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“I don’t know, Robin, I just think it’s time I expanded my dating pool!” Said Steve, spinning absentmindedly in the chair behind the counter of Family Video.
Robin nodded sympathetically. “Yeah, it’s pretty hard to flirt when you don’t know if you’re gonna be made a social leper over it.”
Steve made a pained noise. The recent discovery of his bisexuality had been thrilling, but it turned out Robin’s anxiety about Vickie had been a lot more understandable than he had previously thought— even if Vickie totally liked girls too. He couldn’t just impulsively strike out like he did with girls, or the sting of rejection could easily be physical as well as psychological.
“Hey, how’s this sound?!” said Robin, and Steve could picture the lightbulb fizzing to life above her head. “Okay, so you don’t want to ask any guys out, but you wish you could try seeing one, right?” Steve nodded tentatively and she continued. “What if I set you up? Blind date situation?”
Steve furrowed his brow. “I’m sorry, you know another dude who likes dudes and you failed to mention this before?”
“I don’t know, I didn’t really know if you’d be each other’s types! And like, I wasn’t about to out anyone, so I just decided to keep my mouth shut and wait and see.”
“Unbelievable.”
Robin grinned. “So, what do you say? I’ve never set up a blind date before— this is very exciting for me too.”
“Yeah, yeah, alright.” Steve conceded, running a hand through his hair. “What do you think we should do? A diner date or something?”
“Sure. It’s not necessarily that private, though…” Robin seemed to ponder for a moment before continuing. “What if you invite him over for a movie if it goes well? Get an opportunity for some canoodling!”
“That is such a weird way to say it.”
Robin responded by making kissing noises until Steve thunked his head on the counter. “Jesus, Rob, I get it. It’s a date.”
———
Steve pushed open the door, brimming with apprehension. The diner wasn’t too busy for a Saturday night, but he still felt exposed somehow. It could be anyone in here— what if it was someone Steve hated, or something? More likely, someone who hated Steve. King Steve had… not always been the friendliest guy in the world.
He scanned the seating area for his potential date until his eyes landed on a guy his age who was sat alone. Eddie, one of Robin’s friends— better known to the general Hawkins populace as ‘Eddie the Freak’. His long hair was tucked slightly behind his ears, revealing a smattering of earrings, as though he had made some effort to tame it, and a leather jacket was slung over the top of the booth, leaving Eddie in a cut-off band shirt for something Steve’s father would probably deem ‘devil music’. And okay, look, Steve wasn’t blind; the guy looked good! Even more so than usual.
Eddie had taken to hanging around the Family Video a few months back, draped over the counter to talk to Robin. At first, Steve had thought Eddie had a crush on her, but after he had brought it up with Robin, she had laughed and assured him that Eddie knew about her. Whatever. Basically, Eddie and Robin seemed like pretty good friends, but Steve never really got to know the guy past a cursory “Hey, Eddie” when he walked into the store. It wasn’t like Steve didn’t think he was cool, Eddie had just had some initial disdain for Steve (that he figured was probably deserved, considering his high school career) that, although having blown over pretty fast, left Steve kinda keeping his distance.
Eddie’s eyes met his across the diner and the other boy inclined his head slightly, asking a silent question. Steve straightened and nodded, hoping they were on the same page and that he hadn’t just been caught ogling a guy he was not, in fact, supposed to be meeting for a blind date. Luckily, Eddie started giggling (fucking giggling!) and began to quickly wave his hands in a dramatic beckoning motion. Steve made his way over and slid into the seat opposite Eddie.
“Harrington!” said Eddie, grinning.
“Hi, Eddie.”
“Holy shit, I can’t believe this; Robin really scored me a date with Hawkins’ most eligible bachelor.”
Steve laughed, flushing a little. “You’re not too bad yourself, Munson.”
He could do this. Definitely. Steve was awesome at flirting. With girls, at least, and he figured the basics were the same for guys, even if it was Eddie
Eddie smiled warmly and leaned in a little closer. “Y’know, I never took you for being…”
“A queer?” Steve said wryly, “Yeah, neither did I until a few weeks ago. Kind of a shock.”
That made Eddie cackle, and Steve busied himself with grabbing them menus, sliding one across to Eddie.
“Ooh, a gentleman, I see!”
“Shut up and order, Munson.” The fact Steve was smiling slightly dampened the effect.
The other boy shrugged, looking down at the menu. “Never said it was a bad thing. I’m gonna go vanilla, milkshake-wise. Never go wrong with that.”
“Who would’ve thought you’d be so basic?” Steve teased.
Eddie scoffed. “Oh, so now you’re some kinda milkshake connoisseur, huh?”
“Well, I mean, I worked at Scoops last summer, so I’d consider myself an expert, sure. We did like, milkshakes and shit sometimes.”
“Ah,” said Eddie tilting his head back in a way that drew Steve’s eyes to his neck, “Of course, how could I forget those uniforms?”
Steve groaned. That sailor’s outfit was going to haunt him for the rest of his life.
“You looked hot. I remember.” Said Eddie plainly, and Steve choked on his own spit.
“Jesus, Eddie!”
“What! I’m just speaking the truth. The people need to know, Steve!”
Steve grumbled a flustered “Horndog”, trying not to get too caught up in the mental image of Eddie Munson seeing him back at Starcourt and finding him attractive.
They ordered and the food arrived soon after, making idle conversation about work, and school, and Robin and the kids, and if Steve found himself asking a bunch of stupid questions about D&D to watch Eddie get all excited as he explained the rules, that was for Steve alone to know.
“So, what, you only use the d30 thing? What about all the other little dice?”
“d20,” said Eddie, “And you’ve gotta roll for damage, or healing, or percentages or other stuff, depending on the situation.”
Steve nodded sagely, not really absorbing much. “Ah, yeah… I get that.” Eddie’s eyes were a very nice brown. They made his whole demeanour feel warmer once you noticed the way they crinkled at the corners, as though you were in on a joke with him.
“Steve, you can just tell me if you don’t give a shit about D&D, we can talk about something else.”
Steve jerked out of his stupor. “No, no, I like it!” At Eddie’s sceptical look he looked down at his milkshake, fiddling with the straw. “Okay, I’m not into Dungeons and Dragons, but I like listening to you talk about it. You’re all…” He gestured to Eddie, who was now fighting back a small smile, “Passionate and intense and shit. It’s nice.” Steve didn’t have many hobbies. He both envied and admired Eddie’s commitment to the game, even if it was kinda nerdy and flew over his head.
He said as much, and Eddie smacked him on the arm. “Harrington, I’ll have you know D&D is not some nerdy game! Haven’t you heard we worship Satan? Sacrifice goats and everything.”
Steve snorted and nudged Eddie’s foot beneath the table. “I guarantee you’re like, a huge softie underneath all the leather and hair.”
Eddie nudged his foot back. “Hey, don’t go spreading slander like that around, man. I’ve got a reputation to uphold.”
Steve was having a really good time, actually. A better time than he’d had on a date in a while. He didn’t really feel like he had to pretend, because at the end of the day most of the girls he went out with still expected him to be ‘King Steve’ on some level. It didn’t feel like Eddie really thought that— Steve figured that if he did, he would be mocking Steve, not flirting with him. He supposed that ‘Eddie the Freak’ was just as much of a role to play as Steve’s had been.
“Hey, uh, I was gonna wait to see if I enjoyed myself before I asked to prolong this, but I’ve rented a couple different movies if you wanted to watch something at my place? I’ve got snacks and stuff too.” Steve offered, deciding that he wanted to keep being around Eddie for as long as possible that evening.
“Shit, sure, I’d love to.” Said Eddie, grabbing Steve’s last few fries, “That means I’m paying for dinner though, as compensation.”
“You’re insufferable.”
———
“Shit, you’ve got Re-Animator?” Said Eddie excitedly, rifling through tapes Steve had rented, “Fuckin’ love this movie.”
Steve hummed, already shovelling popcorn into his mouth on the sofa. “Robin picked them out. You should thank her, considering I didn’t even know it was you I was seeing.”
“Ah, Buckley’s always got my back when it comes to weird B-movies.”
Eddie popped the tape in, seemingly happy to re-watch it, and crossed over to settle next to Steve. He was close enough that their thighs brushed slightly, and Steve shivered. It had been a while since he was genuinely invested in a date past a one-night thing, and he really wanted to get this right. He had always privately thought Eddie was kinda hot, and being in close quarters and experiencing the magnetism of Eddie Munson first-hand left him excited and light-headed.
Plus, Megan and the Dan guy from the movie were also really doing it for him.
Eddie kept up an enthusiastic stream of commentary about the special effects, casting drama, and “the whole thing Herbert’s got going on, that man is gay, I’m telling you!”, gesturing with his hands as he talked. Steve gradually shuffled closer, leaning in to listen, until he could feel Eddie’s breath on his ear. They were now sitting pressed up against each other’s sides, Eddie tentatively leaning his head on Steve’s shoulder, and Steve took a deep breath before grabbing the hand Eddie wasn’t flapping around and lacing their fingers together as nonchalantly as he could, eyes trained on the screen. He could feel Eddie watching him, and when he glanced back the other boy flashed him a grin that made Steve melt into a puddle on the couch, Wicked Witch of the West style.
Eddie was looking at him intently, and Steve took the opportunity to look at his eyes again— they were seriously pretty. Eddie’s eyes flicked purposefully down before returning, and Steve’s breath hitched. Alright, go on Harrington. After a moment of hesitation, he leaned in, cupping his free hand at the back of Eddie’s neck, and pressed their lips together. Eddie gasped against his mouth and Steve fought back a smile.
The kiss was softer than Steve usually went for— lots of lip, less tongue, pace languid— but with Eddie it felt right. Steve was sick of one-night stands; he was sick of half-hearted “I’ll call you tomorrow”s and he was sick of not knowing what he wanted.
They reluctantly broke apart, panting for breath, and Steve tucked a long strand of hair behind Eddie’s ear.
“Hi.”
“Hey.”
Yes, he decided. He definitely wanted this. He could see this working out.