Work Text:
By 1998, Eddie Munson ispractically a household name. To fans: international rockstar, Eddie Munson, to strict parents: corrupted satanist, Eddie Munson. To radio listeners: Musician, to children: the guy dressed in all black, to neighbours, kind young lad. He is something to everyone, but that doesn’t matter much. He only cares for one thing- what he is to Steve Harrington.
Sweet Steve, his heart so full of love that for the longest time had nowhere to go, bottled up until he was brimming over with it and he gave it out in fistfuls to anybody in arms reach. Eddie is still grateful, 12 years later, to be a recipient of this boundless love. It used to feel unfamiliar, being cared for like this. Sure, Wayne ishis father for all intents and purposes, he cares for him and loves him like a son. He chose to love him, but he's still family. There is still an element of obligation there. Eddie loved Wayne with his entire being, though it took long for him to accept that he deserved this love, and that it is unconditional, but he is getting there. Steve’s love, however, has long since turned his entire world upside-down (no pun intended). He saw how he was with the kids, he saw how nothing could change they way he felt about them, so when he first felt Steve’s soft lips on his, he felt so free of doubt that he might as well have entered heaven. Steve’s love has always been unconditional and irrevocable, but Eddie has never taken it for granted. He does not fear he will lose it, but he worships it and treats it with care, he gives back as much as he receives, always trying to give more, more. Steve thinks he doesn’t deserve as much as he gives. In some ways, he seems to be atoning for his past sins, but Eddie knows that he isn’t Steve’s project, that he isn’t a vessel for the healing of Steve’s Issues. He knows that the love he receives is pure. They’re both broken, but through the cracks in their foundations shines something beautiful which holds them together. Hands rise up through tears in their hearts and hold on to each other like it’s what keeps them alive.
Even now, with Eddie touring the world, there is no wavering. No doubt. No fear. He knows that Steve is waiting for him, back in Indiana, either in their cozy kitchen where they cook meals for their whole family, or at his job (school counselor- it’s a perfect fit, Steve has never felt so whole). That doesn’t mean, though, that Eddie doesn’t miss him like crazy, His heart aches every day like he’s a lovesick teen, and he keeps photos of Steve in his wallet, and shouts out this is for my sweetheart before every love song Corroded Coffin plays. He is just so full of love for Steve. People say the spark fades after a while, once you slip into comfort. Of course, this is not a bad thing, it seems lovely, Eddie thinks. But he still feels the spark. It’s still there, when Eddie wakes before Steve in the early hours of the morning, and watched the golden sun grace his lovers honey skin. It’s still there, when he bursts through the door at the end of a long day, shouting “honey! I’m home!”
The spark is there, when he spots a familiar head of hair in the crowd on their final show of Corroded Coffin’s first world tour. They’re in Germany, (Eddie had never left Indiana before Coffin got popular. Hearing people shout praise at him in foreign languages will never really feel like real life), and Eddie thinks he might be hallucinating. It’s just someone who looks similar. This would be crazy, right? There’s no way it’s him. Even at the mere idea of seeing Steve, his heart lurches, vaults a thousand times in one millisecond. He holds his hands up, shading his eyes, in an attempt to see the crowd better, just to make sure.
The guy looks so much like Steve.
“Hey, uh- can we cut the lights for a moment?” He shouts, and the violent sounds of beautifully clashing instruments fades out awkwardly. “I-I’m sorry I just thought… Could we get some light on the audience, please?”
The audience is screaming and mumbling away with excitement. What did Eddie see that caught him so off-guard? Who amongst the crowd had caught his attention? Everybody knew Eddie had somebody, he made it clear in his shows, and so heads were turning, looking for perhaps a dark mysterious woman, standing out amongst the crowd, but what happens next proves everybody very wrong.
Eddie is suddenly crying. SIlent tears stream down his face and he lets out a wet chuckle. He comes back to reality, and springs to his feet.
He leaps off the stage, almost getting tangled in all the wires.
He gets frustrated, ripping the cables out of his guitar. Steve laughs.
He runs, runs, runs harder than he did when he was being chased by demobats.
“My love!” There is pure adoration in his tone. “You came!” Disbelief. But not surprise. Steve is the most surprising man in the world, every day he does something more wonderful than the last (Eddie just wished his boyfriend knew this. But he’s learning). So, yes, Eddie wasn’t expecting to see him in the crowd tonight, but when he sees him it feels so obvious . Of course, of course his love would come and see him. Of course. He pulls Steve to his body, tight, chests flush, heads buried in eachother necks. It’s like the crowd around them wasn’t parting like the ocean did for Moses, it’s like the eyes on them were never there. Steve and Eddie, Eddie and Steve.
“I’m so glad,” Eddie says, pulling away slightly, taking Steve’s face in his hands. Appreciating him. Showing Steve just how much this means to him. He feels that he can never show him how much everything he does means, so he hopes he can bore it into his head with his eyes for now.
“Of course I came…” Came a soft, flustered voice, not the usual boisterous tone one would hear from Steve. He was shy, in this crowd, he hated feeling seen, feeling watched, but he did it all for Eddie. And maybe a little for himself, Eddie can tell, when Steve says “I missed you too much…” And Eddie just melts . Steve is leaning to take a little more, be a little selfish, and hey, if Eddie got to benefit from that, then that;s nice too.
Steve moves forward to touch their foreheads together. “Now get back up there, rockstar, I wanna see you move. Seduce me with your husky voice, baby.” Eddie laughs.
“You’re the worst, you dork. Backstage later, ok?” Steve hums in agreement, and slaps Eddie’s ass as he leaves, making him jump in surprise. The whole interaction lasted a mere few seconds, and the crowd was bustling with anticipation. People were mumbling under their breaths. Where did he go? Who is that? Is he famous? Is that his girlfriend?
Eddie returned to the stage, and the crowd roared back to life.
“Sorry about that everyone!” He shouted, plugging his guitar in again, the crowd groaning as a loud screech came through the speakers. “Don’t be jealous now, but it turns out my sweetheart is in the crowd tonight. My- my boyfriend.” He smirks, but he feels nervousness eating him from the inside. He soon finds out this wasn’t necessary. The crowd roars. Eddie feels the weight of the world fall off his shoulders. “He made me who I am today. And this next song is about him! I LOVE YOU STEVE HARRINGTON!” He screams, as the next song fades in, and Eddie’s voice graces the stadium. Things may not be perfect, Eddie thinks. but this moment sure is.