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you've ruined my life by not being mine
Steve Harrington’s house becomes the new base of operations.
They won the battle, but the war’s not over. They’re taking time to heal and plot. Steve’s sure Vecna is too.
He’s mostly sitting out of the plotting and focusing on healing. He’d been out like a light for quite a few hours after the fight, everyone coming into his room cheering when he finally woke. He tries to figure out what happened, but they’re all talking at once and the pain - the pain is bad, the worst he’s ever felt and getting more intense the longer he’s sitting up. He remembers the bats and Nancy, Robin and Eddie coming to save him, Nancy going into the trance and getting her out - he knows he was awake for more, but it’s all flashes every time he shuts his eyes.
He catches Robin’s eye and she understands, ushering them all back out. Steve looks down and realized someone bandaged his wounds. Like, they looked professional. Steve is pretty sure they didn’t take him to a doctor or anything. Steve wonders why the government wasn’t there to patch them all up this time.
Robin is back with a tall glass of water and a large bottle of Advil. Steve touches her wrist to get her attention as he realizes how dry his mouth is. “Ah, Robin … it’s bad.” He closes his eyes for a minute, tears falling downward. “Um, my mom keeps prescription pain meds in her underwear drawer.” He winces, realizing what he asked her to do. “Sorry, worst place for them, I know.”
“Steve, I’m just glad they’re in the house. Eddie said he could probably get some but -“ Robin puts her hand on top of Steve’s. “Steve, I was so worried we were gonna lose you - you were fine and then you weren’t -“ She breaks off with a small sob, but quickly resumes talking, “Don’t worry Steve, I don’t have the hots for your mom. Easy!”
Steve watches her walk away, and she’s only gone for a minute. It’s still the longest minute of his life.
When she returns, Steve realizes her elbow has been wrapped like his torso. He’s gotta thank whoever got their first aid certification, and then vaguely remembers Nancy ripping off part of her shirt to tie him up.
He laughs, loud and clear, at how that sounds. Sixteen year old him is somewhere hyperventilating, but he doesn’t love Nancy like that, not anymore.
Robin returns with the bottle, dolling out two for him, raising an eyebrow but saying nothing. “We’ve all been keeping watch, so someone will be here when you wake up.” She kisses the top of his head softly, adding “Thanks for not dying, bestie.”
He sleeps.
The first week is a blur. The medicine is definitely helping, but it makes him so tired. He mostly sleeps, someone waking him every eight hours for meds and fluids. They cycle through, Robin telling him the kids made a schedule. He sees almost everyone - Dustin, Max, Eddie (Eddie?), El, Nancy, sometimes with Jonathan. Sometimes Mike and Will come together, sitting cross legged on the floor, talking in hushed tones so they don’t wake him.
By day four, Steve feels strong enough to try to walk. He realizes halfway down the stairs he probably should have gotten someone to help. Steve pauses to catch his breath and that’s when the kids see him.
It’s a blur of chaos that honestly makes Steve a little dizzy. “Okay, okay,” he says, waving the hand that isn’t gripped to the railing. “I need someone to help me the rest of the way down and then we’re gonna talk one at a time.”
Nancy is closest, helping him gently the rest of the way. When he’s finally on solid ground, everyone starts hugging him at once. Everyone, even Jonathan’s California friend (Argyle? Was that really his name?). He starts to get a little emotional. The world had gone to shit, but he’s the happiest he’s felt in a long time.
Robin sets him up in the living room’s recliner and then they start to tell him what he’s missed.
He cannot remember any moment of the battle, other than he was attacked a second time and that’s when he fell to the ground. Joyce and Hopper got them set up at his house afterwards, Joyce tossing Nancy a stack of cash for food and supplies. They somehow convince not just the schools to give them an additional week off, they convince all the parents to let them stay at Steve’s. (Well, not Steve’s parents. Robin was able to locate Steve’s parents and long distance call them. He has no idea what Robin told his mom, but she has Robin relay that they’ll deposit some money into his bank account since he won’t be going back to Family Video any time soon. Throwing money at the problem instead of facing it is his mom’s signature move.)
They really do plan. Everyone gathers around the coffee table, someone sometimes pacing. Steve has really lost the plot of it all and usually just naps in the recliner.
That’s why on day five, when he catches Eddie’s eye and Eddie quickly jerks his head towards the kitchen, he follows.
“Where are you two going?” Nancy asks as they pass her.
“Our patient hasn’t been outside in days, thought Stevie could use some fresh air,” Eddie tells her.
“Great idea,” Nancy says with a genuine smile, Steve can tell the difference.
As he lets Eddie take his hand to help him out, he tries to replay Eddie’s words. He said Stevie, right?
He kinda likes it.
Eddie leads him to two lounge chairs pressed up against the side of his fence. “Why are we sitting here?”
“I can’t corrupt these children anymore this week,” Eddie says as he gets Steve settled in the chair, and Steve laughs. What could possibly corrupt them more than Vecna?
“Don’t be sad, I'm definitely gonna smoke those dweebs out at some point!” Eddie reaches into his jacket pocket and pulls out a joint. “This strain is supposed to be excellent for pain relief.”
“Eddie Munson, I love you right now.”
Eddie raised his eyebrows. “Your parents must stock some good pain meds if they get you to say that, pretty boy.”
Steve forgets to breathe for a moment. He forces himself to shake his head, both and response and to get his wits about him.
“I’ve been… faking it a little,” Steve confesses. “I probably should have stayed upstairs another day or two.”
“But all of your adoring fans were waiting!” Eddie pats his cheek as Steve grins back at him. “Okay friend, let’s see if this works.”
It works.
They pass the joint back and forth.
“We are friends now aren’t we?” Steve says as he takes it. He coughs on the exhale, once again forgetting his body is weak.
“I thought you’d done this before,” Eddie teases. “And yeah. Yeah, we’re friends.”
“Nancy calls it ‘trauma bonding.’ Like, who else are you gonna talk about this stuff with?”
Eddie looks directly at Steve and nods. There’s a beat before he asks, “Hey, can I ask you something weird?”
“Always.”
“I know everyone is clearing out Monday, but, well.” Eddie rubs his palms on his thighs. Is he nervous? “Could I stay a few more days? My house is still a crime scene. And no offense, but you probably shouldn’t be alone.”
Steve waits a beat, trying to figure out why his stomach is fluttering.
Eddie backtracks. “I mean, Robin said it would probably be okay but -“
“Yeah, man! Definitely! If I’m being honest, I could the company.” Steve wasn’t lying.
“Thanks.” He tries to pass the joint back to Steve, but Steve waves it off.
“I’m good, I think. Seriously, this is the best I’ve felt all week. Just wanna keep a few wits about me,” Steve says, giving Eddie a wink.
Eddie pauses a minute before laughing loudly. “I can’t believe the girls wouldn’t let me give this to you upstairs.”
Steve joins in the laughter. “A few years ago there was all kinds of shit going on in there!” He shakes his head.
A comfortable silence settles between them, but Steve has to ask. “So, Munson, tell me. Is this your first time here?”
Eddie shakes his head a little too emphatically. “Definitely not, King Steve’s parties were always easy money.”
Steve puts a hand over his heart. “I’m honored I was able to provide a venue for you to take my rich friends’ money.” A yawn slips out after that.
“Alright, Grandpa, let’s get you upstairs,” Eddie says, getting up out of chair. “You’re gonna sleep like a baby.”
He mostly sleeps days six and seven.
Day eight is better.
It’s the first day that his head is clear and he has some range of movement.
Everyone wants to have one last dinner together since school starts up again on Monday. And look, Steve would not call himself a chef, but he can follow a recipe just fine. From what he can tell, they’ve all been subsisting on take out and snacks.
When he gets downstairs, the kids are scattered. He asks the remaining group of Nancy, Jonathan, Eddie, Robin and Argyle if any of them can cook and they all stare blankly.
Finally, Eddie says, “I mean. I’ve only cooked for myself, but -“
“Perfect, I just need some help because,” he makes a flourish pointing to his torso. “But first, I’m gonna steal Robin to help me shower.” He ducks into the kitchen and grabs his grandma’s recipe box. “Lasagna’s probably the easiest and we all should probably eat something green. Can the rest of you go get groceries? We probably need, hmm.” He attempts to do math, but it was never his strong suit. “Just get double whatever it says; that’ll probably work.”
They’re all still staring at Steve, a little dumbfounded aside from Robin. He sighs. “I’m not a great chef either over here! I’ve only cooked for Robin before.”
“What, never for your paramours, Harrington?” Eddie asks, sounding actually curious.
Steve shook his head. “Not really a first date move, Munson.”
Eddie laughs. “More a third date move then?”
Normally this kind of shit would irritate him, but Vecna must have done something to his brain. “Not many of those lately, so,” he replies with a shrug.
Robin appears at his side. “I’m glad you want to take a shower, because no offense, but you reek.”
Everyone laughs as he puts his hands up and rolls his eyes. “Almost died, cut me a break.”
It seems easier between them all now, which didn’t make a lick of sense, but he doesn’t have much energy to protest.
While they’re slowly making their way back upstairs, he hears Argyle attempt to whisper, “I can’t believe you guys expect me to believe they’re not dating.”
As they reach the landing, he can hear Eddie say to Argyle, “Nah, they’re not into each other, if you catch my drift,” and Argyle does because he replies, “Oh, far out. It’s nice to have a friend!”
Jonathan screams, “Dude!!!” Argyle must have punched him or something, because he’s laughing.
“Did you tell Eddie about Vickie?” Steve hisses when they finally get to the bathroom.
She fiddles with the shower knobs, not wanting to make it too hot. “I had to tell someone, okay? We thought you were gonna die!” Her hand flies to her mouth, like she told a secret.
“You mean not just the first day, huh?” He already removed his shirt and his hand traces his bandages while he winces. “S orry about that.”
“Well, the good news is you didn’t. Do you remember anything that happened last week?” Robin sits on the edge of the shower so she can be eye level with his bandages, slowly unwrapping them.
“I mean, not really? Just flashes of different moments and I don’t really know what I dreamed versus what actually happened.” Robin fully unwraps his torso bandage and he looks down to see his wounds for the first time. “Fuck. That’s … bad right?”
“Why did you think we all thought you were gonna die?!” Robin inspects the wound, finally touching it. “Hurt?”
“It always hurts Robin, but it doesn’t hurt a ton more when you put pressure on it.”
Robin nods as she muses, “Good. A shower should be okay then.”
She helps him in the large shower, and when the water hits him - yeah, it hurts, okay, but it’s desperately needed.
“Soooo,” Robin says in the voice she uses when she wants something that she thinks Steve won’t say yes to. His stomach flips. “I know you don’t remember much, but do you remember when you told Eddie he could stay for a bit?”
Steve thinks as the water pours over him. “I think so?” He wracks his brain. “Okay, yeah, he asked. We were outside.”
Robin exhales. “I’m glad you at least have one brain cell who decided to show up today.”
Once Steve’s dressed, they head back downstairs. Everyone slowly trickles in a few at a time. Eddie and Nancy walk in with groceries and Steve wonders what the hell they talked about because they’re grinning, shoulder to shoulder when they walk in.
Eddie is surprisingly not only helpful, but entertaining in the kitchen. Steve’s not sure if too many near death experiences has finally mellowed him out. Eddie used to (at least a little bit) annoy the shit out of him, but here he is, laughing at almost everything Eddie says. At one point, Dustin yells at them to get a room and they both flip him off.
Nancy gives a speech before they eat, about ending everything once and for all. Very inspiring, Steve hates to follow her.
They all clink glasses and Steve stands up next. “First of all, no one follow this, the food is getting cold. Just wanted to say thanks for keeping me alive. I know we try to do that around here, but -“ he pauses, choosing not to finish that sentence.
“Anyway, I know the Byers are staying with the Wheelers, and Munson’s gonna stay here while the police die down. Who knows when my parents are coming back, so don’t be strangers, okay? There’s a key under the mat. Even if I’m not here for some reason, the door’s open. No driving privileges though, got it Max?” Steve says pointedly looking at her.
“Of course not, Mr. Babysitter Steve, I would never,” Max replies sarcastically, both of them grinning.
So they fall into a routine. There’s always a few people over after school and the guys crowd around Steve’s kitchen table for D&D nights, Steve sitting in the recliner and nursing a beer. The older bunch usually get together either Friday or Saturday night. Jonathan and Argyle hang out sometimes during the day to get out of the Wheeler’s (and Steve wishes he was a fly on the wall when Mr. Wheeler met Argyle). Sunday dinners are still a thing, and Steve is amazed how easy it is. He’s used to having a huge empty house and he’s surprised to learn he enjoys the company. Robin is over almost every day between school and Family Video. Steve’s healing is happening much slower than he wishes and Keith finally had to replace him.
His wounds are healed on the outside but they often burn or ache. Nancy said it was something to do with nerve endings, but he’s pretty sure it’s from the monster goo now inside of him.
He’s also surprised how easy it is living with Eddie. They have their own routine. Like, they go grocery shopping on Tuesdays and it’s always a blast. Eddie’s always telling him about weird vegetables, or joking about the soda set up - look, it’s fun alright?
Steve has never been a huge smoker, but they start smoking together every night before bed. It does help the pain, or at least makes him forget about it. Steve isn’t sure which, but does matter? Sometimes they’ll dangle their legs in the pool, other times they’ll sprawl out on the patio furniture. Steve’s favorite nights though are the ones they drag a blanket out to the backyard and look at the stars. Eddie knows a lot about the sky and stars, planets even. Steve was never interested in any of this in school, but listening to Eddie ramble on about constellations is always his favorite part of the day.
Plus, Steve is really glad Eddie isn’t alone. It’s his first time dealing with everything and he gets nightmares a lot. Steve is always there to wake him up and rub his back and if they fall asleep next to each other, that’s just the friendly thing to do, right?
Steve isn’t so sure anymore.
And then, something happens.
It’s a Thursday night, and they’re out looking at the stars, but they’re talking about Vecna instead. Eddie mentions how just a few weeks ago he wouldn’t have believed any of this.
“Mmmhmm,” Steve says. They’re both laying on the blanket flat on their backs. “No one would.”
They’re silent for a beat, but then Steve puts his foot in his mouth. “I guess that’s why we have so many couples in our group. Imagine not being able to talk to your partner about all this?”
Then he makes the mistake of looking at Eddie’s face. He’s seen that look thrown at him a number of times - it’s desire.
Fuuuuuuuck.
Steve clears his throat, “I, uh - I think I’m going to head up to bed.”
Eddie’s expression changes as he says, “Okay, man - is that still burning?” He nods to Steve’s hip.
“Only a little,” Steve fibs, and Eddie sees right through him. “Okay, okay I’ll ice it before I sleep.”
Eddie grins. “Night, Stevie.”
“Night, Eddie.”
As he lays in bed with a bag of frozen peas, he starts to panic a little. The way Eddie was looking at him … he’s looked at girls like that in the past. But Eddie definitely isn’t a girl.
He tries to reconcile his feelings. Yeah, he liked boobs like he once told Robin, but he was more of an ass man … and Eddie had a great one.
Steve looks back on the past few weeks. He realizes that Eddie had been more touchy feely for the past week. His fingertips lingering on Steve’s arm, clapping Steve’s good shoulder, rubbing medicated lotion into his wounds.
Sometimes when any one of these happened, he felt butterflies in his chest.
Well, if he’s honest - most times.
Holy shit, he was In Love with Eddie Munson.
He tossed and turned all night.
On Fridays, Eddie eats breakfast with his uncle after his night shift. He’s usually out the rest of the day doing deliveries. Steve waits a few minutes after he hears the door before he goes downstairs.
Robin is already coming straight over after school. Steve has to find something to do for six hours besides freak out.
It’s 3:30 on the dot when Robin walks through the door and Steve calls for her from upstairs.
She walks in Steve’s room and Steve has taken almost all of his clothes out of his closet.
“Thank god you’re here, I’ve been going insane waiting for you.”
“What the hell happened in here?” Robin arches her eyebrow high.
“Trying to figure out what to wear,” Steve breathes as he clears a spot on his bed for Robin to sit. “Okay, I know this is going to sound - crazy, probably, but last night Eddie looked at me - like he wanted me, um.” He waves a hand at Robin hoping she’ll finish the sentence but she’s just looking at him with amusement. “Like - I don’t know. Romantically or like, sexually.” Robin starts howling and he winces. “C’mon, Rob.”
“You mean to tell me,” she says between laughs, “you two have been playing house for ALMOST A MONTH, and you’re just now realizing this?”
Steve doesn’t know what to make of that so he just scrunches up his face again. “What?”
“Oh my god, you two are the biggest idiots. You’re just realizing now that Eddie likes you?”
Steve stares blankly at her. “Um. Yes?”
Robin reaches out and grabs his hand. She’s stopped laughing at this point. “And do you like him back?”
“I think so - yeah. Yes?” Steve runs his hands through his hair. “But Robin, I’ve never - and how do I know he likes me back and wasn’t just high?”
Robin can see he’s panicking so she gets up to hug him. “Steve, you’re allowed to like whoever you like, okay?” She rubs his back until his breathing slows. “And you do know Eddie has a super high tolerance right? He’s like, never high when he smokes with you.”
She puts her hands on either side of his face as Steve stares at her, dumbfounded. “Okay, storytime, come sit.”
Robin shoves another pile of clothes so Steve has room to sit. He’s still speechless, so he lets Robin talk.
“Okay, you know how much you don’t remember about that first week?” Steve nods. “I know you remember smoking with Eddie at some point because you told me.” He nods again.
“What you don’t remember is you kept flirting with Eddie. Like, practically throwing yourself at him.”
“I was high out of my mind!” Steve interjects. “That - that actually happened?” He’s had dreams about flirting with Eddie but they were … memories?
“Yeah, no shit. So, after you were asleep, Eddie asked me if you’d ever liked guys before. I told him no, but I always thought …” She trails off looking at Steve. “Okay, there you both like each other - will you fucking TALK to him?”
Steve shook his head. “Absolutely not, I do not have the balls to do that.”
“Steve! You have to do something. I was kind of annoyed at first - the kids started thinking you were together last week, I didn’t know how they knew that and I didn’t!”
Steve gets up and pulls Robin to her feet. “I’m offended you think I wouldn’t tell you first. Which, I did by the way.”
He looks at her as he brings his pointer fingers to his lips, trying to think.
“I can get high and throw myself at him. I’ve done it once, I can do it again. Help me find something slutty to wear.”
&&
Eddie’s a wreck all Friday. He knows he freaked Steve out the night before. At breakfast, his uncle keeps asking what’s wrong - and even though he really can tell his uncle anything, he’s afraid to jinx it. He’s sure Steve is gonna ask him to leave later. His uncle has a new trailer, but it’s barely furnished. Guess he better get used to sleeping on the floor.
He tries to come up with various things to tell Steve tonight (“I was totally out of line, we can still be friends, right?”) They fell into such a comfortable routine, he finally thought maybe Steve reciprocated back - but the way he ran upstairs last night was anything but.
He wishes he could talk to Robin. She would get it. Eddie wonders if Steve told her his versions of events. He knows she’ll be gone by the time he gets home though, she has a date with Vickie.
(Home. He’s calling Steve’s house home. Yikes.)
Unfortunately, Robin isn’t the only one he’s talked to, just who he’s talked the most to. Eddie replays all of the conversations he’s had all day, over and over in his head while he delivers his wares.
When he and Nancy go get groceries at the end of the first week, she can tell something’s up and she can tell it’s not Vecna.
“You know you can talk to me about anything, right, we’re friends?”
They turn an aisle corner. Eddie is pushing the cart and letting Nancy pick out everything since she has that wad of cash Ms. Byers tossed her a week ago.
“Yeah, Steve told me about the trauma bonding thing. You lot is the best thing I have to friends right now.” He sighs, considering the options, finally dropping his voice low, “Okay, so when Steve and I were hanging out in the backyard, he wouldn’t stop flirting with me.”
Nancy laughs (oh no), and says, “Oh I wouldn’t worry about that, Steve was on -“
“Not the problem, Nance!” he cuts her off, not meaning to do it so loudly. He can’t believe Nancy Wheeler is supposedly his friend, let alone let alone the fact that he’s talking to her about liking her ex boyfriend.
“Oh … oh.” Nancy nods and meets his eye.
“And everyone is leaving tonight, so it’s just me and him in his giant rich ass house -“
“Some of us could stay,” she says, putting her hand over Eddie’s where it rests on the shopping cart.
“No, no, you’ve already saved my life like a dozen times. I’ll be fine, I’m just like always on edge now, about everything apparently.” Eddie puts his free hand over hers and gives it a little squeeze. She can probably tell the smile he gives her is fake, but he’s got bigger problems.
The following Thursday, Jonathan and Argyle come over with Argyle’s - Purple Passion? Purple Pineapple? - his fancy ass California weed.
Eddie sadly admits it’s better than his own. “We have enough so Stevie can try later?” he asks, passing the joint back to Argyle. Steve’s taking a nap but will be down later.
“Dude, of course! I always have enough for you and your boy,” Argyle replies, grinning widely.
Eddie snatches the joint from Jonathan, inhaling deeply. “He’s not my boy. Did Nancy tell you that?” He’s already too high for this conversation.
Jonathan and Argyle look at each other and start cracking up. “No, man we just have eyes,” Argyle finally says pointing at his face, and great. Eddie has no idea what he’s doing to be so obvious.
He takes one more hit and falls back on the lounge chair he’s sitting on. “Steve Harrington is like, the straightest dude in Hawkins, guys. I also have eyes.”
Argyle and Jonathan start laughing again. Eddie’s starting to get annoyed he’s wasting this good weed being irritated.
“We aren’t making fun of you,” Argyle says. “Argyle is open to love of all types, not labels, and I have seen the way Steve looks at you.”
Eddie wants to point out that Argyle has known them for less than three weeks, but then Steve opens the door to join them. His hair is wild from sleep, and Eddie wants to run his hands through it.
“Zip it,” Eddie says, shooting a look at the pair, and thankfully they quickly nod back at him.
Eddie is so screwed.
It’s after next Sunday’s dinner when Eddie starts to have the slightest feeling they might be right.
He’s trying to sneak out to have a cigarette and almost opens the door to the backyard, but hesitates. Will and Steve are sitting facing each other. The windows are open to let the late spring breeze in, and he doesn’t mean to eavesdrop, but -
“… So, we kissed but now Mike is being super weird and avoiding me. And we’re staying in the same house!” Eddie watches as Will puts his head in his hands and Steve pats him on the back.
“Listen, if it gets awkward and you need to get out of the Wheeler’s, just come here. Have Jonathan bring you and you can all crash on the couch, or just come over by yourself. If anyone asks, you’re helping Eddie with a new game or whatever it’s called. You used to be in charge before, right? No one will question that. Eddie won’t mind.”
Steve’s not wrong, Eddie won’t mind. Before all this, Mike wouldn’t shut up about his best friend Will. He didn’t hear a single word about the superhero girlfriend.
“Thanks,” Eddie hears Will say.
“And just - give Mike some time. As a guy, guys are stupid. Sometimes it takes us a while to figure out what we want.”
Suddenly, Eddie’s heart is in his throat.
“Guys really are stupid.” Eddie turns and Dustin is behind him, eating one of Nancy’s cookies she brought.
“Jesus, warn a guy, dingus. It’s not nice to sneak up on people.”
Dustin looks at him pointedly. “It’s not nice to spy on people either.”
“I’m waiting for them to be done so I can go smoke. I didn’t want to interrupt.”
“Suuuuure,” Dustin says, walking the few feet to stand next to Eddie. “Will is gonna be fine, and you will too.”
“What the hell are you talking about?” Eddie says, shoving his shoulder against Dustin’s a little too forcefully.
Dustin put both his hands in the air, mock surrendering. “I’m just saying I think Steve needs to take his own advice.”
“Henderson, I swear to god,” Eddie mutters and thankfully Will and Steve stand up and start to walk towards the house. “Mind your own business,” he says as he pushes the door open to escape outside.
Eddie’s come to realize no one in this group can mind their own business.
Eddie lets himself replay last night one last time as he pulls his van into Steve’s driveway. He needs to get his shit together so Steve doesn’t kick him out.
When he walks in, Steve does’t hear him. Eddie finds him in the kitchen, bopping around to the radio, whisking a giant bowl.
Eddie’s mouth goes dry when he sees Steve wearing bright red, tiny gym shorts and a tee shirt with the arms cut off. There’s a bit of flour streaked across his cheek.
Steve obviously didn’t hear the door open, so Eddie tentatively calls out hello from the foyer.
“Hey, man!” Steve calls from the kitchen, switching off the radio.
“Well, don’t stop on my account,” Eddie says as he walks into the kitchen, and oh.
“Stevie, did you pregame my stash without me?” he asks with a grin.
Steve puts the metal bowl down and reaches for the joint behind his ear, and fuck, if that isn’t hot. Get a hold of yourself Eddie, he thinks to himself.
“Barely! I saved most for later.”
“You know you’re welcome any time, right? Were you in pain again?” Eddie asks, unsure why Steve would smoke without him.
“Shoulder,” Steve replies with a shrug before he goes back to whisking.
“What are you making, besides a mess?” Eddie asks and he can’t help himself, he has to wipe the flour from Steve’s cheek.
“I was thinking we could have breakfast for dinner on Sunday! Trying to figure out a good recipe for waffles. I got eggos too, but I thought El might like something different.”
“Steve Harrington,” Eddie says, feeling heat pool in his stomach, “Are you trying to perfect a waffle recipe for one single child? I think you’ve been promoted from babysitter to dad.”
Steve scoffs. “Takes one to know one, daddy-o.”
Eddie knows that’s not how he meant it, but his chest tightens just the same. “So, we’re having rejects for dinner?”
Steve flashes Eddie a grin, and oh, he’s so fucked. Steve’s acting like nothing happened last night and Eddie is more than welcome to play along.
Once they’re full of sugar and syrup, they go outside to finish the joint Steve started.
Eddie sees Orion in the sky tonight, and he starts rambling about the hunter mythology. He rambles when he’s nervous and he’s pretty nervous around Steve all the time. He goes to pass Steve the joint, and sees that Steve isn’t flat on his back anymore, he’s on his side facing Eddie with his eyes closed.
“Am I putting you to sleep, Stevie?” Eddie scoffs but Steve starts shaking his head vehemently. Eddie rolls to face him even though he knows he’s playing with fire.
“No, no, I just like listening to you talk, especially when it’s something you really like.”
“Oh.”
Steve opens his eyes and meets Eddie’s glance. “I like a lot of things about you, Eddie.”
They stare at each other for a moment and Steve adds, “I like you, Eddie.”
Eddie can’t read Steve’s expression so he gives him an out. “I like you too, Steve, you’re like, my best friend at this point -“ but Steve’s already shaking his head and he reaches out, fisting a hand in Eddie’s tee, pulling him closer.
“No, Eddie. I. Like. You.”’
And then Steve’s kissing him, hard and desperate. It’s the best kiss Eddie’s ever had. He hears both of their heartbeats in his head. He gasps embarrassingly, but then Steve moans into his mouth, and the sound goes right to his dick.
They part to catch their breath. “The kids already think we’re together,” Steve murmurs.
Dustin Henderson, that little gremlin. “Well, we can’t disappoint the children, daddy.”
Steve shoves at Eddie’s shoulder and he falls to the blanket. Suddenly, Steve’s on top of him, and he really, really hopes Steve will remember this tomorrow.
Steve puts a hand at the small of Eddie’s back, pulling him closer. “I fucking better.”