Archive of Our Own

When Robin came into work a week before Halloween with that somewhat guilty but somewhat amused look in her eye, Steve knew he was being roped into something.

"No." He picked up an armful of tapes and maneuvered himself out from behind the counter.

"Oh come on Steve, it's gonna be like four hours max and I'll be doing your makeup and you don't even really have to do anything if you don't want to." Robin followed him around as he put the tapes back on the shelves, missing the armhole of her smock three times before she actually looked where she was putting her hand.

"Don't call it makeup." He grimaced, refusing to face her as they slowly made their way around the shop floor, him actually working, her harassing him. 

"Fine, face paint, whatever. I'm hardly putting you in drag, it's going to be scary 'face paint'. And it's going to be low light so no one will even really be able to tell it's you unless you decide to get up close."

"Oh that's my decision, is it? Glad to know I get a say in something."

"Well the customers will barely be able to see you, you can stay in one spot or you can get up and move around. I'm sorry I didn't check with you first, Steve. But we needed someone after Toby had to drop out and no one else was available and the Hawkins Haunted House is where the drama club gets most of its funding every year."

"Why are you still involved? You graduated last semester. Plus, did you consider any plans I might have?"

"What plans?"

Steve knew Robin hadn't meant to cut into him so deeply, her mouth had spoken before her brain had caught up as usual. 

"I didn't mean-" Robin began. He held his hand up to silence her, handing her the remaining tapes and stomped into the back room, exiting through the rear door for a smoke.

Yeah, he had no plans. Usually he'd chaperone the kids while they went trick-or-treating but they seemed to have decided they were too grown up for it this year. They were going to spend the majority of Halloween night at the Halloween fair, where the Haunted House was going to be and could hanging around at a fair really be called 'plans'?

They hadn't really even asked him to hang out, it was a begrudging 'Oh, I guess you could come. We've already asked Eddie, Halloween just seems more of his scene, you know?' 

They weren't even spending the night at his home afterwards, they would be in Wheelers basement.

All of Robins friends were working at the Haunted House or the fair, Nancy and Jonathan were off doing their own thing and there hadn't been a party invite in sight for him. He'd resigned himself to ignoring the front door and eating the candy he'd bought for the trick-or-treaters, with the Cheers crowd to keep him company. Maybe Sam and Diane would finally get their shit together.

The whole thing had left him feeling extremely sour even though he couldn't really blame the kids. Eddie was much more Halloween-y than he was. Theatrical and exaggerated and into that spooky shit all year round.

Stupid Eddie stealing his kids, with his stupid hair and stupid hands and stupid giant fucking Bambi eyes.

He still remembered how they looked up close, dark and deep and completely mesmerising, even when he had him pinned up against a boathouse wall, dirty broken glass to his throat. Steve couldn't look away.

He thought he had seen something in them just before they separated at their first face off with Vecna.

Steve...

Make him pay.

There had been something there. Something unsaid.

He'd seen it again during their final showdown with Vecna, Eddie had pulled Steve back from a ledge he'd nearly slipped down, too busy watching Dustin up ahead to pay attention to where he was going.

They'd stared at each other, noses nearly touching, Steve practically dipped by Eddie like it was some kind of macabre dance. It had seemed to last forever, finding all the different colours that made up his eyes, until it was broken by a monstrous call in the distance.

In the seven months since Vecna was defeated there had been the occasional looks, many ‘accidental’ touches from both sides that were more intimate than anything Steve had ever shared with another man, numerous nights spent in Steve's bed and one drunk and high night that seemed to devolve into some kind of competition to see who could fluster the other the most.

Steve shook his head, trying to send the thoughts flying away and stubbed out his cigarette. He was overthinking things. He must be. He had a tendency to overthink.

Maybe it could be fun to spend Halloween doing something different. Be the scare-er rather than the scare-ee this time.

When he approached her again, Robin wrinkled her nose in disapproval of the lingering smell but didn't scold him like she usually did, apparently still feeling guilty. 

"I'm sorry I said that." She was behind the counter now, rewinding tapes.

"I'm sorry I stormed off." He gave her shoulder a quick squeeze. "And fine, I'll be your damn scarer."

Robin squealed, hugging him tight around the middle.

"You're such a good friend. I swear I'll make sure you're comfortable, I'll get you in somewhere dark and out of the way. And the term is Scare Actor."

He rolled his eyes. "Whatever."

"You've got to be fucking kidding me, Rob."

"It's the easiest section of the house!"

"You're seriously going have me 'chained' to a chair in some kind of torture chamber? Seriously? Seriously? Why don't I just go break out my old Scoops uniform? Make it genuine! I know there's still some blood and puke on it that refuses to come out!"

"It's the smallest and darkest room of the house so you only really need to, like, jump a little in your seat. Most people won't even see you if you don't move. And you volunteered for that room specifically because it's where the back exit is for the customers who are too overwhelmed."

Steve scowled at her. 

Why did he feel like he was being punished for wanting to be the designated 'helper' of that area? In the harsh overhead lights that would soon give way to spooky flickering darkness, the room didn't look that scary. There was a large chair he'd sit in, chains bolted to the floor that he could slip his hands in and out of, the grimy walls behind him dirty and covered in blood, instruments of torture strewn about. They were all fake, of course but still kept out of reach of customers, beyond the psychological barrier of 'his' area and 'their' area.

He raised his hand to his hair for the third time that night before dropping it, remembering he wasn't allowed to touch it.

Robin was lucky he loved her so much because if anyone else had sprayed some black and green shit into his hair and styled it in such an unruly fashion he'd have killed them.

She swore up and down it would wash out. 

It had better.

Though he had to admit the hair and the makeup-slash-facepaint and the thrifted shirt and jeans she'd put him in all gave him a very… rugged look.

Spooky but rugged all the same. Very different from his usual clean lines and ironed jeans.

What kind of dork irons their jeans?

Bite me, Robin.

She'd dressed him head to toe in black, better to camouflage him into the background. They'd cut some rips and tears into the t-shirt and jeans, roughing up the edges with 'blood' and 'dirt'.

Steve thought he'd have more of an issue with the whole thing. Making up 'wounds' where the slashes showed his skin, dripping 'blood' down his body, his neck, his mouth. Utilising the scars he already had, the chunks of flesh that had been torn out and eaten by Demobats were on full display with 'blood' messily smeared over the top, highlighting the gruesome peaks and valleys in the meat of his sides.  

Those ones looked mostly real. 

Because they were mostly real, just healed.

Everything else on his body looked almost comically fake to his eyes.

The fake blood was too thin, a bit too pink to be real.

It smelled too pleasant.

It tasted bad but nowhere near as bad as Demobat flesh and blood.

And it was cold, not the warmth he knew all too well from a devastating wound.

It was enough to traumatise the innocent children and adults of Hawkins.

But his gang?

This was nothing to his gang.

Even the flashing lights of the room he'd be in didn't bother him. The flashes were too methodical, too rhythmic to be anything supernatural.

He caught sight of himself again as he was taken through the hidden exit at the back of his room which lead out to the back of the attraction. Just to make sure he knew the way.

His face was mostly free from gore but that didn't mean he'd gotten away easy. Robin had attacked him with whites and browns and blacks until he looked like a high-school drama's version of a gaunt, haunted man. He'd had his cheekbones carved out, his entire eye sockets were messily deepened with black and she'd strategically coated him in greens and browns to make him look dirty and worn.

Yeah, definitely more rugged than his ironed jeans.

It was odd though, he could tell there was a strange sort of appeal to the look. He was a handsome man, he knew but there was something different here, a dirty, robust, almost husky something.

It was attractive.

A different kind of attractive than he was used to emulating, but still.

Weirdly attractive.

He could be just as Halloween-y as Eddie.

He’d show him.

He could deal with it for tonight. Besides, the jeans were tighter than normal, stretched taut across his thighs and doing great things for his ass, he'd already caught a few people looking.

Still got it.

"Alright, calm down Narcissus." Robin rolled her eyes at him in the reflection of the exterior door. "I know I'm good, but try not to drown yourself before the event is over. We close at midnight, you can oogle yourself as much as you like after that."

Robin herself was done up as some kind of murderous female clown complete with pigtails and a painted on smile that stretched too wide. 

A Harlequin she'd called it.

Despite her chastising him, she shoved him to the side so she could double check herself in the mirror that had been hung for them in the hallway. It was fifteen minutes to opening and Steve was finding himself getting more and more nervous.

It was so stupid. 

It was so ridiculous.

He wasn't scary, how do you even be scary?

People would laugh at him if he jumped out, right?

Would the kids find it stupid?

Would his kids find it stupid?

Would Eddie?

"Relax, Steve. You'll be fine. You're one of the last scares, people will either be so on edge you'll only have to blink at them or they'll be so over it they won't care."

He sighed heavily. "My life was so much easier before all you infectious nerds invaded. You're all more trouble than anyone could have guessed. Why did I switch social groups again?"

"Because you grew a conscience." She spoke around her stretched lips as she reapplied her lipstick.

"Nah, I don't think that was it. Must've lost a bet or something."

Robin rolled her eyes but grasped his hand all the same. “I meant what I said, you know. You’re a really good friend. I know this is outside your comfort zone but I also knew I could rely on you if I was in a pinch and you came through for me like you always do. I owe you big time for this.”

Steve wondered if his blush was visible underneath the makeup. He shrugged, squeezing her hand back. “It was just a favour for a friend, it’s not like I followed you into battle or anything. Not this time at least.”

Surprisingly enough he found himself getting into it once the second hour had ticked by. The first two hours, he had barely moved, only jumped a little or rattled his chains when he was absolutely sure there were no young kids present.

If he was honest with himself, Steve was scandalised at the amount of adults who were dragging terrified little children through the attraction when they clearly didn’t want to be there. 

By the time 10pm had rolled around he had escorted four screaming children, one white-faced teenager and a rowdy drunken man who was trying to convince him to fight, out through the back door.

The most memorable event in particular was when the Wheeler parents came through, Holly in tow, absolutely terrified. The second she had recognised Steve’s voice she’d latched onto him, refusing to let go and be led through the rest of the attraction by her parents, no matter how they tried to convince her.

So he had told the Wheelers where to meet him and he had taken Holly out of the back exit in his arms, bouncing her around, singing softly to her, trying to get her to smile. By the time Karen had turned up nearly twenty minutes later, he had Holly screaming with laughter as they both tried to see how fast he could spin her around. He couldn’t help but glare disapprovingly at the back of Karen's head as they walked away.

Six years old and dragged through a Haunted House attraction. 

Ridiculous.

He’d have to have a talk with the admissions booth about it for next year.

The next two hours flew by and as the amount of children being dragged through dwindled, he found himself enjoying it more and more. Maybe the drama kids were on to something. Depending on who was entering he slipped almost completely into different characters. 

He’d cry out, scream, beg for help and it may have been a bit cruel but he would often pull from memory of his time below Starcourt Mall to make it more believable. He became more and more satisfied with the terrified yells he could wrench from a gaggle of teenagers or a couple on a date. 

Other times he’d get up from his seat, stalk around the area permitted by his ‘chains’ like some kind of caged animal, pulling against the restraints at his wrists. Though always sure not to pull too hard in case the flimsy metal broke. He decided that now wasn’t the right time to examine why he liked the feeling of being restrained so much and why it was made even better when he fought against the chains, no matter how performative it was.

As he properly lost himself in his character, he became downright brazen. If someone ventured too close to the edge of ‘his’ area and ‘their’ area, he’d get his face as close as he could to them before they'd notice and exhale loudly almost like a growl.

Most would throw themselves away from him, one or two seemed very into it. 

That would be something else he’d have to examine later. 

It was getting close to midnight and Steve was starting to find himself surprisingly tired. He would have never thought being a scarer could be so exhausting, but he supposed he’d had a steady stream of adrenaline and endorphins coursing through him for the last few hours.

He perked up at the sound of a familiar voice carrying through the wall.

“Try harder next time, Robin!” Mike called from the next room over.

“It’s a cute costume though!” Max shouted, their voices getting closer. There was the usual din of chatter between The Party that he would have been able to recognise anywhere.

He skulked backwards, into the deepest, darkest part of his room.

With the lights flickering overhead he could just about make out the group entering, casting their eyes around, less nervous than most other groups that had passed through.

Battle hardened after three years worth of real demons and apocalypses.

“Isn’t Steve supposed to be in here?”

“Robin told me yesterday he volunteered as a helper, he could be outside with someone.”

“No way, that’d be so lame if we didn’t get to see him.”

“Well we would have been able to come earlier but someone insisted on shoving funnel cake down their throat.”

“They were running out of batter, we had to go!”

“Did she seriously put him in a torture themed room?”

“Dick move.”

He’d have to work hard for this scare. 

Pulling from the very back recesses of his mind he began to mimic, to the best of his ability, the screeching call of a Demogorgan. Still hidden away in his corner he was able to see the automatic wave of apprehension sweep over the group.

“Not cool, man!” Dustin shouted, whipping around trying to locate the sound over the ambient noise being pumped into the rooms. 

He pulled his chains so the area they were bolted to the ground would rattle the loudest, away from him as he slowly bent to a crouch.

The Party moved deeper into the room, trying to squint into the dark corners, to see anything past the strategically placed flashing lights. Someone else came into view now, taller, older than the kids. Leather jacket, ripped jeans, rings. Steve grinned to himself as excitement bristled through his skin. He almost felt like a hunter on the prowl.

“He’s not here-”

Steve launched himself, one, two, three stomps of his heavy boots, torso bent forward like some kind of feral animal, the chains pulling his arms behind him as they reached their limit. He could barely hear the kids around him screaming, then whooping as he came to a sudden stop as if completely restrained which left his nose nearly touching Eddie’s chest. 

Slowly he straightened up to his full height, pulling against the chains until he was just above eye level, staring down at Eddie in the most intimidating way he could. He let a low growl rumble through his throat and Eddie was staring at him, big Bambi eyes as wide as he had ever seen them, his breathing hitched and something dark in his expression.

Eddie let out a shuddering exhale and Steve felt his blood light on fire. They stared each other down for an eternity.

"Guys we need to go, this place closes in five minutes." Will glanced nervously at his watch with the anxious air of a kid who expected a worker to pop out of a wall and berate him for being an inconvenience.

Steve refused to break eye contact first, slowly retreating backwards into the shadows until he was sure he was completely obscured. Eddie had followed him back with his eyes, almost hungrily, watching intently.

He didn't ever think he'd felt like this before. There was no time to second guess or wonder or think what this could possibly mean for him. All he knew is he practically wanted to tackle Eddie to the ground. The only thing stopping him was the gaggle of teens trying to pull him out of the door.

He eventually tore his gaze away from where Steve was hidden, turning to exit with the kids.

"We'll meet you in the parking lot!" Dustin called back into the room before turning to Eddie. "What the hell was that?"

Slowly as the last few minutes of the attraction passed by, Steve felt the adrenaline in his blood ebb away and the doubt began to seep in.

What the hell was wrong with him?

He'd gone a bit overboard. Practically accosted Eddie and all for what?

Jealousy?

Was it jealousy?

Is that why his blood was so hot?

Why he felt a warmth below his belly button when he thought of the way Eddie had looked at him.

Like he wanted to devour him whole.

And at that moment Steve would have let him.

Oh god.

Nope.

Not jealousy.

By the time Robin came and found him and the overhead lights flooded the area so they could make sure there were no customers hiding in any corners, he had freaked out twice and talked himself down twice.

He had to tell her.

He had to talk to her.

She'd help him process everything, she always did.

“Robin, help me. I’m having a crisis.”

She scoffed. “Join the club.”

Robin was terrible at helping him process things.

“That’s not very ‘best friend’ of you.” He scowled as he held the exit to the Haunted House open for her.

“Bite me, Harrington. Are you going to come out to me again? Because this would be what? The fourth time in total?”

“Yeah, but only because I couldn’t remember all the other times.”

“Because you insist on tequila.”

“I’ve stopped drinking tequila and I came out to you sober the last time so essentially we’re back at number one.”

Robin laughed to herself. “Yeah right. You should have seen your face when you realised. It was hilarious.”

“Yeah, ha-ha, very funny. But this isn’t a coming out. I’m having, like, a ‘person’ crisis.”

“Oh please, you’re not going to gush to me about Eddie again, are you? Is this payback for all the pining I did over Vickie?”

Steve stopped dead in his tracks. Robin was a few steps ahead before she noticed. She looked back over her shoulder.

“What?” He stared at her wide eyed, dread crawling up his throat.

She stared at him for a second before her face cracked into a wide smile that was almost unsettling considering her evil clown makeup.

“Oh my god it’s happening again.” She ran back to where he was rooted to the spot, her wide eyes glittering. 

“I’ve talked about Eddie?”

“Oh my god!” She screamed. 

Steve whipped his head around. “Jesus, Robin. Don’t alert the whole town or anything.”

While the fairground was officially closed and mostly empty at this stage, apart from staff cleaning up, he could see clear across to the parking lot where a few familiar heads turned to them in the distance at the sound of her cry. Steve could almost feel Eddie’s smirk from across the muddy field.

Robin, as usual, didn’t seem to care. 

“Now that confession,” she slung an arm around his waist and he placed his own loosely over her shoulders as they slowly picked their way through mud puddles and trampled grass, their steps perfectly in sync with each other, “I'm amazed you don’t remember honestly. You’re lucky my parents weren’t home. You ranted at me for nearly an hour. Loudly. Like non-stop. Your head was in the toilet the whole time too-”

“Did you save my hair?”

She scoffed at him again. “Of course I saved your hair, what do you take me for? I had it tied up all nice and pretty, away from your spewing mouth.”

“Shit. Well… what did I say?!”

“Oh you said a lot of things. Things that are burned into my brain forever. Things I can’t ever repeat as someone who is soul bonded to you for life and so very not attracted to men. The PG version is: you’re completely fucked. You’re down bad. You’re super obsessed. Obsessed with his hands, his hair, his eyes, his tattoos, like, all of him. I can’t go into your R rated confessions, for my own sanity and there were a lot of them.”

“Oh god.”

The blush was definitely still visible on his cheeks by the time they met up with everyone, Eddie’s van parked right next to Steve’s car.

The man himself was leaning nonchalantly against the hood, looking completely unbothered, the bastard. 

Apparently Steve was the only one losing his mind, trapped in his own head, barely able to think of anything else.

Well he'd be damned if he let it show. 

He was Steve Harrington god damn it.

The second the kids laid eyes on him they swarmed. Surrounded both himself and Robin, examining their costumes closely under the bright the street lights, raving about their performances, circling them almost like vultures.

"You look so cool."

"It's kinda hot actually?"

"What? Max? No it's not."

"It's hot, Max. You're right."

Oh shit Eddie definitely said that.

"How did you convince Steve to do it?"

"Yeah he's usually such a prude."

"You had me there for a second, I'm not going to lie."

"I can't believe she put you in a torture chamber."

"You should wear makeup more often."

"Did they actually chain you down?"

"Did anyone faint?"

"Alright!" Steve shouted over the questions, looking from the kids, his eyes landing on the person he had slowly began to realise he always looked for first in a room, always sought out when something made him laugh, the person he almost needily craved attention from.

Eddie met his gaze and Steve's stomach twisted around on itself. He was looking at him through heavy lidded eyes, almost appraising. His eyes slowly and openly roaming over Steve's body, dark and smouldering. There was something particularly cocky in the easy stance he had up against his car, hands loosely in his jacket pockets, one booted foot resting back against a wheel.

It shouldn't be as attractive as it was, but god was it attractive.

Robin lightly squeezed him where her arm still rested around him and he was brought back into his body.

"What are you all still doing out here?" He twisted his arm, elbow still crooked around Robin's neck to look at his watch. "It's well past midnight, well past your bedtimes?"

Max rolled her eyes. "Ugh, grow up Steve."

"Yeah, grow up Steve." El parroted.

"Yeah, grow up Steve." Eddie called, his face alight with joy as the kids babbled around them.

"Don't encourage them." He deadpanned.

Eddie shrugged still smiling before striding over, the kids parting like the red sea for him, resting his elbow on Steve's shoulder. "Gotta teach 'em while they're young, sweetheart. Gotta show 'em how to buck authority, create chaos, bring down the 'man'!"

Steve resisted the urge to roll his eyes. "Whatever, darling but no one bucks my authority."

There was a glint in his eye as Eddie nodded seriously. "Your wish is my command, honey." He looked out over the expanse of children. "Kids, listen to your mother."

Steve did roll his eyes that time. "Be careful with that or I'll have to demand a lot more, baby."

"You promise, gorgeous?" Eddie's expression was practically wolfish and Steve refused to look away.

"Would you be kind enough to give it to me?" He paused, staring him dead in the eye, allowing a small smirk to come to his own face. "Sweetie?"

"What's happening?" Dustin asked apprehensive, somewhere behind him.

"The inevitable." Robin sighed, rubbing her eyes.

"You can't use sweetie, I already used sweetheart, sugar." Eddie was biting his thumb gently enough to hold it in place, occasionally pulling his lip down ever so slightly. The movement was addicting to Steve and he watched every second of it.

He shrugged and with great effort met Eddie's eyes again. "Guess I'll have to take my punishment like a good boy, then."

"Anyway!" Robin cried, pulling her arm from around Steve's waist and clapping her hands together loudly. "What's everyone up to this fine spooky night?"

"We've got that stack of horror movies you rented out to us back at Mike's. Gonna marathon them all night."

Steve's mouth pulled down into a frown against his will and he reluctantly turned his head back to the kids.

"I didn't rent you out any horror movies."

"We have connections other than you, you know." Mike rolled his eyes.

Steve looked down at Robin. "Me or Robin, it's all the same thing."

"Yeah but Robin lets us rent the R-rated-" The entire group including Robin and Eddie shushed Lucas but it was too late.

"Robin lets you what?!" Steve tightened the arm around Robins neck ever so slightly.

"Oh come on Steve. If this is the stupid shit a bunch of fifteen year olds get up to on Halloween night they're doing pretty good. Would you prefer they were out egging houses or firing toilet paper into trees?"

"If they were, they'd damn sure be cleaning it up afterwards." He muttered.

"Exactly, so lighten up. I've got morning clean up duty in the Haunted House, kids, so unfortunately I am unavailable for anything fun or spooky tonight." Robin tried to sound bitter but it was broken by a yawn.

"Sadly I am in a similar boat," Eddie sighed. "No morning clean up duty but nothing fun or spooky planned for me either."

Steve whipped his head back around. "No? Isn't this, like, your time of year or whatever?"

"If that's a cult reference then it's a low blow." Eddie's mouth frowned but his eyes shone.

"Yeah, yeah. You're a real Satan worshiper, sacrifice sheep at an altar and all that. We all know you're just a big fluffy pink bear on the inside."

"Okay first off, it's goats we'd be sacrificing and secondly there's no way in hell I'm a bear."

Robin snorted and nudged Steve in the ribs. "Well your boy Steve here is also has zero plans-"

"Thanks Robin."

"-so you two should make a night of it. I think he's still got some tequila stashed on top of his fridge-"

"Ha ha ha," Steve laughed flatly, tightening his arm further practically pulling her into a headlock. "That's so funny, you're so funny, Robin."

"Not a fan of tequila anymore, Steve?" Eddie teased.

Anymore? Oh god what had he said to him?

He shrugged, looking for an excuse. "I've got work tomorrow."

"Yeah but not until-" Robin spoke from somewhere near his armpit.

He clapped a hand over her mouth.

"But we could make a night of it. You got any Halloween-y movies?"

Eddie smiled, wide and genuine. "Tons."

"Perfect, I've gotta drive this menace to society home," Robin licked his hand and he ripped it away, wiping it off on her hair but loosening his grip on her, "but grab your movies and come over, we can get scared shitless together."

"Do you get spooked by scary movies, Steve?" Eddie nearly laughed.

"I'm not worried. I'll have you there to protect me."

Something small shifted in Eddie's expression, something soft and light danced over his face before it was replaced by his usual bravado. "You're damn right. All right shitheads!" He slapped the side of his van. "Get in and be snappy about it, I've got a hot date tonight."

It wasn't a panic attack Steve had in the car with Robin, it was more of just an extreme freak-out.

"Steve, Eddie was undressing you with his eyes, okay? You've got nothing to worry about."

"Is this another 'Vickie likes boobies and Fast Times' thing?"

Robin stepped out of the car and smiled. "Yes. Now go get your man, I'll see you tomorrow."

Eddie was propped up against his van again, when Steve arrived home, smoke slowly seeping out of his mouth as he flipped lazily through the movies he'd brought.

"I've got The Thing, The Omen, The Exorcist, Carrie, Frankenstein, Nosferatu, those last two are like classic classics. Like fifty years old classics. Halloween, Alien-"

"Okay I get it. You're spooky." Steve smiled. "I'm sure we'll manage a few."

"We'll manage as many as we need to to make this a proper Halloween night."

"The kids weren't too much trouble?" He asked, fumbling with his keys in the darkness. He'd forgotten to leave the front light on. That's probably why his candy bowl was completely untouched.

"Nah they were fine. Wished me luck, told me to make sure to use protection."

Steve dropped his keys.

He was surprised the burning in his cheeks weren't casting a visible glow across the door. His heart squeezed hard then started rapid fire beating.

Eddie swooped down and snatched the keys up from the ground, straightening up in much the same way Steve had earlier, his nose nearly touching his chest, until he was at eye level.

No wait, above eye level, grinning hungrily down at him as he easily unlocked the door and swept it open, gesturing Steve in.

"My King."

It sounded like a prayer.

Like worship.

Eddie bowed as low as he could while maintaining intense eye contact in the dark.

Steve almost tripped over his own feet getting through the door, finally flipping the lights on.

He busied himself getting the TV set up, trying to stamp down his nerves until-

Wait.

Above eye level?

He glanced over at where Eddie was rifling through the candy bowl and his eyes drifted downwards.

He'd changed his boots.

He'd changed his boots.

Eddie had taken the time in his mad dash to grab some movies back at the trailer to change out of a normal pair of work boots into a pair with a thicker sole, almost a platform, to make himself taller than Steve.

If it had been anyone else he'd have called it ridiculous and petty male competition.

But god why was it so hot.

He'd just barely gotten everything up at running before he caught sight of his reflection in the window and thanked Christ he hadn't sat down yet or he would've spent hours cleaning fake blood and makeup and gunk out of his mother's couch.

"Eddie?"

"Yeah?" He looked up from his seated position, a candy bar hanging out of his mouth.

"How do I get this shit off my face?"

Eddie grinned at him. “You really are a Halloween virgin aren’t you?” He stood and took Steve’s hand.

Electricity shot up his arm at the innocent, intimate contact and he blushed again.

God could he stop doing that?

“Come on,” Eddie led Steve upstairs. “We’ll raid your parents' bathroom. Your mom is bound to have something.”

A few minutes later Eddie had a tub of cold cream that was only slightly out of date don’t worry about it in his hands. Steve sat himself on the counter like he had when he was a kid and held his hand out for it.

Eddie ignored his outstretched hand, opened the tub and scooped out a generous lump, gently rubbing his hands together. He bumped his hips against Steve’s knees as he pressed himself up against the counter in between his legs.

“Come on.” Eddie gestured forward. Steve’s heart jumped into his throat as his stomach flew out, landing somewhere far behind him. He swallowed and watched as Eddie followed the movement of his throat, his own neck becoming a little red at the sight. Steve scooched forward trying to chase the blush until he had him firmly in between his thighs. He gave him a little squeeze and delighted in the sight of those big brown eyes dilating wide.

Eddie reached his hands out and softly said, “Close your eyes.”

Steve shut his eyes tight and momentarily flinched back as the cold cream was gently spread over his face. Eddie took his time, running his fingers whisper soft over his skin, getting him to loosen his scrunched up eyes and slowly massaging any tension away. He melted into the touch, finding himself feeling more relaxed than he had in a long time, almost drifting. 

He was barely even startled awake when Eddie’s hands were replaced by a warm wet washcloth slowly wiping his face down with the same amount of care.

“Steve? You still awake in there?” His voice was soft and sweet, his thumbs gently caressing his cheeks back and forth as both hands held him under his jaw.

“Mm-hmm.” He nodded into Eddie’s hands and blinked his eyes open. They were nearly nose to nose. Eddie smiled, his eyes searching Steve’s like they had all those months ago.

“Good. You look like yourself again.” 

If he moved forward just a little they’d be kissing.

He wanted them to be kissing. 

Eddie’s eyes flitted from his eyes up to his hairline and he grinned that softly amused grin he had that Steve realised he’d been thinking about for a very long time. 

“Your hair looks like you’ve been dragged backwards through a bush. Aesthetically.”

Steve’s hand flew up, it was still a rumpled sticky mess of colours, gel, hairspray and mousse. He’d told Robin his hair didn’t need that much help to stick up but she refused to listen.

He’d rather fight a Demogorgan again than sleep with all that destroying his best feature. He scowled and straightened up, Eddie dropping his hands from his face and stepping away.

Steve momentarily lamented the cold space before he jumped down. “I need to shower all this shit off. You’re staying tonight? Go change into something more comfortable, you know where everything is.”

Eddie smiled at him again, small and genuine and fond and still a little taller than him.

Bastard.

“As you wish.”

Just as they were going their separate directions in the hallway, Steve called after him. “You can go ahead and start without me!”

Eddie snorted, snatching up his favourite pair of sweatpants and that one ‘Steve sweater’ he always chose. “Wouldn’t dream of it, my dear.”

Ten minutes into the shower and Steve thunked his head against the tiles, only just realising the double entendre in those words.

By the time he was dried and dressed, Steve was determined. He’d never much liked the dance people do around their feelings but at the same time he’d never been so scared shitless before.

He was Steve goddamn Harrington and he was going to kiss the boy he liked.

He was determined until he got halfway down the stairs and found Soft Eddie reclined back across his couch.

Soft sweater, soft pants, soft socks, soft hair, soft expression. 

Nope, he wasn’t that brave.

Yes he was, he’d make himself be that brave.

No he couldn’t, he could just keep that image locked away in his heart forever.

Just do it!

Don’t do it!

He huffed, irritated at himself and decided to charge headfirst like he usually did. Maybe not everything he’d built himself up to do but it would be enough.

He snatched up a blanket and crawled in between Eddie’s legs, laying his head on the man's chest and snuggling in almost aggressively under the blanket. 

Determined. 

Just try and move him. 

Eddie stiffened under his weight and oh god he’d misread everything, he’d fucked everything up he should move, he should run and apologise-

He felt an arm wrap tight around him squeezing him close for a moment before loosening, fingers slowly running up and down his back.

Eddie pressed play on the remote and Steve tried his hardest to watch the movie, he really did. But he was now encircled in two arms, nestled between two legs, his ear directly over a rapid heartbeat, warm and safe and comfortable and so god damn content.

Everything swirled and went around and around in his head over and over again until he was nearly dizzy. Overthinking, underthinking and the entire time that damn heartbeat under him didn’t slow once.

He estimated they were about half way through before any semblance of self control he had snapped.

He grabbed Eddie by the neck, using him as an anchor to pull himself upwards. He had just a second to see a pair of wide surprised eyes look down at him before he crashed their mouths together in a fumbling, desperate kiss that nonetheless made his head spin in the best way possible.

It was only a second before he felt Eddie respond, grabbing the back of his neck roughly and bucking underneath him, sending Steve upwards and himself downwards into a more even, prone position. 

The kiss was rough and hard and breathless. Eddie below him wasn’t meek and delicate like every girl he had been with before.

He was eager and aggressive and stubbly and damn handsy. 

“Tell me you’ll wear those fucking jeans again, for me.” He panted out as his hands gripped desperately at his ass.

For me.

Jesus Christ.

Still got it though.

“Anything for you.” He crashed their mouths back together again but was gently pushed away a moment later.

Steve pouted down at Eddie who was all bright red swollen lips, black eyes and rosy cheeks.

“Anything?” He shuddered out.

“Ask.”

“Don’t want to ruin your mothers lovely couch, pumpkin.”

“Take me upstairs then, honey.”

Eddie shook his head. “Already used honey today.”

Steve paused, almost glaring down at him. “Well, what are you going to do about it, love?” 

He nearly crashed into the bannister as he was chased upstairs and into his bedroom.

There was a loud shrill ring throughout the quiet house. 

Steve groaned as he tried to lean over to get his hands on the phone, screaming at him on his bedside table, but he was stopped short by the pair of arms that were encircling his waist, pulling him backwards.

Eddie didn’t say anything, just shook his head against Steve’s back, tightening his grip.

The phone screamed again.

“Fine, have it your way.” Steve dragged himself towards the edge of his bed, pulling Eddie along with him and ripped the phone away from the receiver.

“Hello?” He grumbled, voice cracking from sleep as Eddie snuggled his face in between Steve’s bare shoulder blades. 

“Hi Steve- shut up, shut up, he’s still half asleep, I’ll ask him.” Dustin's voice crackled through, the sounds of all the other kids chattering, no doubt huddled around the phone.

“What do you want, Dustin? What time is it?” He looked at his watch. 

09.04

He had the closing shift today and didn’t need to be awake for another hour and a half.

“Someone better be dead or dying, Henderson.” There was a warm, solid, loving presence behind him that felt like happiness and home and his shithead child was calling him to disturb his bliss.

He could barely even process the words coming down the phone, his brain having not fully woken up yet.

“Okay firstly, not cool. Secondly, did Eddie stay over last night?”

Eddie perked up just a little at the sound of his name coming through the phone. He raised his head ever so slightly with a sleepy, hm?

“Yeah?” Steve yawned.

“In your bed?”

“Yeah.” He answered again before fully registering the question.

“Who made the first move?” Dustin sounded like he was reading off a list.

“I di-” Steve stalled as he finally heard what was being asked of him.

There was frantic whispering in the background and something that suspiciously sounded like a pencil on a notepad.

“Why am I being interrogated?” Steve asked, irritated. Eddie kissed the back of his neck, earning a small shiver and he felt him smirk against his skin. 

“Just answer the questions, Steve. How far- Max!” There was a crashing sound as if someone had tried to wrench the phone out of his hand but ended up dropping it.

There was some scuffling and some arguing then Max’s voice practically shouted down the phone.

“Did you fuck him?!” 

“Maxine Susan Mayfield!”

Eddie dissolved into laughter behind him, definitely able to be heard on the other end of the line.

“C’mon, man. I got fifteen bucks riding on this question alone.”

“You’ve been betting on us?!”

“Answer the fucking question, Steve!”

Steve scowled at the phone as if Max could see it while Eddie howled behind him.

The line was silent for a few seconds on both ends, the only noise being Eddie’s great big belly laughs and an argument breaking out behind Max.

“Sorry to disappoint, Mayfield." He paused. "I didn't fuck him.”

"..."

"... I got fucked by him though."

“WHA-” Several screams burst through the phone before being abruptly cut off as Steve slammed it back down on the receiver, yanking the cord out of the wall for good measure.

He turned back around and glared at Eddie who was curled up into a ball, almost seeming to be in pain from laughing so hard.

“You were no help, muffin.”

“Yeah,” he giggled, straightening out and weaving his fingers into Steve’s hair. “But you’re stuck with me now, boyfriend.”