Random story idea. A bit of a reversal of the constant flirting Eddie does in fics. Non-S4 compliant.
Steve, a confident though not really out bisexual, is finally forced to hang out with Eddie āThe Freakā Munson when heās picking up The Party up from school. He sees Eddie, in all his nerd glory with his big hair and bigger eyes and thinks, yup. Thatās the one.
Steve, who always falls so fast and so hard. Steve, who knows Eddie doesnāt like him and only tolerates his presence for the kids. Steve, who might not ever make Eddie like him how he wants too but maybe make him like him as a friend. After all, heās still friends with Nancy and Robin.
Steve, who never once hesitates to use the Harrington CharmTM on Eddie, flirting for all heās worth. (He would, of course, stop if Eddie seemed to genuinely hate it, but Eddie always grits his teeth and seems to flirt back.)
Because Eddieā¦Eddie, the guy who has had more gay rumors about him than anyone, just assumes Steve is straight and making fun of him. Eddie, who doesnāt understand how the kids can be friends with that jerk. Eddie, who decides to try to beat Steve at his own game by flirting back and hoping to call Steveās bluff.
Steve, who falls harder every day and is just happy Eddie will let him flirt without getting mad at him.
Eddie, mad as hell but like hell is he, an actual gay man, going to lose to Harringtonās Gay Chicken game.
Eddie, who sometimes slips and forgets that it isnāt real.
Steve, telling himself that of course Eddie could never like someone like him, even as his heart flutters every time Eddie sends him that dimpled grin.
Robin, who knows exactly whatās going on but thinks this is far too funny to stop.
Robin, who shares some popcorn with Erica as they watch the two idiots fight-flirt and placing bets with Nancy and Max on who is going to break first.
Eleven, who wins the bet when Eddie accidentally falls into the pool and Steve immediately dives in after him and inadvertently confesses while worriedly checking Eddie for injuries leading to a kiss probably best left in private.
Eleven, who wipes her bleeding nose with a smirk because sometimes you have to make your own accidents when enough money to buy an entire row of waffles is on the line.
Steve stared at the pamphlet in his hand, handed to him by one of those zealots that have been posting up on street corners and in parking lots ever since the āearthquakesā totaled Hawkins. He rolled his eyes and was just starting to crumple it up in his hand as he walked to his car before something stopped him.
He paused, brow furrowing slightly as he frowned down at the paper.
1. Is too "nice" to be true.
Steve was so used to being called an idiot by everyone, to being condescended to, that he had started taking it as just a simple matter of course. At least, until Eddie entered their little friend group.
Now, Eddie seemed to make it his life lifeās mission to compliment Steve at least once a day, always with a smile to let Steve know it was meant genuinely, and even stood up to their friendsā playful bullying when it went to far.
He never made Steve feel stupid. Never made Steve feel like he was alone. He was justā¦really, really nice. More than Steve had ever thought was possible, at least when directed at someone like him.
It had taken a couple months of it for Steve to realize that Eddie meant it too, that Eddie wasnāt making fun of him in a way that Steve didnāt understand. Not only that, he went out of his way to do things for Steve, like offering to be the ones to drive the kids around when Steve had had a long day, or when his migraines were acting up.
He was justā¦really really nice. It was one of the things Steve noticed first about him. Huh.
2. Wants to spend time with you alone.
Eddie was always down for a big group hang with the kids, seeming to like keeping them under eye as much as Steve did. He also always enjoyed the nights that it was just the older kids, or even just Steve and Robin, butā¦
Those days, those nights, when it was just Steve and himā¦Eddieās smiles always seemed so much bigger, so much more open. There were times when he specifically requested just Steve to hang out, always asking when he knew the others were busy, or simply asking Steve to keep hanging out after the others left.
His smile always shone brighter when Steve said yes.
3. Proposes that you be roommates and sleep in the same bed.
Steve hated his house. Hated how empty it was. Hated when it wasnāt. Hated how it was full of memories he didnāt want to think about anymore.
His parents were in discussion to sell it off, wanting to escape the curse that was Hawkins. They hadnāt included Steve in the talks of moving elsewhere. Which was fine. He was a grown man now. Had been responsible for himself long before he was an adult, even if he messed up sometimes.
And the thing was, him and Eddie had already talked about leaving town too. Now that the Upside Down was sealed away forever, and Vecna dead, there really wasnāt anything tying them down to Hawkins anymore either.
Sure, there were the kids, but they were growing up too, moving on, starting their own second chance at life too.
Eddie had offered Steve to crash at his and Wayneās new trailer, saying that if they moved out of Hawkins, they could be roommates, so they might as well start now. Said that they might have to start somewhere cheap too, somewhere with only one room if any room at all, so it wouldnāt be strange to share a bed now.
It just made sense, Eddie said. It would save them money, and there would be someone nearby in case the nightmares became too much.
It made sense to Steve too, he had to admit.
4. Writes you love notes as to a sweetheart.
Sometimes, Eddie left little notes behind when they hung out. Jotted down thoughts sometimes, but most often than not it seemed to be song lyrics. Steve assumed he just left them by accident, had tried to return them to Eddie next time he saw them, but Eddie always smiled and said that he already had them memorized.
It was strange though. They werenāt the typical sort of fantastical nonsense or rebellion that was usually in Corroded Coffin songs. If Steve didnāt know any better, heād almost say they wereā¦love songs.
Steve really wished Eddie would play them for him whenever he finished writing them. They made his chest ache in a way that almost felt good.
5. Directs the conversation to intimate matters.
Eddie wasnāt a prude, that was for sure. Heād talked about his own limited experiences, mentioned how the first two girls heād slept with heād only done it first to lose his virginity, and second because why not. The third one heād thought heād loved, but later confessed that he thought he was more in love with the idea of being loved than actually loving her as a person.
He then poked and prodded about Steveās history, wanting to know the juicy details, though he always seemed off afterwards. Not annoyed, necessarily, butā¦almost like he regretted knowing despite being the one asking in the first place.
He joked around a lot too, making sexual innuendos about a lot of things. Strangely, he only ever seemed to do this with Steve, however. He seemed strangely fascinated watching Steve eat bananas too.
Steve never really knew why he always felt like eating bananas around Eddie. Maybe it was because Eddie always seemed to shut up whatever he was ranting about when he did.
Maybe Steve sometimes wondered what other fruits might have the same effect on Eddie.
6. Wants to touch the private parts of your body.
Eddie never touched Steve in a way that made him uncomfortable. He never touched Steve in a way that raised alarm bells. Never touched anywhere private.
Though, sure, his touch lingered elsewhere sometimes.
Once, Steve recalled the heat of Eddieās hand on his hip, the pinky of his fingertip just barely brushing at the edge of Steveās swim trunks, when heād passed by him at the public pool.
It wasnāt anything unusual. Steve, having history as a lifeguard as well as having been co-captain on the swim team, had aided Eddie a lot during his physical therapy days when it was his aquatic therapy days. They had to learn to be comfortable with their bare skin touching sometimes.
Granted, they could have worn swim shirts, but they both agreed that it was best that Eddie had as much freedom to move as possible, and Steve wanted the same to be as helpful as possible. He was used to Eddieās hands on his chest, his hips, his back, his arms, even his thighs occasionally. Just as his were on Eddieās.
Sure, there had been the one time that Eddie had accidentally groped him at the start, back when theyād first started out and Eddie had been flailing as his regrowing muscles spasmed, but Eddie had looked so mortified that Steve knew it wasnāt on purpose.
(He also remembered how terrified Eddie had looked, how heād cringed away like he expected Steve to hit him, and still to this day thinking about it made bile rise up in his throat.
(He sometimes wished Eddie would do it again so that Steve could prove he was fine with it.
(Eddie sometimes looked like he wanted to too.)
Eddieā¦oh. Huh.
Steve blinked down at the crinkled paper in his hand. The points slowly slotted together in his mind.
Eddie, always so considerate of him.
Eddie, always so happy to see him.
Eddie, always willing to open up his space to him.
Eddie, writing love songs when with him.
Eddie, wanting to know everything about him.
Eddie, wanting to touch him.
Oh.
Oh.
THESE ARE SOME OF THE TRADEMARKS OF HOMOSEXUALITY.
The last eight words on the pamphlet glared up at him. Eddie wasā¦
He should have seen it earlier. Should have recognized things for what they were, especially after knowing Robin for as long as he did. Should have realized sooner.
Butā¦it wasnāt just that. Wasnāt just Eddie andā¦this.
It was Steve.
Steve, always so happy when Eddie did things for him, always so eager to return the gesture.
Steve, who loved those quiet nights when it was just the two of them perhaps more than when they hung out as a group.
Steve, who thought it would be fun to be Eddieās roommate, not having considered they would need two bedrooms until Eddie mentioned it was cost effective to only have one.
Steve, who wasnāt good with words but cherished all the scraps of paper that Eddie left behind with his, feeling the urge to write something back as if the words had been meant for him and him alone.
Steve, who hated the thought of Eddie being with someone who didnāt truly love him, but wanting to know everything, who laughed at Eddieās jokes and ate bananas around him for a reason he wouldnāt admit to himself before.
Steve, whose skin burned at Eddieās touch in a way that only made him crave more, made him want to return the gesture, made him want to be the only one who touched Eddie like that again.
Oh.
Right.
Okay.
Steve thickly swallowed, staring at those last words again, and though he thought a part of him should have felt unease, all he felt wasā¦relief.
Steve looked up, finally crumpling the paper and tossing it over his shoulder as he finally moved to put the groceries he was holding in the back of his car. They were for the dinner he was preparing to make for Eddie tonight. It wasnāt for a special occasion or anything, just something he offered because he wanted to, because it felt right.
Now he knew why.
Grinning, Steve slid into the driver seat and made his way towards the refurbished Forest Hills, figuring that he might not be the best with words, but he thought he could tell Eddie through his actions what heād just learned. What heād just realized.
And who knows, maybe he could even add his own trademark at the end of the night.
Lucky number 7.
And then maybe lucky number 8, 9, 10, 11, 12ā¦
The possibilities, and their future, were endless.
~~~~~~~~
Oop. I saw that post and was inspired. ĀÆ\_(ć)_/ĀÆ
Just reblogged this post about platonic fake dating and it reminded me that I HAD had a platonic fake dating idea Iāll probably never write with Stobin told entirely from Eddieās pov as a sort of high school years au. Maybe post s2.
I was playing with the idea of some meathead jock or Billy or someone being pushy, or maybe Robin was just being made fun of and harassed for being weird, and Steve steps in and gets them to back off by saying sheās with him. Granted, theyāve never spoken before, Steve is just tired of his former friends being pieces of shit.
Robin is nervous obviously but too shocked to say anything and when they leave Steve immediately turns around and is a girlās girl and reassures her that he was just trying to help out and idk they keep up the charade and become pretty close friends and she ends up telling Steve her truth of her own volition and theyāre the same platonic soulmates as ever and now Steve is super protective and her proud beard and he takes that shit seriously.
Except Eddie doesnāt know this. And itās told entirely from his pov right? So he just sees The Hair, known playboy, all over a younger girl he clocked as queer immediately. He starts worrying for the obvious lesbian, worried Harrington might be pressuring her into things, especially when Harrington would give Buckley eyes and then theyād disappear to someplace private and return some time later red in the face, maybe even a little sweaty and disheveled, though sometimes Buckley returns looking a little haunted in the eyes and disgusted.
And Eddie is protective of kids othered by society, right? The freaks and the geeks and all the rest. So he starts getting in the way. He starts circling around Stobin, starts trying to chat to Buckley when Harrington is elsewhere, sometimes even when Harrington is there and is leaning in close to murmur in Buckleyās ear and she gives such a fake laugh he doesnāt know how Harrington doesnāt clock it. Or if he doesnāt care.
Except Harrington starts noticing Eddie is circling Buckley more and so Harrington starts being more present by her side, starts throwing his arm around her, making her wear his letterman all the time, and starts sneaking off with her more and more. And Buckley looks more and more disgusted each time they stumble out, red faced, from whatever empty classroom or room at a party Harrington has all but pulled her into.
I then picture like, maybe one such time Eddie overhears Buckley yelling at Harrington to stop, begging him to stop, and Eddie bursts through the door with fire in his eyes and ready to throw himself between them to save her, exceptā¦
Buckley is on one side of the room miming throwing up while Harrington is pouting where he lounged on the other, and Eddie realizes that the noises heād heard wasnāt Robin crying but her laughing. Stobin startles at Eddieās entrance, freeze, and then Harrington is going red in the face while Buckley just starts cackling and pointing at Eddie.
āThat one? Seriously, dingus, that one!?ā Buckley gasps around braying laughter, causing Harrington to pout further.
āAt least he doesnāt sound like a muppet when he sings,ā he grumbles under his breath.
Whichā¦Harrington has heard him sing? And what the hell is going on?
Buckley wipes at her eyes, heaving for gasping breaths. āI canāt do this anymore. I canāt listen to you pining for one for more second, oh my god.ā She turns to Eddie then, holding out her hand with a massive grin. āHi, Iām Robin Buckley, a flaming homosexual, and this is my best friend, platonic soulmate, and ridiculous beard Steve Harrington. Please put me out of my misery.ā
Eddie, befuddled, takes her hand, shakes it, and then sheās leaving the room with a shouted āGet your shit together, Harrington!ā in parting. Then itās just Eddie and Harrington.
Who looks extremely embarrassed but heās also looking at Eddie with a nervous coyness for a moment before he blinks, smirks, and suddenly has that patented ladies killer The Hair look on his face except heās staring straight at Eddie and not a single lady is present.
Oh.
Anyways, further hijinks ensue as the three of them have to keep their secrets from the kids, not because they think the kids would be bigoted, but because theyāre little assholes and Steve has no desire to deal with them.
But yeah. I think Stobin would be messy gossip queens who chat about crushes and after Steve comes out as bi to her she makes it her lifeās mission to harass him for liking the Freak just as much as he did her for liking Tammy. However, Eddie knows none of this and itās just him trying to increasingly protect a fellow queer while Steve just becomes more and more enamored with him.
Which results in Steve pulling Robin away for more gossip sessions where she has to deal with Steve talking about big brown eyes the entire time, much to her disgust.
Itās even worse after they get together and sheās real tempted to out herself just so that she doesnāt have to put up with it anymore.
Thank god Steve graduates and she doesnāt have to listen to him pining about his boyfriend anymore. Except then Eddie is dragging Robin away to pine about Steve and suddenly thereās a rumor going around that sheās dating both former King of the Jocks and King of the Freaks and getting a girlfriend has never been harder.
But hey. At least everyoneās too scared to fuck with her anymore.
~
Not actually a fic but tagging my Hotties anyways š
Heād known his parents didnāt love him since he was a young child. Heād known that the girls he casually took on dates and occasionally fucked didnāt love him. Heād known Tommy and Carol didnāt love him like friends were supposed to. They all loved his reputation, sure, but not him. It was easy though because he didnāt love them either.
Heād loved his parents once, a long time ago. Back before they were practically strangers, but that love had been the obligation of biology. Heād thought he loved Tommy and Carol, but it had all been too surface level and focused on popularity.
He had loved Nancy though. He finally found someone he could start to be his true self with and he loved her and he thought she loved him, onlyā¦only she didnāt.
He couldnāt blame her. After a while, when the same thing keeps happening, you kind of have to look for the common factor in all those loveless relationships and see what the real issue was. Simply putā¦
Steve was just unloveable.
Maybe it was his past. Not that heād actually been a bully or anything, heād actually shut down a lot of bullying even among his then-friends and teammates, but he had been kind of self-absorbed. Or maybe it was just the fact that he wasnāt as smart as the people he found himself surrounded by. Maybe it was just the fact that he wasnāt anything special, not at the end of the day.
Except he could take a punch.
And slowly, he found people that did love him. The other kids might tolerate him, might like him, but Dustin genuinely loved him, he knew that. Dustin was his original ride-or-die. Dustin might be a little shithead that constantly treated Steve like he was stupid, but he was like his brother. And Dustin also make him feel amazing and wanted and loved.
And then there was Robin. Most amazing of all really was that Robin loved him. His Platonic soulmate. His other ride-or-die. She saw him at his lowest and saw him at his highest, was there for him when he had stuff he didnāt want to drop on a teen boy who should be worrying about pimples and bad hair days, not interdimensional monsters and evil wizards. Robin made him feel loved too, even if she also sometimes teased him a little too sharply.
There was also Max of course. Heād been surprised at receiving a letter from her too, back when Vecna had been after her. Heād read it, back when sheād been in her coma. She hadnāt said she loved him, but it was there in other ways. The big brother she should have had all along.
So yeah, okay, Steve was loved. But it was platonic. It was friends, his new kind of family even, but it wasnāt the love heād always wanted and never had. He just accepted the fact that people didnāt love him that way.
Which was why, when he realized he was in love with Eddie, he just sighed and accepted it and never changed anything in the way he interacted with the other man. He didnāt bother telling Eddie because he knew there was no point. Besides, Robin called him out on it, said he was being so obvious about his feelings, but Eddie never said anything too.
So okay. Steve was in love with Eddie, but Eddie wasnāt in love with Steve. Eddie also didnāt treat Steve any differently despite knowing that Steve loved him. After all, if Steve was so obvious about it, then Eddie had to know too already, right?
So Steve watched Eddie come out to them, had nodded along when Eddie nervously explained what bisexuality was, having already had his own crisis before though he realized heād never officially come out either. But then if his feelings for Eddie were so obvious, he figured he didnāt have to, so he didnāt say anything and let Eddie have his moment.
And it didnāt matter that Eddie liked guys. He still couldnāt love Steve, so Steve just accepted it and let it be. He didnāt flinch when Eddie mentioned meeting a guy in the city, was even downright friendly when Eddie eventually brought the guy around to meet everyone.
It hurt, of course, but Steveās feelings were his own problem; he wasnāt going to let the fact that he was in love with one of his best friends make things awkward. Eddie was nice enough that he never told Steve to knock it off when Steve got a little too touchy with him, though Steve backed off in his own when Eddie seemed a little panicked about it sometimes.
Steve was even there for Eddie when Eddie came over crying because he and guy broke up. He wouldnāt tell Steve why they broke up, not entirely, but eventually Steve learned it was because Eddie had feelings for someone else this entire time.
Steve wondered who it was, but in any case he just hoped Eddie got to be happy with them eventually. He later told Eddie one day when Eddie was over that he was a great guy, obviously, and anyone Eddie liked would be a lucky person. He hoped he didnāt sound judgmental about it, didnāt want Eddie to think he was being petty or whatever, but Eddie just looked sad again and left soon after.
Steve knew he had a problem about being too much sometimes. It had pushed Nancy away, and every girl heād tried to date afterwards never really liked him enough either. It was still just his reputation and his hair that got him dates, not who he was himself. That was fine. Temporary companionship was better than nothing he supposed.
And life continued, and Steve kept loving Eddie, and he was content that Eddie let him love him, even if there was no hope of it being reciprocated.
And then Steve went on a date with a guy.
It wasā¦okay. The guy was a lot handsier than Steve would like, and kind of boring when compared to Eddie, but Steve just shrugged and figured that at least itās be someone elseās hand this time. And it was okay. No great spark or anything. More of a glorified one night stand than anything, but it was fine.
He knew he needed to get out dating again. Girls and guys. His love for Eddie wasnāt abating at all, so he couldnāt bring himself to actually date anyone, but he could do hookups.
Which was how Eddie found him one day, mouth around some guy at a bar in Indy because they had forgotten to lock the bathroom door. Oops. It was a little annoying though that Eddie looked as upset as he did. He appreciated the fact that Eddie didnāt call him out for his unwanted feelings, but it wasnāt fair that he thought Steve shouldnāt be able to move on.
They got into a fight.
They never exactly said what they were fighting about with words, but Eddie yelled at him for having unsafe sex, while Steve yelled at him for being a hypocrite, and then Eddie yelled at him for leading the guy on, and Steve said that that was a bit rich coming from him.
And Eddie was yelling and yelling and yelling about who knows what, telling Steve he shouldnāt be having random hookups in bathrooms when he wasnāt even gay, and Steve yelled that bisexual men can have bathroom hookups too, and that seemed to surprise Eddie for some reason.
In any case, it caused him to shut up for long enough for Steve to angrily tell him that just because Steve loved him, it didnāt give him the right to tell Steve what he could or could not do, especially when he knew Eddie didnāt love him back.
And thenā¦
āYouā¦you love me?ā Eddie choked out, his eyes wide as he stared across the dark alley outside the bar, where heād dragged Steve after catching him on his knees.
Steve rolled his eyes, jutting out one hip to place a hand on while the other hand ran aggressively through his hair. It was started to rain while they were in the bar, a light drizzle that was slowly weighing down their hair, not that either of them paid it any mind.
āJesus, Munson, are you really going to make me listen to the whole spiel again?ā He rolled his eyes, throwing his hands up in frustration. āThis is bullshit, Iām bullshit, my love is bullshit, yadda yadda yadda. Or are we going the other way? The sad puppy eyes and the fact that you like someone else and it could never be me? I already know all this, Munson.ā
Eddie continued gaping at Steve like a fish. It was starting to make him vaguely uncomfortable. Eddie shook his head, long strands of hair whipping wetly around him. āH-how long have you loved me?ā Eddie whispered.
Steveās frown deepened. āI donāt know, man. You probably clocked it before I even did. I just barely realized like a year and half ago.ā
Eddieās eyes bugged further. āYouāve love me for a year and a half?ā he asked incredulously, making Steveās frown turn from annoyance to confusion.
āYou already knew this, Eddie.ā
āI most certainly did not!ā
Andā¦oh. Oof. Okay. Steve grimaced and held his hands up suddenly in a surrender sort of way. āYikes. Okay, well, this doesnāt have to change anythiāā
āThis changes everything!ā Eddie exclaimed in what others might cause a shriek.
Steve winced, taking a step back and hitching his shoulders up to his ears. āEddieā¦Eddie, please, cāmon,ā he tried to reason, feeling dread settling in the pit of his stomach. He was suddenly remembering all the times heād invaded Eddieās space, how many times heād flirted back with Eddieās fake flirting, thinking it was okay because the other man knew how he felt.
Fuck. Fuck, heād fucked up again.
āEddie, I know you donāt love me, okay,ā he rushed to say. āI know you can never love me. I get it, okay? Iām not trying to force you to feel any way or anything. Just like with Robin and Nancy, the fact that I like you doesnāt have to change anything.ā
āNotā¦Steve,ā Eddie said, reaching up to grip and pull at his own hair as an incredulous laugh escaped him. āSteve, I fucking love you.ā
Steve tried not to let that hurt. He knew Eddie probably didnāt get how much him saying that pained Steve since it wasnāt the kind of love he was talking about, so he wasnāt going to get upset at him over that.
āI know,ā he sighed, slowly letting himself relax his body posture. āI know you love me in a friend way. And thatās enough for me, really! I love you like a friend too, so the fact that I alsoāā
āNo Steve,ā Eddie cut in again, and while he seemed exasperated, a wide smile was also starting to curl over his lips. āRobin was right and you really are a dingus. I mean, yes, I love you as a friend, but Iām also in love with you. Romantic styles.ā
āIā¦ā Steve blinked. He tried to understand Eddieās words but they didnāt make sense. āWhat?ā
Eddie snorted out a laugh, and the smile curled on his lips stretched out into a grin. He took a step closer. āIām in love with you, Steve Harrington. I have been sinceā¦hell, probably since you went all Ozzy on me. But definitely since I woke up in the hospital to you holding my hand.ā
Steveās stomach swooped. āI donāt understand,ā he said, and even to his own ears there was a small whine there. āYou donātā¦people donāt love me,ā he pointed out. āThey canāt. Thereās something about me that just makes it impossible.ā
Eddie scoffed, reaching out once he was closer enough to curl his fingers in the sleeves at Steveās biceps. They were both now well and truly wet from the rain, but neither of them paid any attention to it at all.
āNow thatās bullshit, Harrington. Youāre so fucking easy to love. As a friend and as somethingā¦more. I love you, Steve.ā
Steve wanted to deny it again, wanted to say that that was impossible, becauseā¦because heād never heard those words. Sure, Dustin and Robin told him they loved him, but romantically? Even Nancy had never told him that in those words. Not even in a lie. He couldnāt fully comprehend that he was hearing them now.
āFuck, Steve,ā Eddie breathed, his hands moving to cup Steveās jaw. āIām going to spend the rest of my life telling you that. Youāre stuck with me now, big boy.ā
And then Eddie kissed him.
Eddie was true to his words. He told Steve he loved him every single day, told him with his words and his actions and when it was legal, he told him again in front of all their friends and found family when he made a vow as a his husband.
And Steve? Well, it took a while for him for actually believe it, but nowadays? When Eddie kisses him good morning every day in bed, whispering his devotion, and every night doing the same, telling Steve heāll see him in his dreams? Wellā¦
Steveās used to being loved. And he spends every day loving in return.
~
Hi hello I have no idea what this is but I just started typing and then I didnāt stop until this was completed lol
Steve looked at himself in the mirror from all angles. Maybe, even just a year ago, he might have squashed all of this down and pretended he was just like any other All American white boy in a Midwest state. Except a year ago he still carried the baggage of his failures and was trying to be someone he was not.
And then Robin Buckley, with her āYou Rule, You Suckā board, entered his life.
Now, he was able to fully appreciate how much he had never been able to get Eddie āthe Freakā Munson out of his head. He might have played it off had this situation never arose, might have been able to keep his lies to himself secret, butā¦well. It was a good thing Vickieās locker had been right next to Eddieās.
Admittedly, he did feel a little guilty about using the lip gloss that Nancy had left at his place, but then she had let him borrow some before back when he worked at Scoops, so reallyā¦was it that bad?
He just hoped that Eddie liked the taste of strawberries.
If Steve was lucky enough to find out.
So here he was, fifteen minutes early, waiting to meet Eddie in the band room after school. Heād never been here, obviously, but heād managed to sneak into the place Robin and Vickie frequented quite often. Luckily there were no other band geeks hoping to use the free time to practice their instrumentsā¦or their instrumentsāhe never realized how fucking horny band geeks were before Robin spilled all that gossip. He should have cast his net wider in high school.
Anyways, Steve got himself ready, trying to pose himself perfectly against an abandoned desk, legs crossed at the ankles as he leaned back on his hands to push out his tits, or whatever guys had, accentuating the thickness of his thighs as well. Heās got this.
And then the handle was turning and thereās Eddie, glancing behind him to obviously make certain he wasnāt being followed and no one is paying attention to himāhe must know that the room is used for more than just music practice tooābefore finally turning to face his supposed secret admirer as he closed the door.
Only to freeze when he caught sight of Steve, face draining of color. Steve was across the room in an instant, hand keeping the door shut where Eddie had turned and immediately tried to open it again, leaning into Eddieās space with a small smirk.
āWhatās the rush, Munson?ā he murmured in a tone he hadnāt had to use in a while, letting his eyes drag over the dumb Dungeons & Dipshits club shirt Steve couldnāt wait to get his hands under. His eyes drifted lower, thinking of other things heād like to get under. When his eyes finally made their way back up to Eddieās face, the dudeās face was tinged pink.
āHa-Harrington,ā Eddie said with a small stutter, eyes darting frantically to the hand keeping the door closed. The metalhead cleared his throat, stiffening his spine as he seemed to gather himself, though he crossed his arms defensively across his chest. āIs this some sort of sick joke? Got you buddies hiding around here somewhere waiting to jump me?ā
Steve softly snorted. āWhile Iāve had a threesome before, Iām not really interested in a gangbang. Besides, darling, Iām not super keen on sharing,ā he purred, reaching out with his free hand to lightly brush through the curly hair at Eddieās shoulder, twirling a strand with a smile.
To his credit, Eddie didnāt flinch, though he did frown severely. Even still, his eyes dropped to Steveās lips for the briefest moment, which Steve took as a win. āWhat the hell, Harrington?ā
Steve chuckled, moving to lean his shoulder against the door instead, since it allowed him to pop his ass out a bit. āYou got my note, didnāt you?ā A little fib since it wasnāt technically his note that Robin had accidentally slipped into Eddieās locker, but whatever. āI wanna take you out on a date. Right now, if youād let me.ā
Eddie blinked at Steve like he couldnāt believe what was in front of him. āI know I have hair like Wheeler, but you do know Iām a dude, right? I have a dick.ā
āYouāre a musician, yeah?ā Steve said, ignoring that for a moment to lean in closer, trailing the hand from Eddieās hair down his arm. āThen I bet youāre really good with your hands.ā He let his eyes drop to them meaningfully. āI bet those fingers can reach all sorts of places. Bet you know how to get the best sounds with them.ā
When Steve looked back into Eddieās face, it was flushed a bright pink this time, his mouth dropped open slightly in shock. Steve took the opportunity to press his fingers under that sharp jaw to close it with a soft click.
āBet youāre talented with that mouth too.ā And, okay, normally he wouldnāt be quite so forward with a girl, but Eddie wasnāt a girl. Things were a little different here. He had a feeling Eddie would appreciate the direct approach too. āYou know, Iāve done a bit of singing myself. Iād love to show you my talent as well.ā
Eddie let out a huff of breathless laugh of disbelief as he took several steps back into the room, holding his hands up. āI donāt know who put you up to this, man, butāā
āNo one put me up to it,ā Steve interrupted. āI havenāt been able to get you out of my head since high school and I would be the idiot of the century if I didnāt ask such a pretty boy like you out on a date.ā
āNo one thinks Iām pretty, Steve,ā Eddie said with another nervous laugh, grabbing his hair to cover his mouth in embarrassment.
āThen everyone else has to be the idiot. Youāre gorgeous, Eddie.ā Steve let his gaze drop again, taking in all of Eddieās lithe form. āYouāre hot as fuck and I should have asked you out on a date years ago. Sorry I donāt have flowers with me, but if you let me take you on a date, Iāll buy you whatever flower you want.ā
āD-dude, what even makes you think that Iāmā¦you know,ā Eddie said, eyes darting around as though searching for another escape route.
āBecause if you werenāt, you wouldnāt have checked out my ass back in high school.ā Eddie looked terrified again, which wasnāt Steveās intention. He was supposed to be charming for Peteās sakeā¦whoever Pete was. He stepped forward, holding his hands out to show that he was without malice. āI promise I donāt mean any harm, Eddie.ā
āNo? Former Keg King and head cock of the roost Steve Harrington just asked Eddie āthe Freakā Munson to an empty classroom to ask him on a date? Am I really supposed to believe that?ā Eddie scoffed, arms once more wrapping around himself.
āI checked you out too, you know,ā Steve murmured. āI think I did even before I realized that guys could be an option.ā He licked his lips, tasting that hint of strawberry, but it had the desired effect of snapping Eddieās gaze to them again as well.
āWhat, you wanna get dicked down by the king freak?ā Eddie lightly sneered. āReally fell that far, Stevie?ā
āWhat can I say, youāre easy to fall for,ā Steve said with a wink, slinking his way slowly closer. That seemed to shut Eddie up, his face turning that lovely shade of dusty pink again. āBut if you need me to fall furtherā¦ā
Steve smirked as he dropped to his knees in front of Eddie, who gulped thickly enough that it was audible. He reached out to grab Eddieās fingers, bringing them to his lips as he looked up at the older boy through his lashes.
āBecause I am more than willing to worship Hawkins Highās one true king,ā he whispered, pulling out all the stops as he brushed his lips over Eddieās knuckles in a soft kiss. He had a feeling that a theatrical man like Eddie would appreciate some theatrics himself.
And appreciate it Eddie seemed to do, judging by the first honest look of awe on his face as he stared down at Steve. Like he was maybe starting to realize that Steve meant everything he was saying. Eddie drew in a deep, shuddering breath, before releasing it with a small smirk of his own.
āIs that so? And what does that make you, Steve? My dashing knight, ready to obey my every command?ā Eddie murmured, turning his fingers in Steveās hold to slip under Steveās chin, his thumb brushing just under his glossy bottom lip.
Steve shivered at the touch. āIāll be whatever you want me to be, Eddie, if it gives me the honor of taking you out on a date.ā
āWell,ā Eddie breathed. āYou do look good on your knees.ā He leaned in, bending down to bring his lips to Steveās ear, his hair curtaining around them. āDo you look just as good on your back?ā he whispered.
Steve grinned, bringing his other hand up to hold on to Eddieās hip. āI guess youāll just have to find out, Munson,ā he murmured back. āSo what do you say? Go on a date with me? I promise to treat you good. And then you can treat me very, very bad.ā
Eddie flushed again, but he was smiling as he pulled back enough to look down at Steve. āThat a promise, Sir Harrington?ā
āWanna seal it with a kiss?ā Steve grinned.
It turned out, Eddie did like the taste of strawberries.
Later, when he learned the truth about the note mishap, Eddie laughed so hard he cried, but he didnāt waste any time in thanking Robin for her little blunder. After all, without it, he never would have gotten his first (and hopefully last) official boyfriend.
Who did, in fact, look entirely too good on his back.
wc: ~2.1k || rating: teen || relationships: stobin, pre-steddie, robeddie || trope: fake dating
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āI have a boyfriend.ā
The sound of several plastic cases clattering to the ground came from theāaptly named if anyone could see his expression right nowāhorror section. There was a momentās quiet, Robin nonchalantly picking at the cuticle on her thumb, before Steveās voice rang out in a scandalized, betrayed tone:
āWHAT?!ā
Robin rolled her eyes from where she was leaning on the counter as Steve stumbled into view of her, and though she didnāt say it, Steve could hear the ādingusā loud and clear. āHow do you think I got here so quickly?ā
Whichā¦yeah, Steve glanced down at his watch which showed that Robin was early for her shift instead of the borderline late she always was when Steveās own shift prevented him from picking her up from school and she had to bike. Heād occasionally be able to use his lunch break to get her, but not often. He looked back up at her, his brows puckered and mouth slightly open in his confusion.
āRobā¦youāreā¦ā he trailed off, despite the store being empty, tilting his head forward with raised brows and wide eyes to finish what he couldnāt say.
āI know that, dingus,ā she scoffed, pushing against the counterās edge with both palms as she leaned away slightly. āButā¦I have one anyways.ā
Steve was speechless, his face screwing up as he tried to rationalize that with everything he knew. Or thought he knew. He recalled Robin pointedly telling him about bisexuality (which, he enjoyed the occasional Bowie and Elton John song, so he was well aware what it was, thank you very much, Robin) which he didnāt get at the time, but maybe she wasnāt as much of a lesbian as she had thought she was?
Steveās eyes flickered over her, taking her in from her makeup and jewelry choices to the non-Family Video vest she wore over something he was pretty sure she thrifted from her mother, the bracelets clacking at her wrist and peeling pain job on her fingers, and down to the cuff of her jeans exposing her converse. With the boobies drawn on them.
No, that was definitely a lesbian.
He threw his hands up. āWhy the hell do you have a boyfriend?ā
Robin just scoffed and rolled her eyes, but there was something shifty in her look after, something in the way she glanced down at where her thumb continued to pick at her cuticle. She shrugged one shoulder. āThought Iād give it a whirl? Make certain, ya know?ā
Steveās brows lowered, his hands to his hips. āRobin,ā was all he needed to say, his tone firm but concerned, for her to break.
āOkay, all right!ā she huffed, all but throwing herself across the counter too as she collapsed against it. She grumbled where she pressed her cheek against the counter, before jerking up with a wrinkle of her nose and an āEwā at the sticky surface. She glanced up at Steve again, who just tilted his head forward with raised brows this time, before sighing.
Robin crossed her arms across her chest that to anyone might read as annoyed, but Steve knew her better than anyone else. She was comfort seeking. (Another term Robin told him, which okay, he hadnāt known that one.)
āSoā¦thereās been a couple boys at school who have beeāWHOA Steve, wait!ā Robin exclaimed, diving forward to grab Steve by the arm where he was in the process of tearing his green vest off and striding towards the door with a determined glint in his eyes and a fierce stone-like quality to his expression. āItās okay, really! Plus school is over. Itās fine!ā
Steve didnāt think it was fine. He was well versed in saying something was fine when it was anything but.
āIs one of them forcing you to date them? Have theyāā If one of them touched her he was going to fucking kill them.
āNo!ā Robin exclaimed, before softening her tone, her expression also softening as she gently squeezed his arm. āNo, they didnāt, Steve. Itās not one of them. Itāsā¦Eddie Munson.ā
Steve reared his head back, face once more twisting in confusion. āThe Freak?ā
Robin rolled her eyes again, this time moving her fingers to pinch Steve where she held him, resulting in a scandalized yelp from him. āBe nice to my boyfriend,ā she said, obviously trying to sound serious, but there was mirth in her eyes and dancing along her lips. āBut yes, him.ā
Steve batted Robinās surprisingly strong fingers (he kept the dirty thoughts about that to himself) away and took a step back for his own safety, righting his vest with an annoyed huff. He then took a moment to process what Robin at said.
Eddie āThe Freakā Munson was her boyfriend? Sure, he supposed they had some similarities from what little he knew of the guy, but wasnāt he some Super-Super Senior or shit? What was he doing sniffing around Robin of all people?
āAnd heās notāā
āNo, dingus,ā Robin said with yet another roll of her eyes. Why was he cursed to be around people who kept rolling their eyes at him? āEddie was really sweet actuallyāā
āThe Freak? Sweet?ā
āShut up, dingus. And he saw those Neanderthals harassing meāSteve, get back here!ā She waited until Steve huffed and put his vest back on from where he was striding once more towards the door before continuing. āAnd he asked me if I was all right, if I needed a safe place for a moment, and we got to talking. He asked if that had been going on for a whiādonāt even think about it, Steven!āa while, and then he offered to help keep them off my backāthat was figurative language!ā
Steve crossed his arms with a grumble. He was thankful though, even if he wouldnāt admit it, that someone had been there for Robin when he couldnāt. But he still had no idea what to do with this information.
āSoā¦what? You decide to pity date him or something? Robin, you know what boys want from their girlfriends,ā he pointed out, maybe letting his unease turn his tone a little bitchy.
āI know, dingus, but Eddieās not like that. Promise. It wasnāt a pity date or anything. He offered to fake date me.ā
Steve was once more confused. āHe what? Fake date? What the hell is that?ā
āChrist, Steve. Heās going to pretend to be my boyfriend so that idiot boys who only view a woman as off-limits when she supposedly belongs to another man will finally take ānoā for an answer when I tell them Iām not interested.ā She shrugged again, like it was no big deal.
It was a very big deal.
āAnd how do you know this isnāt just some ploy to get into your pants?ā he huffed, thoughā¦he could admit that the dude had never given him predatory vibes before.
Sure, he was a freak and loud and dressed in a way that scandalized little old women, but Steve could appreciate that the man looked out for others. Heād seen the guy take attention off of other freaks by making them target him instead, despite how much Steve had tried to get Tommy to cool his jets on that whenever he saw it happening.
He probably could have tried harder. Looking at Robin now, he knew that he should have tried harder. Christ, and what about the kids when they started high school? Middle school was bad enough, but throw in everything those kids were? Everything theyād gone through? He still heard whispers of Zombie Boy sometimes, making Steve thankful Will didnāt have to deal with that anymore, but he hoped California treated him and El better.
And Maxā¦
Steve drew a hand down his face, even as Robin gave a small, amused snort.
āTrust me, Stevie, you donāt have to worry about Eddie,ā she said, her tone and expression indicating something she wasnāt saying. She flapped a hand to brush past that. āI mean it, Steve. Eddieās the good sort. He wonāt hurt me like that. Heās definitely not interested in me romantically or sexually.ā She grinned. āPlus, I get to have a beard now!ā
Steveās eyes dropped to Robinās jaw before he remembered the meaning of that term. He glanced back up at her eyes scandalized. āHey, wait a minute! Why didnāt you ask me to be your beard? I could have been your fake boyfriend!ā
Robin reached over and patted Steve gently on the arm. āI know, Stevie. But I hadnāt even thought about it until Eddie offered to help out. Plus, itās more helpful to have a boyfriend whoās there during school hours, isnāt it?ā
Stev grumbled still offended, perhaps even more offended than heād felt when he thought Robin was experimenting and hadnāt asked him for help. At least he knew the truth about Robin. Though, as much as heād once had a crush on her beforeāand still could have had one had things been differentāhe could acknowledge about how weird the thought made him now. Kissing Robin would be weeeiiirrrd.
āAnd heās, what, doing this out of the kindness of his heart? What does he want in return?ā
Robin pulled away with a sigh to finally go drop off her school stuff in the back office. āActually, yeah, he is.ā She paused. āBut I did offer to help tutor him a bit so that he can actually pass senior year this year. Itās obvious heās smart, he just doesnāt do well in school. Reminds me of someone else I know,ā she teased, giving him a pointed look.
Steve wanted to be offended again, but he felt a rush of warm pleasure at the thought of someone, especially someone whose opinion he cared so much about, thought him smart. Despite her favorite nickname for him. He was so used to the kids and everyone else treating him like he was stupid that it was nice to be reminded that he wasnāt.
āOkay, wellā¦I wanna meet him!ā Steve called out after her, causing her to pop her head out of the office with a roll of her eyes again.
āYou know who Eddie is.ā
āThatās not what I meant and you know that,ā he chided, pointing a stern finger at her. āI want to make certain he knows boundaries and that if anything happens to you, I have a nail-bat in my closet.ā
āOh my god, do not give Eddie Munson the shovel talk!ā Robin screeched, finally coming out of the office properly with her green vest in hand. She was still early for her shift, however, so she just tossed it on the counter to cross her arms and glare at him. āDo not embarrass me, Harrington.ā
Steve just raised a single unimpressed eyebrow. āI need to make certain what his intentions are. That he knows this only pretend and he doesnāt get any ideas.ā
āLike I said, trust me, Stevie. He knows,ā she drawled. She waggled her fingers towards the horror section. āNow go pick up those movies you dropped,ā she grinned, obviously pleased sheād gotten the desired reaction from her initial announcement.
Now it was Steveās turn to roll his eyes as he turned to leave and pick up his mess, but not before throwing the bird to his favorite bird. āDonāt think youāre cute, Buckley,ā he warned.
āOh I donāt think it, I know it,ā she grinned unrepentant.
Christ. She was spending too much time around Steve, her ego was starting to grow. Still, he couldnāt help the small smile at the knowledge that Robin was finally starting to feel more comfortable in her own skin. Though this was going to make things much harder for her to get a girlfriend.
āOh, by the way, I donāt need a ride home tonight. Eddieās getting me so we can discuss the plan for tomorrow.ā
Steve stilled, his fingers tightening on the plastic case of one of the Nightmare on Elm Street movies, before a tight smile slowly curled his lips. Eddie was getting her? Good.
Steve would be able to have his talk with him after all. And soon. And maybe heād also get the names of the ones harassing Robin too.
Maybe, he considered after a moment, he should revive his nail bat after all.
In any case, Steve was going to have an intensive conversation with Eddie āThe Freakā Munson. That much was certain.
No one hurt one of his and got away with it. And he was going to make damn certain that the Freak understood that very well. Just in case.
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Hello my sweets! Soā¦.i know Iāve been a bit distant lately. Life is rough fr. Donāt worry, once I update one of my WIP on ao3 Iāll trauma dump in the authorās notes like god intended to explain how the Curse has been affecting me lately, but yeah. Iām trying to get back into things and thought Iād write this little thing whose idea wouldnāt leave me alone to hopefully get back into the swing of things.
Iām not supposed to be continuing it at all, though itās me so I probably will, but if anyone else would like to write their version of how this continues, please do so and tag me!
Anyways, hereās hoping things settle soon. I probably still wonāt be around much until after the holidays but hey. Hereās hoping.
Steve hates his last name. He hates being reminded that heās a Harrington, hates that his family, his parents, are still a part of his life in this way even after having gone fully non-contact with them years ago. He knows that he could technically just pay to legally change his name, but thatās a process he doesnāt really want to deal with at the moment.
So he puts out a personal ad.
Wanted:
Person for marriage of convenience. In desperate need of a new last name. Gender does not matter. Serious inquiries only.
He of course puts in his own specifics down as well, as well as a bit more of explanation that he just wants to get married to easily change his last name without having to do all the additional paperwork required if he just bought the change himself. That it would just be a marriage in name only until they could quickly divorce.
He gets a lot of bot replies, and a lot of creepy men saying they could be his sugar daddy, and even some creepy women too. Heād expected as much, truthfully.
But then he gets a message from someone with genuine questions, a man close to age to him who jokes that his name isnāt the greatest either, but that heās happy to share it. Turns out this man needs a green card marriage actually, and heāll happily let this stranger take his name if he can help him get a green card so he can stay in the States where his uncle lives.
So Steve agrees, and he meets Eddie Munson 20 minutes before he marries him and becomes Steve Munson.
And of course, by the time Eddieās green card is permanent, the thought of divorcing never crosses their minds.
It makes for a great story at their ceremony after they renew their vows in a real wedding this time.
Continuation āfix itā of this ficlet where Steve changed himself to try to earn Eddieās love.
Steve missed his polos.
He missed his light wash jeans, his music, watching his favorite movies, he even missed his stupid plaid walls.
Eddie had laughed at them the first time heād been in Steveās room, back before theyād even started dating. Technically they were still there, they were just covered up with posters of bands Steve only knew about because his boyfriend liked them. Eddie had teasingly gifted him a Black Sabbath one back when they had just been friends to give his room more āpersonalityā instead of his mostly undecorated room, whichā¦okay, fair, because Steve had admittedly not done much of it himself just because he couldnāt be bothered.
(And he did, actually, kind of like the poster because it was their own little inside joke. It made him smile when he saw it, even to this day, even if he thought he could still taste the damned demobat sometimes.)
It wasnāt like he really knew much of who he was to begin with. He still had the bowling pin he and Tommy had stolen from the bowling lane their sophomore year (Steveās idea, though only to impress his friend), and the picture of the car he had bought on a whim because Tommy had said he wanted a car just like it. Any other knickknack had either been gifted or purchased for a similar intent.
Now, that car picture was collecting dust in his closet, replaced by the Black Sabbath poster that Eddie had pinned to the wall slightly askew for āaesthetics,ā though it being slightly off-center and at an angle made Steve a little itchy. Soon, however, other posters soon followed, some given to him by Eddie and some he purchased himself after learning what bands Eddie liked, with a large Dio one taking up space by his bed.
Flyers of Corroded Coffin shows or other band merch dotted around the room as well, which he didnāt really mind because he liked supporting his boyfriend, though the clutter and disorganization slightly bothered him. Eddie had grinned at the sight however and called him a āreal boy nowā for looking like the room of a young man and not a ā30-something corporate stooge,ā so that would have to be fine too.
But he still missed his room looking like his room, instead of a replica of Eddieās. It made Eddie feel more comfortable however, so he tried not to think about how it wasnāt his aesthetic at all, because he could learn to like it. He could change for the better. He could be what Eddie wanted. He could be good enough.
Which was why he was confused, staring at the garment box on the kitchen table where heād been circling car ads in the classifieds, trying to find something cooler than his bimmer. Eddie had come over with a wide grin, sliding a box he recognized from one of the department stores he used to shop at before dating Eddie.
Eddie had proffered it with a flourish, grinning expectantly, practically vibrating with anticipation as Steve had carefully lifted the lid and moved the tissue paper aside to reveal the piece of clothing inside. A polo shirt in a soft, buttery sort of yellow with thick vertical white stripes running vertical over it.
Steve looked up at Eddie with a furrowed brow. āIā¦you got me a polo?ā he questioned, confused and also concerned, knowing the department store was definitely outside of Eddieās usual price range.
āYeah!ā Eddie confirmed happily, moving to sit in the chair next to Steve, looking down at the soft material Steve had yet to pull from the box. āThe check from the gig came through, and I remember you looking at this shirt a couple weeks ago. Iāve been waiting to be buy it ever since.ā
Steve blinked at that. He hadnāt known Eddie had caught him admiring the shirt in the window while he and Eddie had been walking around downtown. He felt a flair of panic at the thought, annoyed at himself for slipping up, for reminding Eddie that he was a stupid preppy rich kid. Eddie didnāt look upset though, or at leastā¦he hadnāt. Now his eyes were darting over Steveās expression with growing worry, chewing on his lower lip.
āIs thatā¦is that all right? Was it a different one you wanted? I-I still have the receipt, we can return it and get the one you wanted,ā Eddie rushed to say.
āNo,ā Steve quickly said, his fingers of one hand tightening slightly on the box while his other reached out of their own accord to slightly touch the shirt within. āIā¦Eddie,ā he breathed, not knowing what else to say, what this meant. Why would Eddie buy him something like this? āYou shouldnāt waste your hard earned money onā¦something like this.ā Shouldnāt waste your money on me, he wanted to say. āItās your first paying gig.ā
Eddie shook his head quickly, an almost embarrassed smile curling his lips with a slight blush. āI wanted to, Stevie. You always buy me things, I wanted to return the favor. Youāve been so supportive of me and I wanted toā¦I donāt know. Thank you.ā He glanced down at the polo with a soft expression, though he did frown a little too afterwards. āI havenāt seen you wear your polos in a really long time,ā he murmured quietly.
Steve tensed at Eddieās words. Of course he hadnāt. Polos werenāt cool. Polos werenāt good enough for Eddie. It was why he was so confused at this gift. He didnāt understand why Eddie would buy him something that wasnāt metal. That wasnāt suitable for his boyfriend.
āI know that youāre experimenting with your style and all, and I wonāt deny youāre hot as fuck in these,ā Eddie grinned, moving to pinch the loose sleeve of Steveās tee between his fingers. It was from some band he didnāt actually know before heād bought the shirt, something called Leatherwolf, though he had bought their tape as well so that he could pretend to be a fan and know some of their songs. āBut you look hot in your polos too. I miss them.ā
Steve sat up straighter at that, his eyebrows flying up in surprise. Eddieā¦liked his polos? āArenāt the polosā¦kind of lame?ā he asked carefully.
Eddie snorted, smiling as he leaned in to press a kiss to Steveās neck, causing a startled smile to erupt over Steveās own lips as he squirmed at the slight tickle of Eddieās lips and hair. āThereās nothing lame about you, sweetheart,ā Eddie murmured, voice roughened with his tease. He pulled back though, a touch of his worry on his expression again. āDo you like it?ā
Of course Steve liked it. He loved it. It was exactly the one he had been looking at before, even though heād tried to hide it, which meant that Eddie really had noticed it and really had been waiting to buy it for him. With his first paycheck from Corroded Coffinās first real paying gig.
There had been the fear that Eddieās involvement with the band would limit their options, that no one would want to listen to a band that had a member who was suspected of grisly murders. Eddie had been prepared to step down, to let the others move on without him, had offered it even though Jeff and the others had vehemently opposed the idea. Theyād said that Corroded Coffin wouldnāt exist without Eddie and if he wasnāt part of it then they didnāt want to do it anymore.
In a surprise twist that probably shouldnāt have been all that surprising, Eddieās infamy had actually helped the band. The news of his believed guilt and then later innocence and injury from the actual killer that he had tried to stop had spread even beyond Hawkins, drawing a crowd for their nights performing at The Hideout who began to see more patrons than ever before.
Then theyād been invited to participate in a Battle of the Bands, which they hadnāt won but theyād placed second, and the random shows theyād throw themselves at the quarry or wherever else saw larger crowds than usual, even the one they threw to celebrate Gareth graduating, and theyād even been asked to play at the fair, though it was a free gig.
Then, most recently, someone had approached them after one of their shows and asked to hire them for an event in Indianapolis. A paying event in Indianapolis. With it was the promise of possible future paying gigs as their fanbase grew and spread. There was even talk of a possible scout being at the gig.
Dustin had joked that maybe ā86 hadnāt been his year, but ā88 could be, though Eddie had just grinned and denied it, saying that ā86 had been his year after all. He hadnāt said why, but he gave Steve a secretive smile and reached out to tangle their fingers together.
Steve felt a flare of warmth beneath his skin as he stared down at the polo again, hesitating before giving a brief nod. Eddieās previously nervous smile bloomed into a joyous one, and he leaned in quickly to plant a smacking kiss to Steveās cheek. Steve rolled his eyes but couldnāt prevent his own smile from growing on his lips.
āThank you, baby,ā Steve murmured, sliding a hand over Eddieās neck to draw him in for a slow kiss. He didnāt know what it meant still, Eddie buying him a polo of all things, but it made him more determined than ever to be good enough for his boyfriend.
When they pulled back, Eddie soft with happiness, Steve made the decision. He needed to go all in if he was to keep Eddie happy. He drew in a deep breath and moved to take Eddieās hand, his finger lightly tracing one of the scars there.
āI was thinking of growing out my hair. Maybe even dying it. Or maybe shaving iāā
āDonāt you dare!ā Eddie interrupted, expression and tone absolutely scandalized as he squeezed Steveās hand. Steve jumped slightly at the sudden explosion, blinking wide eyes at Eddie, causing the other to flush slightly in embarrassment. āI mean. You can, obviously, if you really want to, itās your hair after all, butā¦ā Eddie let out a small whine of protest as his gaze moved up to take in Steveās hair.
Steve self-consciously reached up with his free hand to pass his fingers through his hair, which wasnāt quite as voluminous as he used to style it, but was still the last real testament of his former style. His former personality. The bullshit one.
āI mean,ā Steve hedged, glancing away with a small roll of a shoulder in an aborted shrug. āItās not exactly metal is it?ā He looked back at Eddie with a slightly strained smile, rolling his eyes as though in commiseration. āI donāt want to embarrass you by making people think you have a prep for a boyfriend,ā he laughed.
Eddieās expression changed immediately as he stilled almost unnaturally, falling into a blank neutrality, even his eyes shuttering as he slowly pulled his hand from Steveās grip. The response caused Steve to start panicking, worrying heād messed up in some way, that he reminded Eddie of all the ways that he was lacking.
Steve opened his mouth to start apologizing, ready to apologize for anything, but Eddie held up his hand palm out to stop him, causing Steveās mouth to shut with a soft click of teeth.
Eddieās gaze dropped from Steve as his brows slowly began to furrow, a calculating expression settling over him as his eyes fell to the soft yellow polo still in the box. His lips twisted into a frown. After several excruciating moments, his eyes moved towards Steveās shirt, an even more pinched look settling over his expression.
āWho are you wearing?ā Eddie asked, his voice low and slow.
Steve glanced down at his shirt, the panic in him spiking, before realizing that this was a test. He had to prove to Eddie that he could like metal too (he didnāt, not really, though he could appreciate some of it) and wouldnāt be an embarrassment. He could do this.
āLeatherwolf,ā he answered, thankful that he had done his job well enough to answer this pop quiz. He straightened his spine and pulled up the information he memorized with a slightly relieved smile. He could do this. āTheyāre from California. They were founded in, um, 1981.ā
āWhatās your favorite song of theirs?ā Eddie asked, and there was something slightly off in his tone, but Steve couldnāt place it, not when he was frantically trying to recall the titles of the songs heād made himself remember.
āUm. Cry Out?ā he hesitantly asked more than answered, which caused Eddieās lips to press into a thin line. He felt his breath catch at the obvious displeasure on Eddieās face, wondering if heād answered wrong. Was that a bad song? āO-or no, um, not that one. Uh. I likeā¦um. I likeā¦Magic Eye?ā Fuck no, that wasnāt right. āMagical Eyes, I mean,ā he corrected himself hastily.
Eddieās eyes slowly dragged over Steve, his lips compressing again into a thin line as he drew in his own deep breath through flared nostrils. āFuck,ā he muttered, obviously not meant for Steve but it caused Steve to panic anyways as Eddie looked away, his brow furrowing in thought as his gaze settled on the newspaper on the table and the circled ads there.
āIām sorry,ā he quickly apologized, though he wasnāt certain what he had done wrong this time. Maybe Eddie didnāt like that band?
āSteveā¦ā Eddie heaved a heavy sigh, rubbing his hand over his face before he looked over at Steve again. āI had thought you were justā¦trying things out. Experimenting. Lord knows your folks never let you be your own person,ā he muttered before waving a hand as though to swat that thought away. āI didnāt realize you were actually trying to change.ā
Why did Eddie sound so appalled by that? Wasnāt that a good thing? He was willing to fundamentally change who he was just for Eddie, to become someone deserving of Eddie, who fit in Eddieās life. Didnāt Eddie want Steve in his life?
āWhy are you upset about me changing?ā Steve huffed, his worry turning into annoyance in his tone. āI thought that was a good thing. Not being the douchebag I used to be.ā He scowled, crossing his arms with a roll of his eyes to cover his unease.
Eddie just looked at him in that way that made it seem like he was seeing inside Steve, which normally Steve liked because no one ever actually saw him, but now it just made him uncomfortable. Like he had done something wrong. He was just trying to be a good boyfriend, however. Besides, itās not like he had come up with the plan on his own.
Everyone always talked about how different he and Eddie were. Always pointed out how preppy he was, made fun of Eddie for falling for a jock, had even asked at the start when they first came out publicly to their friends who was blackmailing whom into the relationship. Steve knew he had to change. They were too fundamentally different. It was the only way to keep Eddie.
Except Eddie didnāt look like he was going to be kept. He had started slowly shaking his head, pulling back, his eyes skittering over Steve again but in a way that said he wasnāt liking what he was saying. Steveās panic spiked again.
āEddie. This is good. Iām willing to change for you, thatās how much I love you,ā Steve breathed, reaching out to grab Eddieās hand with desperation. āI listen to your music now, and I play Dungeons and Dragons, and I donāt even talk about basketball around you anymore. As long as youāre happy, Iām happy. Donāt you see? Isnāt that all that matters?ā
Eddieās lips turned down into a sharp frown. A shuddering breath left him before he all but yanked his hand from Steveās, his dark eyes turning even darker as he pulled away from Steve and said those damning words:
āBut Iām not happy, Steve.ā
Steve felt all the air leave his lungs, felt all the blood first rush to his head and then drain out of him, felt his mouth and tongue and throat shrivel into dryness as his eyes widened in horror. Eddie was shaking his head, stumbling out of his chair and back, an unreadable expression on his face as he distanced himself from Steve and this revelation.
āThis wasnāt what I wanted, Steve. This doesnāt make me happy.ā Eddieās took another step back when Steve stumbled from his own chair, putting the table between them. āIā¦I need to go. I need to think.ā
Steve knew with certainty that if he let Eddie leave now, that this thing between them would never be the same. His heart clenched in his chest painfully, and he felt his eyes sting with encroaching tears. āEddie, pleaseā¦ā he begged, his words cracking.
Eddie only shook his head, sending his hair arcing around him, before straightening his spine. āThis isnāt you. I donāt want this to be you. I love you Steve, but this version of you? The one that I createdāā This time it was Eddieās voice that cracked.
Clearing his throat, Eddie backed away. āNo. No, this isnāt what I wanted. Iām sorry, Steve, but I need to go. I need to think. I canāt be here right now. Iām sorry.ā
And with that, Eddie spun on his heels and all but ran towards the door, escaping from Steveās incompetence, his unworthiness, his undesirability while Steve could only stand there in frozen horror, the tears he couldnāt hold back any longer slowly dripping down his cheeks.
Because he knew. He knew this would happen. He knew that no matter what he did, he would never be good enough. He knew that Eddie would leave him one day. Knew that he would never be able to keep the one he loved.
Knew that he, like his love, would always be complete and utter bullshit.
