Chapter Text
Chapter 2
“Why did I say Friday?!” Steve asked, completely flustered. The anxiety that had been steadily compounding with each passing minute had now caused his hands to shake.
“I should have said next week, or… or kept it open ended! I need more time.” He blindly put tapes back on the shelves while Robin followed him, fixing them as they fell, and flipping forward the backward titles.
“I think more time would only hurt you at this point.” Robin said concerned, as she picked up ‘Alice in Wonderland’ from the floor.
“I think the best course of action is to get it over with… quickly.” she said under her breath.
“Maybe, I should call and cancel.” He stopped adding Disney films to the horror display to turn and face Robin.
“Do you really want to do that?” Robin asked, while she removed Dumbo and Bambi from their places next to Poltergeist and Friday the 13th.
Steve sighed and slowly shook his head. Of course he didn’t want to. This date was all he had been thinking about for days. The problem was he had been thinking about it non-stop for days, and now he had psyched himself out enough that his stomach hurt all the time. He clutched the remaining VHS tape to his chest, his fingers turning white in their death grip. How does this terrify me more than a demagorgan? I really need to rethink my priorities.
“I can’t believe I’m the one telling you this, but you need to calm down.” She pulled the tape from his hands before he could crush the box further.
“Keep your date with… your Prince Charming.” She shook Cinderella at him, the plastic box only slightly cracked near the base.
“You’re going to the movies with Eddie. That’s it! You’ve gone to the movies with him a bunch of times! And it’ll be just like those times. I promise.” Robin reassured him.
“Besides it’s only your first date! What are you expecting? He has to fall in love with you by midnight or the spell is broken? The Evil Queen wins? The kingdom is lost forever?” Robin giggled. “Sorry, too many Disney movies.” Robin gestured with the stack of VHS tapes in her hands.
“You’re putting way to much pressure on yourself.” She shook her head at him.
“Yeah. Yeah ok. Sorry.” Steve let out a shaky breath. “I just…I just don’t want to mess this up, you know? And…I’m… kinda, out of my element here.” He said quietly and crossed his now empty arms over his chest.
“Well, I don’t know how I can help you with that one…” She said under her breath. “I am super jealous if that helps?” Robin smiled at him. “Are you excited?” She poked his arm.
Steve nodded. “Yeah.”
A smile crept over his face. He was excited he just wished this queasy feeling that accompanied it would stop.
He had asked out Eddie on Tuesday and what felt like a second later here he was, opening the video store Friday morning, mere hours from his ultimate demise. He watched the clock creep quicker then it ever had before towards 5. And before he knew it, Robin was pushing him out the door.
“Good luck! Call me after!” She said with a grin, as she closed the door behind him.
He went home, showered, and changed. For his date. With Eddie. Deep breaths. Deep Breaths.
-
Steve pulled up to the small ranch on the outskirts of town that the government had paid for to keep Eddie, and his Uncle, quiet. It was small but cozy, a month or two back Steve had started feeling more comfortable here then his own home. He’d stop by daily to check in, bring groceries, or shepard the kids around. He missed that, though he’d probably never admit it out loud.
He nervously knocked on the front door, and immediately heard shuffling inside.
The door opened and Wayne grinned at him.
“Steve! Long time no see!” He stuck out his hand for Steve to shake. Wayne genuinely looked happy to see him, which calmed him slightly.
“Hey Wayne.” Steve said as he was pulled in through the front door.
“Kid’s in back somewhere getting his jacket I think. If he can even find it in that disaster area!” Wayne yelled behind himself towards Eddie’s room.
“Eds’ said you two are going to the movies?” Wayne asked as he walked away towards the refrigerator.
“Uh, yeah. Yep.” Steve nodded his head.
“Whadya seein’? You guys grabbing food afterward? There’s leftovers in the fridge incase.” Wayne said as he grabbed a soda from the shelf. “Want one?” He gestured to the soda can.
“Uh, no. thanks!…and I’m… not sure…” Steve racked his head for what movies were even out. He hoped his brain was back in working order when he talked to Eddie.
“Enough with the 20 questions, Old Man.” Eddie walked up and slapped Wayne on the back. He smiled at Steve, causing his stomach to flip.
“I asked 4 questions, ya punk.” Wayne said defensively, making Eddie laugh.
“Teach him some manners would you, Steve?” Wayne asked, as Eddie pushed past him.
“Uh, yes, sir.” Steve said.
“Let’s go before he comes up with more questions.” Eddie made a cheesy face at Wayne and pulled Steve outside.
“Hey boys,” Wayne called from the kitchen. “If you two come back for a beer don’t drive, stay in the spare room, Steve. Ed’s you got your key?! I’m about to head to work.” Wayne looked at Eddie like this was a conversation they’d had before.
“I got it, I got it.” Eddie reassured him, as he pulled Steve away.
They hopped in Steve’s car and Eddie began his usual routine of fiddling with the radio. Steve took a deep breath, as he watched the very normal situation. Eddie was just being Eddie, and Steve’s stomach unclenched just a touch. A normal first date would be awkward and unsure, but he knew Eddie. He knew him pretty well actually, if anything this was more like a… tenth date. And suddenly he was nervous again.
“So…um. Does your Uncle…does Wayne know…about you… I mean, not that… I mean about… about this?” Steve asked, stumbling over his words, unsure exactly how to ask what he wanted to know.
Did Wayne know Eddie was gay? That they were on a date? Did it matter to Wayne? Did it matter to him? His brain was fumbling. For some reason he hadn’t been expecting to see Wayne, and now questions kept bombarding his thoughts. He liked Wayne. Now he needed to know what Wayne thought about him. Would he be ok with him dating his nephew? Did they need to keep it a secret from Wayne? What about Steve’s own parents? He didn’t think this would go over well with them. Did he really even care?
Eddie stopped fiddling with the radio to look at him. “Uh oh, now you want to play 20 questions?” He grinned widely at Steve.
Steve felt heat in his cheeks. “Maybe not 20, but a few. If that’s okay.” He grinned nervously.
Eddie leaned back in his chair, he kept the light grin on his face.
“Of course it’s okay, Stevie. Uh, Wayne knows about me. He’s known for a while. He doesn’t know this is a date. At least, I don’t think he does. I didn’t tell him or anything.” He said it defensively. Steve wanted to tell him he didn’t mind if Wayne knew, as long as Eddie was ok with it, but Eddie kept talking.
“I wanted to save you from that conversation with my Uncle, even though it seems he still wanted to ask you a bunch of questions anyway. Sorry about that, by the way.” Eddie said quickly.
Steve cut him off. “It's ok. I like Wayne, he can ask me whatever he wants.”
“That’s nice of you, but I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable or anything. You don’t have to tell anyone anything.” Eddie looked at him seriously. “Really Steve. I’m not expecting you to say anything to anyone. I know you’ve never… you know, gone out with…someone like me.”
Steve didn’t know why but his chest hurt a little at that comment. It was true he’d never gone on a date with a man before. But for some reason he wasn’t looking at the situation like that. It wasn’t that he was going on a date with a guy, he was going on a date with Eddie. Eddie, who he really liked, and wanted to spend time with, and be closer too, in every way. He imagined how it would feel to hold Eddie’s hand, run his fingers through his hair, taste his lips. Before Eddie, he had only been interested in women that way, but he couldn’t deny how his mind and body reacted to Eddie. The way he carried himself, his personality, the way he lit up a room. Steve wanted to be near him all the time… he wanted Eddie. And he wanted Eddie to want him. All at once a knot that he had been carrying around for days in his stomach, had loosened.
“You mean… really attractive, kind-hearted, funny, intelligent people? I guess your right, I've never dated anyone like that…” He gave Eddie a sideways smile.
Eddie scoffed, and grinned. “Smooth Harrington…very smooth.”
Steve smiled wide, and watched as Eddie went back to fiddling with the radio, hiding his reddening checks behind his hair.
-
“Ok Ebert, horror, comedy, or action? I asked so you pick.” Steve stood next to Eddie in line at the movie theater, looking up at their options of films displayed on the board.
“Well… I can’t say no to Kurt Russell. At least, I don’t imagine I would.” Eddie said thoughtfully, looking at the showtimes for ‘Big Trouble in Little China’.
“Good to know.” Steve nodded his head, as he went up to buy tickets. He’d have to get familiar with his Kurt Russell films.
“Popcorn?” Eddie asked.
“Of course, hey I asked you to the movies!” He complained as Eddie reached into his pocket for money at the concession stand.
“And I asked you if you wanted popcorn.” Eddie grinned. “Now, serious question, regular or peanut?” Eddie held up 2 different bags of M&Ms, his eyes narrowed at the apparent deal ending question.
“Peanut?” Steve asked, hoping he passed the test.
“Good.” Eddie nodded his head approvingly. Then ripped open the bag and dumped the m&ms into the bag of popcorn. “There. sweet and salty.”
“Just like you!” Steve grinned.
Eddie gasped dramatically. “How dare you! That’s it! I’m removing all the m&ms!”
“See, Salty.” Steve said, matter-of-factly as reached his hand in and pulled out a handful of the popcorn/m&m combo.
“You’re lucky you’re pretty.” Eddie narrowed his eyes at him sarcastically. Steve giggled and felt his cheeks burn.
-
After the movie Steve drove them to the diner in town. As they sat eating their burgers Steve watched Eddie as he talked animatedly about the movie.
“I can’t decide who was hotter, Kurt Russel or Kim Catrell.” Eddie said as he shoved a French fry in his mouth. His eyes glazed over, obviously deep in thought and memory as Steve assumed the scenes were replaying in his mind.
“But you know what? I kinda feel bad for the monster.” Eddie looked at him.
“The hairy, beast thing the kidnaps her?!” Steve laughed. “Why?”
“Maybe if they’d just given that guy a chance. You know? A little scratch on the chin.” Eddie smiled as he reached across the table and scratched Steve’s chin lightly.
“Maybe, they’d find out he was a real sweetheart, just misunderstood.” Eddie nodded in mock seriousness.
“Well… there may still be time, pretty sure I saw him hopping a ride with Kurt Russel at the end.” Steve smiled raising his eyebrows.
Eddie’s eyes lit up, and Steve couldn’t help laugh at his expression.
“I know what the sequel needs to be… Kurt and the Monster go on adventures together! Oh my God… they’re Chewbacca and Han Solo!” Eddie’s mouth dropped open. “Steve you’re a genius!”
“I’m pretty sure I didn’t say any of that.”
“Don’t sell yourself short! You planted the seed, no pun intended, and now we need to write the sequel! Wow beauty and brains.”
Steve giggled as he tilted his head onto his hand.
*
Steve pulled his car into Eddie’s driveway, Wayne had left the porch light on and it projected a welcoming warm glow on the front door.
“You wanna come in for a beer?” Eddie asked, raising his eyebrows casually, like he didn’t just send Steve’s pulse rate to dangerous levels.
“Uh…” yes, yes, yes. He felt the words on the tip of his tongue. The thought of saying them filled his body with a surge of nervous energy. It tingled from his head to his fingertips to a tender spot on his inner thigh. A sensation he knew lead to something he didn’t want to happen right now. Jesus Christ Harrington he didn’t ask you to get on your knees, he asked you if you wanted a beer. Calm the fuck down.
“Yeah… sure.” Steve swallowed and nodded. Just relax. After all he was having a good time with his friend, he didn’t want it to end yet. And a beer didn’t mean anything, although, at the moment, he was willing to see if it did.
Eddie opened the door to the house and extended his arm to Steve to enter. Once inside Steve was hit with a wave of nostalgia that he hadn’t experienced early that day. Being there, with Eddie, felt like coming home. It felt right, familiar, it felt like he found something he had been missing for weeks. Eddie felt like home to him. Was he going to fuck that up? Like he had all his other relationships? He couldn’t. Could. Not. Lose Eddie. Maybe he shouldn’t be doing this…Maybe his friendship meant more then a relationship. He could continue being…unhappy, lonely… if it meant keeping Eddie. But who’s to say he could keep him even then? People grow apart. What am I doing? I’m in over my head.
He heard Eddie popping beer cans in the kitchen, and watched as he glided back into the living room, a small curve played Eddie’s lips as he held out a beer to Steve.
“What’s on your mind, Steve?” Eddie looked down at his own beer in his hands and then up at Steve, an uncertain look crossed his face. Like he’d been listening to Steve’s thoughts.
“I don’t know…” Steve said, it was almost a whisper. He fixed his eyes on his own beer in his hands. His heart was pounding. Wherever that confident Steve was that had asked Eddie out in the first place was long gone. There was no space for him in the small box he had trapped himself inside of. Standing here, in front of Eddie, he was terrified. Terrified of the past, present, the future. All he knew was at this exact moment he was here, and he didn’t want to be anywhere else.
Steve looked up and watched as Eddie took a step closer. They were less then an arms length apart. All he had to do was lift his hand to graze his thumb over Eddie’s full bottom lip. It was something he’d thought about doing often, but in these fantasies he was confident Steve, not this Steve. He looked back down at his beer can and began fiddling with the tab.
“Do I… make you nervous?” Eddie asked, unsure.
“Yes.” Steve said quickly. An understatement actually but maybe if he admitted it, it would relieve some pressure. Though he assumed it was obvious.
“Really?” Eddie had the nerve to look at him incredulously. “Why? It’s just me Stevie.”
Steve let out a deep breath, God this was embarrassing. “Yeah… but this isn’t exactly…this is… new for me.”
Steve looked into Eddie’s dark eyes, and could only think, he’s so pretty.
“If it helps…” Eddie started, glancing away from Steve. “You make me nervous too.”
“You don’t seem nervous.” Steve retorted. He appreciated Eddie trying to make him feel better but it wasn’t helping.
“I’m better at hiding it.” Eddie looked at him a gave him a sly grin.
Steve smirked and rolled his eyes, “Yeah right.”
“Of course I’m nervous.” Eddie said softly.
Steve watched as Eddie wrapped his fingers around Steve’s hand, and methodically ran his thumb over Steve’s knuckles.
Eddie leaned in closer, “It’s you…” He lifted his eyes and fixed them on Steve.
“You’re…” Eddie looked away, seemingly searching for the right words. He turned back and Steve saw the earnestness in his eyes.
“…important to me. In… so many ways, Steve. Fuck.” He swallowed hard. “I wouldn’t even be here if it wasn’t for you.”
“Don’t say that.” Steve didn’t want to think about that night.
“It’s true man, you know it is. And it would be one thing if that was it. But… it isn’t. Because you’ve been so fucking cool…amazing actually…you…you’re one of my best friends. And I wasn’t kidding when I said I missed you the other day…I did. I do. everyday…You’re hard not to think about.” He smirked.
“So are you.” Steve looked down at his hand in Eddie’s
“It really doesn’t help, that…” Eddie paused. Steve felt Eddie’s thumb under his chin bringing his eyes up to meet his.
“Well…Look at you…” Eddie said his voice a whisper.
Steve’s breath caught in his throat.
“You’re beautiful, Steve…” he brushed his thumb up along Steve’s lower lip.
Steve couldn’t help but close his eyes as he leaned into Eddie’s warm touch, at his soft pretty words.
“I can’t stop looking…” Eddie cooed.
Steve felt Eddie’s forehead press against his own. He leaned into him and felt Eddie’s warm breath hit lightly against his cheek. Steves’ pulse quickened, the want taking over his nerve as he slowly turned his lips toward Eddie’s, he brushed them lightly with his own. The touch was soft and light and electric. He opened his eyes and saw Eddie looking softly back at him. The look made his insides melt. He was panting though he’d barley moved in inch. Eddie brushed his fingers over Steve’s cheek and into his hair. the touch sent shivers down his spine.
Steve leaned in again and met Eddie’s lips fully. He breathed him in as instinct took over and Steve’s hands found their way to Eddie’s hair. He entwined his fingers in the soft curls and pulled him closer, deepening the kiss. Eddie moaned lightly sending Steve nerves blazing. Eddie was into this as much as him. The thought sent his heart into a frenzy, the need for more raking his insides, and he leaned his body into Eddie, wrapping his arms around his neck. Eddie moved his hands down to Steve’s waist pulling him in closer still. Steve let out a soft moan as Eddie entered his open mouth. Eddie’s warm tongue grazed against his, the act familiar, but not like this. He was normally the one in control, setting the pace. But now he followed Eddie’s lead, letting him take over. Eddie lead him to the couch and before Steve realized what was happening he was being pulled into Eddie’s lap, straddling him. Fuck, this was new, and hot.
He kept his arms around Eddie’s neck, he felt warm and safe against him, that was also new. Eddie’s arms kept him in place, kept him close. He shifted his lips down Steve’s jaw to his neck. His lips on sensitive skin giving Steve shivers all over his body.
“Eddie…” Steve moaned into Eddie’s neck. He hadn’t planned on saying it, it just embarrassingly escaped his lips. But the groan it pulled from Eddie was worth it, and Steve was suddenly flipped onto his back on the couch, Eddie on top of him and soon pulling all kinds of sounds from Steve as he pressed his body against his. He’d be embarrassed about them later, everything felt too good to dwell on it now. Eddie ran is hand under Steve’s shirt, sending his skin ablaze. Steve pulled it off over his head and Eddie kissed his freed chest rubbing his tongue over Steve’s nipple. His breath caught in his throat.
“Is this okay, sweetheart?” Eddie asked breathless. Steve gasped out what he thought was a, ‘yes’ but may have just been a moan, he wasn’t sure.
Eddie’s hard cock pushed against his through his jeans and Steve forgot he was supposed to be nervous, forgot he’d never done this before, he just knew he needed more, more then he’d ever needed anything else before. He moved his hips in tandem with Eddie. He didn’t know if he was doing any of this right but it felt good so he didn’t care.
“Can I touch you, baby?” Eddie asked, in-between deep kisses which he couldn’t seem to stop.
Steve didn’t trust what sound would come out if he spoke, so he nodded, the pet names were killing him, one more baby or sweetheart and this would be over before it started, and he really didn’t want this to end.
Eddie unbuttoned Steve’s jeans, and he felt himself squirming to get them off faster. what was he, fucking fifteen? Relax. Relax.
“Jesus, every inch of you is beautiful, Stevie.” Eddie sighed as he grasped Steve’s hard cock in his hand and stroked.
Steve groaned and pushed into Eddie’s hand.
“Fuck… Eddie.” he said panting hard, he wasn’t going to last 30 seconds at this rate.
“I wanna…I want…you too…” he tried to speak between gasps. He reached down and opened Eddie’s belt, his trembling fingers fumbled with the button until Eddie undid it for him.
“I’ve got it gorgeous, let me…” Eddie said, as he unbuttoned his dark jeans.
It was probably for the best, Steve’s brain wasn’t triggering properly at the moment. All he could think about was getting Eddie’s lips on him again. He pulled him back desperately towards him, capturing his mouth again. He pulled on Eddie’s t-shirt, bringing it over his head, revealing Eddie’s scarred tattooed chest. And they were skin to skin.
Steve couldn’t get enough. He licked and dragged his teeth along Eddies’ shoulder and neck, sucking on his skin, pulling gasps and moans that Steve wished he could record to listen to later.
Eddie reached between them and wrapped his hand around them both, stroking them together languid and purposeful. Steve was worried if he looked down and saw Eddie on him like this he’d cum on the spot, so he closed eyes, moaning into another deep kiss. His hips began to thrust seemingly on their own against Eddie. He felt his heat needing to be released, he couldn’t hold back any longer.
“Eddieeee I…I’m gonna…” Steve panted.
“Mmmm…I’ve got you, baby.” Eddie moaned into Steve’s ear, and Steve felt the rush of relief as he grasped tightly to Eddie’s arm and groaned deeply as he came. His legs squeezed against Eddie where he laid in-between them. Eddie was a second later spilling onto Steve’s stomach adding to the mess already there.
Steve laid there panting heavy, still holding Eddie’s now trembling arm. Eddie pulled back slightly and looked down at Steve. He thought he saw an uncharacteristic look of uncertainty cross Eddie’s face for a moment. But when Steve smiled, Eddie smiled back, and lowered his forehead to rest against his own.
“Damn.” Eddie said through a chuckle and a heavy breath.
“Yeah… Damn.” Steve confirmed, he still held tightly to Eddie’s arm, not willing to let him go just yet.
“Was that…was all that okay with you?” Eddie asked.
“More then okay.” Steve said breathless, he chuckled lightly, stupidly happy. Did that really just happen?
“Good.” Eddie said, he kissed him again quickly before sitting up.
“Uh…don’t move. I’ll be right back.” Eddie pulled up his jeans and walked towards the bathroom, returning a second later with a towel. He sat down next to Steve and wiped off his chest and stomach.
Steve couldn’t help but chuckle, “Is this special treatment?” He asked as he watched Eddie.
“That’s the only treatment I give, Stevie.” Eddie grinned at him, then leaned in to give him a slow soft kiss.
“I’ll remember that.” Steve said, as he kissed Eddie back, his hands finding Eddie’s hair again. If Robin was jealous before wait until she hears about this.