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After fighting for their lives in the supernatural shitshow that was the Upside-Down, suffice it to say, the last thing on anyone’s mind was prom. They were certainly glad for it all to be over, but the trauma they were left with was still fresh and raw. The gang had each other’s back, though. Friendship and an unenviable amount of therapy went a long way. Every day the deep-seated dread that followed cast a lighter and lighter shadow.
So, the night of the Hawkins High School Senior Prom had come and gone without any fanfare. Robin Buckley would be damned to let the same be said about her 18th birthday. She had insisted on hosting a birthday rager/second-chance prom that next Friday at Nancy’s house. She’d also insisted the dress code be “whatever's hanging in the back of your closet that’s absolutely stunning but you’ve never had an occasion to wear it because any of us could die at any minute so fuck it”.
This would be the first time in a long time that they’d all gotten together to just have fun. No weapons, no battle strategies…just a good fucking time. They all needed this.
Tonight was that night.
Steve wore a classic white button up under his royal blue suit. He’d brought out his nice black loafers as well. He also wore the new watch that Nancy had gotten him for his birthday. It wasn’t very expensive, but it looked the part, if not slightly overkill. Even though he’d long renounced his title of King Steve, he still liked dressing the part sometimes.
The party had just begun and Steve already felt antsy. He grabbed one of the plastic cups from the counter and poured some totally-not-spiked Wild Berry punch. The kids knew to stay away from that bowl in particular, happier with their Mountain Dew and plethora of sugary snacks anyway. He took a sip and winced. Robin had a heavy hand; he’d be riding a cool buzz in no time.
Glancing at his watch did nothing to calm him. He measured the seconds as it ticked over from 9:19 to 9:20 pm. Eddie was late. Why was he late? Why was he worried that he was late? Maybe because the last time they’d really spoken was at the hospital with Eddie barely grasping onto life from his demobat injuries. He was worried the boy had somehow gotten himself into a D&D style showdown against more horrible monsters yet again, but this time he didn’t…he couldn’t……
Steve shook himself out of his spiraling thoughts. They had been through literal hell together and were both lucky to make it out alive, especially Eddie. It had been a healing journey in more ways than one in the aftermath of Vecna’s demise. Steve never knew just how much the guy meant to him until he was faced with losing him.
It was becoming more difficult each day to deny what he already knew.
A blush threatened to creep its way up to his cheeks. Steve took another large gulp of punch.
In any case, Steve knew exactly how his friend would show up; because yeah, they were friends now. He’d be clad in some well-worn band tee he no doubt picked up off the floor that afternoon. Black jeans and a pair of busted Converse, hands decked out in his collection of gaudy silver rings. Maybe a necktie if he were lucky. Steve grinned to himself picturing it. Eddie had a style that was all his own. A little punk, a little glam…Steve reckoned he would look good in anything though.
What he didn’t expect was the get-up that walked through the door at that very moment.
A black vest over a silver-gray button up shirt. The sleeves were rolled up to his elbows. His collar unbuttoned just low enough to show off a light patch of chest hair. Skinny black trousers and a skull-studded belt holding them tightly onto his hips. Black Converse that had seen better days and one ornate sapphire ring on his left hand. The curls of his hair looked even more defined than usual.
Steve’s breath caught in his throat. Eddie looked good. And not in a “hey man, nice jacket” kind of way. In a way that made Steve’s shoulders tense and mouth go dry.
And had his hands always been this sweaty?
Great, now he was definitely blushing.
“Harrington! Dude, how’ve you been?” Eddie called out, waltzing his way over to Steve and grabbing him into a tight hug. Steve reached around the man’s sides and pulled him in. Warmth coursed through his whole body. Steve let out a sigh of relief and comfort. In an instant, the moment was over as they released from each other’s grasp.
“Been pretty good, Munson. You clean up nice”
“I could say the same for you, handsome” Eddie complimented with a wink and a click of his tongue. Steve tried not to let that single action go to his head, or his heart.
“How’re you holding up, what with…y’know…everything?” Steve stammered.
“Well the bites still hurt like a bitch sometimes, but the weed helps with the pain”
“I’m glad you’re here. I mean here here, not just at the party”
“Feelings mutual, Harrington” He gleamed, “Besides, I guess I deserved something being a pain in my ass for once”
At that, they both burst into raucous, wheezing laughter at remembering the one demobat bite that nearly took off a chunk of Eddie’s backside. Now that would’ve been a tragedy, Steve thought within the comfort of his own mind.
They carried on their conversation for a while. Robin and Nancy rushed over to greet them, holding hands all the way to the sofa. Because yeah, they were apparently more than friends, and Steve honestly couldn’t be happier for the two. The kids stopped by to play some board games and banter like always. Even a few old friends dropped in to catch up as well. A lot had changed since graduation just a few months prior.
Steve’s elbow rested on the couch arm with his palm supporting his chin. Eddie had been going on about ideas for his latest homebrew campaign; something including a maze and rescuing a girl’s baby brother from goblins. It didn’t make much sense to Steve, but that didn’t matter. His energy was palpable and electric. He couldn’t help but be enthralled every time Eddie opened his mouth. Something about the smooth, low timbre of his voice and the passion with which he spoke made it impossible not to listen.
They were both so enrapt in conversation, they didn’t notice the quiet that came over the room until Eddie paused long enough to breathe. All the partygoers had made their way outside onto the deck. The record that had been flipped to its B-side earlier had slowed and stopped.
Steve and Eddie laughed in unison. They sat in comfortable silence for a minute or two before taking another sip of their drinks.
“Anyways, I’m rambling…did you wanna head outside with everyone else?” Eddie asked.
“Nah I’m good here. Kinda glad to be away from the crowd” He glanced over to the record player, “you wanna pick the music next?”
“Steve Harrington handing over the control of the music to me?! Hell below, I must be dreaming”
“Ah come on man, I like some of that metal-y stuff you play”
Eddie grinned in that intensely charming way that made Steve’s head feel fuzzy. Or maybe that was just the booze. Yeah, probably the booze.
“Well…you know flattery always works with me, big boy” Eddie cooed, slowly getting up from the couch to pick out a record from the cabinet.
What a ludicrous nickname, Steve thought. Why it sent delicious shivers down his spine was anyone’s guess.
He shuffled through the collection. Mostly R&B and New Wave stuff. Unfortunately, no heavy rock or metal to be found.
“Selection’s a little limited for my taste, but I can work with it”
Thumbing through the next row, Eddie came upon an option that most would consider a little left field for his interests: “The Promise” by When In Rome. It was pretty popular. He’d heard the song on the radio plenty of times before and may or may not have jammed out a bit. It was a good one. Steve would probably like it. Yeah, Steve would be totally into this.
He hesitated for a moment before removing the record from its casing and placing the needle down. The beginning piano progression washed over the two as Eddie waited for Steve’s reaction.
With wide, incredulous eyes, Steve gaped “Didn’t take you for a sappy, Top 40 kind of guy”
“What can I say? I’m a hopeless romantic with a weakness for a good melody”
“Huh…so the big, scary, rockstar is actually a total softie”
“I know…ironic, isn’t it?”
“Not that hard to believe” Steve uttered before thinking.
A beat passed before either of them said anything.
Aiming to ease a bit of the awkward tension, Eddie made a show of bowing toward Steve. He theatrically flicked out his arm and beckoned with his wrist in invitation to dance.
Heat blossomed through Steve’s chest. His gaze flickered from his slim fingers to those deep brown eyes. They reflected an eagerness, but also hesitance. Like a nervous puppy. God he was too cute for his own good.
Fuck it.
Steve took a last swig of his lukewarm punch and took Eddie’s hand. Eddie beamed and led them into a gentle waltz. The dance itself clashed with the music in an oddly charming manner. He was also surprisingly graceful on his feet.
“I uh…didn’t know you could dance. Besides, like, head banging or air guitar”
“Looks like you’re learning a lot of new things about me today, Steve”
“Guess so…”
Steve batted his eyes downward, away from Eddie’s confident smirk. It took every ounce of control to not melt under his gaze. They’d been physically close when patching each other’s wounds, but this felt different. Good different. They were close, but not close enough. Although if they were, Steve might just combust right there. No one he’d been with had ever made him feel this flustered.
It was then that Eddie let go of one hand and extended the other. Steve genuinely giggled as he was spun around once, twice, thrice by Eddie’s hand. When they fell back into each other, Eddie loosely wrapped his arms behind Steve’s head. Steve’s hands fell instinctively into place at Eddie’s sides. It seemed like the most natural thing in the world; two boys slow dancing to pop music in the middle of the living room. Their change in dance positions lessened the already minimal space between them. Steve felt impossibly warm being nearer to the other man’s chest. He was close enough now to see the faintest of freckles peppering Eddie’s nose and cheeks. Eyeliner smudged in that rugged, sexy way with which the man always carried himself.
Steve swallowed hard. Eddie was fucking gorgeous.
Steve wanted so badly to touch him. He started to reach up toward his face, but quickly thought better of it. A bit too quickly as he accidentally gripped harder onto the man’s waist in stopping himself. He hoped Eddie would just chalk it up to him being a little drunk and clumsy.
“Hey there, I’ve got you, Harrington” Eddie reassured.
Eddie was so sweet…so kind and gentle and caring. Steve felt like he would pass out at any moment. They were practically sharing the same breath at this point. This was uncharted territory, and Steve wanted nothing more than to dive right in. He wanted Eddie to feel comfortable around him…with him…in any way he would have him.
“W-why do you always call me Harrington?”
Eddie paused for a moment.
“Dunno…guess you’ve always called me Munson”
“Can I just call you Eddie, from now on? Or like, Eds?”
“Sure. Can I just call you Steve? Or maybe lil Stevie?”
Steve huffed out a quiet laugh before continuing, “Yeah man, that uh…that’d be cool with me”
“Cool” Eddie echoed in a lighthearted mocking tone.
They both smiled.
Eddie reached one hand up the back of Steve’s neck, absentmindedly twirling the baby hairs there. Steve groaned in content before he could stop himself. Surely Eddie couldn’t have known that his neck was one of his weak spots?
“Hmm…like that, Steve?” Eddie asked gently.
“Uh-huh” Fuck he needed to learn when to shut his mouth.
Eddie reached his other hand up and gently scratched the base of his neck. He pulled the two of them even closer as he did. Steve tightened his grip around Eddie’s waist and breathed out an embarrassingly high-pitched whine. Apparently, Eddie thought his reaction meant the man was in pain.
“Shit, man, I’m sorry” Eddie reeled back, dropping his hands onto Steve’s shoulders. “I didn’t mean to hurt you”
Steve kept his arms steadfast around the other’s lower back. He couldn’t take it any longer, not with that look on Eddie’s face. The look that contained the scars from years of bullying. The sorrow at losing yet another friend too soon. That glimmer of hope just under the surface slowly fading away.
It was now or never.
“You didn’t hurt me, Eddie. I actually liked it…a lot” Steve admitted sheepishly.
Eddie stood there stunned.
“You…liked it?”
“Yeah”
Eddie remained still, not wanting to ruin this by making a wrong move.
“Is this…okay? Like, if you’re not comfortable with me just…I mean, you can tell me to fuck right off if I’m reading this wrong, but I just-”
Steve cradled the sides of Eddie’s perfect face and did what he’d been wanting to do for months.
He kissed him.
Quick, but reverent. Open-mouthed and dreamlike. Tasting like booze and weed and chocolate candy.
Their hands were now successfully tangled into each other’s hair. Steve pulled back briefly to look sincerely into Eddie’s eyes.
“I’m serious, Eds. I like this. I like us. I have for a while but just, couldn’t bring myself to tell you”
Eddie let out a breath in wonder. His lips forming around unspoken words in the glow around them.
“You want…you want me?” Eddie stated, half question half statement of disbelief.
“More and more every day” Steve replied assuredly.
“Well, that’s a good thing because I never plan on letting you go” Eddie punctuated with another searing kiss. He could stay in this moment forever.
“Wouldn’t dream of it”
“Promise me. Promise me that you’ll stay”
Steve replied with absolute certainty, “I promise you, I will”.