Chapter Text
After their adventure into the upside down Steve returned to his big empty house all alone. Well, not quite alone. Eddie Munson had joined him, bringing the house alive with his presence in a way it had never been before. Though his name had been cleared, towns like this don’t often forget, and his trailer was completely wrecked, without the added trauma of Chrissy's death which clouded the place like thick smoke, choking Eddie the moment he stepped in. Steve’s place was the option that made the most sense, at least that’s what the others decided. Robin had sent him a smirk he didn’t quite understand when he agreed.
It was strange living with Eddie, but they kind of worked in a way. Eddie filled the house with his things and his music and his laughter, while Steve filled it with the smell of fresh food and books and kids running about. It was perfect for them. They slept in the same bed too. Between injuries and the nightmares it was just what worked for them, waking up wrapped around each other was an added bonus.
That was how they found themselves this morning
Steve woke up slowly, like he did every day he didn’t have work. He found Eddie curled around him, this time, his face was buried in Steve’s chest hair, arms around his middle, curled up into a ball so his knees came up to his hips. Steve himself was pressed against Eddie, as much as he could be without suffocating him, a hand in his untamed locks, which tickled his nose. After a minute of petting Eddie made a muffled noise, twisting his face away from Steve’s chest. His eyes fluttered open, heavy with sleep. He smiled softly at Steve who continued petting him
“You don’t have work today?” Eddie finally mumbled in his gravelly morning voice.
“Nope.” He whispered back.
His smile widened. “Just you and me today then, baby.”
They didn’t have to be quiet, the house was empty of anyone but them, but these mornings felt private and intimate, something that should be kept only to themselves. A beautiful, warm secret. They lay there together for almost an hour longer, before Steve carefully untangled Eddie’s arms.
“Gonna make breakfast.”
He nodded rubbing Steve’s cheek with his thumb before getting up too, heading to the bathroom. Steve pulled on a random shirt from the ground, pulling it on. It was a little tighter around his shoulders than usual, signifying it was probably one of Eddie’s. It didn’t matter anymore though, what’s mine is yours.
Steve didn’t know what they were, it wasn’t the most platonic bro thing in the world to spend every waking moment together, live together, have “kids” together, share clothes, share a bed, spend every night wrapped around each other like they’d rather die than let go, but nothing had happened between them. No sex, at least. Anything that had happened felt a whole other kind of intimate that neither had felt before. Gentle hands, soft caresses, warm embraces, light kisses on hair and foreheads. It was so…lovely.
He reached the kitchen, turning on the stove.
While frying bacon, Eddie came up behind him, wrapping his hands around his middle.
“Nice shirt, Stevie boy.”
He scoffed. “Fuck off.”
“You love it.” He did, so much. “So whatcha cooking?”
“Bacon and eggs.” He shrugged. “It’s a saturday.”
“Brunching, really among the rich kids now.”
“I wouldn’t call 2pm prime brunching time.”
He started cooking eggs in another pan when the doorbell rang.
“I’ll go get it.” Steve groaned. “Make sure nothing burns.”
Eddie raised three fingers in mock salute. “You got it, captain.”
Steve didn’t know what to expect when he opened the door, but it most definitely wasn’t Will Byers, shaking like a leaf and looking like he was about to cry.
“Will, what’s wrong?”
“Sorry, are you busy?”
“No, no, come in. Do you want something to eat?”
Will shook his head as they walked down the hall but Steve filed away the thought to save him something anyway.
“Eddie! Will’s here!”
“Oh, did you have company, I'm sorry.”
“Hey, don’t apologise, Eddie lives with me right now.”
At that moment Eddie came barrelling in his eyes wide. “Will Byers? Will ‘The Wise’? Dnd extraordinaire?!”
“Uh, that’s me. Have you heard about me?”
“You have no idea, the kids talk about you all the time.” He smiled at him. “Eddie Munson.”
“Eddie, The food!”
“Oh shit!” He ran back into the kitchen, slipping and sliding on the wooden floors.
Will stared at him eyes wide. “Are you two…”
“No, we’re just living together.” His eyebrows furrowed. “But, this isn’t about me, this is about you, sit down.”
He manoeuvred Will onto the couch, before returning to the kitchen.
“So why’s the kid here?” Eddie asked, serving their food, which remarkably wasn't burnt.
“I don’t know, he seems really nervous. I’m worried something’s happened, just be gentle with him.”
He nodded, unusually solemn, and poured an extra glass of juice for Will, slipping a couple pieces of bacon onto a small plate for him.
They came back, sitting on the floor on the other side of the coffee table from Will, who cradled the juice in his hands.
“What’s wrong?”
He took a deep breath. “It’s just, y’know, El and Mike are having a sleepover and being all lovey-dovey and it just became too much, I just had to go.”
Steve thought for a moment, then glanced at Eddie, who returned his wide eyed stare.
“Will…is there something you wanna tell us.”
The boy burst into tears, putting down his glass to hide his face in his hands. Steve sped over beside him, pulling him close.
“Hey bud, it’s okay. We don’t care, at all.”
Eddie sat on the other side, ruffling Will’s hair.
“Why would we? It’s all okay.”
He sniffled his hands muffling his voice. “No one will ever understand.”
Eddie took Will’s cheeks in his, looking him dead in the eyes.
“No, I do. I’m gay too, Will.”
The room was silent for a few moments, apart from Will’s quiet sobs, which had begun to slow.
“You-you are?” He said, as if he couldn’t dare to believe it.
“You are?”
“Steve-”
“No, no! I get it too, I’m bisexual.”
“Shit.” Eddie laughed, breaking the tension, full and hard like always, tipping his head back. “Three queers in one room, huh, wasn’t expecting that twist.”
“I never thought…I’d even meet one…other.” Will whispered.
Steve and Eddie wrapped their arms around Will tight, holding him close.
They spent the rest of the day talking about dnd, watching Eddie’s favourite movies, talking about how they all realised, about will’s crush on mike. It was sunset when Steve heard the phone ring.
“Harrington residence, Steve here.”
“Hello, Steve. Have you seen Will? I can’t find him. I’ve got something important to tell him.” El said.
“Yeah he’s here with me, do you want me to drop him off?”
“Thanks.”
“No problem.”
“Will.”
“Hmm?” He looked up from the character sheets he and Eddie were making.
“Gotta take you home, buddy, El’s worried.”
“Five more minutes?” Eddie and Will pouted.
“Nope. We’re not doing that.” He crossed his arms.
Eddie laughed and stood up, walking over to Steve and throwing an arm around him, kissing his cheek.
“You’re cute when you’re mad, sweetheart.” He walked off.
“You better clean this shit up!” He called to him, before turning back to Will. “Ready to go, kid?”
Will nodded with wide eyes.
“Something up? You’re quiet.” Steve asked as he drove, Will curled up in his passenger seat.
“No…just thinking.”
“What about?”
“Did you lie before, are you and Eddie together?”
“No…” He sighed. “It’s complicated? We’re not not together, you know. But we haven’t had the conversation yet.”
“Mmm. I think you should, he really likes you. It’s a little painful.”
Steve nearly crashed the car. “What do you mean he likes me?”
“Well, whenever you turn away his eyes kinda follow you, and he gets this love sick little smile on his face, you’ve been wearing his shirt all day and Dustin told me Eddie’s really protective of all his stuff, he’s also constantly flirting with you.”
“I mean I guess. I just don’t wanna complicate things.”
“Where’s Eddie sleeping?”
“What?”
“Where’s he sleeping, where’s all his stuff?”
“In my room but-”
“See, you guys are basically married.”
“That’s enough out of you.”
He turned up I Want The One I Can’t Have by The Smiths and continued driving.