written for ‘alone’ | wc: 999 # | steddie | rated: t | cw: no archive warnings apply | tags: pre-season four, pre-relationship, fluff, steve has a crush on eddie, eddie has no clue
@steddieholidaydrabbles
Part One Part Two
Winter break was in full force in Hawkins, complete with a post-Christmas Day bash at the Harrington residence. And after a full day or more stuck with their extended families, the student body was desperate to let loose.
Cue Eddie and his little black lunchbox.
The timing was perfect. His usual customers would have run through their stashes from before school let out, and he could even up charge a little extra when people tried to give him shit. Even then, he was still their cheapest option.
The extra cash would be worth having to convince Wayne to drop him off, still without his van. If he played his cards right, his haul from the party might be enough that he could finally take his van into the shop and stop having to share the pickup with his uncle.
So, perched on his usual armchair and nursing a watered-down rum and coke, Eddie pilfered out the goods. Only a few people noticed the lightly higher prices Eddie asked for, and even then, they wanted their weed more than they wanted to argue.
The house wasn’t decorated very extravagantly, so most everyone looked like everyone else in the dim light of the living room. A customer was a customer, and hard cash was hard cash.
He cleared his lunchbox just about halfway through the party, though he wasn’t sure just how much he’d made in profit. He made a point not to whip out the cash from the pocket inside his jacket with so many people around.
After that, Eddie didn’t exactly need to lurk around. He pulled out his backpack for the lunchbox, and the heavier coat he’d laid on the chair’s arm next to him.
One last unlucky customer sidled up to him.
“Hey, Munson,” Steve said, standing there in a trademark striped polo and dark jeans.
“Hey,” Eddie said back, settling his jacket over his front. He gave a strained smile. “Uh, I’m all out for the night. Sorry.”
Steve hadn’t always bought from Eddie, and he never seemed to mind when Eddie sold at his parties. But he rarely bought by himself, usually serving as the bank from which his friends funded their drug habits.
“No, I was actually wondering if I could ask you something.” Steve rubbed a hand at the back of his neck, unable to meet Eddie’s gaze. “Upstairs, if that’s alright? Alone?”
This was a bad idea. It was one thing for Steve to associate with him in the anonymity of the crowded mall, but there were only certain thoughts that went through people’s minds when Steve Harrington took people upstairs toward his bedroom.
And Eddie was not one of those people.
More like the opposite.
“Five minutes,” Steve promised. “I’ll even walk you out.”
“Not necessary, Harrington.” Eddie rolled his eyes and stepped past Steve, his beeline for the stairs serving as his answer to Steve.
They weaved past the drunk and/or high partygoers lining the stairs. With Eddie going first, he assumed that the strange looks he was getting was less than he if he’d been following Steve.
Who knew who had seen him go straight into the King’s bedroom.
He took a place in the center of the room, hands tucked firmly in his jacket pockets and backpack on his shoulder. Steve closed the door behind him, but he didn’t notice Eddie’s highly-raised brows, instead heading straight for his dresser.
Steve picked up a wide, white box and turned, holding it straight out toward Eddie.
“I didn’t know we were doing a gift exchange,” Eddie said.
“It’s just…something I thought you’d like.” Steve shrugged one shoulder, still holding the box. “I don’t expect, like, reciprocation or anything.”
Eddie peered at the top of the box, where a line of blue text spelled out ‘Bloomingdale’s.’ Eddie leveled his gaze at Steve, but all he got in return was seeing Steve nervously bite at his lower lip.
Eddie took the box.
He heard Steve swallow hard as Eddie worked off the fitted cardboard lid, taking it before Eddie had to ask. Letting Eddie see the garment inside in all its surprising glory.
“It’s—”
“They had one in black, like you’d said.” Steve pointed to the gift, as if Eddie couldn’t see exactly what he was holding.
It was the jacket from that day at the mall. Stiff, because it was new, but clean denim with bright silver buttons on the breast pockets and down the front. The only difference: black, instead of blue.
Eddie dragged his hand across the fabric, remembering how warm the one he’d tried on had been. The warmth that came from nicely made stuff.
“You actually remembered that?” he said.
Steve fucking shrugged again, like he just went around remembering random bits of trivia from people he should never be associating with, much less buying Christmas presents.
The worst thing? Eddie wanted to keep it.
It would be a lot harder for Steve to try and take the gift back if Eddie had it safely in his own closet. Refusing the gift meant Steve could just return it.
Was Eddie supposed to refuse it?
He knew one thing for sure.
Steve Harrington was confusing the hell out of him.
“I’m planning another party. For New Year’s,” Steve said, breaking up the silence of Eddie’s indecision. His hand still on the jacket, Eddie looked him, mouth surely hanging open. Steve pursed his mouth, seemingly unsure of his own words. “If you want to plan…to be there.”
Eddie would have been there regardless. Didn’t usually get an invite to these things.
He narrowed his eyes toward Steve, who he was sure hadn’t not looked nervous since he first walked up to Eddie in the living room.
“I’ll think about it,” he said slowly. He lifted the jacket from the box, officially accepting the gift and tossed the bottom part onto Steve’s bed. As he headed for the door, he added, “And, thank you. For the jacket.”
It was one of many typical Saturdays that Eddie spent with you. You both had been getting closer for some time, exchanged many kisses and became more inseparable than before.
Your usual hang out was centered in Eddie's room. On the floor next to the bed while Eddie was playing guitar and you were reading a magazine while lying half on the bed and half on the floor. Sometimes you both cuddle on the bed watching a rented movie. There were many ideas for the evening, but each one was based on spending it in each other's company.
That Saturday was full of TV watching until Eddie asked you to teach him how to braid hair. You sat on the floor so Eddie could see you hair better and showed him how to braid the strands. He tried several times until you could feel the change in the air. Eddie became withdrawn and quiet in a second, which was suspicious behavior for him.
You assured him that he didn't have to get everything right the first time and he could practice another day. Eddie just grunted and went back to watching TV. The next half of an hour passed in silence.
You felt very uncomfortable, so you stood up and, looking for you purse and began to say goodbye to Eddie.
- I guess I should go now. See you later.
- Why? Who are you rushing to?
- Eddie, it's clear that you don't want to spend time with me anymore today, and that's fine. Everyone wants to be alone from time to time.
- I don't want you to go - he said, holding your hand.
- You're showing something completely different.
Eddie didn't say anything for a long moment, so you let go of his hand and started walking towards the door.
- Are we exclusive?
- What?
- We've never talked about it, but are we exclusive?
- I hope so. On my side, we are. Where does this question come from?
- I just thought that even though no one officially said it, we were a couple.
- Where did you get the idea that it's different? I want the same thing as you.
- You have a hickey on your neck - Eddie said, looking down. - And I didn't make that one.
- What? - you asked confused, walking closer and sitting next to him.
- Right here - he pointed.
- Ow - you hissed as Eddie lightly touched the red spot on the back of your neck.
- Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you - Eddie admitted, embarrassed by the whole conversation.
You couldn't understand how the red spot appeared on your neck. However, you knew that it was definitely not a hickey.
It took a moment for you to laugh lightly.
- At least it's funny for you - Eddie said grumpily.
- Silly boy, were you upset at me for half the day because you were jealous of my burn?
- What? - asked the surprised boy.
- While doing curls for yesterday's date, I accidentally touched myself with a hot curling iron. I forgot about it until you touched on this spot.
Eddie was red from the tips of his ears to his neck.
- I didn't mea-. I don't know wh-. I'm so so sorry - he began to stammer in embarrassment and apologize.
- I'm not mad, silly. Jealousy has clouded your common sense. But at least now we know the official start of our relationship and we know when to celebrate our anniversary - you said amused.
- Oh no, please. Pick any other day but don't remind me of these situation every year.
- Come here, my jealous hansome man - you held out your arms for him to fall into your embrace. - I can't promise anything...
***
Exactly one year later, as you celebrated your first anniversary, you couldn't let Eddie forget his mistake.
However, he had his own special idea to honour that situation and at the end of the day you could see your neck in the mirror all covered in red spots. But this time they didn't come from a curling iron. It was Eddie's art.
A!Eddie is in a fight for his life against the new Omega Henry (or One as he likes to be called) who’s recently joined the Hellfire club. Eddies pretty sure he’s trying to steal the club out from under him and he’ll be damned if he lets that happen so he’s been working extra hard on his campaigns lately so much so he’s kind of let his budding relationship with O!Steve fall by the wayside a little. Steve understands how important Hellfire club is to him though and has always come to meetings to support and Eddies especially pleased that Steve’s upped his attendance even more lately. However it’s not for the reasons he thinks. Steve’s certain that the new omega is flirting with Eddie by trying to get under his skin. All the attempts to undermine him is really just a way to get the Alpha’s attention and Steve wouldn’t be worried if Creel wasn’t pulling out such passionate responses from Eddie. Steve can tell how pleased Eddies reactions are to the other omega who’s practically baring his neck and slyly scenting Eddie every meeting which Eddie does little to stop. Steve can’t help but think Eddie’s hard work isn’t about the Hellfire club at all, he’s really trying to impress the other omega. That may be Eddie is attracted to Henry as well. It’s too much to bear to have to watch his Alpha fall for someone else so he starts making excuses about being too busy to show. Eddies of course upset that Steve won’t be there at this critical moment but figures Steve has a good excuse and doesn’t want to make him feel bad. However Steve ends up feeling worse convinced Eddie just doesn’t care about him at all anymore.
seven minutes in heaven? more like seven minutes to question my entire existence.
Whatever you do, don’t think about Steve being content in his bisexuality because after Robin came out to him he started researching and questioning and having deep dark conversations with her.
Whatever you do, don’t think about Eddie having no clue he was gay because of course he wasn’t. And anytime a whisper of that terrifying question popped into his head he blocked it out because he couldn’t be anymore of a Freak, or a disappointment to his father. And he really couldn’t let Wayne down after all he has done for him.
Whatever you do, don’t think about Steve and Robin being sure Eddie was gay and often talking about it together, and about Steve’s definite crush on him and about this game of cat and mouse the pair were playing. Steve was just waiting for Eddie to make the first real move, because he was sick of playing the ‘guy’ in the relationship, and he was sick of doing the chasing, and Eddie was bold and confident and liked to tease.
Whatever you do, don’t think about Eddie having no clue Steve was bi, or that Robin was gay, or about anyone’s sexualities or anything because he just didn’t think about that stuff. He didn’t need to.
Whatever you do, don’t think about the party having a sleepover in Mike Wheelers basement, sleeping bags strewn about the room and snacks everywhere as they played a game of seven minutes in heaven, reduced down to three because they couldn’t be bothered waiting that long for the next turn.
Whatever you do, don’t think about Eddie spinning the bottle and landing on Steve and doing a little pump of his eyebrows because it was Steve, and Eddie was always like that with Steve, they were best friends.
Whatever you do, don’t think about Steve standing up with a massive grin and grabbing Eddie by the hand and practically dragging him into that little basement bathroom because he thought this is it. Its finally happening. Months of chasing back and forth and this is where Eddie was going to make his move. Steve was sure of it.
Whatever you do, don’t think about Eddie taking a laid back seat on the porcelain sink as Steve eagerly slammed the door shut behind them. He lent back against the mirror and started thinking of a fun story or secret to tell Steve because that’s what he did with Dustin, and Max, and El, and Argyle, and even Robin who made it clear they weren’t kissing, he didn’t want to kiss her anyway.
Whatever you do, don’t think about Steve walking over to Eddie in his tight little basketball shorts with a grin and strawberry glossed lips and placing his hands on the sink on either side of Eddie, leaning in close so Eddie could make his move.
Whatever you do, don’t think about Eddie trying to avert his eyes because Steve was so close and ohmygod was it hot in here?
Whatever you do, don’t think about Steve getting a little confused because Eddie was trying to make normal conversation and wasn’t looking him in the eye.
Whatever you do, don’t think about Eddie not understanding anything he was feeling right now because Steve was not supposed to be making him feel like this.
Whatever you do, don’t think about Steve looking at Eddie’s watch and realising they only had one minute left and Eddie still hadn’t kissed him and he was awkward and nervous and looked kind of uncomfortable and maybe Robin and Steve had it all wrong. So he took a little step back and straight up just asked Eddie if he was gay.
Whatever you do, don’t think about Eddie turning red and getting all flustered and trying to tell Steve “No. No, no. I’m not gay, definitely not gay. I’m not, I’m sure… I’m, I can’t be. I like girls… I only like girls. I don’t think… guys are just… they don’t… I’m not…” and trying to convince Steve -himself- that he wasn’t gay.
Whatever you do, don’t think about Steve squinting his eyes at Eddie because Eddie was just so… dramatic about it, and he wasn’t getting offended he was just trying to tell Steve he wasn’t, and he noticed there were only ten seconds left before one of the kids would swing open that bathroom door now.
Whatever you do, don’t think about Eddie feeling a lump in his throat and like he wanted to cry as he tried to talk but just couldn’t get convincing words out and Steve was looking at him weirdly and it just made everything worse.
Whatever you do, don’t think about Steve taking a few fuck it steps forward and grabbing Eddie and kissing him, hard, slipping in a little tongue.
Whatever you do, don’t think about Eddie not kissing Steve back because whatthefuckSteve?! but the moment he felt Steve’s tongue poke into his mouth, his own tongue was licking against it like a reflex and he started to kiss Steve back.
Whatever you do, don’t think about Steve pulling back the moment he felt Eddie start kissing him, a smug smile on his lips as he stepped backwards, one, two, three times.
Whatever you do, don’t think about Max swinging the door open, right on cue and letting Steve walk past her, all smug and proud and grinning, and she looked at Eddie who had pink cheeks and wide eyes and strawberry lip gloss smeared against his lips and he was all flustered and she rolled her eyes, murmuring a little “ew”.
Whatever you do, don’t think about Eddie sitting across from Steve in the circle for the next five turns of the game, legs crossed and pink cheeked and his head hung low when he wasn’t staring.
Whatever you do, don’t think about Steve still smugly smiling because he made Eddie a flustered, quiet mess, and he was very obviously whispering to Robin all about it because they kept looking over at Eddie and smirking.
Whatever you do, don’t think about Eddie not being able to sleep that night because Mike Wheeler’s basement smells like teenage boy, and had constant snoring echoing through the walls, and Steve’s glossed up lips were on his mind.
Whatever you do, don’t think about Robin and Steve laying beside eachother, giggling and whispering all night about their stupid crushes because that’s all they talked about these days.
Whatever you do, don’t think about Eddie getting frustrated with himself and getting up to go have some milk or something, maybe to step outside for a smoke to just clear his head because he wasn’t gay.
Whatever you do, don’t think about Steve noticing and following him up in his little shorts, and popping on some more strawberry gloss, just in case, and walking up the stairs to find Eddie drinking water and looking out the window because he didn’t want to touch the Wheelers fancy fridge and fuck it up.
Whatever you do, don’t think about Eddie still not understanding anything he was feeling, and why he was thinking about Steve’s lips so much, and the taste of his lipgloss, and the feel of him so close.
Whatever you do, don’t think about Steve walking up to Eddie and leaning back on the island behind him, and asking if Eddie was okay.
Whatever you do, don’t think about Eddie almost jumping out of his skin at the sudden sound of Steve’s voice that also happens to give him goosebumps in more ways than one, but promising Steve he was fine.
Whatever you do, don’t think about Steve apologising for overstepping because Eddie didn’t seem fine in the slightest, and maybe he and Robin were wrong. So, so wrong and maybe Eddie was gonna hate him now.
Whatever you do, don’t think about Eddie telling Steve, out of the blue, that he sure as shit wasn’t gay. He couldn’t be. It was impossible, he liked girls, he was sure of it, they were pretty.
Whatever you do, don’t think about Steve wanting to cry, but forcing himself not to.
Whatever you do, don’t think about Eddie looking up at Steve with glossy eyes in the dark of the kitchen, and the faintest whisper leaving his lips as he said, “I wish you were a girl”.
Whatever you do, don’t think about Steve’s heart skipping a beat at that, and the silence lingering in the air as they just looked at one another.
Whatever you do, don’t think about Eddie letting a singular tear fall because he was just so overwhelmed with everything and didn’t know what else to do.
Whatever you do, don’t think about Steve walking up to Eddie, grabbing his shoulders softly and turning him back around to face the window, whilst Steve jumped up to sit on the counter, pulling Eddie between his legs and holding his hands, telling Eddie that he would probably make a very pretty girl if Eddie needed.
Whatever you do, don’t think about Eddie smiling as Steve applied some more of his lipgloss and smacking his lips, and pretending to flick a long strand of hair back from his shoulder, and tweak his voice to sound more feminine as he asked Eddie if he looked pretty. And Eddie said yes, a little too quickly.
Whatever you do, don’t think about Steve slinging his arms over Eddie’s shoulders and asking if he wanted a kiss.
Whatever you do, don’t think about Eddie tentatively holding Steve’s waist as he lent in to kiss him, slowly moving closer, calculated, swallowing, a nervous wreck.
Whatever you do, don’t think about Steve closing the gap that little bit faster and smiling against Eddie’s soft lips, gloss smeared between the two.
Whatever you do, don’t think about Eddie melting into the kiss because apparently he did like kissing boys now, or maybe it was just Steve. But he liked it, and he gripped Steve’s hips and pulled him in closer until their chests were flush and Steve’s hands were in Eddie’s hair and their mouths were wet and tasted like strawberry lipgloss.
Whatever you do, don’t think about Steve pulling back for a breath of air and to check if Eddie was okay because he cared and he felt another tear slip into their mouths.
Whatever you do, don’t think about Eddie chasing Steve’s lips the second they parted, leaning over with his fingers digging into Steve’s sides hard and not letting the kiss stop because he never wanted to stop kissing Steve.
Whatever you do, don’t think about Steve wiggling even closer, and Eddie’s hands dropping to his ass to hold him there, just for a moment and in that moment Steve let out a little whimper of satisfaction.
Whatever you do, don’t think about Eddie pulling his hands back to Steve’s hips because this was all so new and he didn’t want to take it too far yet, whatever it was, but he’d keep that little sound in mind and would remember to put his hands there later.
Whatever you do, don’t think about Eddie gripping Steve’s waist a little tighter because Steve tugged on his curls to deepen the kiss and it made him feel crazy, and he pressed himself harder into Steve because it all just felt so right for once, unlike all the times he’d kiss girls and couldn’t wait for it to be over.
Whatever you do, don’t think about Steve wrapping his legs around Eddie’s waist and locking his ankles together to keep him in place.
Whatever you do, don’t think about Eddie pressing chase little pecks to Steve’s lips and whispering thankyou between each one, more tears slipping from his wet eyes.
Whatever you do, don’t think about Steve wiping those tears away and pulling Eddie back in for another long and needy kiss because he was just as intoxicated by it as Eddie.
Whatever you do, don’t think about Max waking up with the need to pee, but Mike was taking forever in the basement bathroom so she wandered upstairs and heard some weird, wet slapping noise and silent little whimpers and she thought it might be a Demogorgon or something so she peaked around the corner to get an eye full of Eddie sucking Steve’s face off, and she stopped, and scoffed and rolled her eyes and muttered a little “ew”.
Whatever you do, don’t think about both of them turning around red faces and terrified to look at Max, scared she was gonna cry bloody mary.
Whatever you do, don’t think about Max shaking her head and turning for the bathroom and throwing her hands up with a groan and the word “Finally” being shouted.
Whatever you do, don’t think about Eddie turning back to Steve and asking what this meant now, because he was scared and confused and didn’t understand anything.
Whatever you do, don’t think about Steve sweeping hair back from Eddie’s face and soothing his anxiety’s away, and promising Eddie this could be whatever he needed it to, and that he wasn’t alone, he never would be again.
Whatever you do, don’t think about Eddie kissing Steve again because it’s all he could think to do now, and he cried into the kiss because things finally felt like they were clicking into place, and this giant weight was being lifted off his shoulders.
Whatever you do, don’t think about the pair heading back down stairs and curling up under Eddie’s sleeping bag, nimble fingers tracing over Steve’s chest as Eddie kissed his collarbone and neck in the dark.
Whatever you do, don’t think about the party waking up in the morning to find Eddie and Steve tangled up together, Steves strawberry gloss sticky and stuck to Eddie’s cheek and somehow marking his own neck, and then not thinking anything of it because everyone thought they had been dating for months and were glad they finally felt comfortable enough to show it.
Whatever you do, please think about Eddie adding a little rainbow rectangle patch to his battle vest a week later.
“I’ve given you six months now,” Nancy said, yanking his pillow off of his face. “Why have you not said anything?”
Eddie blinked up at her. She decidedly had not been in his room when he fell asleep the night before nor did he have any warning that she would be there in the morning- or, well, whenever it was right then.
“So?” She prompted.
“Jesus H Christ. What is happening?”
Eddie shifted up in his bed, pulling at his blanket to keep himself covered. He was wearing underwear, thankfully. He couldn’t imagine having any conversation with Nancy Wheeler without any clothes on regardless of what she was trying to talk to him about.
Nancy folded her arms across her chest, it was a gesture her and Steve shared. Eddie would have to pay more attention to Jonathan to see if it was an older sibling- biological and chosen- trait. “I know, Eddie.”
“Know fucking what?” Nancy was smart, like smart smart. Eddie dealt with smart people all the time who spoke a mile a minute about anything but she was usually one of the more coherent ones, compared to the kids or Robin who forgot to translate their gibberish for the lesser minds in their presence.
“In the hospital, they had a green bandage over your shoulder blade,” Nancy was listing things, that was a step above pointed questions but still not clearly explaining what she was there or how she got in. “They use those to conceal soulmarks. I have no idea what it said but I know Steve’s.”
There was something dark and twisted inside Eddie that hissed and bared its teeth when he was reminded that Steve and Nancy used to be a thing regardless of how long ago or that they’d both moved on.
Or, of the fact that Steve wasn’t in any way his.
“Soulmarks are personal, I don’t think it’s your place to be talking about Steve’s.”
Soulmates were fairly uncommon. Eddie hadn’t realized that anyone outside of Wayne and the pre-kids Hellfire members even knew he had one. Steve, Argyle, and Erica were the only other ones in the group with marks as far as Eddie knew. Most people were reasonably open about having one but not about what name it was, Eddie took the safer root of not revealing anything given the assumptions about him that would be confirmed if anyone ever saw it.
“The name of Steve’s soulmate went around the whole school when a new girl joined his class in freshman year. They were trying to figure out if she was his soulmate because she was hiding something under a bandage on her arm, and it turns out that she just got a back alley tattoo that wasn’t healing right.”
Eddie forgot about that. Even with how outside of the grapevine he was he heard about that. The name escaped him, but it was a girl's name.
“What does that have to do with me?”
“Edwin.”
He flinched at his name. He’d gone by Eddie since he moved to Hawkins, not wanting to have any attachment to his childhood before a surly CPS worker dropped him on Wayne’s doorstep. “Can we just skip to the part where you spell this all out for me.”
“I can’t tell if you are being intentionally ignorant or bullshitting me.”
“Is genuinely clueless an option?”
Nancy took a long breath before turning her bitchiest face on him. It really wasn’t hard to tell that Mike was related to her sometimes. “You and Steve are soulmates.”
“No?” Sure, Eddie had spent more than a moment considering that his Steve could be Steve Steve. Both long empty afternoons plagued by avoiding daydreams of a future with Steve and late nights alone in his bed. “Steve’s soulmate is a girl.”
“Steve’s soulmate has a gender-neutral name, could easily go either way.” Eddie stared blankly at her. “Charlie. You, Charlie Edwin Munson, are Steve’s soulmate.”
Charlie was his father’s name that was passed onto Eddie.
Eddie hadn’t thought about that name in years.
Nancy had picked through his whole life before she moved on to the Creels.
“Fuck. I’m an idiot.”
Nancy’s disappointment was almost audible. “Indeed.”
Romantic Steve x oblivious Eddie is just amazing. Steve will be flirting with Eddie all day long and the stoner would just be standing there like, "..."
And it gets better. Eddie flirts back, but he's oblivious to his own flirting, and Steve is just left there a stammering mess. Eddie will offer Steve a cigarette right from his mouth, and Steve is like, "is this an indirect kiss?!" But he doesn't say anything, he just takes it and allows the smoke to fill his mouth.
And then Eddie slaps his back and rests his chin on Steve's shoulder. "Your hair smells good," he murmurs.
And Steve coughs. A lot. He's a sputtering mess. "Dude, you okay?" Eddie asked, patting his back, hoping it will help the coughing.
Steve staggers away and just stares at him. This man. This man will literally be the death of him.
