Another cutesy little steddie thing. all fluff. Post vecna. 1648 words.
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It’s not that Eddie was a wuss…
Ok maybe he was, but still this was a terrifying prospect… asking Steve Harrington out.
It didn’t help that he was getting advice from a 15 year old.
“Do you think he likes you back?” Dustin asked, tapping a pencil against his chin.
“I don’t know, Henderson,” Eddie ran his hands over his face. What was he doing? “You’re supposed to be helping me figure that out.”
Dustin tapped his chin again and looked at the ceiling.
In all honesty, Eddie would usually talk to Jeff about this stuff, but he had to be visiting his family in Ohio because of stupid Thanksgiving.
“Well, you guys hang out a lot, that’s gotta count for something.” Dustin pointed out.
“You hang out a lot with Sinclair and Wheeler. You wanna make out with them?” Dustin pulled a face. “That’s what I thought.”
“I am happily in a relationship, thanks.” Dustin pointed out.
He always had a reason to point it out.
“I know, and I would like to be as well, so if we could get back to the discussion at hand…”
“Ok, ok… Well, Steve hasn’t really been dating recently… right?”
“No, he hasn’t.”
“Maybe that means something?”
“I don’t know… He says he just hasn’t met the right person yet…”
“Well… he used ‘person,’ not ‘girl!’ That’s a good sign!” Dustin pointed his pencil at Eddie.
“Sure, but you’re missing a key point in that statement.” Eddie sighed. Dustin squinted at him. “He’s met me, Dustin.”
Dustin’s eyebrows shot up. “Fair point.”
Eddie dropped his face into his hands. Dustin started up again.
“Your idea that Steve might like you is a hypothesis and science dictates that the only way to conclude if a hypothesis is correct is to prove it. To run experiments.”
Eddie let out a belabored sigh.
“So, test it,” Dustin continued. “Ask Steve out.”
Eddie stared at Dustin, knowing he was right in his own little, nerd way.
“Yeah… Ok, alright, yeah, I’ll do it.”
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The next day was movie night at Steve’s with the whole crew. The kids, Nancy, and Robin were all in the living room putting out snacks and arguing about where they would sit. Eddie figured now was as good a time as any. He crossed over to the kitchen, meandering over to Steve who was waiting for the popcorn in the microwave.
“Hey.” Eddie offered once he was a few feet away. Nailed it.
“Hey,” Steve looked over at him, “how’s physical therapy going? I’ve been meaning to call you, see if you needed any help.” Steve responded with a soft smile at Eddie, the kind that made all the nervous energy in him disappear. The microwave beeped and Steve pulled the popcorn out, hissing when he grabbed the hot part of the bag before dropping it in one of the big plastic bowls he had waiting.
Eddie grabbed another bag out of the box, unfolded it and handed it to Steve.
“Uh, good, good, I guess. I never really know if I’m doing the exercises right. The paper instructions are shit.”
Steve laughed at that, “Yeah, I’ve been there. I could come over some time, help you figure them out?”
“Uh, yeah, sure. That would be great… actually.” Eddie swallowed. “But, uh, before that happens, I, uh, I have to ask you something.” Eddie stumbled over the words before looking over his shoulder, making sure no one else would be witness to him getting shot down by Steve Harrington, even if he was in a house full of friends.
“Yeah?” Steve turned toward Eddie, leaned his hip against the counter, the picture of nonchalance.
“Yeah,” Eddie cleared his throat, “Would you, uh, ever consider, maybe… shit. Start over.” Eddie clamped his jaw in a grimace before starting again. He couldn’t look at Steve yet. If he saw any bit of apprehension or negative emotion, he would never actually get the full question out. “Would you like to go out… on a date… with me?”
Eddie finally looked at Steve instead of the cabinet behind his head. His initial look gave him nothing. Steve looked the same, if not a little more still, a little more focused. But he wasn’t saying anything. The nervous energy was back with a vengeance and Eddie was starting to feel twitchy the longer Steve stared at him.
And then Lucas walked into the kitchen.
“Is this one ready?” he asked, pulling the bowl with the popcorn bag in it across the counter. The microwave behind Steve beeped. He was still staring at Eddie. Eddie was still staring at Steve.
“Uh-huh.” Steve answered.
“Should I get that one out?” Lucas asked.
“I’ll get it in a second,” Steve said, his eyes now roaming over Eddie’s face.
“I don’t mind.” Lucas offered.
“Dude.” Steve’s eyes finally left Eddie and he felt himself deflate a little bit, muscles twinging from where he had been clenching them. “I’ll get it. Can you give us a minute?”
“Oh! Uh, yeah? Sure?” Lucas replied, quickly grabbing the bowl and heading back towards the living room.
Steve’s eyes flicked back to Eddie and he felt suddenly compelled to talk. Like a tidal wave, his insecurities drowned him.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have sprung this on you. I’m not your type, I know. I—”
“Yes.”
“Don’t even know if…” Eddie stopped to process what Steve said. “Yes? Yes, I’m not your type or yes you… you want to…”
“Yes. I’ll go out with you.”
Eddie finally looked at Steve, really took him in instead of concentrating on not collapsing in on himself. Steve looked almost… shy? Nervous? There was the slightest blush on his neck, the smallest, guarded smile. He, Eddie now noticed, had been white knuckling his own arm ever since Eddie asked.
Interesting.
Eddie relaxed a little. “Yeah?”
Steve’s smile grew bigger as he nodded. “Yeah.”
Eddie couldn’t help the smile that took over his face. He did it. He asked Steve out. And Steve said yes! What’s more, Steve looked caught off guard in the best way possible. “Oh, just you wait, Harrington. I’m gonna wine and dine you like you’ve never been wined and dined before.” Eddie grinned.
“The popcorn’s getting cold! What’s taking you guys so long!” Dustin yelled from the living room.
Steve turned to the microwave to get the popcorn and Eddie reveled in Steve’s smile. The way it looked like he was restraining it, the way Steve looked lighter than he had in weeks.
They walked back to the living room together, and Eddie kicked Mike off the couch so he could sit next to Steve. Halfway through the movie, Steve slipped his hand into Eddie’s. On impulse, he pulled Steve’s hand up to kiss the back of it, before shifting closer and leaning his head on Steve’s shoulder. When he felt the press of Steve’s head on top of his he thought maybe he was dead. Maybe the bats had finished him off and he was in heaven.
He would have to thank Dustin for pushing him to ask Steve. He would never hear the end of it.
When the movie ended and everyone was leaving, Eddie hung around the living room so he would be the last to go. He refolded the blankets, rewound the tape and put it back in its box, and picked up the popcorn bowls and candy wrappers. He was in the kitchen throwing things out, thinking maybe he had enough time to run to the bathroom, when Steve reappeared.
“Everyone head out?” Eddie asked as Steve approached him.
“Mhmm.” He replied before stepping around the kitchen island and stopping in front of Eddie. “Coast is clear.”
“Oh yeah?” Eddie grinned, stepping closer.
“Mmm,” Steve hummed before leaning in, pressing his lips to Eddie’s.
Eddie had kissed quite a few people before, boys and girls alike, but this kiss with Steve. It was different. It filled him up, distracted him from everything else so that when his back hit the counter it almost startled him.
“Sorry.” Steve hummed, pulling away.
“Don’t be.” Eddie managed to get out before pulling Steve back in. He was definitely in heaven. Except in heaven, he wouldn’t be almost peeing his pants. Curse that whole bottle of coke.
Eddie pulled back with a soft, ‘shit.’
“You okay?” Steve asked.
“Yeah, fantastic, great. Except I think I’m about to pee my pants. Don’t go anywhere, Big Boy.” Eddie said before practically running to the bathroom, Steve’s surprised laughter following him down the hall.
When he got back, Steve was washing the popcorn bowls and pizza plates from earlier in the night, sweater pushed up to his elbows, the locks of hair hanging in his eyes swinging with his movements. Eddie stepped up behind him and wrapped his arms around Steve’s waist.
“No one has ever asked me out.” Steve said after a few seconds.
“What?” Eddie let go in surprise, moving next to Steve so he could see his face. “Seriously?”
Steve nodded.
“The way girls talked about you I would have thought they would be lining up.” Eddie mused.
“No. I’m the guy, you know? I mean they definitely dropped hints, but none of them asked me.”
Eddie reveled in that for a second. He was the first person to ask Steve Harrington out.
“So, how does it feel being on the receiving end?” Eddie asked, nudging Steve.
“So good.” Steve smiled at him, the sincerity of his words bleeding out of him so much that Eddie had to dart forward and peck him on the cheek.
“Where do you want to go?” Eddie asked.
“You said you were gonna wine and dine me,” Steve replied, “I trust you.”
Those words sent a bolt of pure reassurance through Eddie. “Oh, Steve Harrington,” he half sing-songed, half chuckled, “I’m gonna date you so hard.”
“you- you betrayed us!!! All for these good for nothing creatures!? WHY!?!” Your commander screams at you in complete disbelief on how you could have any reason to betray your people, you then pull out a list that comically unfolded a few feet “where do I fucking start!!!”
It’s loving Eddie Diaz hours and you know what I love?
He’s so emotionally repressed and doesn’t allow himself even the slightest bit of slack when it comes to his own emotions but when it comes to Chris he’s so affectionate and open and just creates such a good environment to feel emotions and also verbalise them and communicate together
And he also does something similar when it comes to buck by constantly offering verbal assurances DESPITE the fact that he’s notorious for being a bad communicator and bad at talking about things
No thoughts just how much Eddie loves his little family and how willing he is to go out of his comfort zone to help them
Ever since i was a little girl I have wanted to fight in battle and receive a grave but concealable injury and continue fighting bravely til the end and get reunited with my comrades and then smile and cough up blood then die smiling
