eddie finally snapping and telling steve that none of the girls he's been dating deserve him anyway bc he deserves someone who truly loves him for him and not his name or status or parents or money, he deserves someone who laughs at his dad jokes and knows his favorite color and all the pointless silly things. steve immediately firing back with; "so why haven't you asked me out yet"
Steve and Eddie aren't even together when Steve gets the Shovel Talk from Eddie's uncle, but it is what tips Steve into talking to Eddie about his feelings, so he's not upset by it.
They aren't dating, not because he doesn't want Eddie, because he absolutely does. It's just that he wants to be sure Eddie wants him back. There are times when he's sure, when Eddie gets into his space a bit too close, or more often, than he does with anyone else. Eddie calls him a thousand and one nicknames, ranging from sweet to irritating but just when Steve thinks that's a perk left just for him, Eddie hands someone else a new nickname (just the one, a voice in Steve's head that sounds suspiciously like Robin says).
Not that any of that is the point. Wayne wouldn't bother to give Steve a shovel talk at all unless he knew how Eddie felt. Wayne is a man of action, and he's never done anything unless it mattered. Meant something. Steve and Wayne have sat in plenty of (what Steve considers to be) awkward silences because Wayne doesn't talk to fill the void of silence.
The point is, Steve drops Eddie off at the house the government so graciously bought for the Munsons, walks Eddie to the door and giving Eddie a hug goodbye. He stays on the porch until Eddie shuts the door and then nearly jumps out of his skin when he hears Wayne call out his name.
"Harrington," Wayne says from the shadows of the wrap around porch.
So, Steve jumps and it's only then he notices that Wayne is sitting at the table and chairs set up on the porch. "Mr. Munson, sir, hi. Hello."
Wayne lets out a chuckle, but it doesn't really sound amused. "I have come to accept that you are nothing like your father, boy, but I do want to make it clear to you, that Eddie means more to me than anything else on this Earth."
"I know, sir."
"I know you do. And while I will forever be grateful that you helped return him to me alive, know that I will not hesitate to make you disappear if you hurt my boy in a way he can't bounce back from."
Steve's not afraid of Wayne, not really, but that doesn't stop him from feeling the need to flee. He doesn't, though, because he'd gotten enough shovel talks from concerned parents in high school, and he knows they can sense weakness. "I can't promise I'd never hurt him, sir, but I can promise it'll never be intentional."
He can't actually see Wayne's face in the darkness but he feels sized up all the same.
"I believe that, Steve," Wayne says, and it's the first time Steve's ever heard his name leave the man's mouth, "now go home."
-
Wayne's shovel talk was expected. Robin's is not.
"You took Eddie on a date date?" She whispers it as though they aren't alone in Steve's living room. They're laying on the floor in a line, heads next to each other so if they turn slightly to the side they can make eye contact. Steve's not sure why they always end up on the floor for Serious Talk Time.
"Yeah," Steve says, looking away from Robin's face to stare up to the ceiling, "I mean, sorta? We can't like... be open that it was a date, but we went to dinner and a movie and it was nice. Shared a popcorn and played footsie under the diner table."
"Whoa," Robin says. "I never thought you'd- didn't think you'd be brave enough to ask him."
"Me either."
"Steve," Robin sounds serious, so Steve turns to look at her. She studies his face for a moment before she's the one to look away, speaks to the ceiling, "be careful with Eddie, yeah?"
"What? Careful how?"
"I just think you could really fuck him up," Robin says. "You're his first boyfriend, right? That's going to set a precedent for relationships that might happen if you two don't work out. And I hate to say this, because I know you've changed, but like, I saw how a lot of those girls you dated in high school ended up when you broke up with them."
Steve's a little hurt, because Robin's his best friend. She should be giving this talk to Eddie, not him. But, also, he understands. He knows that Robin knew about Eddie's sexuality before he did, knows they bonded over being queer while Steve was still figuring himself out.
Steve also knows that Eddie's never been in a relationship before, Eddie'd told him at much when Steve asked him out. Steve doesn't like that Robin implied that he and Eddie will eventually break up, but no matter how much that thought makes Steve's heart ache, he won't know if it'll happen unless it does.
He just doesn't understand why she seems to think he'll be the one breaking Eddie's heart. It could go the other way.
"Did you OD over there?" Robin asks, trying to lighten the mood.
"No," Steve answers, "I'll be careful."
-
They've been on four more dates before Nancy knocks on his door. She doesn't accept his invitation to come inside. Just starts speaking on his doorstep.
"As Eddie's Capital P Soulmate," is how she starts that sentence, and it makes something hurt deep inside Steve as he tries not to think about Robin, "I am obligated to remind you that I do own several guns now. And I don't miss."
"Jesus Christ," Steve says, because even Wayne was more subtle, "I got it."
"Good. I do know you'd never hurt him on purpose," Nancy says but Steve doesn't feel reassured.
He thinks that, if she really didn't think he's going to end up hurting Eddie she wouldn't have said anything at all. "Right."
"Well, good talk Steve," and then she's walking down the driveway and climbing into her car.
He closes the door and goes to the kitchen to get himself a beer, mostly so he has something to do besides stew in his emotions. He wonders if Eddie has been given the shovel talk, too? Maybe Robin did the same thing Nancy just did. Showed up unprompted, threatened Eddie with some sort of bodily harm, and then just left.
"Oh, hello sweetheart," Eddie says, "are you calling for business or pleasure?"
Steve laughs, "business."
"Boo!"
"Listen, uh, I had a question. I just wanted to know if anyone's said anything to you. About us. Or, y'know, specifically about us and our relationship?"
"Uh, not really? A few congratulations, I guess. Why? Did someone say something?" Eddie's voice is level, almost too level, so Steve knows he's trying to keep cool.
"Oh, no! No! I mean, aside from the scary shovel talk from- Wayne, everyone's been surprisingly cool about it. Very supportive," Steve says and even though it's true, everyone they've told has been cool about it, it feels a little bit like a lie.
Eddie laughs, "I can't believe my uncle gave you a shovel talk! You know, I keep expecting to get one from Robin but so far nothing. She must think you're safe in my capable hands."
Steve is safe in Eddie's hand, he thinks, but that doesn't stop the sting that goes through him. "Of course, she does. You've been a perfect boyfriend."
There's a pause before Eddie's voice comes through the phone, soft and quiet, "I'm glad you said so. I want to be. For you."
"You're not allowed to say those kinds of things when you aren't within kissing distance, babe," Steve says, because if he doesn't add humor to this conversation, he's going to tell Eddie he loves him instead, and even Steve knows that saying that a month into dating is too soon, especially over the phone where he can't see Eddie's reaction.
Eddie laughs and makes kissing sounds at him before the conversation shifts to chatting about the day and making plans for the weekend.
-
Steve is trying really hard to not be the person he was in high school but every time he gets to the point where he's being a better person, someone brings up how he used to be. Shoves it back into his face that no matter what Steve does he can't outrun his past.
One such time is shortly after Steve and Eddie accidentally come out as a couple to all of Hellfire. Steve was just dropping off the boys and had stepped inside to chat a bit. Once game time had arrived it had and Steve made to leave, they'd (he and Eddie) had been on autopilot. Eddie'd whined 'where's my goodbye kiss?' and Steve had stepped over, kissed him goodbye, and was out the door before it had actually computed.
Steve had burst back through the door, rushing back to Eddie, because no way in Hell was he going to leave his boyfriend to deal with whatever the consequences would be alone.
It had been absolute chaos at the table with people shouting over each other.
"Of all the people you could be with, you picked Steve!? You could do better!" Mike had whined, and Steve had thought for sure he was the only one who had heard Mike until he saw Will punch his arm and hiss his own 'don't be a dick' at Mike.
It took almost half an hour to calm everyone down. It was a relief to know that Eddie had come out to his bandmates/the older Hellfire members already. The kids took it in stride, in the end, and Eddie had shoo'd Steve away.
Jeff had excused himself, too, and Steve thought he was just going to use the bathroom but instead he followed Steve outside.
Ah. Steve knows what's coming.
"Harrington," Jeff says, "can't say I'm excited that you're the secret boyfriend Eddie's constantly sighing wistfully about. I'm sure Wayne's already threatened you," And Robin, and Nancy, and Mike doesn't think he's good enough, "but if you hurt Eddie-"
"I get it! There will be dire consequences if I hurt Eddie," Steve snaps, not down for hearing it anymore. He stomps to his car and peels away from the curb without bothering to look back.
-
If he's being honest, Steve didn't even know he had a breaking point with shovel talks until he gets his fifth one from Dustin.
It's not even a shovel talk. It's just a single sentence, said almost a month after Dustin learned about their relationship. He's dropping Dustin off after their DnD game. Normally Claudia picks him up, but she's busy tonight and asked Steve to do it.
"Alright, Henderson, safely delivered."
"Thanks, Steve," Dustin says, unbuckles his seatbelt, and opens the door, before turning back to Steve. He just looks at him for a moment.
"What?"
"I'm happy for you and Eddie. Just, don't hurt him, ok?"
He nods his head but can't say anything. Dustin grabs his backpack, shoots him a smile, and climbs out. Steve does wait until Dustin closes the front door behind him before putting the car back in gear.
He manages to get home, somehow, because Steve doesn't fully remember the drive. It's not that his mind was so focused on something else that made him fail to take in his surroundings, but rather that his mind wasn't even a part of his body anymore.
One moment he was pulling away from the Henderson residence, and the next, he was home, just standing in his kitchen in the dark. And now that his thoughts are back, or easier to process, he finds himself wondering why everyone thinks that he's going to be the one to hurt Eddie.
How many people has he hurt that this is his reputation? Is it inevitable that he will hurt Eddie? Is it truly just a matter of time until he breaks Eddies heart? Why is everyone so convinced that he will?
Briefly the thought occurs to him that maybe he should call up Eddie and break up with him right now, before Eddie has a chance to get in deep enough that Steve could break his heart, but just the thought of it breaks Steve's heart, so he's not going to do that. Doesn't want to do that. That would just be punishing Eddie for something he didn't do.
None of this is Eddie's fault, and Steve's an asshole for even thinking of breaking up with him because of it. Which feeds him back into the loop of thinking that maybe everyone is right about him. He is an asshole and will someday hurt Eddie, perhaps even on purpose.
He loves Eddie. He's in love with Eddie. But does loving him mean proving his friends wrong? Or does it mean leaving him before they're proven right?
He wants to ask everyone why they think he'll hurt Eddie.
He wants to ask everyone why they don't care if he's the one that gets hurt.
Eddie had always been an animal lover. Wayne would never forget the way his boy cried when he found a dead mouse in a mousetrap in the trailer. Eddie was so mad at Wayne, he wouldn't talk to him for days. From that day forward, Wayne always bought the live mouse traps so Eddie could take the mice into the woods to live free.
When Eddie was thirteen, Wayne came home from work to find Eddie in his bedroom talking to someone. Opening the door, he found the boy sitting on his bed holding a small baby possum in his arms. Eddie begged Wayne to let him take care of it. "His mom is dead, too. He's like me." Wayne hated to do it, but he drove Eddie to a wildlife sanctuary where the possum could be better taken care of.
Three years later Wayne walked outside one morning after not finding Eddie in his bed, to find his nephew curled up with one of the neighborhood cats. "I couldn't bring him inside because of your allergies, but it was cold." Eddie spent the next week fighting off a cold of his own, but Wayne helped him put together a warm place for the cat to stay.
Eddie had graduated. Fallen in love. Now, he was moving out of the trailer he had lived in most of his life. Moving on to live in an apartment with Steve. Wayne pulled up just as Eddie was loading the last box of his stuff into the van. He turned to smile at his uncle as he stepped out of his truck, something small wrapped up in a towel in his arms. Raising an eyebrow, Eddie stepped towards him. Suddenly a small orange head popped out of the towel and mewed. Eddie's eyes lit up as he rushed forward and scratched the kitten on the head. "One of the guys found him out back at the plant. Looked around for more but it was just this guy." Eddie looked up Wayne, "but your allergies." "Oh I'm not keeping it son, thought maybe you and Steve could look after him." Eddie's eyes widened even more as he turned to his boyfriend for permission. Steve smiled and nodded as Eddie took the kitten from Wayne and held him close. "I'm gonna call him, Bilbo."
Eddie and Steve never decide to have kids, but they had enough animals that it didn't really matter. Everytime Eddie brought home another one of his 'rescues', Steve just smiled. Eddie always loved animals, and Steve loved Eddie.
When Steve decided to give college a try, Eddie was 100% supportive.
When Steve found people to hang out with and study after classes, Eddie was still 100% supportive.
When Steve started coming home late every Wednesday because of very long "study sessions", Eddie was still 100% supportive but, maybe 2% anxious.
When Steve started avoiding questions about this "study group" he goes to every week, Eddie's support was tanking faster than the 1929 stock market.
He knew logically Steve would never cheat on Eddie. There was still that niggling piece of doubt that wonders when the other shoe would drop. Will Steve find a smarter, more professional girl or guy who had their life all figured out and take Steve away from him and leave Eddie choking on the dust? Percentage was low but not quite 0.
The next Wednesday Steve came home late, Eddie sat in their apartment living room with the lights off. If he was going to get dumped, he may as well do it as cinematically dramatic as possible. He'll romanticize his own breakup to hell and back if he wants to. The theatrics might stop him from splintering into pieces.
Steve stepped inside, turned the light on and to his credit, barely reacted to Eddie staring at the door.
"Hey babe. Were you waiting up for me? I'm sorry, the study group went on a bit longer tonight. I brought takeout."
Eddie guessed Steve still hadn't noticed his rigid stature or blank expression. He took a deep breath, counted to ten and said, "Steve."
That got a reaction out of him. Steve snapped his head up, worried, "What? What's wrong? You never call me by my first name, what happened?" He quickly put everything down and ran over, taking a seat next to Eddie, and checking over his face.
Eddie had to kill the smile that was threatening to spill over and push him off, forcing a scowl. "Steve."
"Oh my God, it's the kids, isn't it? What did they do? Is someone in the hospital? In jail? Who do I need to call, I probably still have Owens number, that bastard still owes me a fucking fav--"
"Steve, stop, no! It's not the kids, everything's fine, the kids are fine, I'm physically fine."
His boyfriend paused, catching on immediately, "Physically? So, does that mean you're not mentally fine? Eds, babe, you're scaring me, please tell me what's wrong."
A bemused chuckle escapes Eddie's mouth. Even when trying to prep himself for hearbreak, Steve still managed to charm and delight him. Maybe he's worrying over nothing. Maybe he just jumped to conclusions, like he always does.
"Stevie, I'm sorry. This was a bad way going about this but, you're right. Mentally, I'm kind of mess. Understatement of the century, yeah, yeah but I just...something's been bothering me and I really want to be honest with you and I hope you'll be honest with me."
Steve nods, his hands squeezing Eddie's encouragingly. "Of course, Eds. I always want you to be honest with me, no matter what, even if you think it might be something I don't want to hear."
"Yeah, I know but this isn't really about something you don't want to hear, it's more about what I might not want to hear. But I do want to hear, or at least be told that the thing I don't want to hear isn't true and I just made it up in my head."
Steve reeled back, "Whoa, okay, let's roll it back. I think I need to get a notebook to try to decipher what you're trying to say. Can you repeat that for me please? In maybe smaller sentences?"
Eddie groaned, pulling a hand away to scrub it over his face, "Please just tell what you've been doing at these "study sessions" because I'm scared that you might have found a more interesting person to want to spend your life with and you're slowly trying to distance yourself and gently break up with me!"
He heard a choking sound and when he opened his eyes, Steve was balking back at him.
"Eddie, no! Of course not, I wouldn't do that to you, you know that."
"They why have you been acting all cagey and secretive whenever I ask you what you've been doing once a week? Your classes end at 3, but you always come home around 9! And you don't work today!"
He sees Steve flapping his gums with no sound coming out and the anxious, cold feeling was creeping back up again.
"They're study sessions, they can go pretty long--"
"Not for six hours! Please Steve, just tell me the truth man." Eddie refused to cry and instead pulls his hair over to his mouth and started to chew on the ends.
Neither say a thing, he doesn't think they even breathe, unwilling to be the first to break away from the sudden staring contest.
But Eddie, master of the hard stare, watches Steve squirm, his face contorting into a pained wince until finally he gasps, "Okay! I'll tell you. But...you have to promise not to be mad."
Eddie spits out his hair, "That is NOT the way to get me to do ANYTHING for you. That's a fucking guarantee that I'm gonna be mad. I swear to God, if you're cheating--"
"No! No, Eddie, God, ugh! I would never--you know I wouldn't do that!"
"You're going to have to start talking because I'm pretty sure I'm 5 seconds away from having a panic attack, so just tell me what's going on!"
"I JOINED A D&D GROUP!"
The room once again envelops into silence, this time, however, the temperature drops alongside with the noise.
"You. What."
Steve slowly gets up from the couch, grabs his backpack from the door, opens it, and takes out some folders before placing them in Eddie's lap.
Out of sheer reflex, Eddie opens the file, scanning over the papers like they're confidential documents. And there it was. Character sheets, campaign notes, printed out pages from the D&D handbook about certain class abilities. He even found laminated cards with spells on them.
As he pores over the folder, Eddie tuned back into the conversation.
"There was this guy in my philosophy class and I overeheard he was trying to start up a D&D club of sorts. And I kind of mentioned that I knew some kids who were really into D&D but I never really understood it.
It was more just to make small talk than anything, but he kind of reminded me of Dustin a bit. He jumped at the chance to recruit me or whatever. Said that the group he was DMing for were mostly first time learners, so if I was still interested, he'd leave a spot open for me."
Eddie took some time to process what was being said to him. The fact that Steve was using proper D&D terms was blowing him mind.
"And you joined. Just like that?"
"I mean. Not at first. I wasn't interested when he first brought it up but the more I thought about it, the more I got curious cause, the group he was going to be hosting were people my age. People who were in the same boat as me; heard of the game but never played it before. So I went and sat in for a session 0 and...we kind of hit it off."
Eddie was nodding along, chewing now on his bottom lip. "Ok. I believe you. Just one question."
"Sure."
".......is he a better DM that me?"
Steve groaned, head falling back onto the couch, "Oh my God."
He didn't relent, smacking Steve's shoulder with the papers, "Don't give me that, tell me the truth, is he a better DM than me?"
"This is why I didn't want to tell you, I knew you were going to become weirdly jealous about this."
"Obviously! I've been begging you to play for years! What's this guy got that I ain't got, huh?! Are his storylines better-paced? Are his NPCs more interesting?" He gasps, "Are his plot twists more devious than mine?!"
This time it was Steve's turn to scrub his face with his hands, "No! Brendan is just--"
"Oh, so the homewrecker has a name! Fucking Brendan!"
Steve started to laugh helplessly and pulls on Eddie's shirt for a hug. Eddie wasn't going to make it easy, smacking him again with his folder, though his energy was lacking. "Get off me, you floozy. No hugs for philandering miscreants, go sleep at Brendan's house."
After a feeble struggle, hIs body finally gave out, slumping onto Steve's shoulder. Steve huffed an amused sigh, "Never. He lives in an apartment with 3 other dudes, we'd never get any privacy."
Eddie pinches his arm.
"Ow, ow! I'm kidding! Uncle!"
The pinching turns into a tickle fight which turns into a pillow fight where they both end up in their bed, panting, sweaty, but giggling between kisses.
Eddie pulls back, putting a hand on Steve's mouth to stop him from taking another kiss, "I really do need to know, Stevie. Why wait till now? With...fucking Brendan?"
Just because Eddie stopped him from kissing his mouth doesn't stop Steve from kissing him completely, more than willing to kiss the palm of his hand instead. He grins, puckish and not at all sorry.
"I promise, it has nothing to do with your ability to DM. You're an amazing storyteller, Eddie. But I guess...sometimes I sit in on a Hellfire game and I try hard to follow along but everything goes by so quickly. Since you all know how the rules and mechanics work, you can't exactly stop to explain every detail. That would mess up the flow of the campaign.
Brendans game isn't like that. It's slower. A lot slower. And the stakes aren't as high because we're all a bunch of newbie punks still getting the hang of figuring out the difference between an action and a bonus action.
And I was planning to tell you. I just wanted to get more experience before I did so I wouldn't look dumb in front of you and the kids. It was going to be a surprise."
Eddie makes a wounded noise but Steve shakes his head, "No, don't feel bad, I should have been more upfront about all this. I hate that I made you feel insecure about us just because I was worried about looking dumb. I really am sorry about that, baby."
The silence that envelops them for the third time that night is a comfort, their steady breathing creating an odd sort of lullaby.
"I'm sorry too," Eddie whispered. At Steve's confused look, he added, "I shouldn't have waited so long to tell you how I was feeling." He paused and then rolled his eyes, "And I'm sorry for calling Brendan a homewrecker. I still hate him though."
Steve snorted, "You don't even know him."
"It's the principle, sweetheart. Fine, I won't hate him but I reserve my right to judge him harshly when we meet and then give my final verdict after. I mean. If you want. I won't pressure you or anything. I'm curious to see you in action, so to speak. But this is your thing. You deserve to have your thing."
Steve gathered Eddie up against his body and smiled into his hair, "It is. But I really do hope it can be our thing someday. And yeah, I'll ask if you can sit in on a session. Just promise not to backseat drive the DM, ok?"
"Pshh, I would never, that's improper D&D etiquette, Steven."
"Oh yeah? Then how come you kept rule lawyering Dustin the last time we went back to Hawkins?"
"Alright, just letting you know, you using D&D terms correctly is really doing it for me, keep that up, please and thank you," Eddie nips at Steve's earlobe, enjoying the shudder that runs through his body.
"As for me rule lawyering Dustin, It's simple. I did it for the bit."
Steve laughs into Eddie's hair who in turn laughs into his neck. They don't bother putting on their pajamas or brushing their teeth, too comfortable to get up to even have a late dinner, resigning to have cold Chinese takeout for breakfast.
Just as sleep overtakes them, Eddie has one last request.
"Please let me be the one to break the news to Dustin. Kid's gonna flip his shit."
after eddie introduces a demogorgon to one of his hellfire campaigns, the kids get a little squirmy. they're nervously looking at each other and aren't engaging as excitedly as they usually do. when he calls time, he watches dustin rummage through his backpack and produce a walkie talkie.
he watches, a bit dumbfounded, as the kid demands a 'check-in'. all at once, multiple different voices come over the channel. stating a name and then saying 'safe.' ("nancy, safe." "robin, safe." "max, safe.")
"steve?" dustin demands. there's only static. "steve!" a little more frantic this time.
"he left to pick you up." a female voice replies, "he's probably fine. you'll see him soon."
none of the kids look particularly pleased, and pack up hastily. eddie and the other hellfire members all share confused glances. he, more morbidly curious than anything else, follows the little sheep as they hurry out of the school.
dustin is fucking restless as they all stand in the empty parking lot. he won't stay still and none of them are answering any of eddie's questions. and he only gets more confused when a brown beemer pulls in, windows down and playing depeche mode through the speakers. dustin goes to sprint towards it, and he has to hold him by the collar to stop him getting run over.
the beemer pulls up and steve harrington, in all his glory, steps out, frowning. dustin wrenches out of eddie's grip and all but bodies the guy, wrapping arms tightly around his midsection. steve, still looking puzzled, hugs back. lucas and mike trail after dustin.
"we called a check-in." dustin says, a bit muffled from where his face is smushed into steve's shirt. steve goes sort of pale, and- and presses a goddamn kiss to the top of henderson's head before tightening the hug.
"shit, i'm sorry." and eddie believes him. he sounds so guilty. "i meant to replace the batteries before i left. sorry, i'm okay." dustin pulls back and scrubs at his eyes. lucas takes his place, though the hug he gives is more like one of those bro-hugs jocks seem to love. steve smiles regardless. he just ruffles mike's hair, who pouts in response but looks relieved nonetheless.
"asshole." he mutters. "rule four, walkies on at all times." steve nods as the kid half-heartedly waves goodbye to eddie and hops in the backseat of the beemer. lucas follows. dustin seems reluctant to walk around the car, to take his eyes off steve for even a second.
"you wanna stay over tonight?" steve asks, warm and gentle. he folds his arms and in that moment eddie thinks they look sort of like brothers. "robin and me were gonna watch some films. we can call your mom from mine."
the kid nods, looking a bit happier. steve slaps him on the back and motions him to get in the car. dustin swivels to hug and say goodbye to eddie (who sort of forgot he was physically present in this moment) before doing as he was told.
steve turns to eddie. which- whew! hi pretty eyes.
"sorry." he smiles and eddie can't for the life of him figure out what he's apologising for. "they, uh- yeah. them." he gestures vaguely at the car and eddie just chuckles.
"hey, man, no worries." he says, a little breathless that he's having a conversation with the steve harrington. "they okay? never seen henderson look so rattled." steve nods, then seems to think better of it and just shrugs. cocks his hip to the side (stop fucking staring at his hips, munson, lord!)
"they will be." he glances back at the beemer, which is now full of childish bickering. pauses to think and then asks, "you using demogorgons in your campaign right now?"
eddie blinks at him. "yes? yeah. what the fuck- how do you know what that is? what-" steve just laughs.
"long story." there's a haunted look in his eyes before he continues, "just, uh- that's probably what upset them. demogorgons and us- them, i mean-" he waves his hand. "bad memories. hard to explain, but... if you could..." he doesn't need to ask, seems like he doesn't know how or even if he's allowed.
"got it, ill tweak the campaign." harrington smiles at him, something small and genuine, and murmurs a thanks. offers him a fucking lift, which eddie declines, motioning to his van. harrington just nods, tells him to get home safe and then clambers back into the car, yells at the kids to put seatbelts on with all the exasperation of a single dad, and pulls away.
eddie watches them go, having seen a side of harrington he'd thought dustin had been lying about. steve harrington, the caring babysitter, everyone's older brother, a changed man.
he starts escorting the kids to the parking lot more often.
Steve is loathe to admit it, but he actually likes working at wedding conventions.
He’s always been a romantic, so seeing couples walk around to the different vendors, excitedly deciding on a venue, and seeing their eyes light up when they try his cake samples is a major boost of serotonin. He’s been doing it for the past couple of years, and it never gets old.
There’s everything you could possibly need to plan a wedding here: dress and suit stores, caterers, djs and bands, and bakeries like Steve. When he started baking as a hobby, he never expected to actually do anything with it. He just wanted to have an outlet for all of his pent up energy and to feed the horde of fifteen year olds that kept raiding his pantry.
Robin and Nancy were his co-owners of the bakery, and he honestly couldn’t have done it without them. Nancy managed it, much better with organizing and keeping everything in check, and Robin and Steve were the dynamic duo who brought their edible creations to life.
The show lasted six hours typically on Saturday, the busiest day, so they each took turns taking a break. Some people brought food from home to be able to sit away from the crowds and eat, but Steve loved to walk around, try samples, and see all the other booths.
There was an unspoken agreement between vendors that they shared samples with each other and mentioned them when talking to the convention guests. So with a tiny plate full of barbecue, Steve strolled down the makeshift aisles until one booth in particular caught his eye.
He normally didn’t bother talking with the djs and bands, mostly because he had a limited time to walk around and they didn’t have free food, but this one had something special. There was a man there talking excitedly to a couple, arms gesturing widely, and with the biggest, brightest smile Steve’s ever seen before.
Before he knew it, Steve’s legs automatically moved towards the booth, drawn in by the guy’s overwhelming charisma. He tried to play it cool by looking at one of the brochures laying on the table while watching the man in his periphery. Apparently it was for a band, and Steve wondered which instrument he played.
The badge around his neck was handwritten, “Eddie” in big, bold letters with little doodles of something Steve couldn’t make out around the name.
After the couple left, Steve could feel the man’s, Eddie’s, eyes on him. He turned to Eddie then, and caught him looking Steve up and down, eyes stopping at Steve’s own badge hanging around his neck.
“So what brings you into my humble abode,” Eddie leans in to read his badge, “Steve?” And there’s that blinding smile again, only this time directed at Steve. He could feel his knees already going a bit weak.
Goddamnit, be cool. Steve shrugged, “Just looking at all the other booths.”
“Sorry, dude, we don’t have any samples here.“
It was Steve’s turn to slowly rake his eyes over Eddie’s body, earning a blush from the other man. Steve hummed to himself after locking eyes with Eddie. “Pity.”
Eddie shyly brought a piece of hair in front of his mouth, hiding the small smile on his handsome face. Fuck, that’s cute.
“I’m helping a couple friends plan their wedding actually, and they still need to book a band,” Steve said, fiddling with the pens in a cup. Eddie’s eyes were following Steve’s hands the entire time, and Steve couldn’t help but smirk. “So, maybe I could get your card?"
Eddie’s brain seemed to reboot after that, and he quickly grabbed one of the cards from the neat stack. He handed it to Steve, letting their fingers brush momentarily.
"And where would I go if I needed…whatever it is you’re selling?” Eddie said with a sly smile, dimples popping. Alarms went off in Steve’s head then, screaming OH FUCK HE’S REALLY CUTE.
“I’m two aisles over. Just look for the cake,” Steve balled his fist and tapped two times on the table, “and me."
Steve winked and walked away. If he looked back over his shoulder to see if Eddie was watching, that’s his own business (he was).
He hurriedly finished the food that had been forgotten during the exchange and returned to his booth.
Robin turned to him with a cocked eyebrow. "And what’s got you smiling like that?” She gasped and hit his arm excitedly. “Is the Mediterranean restaurant here this year? Is there still hummus?”
“Yeah, yeah, they’re at the other end. Take your break.” Robin squealed and made a beeline into the crowd.
Time passed quickly as Steve handed out cake samples and talked with the guests. Soon enough though, a familiar head of long, curly hair appeared in front of him.
Eddie’s eyes were wide as he took in all the different flavors Steve had baked specifically for the event and to show the variety they specialized in. Steve enjoyed taking flavors that at first glance didn’t seem to go together and making them work.
Eddie looked up at the banner above their table and smiled. “‘Sweethearts’? Yeah, that seems fitting.”
Trying to hide his blush at the compliment, Steve ducked his head down. In the years he’s worked these conventions, he’s never actually met anyone here. Call it a dry spell, or whatever, but no one had really caught Steve’s eye and reciprocated.
Until now it seems.
Steve looked up through his eyelashes and asked, “Oh, yeah?"
Eddie didn’t miss a beat. "Of course. I can feel the sugar coursing through my veins as we speak.” There was that same smile again, and the effect it had on Steve was exactly the same.
Steve barked out a laugh and shook his head fondly. “Comes with the territory.”
“I realized after you left that I forgot to put something on the card I gave you, so I wanted to fix that,” Eddie said as he pat down his pockets. Oh. Maybe Steve was reading him wrong?
Eddie found what he was looking for with an aha! and quickly handed it over to Steve, fingers brushing again. It looked like the exact same card he got before.
“Turn it over,” Eddie chuckled, not unkindly. Steve flipped over the card and saw a different phone number along with a little drawing of…was that him?
Steve looked up at Eddie and smiled. “What’s this?"
"Personal number. Y'know, just in case the band’s number doesn’t work. Or for those samples you were looking for,” Eddie answered with a wink. Steve’s heart skipped a beat. Yep, he read the situation right, thank God.
“And what’s this?” Steve asked pointing at the doodle. Eddie blushed again.
“Oh, that’s – that’s nothing. It got a little slow at the booth, and I was a little… distracted."
Steve hummed to himself then smiled widely at Eddie, who returned it in spades.
Now that he looked at it closer, it’s definitely a tiny Steve. With little hearts around it. Fuuuuuuck.
"I have to get back,” Eddie said throwing a thumb over his shoulder and started walking away, eyes never leaving Steve’s, “but I’ll hopefully talk to you later, sweetheart.”
Steve definitely doesn’t stand a chance not falling hard.
Ngl, I wanna make friends on here even though thats a Horrible idea 💀
However i also think it’d be hilarious if i just used this a journal ontop of liking shit and reblogging shit i like 🧍♀️
Headcannon that Steve is actually smarter than he let's on because he's so used to pretending to be stupid in front of his dad. Even though he never said, his dad always hated it when a kid was smarter than him. When he got mad at him for not getting into college, Steve figured that it wasn't him that was the problem but his dad. No matter what Steve did, he wasn't good enough for his father. Steve figured out D&D pretty quickly, not that he would tell Dustin that. It was always hilarious when Dustin got mad when Steve called it anything other than Dungeons and Dragons. He was so used to hiding the fact that he understood more than he let on. He even hid it from the party, even though they had been through so much together and they were more like a family than his own family had been.
It was Eddie who had caught on to the fact. He was always watching the former king of Hawkins High, curious to know about the mysteries he hid deep within. The kids always scoffed when he called him that: a mystery. They saw what they wanted to see on the surface: a man with no hidden depths. He was exactly who he said he was. Eddie knew differently. He watched him out of the corner of his eye and watched him smirk at every joke Steve Harrington shouldn't have understood. Eddie knew exactly what he was hiding. He decided to test his theory.
Steve hadn't been expecting it. They were holding Hellfire at his house since the school wouldn't allow them to host it on the property anymore. Steve didn't play, but Eddie allowed him to sit in to watch. While Steve was watching the game, he didn't know that Eddie was casually watching him. When the game wrapped up and Eddie called out to him while he was cleaning up, Eddie asked him a question that Steve shouldn't know.
Steve froze when he answered and looked up to see Eddie looking at him gleefully. Eddie pressed him, and eventually Steve broke, telling him all about his father. He told him how his father hated that he read so much. He hated that his son was such a nerd. He told him how his books had been his only source of comfort growing up because he had been left alone so often. He told him how he had to let that go in favor of sports, but he did eventually love basketball, but he hated being an asshole like his father. When he stopped crying, a thing he was taught never to do, he realized that Eddie was holding him in his arms.
"What else are you hiding from us, big boy?" Eddie asked softly.
Steve leaned over and kissed him. He pulled back, afraid that he had messed things up, but Eddie was smiling. The other man moved forward and kissed him so sweetly that Steve’s legs nearly gave away. It was a good thing that Eddie was holding him up.
"You don't have to hide yourself away, Stevie, not ever. Not with us, okay? And I know I made a big deal about it before, and I apologized to Lucas for it. It's okay to be a nerd and a jock. It's okay to like both."
After Starcourt, Steve and Robin began a new tradition- 'spa nights'. Robin would make them homemade face masks (“peaches and yogurt? On my face? That’s disgusting Robin.” “Shut up and put it on, dingus.”). They would put in a shitty tape from Family Video and Steve would paint their nails. (“How do you even know how to do this Steve?” “I’m a babysitter, Rob, it’s in the job description.”)
The school year started and Robin got a lot more busy- what with it being her senior year and all- but they still made time for spa nights. They were less frequent (maybe once a month instead of every other week), but they happened.
Vecna came, they killed the bastard, and they all lived- somehow, miraculously, certainly not unscathed, but they’re all alive. They beat him. A few months later, after the almost-end-of-the-world, Robin brought up their spa nights. (“Come on, Steve, it’s been months. My brain needs a vacation, my face needs a vacation, my nails need a vacation.”) Steve agreed, acting reluctant (but was secretly really excited to get back to one-on-one time with his best friend).
Except the kids find out, namely El and Max, and they beg Steve and Robin to join them. The two acquiesce, and then Eddie hears about it and joins the party, too. Uninvited. (But nowadays he doesn’t need an invitation. He shows up, bright personality and even brighter smile, and brings a constant, welcome addition to the party. Along with some… feelings that Steve can’t even start to try and acknowledge.)
The spa night comes and everyone crowds into Steve’s living room. Robin has put together a new face mask recipe (“ugh, what is in this?!” “Just shut your mouth and put it on, Red.”), Eddie brings his braiding skills, and Steve provides the nail polish.
Only now, his hands shake.
It’s something he’s noticed by now. The nerve damage from fighting the bats and Vecna, the 24/7 anxiety, the brain damage, something that they faced over spring break has left him with a tremor that he can’t quite get rid of. Sometimes it’s small, sometimes it’s more noticeable, and tonight… well, it’s not great.
Robin wiggles her fingers at Steve, ready for their tradition of him painting her nails, and Steve hesitates. It’s a small thing, but his shoulders tense. He hasn’t mentioned the shaking to anyone yet, and he knows that he wouldn’t be able to get the crisp, clean paint that he used to. The tremor would make itself obvious, and he just can’t face picking up the nail polish bottle. It’s a sign of the new weakness, one that he can’t admit to others, can barely admit to himself… he can’t face being seen as weak. As flawed. As-
“Hey! Are we painting nails?! Here, lemme have a go. I haven’t done it on anyone else before, always just painted my own.” Eddie interrupts Steve's train of thought in his easy way and grabs the nail polish from just below Steve’s hand. He plops down between Steve and Robin, admiring the color the later had chosen. “Robin’s Egg Blue, very fitting, Birdie.” Eddie winks at her and starts painting, accomplishing a more polished finish than Steve was ever able to get before Spring Break.
And Steve just watches. Quiet, his hands on his knees. He watches as Eddie paints Robin’s fingernails blue, then Max’s a bright red. Eddie paints Eleven’s a deep purple shade, then gives himself a fingernail in each polish that Steve has to create a rainbow of clashing colors. Afterwards, once the paint has dried, the girls all wash their face masks off and curl up to watch the shitty movie Robin had picked.
Eddie turns to Steve then, a bright yellow shade in his hands. “Want a turn, sunshine?” Eddie must’ve seen the look on Steve’s face, the flash of pain, because his voice turns to a whisper before Steve can answer. “I can help you keep your hands steady, Stevie. Don’t worry about that. Just relax and lemme treat you to a manicure.”
Steve startles at that. He thought he'd been better at hiding it. “How did you know?“
“How wouldn’t I know, Steve?” Eddie grabs Steve’s hand, a gentle but firm grip holding his fingers straight and steady. “I paid attention. I noticed. We all came away from that fight with a different scar, and we all need some extra help with different things now.” Eddie speaks as he paints, carefully brushing away any mess with the corner of his thumb. “It’s nothing to be ashamed of, but I get it if you can’t tell anyone just yet. I’ll be here to help, though. Just like this. If you want it.”
Steve’s quiet still, but now in an effort to keep his emotions at bay. He’s never had anyone do… anything like this for him before. Eddie moves on to paint his other hand, and they sit in silence while the sound of the shitty rom-com washes over them, joined by the occasional giggle or mocking comment from one of the girls. Eddie does a second coat, brushes any scraps of excess paint away with an alcohol wipe, and caps the nail polish with a gentle smile.
Steve admires his nails, then glances up at Eddie, his eyes welling. “Eddie, thank you-“
“Don’t worry about it, darlin’, it’s just a paint job-“
“No really, Eddie. Thank you. For everything. For noticing. No one’s ever-“
“I’ll always notice, Stevie.” Eddie squeezes Steve’s arm, then turns slightly to watch the movie, his hip pressed against Steve’s.
Years later, in retrospect, Steve realizes that the spa night was the night he fell in love with Eddie Munson.
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