Chapter Text
The next couple of months went by in a blur.
Eddie had more friends than he ever thought he would have, even if the majority of them are children. He also had the most trouble sleeping than ever. Turned out fighting a bunch of monsters made it a little difficult to turn off the light at night.
He and Harrington had also been spending more and more time together. They drove each other to school, Harrington brought him food while he's at work, and he even hosted D&D for the kids. Another byproduct of fighting monsters, he supposed.
There's been more and more nights of Steve asking Eddie to stay after them. They don't like, do anything. Usually, they get really fucking drunk and/or high and pass out in the living room. Apparently just knowing that there's another person in the room is enough for the nightmares to subside. Mostly.
Eddie knew that there would always be nights where the shadows move just a little too much and just a little too familiar for them to completely go away.
Anyway, the months. Gone like the snap of his fingers.
School is... hell like always. Though, he and Steve hung out more than before. Of course, Gareth is pissed. For a hot minute, it seemed like he was doing better with the fact that they're friends, but then Eddie invited the jock to sit with them at lunch, and it's all glaring daggers and the silent treatment (again).
Originally, Eddie wasn't going to. He was going to "obey the code" and keep Harrington away from his other friends. But then Barbara Holland's funeral came and... Eddie couldn't just leave him. Eddie drove him to the funeral, and he was so... He was trying to be "strong for Nancy" or whatever, but the mechanic could see the tears threatening to spill. Maybe he should've comforted him more instead of just in the car when the dam finally broke. Instead, he just stayed behind everyone else, waiting for it to be over. Her parents had already been through enough, he doubted they would want Eddie "The Freak" Munson there too.
So, now he sat with them, and the rest of Hellfire could suck Eddie's dick. Steve was there to stay whether they liked it or not.
Time moves on and so will Gareth's resentment, especially when he realizes how great of a person Steve actually was. Eddie could only hope he can look past the loving looks that the metalhead gives the jock. If he ever did notice, Eddie was fucked. Like, royally fucked. Gareth would never let him live it down. He barely did now.
He's trying to look past all of the feelings that fill him. The need to constantly be in Harrington's space. The want to make him smile and laugh as much as he can. The way he felt watching Steve with the kids. He loved the way that the man was caring and loving towards them, no matter how much he called them little shits. He loved the proud look he'll give them when they kill a creature in Eddie's campaign or even the way he watched Eddie during those nights. He loved the way his nose crinkled when he laughed and the way his hazel eyes shimmered when he rolled them at Eddie's antics.
He... he loved him.
There may have been a lot of surprises these couple of months, hell just in the past year. So many things that Eddie thought was true wasn't, but that wasn't to say there was any hope for his hopeless crush. He could deal with monsters being real and another dimension underneath his feet, but he'd be damned if he didn't draw the line at Harrington being into guys. And that's ignoring him being into Eddie.
That just wasn't possible.
Will never happen.
And Eddie's ok with it.
He was more than fine being friends with the man. Best-friends even. It's a wonderful life to live. So what if he imagined waking up to him in their shared bed in their shared house? Who cared if he wanted to drive the kids to school together, then ditch and find a nice clearing in the woods for a picnic? None of it matters anyway.
Steve Harrington was not into Eddie Munson.
It's just a fact.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
"No, that doesn't look right, either!"
Eddie groaned and flopped backwards on the boy's bed. He rubbed his face, taking a breath. They had been at this for too long. At this point, they won't even make it to the dance!
"Look, Henderson," Eddie sat up with a grunt. "It is already half past five and you still need to do your hair. So either pick an outfit or Harrington and I are leaving you behind."
"I can't just pick!" He wined. "This is the last snowball before high school! It needs to be perfect!"
The older man sighed, not for the first time that night, and rubbed his face with a ringed hand once again. He regretted going back into babysitting.
"Alright, who is it?"
"What?"
"Who is it? The one you wish to woo?"
"Ew, who says 'woo' anymore?"
Eddie rolled his eyes. He leaned his elbows on his knees, looking the young boy in the eyes.
"Listen to me, middle school sucks. High school? Also sucks. Most of the teachers are full of bullshit teaching you bullshit. The other kids there are mean and full of shit. There's no getting around it."
"Is this supposed to be a pep-talk?"
"Shut up and listen. The world is too full of shit to be getting all worked up about having a "perfect" night and dancing with the "perfect" girl. You'll meet her when the time is right, ok? For now, all you need to worry about in that little skull of yours," Eddie poked the kid's head for emphasis. He laughs and swats it away. "Is to have fun. No monsters. No drama. Fun. Got it?"
A moment of silence passed as the kid thought over his words. He was taking too long to respond for Eddie's taste. So, like any other adult would, he grabbed the kid in a choke-hold, noogie-ing his mop of curls. The kid yelled and scrambled to try and free himself.
"I asked if you got it!"
"Yeah, yeah, I got it!" He screeched. "Now let me go, you heathen."
Eddie's laugh filled the air as he loosened his grip, letting the kid go. After another moment, the kid looked at him with a poorly hidden smirk.
"What?"
"Nothing..."
"You already failed deception, kid. Out with it."
Now, the smirk took over his face. It took him another moment before speaking.
"Who do you like?"
Eddie's eyes grew wide as he attempted to stutter out a response. Except he couldn't think of one. Instead, (like the traitor that it is) his brain only supplied him with images of brunette shining in the golden sun and a soft smile watching Eddie as he talked and talked. All it did was show him none other than Steve Harrington.
"That's what I thought." The little twerp crossed his arms. "People don't say stuff like that unless they've experienced it."
"I-I don't like anyone-"
"Oh my god! You love her?" He yelled, jumping in place like a kid who won a trophy. Only the "trophy" was Eddie's embarrassment.
"Would you keep your voice down? And no, I don't- I mean, I- this is stupid!" He threw his arms up in the air, giving up.
Why did he only roll 1s when Harrington was involved? Why was he even a DM if he couldn't even lie to a nine-year-old?
"Oh my god, you do! What's her name? What's she like? Does she like you back? You should ask her out!" He flopped onto the bed next to Eddie, shooting questions left and right.
The mechanic only pinched the bridge of his nose as the kid continued to spout out questions. He wanted a deity, any deity, to smite him right here. Just anything that allowed him not to answer the interrogator's questions.
"Answer me!" Dustin begged, deflating when Eddie shook his head.
"No can do, kid."
"Why not?"
"'s none of your business."
A moment of blissful silence passed.
"So you admit that there is someone, right?"
"If I say yes, will you finish getting ready?"
His curls bounced as he enthusiastically nodded his head.
"Yes," He sighed.
"Yes whaaat?" He dragged out the word, getting in Eddie's face. He pushed the kids face away as he answered with an eyeroll.
"Yes, I... like someone."
Dustin's toothy grin didn't disappear for a long while. It stayed when Eddie helped him with the over-top hairstyle he wanted. Then, it only grew when they left his room, encountering his mother and her camera.
"Well?" She asked after taking a thousand pictures of her son.
The silence that followed made Eddie look up from the ring he had been fidgeting with. Dustin looked at him with a blinding smile while his mother had an expecting look on her face.
"What-" He barely got the word out before she's talking again.
"Get in there with Dusty!"
"O-oh, I don't-"
"Don't be ridiculous." She said, grabbing Eddie's arm and leading him to be next to Dustin. "You helped him get ready and all handsome. You get to be in a couple of pictures!"
"Ok, sure."
Eddie felt like he was taking school pictures before he embraced the Freak title. He felt stiff and awkward while Dustin was relaxed and absolutely beaming.
He lost count of how many pictures were taken before a knock at the door interrupted their photoshoot. He swore that Mrs. Henderson alone keeps the camera film industry afloat. If she stopped taking pictures, who knows what kind of market crash would occur?
"Well, that must be our ride. We should get going." Eddie quickly said, desperate to get out of the loving, suffocating residence that was the Henderson house.
"Of course, of course!" She responded, opening the door to reveal Steve Harrington.
The jock quickly turned on the infamous Harrington charm, shooting her an angelic smile and a hug. He was in a simple red sweater that looked as soft as his hair. Not to say that Eddie's ever actually touched his hair; he didn't know how soft it really was. But god did it look soft, like, all the time. Honestly, Eddie didn't know how he did it; especially with knowing the hair secret. That much hairspray can't be good for your hair, right?
"Mrs. Henderson, you look lovely, how are you?"
"I'm wonderful; and don't you just look as handsome as ever." Eddie had to hold back laughter as the woman pinched Harrington's cheeks. "And thank you again for taking Dusty to the dance; he has been talking about it tonight nonstop!"
Steve laughed along as the mother went on, gushing about her son. It was sweet how much she cared for him, if not a little suffocating. The kid's home life was a lot more similar to Eddie's than he thought.
Obviously, the over-bearing mother contrasted his rigged uncle, but the flocking and sticking close to those like him. Smiling a toothy smile through all of the insults and name-calling thrown at him. It reminded Eddie a lot of the overzealous kid he was. Kinda still is.
"Mooom!" The mop complained, pulling Eddie's hand towards Harrington and the door. "We gotta go! I don't wanna be late!"
"Of course, of course."
For once, Eddie thought they were going to be able to finally make it out of the house, but one should never assume. Mrs. Henderson had to grab her son, covering him in kisses. The mechanic would've laughed at the small boy if his mother hadn't decided that Eddie was also devoid of affection. He pressed his lips together into a thin line, like when he has to be polite to a particular brand of old lady who starts demanding that something was wrong with her car when Eddie has already checked it like five fucking times and "she swears that she hears a noise, can't you hear that?" When it's literally just how the engine sounds and he's gotten a bit off track, hasn't he?
He felt his body being tugged away as Dustin complained once more; until, finally, they were outside.
When Eddie opened his eyes, Dustin had a hand on Harrington and was dragging them both to the beautiful, maroon car. The metalhead pushed the boy towards the back door when he reached for the passenger's.
"Ah, ah, ah, not so fast. Passenger privileges are only for the elite."
"That's not fair! You always get it!"
"That is because, young patawan, I am simply elite."
The boy huffed and begrudgingly climbed into the car. Eddie looked above the car and at Harrington. He gave him a "what's with the attitude on this kid?" look, but Harrington just shrugged in response and climbed into the running car. The metalhead rolled his eyes, but joined them nonetheless.
To the Snowball he supposed.
God, that's a terrible name.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
They finally pulled up to the Hawkins Middle entrance. Harrington put it in park before turning himself around to look at the man of the hour.
"Alright buddy, so, remember, when you get in there..." He trailed off, but Henderson was quick to finish the sentence.
"Pretend that I don't care."
"Woah, woah, woah." Eddie waved his arms around, also turning his body to face the two. "Are you, Steve Harrington, giving relationship advice?"
"Wha- yeah, yes I am. What's so surprising about that?"
"I just think you're going about it the wrong way."
"Right, like you would know."
Eddie put a hand to his heart like he'd been wounded and scoffed.
"I'd have you know that I have plenty of experience." The metalhead tried to not feel offended when the jock raised an eyebrow. "Some of it may be in the form of roleplay, but that is flirting nonetheless!"
"Sure it is, man."
"It is, thank you very much!"
"Guys, guys!" Henderson butted in, shoving himself between the seats. "Can we please focus on me right now? I don't care who it's from, just give me advice!"
Harrington gave Eddie a look like he's giving him the floor. The man cleared his throat and gave the boy his full attention.
"The best thing you can do when you like anyone is to ignore Harrington and all of his 'act like you don't care' bullshit. All you gotta do is be yourself, man." The boy groaned, but Eddie was quick to shush him. "Shut up for a second, would you? I know it's all cheesy and stuff, but it's true. man! If you're just yourself, then you're golden."
While Dustin gave him a skeptical look, Eddie's eyes couldn't help but land on Steve. Despite how corny and cheesy and so cliche it was, his eyes stared at the handsome man while words left his mouth.
"No, you aren't just yourself; you're the best version of yourself. They drive you so crazy that you want to be the best version of yourself, solely because you'll do anything for them. Who knows, maybe you'll surprise yourself."
If he's being completely honest, Eddie sort of forgot that he was supposed to be giving Dustin advice. Could you blame him? How could he focus on anything except how Steve Fucking Harrington was looking at him? His forehead had creased as his eyebrows furrowed, just for a second. The corner of his mouth quirked up as his hazel eyes softened. Between the moonlight and the school lights, it was impossible not to stare at the jock. The only way to describe him was angelic. There truly were no other words to describe this wonder of a man.
"Ooooh!" Dustin exclaimed, causing both men to jump and stare in confusion.
Heat filled Eddie's face as the kid pointed between the two with a string of words in between.
"You and- she's not a gi- I mean obviously he's not-"
"Ok, that's enough!"
The shithead quickly shut up with a grin while Steve stared at him with furrowed eyebrows. Eddie tried to will his face into cooling down. This kid really didn't know when to shut the fuck up. The "satanist" fixed Dustin with his best death glare, but much to his disdain, the child remained unaffected. He just grinned at Eddie, his eyes occasionally glancing at the driver. Very obvious glancing, might he add.
"Am I missing something?" Harrington asked, quickly getting two very different answers.
"No!"
"Yes!"
Eddie's glare deepened. Dustin's smirk grew.
"Right..." The jock shook his head, dismissing the strange situation (and ignoring Eddie threatening Dustin with a thumb across his throat). "Anyways, you look great, kid. So, you're gonna go in there-"
"Yeah," The boy agreed, seeming to forget the previous conversation.
"-look like a million bucks-"
"Yeah!"
"And you're gonna slay 'em dead, got it?"
"Like a lion." He nodded along.
"Sure."
Then, Dustin made a sound that Eddie never expected to come out of the boy. He purred through his teeth like the pre-mentioned lion. Except much smaller, and much less murderous.
"Right, don't do that."
"Don't wanna kill 'em too much, Henderson."
They said at the same time, and the two men shared a look. The boy nodded along nonetheless. Steve offered his hand, to which Dustin grabbed in this dude-bro sort of way.
"Good luck." Harrington wished him, receiving a nod in return.
"You're gonna kill it, kid!" Eddie cheered, reaching back to ruffle the boy's curls. Unfortunately, he was too fast in dodging. Though, not without a screech or two.
"Don't ruin it! Do you have any idea how long it took me to get this volume?"
"Oh trust me, I remember."
With that, he said his farewells and left the car, taking a breath before entering the school. The two men watched him for a moment, just to make sure he got in ok. He was going to be fine, right?
"Oh god, what if they bully him? What if his hair is too big or his outfit is too fancy and they all tear into him like a pack of lions on a gazelle? We sent 'im in too early, didn't we? Is this motherly panic? Is that what's happening?" Munson looked between the glass doors and Harrington as he spiraled further and further down.
Harrington laughed, putting his hand on Eddie's shoulder.
"Relax man, he's gonna be fine. It's not like it's his first time in middle school." He nodded towards the school. "Besides, he's with the rest of the kids. And Nance is there."
Eddie's eyes landed on the brunette. She was right past the doors, serving punch to little snobs. The sight of her makes his mind go back to just a few months ago.
He was in this very spot, giving relationship advice once again. Except, back then, it was to none other than Steve Harrington himself.
"Hey, wanna grab some dinner?"
"You know what they say, Stevie. Never go to a second location." Eddie responded very matter-of-factly.
"Shut up man," He chuckled, rolling his eyes. "You hungry or not?"
"Well..." The mechanic made a show of thinking. "I suppose I could ignore everything my uncle has ever taught and accept some food at a secondary location with a strange man."
"I thought we were friends, Eds. I'm a stranger now?"
"The strangest." He responded with a grin, trying to ignore the warmth he feels when he hears the nickname.
And so, they drive. It didn't take Eddie too long to realize where they were headed. The streets of town were filled with people. Well, not filled, but filled for a small town like Hawkins. There weren't a lot of restaurants around, but the ones that were around were the best. That's one thing that he'd miss if Eddie ever skipped town.
If?
When did it turn into an if? Was it when he fought monsters in a world underneath their own? Some would think that it'd cause him to want to leave. Or was it when he learned more about the kids? Each and every one of them differs from the other so much, but they still fit together like the perfect puzzle.
Maybe it was further back.
Maybe it all changed a year ago when a beautiful car had a little problem.
Steve Harrington changed everything.
The bell above the doorway rings as they step into the diner. The very same one that Steve had taken him to all those months ago. It almost felt like yesterday. It also felt like a lifetime ago.
They sat down at the same booth, across from each other. A waitress, Delores her name was, came asking for their drinks.
"Chocolate shake." Eddie replied with a grin.
"Vanilla, please."
With their orders taken, the waitress let them be, going to the table over from them. Eddie leaned his chin in his hand, staring at Harrington.
He just can't figure him out sometimes.
They've been out together plenty of times by now, but they haven't been here since Steve first came in. Part of Eddie couldn't help but wonder why now. Another part of him wished and hoped that it was for the same reason that Eddie would've done something like this.
Going back to their first date (it wasn't a date) after months of the kids nagging them to go to the arcade or for Eddie to run a quick adventure for them. After months of sleeping with an eye open in case a shadow moves when it shouldn't have. It was nice to have a night to themselves. And what better night than the infamous Snowball?
What could Eddie say? He's a romantic at heart.
"What?" Harrington's caramel voice breaks him free of his thoughts.
"Hm?"
"You're staring."
"You're-" Eddie stopped himself, clearing his throat. Get your head in the game, Munson! You can't just go around saying that your friends are nice to stare at! "It's nothing."
"Well, now you have to tell me." Steve leaned on the table with crossed arms.
Another moment passed as Eddie pondered the words, trying to come up with some excuse for his lack of blinking. So, he came up with a thought that has plagued his mind more than once.
"I was just thinking-"
"That's dangerous."
"-do you ever think about what would've happened if we never met?"
Steve's grin turned somber as the question filled his mind.
"I think... I think I'd probably still be an ass." Eddie scoffed with a small smile, shaking his head. "I'm serious, man! I wouldn't be who I am right now if I hadn't met you. I think... You helped give me the bump I needed."
"The bump you needed?" Eddie raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah, man."
A few seconds of silence went by. Eddie's expression remained unchanged, so the jock expanded.
"Look, I- this is kind of stupid, but when I was a baby and first learning how to crawl, I started crawling backwards. Just, beep, beep, beep." He motioned with his hands how his toddler self supposedly transported himself. "Until I finally reversed myself down the stairs."
"Yeesh."
"Yeah. It gave me a big 'ol thump on the head."
"Explains a bit." Eddie mumbled with a grin.
The grin soon vanished as Harrington's serious tone filled their booth.
"Actually, yeah, I think it does. I'm just- I'm like a fucking idiot, but also super confident. Just right out the gate. It's a crazy combination. Brutal even. Though a little part of me always thought that if I got another thump, one that was big enough, I don't know. I thought I could change, ya know? Move forward."
Eddie's brows furrowed in confusion.
What was he on about? What did this have anything to do with Eddie? It's not like he could've stopped baby Steve from falling down the stairs or anything. The jock had this look in his eye, one that Eddie couldn't decipher for the life of him.
"Until I met you."
Eddie's heart skipped a beat.
Or two.
Or three.
Or- actually, he might as well be having a heart attack.
"Well, you- you at least helped. Think Nance really got me going in the right direction on Halloween, but... I don't think she could've done it alone." He shook his head, waving away his last comment before looking directly into Eddie's doe eyes. "What I'm trying to say in a weird, stupid roundabout way is: thank you."
Thank him?
"For...?"
"For fixing my car? For being there next to me; helping me crawl forward."
"Steve, I-"
Unfortunately, Eddie wasn't able to respond for the waitress came back with their shakes. She set them down slowly (was she slow or was Eddie's brain too fast). Eddie sat as stiff as a pencil, fiddling with a ring on his finger as he waited. His brown eyes avoided Steve's as he thanked the girl and gave her his order.
What was he going to say? What would anyone say to something like that?
Helping me crawl forward.
Christ, Harrington, you don't just drop a bomb like that on someone and turn on the charm like nothing happened! How the hell is Eddie's poor and very, very gay heart supposed to deal with something like that? Not like a normal person, he can tell you that! Fuck, this is straight out of a fucking rom-com or something. It's like the one genre he doesn't watch! This entire situation is way outside his pay-grade and he really needs some time to think and-
"Eddie?"
"Wha- yeah?" He blinked up at Steve, suddenly being pulled back to the present.
"Your order?" The jock jerked his head towards the waitress.
How the hell is he acting so normal?
"Oh, um I-" He took a quick glance at the menu before shaking his head and looking up with a (hopefully) relaxed grin. He gets the same thing every time anyway. "A full stack of chocolate chip pancakes with extra whipped cream and chocolate syrup, please."
"You've got it!"
And with that, the waitress left. The metalhead looked back to see Harrington shaking his head fondly.
"Your teeth are gonna fall out one of these days, I swear."
"I'm sorry that I like some flavor with my pancakes."
"Flavor? Are you talking about literally drowning your pancakes in straight sugar? You're calling that flavor?"
"Obviously."
Steve scoffed and shook his head. A fond smile took over his face as he sipped from his milkshake.
The conversation from before was forgotten as they talked about the kids and school and everything they could talk about. Eddie ranted and talked with his hands about the next session he had planned for Hellfire while Steve laughed and nodded along. The younger man talked about the possibility of getting a job over the summer; his hopes for getting into college were getting lower and lower as the school year continued.
They talked and talked until, eventually, they found themselves walking out the door of the diner. His body tensed as the cold wind blew straight through his denim vest and leather jacket. If he didn't look so good, he'd dress warmer.
"I'm telling you, I've said it more than three times." Eddie put his hands up in a mock surrender.
"And I'm telling you that you've only said it three times over the full year we've known each other." He counted on his fingers as he remembered the moments. "When we officially "met" each other, when Hargrove beat the shit out of me, and earlier tonight. That's it!"
"I think your old age is getting to ya, Stevie."
"You're literally older than me!"
Eddie shrugged his shoulders with a "don't know what to tell ya" look. Steve rolled his eyes, speeding up his pace to unlock the car. Though, instead of opening the driver's door, he opened the backseat's. Curiosity stopped Eddie, leaving him stuck on the sidewalk as he watched Harrington.
He pulled something out of the car, and before the metalhead knew it, he was back in his space. A weight was dropped onto his shoulders.
"You've really gotta dress warmer, ya know." The man wearing only a sweater tells the man wearing three four layers now. "You're gonna catch a cold.
"I-" He takes a closer look at the jacket.
It's a warm, green jacket with white sleeves. A giant "H" is on the front, outlined in white; the other side has a name neatly embroidered in white thread.
Steve
"Is this your fucking Letterman jacket?"
"Yeah."
The man responded as non-chalantly as someone possibly could be as he shrugged. Eddie pleaded that the pink on his cheeks were from the cold even though he knew it wasn't. A Letterman jacket is a big deal! It'd be like if he just handed Steve his battle vest and said "hear ya go! Cover on up so you don't catch a cold!" You can't just do that! Eddie might not know a lot about sports, but he knows that these things are important to jocks. Boyfriends give 'em to their girlfriends all the time in movies. It's a sign to everyone else that she's his and no one else's.
Is... Is Eddie Steve's?
"Why are you..."
"You looked cold. Besides, this way you don't forget my name. It's right there if you ever do." He pressed a finger against Eddie's chest, underlining the carefully embroidered name.
"I-I can't take this, Stevie."
"It's Steve. And why not?"
They were so close, Eddie could feel his warm breath on his skin.
"People are gonna talk. Might not be the best idea to get 'em talking."
Eddie could've sworn that Steve would be able to hear the pounding of his heart through his chest. Especially when his hazel eyes drop below Eddie's brown ones. His voice was just a whisper; so quiet that it was probably invisible to anyone who may be listening.
"Let 'em talk."
He glanced at Eddie's eyes before taking a step back, taking the mechanic's breath with him. Despite the warm blood filling his face, Eddie felt cold as the jock got in his car, waiting for his friend to join him.
Eddie took another breath, and did just that.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Neither of them seemed to want the night to end yet. Steve's solution to this was to go by the quarry and stargaze. Eddie tried to ignore how romantic the situation seemed; it just wasn't like that.
Sure, they were sitting on the hood of Steve's car with beers in hand; Eddie had his fucking Letterman jacket on; and they were staring at the stars littered across the sky with beautiful constellations and infinite patterns. But none of that meant that Steve saw it as romantic. It was just...two friends...stargazing...
Nothing romantic whatsoever.
Right?
"Do you think we'd ever become friends? If we didn't meet last year?" Steve's voice broke him out of his thoughts.
He looked over at the jock. The man's head was tilted back as the stars shimmered in his beautiful eyes. Seriously, it should be a crime to look this good from any angle.
"I'd hope so. Eventually."
Eddie knew it was a lie. He knew that they would've never been friends. They were too different after all. The King stayed with the nobles like him. Why would he ever stoop so low to pay attention to the peasants? He had the perfect friends. The perfect life. A life that didn't include a lonely bard.
He thought Steve would've needed a bigger thump than just Nancy.
"Do you think we would?" He asked.
"Maybe..." Steve's voice was quiet as he said the next part. "Maybe it would've been better if we didn't meet."
"Right." Eddie sat up straighter, the car groaning. He tried to ignore his heart cracking and breaking with the words.
"No, no, I don't mean it like that." He quickly assured. He looked at Eddie with worry in his eyes. "I just mean that, maybe it would have been better because you wouldn't have been caught up in the whole-" He waved his hand around to make a general motion. "-different dimension underneath Hawkins thing. You wouldn't have known that there were creatures underneath us or whatever. You wouldn't have to share the nightmares."
"I'm glad I do."
"Really?"
"Yup." Eddie popped the 'p'. He leaned back on his hands looking across the silent water. "Even if I could go back in time and make it so I never got the job at Josie's or so that I actually graduated on time, I wouldn't. Wouldn't change it for the world."
"Why not?" His voice was quiet.
"Easy. I met you."
The mechanic looked over at the other man when he stayed silent. He was surprised to find Steve staring at him with wide eyes and his mouth slightly open. Eddie ignored his heart skipping yet another beat.
"I uh..." Steve shifted in his spot, pulling something out of his front pocket. "I figured you might like this back."
Eddie sat up once again, brows creased as he took the cloth from Steve's hands. A soft scoff escaped his lips as he rubbed the familiar fabric between his fingers.
"I made sure to wash it, like, a bajillion times. Who the hell knows what kind of diseases were down there?"
Eddie jumped off the car, stuffing the black bandana back into his back pocket. Honestly, he thought the jock had just thrown it out or something. He couldn't help the fond smile on his.
He had kept it for months.
He stepped into Steve's space, in between his legs that were propped up on the bumper. The metalhead stared into the wondrous eyes of Steve Harrington.
"Thank you, Steve."
Eddie breathed out the words more than said them, too transfixed on how the moonlight bounced off of Steve. He felt like the moment lasted an eternity. Like he had all the time in the world to memorize every little detail of the man in front of him. So, he did just that.
He tried his best to burn the very image of Steve Harrington staring at him like he was the only thing that mattered into his corneas. He wanted to see this very image when he closed his eyes. Every single strand of hair out of place; every little fleck of green and gold that shined in his eyes; every little movement he made. Which, coincidentally, included Harrington's eyes flickering down to Eddie's lips. Something that definitely didn't happen and that Eddie's delusional brain definitely just made up again.
"You said my name." His voice was just as quiet.
"Told ya I say it."
"I like hearing you say it."
Eddie couldn't breathe. It was fucking impossible to with how Harrington was staring at him, waiting for... something. Eddie wasn't sure what, but he sure as hell didn't want this moment to end.
"Say it again." Steve finally said.
"What?"
"My name. Say it again."
Was he leaning forward? Was Eddie hallucinating? He's just gonna wake up and realize that he just got really drunk or high or something, right? None of this was real. It'd be impossible.
"It's right there on the jacket if you need help." Once again, he tapped the embroidered name. Except this time, he kept his hand there.
Another second passed.
Eddie couldn't keep his eyes from looking away from hazel and down to the jock's lips. There was a part of his brain telling him to stop what he was doing and back away and just run run run. Luckily for him, it was drowned out by the pounding of his heart.
He doesn't think he even really said it. He barely breathed the word. But, apparently, it was enough.
"Steve."
The jock inched forward, quickly stopping himself. His eyes finally met Eddie's as if asking for permission. All it took was a small nod from the mechanic before his whole world came to a screeching halt.
Because he was being kissed.
Steve Harrington was kissing him.
Every tensed bone in his body faded away when Steve closed the small distance. His lips were soft and tasted like beer with a hint of cherry. Maybe he did wear lip gloss, then.
Steve pulled away, breathing into the space between them. Hesitantly, Eddie opened his eyes. The man in front of him still had his eyes closed and holy shit he looked more beautiful than ever.
"Christ, they weren't kidding." Eddie said, still amazed that this was truly happening. Would it be too cheesy to ask Steve to pinch him?
"Who?"
"The uh..." Eddie groaned, plopping his head onto Steve's shoulder as embarrassment filled his face. His voice was muffled by the soft sweater. "The girls at school."
"The what?" Steve laughed, pushing Eddie up from his shoulders.
"I- christ this embarrassing. I would accidentally eavesdrop on girls who were talking about you the day after your date." He leaned his head up towards the night sky, hoping that it'd keep him from dying via mortification.
Why was this his life?
Steve's laughter filled the empty air, causing Eddie to look up. It bounced off the rocky walls of the Quarry until it found its way back to them. The mechanic became lost in how his nose crinkled and the corners of his eyes creased.
The laughter subsided, and he looked at Eddie, stars sparkling in his eyes. The jock's hand slid up from his name to cup Eddie's cheek.
"Did you really like me for so long?"
"Don't know if like is the word." The metalhead slapped a hand over his mouth as quickly as the words left it.
Is it actually impossible for him to shut the fuck up for five fucking minutes?
"What's the right word, then?" Steve's hands slipped around his waist, pulling him closer. His voice dropped, and Christ was he hot.
Eddie couldn't stand actually answering the question. So, instead he mumbled the word.
"What was that, sweetheart?"
That's it. His brain has officially short-circuited. Done. Dead. Never to be seen again.
"You ok, baby?" The motherfucker asked in a sweet voice, innocently cocking his head like he didn't know the effect pet names had on Eddie.
"Just shut up and don't look at me." Eddie pulled a lock of hair in front of his face.
He couldn't completely cover his face; Steve was way too pretty not to look at.
He looked like he had descended from the Heavens themselves, gracing the Earth with his angelic presence. He was handsome and charming and pretty and just lovely. He could say that he was a fucking god and Eddie would believe him. He would believe anything he said.
God, he loved this man so much.
The jock's chuckle pulled Eddie out of his thoughts. His eyebrows furrowed as he remembered where he was. Steve's eyes glowed in the beautiful moonlight.
"A god, huh?"
All of the color drained from Eddie's face.
"Please tell me I didn't say all of that out loud."
"Hate to disappoint, sweetheart."
"Oh god." Eddie leaned his forehead against Steve once again, his hands covering his face. "I can't believe I just said that. I'm the most embarrassing thing to ever exist."
Steve quickly stopped Eddie's words, lifting him up once again and replacing his calloused hands with soft lips
"No, no!" He said between kisses. "It's cute."
"Don't lie to me." The mechanic chuckled.
Eddie smiled as Steve closed the small gap between them in a quick kiss.
"I'm not lying. You're adorable, Eds."
"No, no. I'm big and scary, remember?"
"Sure, man." Steve chuckled, affection filling his wonderful eyes. "I love you too, by the way."
The older man froze.
Holy shit, there's no way that he had said that part out loud too, right? There's no possible way that he told Steve that he loved him after the first time they kissed. What the actual fuck is wrong with him?
He said it back, dumbass.
For once in his life, Eddie actually listened to the little Gareth voice at the back of the head because, for once, it was correct. Steve had said it back. And he had said it so casually and with such certainty. Like nothing felt more right.
It felt like a weight was lifted off his shoulders.
Steve Harrington loved him.
"I should've become a mechanic sooner."
Steve's beautiful laugh sounded like music as it filled the empty air.
"I should've gotten my head out of my ass sooner."
"Yeah, that probably would've helped, too."
They laughed together before Eddie rejoined Steve's side on his car. She groaned as they laid back with each other in their arms; their beers forgotten next to them.
"Thanks by the way." Eddie's soft voice filled the quiet air.
"What?" Steve took his chin off the mechanic's head to look at him.
"For helping me realize that... that I'm not the coward I swore I was? That I wasn't gonna end up like my old man."
Eddie looked up at the silent man. His hazel eyes stared at him in disbelief, making the mechanic roll his own.
"Oh what? You're allowed to get all sentimental and thank me and shit, but I can't do the same? That's a load of bull if you ask me, Harrington."
"I thought we went over this. It's Steve, Eds."
"Yeah, yeah, whatever, Steven."
"Excuse me, Edison?"
"Hey!"
They both laughed and Eddie couldn't help himself from marveling at the sight before him. Steve Harrington laughing in his arms. What a wonderful sight.
Ya know, if someone had told Eddie five years ago that he'd not only be wearing Steve "The Hair" Harrington's jacket, but cuddling with him on the hood of his car, he'd tell them they were on something. There was absolutely no way that someone like Eddie would be next to, nevermind dating, someone like Steve.
It just didn't happen. Wasn't his destiny or whatever. Peasants don't get to associate with royalty. At least that's what he had thought.
Who knew a loose little gas cap could change everything?
So, they sat. Together and under the stars. Kisses were exchanged under the protection of the night sky. Two boys that should have never met. Two boys that never thought they would have something so beautiful in their arms. Two boys who quietly swore to the stars that glittered across the sky that they would never let go.