Son of a-
—
Steve is experienced in BDSM. That was the plan for this fic. It derailed into actual plot
—
Steve found out he was queer young. Obviously, he hides that fact, but doesn’t hate it about himself. He uses what he learns from the few magazines he manages to get his hands on to learn more about who he is and, once a teenager, what he’s into. Instead of hiding these urges, he tries them out with girls instead. After all, if he’s into them anyway… but it’s been at least a year since he had a serious scene with anybody due to the Upside-Down, etc.
So, when he finds himself meeting Eddie Munson due to the monster bullshit again, seeing the hanky reignites his fire very quickly. He’s never gotten to be with more than two guys and never anything intense enough to warrant a safeword, much less a scene. Steve has to make himself focus back into the fact he has a bottle to his neck to repeat what Dustin’s swearing to. He thanks his instincts for actually following along while he was distracted.
When he’s freed from the man’s grip it takes very little time for him to bounce back to normal. Between choking himself, others doing it, and his ability to stay still during scenes Steve wasn’t in much actual danger as long as Eddie didn’t actually plan to kill him. The shakiness he held the bottle with had really emphasized the fact he didn’t want to. So, despite his friends worries (and internal confusion) Steve was fine to listen to Eddie tell his story right after.
He did get a bit distracted by the fact that the hanky was on the same side he would’ve put it on despite being a switch, but didn’t let himself focus on what that might mean for the future.
‘There’s an accused murderer in front of you, Steve! Stop letting your dick run your brain!’
He thanks his vaguely Nancy sounding internal voice for yelling at him to pay attention. The story is not pretty, but he needed to hear it. There’s something invisible killing people. Or there will be if they’re unlucky. Steve bets this isn’t the last they’ll hear of a body like Chrissy’s. If only they could get ahead of-
“That’s it!”
He realizes he completely interupted the others. He smiles sheepily.
“Sorry, I just thought of an idea! It’s not the best, but it keeps Eddie from an angry mob and will prove his innocence if I’m right about this.”
“Okay, what do you think you’re right about?”
“There’s no way this’ll be the last death, right? None of us are that lucky when it comes to the Upside-Down. If Eddie’s safe in custody, it’ll prove he isn’t the murderer and he’ll be safe from people coming after him once that happens! Plus, no offense at all Eddie, but you look pathetic right now. There’s no way they’ll think you’re just acting to get free.”
Dustin’s eyes had lit up about halfway through his explanation, Robin looking surprised, but Steve watched Eddie instead. He’s the subject of the plan, after all. If he says no, they need a new idea. The man is looking at him in some way he can’t completely decipher before it turns into a shaky grin.
“Well well well, the hair has a brain. Never would have saw that coming.”
Steve rolls his eyes. It does sting again that someone assumes he’s stupid just because he processes things slower, but he has to ignore that for now. It’ll probably happen again, anyway.
“I’m a human, munson. Did you not learn anatomy in class?”
He can see the exact moment Eddie realizes Steve is enjoying the banter as much as he is. They both clearly want a distraction from the serious mood.
“Oh I took it all right. I’d say I’m an expert now, especially since I have 2 years on everybody else.”
There’s a hint of flirting there. It’s probably a joke, since the others are here, but he decides to take the opportunity to tell Eddie now rather than later that he’s queer, too.
“Oh, I’m sure. Got any extra textbooks? Maybe I could borrow ‘em later.”
The look Robin gives him out of the corner of his eye is hilarious, but he has to focus on not laughing to Eddie’s shocked look can turn into understanding he’s serious. Dustin, unaware of the offer happening, interupts them.
“Okay, okay, you guys can have guy talk later. We gotta come up with a plan for Eddie to turn himself in without him getting hurt.”
Said man’s face had turned from shock to a small smile before he turns to look at the kid. When Steve looks at Robin he winks at her to which she glares and throws him the finger. He knows it means,
‘You ass! If you get to kiss him before I kiss Vickie I will end you!’
Which only means he’s absolutely gonna plan for that just to push her to finally talk to the girl. She’s known he’s bisexual since they came out in that bathroom. For her sake, genuinely, he tried to make sure only to flirt with them if they show no interest in Robin. That does mean many girls come his way, but it’s the meaning that counts to her. A Bro code as she called it, jokingly. He eyes Max for a moment and seeing her raised eyebrow at him he puts a finger to his lips and mouths, ‘later’.
They had become closer since last year even if it doesn’t show much. She called him more than they spent time together in person and that was okay. She was talking to someone and that was far better than the alternative. He tunes back in quickly despite his interactions with the girls. Dustin’s plan was to have Eddie call first, tell them that he’ll come in if they promise to keep looking for the man who actually did it.
He has to sound as scared of the man he supposedly saw actually kill Chrissy and want to be held for questioning so he’d be safe from him. It sounded like a great idea. Eddie confirms that he took theatre and comes out with an A every year despite the rest of his grades. Robin throws in the idea of sweetening the deal. They have Eddie call from the house instead of some random payphone.
He claims he saw the man who did it, will come in as a witness, and offers up his dealer’s house as bonus to keep them from arresting him for both accused murder and his own past dealing. It sounds like a well thought out plan. After Max interjects with the idea of hiding his stash so he could actually have it back, even if just for himself later, they decide it’s only fair in this situation.
The poor man witnessed a murder. He deserves the ability to smoke some weed afterwards. Steve will be driving them to the trailer park to sneak in once they make sure there’s nothing they need to handle with Eddie. He’s still shaking even if he adamently assures this is much better than hiding and becoming an official public suspect. The others are sent to the car so Steve and Eddie can do a once-over on both houses.
They meet in the middle to confirm nothing incriminating of Eddie’s is lying around. Steve takes the man’s shoulder in his hand to try steading him.
“It’ll be okay, Eddie. This is gonna work out. It might take a bit longer than we want until we can get you out, but it’ll happen. If I have to, I’ll break you out myself.”
Eddie’s giving him a look that feels more emotional than Steve can handle with other people around. He makes sure to cut this talk short soon.
“I promise. You didn’t do this to Chrissy and no one has any right to blame you for some crazy bullshit happening in front of you. There was nothing you could have done and that’s okay. You’re here now, and we’re grateful for it.”
Eddie’s face looks devastated and Steve is so glad the others can’t see his face from the car. The urge to kiss the man’s forehead is strong but he resists. Steve lets his hand give one more squeeze to his shoulder before he walks to the car. Leaving him standing there all emotional will probably bite him in the ass later, if only from his own guilt, but they have to get going before he outs both of them.
