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Steve had no interest in Eddie Munson, none whatsoever. The guy was a freak.
But if Dustin was going to keep talking about him as if he was his lord and saviour then Steve might wind up picking a fight. All week Dustin had been going on and on about the final part to their little DnD campaign, and Steve didn't pretend to understand what was going on, just listening to Dustin ramble on and on about some bad guy they had to defeat called 'Vecna'. At least he remembered it's name, whatever it was, he felt like he should get points for that. Steve knew that the final fight or whatever it was, was still a touchy subject as Dustin had called him, during his work hours mind you, to complain about how he thought Lucas was going to blow them off for his 'cool friends' he got from playing basketball never mind the fact that he had been on the bench the whole championship.
Dustin had unfortunately turned out to be right, as on the day of their final fight he had received the call from Dustin trying to recruit him into their little group to fill Lucas' space. He felt a little bad turning him down, but he really wasn't interested they'd find someone who at least was capable of understanding quickly how the game worked.
"who was that?" Robin's voice called out from behind one of the VHS displays.
"just Dustin, Lucas bailed on their DnD thing after-all" He replied.
"oh, to be in with the popular kids" Robin gasped dramatically as she slid what appeared to be another romantic tragedy into it's player as the screen fizzled to life.
The phone started ringing again, Steve just looked at it hoping that it would ring out and leave him alone, he wasn't in the mood to deal with anymore mothers begging him to reserve tapes for their 'precious baby' just because the kids demanded a popular tape too late.
It continues to ring, and ring, and ring.
Robin has stopped staring at the picture displayed on the low quality screen in favour of staring at Steve with a deeply unimpressed look.
"it's ruining my movie, fucking pick it up"
Steve rolled his eyes and grabbed the phone,
"Family Videos, what can I do for you?"
"STEVE, WHAT THE HELL MAN, I'VE BEEN CALLING YOU FOR AGES!" Dustin yelled down the phone, and Steve scrunched up his face and rubbed his hand over his eyes. Clearly unamused with Dustin's antics, he snapped down the phone,
"what do you want now Dustin?"
"Right, so funny story, Mike has to go straight home cuz he's got that flight out tomorrow morning to see Will and El and apparently going by my house to drop me off is a 'huge inconvenience' and fine, whatever. But mum won't come and pick me up this late, she'll probably be asleep knowing her and it's totally okay if you have like a date or something planned because as much as I'd love to tell you that you have to drive me home because I'm you're top priority this is very last minute and if you can't-"
Steve was losing his will to live and if Dustin didn't get to the point of asking him out-right, he was just going to hang up the phone he can't be bothered dealing with this for any longer. Honestly doesn't the kid have class he should be attending. Steve zoned back into whatever the kid was still saying in his ear.
"- I can probably ask Eddie anyways actually, he can take me home, sorry Steve."
"Hey wait up now, I never said I couldn't take you home" Steve was not about to be replaced as his kids lift places, what did that leave him with he was the party's designated driver, he wasn't about to lose it to Munson.
"It wouldn't make sense for you to come down and get me, Eddie will already be here. Sorry I probably should've thought of that before calling, sorry Steve."
"Hey, wait-"
He had been hung up on. Steve glared at the countertop, his jaw clicking in anger as he grinded his teeth together. Really, REALLY, now every time he got in a car with Dustin he'd have to listen to how it compared to the Freaks driving. Robin watched Steve huff away to himself behind the counter and only decided it was her time to speak when he started pacing around.
"Getting replaced now are we?" that probably isn't what she should've started with.
"By the fucking Freak of all people, Dustin won't shut up about him now" Harrington grumbled, still visibly distraught.
"Hey, Eddie's not a bad guy, he's pretty chill. You're still Dustin's favourite, its not the end of the world dude"
Steve stared blankly at Robin, she wasn't aware he could do that. It was quite off-putting.
"Not that bad, are you serious? have you seen him" the disbelief clear in his voice.
Robin just rolled her eyes and started to clear up the shop, Steve was such an idiot sometimes it hurt. "Have you ever actually spoken to him? or is this just 3rd grade jealous behaviour"
"I-"
Robin stopped and stared waiting for an answer she already knew.
"No I haven't" Steve admitted looking flush with embarrassment.
"maybe you should try, you never know, this time last year we wouldn't have ever been friends."
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Trying came sooner rather than later when Tommy H decided he was going away for holiday break and told Steve that if he wanted anything he would have to find someone else. Then had the nerve after denying selling him anything before he went away, to go speak to Eddie fucking Munson if he was so desperate.
He wasn't desperate.
He wasn't,
He was.
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2 days later he found himself hanging around the school carpark trying to catch the freak alone. Reminding himself that this was a business deal and he wasn't going to spend half the time scoping the guy out. Steve grinned as a couple of cheerleaders he didn't know the names of skipped past him giggling, he winked at them as they looked back. Too focused on watching them walk away he almost missed Munson walking right past him, almost.
"Munson" he called after him as he walked to his van.
Eddie stopped dead, spinning on his heel with a wide grin, "King Steve in the flesh, Dustin biked home if that's who you're looking for I haven't seen him since lunch".
"Uhh no that isn't- no".
Eddie raised a brow, not sure what to do now that Harrington was apparently trying to talk to him.
Steve scrunched his eyes closed, taking in a breath "Tommy H is away for break, he said to come speak to you as you are my 'next best bet'".
'Ah, that makes more sense. What else would this be about' , Eddie thought to himself, Harrington still had his eyes closed and in the afternoon sun of Hawkins it cast a shadow on his cheeks showing just how long his eyelashes were and with his teeth clenched together it made his jaw clearer and sharper. Then his eyes shot open and Eddie caught himself staring right into Harrington's eyes, a warmer brown than he had previously thought and they looked almost golden in the light.
"Excuse me, do you have or not, I don't have all day Munson" Steve exclaimed, snapping Eddie out of whatever trance he had put himself in.
'What the fuck was that Munson' Eddie thought to himself, cheeks going pink in embarrassment Eddie replied "yeah course I do dickhead, although if you want it now you're going to have to come with me I didn't bring anything to school"
Harrington's face scrunched up again, "fine, not like I have anything else to do".
Striding after Eddie as he lead them to his van, Steve stopped to think about what he was doing before he opened the passenger side door. Looking down and then up again through the window he saw Munson staring at him again, quickly looking away when they locked eyes Steve opened the door and climbed in.
The ride to Eddies trailer wasn't very long but it was awkward, neither boys said anything to each other and the stereo was very quiet, slowly playing through what appeared to be a Black Sabbath cassette. It wasn't long before Eddie was parking the van and getting out, prompting Steve to do the same.
"Welcome to my humble abode" Eddie stated with a large flourish to his arms.
Steve just rolled his eyes and walked in after him, eyes glancing around to take everything in.
"sorry for the mess I guess, I wasn't prepared for guests"
"it's cool man, doesn't bother me"
Eddie grinned at him, eyes crinkling in the corner and Steve found himself smiling back. Staring at each other for a moment too long Eddie coughed and started pulling things apart.
"What are you wanting Harrington? The good stuff? or some proper strong stuff eh?" Still yanking drawers and containers open.
"whatever you suggest dude, it's your stuff, you know it best" That was a stupid thing to say Steve decided, he didn't know this guy just because Dustin clearly trusted him didn't mean Steve could trust him even if he had a pretty smile. Steve blanked, head reeling 'a pretty what now?' why the hell of all things is that what he came up with, Eddie had already walked away further into he back of the trailer, whistling a song that Steve half recognized.
Coming back in the middle of Steve's clear panic, which Steve was failing to make less clear, Eddie stared and laughed softly. Steve found his cheeks flushing slightly at the noise.
"you good man?", Eddie asked still smiling softly, "I'm not gonna kill ya I swear, Dustin would kill me if I murdered his favourite baby-sitter"
Steve stopped panicking slightly, "he said that?" tilting his head to the side in confusion.
"yeah, kid never shuts up about you, it's only a little annoying I guess".
"oh" Steve frowned lightly.
"oh?"
"he never shuts up about you either, I thought-" Steve never finished his sentence, his face going red as he realised how stupid he was being, of course Dustin wasn't replacing him, he's such an idiot, Robin is so gonna laugh at him when he tells her she was right. Maybe he shouldn't tell her, he was too embarrassed now.
"ah, yeah, I'm not replacing you Dustin was super worried last night when I drove him home that you were going to try and fight me" Eddie explained, joint lit and in his mouth when he rolled that Steve has no idea.
"I wasn't going to actually fight you" Steve said frowning somehow more now, "I just- threatened too if he stopped hanging out with me"
"you gotta get friends your own age dude" Eddie laughed between hits.
Steve moved to sit next to Eddie on the floor, snatching the joint out of his hand with a grin.
"like you?"
"moving pretty fast their King Steve, just two seconds ago you said you wanted to fight me", Eddie paused to think for a second, "I'd totally win by the way".
"don't call me that, it's just Steve, and I agree you would".
Eddie turned to look at him, there was something happening, with the cloud of smoke surrounding Steve's face Eddie couldn't bring himself to look away. Steve wasn't looking away either, if anything he was getting closer. The joint held in his hand far away from their faces now.
"you really think I'd win?" Eddie murmured, he could feel Harrington's shaky breath against his face now.
"yeah I really think so" Steve was so close now that he couldn't focus on much of anything other than the boys eyes.
Eddie smiled again, eyes crinkling and Steve's hand moved without thought to run his thumb over them. Steve's gaze dropped to watch Eddies mouth part in a silent gasp at the action. His hand shifterd to hold Eddie's face as he brought his eyes to watch as he put the joint out of the ashtray next to Eddie's thigh, leaning his body closer to reach. Eddie's hand cradling his waist to balance him but not moving back as he shifted to bring their eyes together again. Faces inches apart, Eddie took in a sharp breath and closed the distance. Mouths moving together slowly, Steve's hand moving from the side of Eddie's face into his hair, burying it in the surprisingly soft curls. Eddies hand still around Steve's waist, just gripping harder now as if he was trying to ground himself, or pull Steve closer neither of them could tell.