Wedding Bell Blues
(no Upside Down AU, meet-ugly, Baker!Steve/wedding singer!Eddie)
--
Eddie is a wedding musician and it's pretty great actually. It's not the rock star life he dreamed of but it's a damned sight better than most people including him expected of Al Munson's little boy.
Eddie gets to play music. For a living. And he does pretty well. He gets to dress up a little snazzy. He gets free fancy food and a couple of drinks. And he gets to shoot his shot with anybody that looks like fun.
He's good at it too. That's the best part. His younger years spent being a low level drug dealer and a high level weirdo mean he can read a room in an instant. He gets the playlist from the bride usually, presses for some other song ideas, and he can tell who to take requests from at six paces. And who to ignore from across the room.
It's a good time.
Unfortunately not all ceremonies can be winners and based on the tension Eddie has felt from almost everyone involved in today's wedding it was going to be a tough gig.
Everything starts in an hour but Eddie isn't on until the reception so he has plenty of time to grab a smoke before soundcheck. He knows the venue pretty well and there's an alcove next to the vendor loading area. Nice flowers, a decent bench, and it's nowhere near the dumpsters.
This venue butts up against a small patch of woodland and Eddie wonders if he might have time to check it out, see if there's anything inspiring. He doesn't hike but he does enjoy a walk in nature.
Before he gets the chance a baby blue van with 'Steve's Sweets' painted across the side pulls up, blocking his sight line.
He mourns the loss of his view right up until the driver pops the door open and climbs out.
Oh, the beauties nature provides.
Acid wash jeans which under any other circumstances Eddie would laugh at are lovingly hugging possibly the finest ass he has ever had the pleasure of seeing.
The rest of the picture - when he can drag his attention away - is pretty choice too. A soft looking pink sweater, sleeves pushed up to expose sun bronzed skin making Eddie idly wonder if the man is that tan all over.
The crowning glory is a gorgeous head of hair framing a face that Eddie can only describe as pretty.
Eddie tries to turn his attention back to his cigarette. Admiring someone is one thing, leering like a creep is entirely different.
He takes a last drag and drops the filter on the gravel, grinding it out under his feet. Mentally he says farewell to the handsome stranger and turns to go back inside.
Eddie takes two steps before a suit clad man comes out of the building and pushes past him in a rush.
"Steven."
The man's not yelling, but his voice is the kind of loud that demands to be heard.
Eddie turns to watch as the man approaches the van and the other guy, Steve apparently, standing in front of it.
"What the hell are you doing here dressed like that."
Eddie should go inside. This isn't his business. But one of the perks of working weddings was the drama and this was very promising.
He stays where he is, standing just in front of the door. In case either man looks in his direction Eddie actually mimes patting at his jacket like he is looking for his smokes.
"I'm delivering a cake, Dick. And if it wasn't for Diana I wouldn't even be doing that much. She deserves to get something good out of this day."
Eddie bites back a smile, lowering his head a little so he can still watch what was happening ideally without being noticed.
"You will refer to me as father. I believe I have earned at least that much respect."
Eddie feels his eyebrows rise. This kind of drama was another part of why he likes weddings. Better than the soap operas he watches with Uncle Wayne.
"Sure," Steve snorts. "Tell you what, I'll compromise," and he continues, "Riiichaaaard."
"Grow up, Steven. You were invited here as a guest. You had better have a tuxedo in that stupid truck of yours, the ceremony starts in an hour."
"I was hired to bake a cake. Part of my fee includes delivery. That is literally the only reason I'm here. You and the future ex-Mrs Harrington will have to celebrate without me. Try not to cry yourself to sleep about it."
"You little asshole," Richard snarls. "You think you're better than me. You think I wanted you here? You owe me your presence. I have important people coming to this wedding and I need them to see my dutiful son at my side."
The baker laughs, a low nasty chuckle that sends a perverse shiver down Eddie's back.
"Tell you what, Dick, I'm booked up today but I'll come to your next wedding." Eddie looks up to see Steve is grinning, bright and as sharp as a knife. "I'll even get you a toaster."
Eddie lurches in place as he sees Richard lunge towards Steve. He is too far away to stop the man but he has to do something.
Before he takes a step the door swings open again and a petite woman comes rushing out.
"Richard?"
Eddie watches as she runs forward tugging at the satin bathrobe she is wrapped in. She freezes a few feet away from what had been brewing into a nasty fight.
"Steve? You're here-- oh, but your suit! Richard? What's going on?"
The older man doesn't turn around, doesn't seem to notice her at all but Eddie watches Steve gingerly move until he is standing between his father and the woman.
"Hey Diana," he says softly. "Sorry you had to see this, dad and me just have a difference of opinion. Everything's fine."
Eddie feels something in him clench. He is very familiar with the tone in Steve's voice. He had heard it from his uncle Wayne to his dad when he was a little kid. It is soft but firm, implacable. Eddie isn't sure exactly what is coming but he can tell Steve knew and that it would be bad.
The venue usually had at least two security patrolling the grounds, more if the reception was expected to be contentious. Eddie doesn't know where they are right now but hopefully not far.
"See what you've done Steven? God, you're useless."
"Richard, don't say that," Diana says, her voice rising.
The older man is turning from pink to red and Eddie can see Steve moving slowly, shifting his father's attention to him.
"That's me, Richard. Useless Steve. Flunked out of college and he bakes cookies like some kind of fairy. You sure you want to parade your failure of a son in front of the hoi polloi?"
Eddie hears Diana's gasp from where he's standing. "Steve, what are you talking about? Richard what's going on?"
Richard turns his glare on her and Eddie feels himself moving forward almost against his own will. He's not sure what he'll do when he gets there but he's never been the bystander type.
Steve just laughs. Bright and angry. "I'm not sure what my father told you about our relationship but we don't have one."
"No," she says. "Your father-- he told me-- "
When Eddie met her a few weeks ago he had seen a confident, charming woman that knew exactly what she wanted and was excited to be married. Now she looks confused, maybe even scared.
Eddie has gotten closer to this whole altercation than he wanted to be but since he is there and it looks like Steve and Richard are busy trying to glare holes in each other Eddie steps up to Diana and lightly grasps her elbow.
She startles and turns to face him. Her eyes are wide, wet and staring.
"Mr. Munson," she asks, softly.
Eddie tries to smile. "Mr. Munson is my uncle, ma'am. It's Eddie. Let's get you out of here, okay? Back inside."
Eddie is able to gently guide her a few steps away. He hates turning his back on the other two men but he needs to get Diana out of reach for whatever is about to happen.
"I dont understand," the bride mutters. "Steve used to be such a sweet boy. Mr. Harrin-- Richard. Oh, I'm so silly. Richard. He said-- this is so embarassing."
Her voice is pitched and tight and if she isn't crying yet she would be soon. Eddie resolves to get her inside and into the arms of literally any friendly face.
"Hey," Eddie says. "Let's just--" he scrambles for a name. Anna? Annie? "Amy, right? Your maid of honor? Let's get you to her, okay. You can sit down."
Diana nods.
Behind him he can hear Richard and Steve hissing noxious words back and forth. There is no shouting but the air is heavy and hot with anger. Even though he was outside Eddie feels like he can't breathe.
Eddie gets Diana to the door, hadn't realized how close they really were, maybe 30 feet if that. It's open, anxious faces framed in weathered oak. He hands Diana off to her Maid of Honor who quickly sweeps the woman deeper into the hall and then he nods to Patricia Abernathy, the event space manager.
"Think we're gonna have a cancellation," he says, nodding towards the departing woman.
She rolls her eyes. "Can't say I'm surprised. I had a bad feeling about this one."
Eddie scoffs. "You have a bad feeling about all of them."
He turns to face where the two men are still in a stand off in front of the van. "You're not wrong though, I think. At least I hope they cancel."
Patricia snorts. "We got the deposits locked down and the contract is airtight so if they cancel we still get fifty percent of the remaining fee. I'll take that for the rest of the day off."
"You got a date, Patty? And it's not me? You're breaking my heart."
"Ha," she says flatly. "That pretty boy is more your type and from the way he's talking you're in with a chance. Now you keep an eye on those two. Security is on their way, we'll see if they can get here before these guys start really butting heads."
Eddie nods. It isn't the first time he had been called on to help manage fractious families.
He turns back in time to see Richard take a swing at Steve. The younger guy steps back out of the way and Eddie can hear his mocking laugh as far away as the door.
He moves closer to the two of them. Eddie isn't going to get in the middle of the fight but maybe if he reminds them there are other people around that might be enough to calm them down.
He watches Richard lunge forward and swing again. This time Steve can't move away fast enough and the blow glances off of his cheek.
"Hey," Eddie calls, now jogging towards them. "Hey, knock it off! You wanna fight take it somewhere else!"
Steve turns to face Eddie, opening his mouth as if he was going to say something but all that comes out is a low grunt as Richard hits him in the shoulder and shoves him to the ground.
Eddie throws himself forward, pushing Richard away. "What do you think you're doing," he shouts in the man's face but Richard doesn't seem to hear, pressing back against Eddie.
"You little bastard," Richard shouts at his son. "You're worthless! I don't know why I bothered."
"Go to hell," Steve replies.
That seems to make Richard even angrier which Eddie hadn't thought was possible. He isn't sure he will be able to hold him off much longer.
"Hey, what's going on here," a low even voice calls. It is the venue security guard, his partner just behind him with a hand on his radio.
Eddie feels himself relax and then stumbles back as Richard pushes him aside to fall on his son again.
Eddie turns to see both guards trying to pull the older man away as he continues to hit his son, screaming obscenities.
Not sure how to help, Eddie stands by. When he sees an opening he lunges forward and takes hold of Steve's shoulders, pulling him back and away.
The younger man fights against him at first, eyes closed and arms up in front of his face. Eddie figures he probably didn't know whose hands are on him.
"Hey. Hey. It's me, Eddie. Shit. I work here. You're safe, security has your dad. You're safe."
Eddie steps back, loosening his grip on Steve but still keeping one hand on his shoulder, trying to sooth him.
A few feet away Richard is still twisting, trying to get free and attack his son again, but Eddie can see the guards have a good hold on him and it doesn't look like they will be letting go any time soon.
As Steve calms down Eddie lets go of his shoulder, instead crouching next to him. "You doing okay? I saw you had you hands up but he got a few hits in."
Steve lowers his arms and sits upright. He twists his neck back and forth and shifts his shoulders before opening his eyes and looking up at Eddie. "I'm okay. I'm fine. God, it's a soap opera isn't it? Fuck."
Eddie lets himself drop into a seat next to the other man. They both watch in silence as the guards march Steve's father around the corner to the front of the event hall.
"You know the bride? Diana," the guy asks. "She was my babysitter. When I was eleven."
"Oof," Eddie says. "So she was--"
"Seventeen then, and now it's been twenty years for her and about three wives for him."
"Scandalous," Eddie murmurs. He sees Steve smile and feels relieved. "What will people say. The 'hoi polloi' I believe you called them?"
Steve snorts. "A crowd of empty suits that exist solely to tell my dad how respected he is. Will he get arrested?"
"Maybe," Eddie says. "I think that might be up to you. It's assault at least."
"Ugh," Steve says, rubbing his face. "That's all I need. I'm trying to get him out of my life."
"Well," Eddie says. "I can attest that jail is very good at keeping deadbeat dads out of your life."
Steve starts laughing and then winces, wrapping an arm around his stomach.
"Shit, you are hurt," Eddie says, scrambling to his feet. "Do you need an ambulance? Patty probably called 911 by now."
Steve waves him off. "I'm fine. This is not my first fight and my old man hits-- well, I was gonna say 'like a girl' but then my best friend would kick my ass and I'm way more scared of her," Steve says, laughing softly.
He looks up at Eddie and holds out his free hand. "You gonna help me up? Or is chivalry dead?"
"Chivalry," Eddie repeats. "You a damsel in distress?"
"I might as well be," Steve says. "Now come on."
Eddie laughs and reaches down, gently guiding Steve back to his feet. He feels the man's weight leaning on him for a few seconds and despite the circumstances Eddie has to admit Steve feels good in his arms.
Once he is steady Steve steps back and Eddie lets him go.
Steve moves to the van and leans up against the metal surface. Eddie walks over to join him.
"So," Steve says. "What next?"
Eddie shakes his head. "I honestly don't know. The wedding is canceled, for sure. For today at least."
"Just for today? You think she'll marry him still?"
Eddie shrugs. "I have no idea. I wouldn't but then I wouldn't have said yes in the first place."
Steve leans back, tapping his head against the van a few times before he turns back to Eddie. "You know the worst part? This was my last delivery. Now, I have to deal with this stupid cake. Three tiers of lemon and raspberry." He laughs. "Do you think a homeless shelter will take a wedding cake?"
Eddie grins. "I don't see why not. At least something good will come out of today."
Steve looks up towards the hall. "I feel like I should say something-- to Diana, I mean. She was always really nice to me, she deserved better than this."
"I have found that good or bad people rarely get what they deserve. You don't really owe her anything but I can't fault the impulse." Turning towards the hall, Eddie gestures for Steve to follow him. "Just-- just don't apologize for him? Okay?"
Steve walks in silence for a few steps before he coughs roughly. His voice is thick and choked and he coughs again. "I, uh, I stopped apologizing for him a long time ago. His faults are his own. I just wish I didn't get dragged into it."
Eddie laughs. "I know that song."
"Yeah," Steve asks.
Eddie nods. They are at the door and he pulls it open for the other man, gesturing him in with a bow.
Steve stops in the doorway as Eddie stands up again. He is framed by the light inside and the scent of hothouse roses comes drifting out into the open air. Eddie can picture him suddenly in that moment standing at a balcony limned by moonlight.
"Hey Sunshine," Eddie says softly. "Buy me a drink and we can trade stories?"
Steve smiles. "Yeah," he says, with a small laugh. "Sure, why not." He holds up his hands, still dirty and scraped from the asphalt. "Help me get cleaned up and let me say something to Diana. Then we can talk."
Eddie nods, reaches out, and places his hands gently over Steve's. "Sounds good to me."









