Archive of Our Own ^beta

Eddie hadn’t intended to stare. He really hadn’t, but one day the Omega in the store across the way caught his eye. Maybe it was the way the other man seemed utterly bored with everything around him, or the way he seemed to cringe at the brightly colored fabrics as he restocked the shelves, or maybe it was just because the Omega was just undeniably pretty. Either way, Eddie had found that every time he had a free moment his eyes shifted to the brightly colored white and red of the H&M store and the Omega inside.

This is one of those times. The Omega man is bent over a cart, grabbing a stack of bright yellow polos from the lowest shelf. How can anyone expect Eddie to keep his eyes away?

“You’re staring.” Robin’s voice sing-songs from where she stands behind the counter. It’s a Monday, the Hot Topic store they work at is completely empty as their main source of customers are high schoolers and school doesn’t get out for another half an hour.

“I am not.” Eddie replies, but he doesn’t look away.

“Yes, you are.” Robin laughs, “You’re staring at Harrington, the preppiest Omega I have ever seen.”

Eddie gives a big dramatic sigh before smirking at his friend and co-worker. “His ass just looks so great in those chinos… Like who gave him the right to look that hot in those shitty ass pants?! Should be fuckin’ illegal!”

Robin glances over at the other Omega with a bored look. “I mean… If you like that sort of style. Wouldn’t expect you to at all, but…”

Eddie rolls his eyes. “He’s just too damn pretty.” 

Robin just rolls her eyes in return. “Well, how about you focus on stocking? That new band just released a bunch of new merch and I don’t want to have to deal with people complaining that we don’t have it when we do.”

Eddie gives another dramatic sigh before grabbing a cart of his own and going about stocking. Every now and then, his eyes will find the pretty Omega once more as if the man is a magnet and Robin will throw something at him. Honestly, he can't figure out why he is so enraptured by him. There is no way they were compatible.

“Eddie!“ Dustin’s voice calls out as he enters the store. A wide smile sits on the young Alpha’s face as he makes his way straight to the display Eddie is working on.

“Henderson!” Eddie yells back.

“Robin!” Robin adds before giggling as they look at her weirdly, “I wanted to be included too.”

Eddie rolls his eyes at her antics. “So what are you doing here, Henderson?”

Dustin shrugs, looking around. “I’m waiting for Steve to get off work. I don’t really wanna hang out in that store when he’s busy.”

“So you came to ours to annoy and distract us instead?” Robin huffs, but they can tell she’s only joking.

Dustin smiles, grabbing a shirt off the shelf that Eddie has just folded and holding it up against his chest. “I like this store better. The music is better.” He shrugs, referring to the Metallica that’s playing overhead, “Besides, Steve is off soon anyway.”

“And Eddie can’t wait to meet him.” Robin smirks. 

Eddie can’t help but think there is something she’s not telling him. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Robin smiles, giving him a fond look that also explicitly says ‘You’re a big dummy’. She looks at Dustin for a moment before settling back on him. “He’s waiting for Harrington, dumbass.”

Eddie’s eyes go wide. “Wait, his first name is Steve?”

“You haven’t met before?” Dustin asks with a puzzled expression, “You guys went to high school together?”

“What?” Eddie asks, “No, I woulda noticed him!”

“He was a year above me and a year under you.” Robin continues, “He was on the basketball and swim teams. He presented late, too.”

Eddie’s brows furrow as he racks his brain, trying to think of any time during high school in which he might have encountered the basketball or swim team and other than selling them weed every now and then, he comes up with nothing. It’s true that he didn’t often run in the same circles, spending most of his time with his band or planning DnD campaigns. For the first time he wishes that wasn’t the case, imagining what it would have been like to meet the Omega in high school.

Dustin snapping his fingers in front of his face breaks his thought process. He shakes his head, looking down at the young Alpha and blinking in confusion. “Huh?”

“I asked why it matters.” Dustin says exasperatedly, “Why does it matter whether you noticed him before or not?”

Eddie gives him a tentative nervous smile. “No reason.”

“He’s in love with him.” Robin cuts in.

“What?!” Dustin screams, his face taking on the expression of a kid on Christmas, “You like Steve?!”

Eddie glares at Robin before shaking his head profusely. “What, no. I’ve never even met the guy. We established that.”

“But you sure do like his ass.” Robin so helpfully adds.

“First, ew.” Dustin gags, “Second, I can help.”

“Help with what?” Eddie asks, eyes narrowed in suspicion.

“I can help you get with him.” Dustin smiles wide, “Trust me, I know everything about Steve.” 

Eddie seems doubtful of that statement. Dustin can't possibly know everything about the Omega across the way. Steve might be friends with the younger boy, but Eddie is sure that he doesn't share every detail of his life with him. Dustin is Eddie’s friend and he doesn’t share everything with him.

“I doubt that.” Eddie replies.

“Trust me.” Robin interjects once again, “That kid knows literally everything. If I didn’t go to high school with Steve I would have assumed he was Dustin’s mother.”

Dustin gives a self-satisfied smirk. “See.”

Eddie rolls his eyes, turning back to the display and going back to stocking it in hopes it will get Dustin to leave him alone. The last thing he needs is romantic advice from a high school sophomore. He isn't that desperate. 

Of course, Eddie has no such luck.

“Come on! I can help!” Dustin whines, “Robin can too!”

“Don’t volunteer me, dumbass!” Robin groans, “I can volunteer myself.”

“Volunteer for what?” The most beautiful voice Eddie has ever heard asks.

Eddie turns to see the Omega of his dreams enter the store. Steve’s polo is neatly pressed, his khakis stretched tightly over beautiful thighs, and his hair perfectly placed. Eddie has half a mind to wipe the back of his hand across his mouth to check if he is drooling, but he manages to stop himself before doing so of course.

“Oh we just volunteered to help Eddie get a date with y-”

Eddie’s hand clamps down over Dustin’s mouth and he gives the Omega a nervous smile. “A date with y’all to play Dungeons and Dragons. I run games for the kids in town and he was saying you and Robin might be interested.”

Steve gives him a quizzical look before setting his eyes on the smaller Alpha. “Well, Dustin is wrong. I’ve told him a million times, I’m not interested. It doesn’t matter how many characters he creates for me.” Steve huffs, “You must be Eddie.”

Eddie feels his face go red, surprise and elation mixing like cake batter in his stomach at the knowledge that the Omega knows his name. “Yep, that’s me.”

Steve looks him up and down slowly, his eyes settling on the holes in Eddie’s jeans for just a moment before dropping to his black high top sneakers. His gaze makes Eddie squirm. It feels like he’s being inspected by someone’s protective parent. He can understand what Robin means now.

“And how did you two meet?” Steve asks.

“Oh you know, I advertised my Dungeon and Dragons games on a bulletin board at the game store and this brat and all his friends called me up.” Eddie shrugs.

Dustin starts to shake his head in Eddie’s hold, clearly objecting to Eddie’s oversimplification of their first meeting. When Eddie doesn’t let go, the asshole teen licks his hand.

Eddie yelps, wiping his hand on his jeans in disgust.

“Eddie saw Will getting picked on outside the game store by Jason. Remember Jason? He started that whole Zombie Boy stuff. Anyway Eddie grabbed Jason by his collar and shoved him away from Will. He told Jason to pick on someone his own size. When Jason threw a punch, Eddie caught his wrist and twisted it behind his back, then kicked him in the knee, and Jason hit the ground! It was awesome!”

“You beat up Jason Carver?” Steve asks, his eyebrows raised in surprise. 

“I didn’t beat him up.” Eddie objects, “I just… stopped him from beating me up. I didn’t throw the first punch.”

“But ever since then, Jason has left Will alone. He hasn’t picked on him once.” Dustin smiles happily.

“That’s because I’ve taken that target off his back and pasted it on my own goddamn chest.” Eddie groans, “This is why I run away from shit. It causes a lot less trouble.”

Dustin just rolls his eyes.

“Thank you.” Steve’s voice says.

Eddie’s eyes widen as the Omega steps closer, offering Eddie his hand. “Huh?” He says stupidly.

“Thank you. For rescuing my k- I mean, my friends. I’m Steve.”

Eddie grabs his hand, shaking it lightly. He hopes his palms aren’t as sweaty as they feel. From this close, Eddie can catch his scent. It’s herbal, like lavender and sandalwood. He wishes he could bury his face in it and never resurface.

“It’s not a problem, really.” Eddie stammers, “Anyone would have done the same.”

“No.” the Omega shakes his head, “Not many people would risk pissing off Jason Carver to save a small Omega kid.”

“Oh my god! Just kiss already.” Dustin yells and Robin breaks out into a fit of giggles.

Eddie had forgotten the kid was even in the room, let alone Robin. He looks over at his co-worker and friend who is leaning on the counter with a lollipop in her hand, her unnaturally red-dyed lips smirking. Eddie tries to resist the urge to jump over the counter and choke her out.

Steve letting go of Eddie’s hand draws his attention back to the Omega. His face is bright red, his head tucked down slightly as he looks up at Eddie. “We should um… We should get going. I gotta go pick up the pups.”

“Huh?” Eddie asks, confused. Steve doesn't have a mating mark on his neck, but it isn't unheard of for a mated Omega to have pups of their own. “You have kids?”

Eddie doesn't think it is possible for the Omega to get any redder.

“No, Steve doesn’t have any kids.” Dustin answers instead, “He just calls us his pups because he’s always watching us.”

“Babysitting.” Robin declares.

“I’m too old for a babysitter.” Dustin huffs.

Robin only rolls her eyes.

Eddie doesn't know why the knowledge that Steve enjoys looking after a few misfit kids makes his heart flutter so badly. At first his attraction to Steve had been purely physical, but now… after just one conversation with the Omega, Eddie is smitten.

“Yeah… Anyway…” Steve smiles, “It was nice to meet you, Eddie.”

“You too, Steve.” Eddie nods.

Steve turns towards Robin. “I’ll see you on Friday for movie night?”

Robin nods, “I’ll be there with bells on.”

Steve rolls his eyes before gesturing to Dustin that it is time to go. The younger Alpha quickly gives Eddie a tight hug before running towards the door. Steve follows him, but stops just on the threshold, turning slightly and looking back at Eddie.

“Oh, and Eddie?”

“Yeah?” Eddie asks, a little breathless.

“I like your shirt, but I prefer the Black album.” He says, and then he’s gone.

Eddie looks down at his shirt, the crucifix headstones of Metallica's Master of Puppets staring up at him. He blinks a couple of times, his brain slowly connecting the dots. Steve knows about Metallica’s Black album. Steve knows something about a metal band. Does Steve listen to metal music? 

Eddie needs to find out.

~~*~~

 “What are you doing?” Dustin’s voice asks from behind Eddie. 

He drops his binoculars, turning to look at the teen with a guilty look. Currently, he is crouched behind an overly large fake plant watching Steve like a fucking creeper. He hopes this doesn’t cause Dustin to reccend his approval of Eddie’s intent to date Steve.

“Nothing?” Eddie tries.

“It looks like you’re stalking Steve.” Dustin says, a little too loudly.

Eddie grabs his arm, yanking him behind the plant and swatting at him to shush. “Quiet! Be quiet!” He whisper-yells at the younger Alpha, “Do you want to ruin my chances with him?”

“If you’re gonna be creepy and obsessive, yeah.” Dustin nods as if it’s obvious.

“I’m not obsessive!” Eddie huffs.

“You’re hiding behind a fake plant and staring at him with binoculars while he’s at work.” Dustin argues, “It looks pretty obsessive to me.”

Eddie sighs, rolling his eyes. “What do you see when you look at Steve?”

“My best friend.” Dustin answers.

Eddie tries not to let that sting. “No, like objectively.”

Dustin tilts his head in confusion, taking the binoculars and looking through them at the Omega. “A preppy, high school jock with the tendency to mother hen people.”

“The mother hen thing was not objective, Dustin.”

“Eddie, he’s holding a little girl’s hand while she cries for her mom.” 

Eddie lunges for the binoculars, looking through them to see that Dustin is indeed right. Steve is on his knees in front of a small blonde toddler girl, her face red from tears as she sobs and a teddy bear clutched to her chest with one hand while she grips Steve’s hand tightly with the other. Steve’s head is swiveling around looking for who Eddie can only assume would be the girl’s parents. A bolt of fondness strikes through Eddie as he watches the scene, a momentary thought about how great of a parent Steve would make to their children passing through his mind. He forces it away as soon as it’s overstayed its welcome though. 

“Then tell me,” Eddie starts, putting down the binoculars and looking at Dustin with importance, “Why would he know Metallica’s Black Album?”

“What?” Dustin says in disbelief, shaking his head.

“When he came to pick you up on Monday, he said he liked my shirt, but he preferred the Black Album. I was wearing my Master of Puppets shirt, Dustin!”

“So, what? You’re watching him to see if he likes Metal music?” Dustin scoffs, “I coulda told you that he didn’t. I’ve been to his house, he’s given me rides home in his car. All he listens to is pop music and the occasional slow jazz. His music taste is atrocious.”

“Then how does he know Metallica’s Black Album, Dustin?! How does he prefer it?!” Eddie presses.

“We should get you a tinfoil hat. It would suit you.” Dustin jokes.

Eddie just rolls his eyes, glaring at the teen before going back to his spying. Steve has managed to find one of the girl's parents, the woman is thanking him profusely, her crying toddler tucked into her arms. Steve is shaking his head with a sweet smile, no doubt refusing the praise and thanks he is receiving. Once the woman leaves, Steve turns back to a cart that he was working on, picking up a bright green polo and making a disgusted expression at it.

“See!” Eddie presses, “See!! He hates those stupid polos!” 

Dustin raises his eyebrows at him in exasperation. “Or maybe he just hates that specific color. It’s gross looking… like puke.”

“When did you get so sensible, Henderson!” Eddie groans, “What happened to my little buddy who would make up outlandish theories about flower-headed monsters eating cats?!”

Dustin rolls his eyes. “Okay, a monster did eat my cat. Just because you don’t believe me, doesn’t mean it didn’t happen.”

“And Steve does listen to metal! Just because you don’t believe me, doesn’t mean it’s not true!”

Dustin huffs. “Fine. Okay, so you wanna prove that Steve likes Metal music? Why?”

“Because it means we have something in common!” Eddie sighs, “And so far other than that we don’t have anything.”

Dustin gives him a calculated look. “You really like him, huh?”

“Yeah.” Eddie nods.

“Okay.” Dustin finally agrees, “Then, let's do this. I’ll get the party informed. We will create a plan to get him to admit it. If he hasn’t mentioned it yet, knowing Steve, it means he’s embarrassed by it. So if we ask him outright he will deny it and burn all the evidence. We gotta come at this gently.”

Eddie smiles excitedly. “I knew I could count on you, little buddy.”

Dustin just smiles, pleased with the praise. It is becoming clearer and clearer to Eddie every day just how much the kid lacks an Alpha parent’s affection. Sure, he has Jane’s dad Hopper around, but as far as Eddie can tell, the Police chief isn't much for affection. Dustin sorely needs an Alpha presence in his life now that he has presented into an Alpha himself. Eddie isn't sure if he is the best influence but it seems like he’s the only one he’s got.

“So, Movie Night is on Friday, you can come if you want.” Dustin suggests.

“Isn’t that at Steve’s house? You can’t just invite me to someone else’s house, Henderson.”

“I can and I will.”

“No, you can’t.” 

“Yes, I can.” Dustin grumbles, “Besides, Robin was going to invite you tomorrow anyway.” 

“I doubt that. She understands boundaries and respect.” Eddie says, but he can tell the teen knows there’s no heat behind the jab.

“Steve told her to.” Dustin retorts.

This causes Eddie to almost drop the binoculars in shock. “Wait, what?” 

“Steve told her when he drove her home from work yesterday that she could invite you to Movie Night if she wanted.”

“And you know this, how?”

Dustin rolls his eyes. “I was in the car, dumbass. Steve was driving me home from the Comic Book store as well.”

“And he just told her to invite me out of the blue?”

“Well Robin was talking about how you don’t have any friends besides your bandmates and us and how you don’t get out much besides for work. Steve told her to invite you.” 

Eddie narrows his eyes. He is gonna punch Robin in the shoulder very hard when he sees her. Not hard enough to actually hurt her, but enough for her to understand how totally uncool she had been by making Eddie sound so pathetic. She was lucky she had managed to get him an invite to this stupid movie night or Eddie would probably be even more mad.

“Buckley.” Eddie growls.

“Hey, I can almost see whatever gorey murder thing is projected in your head.” Dustin laughs, “But careful, she’s taken on much worse than you. There are a couple of Russians who don’t exist anymore because of her.”

“What?” Eddie asks, perplexed by such a weird statement. Has Robin Buckley killed people?

“Oh, they’re not dead.” Dustin quickly promises, “There’s just no record of them ever existing anymore.”

Eddie shakes his head. “One of these days, Henderson, you are going to have to explain what the hell you are talking about to me.”

“I can’t. The government won’t let me.” Dustin pouts.

“You’ve already told me so much though.” Eddie presses.

“Yeah, but you don’t think any of it’s real.”

Eddie sighs, rolling his eyes once more. Honestly, every time he speaks to this kid, he feels like his eyes are gonna roll right out of his head. That doesn't stop him from feeling some stupid parental effinity for the younger teen though. Dustin is like the younger brother Eddie never had and he loves him just as much.

“Whatever.” Eddie mutters. 

He looks back at the store to find Steve has finished the display he was working on a moment ago and is now standing behind the counter, leaning on it in boredom with his hands drumming on the empty surface. The Omega is nodding his head a bit, like he’s got a song stuck in his head that he just can’t get rid of. It’s fast and violent, his hair bouncing as he swings his head slightly. If Eddie didn’t have binoculars, he would think the man had a walkman on. It isn't like any kind of music that would play in that store.

“See.” Eddie says, passing the binoculars to Dustin.

The younger boy looks through them, his jaw going slightly slack. “I have never seen Steve dance like that.” He sputters, “It’s usually a dorky head bob. Like this.” The teen hands back the binoculars demonstrating what he means. Eddie has to force himself not to laugh.

“So you one hundred percent believe me now?” Eddie nags.

“Yeah, he’s definitely hiding something.” Dustin confirms.

~~*~~

Phase two of the plan is simple: Try to catch Steve in the act .

This means that every time Steve enters a room, they will make sure Metal is playing. It is rather easy honestly. Dustin carries around a walkman he had borrowed from Eddie and a cassette of Metallica’s Black Album, playing it as often as he can whenever Steve is around and whenever Steve enters Hot Topic, Eddie will change the music to something Metal as quickly as possible. All they need Steve to do is dance to it. 

That is the hard part of the plan.

Steve seems to have the restraint of an angel. Eddie has caught the Omega’s fingers twitching to the music, but not once has the man danced. Not once have they caught sight of the violent head bang Steve had done behind the H&M counter when he thought nobody was looking. This both amuses and disappoints Eddie. 

It is nothing but disappointment to Dustin. The younger Alpha is utterly despondent over their failed attempts. Spending much of his afternoons sprawled over the empty counter of Hot Topic when the store is empty and complaining about how completely stubborn Steve is.

“I just don’t get it.” Dustin huffs, “We know he’s hiding it but we can’t do anything without evidence!”

Robin gives the kid an exasperated huff, using her clipboard to leverage Dustin’s arms off the counter. “You don’t even know if he was dancing to Metal. It was probably a really shitty pop song he had stuck in his head.”

Dustin launches himself into a standing position, rapidly shaking his head in disagreement. “No, Robin, you don’t get it! He was dancing like this,” Dustin argues, mimicking the violent head bang Steve had shown the day before, “And drumming his hands on the counter like he was in some sort of heavy metal band!”

“Are you sure it wasn’t like this?” Robin asks, imitating Dustin’s early display of Steve’s dorky head bob, “Cause that seems way more plausible.”

“No, Robin.” Eddie jumps in, “It was definitely more of a head bang, not a head bob.”

Robin looks unconvinced. “I still don’t believe you.” She scoffs, “Never in all my years of knowing Steve has he ever listened to Metal music.”

“That you know of!” Dustin declares, pointing a single finger at her in accusation, “You haven’t spent every living moment with him. You didn’t even know he fought monsters until last summer.”

Robin smacks Dustin upside the head. “Yell that any louder and you’ll have a bullet in your brain. Eddie shouldn’t even know about that!”

“He never believes me anyway.” Dustin shrugs off, “So, Steve is a secret metalhead.”

“Woah,” Eddie interjects, “Listening to metal music doesn’t make you a metalhead. He might like it, but let’s not go that far.”

“You don’t know if he just likes it. What if he listens to it all the time and walks around his house in Metallica shirts and ripped jeans? We just don’t know about it because he’s hiding it!” Dustin argues.

Eddie tries not to imagine the Omega in a soft oversized threadbare Metallica shirt and nothing else, walking around the house and cooking food. He fails of course, the image too tempting to ignore. He thinks Dustin is making up conspiracy theories, but god, he hopes that one is right at least. He’d kill to see it.

“Look what you’ve done.” Robin chides, “You broke Eddie.”

“What?” Dustin asks, looking over to his friend in confusion, “How did I break him?”

Eddie shakes his head, forcing away thoughts of pale freckled skin contrasting against soft dark cloth. “What? Huh? I’m not broken.”

“You were staring off into space and your scent changed.” Robin states with a roll of your eyes, “I don’t even want to know what you were thinking about.”

“Gross.” Dustin shudders.

“Oh, shut up.” Eddie growls, “I was just thinking of another way to catch him.”

“Yeah? And how’s that?” Robin smirks.

Eddie draws a blank. He hates when she’s right. He hates that she’s so smart and observant. He hates that she’s kinda his best friend. “I forgot.”

“Sure ya did.” Robin says in mock comfort, a twinkle in her eye.

“What if we invited him to your concert Thursday?” Dustin asks.

“What?” Eddie asks, dumbfounded.

“We could invite him to Corroded Coffin on Thursday.” Dustin says again.

“There’s no guarantee he would show up.” Robin points out.

“He will if I tell him I need a ride there and home.” Dustin smirks.

Eddie’s not an idiot. He knows what the younger teen is trying to do. Dustin had seen the flier for the concert at Melvilds when he was shopping with his mother and had practically begged Eddie to let him come, but the Alpha had stood his ground and said no. The concert is being held in a Heavy Metal club just outside of Indianapolis and Dustin is way too young to be there. Sure, Eddie can easily get him in just by telling the manager that he is Eddie’s little brother and the band’s roadie, but that isn't the point. The point is that Dustin is only sixteen and he doesn't need to be around all the drugs and alcohol that will no doubt be rampant in that club. Eddie doesn't care if that makes him a hypocrite – which Dustin has so helpfully called him.

He narrows his eyes at the teen. “You think you’re so smooth, don’t you?”

Dustin shrugs. “I mean it could work. I’ll stay backstage the whole time and I won’t drink. I’ll just keep an eye on Steve.”

“No.” Eddie declares.

“Oh, come on!” Dustin whines in reply, “I wanna see everyone play!”

“Do you really think Steve would let anything bad happen to him there?” Robin defends, “He’d probably murder anyone for so much as glancing at that kid. He keeps a bat covered with nails in his trunk, so I wouldn’t ever put it past him to beat the shit out of someone for giving one of his pups alcohol.”

“Robin!” Eddie exclaims, “You’re supposed to be on my side!”

“You gotta admit that it would be a good way to catch Steve. If he actually does like metal like you say – which I absolutely don’t believe – then it would be impossible for him to be at a metal concert and not do that ‘head bang’ you two are so convinced he did.” She argues.

Eddie gestures both hands at Dustin, staring at Robin in disbelief as he waves them around in a motion that clearly says ‘look at him,, look at this small child of a teen’. She doesn’t look phased at all, setting him with a look of her own that resonates ‘And?’

“Mrs. Henderson is going to kill me.” He mutters to himself before speaking up a bit louder “Fine! Henderson, you can come, but only if Steve agrees to come with you!” 

Dustin cheers.

“AND!” Eddie yells, cutting off Dustin's celebration, “You have to stay backstage the entire time. You are not allowed to join the mosh pit or drink anything unless Steve or I specifically hand it to you.”

“Okay, Eddie!” Dustin nods rapidly, “I promise!”

“Okay.” Eddie sighs, “Then, if you can convince Steve, you can come.”

Dustin goes back to celebrating, even breaking out into a dorky dance before turning and running across the mall’s hallway to the H&M and right up to Steve. Eddie watches as the young Alpha waves his hands around erratically before clasping his hands as if he’s begging. Steve shakes his head at first, but Dusting dramatically falls to his knees, gripping at Steve’s knee like he’s dying. He watches the Omega throw his head back, his chest heavy with a heavy sigh before he shakes the teen of his leg and says something to him. Dustin breaks out into his dorky celebration dance once more, but when Steve’s eyes meet his, Eddie instantly feels like he’s in trouble.

“Oh yeah,” Robin’s voice cuts in, “Did I mention that Steve is probably gonna think it’s irresponsible of you to give a teen, who he views as one of his pups, permission to go to a metal club?”

“No.” Eddie growls at her through clenched teeth, “You did not.” 

As soon as Steve looks away, Eddie turns to Robin and starts chasing her round the store in an attempt to kill her.

~~*~~

They arrive at the club just before it opens, unloading their instruments from the van and carrying them through the back door. Steve pulls in with Dustin about five minutes later, an exasperated look on his face at the teen's overexcitement. Dustin is even out of the car before it comes to a full stop. 

“Oh my god! Oh my god! I am so excited!” Dustin screams, “This is gonna be the most metal concert ever!”

Eddie laughs at the kid’s antics.

“He’s been yelling that for about an hour.” Steve tells him, watching after Dustin as the kid begins to help unload the drunk kit, “I think it’s irresponsible for you to have invited him, by the way.”

Eddie sighs, giving the Omega his best apologetic smile. “I wasn’t going to, but then Robin convinced me.”

“Robin?” Steve asks, confused.

“Yeah. Dustin said he’d bring you along and Robin said that if you came he’d be safe because you’d never let anything happen to him. I believe her. All I want is for that kid to be safe.”

Steve turns to look at him now, observing him closely. It makes Eddie nervous, like there’s some test that he has to pass and Steve is the judge, jury, and executioner. He stares for a moment more, his head tilting to the side before he gives a small nod.

“I believe you.” Steve announces.

“Good.” Eddie smiles sadly, “Cause I’d die for that kid.”

“I would too.” Steve whispers quietly.

With that, Steve makes his way to the van, helping them unload all of the instruments. Dustin quickly stops the Omega when he reaches for the last guitar case and Eddie smiles, making his way over and grabbing it himself while Steve watches him in confusion.

“That’s Eddie’s baby. Not even I’m allowed to touch her.” Dustin answers Steve’s unasked question.

Eddie only smiles before leading them both to the club's back door. He informs the manager that Dustin is his little brother and that he’s supposed to be watching him tonight. The man doesn’t even bat an eye, telling Dustin to sit on the couch backstage and making it a point to explicitly state that ‘the kid was not allowed out front under any circumstances’. Both Eddie and Steve promise that Dustin will stay put before the manager leaves. 

Eddie asks Dustin to help them set up the stage before the club opens and Steve heads down to the bar to collect some drinks. When the Omega returns his arms are full of water bottles and he sets them all up on the small coffee table by the couch. Once everything is set up, they all head backstage again to wait as people begin to flood in.

“Have you guys ever played a club before?” Steve asks, looking around at the band members.

“Nope. Never.” Gareth answers with a shake of his head, “We played in our school talent show once.”

Steve smiles, looking over at Eddie who blushes a deep red. “You did?”

“Yeah. We’re Corroded Coffin.” Eddie nods.

A bolt of recognition flashes across Steve’s face, his jaw dropping slightly. “I totally remember you guys! You guys were so fuckin’ loud you shook the gym. I think you even set off the fire alarm. Didn’t you guys get detention for your ‘inappropriate music choice’?” Steve asks, making air quotes with his fingers.

“Oh yeah.” Jeff laughs, “It was hilarious. Eddie wrote cuss words on the teacher’s desk during detention and we got extra detention because none of us would fess up to it.”

“I remember that!” Gareth nods, “He made me miss my first date because of that shit!”

“Which you later thanked me for because it turned out she was only flirting with you to make Tommy Hagan jealous even though everyone knew he was obsessed with Carol.” Eddie presses, “So don’t whine about it. You dodged a bullet.”

“Yeah.” Gareth couldn’t help but agree, “I did.” 

“Besides, we had the most epic DnD game that night.” Jeff adds.

“Exactly!” Eddie cheers.

He looks back at Steve who is looking at the group with a small smile. Dustin breaks off into conversation with Gareth and Jeff about the DnD game while Eddie leans back into the couch, getting comfortable while still looking at Steve.

“What?” Steve questions, giving Eddie an amused smile and matching his position on the couch. Eddie catches his scent again; it’s stronger now that he’s so close. Lavender and sandalwood envelops him along with the strong scent of Omega contentment. 

“Nothing.” Eddie smiles, “I’m just surprised you remember us. We aren’t exactly the mainstream kind of music.”

Steve raises a challenging eyebrow. “Maybe I’m not exactly a mainstream kinda guy.”

“Oh yeah,” Eddie asks, leaning a bit closer with a sweet smile and tilting his head a bit to bat his eyelashes, “Tell me about that, Big Boy.”

Steve’s face goes bright red and he crosses his arms over his chest. The Omega’s scent changes, growing slightly sweeter. Eddie doesn’t have to be a genius to know exactly what that means. He makes a mental note that Steve likes nicknames.

“My parents won’t let me listen to anything that might damage their ‘perfect image’ but what they don’t know won’t hurt them.” Steve shrugs.

Eddie can feel his heartbeat pick up in his chest. The prospect that Steve might actually be admitting he listens to metal music excites him beyond belief. He just needs  to make sure that Steve means what Eddie thinks he means.

“And what would mommy and daddy think of me?” Eddie flirts instead, biting his lip slightly. He watches Steve’s eyes drop down to them and stay there.

“Oh, they’d absolutely hate you.” Steve answers honestly.

“Yeah?”

“But I’m used to disappointing them by now.” Steve nods, his eyes still focused on Eddie’s lips. They’ve gotten closer somehow, like two magnets pulling each other closer and closer. He can almost taste the lavender of Steve’s scent on his tongue.

“Oh well, if you need help pissing them off, I’m happy to volunteer my services to such beautiful royalty.” Eddie whispers, his voice coming out slightly breathy.

“I’ll probably take you up on that.” Steve nods. 

They’re centimeters away from kissing now. Steve’s hand has found its way to Eddie’s knee and one of his fingers is lightly brushing the bare skin through one of the various holes. He feels like he’s on fire, his body burning up from the inside. All he needs to do is lean forward and kiss him. Kiss him and tell him exactly what he’s wanted to say for months, before he even knew the Omega’s name.

“Guys!” Dustin’s voice cuts through the haze.

Steve is the first to look away. His eyes settle on Dustin with a look of clear annoyance. The teen is giving them both a shit-eating grin. Eddie wants to strangle him. All they’ve been trying to do all week is get Eddie a chance with Steve and Dustin is ruining it.

“They're announcing you guys.” Dustin says, waving his hands towards the stage.

Eddie can hear the scream of the crowd as the manager of the club steps out on the stage and begins to speak. The rest of the band have gathered by the curtain, but Eddie doesn’t miss the smirks they send his way. He lets out a sigh, standing up and adjusting his jeans slightly before heading towards the curtain. 

He turns back to Steve and Dustin. “Ready for the most Metal concert of your life?” 

“Hell yeah!” Dustin cheers.

“Go piss off society.” Steve smirks back.

Eddie smiles, blowing him a kiss before heading out on the stage and leaving a blushing bright red Omega behind him.

Eddie can’t help but find himself looking off towards the side of the stage every now and then, absolutely elated to see Dustin holding onto Steve’s shoulders as he jumps and screams along with the songs. They play some original music of their own and some covers, but it isn’t until they play a cover of Enter Sandman from Metallica’s Black Album that Eddie sees it. 

Dustin is standing shocked as Steve seems to have lost all control, banging his head like his life depends on it as he jumps around. It’s definitely a sight to see. The Omega’s pastel blue polo is all rumpled and his khakis are wrinkled as he screams along with Eddie’s vocals. Eddie is even pretty sure Steve is going to pass out when his guitar solo kicks in and he starts swinging his arms like he’s playing along with him on an invisible guitar.

It’s only when the song ends that Steve actually looks surprised by his outburst, turning to a shocked-into-silence Dustin whose lips are moving but nothing seems to be coming out. 

Eddie leans away from the mic, picking up a bottle of water and taking a big gulp from it to hide his smile. Then, he continues on to the next song in the set. 

Dustin and Steve have to leave before the concert is over in order to meet Dustin’s curfew, but they don’t leave without Steve giving him a shy wave and Dustin giving him a big cospiritory thumbs up.

~~*~~

Eddie stands on Steve Harrington’s doorstep with a bag of chips in his hands and a stash tin of weed in his pocket. He’s been too nervous to knock, the memories of the night before flooding back to him, and the worry that if Steve’s parents are to open the door they’ll instantly kick him to the curb. He doesn’t mind that Steve’s parents aren’t going to like him, but he does worry that Steve might decide it’s too much trouble than it’s worth. 

He doesn’t have to wait too long however as without him even knocking, the door swings open to reveal Dustin smiling up at him like the cat that got the goddamn canary. 

“You’ll never believe this.” Dustin says, grabbing his arm and pulling Eddie into the house. The younger teen pulls him straight into the kitchen, grabbing the bag of chips out of Eddie’s hands and ditching it on the counter haphazardly next to the rest of the snacks before turning back around and pulling him straight into the living room. “Look.” He says.

He doesn’t  have to tell Eddie, however, because as soon as he enters the room, his eyes have already found Steve. The Omega is standing in the middle of the room in a soft looking worn Iron Maiden shirt, a pair of frayed flannel pajama pants hanging loosely from his hips. The gaggle of younger teens that Eddie calls his friends and Steve calls his children are staring at him like he’s grown a second head. Robin has a hand over her mouth in shock.

“Is that…” Robin starts finally breaking the silence, “Is that Eddie’s shirt?”

“What?” Steve asks confused, “No. It’s mine.”

“How come I’ve never seen it before?”Robin continues in her little interrogation.

“Because I don’t wear it around often.” Steve shrugs, “I’m not allowed to ruin my parents’ pristine reputation, remember? But I figured after last night, that had already been done because now that Dustin knows it wouldn’t be long before all of you knew.”

“So... what?” Lucas asks, “You’re like a… Metalhead now?”

“I like metal music and have every Metallica record they’ve made so far as well as many shirts that I keep hidden from my parents. Yes.” Steve nods.

“Okay…” Robin says slowly, “Then I owe you an apology. I didn’t think you had it in you.” 

Steve rolls his eyes. “Wow, thanks, Rob.”

“Also, Eddie, I owe you one too because I totally didn’t believe you.” Robin continues.

“What?” Steve asks, his nose scrunching up in a ridiculously cute look of confusion.

“Eddie said you were a Secret Metalhead. I told him he was delusional. He spent so much time staring at you ever since you started working at H&M that I started having to throw shit at him to get him to pay attention to work. I should have believed him when he said he thought you might like Metal music.” Robin explains.

Eddie’s eyes widen in horror. She has basically just told Steve that he has been stalking him! Is it her goal to ruin every chance Eddie could ever have with him? Does she want him to die alone because the only Omega he could ever want to end up with thinks he’s a creeper?

“Is that true?” Steve askes, peering up under his lashes, “Have you been watching me?”

Eddie chokes on air, sputtering uselessly. His face is on fire, no doubt bright red and he grabs some of it in his hands, trying to hide behind the curtain of curls – a habit he had developed quickly once it had grown long enough.

“Yeah.” Dustin replies helpfully, “I caught him with binoculars behind a plant once.”

Eddie is going to die. He is going to burn up and die right where he stands. He really is. If he doesn’t do something quick, he will most definitely die. “I - uh…” he chokes, “Forgot something in my van.”

Then in true Eddie Munson fashion, he hightails it out of the Harrington house. He doesn’t stop until he gets to the van, slamming his hands down on the side door and banging his head into it. “Stupid, stupid, stupid.”

“Eddie?” Steve’s voice asks, “Don’t do that, you’ll hurt yourself. Trust me, you do not want a concussion, I’ve had multiple and they suck.”

Eddie turns around slowly, squaring his shoulders and bracing himself for Steve’s reaction. He’s surprised to find that Steve doesn’t look very upset at all. Instead he looks kind of sheepish and embarrassed. It’s cute in a way that Eddie can’t quite pinpoint.

“I’m not mad.” Steve says gently.

“You’re not?” 

“No. How can I be mad when I’ve been doing the same?” Steve asks.

“What?” Eddie stammers in utter disbelief, “Wait, what?”

Steve blushes, giving him that same look from before when he looks up through his lashes. “I’ve been staring at you all the time too. Whenever you aren’t looking, I’ve been staring at you.”

“What?” 

Steve actually chuckles then. “You’re just so freaking pretty. I noticed you way before I started working at H&M. I used to drop Robin off everyday just so that I could sit in the food court and watch you. It’s creepy, I know, it’s just you’re so…”

“So what?” Eddie whispers.

“You’re just so unapologetically you. You’re loud, excited, spirited, kind, brave… So good with the kids… I just… I couldn’t help but stare at you.”

“But when we first met, you acted like you didn’t even know me.” Eddie adds.

“I was kind of afraid.” Steve admits.

“Of what? Me?”

“No.” Steve says quickly, “Of what you’d think of me.”

“What do you mean?”

Steve lets out a slow sigh. “When we went to high school together I was kind of an asshole. Before I presented I was so obsessed with being the king of the school, the most popular guy. Everyone including my parents thought I was going to be an Alpha or at least a Beta, but then…”

“You presented as an Omega.”

He nods slowly. “Yeah and it was like a switch was flipped. I realized how awful I had been because they were starting to be awful to me and after the shit with Nancy and Will and Dustin, I just… I wanted to be better. I was afraid you would remember what I was like in high school and want nothing to do with me.”

Eddie shakes his head in disbelief, his arms reaching out for Steve and landing on his shoulders. The Omega relaxes at his touch a small sigh falling from his lips and Eddie ducks his head, trying to get Steve to look up and make eye contact with him. When the Omega finally does, he gives him a sweet smile.

“I was kinda shit in high school too, Steve.” Eddie shrugs, “I probably dealt drugs to half of your asshole friends – I still probably sell them weed every now and then – and I even sold to kids younger than fucking Henderson. When I defended Will from Jason, that was the first time I ever stepped in when someone was getting bullied, normally I would run away saying it wasn’t my problem. We all have a past, Sweetheart, but we’ve all changed. Okay?”

Steve stares at him with wide brown eyes, slowly nodding. “Okay.”

“Okay. So, how about we both agree that we’re a little creepy with the stalking and just get past it and go watch the movie.” Eddie suggests.

“Yeah.” Steve agrees with a sigh of relief. 

Eddie smiles before releasing his hold of Steve’s shoulders and beginning to make his way back to the house. He doesn’t make it very far before he feels Steve grip his forearm and pull slightly. He turns around only to be completely surprised as a pair of soft lips land on his own. 

It takes a moment for it to register what happens and by the time it does, Steve has already begun to pull back. Eddie leans forward however, reconnecting their lips before Steve and get very far, his hands sliding around Steve’s waist and pulling him close. They kiss like it’s the first and the last time they’ll ever touch, desperate and hungry and before Eddie even realizes it, he’s taking steps forward and pressing Steve up onto the side of his van. He slides one of his hands up Steve’s side and up to Omega's cheek, holding him gently as he attempts to devour his lips.

The sound of loud hooting and hollering wrecks the moment, however, and Eddie pulls away, dropping his head into the crook of Steve’s neck as the Omega begins to laugh at their friend’s antics. Eddie wants to shove them all into a lake.

“We should go inside.” Steve chuckles.

“On one condition.” Eddie challenges.

“What’s that?”

“You go on a date with me on Sunday.”

Steve smirks, a hand coming up to his chin as he pretends to look deep in thought. “I think I can make time.”

Eddie rolls his eyes at the man, releasing his hold on the Omega’s waist, the hand that had been on his face dropping down to lace their fingers together. With a little laugh, Steve pulls him back towards the house and into the warmth surrounded by their little makeshift family.