Archive of Our Own ^beta

Ever since the Byers-Hopper family moved back to Hawkins in the weeks post-Vecna, it's been nice. Eddie and Jonathan were never close friends in school, but they were friendly. They had things in common.

Even more so now.

Since then, Eddie, Jonathan, and his friend, Argyle (who moved into an apartment with Jonathan after graduation), all get together quite often to dig into some weed and smoke together. Sometimes it's Eddie's, sometimes it's Argyle's Purple Palm Tree Delight, which is actually as great as both Argyle and Jonathan said.

That happens to be the case tonight, a cool Friday evening in late November, Thanksgiving already passed, as they sit around Eddie's coffee table on the floor.

"Dude…your eyes are like…so pretty," Argyle breaks the comfortable silence they'd fallen into for the past few minutes, face close to Eddie's.

Eddie snickers, "Thanks."

"Don't think you have a chance, dude. Eddie only has eyes for one guy," Jonathan teases.

Eddie's face flushes pink in embarrassment, knowing he's right.

"For real? Who's the lucky brochacho?" Argyle grins, wiggling his eyebrows at Eddie.

"Don't worry about—"

"Steve," Jonathan cuts him off.

"Jonathan!"

"What?? I didn't know it was a secret!"

Eddie sighs, "it's not. Apparently everybody seems to be able to tell except Steve himself."

The two men's brows furrow in confusion.

"I've been flirting with him for months! To his face! Hell, I flirted with him during Vecna's reign," Eddie explains.

Jonathan chuckles, "Steve's not known for always being the most…"

"Perceptive?" Argyle supplies.

Jonathan nods, snapping his fingers, "Yes! Perceptive, exactly, thank you. I mean, Dustin told me he thought Vecna was a clockmaker at first."

"Dustin needs to stop running his mouth. Technically, Vecna was a clockmaker. He conjured them up in visions and shit!"

Jonathan and Argyle both let out a laugh.

"Dude, you're so whipped! Defending Steve's honor when he's not even here," Jonathan points at him.

"Yeah, dude," Argyle nods, "totally cute."

Eddie groans, "What does it even matter? It's pointless. Either he really is unaware of my flirting or he's just simply ignoring it cause he doesn't like me like that."

"Why don't you just tell him you like him?" Jonathan asks.

"Because I'm a coward and I can't face the possibility of him not feeling the same way and ruining our friendship forever."

"You should make him jealous," Argyle adds.

"Pardon?"

"You know, flirt with somebody else, get up in another guy's space, and so on. Do everything that you do with Steve with someone else."

"Yeah, and stop doing it with Steve. If he does feel anything for you, he'll feel some type of way about it," Jonathan agrees.

"That's—that's…not a bad idea actually," Eddie contemplates the idea.

Flirting is easy. He's done it for years. Granted, he stopped doing it with anyone else when Steve got him in a chokehold, but still. He's a DM, and fake flirting is kinda like playing a character. There's only one problem.

"And who exactly am I supposed to flirt with?"

"Jonathan," Argyle says simply at the same time Jonathan says "I don't know."

"What???" Jonathan turns to face his buddy.

"Why not? I mean, you and Nancy are donezo, and you're bisexual so—"

"No I'm not?!"

"You're not?"

"No???"

"Are you…sure?"

"I…I mean, I think so."

Eddie huffs, crawling over to Jonathan and pulling himself into his lap.

"Woah there," Jonathan sputters, hand coming to hold Eddie's waist steady in reflex.

Eddie links his hands on the back of Jonathan's head, fingers running through his hair that's now reaching his shoulders. "Can I try something, big boy?"

Jonathan gulps, "Y-yeah."

Eddie grins before leaning in, connecting their lips. Jonathan exhales into the kiss, getting into it, other hand coming to join the hand still on Eddie's waist.

"Hot," Eddie hears Argyle say next to them.

Eddie pulls away after a few more moments, panting. "Well?"

"I didn't…not like that."

Eddie's grin returns before he rests his forehead on Jonathan's. "So? Will you help me make Steve jealous, Byers?"

Jonathan sighs, hands still on Eddie's waist. "Can I just say that I think this is a bad idea?"

"You didn't think it was before you were involved," Eddie reminds him, leaning his head back to look at him.

"Well, yeah, but will anybody even believe it?"

"Why not? You're hot," Eddie assures him.

"For sure," Argyle claps Jonathan's shoulder.

Jonathan laughs, but shakes his head, "thank you, but that's not what I meant. I mean, I dated Nance for almost a year and a half. Would anyone even believe we like each other?"

"Bisexuality exists, Jonathan."

"Yes, thank you, Argyle, I realize that considering Eddie is still in my lap and I have no desire for him to get out of it."

Eddie blushes.

"So yes, I may very well be bisexual, but will anyone else believe that?" Jonathan finishes.

"Argyle did already think you were bi."

Argyle nods.

"This could so easily backfire, dude," Jonathan stares at Eddie seriously.

"What, think you're gonna fall for me?" He teases.

Jonathan rolls his eyes, smiling, "I'm just saying that the whole point of this is to make Steve jealous, but what if all it does is make Steve think we're together and he has no chance?"

Eddie nods in understanding, "okay, sure, I hear you. So, we start out slow. Flirting, then maybe some touches here and there, and then we see how long it takes for him to do anything about it."

Jonathan bites his lip, but nods. "I'll do it. Anything for you, dude. Just…don't get your hopes up, okay? Steve's a good guy, but he might not even be bi. And even if he is, it doesn't mean he's into you."

And okay, that stung.

"Ouch, Jon," Eddie recoils into himself.

"Hey, no," Jonathan pulls him down onto his chest in a hug, cascading his hands down his scalp and back. "That's not what I meant, dude. You're hot. Like, super hot, and anyone would be lucky to have you. I just don't want you to get hurt."

"Don't think the world can hurt me anymore than it already has…" Eddie says quietly into Jonathan's chest, his arms now wrapped around Jonathan's waist.

Jonathan presses a kiss to Eddie's hair and then lays his chin on his head, rubbing comforting circles into Eddie's back.

Eddie laughs when Argyle lays on his back, stomach pressed to Eddie.

"Love you, bros."

"Love you, dude," Jonathan says as Eddie says "Love you too, man."

★★★

The first event in Operation Make Harrington Jealous happens the next afternoon at the Wheeler's. The entire Hellfire gang was getting together for a quick one shot. They'd been doing those here and there since Eddie graduated. It was nice to still be wanted.

Eddie knew Dustin had convinced Steve to stay for the entire afternoon instead of driving him over, leaving, and then coming back to pick him up.

"Are you sure you're okay being back at the Wheelers'?" Eddie had asked Jonathan when they were planning today's events.

"Oh yeah, me and Nance are great. Won't be awkward at all."

And that takes us to now, halfway through the session, when Jonathan comes down the steps, Argyle close behind.

"Jonathan?" Will asks, clearly confused at the presence of his brother.

"Hey, buddy."

"What are you doing here?"

"Thought I'd come and watch. Might take some pictures," he lifts the camera hanging around his neck. "Document some memories and stuff."

Glances are shared amongst the table. Jonathan never joins them for Hellfire, so this is definitely peculiar for the kids.

Eddie stands, walking over to Jonathan and clapping a hand on his shoulder. "Well, we're happy to have you. Do your thing, big boy."

He glances over at Steve on the couch to see if his nickname affected him at all. Steve's back straightens, looking between Eddie and Jonathan, before he clears his throat and looks back down at the magazine he's holding.

Eddie and Jonathan exchange a look and Jonathan shrugs, sitting down on the rug with Argyle.

Eddie heads back to his seat and continues on.

A while later, Jonathan lifts to his feet and begins taking pictures of the table in action, stopping near Eddie and pointing the lens directly at him.

"Do I look cute, Byers?" Eddie cheeses.

Jonathan smirks, "you're always cute, Eddie."

A silence falls over the table, pinched eyebrows and slack-jawed mouths forming amongst the boys.

Eddie throws on a smirk of his own, "I could say the same for you, sweetheart."

Jonathan grins, "smile."

"Anything for you," Eddie obeys.

A flash envelopes the room and Eddie's eyes begin to water in reaction.

Jonathan steps closer, letting the camera fall to his chest once more, before reaching out and wiping away Eddie's tears, letting his hand linger on his cheek.

Oh, he's good.

Eddie reaches up and rests his own hand atop Jonathan's, tracing circles into it, "thanks, Jonny."

"Always, Eds."

A rip roars through the room and all eyes turn to see Steve sitting with his once fine magazine torn in half.

"Steve, what the hell??!" Dustin shrieks.

"Um, sorry. Zoned out, I guess," he says, eyes very clearly on Eddie and Jonathan.

"Are you okay?" Eddie asks, crush getting the better of him.

Steve nods tightly, "Yeah, yep, a-okay," he says rather forcedly.

Eddie nods timidly before turning back to Jonathan. Only then does he notice Jonathan's hand still on his cheek and his hand still atop it. Jonathan must notice the same because he clears his throat and retracts it from Eddie's hold, Eddie bringing his own hand back to the table.

"Well, Argyle and I should probably get going."

"Yeah, sure."

"I'll see you later?"

"Whatever you want," Eddie grins.

Jonathan chuckles, nodding. "Cool. Okay, bye, everyone."

A chorus of goodbyes echo throughout the room. Steve's is noticeably absent. Eddie doesn't comment on it.

Jonathan ruffles Will's hair and then he and Argyle disappear up the stairs.

"Now that you and Jonathan are done flirting, can we continue?" Lucas teases.

Eddie blushes and he turns to see Steve stand, coughing dryly.

"I'm gonna go pick up some pizza," he explains, already halfway up the steps.

"Do you know—"

"I know what everybody wants. Be back soon," Steve cuts Dustin off, door closing behind him.

Interesting.

Steve returns later, much later than he was expected to return. Eddie knows this because Dustin goes into a conversation about how far the pizza place is from Mike's house and how long it should take when factoring in the drive there, the wait, and the drive back.

When he does return, he brings the boxes down the stairs, then immediately retreats to the main floor of the house. Eddie excuses himself and goes to find him, to thank him for getting the pizza, of course. He finds Steve sitting at the dining table with Nancy in a hushed conversation. They quickly spot him and pause.

Figures. Of course Steve's trying to get back together with Nancy. Hell, maybe they already are. Eddie can't help but kick himself over his stupid spiel back in the Upside Down about Nancy and Steve's "true love" for the ages.

Sometimes he's really his own worst enemy.

He waves awkwardly, "hey…I'm just…do you guys have Dr. Pepper…?"

Well, wasn't that smooth?

Nancy stares for a second then nods, "um, yeah, just—second shelf."

He opens the fridge, quickly grabs the bottle, then mutters a "thanks…for the pizza too…" and hurries back down the steps before he can humiliate himself even further.

Suddenly, Eddie doesn't feel very hungry. In fact, he doesn't feel much like staying at all.

"Hey, um, guys, do you think we could wrap for the day? I'm suddenly not feeling very well," Eddie half lies.

"Are you okay?" Dustin rushes to his side, concern clear on his face.

It's times like this where he's glad he ignores Dustin's tone (yes, that one).

Eddie pulls him into a side hug, "hey, buddy, I'm gonna be fine. Just an upset stomach is all. We can finish this another day. I'm sorry."

Dustin waves him off, "don't worry about it, right, guys?"

Multiple voices of agreement ring through the basement.

Eddie nods and gives Dustin one final squeeze, "I'll see you guys later."

Eddie quickly collects his D&D items and hurries up the stairs, waving when Steve and Nancy's eyes find him, but not staying long enough to explain himself.

The entire drive home is a blur, his body just following the motions. Maybe Jonathan had a point when he said this could so easily backfire. Because why wouldn't it? He's Eddie Munson, and Steve Harrington is Steve Harrington. Maybe this is the world's cosmic karma for being a coward and not just telling Steve he likes him months ago. It's too late now. Add it to the list of disappointments.

Eddie pulls into the patch of grass in front of his and Wayne's new trailer and all but flies into the living room. He needs a beer. He needs something to calm his nerves. Halfway to the fridge, the phone stops him in his tracks.

What now?

"Yes?" He cuts to the chase.

"Eddie? Hi, it's Will."

He'll never tell Dustin, but secretly, he and Will are tied for his favorite of the bunch. He and Dustin have a bond that could never be duplicated, but Will…Will just reminds Eddie so much of himself at that age: timid, too nice for his own good, artistic. He also thinks Will might be gay just like him, but he won't address it until Will does himself. Until then, he just tries to make sure Will knows he can count on him.

"Hey, Will, what's up? Are you okay?"

"Yeah, yeah, I'm good, I just—you left so suddenly, I wanted to make sure you're okay."

And that's why Will's tied for first place.

"Yeah, buddy, I'm okay. Just wasn't feeling well. I'll be fine tomorrow, I promise."

"In that case, would you come to Sunday dinner tomorrow?"

"Sunday dinner?"

"Yeah! Ever since my mom and Hop got together and we moved back to Hawkins, we've started making Sunday dinner a special meal where Jonathan and Argyle come over and we make it a whole thing."

"Oh," Eddie says, just to say something. Why would Will want him there for family dinner?

"I thought I'd ask you now that you're Jonathan's boyfriend and everything."

Oh. Oh.

"I'm no—"

"Please say you'll come. Please please please, Eddie!"

Curse himself and his inability to let the kids down.

Eddie sighs, "I'll be there, little dude."

Will lets out a soft squeal, "Eeek, yay! Okay, I'll see you tomorrow. Be over here by 6:00."

Eddie nods then remembers Will can't see him, "got it."

"Bye!"

"See ya."

The line disconnects and Eddie stands for a few moments listening to the dial tone, contemplating what he's gotten Jonathan and himself into.

★★★

Standing on the front porch of the Byers-Hopper house has never been so awkward.

Eddie goes to knock, but before his hand can even connect with the wooden door, it's swung open to reveal Will beaming up at him.

"You made it!" He pulls Eddie by his wrist into the house and into a tight hug.

Eddie chuckles, "yeah, of course, anything for my little buddy."

"I think you mean anything for him," Will smirks, tipping his head up at the stairs.

Jonathan stops midway down the steps to look at Eddie, a puzzled expression forming.

So, Will didn't tell him he was invited. Great.

"Food's re—Eddie?" Joyce cuts off her announcement.

"That rhymes," Eddie smiles. Wait, shit, explain why you just crashed their dinner with your presence that apparently Will alerted no one to. "Hey, Ms. Byers—"

"Joyce is fine, sweetheart," she smiles.

"You can say that everytime, but I'm never gonna agree," Eddie shoots her a playfully pointed look.

She rolls her eyes, but her smile doesn't dim.

"I hope it's okay that I'm here. Will invited me, but apparently, Will didn't ask permission before doing so."

Will shrugs, a shit-eating grin on his face.

Yeah, definitely reminds Eddie of himself.

"Of course, it's okay! More than okay, you're always welcome. Just grab a plate and dig in with the rest of us!"

Bless Joyce Byers.

"I think we'll be seeing more of Eddie," Will adds.

"Why's that?" Joyce asks, but her eyes are on Eddie.

Oh, no.

"He's Jonathan's—"

"Jonathan was testing out his new camera on me because he said I'm a captivating subject," Eddie fibs.

He has no idea how that came to him so quickly, but phew.

"Right, right!" Jonathan backs him up.

Will's face twists in confusion, "that's not—"

"Can we talk to you upstairs real quick?" Jonathan cuts him off.

Eddie nods.

"Don't be too long, boys, don't want dinner to get cold. You know how Argyle is. We can stall him, but not for long," Joyce chuckles.

"We'll be quick," Eddie promises.

Jonathan ushers Will up the staircase, a hand on each of his shoulders, shutting the door behind the three of them once they're in the privacy of Will's bedroom.

"What was that?" Will asks incredulously.

"Eddie's not my boyfriend," Jonathan reveals.

"And even if I were, you can't just tell people, dude."

Will scoffs, "mom's best friend, Murray, is gay. I knew her and Hop wouldn't care."

"Is that why you aren't out to her?" Jonathan retorts.

Will gasps, "Low blow, Jon, low blow."

"I'm just saying, pot meet kettle."

Eddie smacks Jonathan on the shoulder.

"Ow! What was that for?"

"You knew Will is gay and didn't tell me!?"

"It wasn't my place to!"

"I could've been his gay mentor for months!"

"Yeah!" Will smacks his other shoulder.

"Ow! Okay, I'm sorry!"

Eddie falls backwards onto the bed, Will leaning back to join him and Jonathan then duplicating their positions.

"So, explain to me, if you're not dating, why were you flirting with each other the entire time you were both at the Wheeler's yesterday?" Will asks.

"Eddie has a crush on Steve and he's trying to make him jealous."

"Dude!"

"What? It's the truth!"

Eddie sighs.

Will turns to face him, "why don't you just tell him?"

"Because it's scary," Eddie admits, grabbing a strand of hair to cover his reddening face.

"Steve is, like, the least scary person I've ever met," Will shoots him an unimpressed look.

"Well then why don't you tell Mike you like him?" Eddie fights back.

That shuts Will up as his his eyes widen and his mouth clamps closed.

"Uh huh, that's what I thought."

"Which I'll never understand," Jonathan shakes his head.

"Hey!" Will shouts as Eddie nods in agreement with Jonathan.

"He's so…Mike. Don't get me wrong, I love the guy like a brother, but really, Will?" Eddie explains himself.

"We're not talking about me, we're talking about you and Steve!" Will changes the topic.

Eddie groans, "there's nothing to talk about! He and Nancy have something going on again."

"What???" Will and Jonathan shout at the same time.

"I saw them whispering to each other at the table when I went upstairs at the Wheeler's yesterday. They're clearly back together and keeping it on the down low."

"Bullshit," Will says simply.

"Language!" Jonathan scolds.

Will ignores him, "after you hurried out, Steve came back downstairs and asked why you left, and when we told him, he sulked the entire time!"

"Probably because he was gonna try and get me to take one of you home."

Will glares at him, and it's not a look that Eddie's seen on the boy often.

Eddie folds, "fine, whatever, what exactly are you saying?"

"I'm saying keep this ruse up for a little while longer. Steve definitely likes you, and if I know Steve, and I think I do, he'll crack eventually. He's big on grand gestures. Did Dustin ever tell you that after he and Nancy broke up back in '84, he showed up at Nancy's with flowers to get her back? There's no way Steve's gonna let you go without telling you how he feels, I know it!"

Eddie exhales harshly, bangs fluttering up before falling back onto his forehead, "I think you're delusional, but if it means this much to you, I'm down to keep it up a bit longer. But only if Jonathan's down."

Jonathan shifts onto his elbow, "I'm having fun," he'd admits. "Flirting without the worry of rejection or actual feelings is kinda exhilarating."

"Gee, you sure know how to sweet talk a guy," Eddie smiles sarcastically, getting up and heading for the door.

They laugh, following him down the stairs.

It ends up being a really nice evening. Wayne works late nights, so Eddie rarely gets lively, home-cooked dinners like this. Eddie finds himself wondering if maybe he and Steve could join them for dinner together sometimes. He shakes the pipe dream off almost as soon as it enters his brain though.

★★★

Hellfire finishes the one shot on a weekday, so Eddie doesn't see Steve again until the next event in Operation Make Harrington Jealous.

Will suggests he and Jonathan show up at Family Video to rent a movie. Together.

So, that's today's plan, a cool afternoon in mid December.

Jonathan pulls into the Family Video parking lot, unbuckling, and pressing a firm finger on Eddie's wrist as he does the same. "Stay there. I'm gonna open your door for you. In case they can see us from here."

Eddie grins, "my my, how chivalrous."

"Yeah, yeah," Jonathan rolls his eyes. "Save the flirting for when they can actually hear it."

"Aye aye, Captain," Eddie salutes.

Once Jonathan's so graciously opened Eddie's door, they walk side by side, closely, to the glass doors. Jonathan pulls it open, ushering Eddie inside.

"What a gentleman," Eddie coos, as Jonathan comes in behind him, his hand coming to lay against the small of Eddie's back.

Eddie looks forward to see Steve and Robin behind the counter. Steve's face is blank, and Robin's eyes are boring into Steve's.

"My lady, Buckley. Sir Harrington," Eddie bows, hair fanning around him as his head tips down.

"Hey, Eddie," Robin shoots him a small smile.

"Eddie," Steve says simply.

Eddie might find it odd if it weren't for the fact that that's how Steve greets him half the time anyway. Albeit, maybe in a more excited tone. His tone now seems…distant.

Curse Will for getting in his head.

Curse himself for going along with an idea that was originally pitched to him when was high.

"We're just here to rent a movie," Jonathan breaks him out of his thoughts.

"You two have been spending a lot of time together, it seems," says Steve, not unkindly, but there's definitely something underneath the surface.

Eddie wants to chalk it up to this ploy working, but he's probably just curious. It's not like Eddie and Jonathan hang out that much outside of them and Argyle smoking here and there. And with them being spotted together out and about multiple times in the past few weeks, Eddie can see why that'd raise curiosity.

Yeah, well," Eddie turns to face Jonathan, smiling, "he's a cool guy."

Jonathan smiles back at him, "the feeling is mutual."

Steve drops the VHS that'd he'd been holding. Picking it up, he coughs. "Right, so, um, did you have anything in mind?"

"Pretty in Pink," Eddie answers.

Robin chokes on saliva, sending herself into a coughing fit. Steve pats her back like the angel he is, but smirks at Eddie as he says, "that's not very metal, dude."

Eddie shrugs. "What can I say? I've been in more of a romance mood lately."

Steve's smirk falls. "Oh. I see. Cool, cool. Um, well, we should have it in supply. You stay here and I'll go grab it."

Eddie nods. Steve looks down at Jonathan's hand, still on Eddie's back, then clears his throat and walks away to grab a copy of the film.

Eddie looks up to find Robin's coughing has stopped, but a cold scowl has taken its' place.

"You good, Robin?"

"Mhm," she says, close lipped, then heads into the backroom with no announcement.

Weird.

Steve returns moments later and checks out the copy quickly and silently, handing it to Eddie when he's finished.

"Enjoy," Steve says, smile not quite reaching his eyes.

Eddie nods, "thanks, dude."

"Sure."

The three exchange goodbyes and then Jonathan begins driving back to Eddie's trailer.

"We don't actually have to watch that, do we?"

Eddie laughs, "no."

"Are you okay?"

The question surprises Eddie. He looks up to see Jonathan frowning at him, eyes shifting between him and the road.

"I'm starting to feel bad about this."

"What?"

"This whole operation."

"Why? You and Steve aren't together. It's not like you're cheating."

Eddie sinks into the seat, "I feel like I am. Emotionally at least."

"Falling for me?" Jonathan teases, mirroring Eddie's earlier comment.

Eddie scoffs, "you know what I meant."

Jonathan removes his right hand from the wheel and places it on Eddie's left knee, giving it a comforting squeeze.

"If you wanna end this, we can. Just say the word."

"Thanks, Jon. I guess this whole thing just sounded easier in my head."

"Damn you, Purple Palm Tree Delight!" Jonathan yells, grinning.

Eddie laughs. He's glad Jonathan's such a good friend. In another universe, maybe he'd have fallen for him and this hopeless crush on Steve wouldn't hurt so bad.

★★★

A few weeks later, Eddie gets an invite to Steve's house for a Christmas party with the rest of the group. He's honestly surprised he got an invite. These past few weeks, things have been weird between them. Eddie's tried his best to avoid Steve as much as he can, trying to get over his crush so that things can go back to the way they were pre-Vecna. Albeit, with the new friends he's made since then, but that's the gist of it. And the few times he has seen Steve, it's been strained. Awkward.

When he shows up on the 23rd, store bought snickerdoodle cookies in one hand and a six pack of root beer in the other, his breath is almost taken away when Steve's the one to open the door. He looks gorgeous. He's wearing a brown sweater (that Eddie isn't embarrassed to admit he'd like to be wrapped in) and his usual blue jeans.

"What, no antlers?" Eddie teases, trying to break the ice between them.

He thinks it works because a smile spreads on Steve's lips.

"And mess up my hair?"

Eddie grins, "oh, right, how could I forget? That'd be blasphemous."

"And don't you ever forget it."

Eddie stands there, a silence falling between them. If he had a free hand, he's be pulling his hair in front of his face nervously.

"Oh! I'm sorry, come in!" Steve finally says, waving him inside, grabbing the six pack from Eddie's hands. "Dude, your hands are freezing!"

"Yeah," Eddie rubs his own neck awkwardly, "forgot my gloves at the trailer."

"Here," Steve begins, shutting the door behind them and sitting the root beers on the table next to them.

Then, he grabs the container of cookies Eddie's still holding, sits it down on the same table, and leans down, breathing warm air onto Eddie's hands before taking them into his own, rubbing them quickly to thaw his cold fingers.

Fuck. He's never getting over this crush.

"T-Thanks," Eddie says ungracefully.

"Always," Steve smiles warmly.

"Kinda surprised I got an invite…"

Shit. Why would he say that? Sure, it's the truth, but why say it?

Steve's smile falters, "yeah, about that—"

"Eddie!"

They both turn their heads to see the kids waving.

"Come on! Come sit with us!" Dustin pleads.

"Duty calls," Eddie says.

Steve nods, "of course."

They head into the crowded living room where everyone already is. So he was the last one to arrive, that's not embarrassing at all.

And when he says everyone, he means everyone. All the kids, Robin, Jonathan, Argyle, Joyce, Hopper, Murray (?), and of course, Nancy.

"Got any beer?" Eddie asks Steve, who's still at his side.

"Yeah, they're just in the fridge in there," he points to the kitchen.

"Great, be right back."

Once he's grabbed a cold bottle and taken a few deep breaths to try and shake any lingering nerves, he heads back into the living room.

Jonathan is standing by the entry where Eddie now stands.

"Well, hello, there."

Eddie smiles, "hello to you."

"How are you?"

Eddie shrugs, "meh, could be worse."

"Don't I know it."

They both laugh, then, a collective gasp catches their attention.

They turn to see everyone looking at them with varying expressions. Some are grinning, some look outright frozen. Well, looking above them rather.

Eddie's head tilts upwards to see a mistletoe hanging above them.

Actually, no, not hanging, dangling, attached to the hands of none other than Will Byers himself.

Because of course, apparently, neither him nor Jonathan remembered to tell Will that Operation Make Harrington Jealous had mutually ended.

Eddie looks back down at Jonathan, whose eyes are already on him. Jonathan raises an eyebrow, a smirk on his face, clearly asking "well?"

Eddie sighs, "what the hell."

They both start leaning in, fully prepared to share another kiss, but the moment never comes.

"STOP!"

They turn to see Steve rushing towards them. He stops when he's centimeters away from the both of them.

"Not again, Byers!" He points at Jonathan, eyes squinting in a serious look.

"Wha—"

"You," he cuts Jonathan off, now pointing at Eddie, "come with me. Now."

The demanding tone in his voice does something to Eddie. Dominant Steve is actually really hot. Because why couldn't Steve get even hotter?

He grabs Eddie's hand, interlocking their fingers, and pulls him up the stairs into his bedroom.

"Steve, what's this—"

"No, I talk, you listen. Got it?"

Eddie clamps his mouth shut, nodding.

"You're driving me crazy!"

"How—"

"Uh uh, I talk, you listen!"

Eddie sighs, then does the my lips are sealed hand gesture.

"First I have to hear about how great you are from all the kids for months, which, I'll admit, I didn't get at first. And yeah, it was only because I was jealous, but whatever. Then, I meet you and your big, brown eyes, boring into me, and I have to deal with it the entire time we're in the Upside Down, which then makes me realize I was wrong about everything I ever thought about you, because when aren't I wrong?

And you're flirting with me, calling me 'big boy' and shit, and fuck if that didn't make me feel some type of way that I had to talk to Robin about once we finally annihilated Vecna and had a few months of peace. Remember that? Remember when it was me who was 'big boy'?"

"I—"

"Not done! You, Eddie Munson, have forced me to adjust my entire way of thinking about myself with your stupid, pretty hair, and your stupid, pink lips that I want to kiss, that I didn't even realize I want to kiss until I talked to Robin about why I felt so upset about you and Jonathan flirting with each other.

So, yeah, I'm sorry if this is horrible timing for you, and if it is, I'll just shut up and get over it, but according to Robin, you were flirting with me way before Jonathan, and so I had to get my feelings off my chest now or I'd never get any closure. There."

Eddie doesn't know how long he's been standing there slack-jawed. He's never heard Steve utter so many words in such a short period of time. That's Robin level rambling. It's a miracle he caught every word over the ringing in his ears after he heard "that I want to kiss".

He clears his thought.

"Can I speak now?"

"I guess."

"It's about fucking time, Harrington!"

Steve's brows knit in confusion, "what?"

"I flirted with you for months! Months! I honestly never thought anything would ever come of it, but when you never told me to stop, I just kept doing it. And then a delusional part of me decided that maybe you enjoyed it, so I kept upping the ante, hoping, praying, that eventually you'd acknowledge it. But no, never. So I stopped. And then I saw you and Nancy at the Wheeler's that one day—"

"Me and Nancy?"

"Yes! I saw you two whispering around the table. You stopped the second I came in!"

"Because it was about you!" Steve shouts, arms upside down, stretched out towards him.

Eddie halts, "you—you were?"

"Yes! I was telling Nance about how you and Jonathan were flirting, and then she asked if it bothered me, and I said yes, but not because you were both guys. So she asked 'why?' then, and I ended up admitting it was because I like you!"

"Like? Present tense?"

"Present tense."

"I…like you too. Present tense," Eddie finally admits, after months of avoiding just saying it to Steve.

"But what about Jonathan?" Steve crosses his arms, a sad frown on his face.

"What about Jonathan?"

"Aren't you two…dating?"

Oh. Oh.

"No! No! That was a ploy!"

"A ploy?"

"Yes! To make you jealous. We were never dating."

"You—what??!"

"It was Argyle's idea! He thought you might need a push! If you did feel anything for me!" Eddie explains, and yeah, he sees how ridiculous the idea was now.

"Why are you listening to ideas from Argyle???"

"Why didn't you make a move months ago???" Eddie counter-argues.

"Well excuse me for working through a bisexuality crisis!" Steve flops onto his bed.

Eddie sighs, hesitantly joining Steve on his bed. "Sorry for spurring said bisexuality crisis?"

Steve turns to look at him, face in disbelief, "you know, you're lucky you're cute."

Eddie grins, "I'm cute?"

Steve laughs, "yes, you are. Incredibly extra and unbelievable, but very, very cute."

Eddie swings himself over Steve to where he's now straddling him. Steve's hands find his hips as he looks up at him. "Will's not here to hold a mistletoe over our heads. Is that gonna stop you?"

Steve flips him over, a hand on each side of Eddie's head on the mattress. "Nothing will ever stop me from kissing you again."

He crashes their lips together with an intensity that Eddie hasn't seen in Steve since he carried his limp body out of the Upside Down. Maybe that's when Eddie realized he'd always be head over heels for Steve Harrington. How could he ever get over something like that? Steve is the reason he's alive. He's one of the reasons Eddie wants to be alive.

They make out for what somehow feels like hours and no time at all simultaneously. Eddie doesn't think he'll ever get tired of kissing Steve. He's been dreaming about it for months. Years if you count his silly high school crush long before they really met in that cursed boat house.

A knock at the door startles them. They quickly collect themselves and walk over to it, opening it to find the smug grins of both Robin and Will.

"Um…hi?" Steve says.

"May we ask who confessed to who first?"

Steve groans, Eddie just lets out a relaxed laugh.

"Not that it's any of your business, but it was Stevie," Eddie looks at his big boy, a twinkle in Steve's eyes that wasn't there when he first opened the front door for Eddie tonight.

"Yes!" Will pumps his fist as Robin groans.

Eddie and Steve exchange confused glances.

"You owe me $5!" Will shouts gleefully.

"Did you…did you guys bet on who would come clean about our crush first???" Steve asks incredulously. Eddie himself is staring at them in disbelief.

"Maybe," Robin shrugs, an apologetic smile on her face.

"And you bet against me???" Steve pouts.

"I'm sorry! We both know how nervous this crush made you! The 'Steve Harrington suave' completely went out the window when it came to Eddie!"

"Speak for yourself," Eddie presses a kiss to Steve's cheek, who wraps Eddie in a firm side hug.

"When did you guys even form this?" Eddie asks, slightly intrigued.

"A few days after you and Jonathan came into Family Video. Will came in while Steve was in the back doing inventory and just flat out asked me if he liked you. I told him I couldn't tell him that, and he said, 'well what if I know Eddie likes Steve?'"

"I then revealed the entire thing with Jonathan was a front and we bet on who'd finally break first," Will finishes for her.

"So you two, both of whom knew we liked each other, instead of telling us that, watched us be messes for weeks???" Steve squeezes the middle of his forehead.

"Yeah! How long were you two planning on watching us suffer?!" Eddie adds.

"We were gonna save you two from yourselves by New Year's if you didn't get it together by then. Nobody could handle your pining in 1987," Robin confirms, as Will nods.

"You two are lucky it's basically Christmas," Steve points at them, a smile sneaking onto his face.

"It all worked out in the end!" Will grins, pulling them into a group hug.

Steve looks back at Eddie once they pull apart, still giving Eddie a side hug himself.

"Yeah, it definitely did."