Chapter Text
Eddie Munson.
Eddie 'The freak' Munson.
Steve really could not believe that fighting monsters from other dimension along a girl with superpowers wasn't at the top of his list of the strangest things, instead Eddie Munson was proudly sitting on number one.
Steve didn't know Eddie that well.
Sure, he knew that they study at the same school and that he run that club for nerds where, against his will, Steve had to drive Henderson every saturday.
But apart from that, Eddie Munson was just another face in the crowd.
Until the recent events of course.
Because fighting for your life, for the third time, makes you question a lot of things.
Things that maybe you don't want to think about.
And Steve didn't want to think about Eddie.
Eddie playing the guitar in literal hell.
Or Eddie giving him his denim vest.
Eddie smiling after winning.
No, Steve definitely didn't want to think about it.
That's why he's been trying to avoid the curly guy.
It doesn't sound like something hard to do, except that Eddie Munson isn't like the other people that Steve had successfully avoided in the past.
No, Eddie was persistent.
He was everywhere.
Or maybe it was Steve's imagination.
But he could swear that he saw curly black and long hair around every corner.
Steve knew that he couldn't avoid Eddie forever, but he could try.
That's why he was avoiding Robin now.
"C'mon Steve! It's just a party, you used to host lots of these in high school" said Robin while arranging some of the movies on the counter.
Steve sighed and run a hand through his hair.
"That was before saving the world, three times! I don't think a party should be my number one priority"
Robin stopped and turned around to face him.
"That's exactly my point! We haven't been normal teenagers for a long time, I think we deserve some fun for us, and alcohol, lots of alcohol"
Steve crossed his arms over his chest.
He couldn't think of a good excuse, he knew Robin was right.
"Okay" he finally accepted.
Robin celebrated with a little awkward dance until the door opened.
Steve looked over and freezed.
The one and only Eddie Munson was standing there with his fucking smirk.
Maybe Steve stared a little bit too much because Eddie turned his gaze and their eyes met for a second.
No, Steve definitely needed to leave.
"Hey Munson" he said before running away.
He locked himself in the bathroom.
He was a coward, he knows it.
"For god's sake, I fought literal monsters" he mumbled under his breath.
He waited for a minute or two and then left the bathroom.
It would be too suspicious if he stayed longer in there.
He walked towards the counter and heard a little bit of the conversation between Robin and Eddie.
"So, are you up to or not?" Said Robin.
"Darling, I'm always up to a party" Said Eddie in a British accent.
Fuck.
Steve accepted going to the party because he wanted to forget just for a night, he wanted to forget his worries and just have fun.
But now Eddie is going to be there too.
Steve heard the ring on the door, announcing that Eddie had left the store.
"What are you doing hiding here?"
"Jesus fucking christ Robin!" Steve put a hand over his chest.
"I know i'm not that ugly dingus, tell me, were you spying us? Are you okay? You don't seem okay, should i take you to a hospital? I can't drive that well…"Robin started talking non-stop.
Steve took her by her shoulders.
"I'm fine Robin! Geez, calm down"
Robin focused her eyes on his.
"Then tell me what is wrong"
Steve thought for a minute.
He knows that Robin won't laugh at him or something.
He knows that she will understand him.
But saying what he thinks outloud is very different from talking to yourself at 2AM in your room, not that Steve has done this of course.
"I…i think i like someone Robin"
Robin blinked.
"You've been going out with a lot of girls lately, finally you've found the one" she said while patting one of his shoulders.
Steve stood there not knowing what to do.
"Wait, this doesn't explain why you were hiding here" remembered Robin.
Shit.
"Yeah…well, it's a funny story you know? I've been thinking for a while now, and maybe the person i've been looking for isn't exactly a girl…" he almost whispered the last part.
Robin stared at him.
"Oh… oh, wait what?!" Her eyes almost jumped out of her face.
"What you heard, don't make me say it again" he shifted his weight and started biting one of his nails.
"I still don't understand what were you doin…" she stopped in the middle of the sentence. Steve could almost see her brain squeezing.
Then she looked at him.
"No!" She said.
Steve didn't say anything.
"You like Eddie?!" Asked Robin.
"I think so…"
"This is gold, oh my god, Steve 'the king' Harrington wants a boyfriend, i never thought i would said that"
Steve groaned.
"I'm regretting telling you"
"Sorry, It just the shock i guess, you have to tell me everything!"
For the next half an hour Robin sat on the counter listening to every word that Steve told her.
"It definitely sounds like a crush to me" she said.
"Yeah I know, what should I do? Oh god i was friends with homophobic people, what if Eddie hates me? I would hate myself too"
Robin chuckled.
"He doesn't hate you Steve, why would he come to the job of the person he hates? I mean, I'm also here, but that isn't the point"
She had a point.
That made Steve relax a little bit.
"Now, you have to make your move in the party"
"What? No! Are you insane?" He said panicking again.
"Loser" mumbled Robin.
"Yeah I'm a loser but so you are" Steve pointed a finger at her.
"You got me" she raised her hands accepting the defeat.
Her eyes illuminated.
"I don't like this" Steve said.
"I have a proposal for you Dingus" she made a pause "If you try something with Eddie at the party I will try something with Vickie as well"
Steve stared at her.
This woman is insane.
He thought, he could always run away, Robin doesn't have to know.
"Okay, deal" He said sticking out his right hand.
"Yes!" Robin said taking his hand and shaking it.
The rest of the week, Steve tried to keep himself busy, being alone with your thoughts is not always something good.
He felt nervous.
He could tell that Robin was nervous as well.
Maybe she was reconsidering their deal, but she didn't say anything about it.
Friday night came really fast, faster than Steve would have like to.
He ended his shift and drove home after telling Robin that he would come by her house at nine o' clock.
He took a shower and stared at his closet.
He never cared that much about his clothes, he just bought whetever his friends wore.
He was regretting that now.
He didn't like anything.
"C'mon Steve, what are you doing? Just take anything" he said to himself.
After ten minutes, Steve was wearing a pair of black jeans, a white shirt and a black denim jacket.
"Shit, c'mon! Help me here" he talked to his hair while fixing it.
When he was satisfied with how he looked, he left the house.
After fifteen minutes he parked outside Robin's house and played the claxon.
Robin stepped outside a couple of minutes later and run to the car.
"Someone spent time in front of the mirror" said as soon as she looked at Steve.
"Oh shut up"
Steve drove for almost twenty minutes following Robin's indications and finally arrived to the house.
Steve had no idea whose house was it.
The music could be heard from outside.
A few people were on the front garden with red cups on their hands.
Steve's body relaxed.
He was on his zone.
They entered by the front door and Steve was immediately received by a small crowd of people.
"C'mon Buckley, we have a long night ahead" he said before taking Robin's hand and pull her towards where Steve thought was the kitchen.
A few more people said hi to them on their way and finally got into the kitchen.
"What do you want?" Asked Steve while taking two cups.
"Is up to you, I'm sure you know way more drinks than me" answered Robin.
"Right"
Steve poured a little of a blue drink that smelled nice, a little of vodka and something that looked suspiciously dark.
Better than nothing.
"Here you are" he offered the cup to her.
"Thanks, what should we toast for?" She asked.
Steve, who was about to drink the content of the cup, looked at her confused.
"Toast?"
"Yeah toast, you know, we raise our glasses and we said something we are grateful for?" She teased him.
Steve snorted.
"I know what a toast is, thank you for the explanation"
"Anytime"
"But i don't think i have anything to toast to"
"You can't be like that Harrington!"
Steve froze.
He's here.
He looked at Robin with panic in his eyes.
She just shrugged.
Steve felt an arm over his shoulders, and the blood running to his cheeks.
"Our little Stevie isn't grateful for anything? I'm quite disappointed" said Eddie.
Shit.
Shit.
Shit.
Steve laughed.
"Get off me Munson" he said trying to separate from him.
He felt his skin burning where Eddie was touching.
"You don't want my love! You're hurting me" Eddie said putting a hand on his chest.
Steve took that moment to observe Eddie's clothes.
The usual Hellfire shirt and denim vest were replaced with a black sleeveless shirt that had a logo of a band Steve didn't know and a black vest, paired with what looked like leather pants.
Chains and rings decorating everything.
A single black nail on his right hand.
Steve felt his throat dry.
"You want me Robin, right?"
"Of course I do Eddie, you can cry here" she said opening her arms.
Eddie run to her and threw himself, fake crying on her shoulder.
"It's alright Eddie, don't mind him, his a monster" she said, smirking at Steve.
"Oh c'mon you two! Stop the drama" Said Steve, rolling his eyes.
Eddie took his head from Robin's shoulder and smirked.
"I know you're jealous Harrington, you love me"
Steve swallowed.
"Yeah yeah whatever you say, I came here to get drunk and have fun, and i'm not doing either of them, so if you excuse me" He said before drinking the content of his cup.
Eddie smiled at him.
"The party has begun!"
The next few hours were foggy in Steve's mind.
He just knows that he had fun.
And that he drank more than he had planned to.
Robin was passed out next to him, covered by at least 10 jackets.
Steve wondered how she was able to breathe.
"How is my Stevie doing?" Asked Eddie while sitting next to him.
He looked way better than Steve.
He always did.
"Shut up Munson, my head hurts if you breathe too loud"
Eddie laughed.
"I think it's time for you two to go"
Steve agreed.
"I don't think I can drive though"
Eddie chuckled.
"I notice that, c'mon, I'll drive you home" he said while patting Steve's thigh.
Steve's muscles tensed.
Eddie lifted Robin from the couch and carried her to the car.
Steve almost forgot where he parked.
Luckily Eddie knew Robin's house.
Had he been there before? He had to ask Robin later.
They arrived twenty-five minutes later, and Robin had already woken up and was mumbling about something Steve didn't understand.
"C'mon Buckley, get inside your house, we won't leave until you do it"
"Shut up dingus" she said before turning around and heading to the house.
Steve and Eddie waited until she was safe to enter the car and drive to Steve's house.
The night was calm.
The sweet breeze of summer hit their faces and made Steve smile.
He was drunk as hell.
He could feel Eddie's eyes on him.
Maybe he was worried about him, but it wasn't like Steve would throw up in his own car.
He would do it in his bathroom of course.
They arrived and Eddie turned off the car and gave Steve the key.
"Are you okay?" Eddie asked.
Steve blinked.
"I guess so, why?"
Eddie shrugged.
"You seemed lost in your thoughts, or maybe you're just too drunk"
Steve laughed.
"A little bit of both actually my dear" Steve closed his eyes.
If he were in this situation with a girl, he would be the one taking her to her house, leaning in before she opened the door to kiss her.
It was easy, Steve had done it before.
But being like this with Eddie it was different, he was fighting the urge to take his face and kiss him.
He was fighting with all his strength.
He opened his eyes.
Eddie was staring at him with those round and beautiful eyes of him.
The moonlight made his skin look paler, little veins could be barely seen under it.
A few freckles on his cheeks, Steve hadn't notice them before.
He wanted to touch them.
"What?" Eddie asked.
And Steve just said it.
"You look very pretty right now"
Steve was amazed by what happened after that.
Eddie smiled shyly and his cheeks flustered.
"Stop it Harrington"
"What? I'm saying the truth" Steve let his head rest on the seat, he didn't take his eyes off the man across him.
"You don't know what you're saying, you're too drunk, it's better if you leave now"
Steve's stomach hurt.
He felt stupid.
"Right, I'm sorry" he said before opening the door and stepping on the street.
He could hear Eddie doing the same.
He didn't care.
He surrounded the car and stood in front of Eddie.
"Thank you for the ride" he thanked.
He turned around before hearing Eddie's answer.
He was about to take out his house keys when he felt a hand on his shoulder.
"Steve"
Steve swallowed whatever had installed on his throat and faced Eddie.
"You're not angry, are you?"
"Why would i? You don't like being called pretty, i get it, i won't say it again" Steve answered.
Eddie snorted.
"Is not that Harrington, you know what? Forget it, it's stupid" Eddie turned around and walked away.
Steve stood in front of his door.
He didn't understand.
He blinked confused and started to walk behind Eddie.
"What did you mean back there?" Steve asked out loud.
Eddie stopped, all Steve could see was his back and his long hair.
"You wouldn't understand Steve, go back to your house, It's late and you're drunk"
Steve walked over him and put a hand on Eddie's shoulder, just like he had done a few minutes ago.
"Then explain it to me" Steve said.
He saw Eddie's back tense for a second.
Steve was so curious.
Eddie turned around and sighed.
"Look Steve, even if I explain it to you, I don't think you'll be able to understand"
"Try, and then we'll see" answered Steve.
Eddie stared at the sidewalk under his heavy black boots and then spoke, very low, and Steve wondered if he spoke at all or if it was his imagination.
"You can't go around calling people, boys, pretty"
What?
"What? Why? It's just a compliment"
Eddie snorted.
"It is not, people can misunderstand Steve, and believe me, they can be very mean if they want to"
"I know that" Steve said.
"No, you don't! Steve, no one has ever been mean and cruel to you! For god's sake, you're Steve Harrington, the perfect guy, with a perfect family, and a perfect house, a perfect car and a perfect life! What would people be mean about?" Answered Eddie finally looking at Steve's face.
His eyes were teary.
Steve was speechless.
"You have no idea what it's like, to be pushed and hit on the corridors, being the freak of the school, and that no one comes close to you" Eddie's chest went up and down very fast.
Steve didn't know what to said.
"Did…did all of that happened here?" He asked.
Eddie stared at him.
"No, i moved here four years ago, that's why i live with my uncle"
"But, what happened? You're like the coolest guy i know!"
That was okay right? A lot of guys called eachother cool.
Eddie smiled.
"I… I told something to my best friend, and he told everyone, and well, shit happened"
Steve was curious.
So curious.
But he won't ask.
"I know you want to ask"
Was he so obvious?
"Just like you, I told my friend that Marcus Jones was pretty"
Oh.
Oh.
"He told me that boys don't call others boys pretty and that I was a disgusting queer"
Steve felt so bad.
"But that is stupid! You just liked a boy, so what? Kids are horrible people"
Eddie chuckled.
"Yes they are" he paused.
"So…are you okay with me being, well, that i like guys?" He asked staring at his hands.
Steve almost laughed.
Of course he was! It was perfect!
"Of course Eddie! I'm not a monster"
Eddie smiled.
"So…you think I'm pretty Harrington?" He asked taking a step forward.
Steve swallowed.
"Well, yeah" he locked his eyes with Eddie's.
Eddie took another step towards Steve.
"Want to know something else?"
Steve nodded.
"I think you're very pretty too"
Steve's heart beat strong and loud in his chest.
He hoped Eddie couldn't listen it.
"You do?" He asked.
Eddie smirked.
"Oh yes, definitely" his eyes travelled all over Steve's face.
Steve felt like dreaming.
He found himself staring at Eddie's lips.
Thin and pink.
Their bodies were really close, Steve could feel the heat escaping from Eddie, inviting Steve.
It was tempting.
So tempting.
But Steve doubted.
What if he had misunderstood Eddie?
Just because he liked boys doesn't mean he likes Steve.
But he told him he was pretty too…
Fuck it.
Steve cut the distance between them, grabbing Eddie's face and kissing him.
Eddie kissed him back.
Steve felt like floating.
Was this real?
Steve lower his hands to Eddie's waist and pulled him closer.
Eddie run his hands through Steve's hair.
It was rough.
Needy.
Eventually, they broke apart.
But they didn't let eachother go.
"So, Mr Harrington, what was that about?" Eddie asked.
Steve smirked.
"I told you, you're very pretty Munson"
"Well, of course, I know that, look at me! Gorgeous man indeed i am"
They laughed until they noticed the sky getting lighter above them.
"It's getting late"
"Yes"
They couldn't separate.
It was as if their bodies were magnets.
Eddie took a step backwards.
Steve suddenly felt cold.
"So, see you around?"
Steve chuckled.
"Definitely Munson"