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Steve had been dealing with some real conflicting feelings recently. He was finally able to get over his feelings for Nancy Wheeler, his first love. She was what changed his life forever and put him in the spot as the babysitter. He wouldn’t trade it for the world though.
During round 4 of Vecna trying to rip Hawkins to pieces he had become friends with someone he would’ve never talked to if he wasn’t forced to. Eddie, ‘the freak’ Munson, the metal head D&D player. He was able to talk to him during the saving the world operation but once he almost died it made him realize he cared a lot more about the metal head then he thought.
They hung out a lot, he would go to his trailer and watch movies, listen to songs he was writing, smoke weed and even pretend to understand what D&D is and how to play. He liked listening to Eddie talk. He really liked it. He would watch as his brown eyes lit up in excitement when Steve would encourage him to talk about whatever he wants to. He really liked Eddie.
Over the days of spending time with Eddie he started to grow a bit attached. He would get worried about him like he did with the kids and Robin, he would let his mind wander to the messy haired male. He would wonder what he was doing. He wanted to know all about Eddie, his favourite colour to every song he loved (which was like 100). Steve started to buy those albums, he noticed Eddie’s clothes started to linger at his house a bit more. He noticed the shift in his boring room from clean and organized to messier, full of random trinkets from the kids and especially Eddie. Steve had rings, shirts, hair ties, albums, weed and picks that were Eddie’s that he had left or said he would maybe want the next time he’s back.
Steve didn’t mind the change, his room looked a lot more homey. His house never made him feel like that, more like it was just a house were he can sleep. Now his house was full of things from people he loved.
Loved. Hm, that was the first time his mind wandered to the word since Nance, it wouldn’t be a reach to say he loved Eddie. He felt strongly for the man. That was the problem though, he was a MAN. Steve thought he was straight, he liked women up to this point yet Eddie gave him those same butterflies and smiles. He felt the same way for Eddie that he felt with Nancy.
He had talked to Robin saying it’s bisexuality which he prefers to say unlabelled unless he needs to label himself.
He is just Steve, ‘the hair’ Harrington, who is in love with Eddie ‘the freak’ Munson.
Robin told him he couldn’t hide this emotion forever, he needed to tell Eddie before it got too much. He knew she was right, he wanted to make sure he said it sober and say exactly what he wants to say. He runs his mouth when he’s drunk or too high so he needed to get this out before he says it at the wrong time.
He went to his house phone, stalling with everything he can. Fixing his socks, his hair, oh was that the door? He needs to dust the counter. God he just needed to do this huh.
Dialling the number hearing the sickening ringing until it was picked up.
“Hello?” Steve breathed in. He was ready. “Hey Eddie.” He heard a bit of shuffling. “Harrington! What’s up man?” Steve worked himself up with a confident smile, that tone and smile left the minute he tried to speak.
“Well..Eds, I-I..ugh. You..y-you..” he let out a frustrated ‘hmpf “you know I like you..I-I like you a lo-“ the line went dead. He heard the hang up noise and all words stopped. His mouth was open to say more but nothing came out. He felt himself start to shut down.
He messed up. Eddie hated him, Eddie would tell the entire town he was in love with him and everyone would hate him. Ugh who cares! Eddie would hate him! He felt tears well up in his eyes, the phone dropped from his hands as he collapsed to the floor. Tears fell to the floor as he stayed stunned, mouth open, it turned to rough sobs as he completely broke down.
Steve ‘the hair’ Harrington confessed his love to Eddie ‘the freak’ Munson and got rejected.
——
Eddie slammed the phone to the wall, the biggest grin filling his face. He was so happy. Steve confessed his fucking love to him! How bizarre was that, Eddie spun around falling onto his couch dreamily, he never thought he’d act like such a high school girl but he was just so giddy. So giddy that the ‘straightest’ man in Hawkins was in love with him! He liked me
He said it! He wasn’t dreaming right? Pinching his cheek he realized he was awake, this wasn’t a dream. That sent a surge of giddiness to himself again. Grabbing his electric guitar he excitedly started to play, playing a song he made about loving a straight man. Turns out he wasn’t so straight.
Eddie happily strummed the guitar, he still couldn’t believe it, the high of mutual feelings bringing him to the evening. He ate a good meal and sung with his band that night and nailed practice. This was the absolute best day of his life.
Eddie parked his car and saw Robin, a big smile was on his face, he was excited to tell Robin if Steve didn’t tell her already. Maybe she was here to say congrats, he was confessing his undying love for Steve to her all the time when she was working at Family video and Steve wasn’t around.
“Eddie fucking Munson!” She screeched, he missed her town, giving her a toothy grin. “Hey Rob!” She stomped to him and glared at him. “Are you a fucking idiot?!” She was angry? What was she angry and him for? “What? Are you okay Robin?”
She sighed and pulled at her hair. “NO! No I’m not ok Munson!” Munson? She didn’t call him that much anymore. “You! You have been in love with Steve Harrington for how fucking long?! Yet you reject him?! Are you doing alright?! Are you sure your not high off your ass or something!” She exclaimed, fuming. “What? I never rejected him?” She gave a look of angry and anxiety.
“Why did I have to comfort for 4 hours a sobbing Steve because he was rejected by you then?! Make it make sense Munson!” Steve was crying? Why? Wait wait wait. Dial it back.
He hung up on Steve without giving him an answer. That definitely looked like a rejection.
“Shit shit shit shit.” He paled pulling at his own hair. “Fuck Robin!” He yelled in a panic. “Fuck Robin I was so shocked I slammed the phone down! Fuck Robin I didn’t answer him! I cut him off!” She seemed to understand and mirrored his expression. “Ohh…shit.” They both scrambled into his car, he had never been in such a rush in his life.
“Fuck fuck I, I Robin fuck I didn’t mean to oh my god I’m so fucking stupid.” She sighed. “I understand Eddie..but he was so heartbroken. I’ve never seen him sob like that before.” He felt like utter shit. He had, in Steve’s eyes,
Hung up on his confession and didn’t call him back, leaving his confession seemingly. Declined.
He quickly parked in Steve’s drive way scrambling to fix his hair and get out of the car at the same time, “I’ll walk home, call me later, tell me how it went.” He nodded and stumbled to his porch banging on his door.
“I..I don’t want to talk Robin..” a broken yell was heard, fuck he had really done it this time. He banged harder not speaking, knowing it would make him ignore it.
The door slowly opened, “Jesus ok! Rob..i..n..”
Words stopped flowing when he saw Eddie.
Dried tear marks on his cheeks, flushed face, messy hair, big sad eyes that are red from crying. Eddie noticed he was a pretty crier and fuck him for that. “..Steve.” He was lost for words, never had he expected to see such a sad Steve, he looked young, small, venerable and childlike. He went to shut the door but Eddie put his hand to stop it.
“Steve I..-“ “if you want to..” he sniffed. “..make fun of me..do it somewhere else..not to my face.” He rubbed his eyes trying to shut the door. “No..Steve I-..” Eddie was fighting for his life to say what he needed to say but between how Steve looked and what he was actually saying it was quite hard. “Steve I..I, like-“ Steve was almost able to shut the door, Eddie loosing his grasp. Eddie pushes forward kissing Steve.
He felt the door stop digging into his side, Steve didn’t move at first but he slowly kissed back. It was a tender kiss, fill of unspoken words and love. Steve moved his arms to be around Eddie’s neck. Eddie felt bliss, this kiss was everything his brain thought and hoped it would be, his lips were chapped and bitten from probably anxiety, his face was soft, dried tears could be felt went Eddie moved his free hand that didn’t hold the door to Steve’s cheek. Steve slowly pulled away, staring into Eddie’s eyes with such a innocent and soft expression. Love and adoration so visible in his eyes. Eddie gave a small smile, “I like you too Steve. A lot.”
Steve’s eyes lit up, he smiled wide and buried his face in Eddie’s chest, his smile widening against his chest. “I’m sorry I hung up on you sweetheart. I was just so..so happy that Steve Harrington, the ‘straightest’ boy in Hawkins liked a freak like me. I was just so happy, I was blinded by that and forgot to even answer, I even hung up because I was just so shocked to hear it.” Steve slowly looked up.
“It hurt a lot.” He started. “I thought you hated me..disgusted with me,, wanted nothing to do with me! I was scared you Eddie Munson, wanted nothing to do with me anymore. I thought I ruined it all..on top..I thought you didn’t like me back..it hurt so much Eddie.” Tears filled his eyes again but Eddie slowly wiped them away. “Well big boy, you’ve just signed yourself a life contract with me!” Steve leaned into the touch. “I don’t mind Eddie..I’d sign it a thousand times if you wanted.” Eddie was so happy Steve understood. That Steve was his now.
Well.. “Steve, will you be my boyfriend?” Steve smiled and nodded before answering, “yes, of course.” He stopped and looked to my arm. “You can come in..you don’t have to hold the door anymore..” he mumbled embarrassingly. Eddie smiled and walked in closing the door.
Steve took Eddie’s hand and pulled him to the couch where he took out some movies. “You said you wanted to see this one a couple days ago..I borrowed it..wanna watch?“ Eddie eagerly nodded and sat down on the couch. Steve put the VHS in and got on the couch and cuddled into Eddie. He rested his head on Eddie’s chest.
Steve fell asleep only after 15 minutes of the movie, crying was very exhausting. Eddie smiled, gently combing the boys hair. “Goodnight Steve Harrington..” he stopped, smiling a bit more. “My lovely boyfriend.”
Steve ‘the hair’ Harrington confessed to Eddie ‘the freak’ Munson and got accepted.