie whispers, "I won that bet, remember?"

"I remember," Stan nods, now cupping Eddie's face as he angles it, leaning down to seal their lips together.

Eddie makes a small noise, their tongues meeting languidly, indulging in letting Stan take the lead for one moment before he manages to tear himself away to suck in a deep breath. He backs up, fingers slipping into the gaps between Stan's shirt buttons and tugging as they shuffle towards the bedroom.

"Today is about you, baby," Eddie says, licking his lips. "I'm taking the lead, so you just sit back and enjoy the ride, okay?"

Stan grins, and the sound of clothes shedding begins.

*

Mind dizzy on endorphins and heartbeat loud in his ears, Eddie slips out of Stan with a groan before collapsing on the bed, loving the feeling of their new, cool sheets against his hot skin. Stan flops next to him, breathing in quick, little pants as they wait to calm down.

"So," Eddie murmurs, rolling onto his side to face Stan properly. "Did you have a nice day?"

Stan laughs, a touch disbelieving. "It was wonderful, yes. Thank you."

"I'm glad," Eddie breathes, eyes slipping shut.

"Not sure what I did to deserve it, but... thank you," Stan says, quieter.

Eddie peaks at him through one open eye. "You've been working so hard these past few weeks, don't think I haven't noticed. I couldn't be more proud of you."

"With this kind of reward? Watch my motivation skyrocket," Stan says.

Eddie throws him a well deserved eye-roll before his thoughts drift back to when they arrived home. "I think I want my dinner tonight to just be a bottle of red. What do you think?"

"I think you may be onto something there," Stan says, and even though they really need to shower, Eddie makes time for one more long, lazy kiss shared between lovestruck smiles.

I think it's obvious that I l o v e Steddie