Archive of Our Own

“Hey, Rob.”

“Huh?”

“You want a late birthday present?”

“My birthday was like four months ago.”

“Did you not hear me say a late birthday present?”

Robin just rolled her eyes as she rested her head against her palm, staring out the car window as they made their way towards Family Video.

“If I indulge you, do I actually get a present?” 

Steve knew it was probably too early in the morning for his shenanigans as Robin likes to put it, but what was the point of your friend mooching a ride from you everyday if you couldn’t bug her in return?

He reached over to pop open the glove compartment. He snapped his fingers and did a little gun gesture pointing at the contents inside.

“Boom,” he glanced over at a dumbfounded Robin before turning his attention back towards the road.

Practically spilling out of the aforementioned glove compartment was about a dozen dime bags filled with loose pot and blunts. 

Robin made a noise that gurgled out of her throat, unable to put together words as she sat up with her mouth open.

“Dude, I know our pay isn’t the greatest but you don’t have to turn to dealing. Just like, pick up some extra shifts or something.”

Now it was Steve’s turn to have his mouth agape with shock at what his friend suggested.

“No I’m not-, I’m not selling weed. Jesus Christ,” he wiped a hand over his face. “I got it all from Eddie.”

Robin picked up one of the plastic baggies with a joint inside and turned it over between her fingers. 

“He gave you all of this for free? He must really like you.” 

Steve sat with his tongue pushed up against the side of his cheek, already getting a little too miffed for nine in the morning. 

“Shut up,” he sighed out. “I bought it from him.”

“You bought all this weed from Eddie and you don’t even want to smoke any of it?”

Steve pursed his lips as he thought about how to respond.

“I… have a problem.”

Robin scoffed, “Yeah no shit, Sherlock.”

She threw the bag back into the glove compartment and shut it closed just as they pulled into a parking spot right in front of work. She unbuckled her seatbelt and started to gather up her bag when she noticed Steve hadn't moved his hands off the steering wheel since they stopped.

“Uh,” she waved her hand in front of his face, Steve’s thousand yard stare fixed out the windshield in front of him. “Earth to Steve? Hello?”

Steve’s silence almost scared Robin until he slowly turned his head towards her, not blinking the entire time.

He took a deep breath but held it as it got stuck in his throat. So Robin made a move to open the car door and just leave him there but Steve reached out to grab at her wrist before she could.

“I think I like Eddie.”

Neither of them moved as they sat there looking at each other. Steve waited for a response. A look. An eye twitch. A polite smile. Something. 

What he didn’t expect was a loud snort to rumble out of Robin’s throat before it turned into full on laughter. Her head fell back against the seat as she cackled into her hands, her cheeks pushing her eyes closed. 

Steve couldn’t believe this. 

He threw his hands in the air as he scoffed, “Okay, I didn’t know what I expected, but I didn’t expect you to have a little giggle fit at my world shattering, universe ending, existential realization.”

Robin continued to laugh, begging Steve to stop it or else she would pass out from lack of air. She pulled down the car mirror and checked her mascara to make sure it wasn’t running because she was sure she was crying. 

Steve just sighed as he waited for her to stop. All the best friends in the world and he had to get this one.

Robin composed herself as she wiped at a metaphorical tear.

“Didn’t the universe almost end, I don’t know, a few times before? We were right in the middle of it and the thing to bring your entire world down is a little gay crush-”

“Shh!” Steve waved a hand quickly in front of her face. “Don’t use that word.”

“Gay?” Robin blinked.

“Yes, I mean, sure. There’s- There’s nothing wrong with… that. With being that. I’m open minded as hell,” Steve tapped a finger on his temple for emphasis. “I just- I’m not that. Look, I still love boobs.”

“Okay-”

“Tits.”

“Okay, gross-

“Melons.”

“Alright, now it’s your turn to be quiet,” Robin stopped him before he could get any more explicit. 

“I like girls,” Steve shouted more to convince himself than Robin.

“You know,” she placed a gentle hand on his shoulder, half sarcastically but also half in a genuinely reassuring gesture. “You can like boys and girls.”

“I’m not even sure if I like dudes. I just like,” he turned his hands in front of him as he thought. “Him.” 

“Well congratulations, moron. You got yourself a good old fashioned schoolboy crush,” Robin slapped her hand down on his shoulder before retrieving it to get back to her bag.

“That sounds so juvenile,” Steve muttered as he finally opened the car door and stepped out.

“Sounds fitting for someone like you,” Robin threw a teasing smile his way from the opposite side as she closed the car door with a light slam.

Their footsteps fell in sync as they made their way up to the front door, shrugging on their work vests with absolute glee.

“Just promise you won’t tell anyone about this, especially Eddie. Got it?” Steve waved a stern finger at her.

She slapped away his hand, “Of course you can trust me. As long as you quit buying so much weed from him. I feel like it would save you money in the long run to just make him your full time sugar baby.” 

“Ha ha I’m gonna pretend you didn’t say that,” Steve opened the door of Family Video, the bell ringing above them as he let her in first.

“I absolutely promise. I will not buy anymore drugs from Eddie Munson.”

***

Steve found himself in front of Eddie Munson’s trailer about to buy more drugs.

Technically, he didn’t break his promise. Marijuana hardly qualifies as a drug actually.

Steve pulled at the front of his collar, trying to get some air flow into his shirt as the scorching summer heat snuck up on him even though spring was barely over. He stood shuffling his feet against the creaky old wood of the patio. He could hear the muffled sound of a stereo blasting heavy metal coming from inside. Steve was sure he could possibly pinpoint what song it was from all the knowledge Eddie had forced onto him about his favorite bands. 

He brought a fist up towards the door but paused. He had to take a moment to psych himself up before banging his hand down, the loud noise cutting through the music. He heard Eddie yell something from inside as the music was turned down, then the sounds of footprints before the man in question swung the door open.

Steve felt his throat swell up to the size of a grapefruit.

Eddie was in his usual garb of dark colors and dark colors only, but with an appropriately summer twist. His Black Sabbath shirt was moth-eaten and old but looked to be hastily cut into a crop top, exposing the dark hair on his stomach that led down to the black shorts that hung low on his hips. The worst part though was that his usual mop of messy hair was thrown up into a high ponytail, some tendrils falling out to lay against his forehead.

Eddie’s eyebrows shot up but then his face lit up once he realized it was Steve at his door.

“H-Hey,” Steve’s voice embarrassingly cracked because his mouth suddenly had the texture of the Sahara desert. 

Eddie just greeted him with his signature wide smile.

“Harrington, to what do I owe the pleasure of this welcomed visit?”

Steve managed to force himself to tear his eyes away from the exposed skin of Eddie’s stomach, suddenly finding the doorframe extremely interesting.

He coughed before shifting his weight, an honest attempt at trying to look more casual.

“I’m here to, you know, buy some more um… stuff.”

Eddie gave him an incredulous look as he folded his arms across his chest to which Steve did not notice the way his biceps flexed and how the shirt fell lower to show off his collarbones. 

“Already?” Eddie asked. “Didn’t I just sell you some like three days ago? You, my friend, might have a problem. But it helps keep these lights on so who am I to complain?”

He ended his reply with a shrug before turning around to make his way inside the living room, leaving Steve to hastily follow behind, shutting the door behind himself.

Eddie’s trailer had an unfortunate lack of AC. Only one or two ratty fans scattered here and there to try to get any sort of circulation. Steve was going to blame that on why his palms were so sweaty.

He followed the sound of the music down the hallway towards Eddie’s room. His room was cramped and damp, which definitely was not helped by all the random junk he had laying around. It was mostly taken up by his mattress tucked against the corner, an old hand-me-down dresser and a guitar amp that he had been using as a side table. 

He watched as Eddie hurried around the room looking for something. He could hear him mumble to himself as he opened random drawers and looked inside random trinkets. Steve found himself in the same spot he had been in countless times by now, on Eddie’s bed with his back pressed up against a Dio poster that was tacked onto the wall.

From within the closet he heard Eddie exclaim an aha noise as he found what he was looking for sitting atop the shelf. He reached up to grab his trusty tin lunch box, his shirt lifting up to reveal the muscles of his back and Steve prayed to whatever god there was out there to strike him down at this moment. 

“Since you’re such a loyal customer,” Eddie turned around and sat the lunch box at the foot of the bed. “I got the good shit for you today.”

Steve curled an eyebrow up, “So you’ve been selling me the bad shit this whole time?”

Eddie paused from where he was rummaging through the contents of the box to lay a hand against his chest, feigning hurt.

“Ouch. All of my products have the certified Eddie seal of approval. Nothing but quality. But what I have for you today my friend will blow your freakin’ mind.”

Eddie found what he was looking for and held up a small baggie, the strain inside a deep, royal purple. 

“This is the cream of the crop,” he flicked a finger at the bag. “Got it from a friend of a friend who got it out in California or whatever. Do not ask me how I managed this or I’d have to kill you. Or something.”

Eddie let out a laugh at himself before he threw himself down onto the bed next to Steve, their bare arms and legs touching from how close he was. Steve was going to be sick.

Eddie waved the bag in front of Steve’s face to which he grabbed it from him, their fingers momentarily brushing. 

Steve turned it around in his hands as he inspected it. He made some general noises of agreement since he had no idea what even made good weed anyways.

“Oh yeah, that is some uh, real good green right there. Top notch. Send my compliments to the chef.”

Eddie just looked at him with the goofiest smile on his face before busting out into a laugh. He clapped a hand onto Steve’s back and left it there to burn a hole right through his shirt. 

“I’ll tell you what, since you’re my favorite customer I’ll give you a special discount. Twenty bucks flat out for my best boy.”

“Am I really your favorite?”

“You doubt me?” Eddie leaned in even closer with a crooked grin on his face. “You sure do give me the most business these days.”

Steve let his hands fall to his lap. He peered down at Eddie’s other hand that rested between them, the chewed up nail beds of his fingertips barely brushing against the fabric of Steve’s shorts. 

Something in Steve’s brain must have short circuited because he asked, “You wanna get out of here?”

Eddie blinked, “What did you have in mind, Harrington?”

Steve’s shoulders lifted in a half shrug.

“I’m thinking we go out, get you high on your own supply and we see how good this shit really is.”

Steve felt Eddie grip the back of his shirt before pulling away.

“You don’t gotta tell me twice,” he leaped up from the bed in one fell swoop.

“I could drive us out to Lover’s Lake,” Steve suggested. “Now that there isn’t any more spooky shit out there I’m sure it’s relatively safe.”

“Are you trying to make a move on me?” 

Steve threw a pillow at Eddie’s head to which he caught with a snort. 

“Shut it,” Steve frowned. “It’s getting later in the day, there shouldn’t be any annoying kids around there. Besides, the water looks really cool with the stars reflecting off of it. Which I only know because of all the dates I might have taken there.”

Eddie let out a soft gasp, “I’ll have you know right now that I am not that kind of girl. You’re gonna have to do more than just get me high to get into these pants.”

Steve couldn’t help the chuckle that bubbled out of him as he scooted towards the edge of the bed. Eddie held out a hand and Steve had to stealthily wipe his palms against his shorts before taking it and standing up. He ended up standing only a few inches away from the other boy, Eddie’s room not having much walking space to begin with.

Eddie’s soft, doe eyes looking at him did something to Steve’s stomach, so he let go of his hand before he did anything stupid. 

Steve brushed past him, walking towards the door as he grabbed a random shirt that laid against the mirror on the wall and threw it at Eddie’s head.

“Speaking of clothes, put some on before we head out,” Steve called out over his shoulder.

He could hear Eddie’s voice from down the hall yelling out something about Steve enjoying the show.

Steve leaned against the front door, his hands clutched at his hips as he let out a long breath he didn’t know he was holding. It tickled at the hair that draped down his forehead.  He needed to relax.

***

Steve made the executive decision of stopping by his house first to grab some beers. He figured if he truly needed a surefire way of relaxing then getting tipsy too was going to do it.

The drive down to the lake went as well as any other time the two of them were in a car together. Eddie ranked on Steve’s musical interests every opportunity he got but even though Steve would never admit it, he kind of liked the back and forth they always had. It never got old to him.

Steve put his foot down this time and made them listen to his cassettes even though Eddie has generously loaned him some of his own that he scattered in the back seat and the side door pocket. 

Eddie rummaged through the cassettes inside the glove compartment and Steve was glad he cleaned it out yesterday. Robin didn’t accept any of Steve’s little presents, but he hoped his mom didn’t look underneath his bed any time soon.

“This is exactly the trash I thought you would listen to but why can’t you surprise me for once.”

Steve’s mouth gaped open as he defended himself.

“Tears for Fears is one of the greatest bands of all time. I am not budging on that statement.”

“But pop music?”

“Hey, it’s called popular music for a reason. It’s good.”

Eddie just shook his head as he chuckled, tossing the cassette tape back and closing the glove compartment with a snap.

The song faded into silence before the next song started up. The corner of Steve’s lip quivered into a small smile as he saw the slight bob of Eddie’s head as he stared out the window.

You walked into the room

I just had to laugh

The face you wore was cool

You were a photograph

“This one’s not half bad, ” Eddie admitted in defeat. “And don’t you dare tell anyone I said that. That’s all you’re getting out of me.”

“And I’m gonna hold it against you forever,” Steve smirked at him.

The gravel crunched beneath the tires as Steve pulled off the main road towards the lake. The sun was setting until it was barely a sliver over the skyline. The smell of pine wafted through the open windows. He parked close enough towards the edge of the water that the trees didn't block their view of the sky.

“Time to get this show on the road,” Eddie held the small baggie between his teeth as he rummaged through his pockets.

He messily made use of the middle console as a table as he ‘worked his magic’ as he described it. Steve only had to yell at him a few times when some of the bud spilled onto his car floor as Eddie ground it up with his hands. It made him work quicker at least as he rolled the joint expertly between his fingers like he had a million times by now. Steve had to look away when Eddie ran his tongue along the paper’s edge before sealing it with a quick swipe of his lighter.

Steve busied himself by getting out of the car and grabbing the beers from the back. He stood admiring the lake for a moment, inhaling the fresh forest air before he was about to fill his lungs with smoke.

He laid the six pack against the ground as he leaned against the front of the car. He grabbed his opener that hung off his keys and cracked open a bottle before taking a nice, long swig.

He brought the bottle down from his lips as he wiped at his mouth with the back of his hand. Eddie joined him by his side, assuming the same position against the hood. 

“Don't start the party without me,” Eddie made a grabby motion towards the beer.

Steve bent over to grab one and opened it, Eddie happily taking it from him and downing half the bottle to catch up.

They stood in comfortable silence as they both looked out at the lake. The sun was long gone with only the stars and the moon to light up their surroundings. 

“Pretty romantic spot, Stevie.”

“Now you know why I frequented this place so much. Though I could probably do much better for a date than who I got tonight.”

“Oh, I highly doubt that.”

Eddie pulled the freshly rolled joint from where it was sitting behind his ear and held it between his lips. He paused before plucking it out and holding it out towards Steve.

“Where are my manners? I’ll let you set the maiden voyage.”

Steve set his beer down and took the joint, trying not to think about how it was just in Eddie’s mouth as he placed it in his own. He patted the front and back pockets of his shorts for a lighter before cursing at how unprepared he was. 

Eddie whistled at him as he shook his lighter in his hand, "Once again coming in to save the day.”

Steve was about to reply with a rebuttal but Eddie stepped closer, invading his space as he nodded for Steve to come closer. Steve felt something funny in his throat as he swallowed but obliged as he leaned his head in.

Eddie cupped one hand around the joint to protect it from the wind as he flicked open his lighter with the other. The flame was bright and lit their faces up in a hazy orange. Steve was able to see every detail of Eddie’s face. The laugh lines around his mouth, the bags under his tired eyes, the dark scars slashed across his cheeks that have yet to fully heal from their time in the Upside Down.

Steve felt every neuron in his brain firing off to stop him from blurting out that he was beautiful.

The moment ended to Steve’s relief (and dismay) as Eddie flipped the lighter closed and allowed Steve to lean away. He inhaled, the warm smoke filling his lungs. He had to quickly take the joint out of his mouth though as he felt a cough suddenly overtake him as he exhaled. 

Smooth.

He shook his head as he turned away to finish his coughing fit. He grabbed his beer and downed the rest of it, thankful that it didn’t go down the wrong pipe. He needed to calm down and he had to do it now.

Eddie just watched him, cool as ever with his hands resting in his jacket pockets.

“Jeez, you’re in a real hurry to feel something, huh? Is being around me that bad?”

“No, no,” Steve let the empty bottle fall from his grasp onto the grass next to him. “Pretty much the opposite, actually.”

Eddie clicked his tongue but didn’t question what Steve meant by that. Instead he asked a different question.

“What’s up, man? You’re acting like you’ve never even smoked before.”

Steve knew that was a lie, he had his fair share of cutting classes with his old stupid friends to smoke behind the gym in secret. He just wasn’t a seasoned veteran when it came to this stuff compared to the present company. Besides, he was sort’ve turned off of any mood altering substances after the whole evil Russian soldier debacle from last summer.

He took another drag, silently applauding himself as it went down smoothly this time.

“Oh, I have loads of times, are you kidding? Just uh, thought I saw something out there. Caught me off guard. Like Bigfoot or something.”

Eddie laughed as he stuck his hand out for Steve to pass the joint to him.

“Right,” Eddie took a hit, the smoke blowing out through his nose. “‘Cause I’ve supplied you with enough weed to last a small country for weeks.”

Steve doesn’t say anything and Eddie for once went quiet as well. The only sound around them were the crickets in the distance and the water gently lapping near their feet. They continued to pass the joint between them, Steve’s eyes becoming heavy and his mouth started to feel like it was filled with cotton balls. He downed another drink. He felt good. 

He lifted himself up to sit back on the hood of his car. He brought his knees up and rested his wrists on top. The evening breeze picked up and cooled his pink cheeks. He watched as the reflection of the stars distorted along the slow waves of the lake. Eddie joined him on top of the hood, his worn out sneakers squeaking against the paint. Steve couldn’t even care at this moment. He felt loose. His limbs felt like they were melting, but in a good way. He wanted to bottle up this moment of peace of just him and Eddie and keep it on his shelf.

Steve’s voice eventually cut through the stillness.

“It’s kind of fucking crazy. Like, no matter how many times you have your entire world ripped out from under your feet things always manage to go back to how it was. You know, normal. I think I’ve gotten used to it.”

Eddie grinned to himself, “I’m hanging out at Lover’s Lake with the king Steve Harrington as we share a doobie. I wouldn’t say things are back to the status quo.”

“Alright, a few things changed,” Steve corrected himself. “Good changes though. I like it. You and me, here.”

He could see Eddie’s head turn to him out of the corner of his eye but he kept his own gaze straight ahead. He took another drag, the joint getting shorter between his fingers. He could feel his inhibitions flinging themselves out the window.

“I wish we met sooner,” Steve felt antsy as he tapped his fingertips against his knees. “ It might’ve been way, way different, but who knows. Maybe it had to happen this way. Maybe we needed the shit kicked out of us to bond. You know how they say trauma does that to you? I think that’s what happened between me and Robin, at least that’s what she tells me.”

Eddie seemed to fidget as he fiddled with the rings lining his fingers. 

“Yeah, you two are pretty close. How long has that been a thing?”

Steve almost didn’t process what Eddie said.

“Huh?”

“You and Robin?” Eddie repeated, slower this time. 

Steve blinked.

“What? No, no, no, god no. Not in a million years was that ever a thing or going to be a thing. I mean, I did have a thing for her. Emphasis on did. That’s over, it was well over before it even started. I, uh, got shot down real quick.”

“Oh,” Eddie nodded. “So you still got a thing for her?”

“No,” Steve answered a bit too quickly. “No things, there is nothing there. We definitely nipped that bud in the… bud.” 

Eddie leaned back, resting on his hands against the metal. 

“You can relax, Stevie. You don’t have to prove anything to me.”

Steve ran a hand through his hair as his legs fell flat in front of him.

“She’s into someone else, which is actually something she has been bugging me about for months.”

“Who?”

Steve thought for a moment before eventually deciding to definitely not out Robin right now. Even though he felt like Eddie wouldn’t care about something like that, it wasn’t his thing to tell him about.

“Just someone who she thinks is way out of her league,” he kept his answer vague.

Steve’s body felt like Jell-o. He laid down with his back against the windshield, his lanky legs hanging off the edge of the hood. He folded his arms behind his head as his eyes jumped from star to star. The constellations seemed to be swirling around. 

Steve blew a raspberry out, “People are weird. You witness the potential end of the world multiple times but at the end of the day all we care about is who’s going out with who.”

He felt Eddie shift to lay back next to him. He could feel the ends of his long hair tickling at his arm.

“Hm. We’re just lonely creatures. It’s human nature,” Eddie replied.

“I think that’s my problem. I have all these people in my life now but, I don’t know. Something’s missing.”

Eddie nudged Steve’s side with his elbow, “Mr. Popular’s feelin’ a little lonely? Unheard of.”

Steve nudges him back, “C’mon, I’m an enigma. I have loads of layers.”

“I’m sure you do,” Eddie’s voice dripped with sarcasm.

“Like with you. You’re much more than I imagined you to be.”

Eddie didn’t say anything but after a moment he let out a hum of agreement.

Steve felt his chest tighten to an uncomfortable degree. He can sense the words about to tumble out of his mouth but he didn’t make any move to stop himself.

“You’re actually a softie and that’s not a bad thing. Everyone in this town is either scared to death of you or wants to kill you themselves, but that’s ‘cause they don't know shit about you. They never gave you a chance. Not before and not now. You’re real. Like Dustin says, it’s all bullshit, everything here.”

Steve wiped his dry tongue across his bottom lip before he continued.

“You got this air around you. It’s infectious. I don’t know, charm, charisma. Whatever it is. It makes me, or uh, people want more. This whole time that I’ve known you, I’ve felt more myself than ever. I know it’s really goddamn cheesy but I don’t care.”

Steve’s eyes closed as he exhaled, “I think that’s what I want. What I need. Just, real. And I never thought that I would get that from Eddie Munson.”

“Wow.”

Steve said too much. His heart was racing.

“You really know how to butter me up, Harrington. I don’t think I’ve been complemented this much in my entire life.”

“I mean every word of it, Eds,” Steve loosely bopped a fist against Eddie’s side. “You’re like some bright lighthouse in the middle of this bleak, foggy ocean of a world.”

Eddie didn’t say anything.

Before Steve could overthink he felt a weight fall into his lap. It made him sit up in surprise and he froze when he looked down and saw that Eddie turned to lay his head on Steve’s lap, his eyes closed.

“You’re okay in my book,” Eddie said as he made himself comfortable. “Better than okay even. I love it when you get all serious.”

He reached up to pinch Steve’s cheek but he swatted his hand away.

“Come on, I’m spilling my guts out here.”

Eddie held his hand up in defense, “Okay, okay. I guess it’s only fair that I share in our little feelings session.”

Time seemed to drag on at a snail’s pace as Steve awaited for what Eddie would say.

“I’d say you are an enigma, man,” Eddie agreed with him. “You’re not the preppy prom prince you were in high school.”

“I was such an asshole.”

“You’re only slightly better now,” Eddie winked.

“That kid Dustin,” he continued. “He never shuts up about you. I thought he was out of his mind but it turns out he was right. Of course I know that now, but back in the day when you ruled the halls, let’s just say neither me or you were dying to meet each other.”

Steve’s mind flashed back to high school. He remembered hearing about different ‘weirdos’ around but doesn’t remember seeing Eddie in particular. Maybe he didn’t recognize him. He regrets that now.

Eddie frowned, “I’m sure the freak wasn’t very high on your radar.”

Steve didn’t know what to say except that he was sorry. Eddie shrugged it off.

“At least it never meant you actively being a dick to my face.”

“I would never.”

“You say that now.”

Steve couldn’t help but form a small grin on his face.

“If only they could see us now. The freak and the hair practically best friends. How many times just this month have we passed out on each other’s couches with pizza hanging out of our mouths?”

“Too many times to keep track of,” Eddie wore a matching smile.

“Have you told your uncle I’m still super sorry about spilling Pepsi on his carpet?” 

“I’ve only told him about a million times now,” Eddie rolled his eyes.

“Well, I still feel bad about it.”

Eddie reassured him, “It’s all good. He likes you. He says you’re a good influence on me.”

“Can’t say it’s working the other way around,” Steve tapped the ashes of the joint over the ground to make his point.

“Aw, are you becoming a bad little boy?”

He pinched Eddie’s side, “You wish.”

Eddie cackled, “Never change, Harrington.”

He quickly stole what was left of the joint from between Steve’s fingers.

“I like you,” his voice serene and genuine. 

He brought the joint up to his lips to take one last drag before he flicked it out onto the damp dirt. 

He turned up and blew the smoke up into Steve’s face with a sly smile.

Steve blinked slowly until the smoke cloud dissipated. He stared down at Eddie who peered right back, their eye contact not breaking for what felt like eons. 

Then Steve leaned down and kissed him.

Their noses bumped as he moved in quickly, their lips slotting together from the odd angle. Eddie’s lips were rough and chapped. Steve could taste the smoke on his breath. The smell of old leather and Eddie’s aftershave hit him like a brick. His hand clutched at the rough denim of Eddie’s vest, their body heat radiating off each other in the cool, spring air. 

Steve suddenly froze. 

He felt the wind get knocked out of him as he sat up abruptly. Eddie opened his eyes at the sudden movement. 

Steve panicked, “Fuck. Holy fuck, I-.”

His hands shot up to grip at his hair, his dull nails digging into his skull. He didn’t move as Eddie sat up from his lap and faced him. Steve couldn’t look at him.

“I don’t know what’s wrong with me,” Steve’s voice cracked lightly. “What the hell was that? I-I think I’m losing my mind.”

He could barely hear Eddie’s voice over the ringing in his ears, “You’re not.”

“Yes! Yes, I am. I can’t… What did you do to me? I can’t stop thinking about you.”

“Do you regret doing that then?” Eddie asked.

Steve paused before he shook his head no. 

He risked taking a look at Eddie and saw him looking right back, his eyes kind and tender and warm. 

“Steve…”

Eddie’s voice was soft like he was coaxing a small animal out of hiding and Steve worried that he was pitying him. But then he felt those calloused hands against his neck as they pulled him back in and Eddie was kissing him.

Steve’s hands fell limp to his sides. He squeezed his eyes shut as his head started to spin. But when Eddie tried to pull back, Steve’s hands shot up to grip at the collar of his vest to yank him back in desperately. Their foreheads bumped and their teeth clashed but he didn’t care. He heard a muffled sound of surprise come from Eddie but only for a second before he was kissing him back with as much intensity. 

Steve felt Eddie’s thumb brush against the heated skin of his neck. His other hand fell to the dip in Steve’s waist, his fingers digging into the soft cotton of his shirt. The times where they had to pull back for air were brief before they plunged back in. Eddie couldn’t help the small whimper that slipped out when their lips parted and Steve ran his tongue against his bottom lip. 

The way they moved against each other was frantic and messy and it was perfect.

Eventually, they broke apart, both breathless, their lips red and bitten raw. The world was quiet around them as Steve recovered from the high. 

Finally though he said something.

“I think you were right. That shit blew my freakin’ mind.”

Eddie wavered before he howled with laughter as he shoved Steve away playfully by the shoulders.

“You dickhead,” the smile on his face widened even as he insulted him. “Tell me it’s not just that making you do this.”

“No, it’s all me,” Steve assured him. “I think it actually gave me a much needed moment of clarity.”

Eddie slid a hand over to lay on his knee, his thumb rubbing small circles into one of the many moles that littered Steve’s body, “Good.”

After all the borderline hysteria and feeling like his whole being was being ripped apart at the seams, Steve finally felt the alleviation he was searching for.

“I don’t want this to be a one time thing,” Steve mentioned. “If you were wondering about that.”

Eddie’s smile turned coy, “So you don’t just hook up with strange dudes in the middle of the woods?” 

“This might come as a shock to you, but this is the first time I’ve actually done that, so.”

“What an honor for me to be your first,” Eddie stated proudly.

“First and only, if you’re cool with that,” Steve’s head dipped down as he suddenly felt bashful. “I don’t just mean hooking up. I’m talking about the long haul kind of thing. Like being exclusive. Wait, that just sounds stupid. Let me phrase it better.”

Before he could make an even bigger fool of himself, Eddie stopped him.

“Sir Harrington, art thou asking for my hand? This is so sudden, thou hast not asked my father for permission.”

Steve took amusement in Eddie’s poor attempt at a posh accent as he nudged him with his leg.

“Alright, smartass. I'll take it all back then.”

“It’s just too easy with you. But to answer your question, yeah,” Eddie bit at the inside of his lip. “Let’s do it.”

Steve felt an immense pressure lift off his shoulders. 

“Cool.”

Eddie echoed him, his voice airy. 

“Cool.”

Steve would have almost been embarrassed at how hard he was beaming if Eddie wasn’t wearing a matching smile that was going to burst off his face.

“You staying over at my place tonight?” Steve asked, hoping to prolong this newfound bliss for as long as he could.

“Only if I get to be the big spoon.”

Steve looked at him, amused by the typical Eddie charm, “In your dreams, man.”

Eddie mustered up his best puppy dog eyes, “Does this mean I gotta stop calling you ‘dude’ whenever we make out?”

Steve leaned in, his breath grazing the goosebumps along Eddie’s skin, “Call me whatever you want, big boy.”

They stayed there deep into the night on the hood of Steve’s car, kissing until they were in a daze, their cheeks hurting from grinning. 

***

It was about four in the morning when they broke apart long enough to make the decision to finally leave. Once they were inside the car they didn’t feel the need to say much, just sitting back as they enjoyed the barren streets lit up by the dull glow of the street lamps. Eddie didn’t even make a single remark about Steve’s music this time.

And when I think of you and all the love that's due

I'll make a promise, I'll make a stand

‘Cause to these big brown eyes, this comes as no surprise

We've got the whole wide world in our hands

Steve looked over to see Eddie with his arm stuck out the window, his hand moving in waves along with the wind. He could hear him humming under his breath in tune with the band.

With one hand loose on the steering wheel, Steve moved his other to casually rest it on top of Eddie’s leg. Eddie had a small, quiet smile form on his face as he continued to gaze out the window as they made their way home.