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Steve didn't expect himself to really ever call Eddie, but ever since that day at the shop he couldn't get that stupid man out of his head. The look of that mark on his cheek, those deep, brooding brown eyes seemingly tinted with sorrow and mischief, and most embarrassingly of all… his hair and smell. He wasn't joking when he said Eddie smelled nice, almost like… the forest and ozone before a thunderstorm. And a hint of motor oil. The last part was what kept drawing him back to the scrap of paper in his apron pocket, all while doing old ladies' perms and flirting with young women.
After work he headed to his best friend's house, Robin Buckley. A very unlikely duo but after their summer at Scoops ahoy and a few shared classes at the local community college they became thick as thieves. Robin was smart, pretty, and the absolute best friend anyone could ever ask for. Shit, she was taking her college classes while she was a senior! For fun! Steve had barely passed his senior year, and had to be assigned a tutor! Said tutor actually was his ex girlfriend, Nancy, but they were on applicable terms in order for him to watch her little brother on the weekends, and now even somewhat friendly since she and Robin were dating.
Once curled up in her cozy apartment, Steve brought out the number, explaining the situation at Hair way or the Highway. She laughed. Steve looked startled as she laughed, taking the card from him and turning it over. "Steve, babe. I love you, you introduced me to the most perfect girl for me. But buddy, you're so stupid sometimes." She flashes the front of the card to him, the side without the number.
Benny's auto shop.
"Oh. So.."
"So you can see him again without having to call. You're so smitten for him already, and I'm honestly not surprised. You do have a type."
"A type?! I do not!" Steve gasped, folding his arms over his chest.
She looked at him, taking a long sip of her tea. "Nancy Wheeler. Long brown hair, soft brown eyes."
"That's one-"
"Helen Cartright. Brown curls and hazel eyes." Robin counters.
"It was one date!"
"Tammy Thompson. Before she went blonde-" she continued, smirk growing.
"Okay okay!" He said exasperated.
"And there was, of course, me." She finishes off with a laugh as Steve looks away embarrassed. He covers his face with his hands and groans.
"I don't even know if he was like that! Flirting with me or whatever! Besides, he's a guy! Robin! I don't know if I'd… if I'd even be okay with that yet." They had talked about sexuality several times, very in depth and Steve had toyed with being okay with the idea of liking dudes. He'd had a thing for Tommy for a while, and he'd be lying if he didn't say he found David Bowie in the newest movie Labyrinth absolutely gorgeous and made him weak in the knees. But actually dating a man was so much different.
"It doesn't have to be a date dude. You can just call him to hang out, be friends. Just because you think he's dreamy doesn't mean you have to date him!" As she spoke Robin tossed back the card, and got up.
"Okay.. maybe I'll call him. Later. Probably not though, he still thinks I'm some bully from highschool."
_____________
Getting caught with a flat was humiliating. Getting caught with a flat in a baby blue leotard, tights and flats was a new kind of humiliation he wasn't ready for. Yes, King Steve Harrington, did ballet. And now he had to call the stupid tow truck and stand on the side of the road and wait. Because of course it couldn't be just a flat. The muffler fell off and something in the engine was smoking. He knew letting Hargrove borrow his car was a fucking mistake! That man ran his old cars into the damn ground!
Thankfully the nice lady across the street let him call and soon he was on the way to the auto shop, hardly paying attention as he dug through his duffel to see if he had a change of clothes or at least an over shirt. To no luck. When he finally looked up his heart was in his throat.
Benny's auto shop.
And standing at the bay doors was none other than Eddie Munson in a Metallica T-shirt with the sleeves cut off, tight black jeans, and his lush curls tied up in a bun. He gripped his duffel tighter, took a deep breath and slid out of the car, making his way over on light feet, being very careful of the oil and such on the ground.
"Hey Munson." Steve offered with a small wave. "Forgot you worked here."
"Also, it seems like you forgot to call me." Eddie teases, very clearly looking the pretty boy up and down with a greasy hand on his hip. "So you got caught with a flat, well. How about that? Well baby, don't you panic." He winked with a smirk, which quickly fell when Steve looked confused.
"Rocky horror?"
Steve shook his head. "Never heard of it."
Eddie covered his face with both hands. "Oh my god dude. You're serious?! Didn't you work at a family video last summer!"
"Robin and I only watched romcoms!" He said as Eddie started moving towards the car, causing Steve to have to jog to catch up. Fucking long legged asshole.
"So to get this Completely clear. You haven't seen rocky horror, you caught a flat tire and.." he flung open the hood and did some looking around. "Had engine trouble while dressed like.." he looked him over with a snort. "Like you lost a bet. And you only watch romcoms?! Harrington, you're something else."
Steve's face flushed dark pink as Eddie commented on his outfit. "I was going to my ballet rehearsal, asshat. Is your masculinity that fragile a dude can't like dancing? Plus the chicks dig a flexible guy!"
Eddie grabbed a wrench and started tinkering around with a heavy sigh. "See, if you'd seen Rocky horror you'd know exactly where my stance on masculinity was. And when your daddy told you chicks did flexible guys he meant when you'll drop shit to change the date."
Steve bristled at the mention of his father, looking down at the floor. "Don't say shit about my dad. You don't know him."
The mechanic looked up from what he was doing and swallowed. Shit, too far. Not exactly banter… "I'm sorry. Let me uh.. make it up to you, movie night at my place Friday. I have got to burst your Horror cherry."
"Oh you don't have to do that, because you feel bad for me or whatever. I don't need pity, remember?" He answered, shooting the line from what Eddie had said last week.
"It's not for me, it's for you. It's a goddamn disgrace you haven't seen it yet besides.." he pulls out a chunk of twisted and bent metal that looked searing hot. "You're gonna be walking for a while buddy. This is gonna cost you and… is gonna take a while for the parts to come in."
Steve groaned, running a hand through his hair and shaking his head. "Fuck. Do you have a phone? I gotta see if Nancy can come get me. God dammit!"
Eddie pointed it out to him, and Steve quickly scampered off to do so, calling Robin as he was sure that's where Nancy was. He was correct and after a quick conversation he brought up the movie thing.
Robin squealed. "Oh gosh, you have to. Dingus, he's asking you out! At his house nonetheless!"
Steve shifted from foot to foot. "Are you sure that's what he's doing? I really really don't want to be wrong Rob."
"Steve. Do me a favor. Look at Eddie's ass."
"What?" He sputters, damn near dropping the phone.
"Look at his ass! Does he have anything hanging out of his pockets!"
"Oh my god Robin you've lost it. You've officially gone nuts."
"There's some kind of flagging code I read about!"
Steve sighs, shaking his head and then carefully looks over his shoulder to see Eddie leaning over his poor beat up BMW. A black bandana hung out of the back left pocket, Steve can't help but let his gaze linger for a few more moments before turning back to the phone. "A black bandana. Left pocket, now explain!"
Robin giggles and snorts. "Never. But I can't tell you this, accept the date. It's gonna be really fun for you."
And with that she hung up. Steve sighed, shaking his head and going back over to Eddie, arms crossed.
"I got a ride home and… yeah. Okay, Robin said Rocky Horror is hilarious and I'd love it." He lies pushing hair out of his face as Eddie starts to wipe his hands on a dirty rag. "I can be over at eight… the trailer park right?"
A wide grin spreads across Eddie's face, so gleeful as his brown eyes sparkle at the ballerina in front of him. "Perfect. You're correct. I get off at seven if you wanna come sooner… I should really work on getting these parts out, there's a bench out front if you wanna wait for your ride. Or a chair right there if you wanna watch me some more, twinkle toes."
Steve's face flushed a deep red and he stomps off outside then pauses, digging through his bag and grabbing an old pizza menu. He borrows a marker from the receptionist and comes back to Eddie, pressing the menu to his chest. "You call me if you wanna hear my voice so bad. See you around, Munson."
He finally stalked off out front, not bothering to look back at Eddie, who was watching him walk all the way out, and right into Nancy's car.
"You okay Steve? Robin said you said your car was smoking! I told you not to let Billy borrow your car!" Nancy chastises once he's buckled in.
"I'm fine, Nance. And I… think I have a date?"
Nancy looks over, surprised with a smile. "Oh yeah? Is she nice?"
"Uh… they're… they're amazing Nancy. I can't wait to get to know them better."
"Good. I'm happy for you Steven."
"Yeah.. I'm happy for you too Nancy."
He sure hoped things would be okay, that this date would be okay. But only time would tell.