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Chapter Text

Standing outside what seemed to be an average bar, Steve contemplated his life up until that very moment. 

The move to San Francisco was supposed to be the start of a new beginning for Steve. Living in Hawkins, drowning in his past and all the memories that came with it, kept Steve stagnant, on the edge of something but never quite tipping over. He wasn’t smart enough to go to college and his parents weren’t all that into helping him get any further. The dead end jobs he worked did nothing to support the dream he’d been sitting on for most of his life. 

Steve Harrington wanted to be a writer. 

After experiencing some crazy shit in the town he grew up in, Steve had plenty of material to work with. Yet, the many times he sat down to put pencil to paper, nothing more than small blurbs of words and little ideas flowed from his hand. It took several months trying to write a story for Steve to realize that books weren’t going to be his thing. 

Instead of trying to force something that obviously wasn’t going to happen, Steve took his small paragraphs and made them into stanzas. He took to rhyming things and getting his thoughts down in such a way it read like poetry, not just a cluster of words. If someone added a little guitar and drums behind Steve’s ideas, they would probably create a pretty decent song. 

It was then that Steve realized he found his true calling.

The next day, Steve quit his job, collected all the money he had in savings, and left without a word. 

His parents were close to kicking him out, regardless of what Steve decided to do next. He saved them the heartache of having to actually walk up the stairs to have an honest conversation with him by leaving the way that he did. Between what he saved up and the account his parents put together for him as a baby, Steve had just enough to secure an apartment without anyone’s help. As far as his folks were concerned, Steve was no longer their problem. 

It'd been years since they cared about him, anyway. 

Finding a place to live gave Steve a false sense of confidence. What he thought was going to be easy turned out to be much more complex than expected. 

Throughout his first few days in San Francisco, Steve made a couple of rookie mistakes like leaving his apartment door unlocked and hiding things in plain sight. He came home from his third night shift at the diner to a trashed apartment. All his money and electronics were long gone, taken by the criminal smart enough to check the freezer. Steve thought leaving his savings there was the best way to protect himself.

Obviously, he was wrong. 

At the end of that very same week, Steve showed up to his kitchen shift twenty minutes late and was fired on the spot. It didn’t matter that Steve was filling out a police report or that he tried to call from the station to let Gordon know he was going to be late. Tardiness equaled termination and Steve wasn’t going to be the exception. 

In one fell swoop, Steve went from high on life to down on his luck. He was contemplating the best way to get in contact with his parents when one of the other line cooks came barreling out the back door. “Hey Harrington, wait!” 

Steve looked up to see Gareth, the sauce specialist, panting before him. “It’s bull shit what Gordon is doing to you. I know you really needed this job.” 

Snorting at Gareth’s understatement, Steve shrugged his shoulders, aiming for calm and collected, not panicked like he truly was. “It’s – being fired right now isn’t ideal.” 

Gareth outright laughed at him, shaking his head fondly. “You’re funny. I’ll tell you what – I’ve got a friend that owns a bar on 7th street. Joyce is always looking for bouncers. Let me give her a call and set up an interview for you. At least you’ll have something to help bring some money in while you get your feet under you.”

Perplexed by the offer, Steve didn’t hesitate to readily agree and take the card Gareth handed to him. 

Joyce Byers, owner of Coyote Ugly, was expecting him at 4PM the very next evening. 

Before turning to head back to his miserably lonely apartment, Steve shot Gareth a small smile. “Thanks for this, man. I’d be heading home, otherwise.” 

Gareth reached out, punching Steve affectionately across the shoulder. “I’ve been in your shoes. Just don’t fuck it up, huh? I only have one of these get out of jail free cards.” 

Steve tried to remember that as he blinked back to his current reality. He was still standing outside of Coyote Ugly, contemplating whether he should open the door to this new opportunity or turn tail and run. 

As luck would have it, Joyce Byers took that decision out of his hands.

A small woman came barreling into him out of nowhere. She looked between him and the door before straightening up and thrusting out a hand. “You must be Steve Harrington. I’m Joyce.” She took him in, eyeing him up and down. Whatever she saw must’ve been okay because she pushed her hand more aggressively in Steve’s direction. “It’s nice to meet you.” 

Remembering he needed to participate in normal human life to get ahead, Steve returned the gesture, shaking her small hand lightly. “Pleasure to meet you. My friend Gareth sent me your way. He thinks you might have a job for me.” 

“That boy. He’s always sending strays my way,” Joyce said, letting go of Steve’s hand to dig out her keys. After a small fight with the lock, Joyce opened the door, inviting Steve in with a flourish. “He’s right, though. My usual bouncer just handed in his notice. Since the bar can get a little lively, I need someone willing to deal with the chaos. You’d be stationed right by the bar top, protecting the dancers.” 

Keeping up until that moment, Steve’s eyes widened at the mention of dancers. He was so surprised by Gareth’s offer that Steve didn’t take the time to question any part of it. Suddenly, not knowing what kind of bar he walked into was going to bite him in the ass. 

“Did you say dancers?” 

For the first time since meeting her, Joyce stopped moving, her entire body coming to a complete halt. She turned slowly to look Steve over again, a mischievous gleam in her eye. “Oh, you’re going to be a great addition here. Just you wait, Steve. You’re in for a treat.”

Without wasting another moment, Joyce started to walk again, prompting Steve to move with her. She went through the rest of his duties without once describing the chaos that always took place. It was exhilarating and confusing and way more than enough mystery for Steve to say an obvious yes when Joyce eventually offered him the position. 

“Good, welcome to the family. Be back here in three hours. Dress in all black, though keep it casual. And get rid of all the product in your hair. The pretty boy look won’t fit in with the rest of our aesthetic.” Joyce capped off her statement by flicking at a rogue piece of hair hanging over Steve’s forehead. 

Reeling from the whirlwind that just swept him up, Steve absently nodded. Joyce didn’t say another word to him. She simply patted his shoulder and disappeared behind the bar. Steve watched after her for another moment before forcing himself to calm down and finally take a real look around.

Aside from the high bar that looked to be scuffed up and well used, Steve didn’t notice anything different about the place. He tried to envision dancers or any type of entertainment at all taking place in the small space but couldn’t picture it. 

Steve took a long deep breath and closed his eyes. Something in the pit of his gut told him this mysterious place was exactly where he needed to be, regardless of the lingering anxiety. Despite not quite understanding what he was getting himself into, Steve felt good about Joyce’s energy and the curiosity the bar brought out in him. For the first time since getting to San Francisco, the path Steve was taking actually seemed right. 

Of course, the chaotic atmosphere that Steve came back to a few hours later had him questioning his own sanity. In what world did a job at a rowdy bar get him where he wanted to go? Steve didn’t really understand the gem of a place he was in until an hour into his shift when the lights went down, the bar’s residual noise vanishing with them. 

“Ladies and gentleman,” Joyce said from the far end of the bar, holding a microphone to her lips. “It’s time for my favorite portion of the evening. I know everyone’s here for a good time, so let’s get the party started.” 

Steve watched as everyone in the bar clapped loudly, almost on cue. That died down the moment music started to play. It was a tune that Steve didn’t recognize, something kind of country, though dark and eerie, too. 

“First up on the bar is Fancy Nancy,” Joyce shouted into the microphone, making everyone cheer. 

A spotlight jumped to the bar where a pretty brunette was climbing up to stand atop of it. She was wearing a bright colored dress that flowed like water down around here. As she spun, the wide skirt flared up and moved with her. Nancy pirouetted one more time before landing perfectly in her chunky cowboy boots. She looked up and smiled at the crowd, flicking her hair at everyone playfully. 

The light cut back to Joyce who was grinning from ear to ear. “Up next is our long legged bombshell, Robin!” 

Unlike Nancy who moved with grace, Robin clambered up onto the bar, slamming her cowboy boots against the surface. She wore jeans that hugged her legs, leaving nothing to the imagination. When Robin moved, her body demanded the eye’s attention. She didn’t need a flowy skirt or loud colors to draw focus. Robin danced with a precision that made it hard to look away. 

The next two girls were announced with the same fan fair, though Steve wasn’t nearly as mystified. He was starting to shift his attention back to the crowd to actually do his job when the atmosphere changed completely. The crowd started to stomp their feet in that boom-boom rhythm that Steve recognized from one of Queen’s most famous songs. The clap followed, yanking a happy laugh from Steve’s chest. 

Joyce’s voice got serious as she pointed to the large gap on the bar the crowd was anxious for her to fill. “Last but most certainly not least, one of Coyote’s favorites, our dark horse, the devil in black – Eddie!” 

Steve’s eyes widened as the most beautiful man he’d ever seen jumped onto the bar. His hips and mile long legs were covered in black leather that clung tighter than Robin’s jeans. Unlike the rest of the crew on the bar, Eddie’s feet were covered in combat boots that moved each time Eddie slammed his foot on the wooden surface. Narrow hips were framed by a leather vest that was barely tied together, showing off Eddie’s stomach and chest. His long curls shifted uncontrollably around him as Eddie spun on his toes, light as air. 

Understanding and want and that feeling of rightness settled in Steve’s stomach. The ability to watch Eddie move was a gift that Steve was certain Gareth somehow knew he was giving. Steve couldn’t force his eyes away from strong arms that wrapped around the other girls’ shoulders and dragged them in to line dance perfectly across the bar. Tattoos and facial hair and piercings said one thing but the way Eddie’s body shifted and turned to the music spoke something different in another language on another planet. Despite not being all that good at the job or having any bouncing experience before, Steve knew right then and there that he wouldn’t give up his place at Coyote Ugly for anything. 

The long night Steve predicted ahead of him turned into hours of anticipation. Steve learned quickly that the dancers were also the people tending bar. For 25 minutes, the entertainment slung beer and shots and fended off stray hands. It was easy to see that they all put up with the bull shit for those five minutes where the music played and every eye was on them. The trance the crowd went into watching Nancy spin and Robin shift and Eddie work his entire body was magical. Even someone averse to having people watch him like Steve could appreciate the sentiment. 

Try as he might, Steve couldn’t help but fall under the curse, too. Eddie, with his tight leather and dark presence, lit up the room with his smile. Chocolate button eyes gave way to long lashes and wide eyes that scrunched ever so slightly any time Eddie emoted through his face. His teeth were white and bright in the light that shone over the bar. Despite all five of the bartenders dancing, Steve didn’t look away from curly hair or trim legs that flexed and pulled with each of Eddie’s practiced moves. 

At the end of the night, each of the dancers got a moment in the spotlight. After talking to Kenny, the other bar-side bouncer, Steve learned the crowd would disperse quickly after the solo dances. Though he needed to be on guard, Steve took the time to watch Eddie, the last of the bunch, dance across the bar. 

Gone was the country line dancing – Eddie replaced the rigid uniformity with a flow that Steve couldn’t dream of keeping up with. Eddie told a story with his arms and legs as he dropped to the bar. He sat there, staring out at the crowd, digging into Steve’s very soul, before bouncing back up and bowing with a large grin. Unlike the ladies, Eddie jumped into the crowd, rules and regulations be damned. 

For the first time all night, Steve actually had to do his job. 

Hands were quick to try and grab at Eddie. The man looked comfortable in the crowd, though that made Steve even more anxious. He pushed his way through the mass of people, using his basketball skills from all those varsity games he forced himself to play. Finally, Steve was near enough to reach out and grab a sweaty shoulder.

So close to him now, Steve could see scruffy facial hair and bright flecks of gold in Eddie’s eyes. Along with mischief and trouble, something soft and approachable lingered in the brunette’s stare. He grinned widely at Steve before throwing an arm over his shoulder. “Thanks for saving me, big boy,” Eddie mumbled right next to Steve’s ear. He stayed close to Steve’s side until they were clear of the crowd with ample room to breathe. 

“So you’re the new guy,” Eddie said, smirking in Steve’s direction. 

Trying hard not to blush, Steve ducked his head. His right hand reached up to scratch at his neck in hopes of pushing away the nerves. “That’s me. I’m Steve.” 

Before Eddie had a chance to return the introduction or say anything further, Robin was calling him from behind the bar, waving manically. Eddie shook his head at her but turned back to Steve with a sorry look on his face. “We go to breakfast when the bar closes. Come with us.” Eddie didn’t give Steve a chance to accept or deny, he simply came close and pressed a soft kiss to Steve’s cheek. “Thanks again for the save. I’ll buy you pancakes for the heroism.” 

Then, just like that, he was gone. 

Steve blinked a few times, trying to ground himself against the whiplash that just occurred. Despite not really knowing what was happening, Steve knew one thing for sure. Eddie Munson was the kind of trouble Steve couldn’t keep himself away from. 

In fact, Steve was looking forward the craziness Eddie promised to bring into his life. 

Chapter Text

As promised, the crew headed out into the early San Francisco morning towards Hop’s diner a little after 3AM. Despite being on his feet all night and staying up later than ever before, Steve had so much energy, he was practically buzzing when they finally sat down to order food. 

That ended up being a good thing because Steve was suddenly the topic of conversation. Without warning, all eyes were on him. 

“So, Steve – “ Nancy started, batting her long eyelashes. It was clear, just from that look alone, that Steve would need to let her down gently. Steve hadn’t dated girls since his sophomore year of high school. Though she shared her brunette features with the men that Steve appreciated, nothing other than her amazing personality would ever stand out to Steve. 

So caught up in those thoughts, Steve missed the tail end of what Nancy had to say. Blushing, Steve looked back at her with a quirked brow. “I’m sorry, what did you ask me?” 

The entire table burst into raucous laughter, immediately lessening Steve’s embarrassment. Though they were laughing at him, Steve didn’t feel weird or made fun of. Whatever Nancy asked obviously wasn’t that important. Everyone forgot about it in favor of cackling madly. The otherwise empty diner echoed the noise, making Steve’s stomach warm. It’d been a while since he existed amongst genuine happiness and he missed the feeling. 

“Joyce said you walked into your interview with your hair all done up. This floppy mug isn’t what you’re always sporting?” Eddie asked after the laughter died down. He was playing with the orange peel he’d gotten with his juice, spinning it between his fingers as he spoke. 

It took Steve a moment to blink away from the hypnotic view of orange and white twinning together before he could actually answer. He reached up to run a hand through his loose hair. The strands were soft, not dry and crunchy like always. “Nope. I usually use half a can of hairspray to make it look artfully messy. I’m trying something new.” 

Eddie, without hesitating one bit, shoved his hand across the table to tug on the loose hair falling over Steve’s forehead. “I like it. Makes you look rugged.” Eddie enunciated the word by winking. The look had everyone around the table laughing again. Before joining in, Eddie shared a secret smile with Steve; his lips quirked so devilishly, Steve forgot the cackles around him were at his own expense.  

The rest of the meal went a lot like that, Steve talking while the rest of the group laughed or groaned or clapped back with a reply. Steve told his new coworkers about his small town life and all the tribulations he’d been dealing with since getting to the city.

They all had pretty similar stories, where their happiness didn’t exist until Joyce’s bar came into the picture. It was interesting to be surrounded by people who stepped away from everything they knew on the off chance that making it big just might happen. Steve felt less silly sitting around the table with others not afraid to reach out and attempt to touch the greatness waiting for them. 

Watching the sun rise from the diner window was the best way to end a very interesting day. The group stayed together, leaning against the sticky table in their tiredness, until the sky shifted from inky black to a serene pinky-orange. Then, like clockwork, everyone got up from their seats and mumbled hushed goodbyes. The whole group, besides Eddie, was gone long before Steve realized what was happening around him.  

Despite not knowing the real reason behind his invitation to the diner, Steve had just experienced his very first family breakfast. When all was said and done, Steve passed the tests and fit in with the crew no problem. 

“It’s nice, right? Finding a place to belong.” Eddie grinned over at Steve as he spoke, never looking away. “Joyce said you were a Gareth reference. It’s pretty easy to understand why he sent you our way. You fit right in.” 

“Do you know Gareth?” Steve asked thoughtlessly. The world was a really tiny place if the group he found himself in already circled back. Eddie must’ve understood that thought as it crossed Steve’s mind. The look on his face was knowing, like he too came to that realization at one point in time. 

“When I’m not dancing on the bar, I play guitar in a band. Gareth is our drummer. He actually got me the job at Joyce’s, too. Pointing people in the right direction is kind of his thing. The man knows more about you than you do. It’s pretty eerie, but awesome, too.” 

Eddie looked far away for a second, so Steve let his words sink in and digest. He only knew Gareth for a couple of days but Steve saw what Eddie was saying. Gareth didn’t bat an eye at Steve’s presence. He brought him under his wing right away that first day, like Steve had been there his whole life not a short handful of days. 

“You’ll have to let me know when your band plays next. If your stage presence is anything like it is on the bar, I’m sure you guys put on one hell of a show.” 

“I’m not sure we play the sort of music you’d be into, Stevie,” Eddie replied back almost immediately. “We’re on the heavy guitars, lots of loud drums end of the music spectrum.” 

Wrinkling his nose at Eddie’s assumption, Steve clapped back easily. “I don’t discriminate when it comes to music. I followed Metallica on tour across the Midwest two summers ago. Though it was the guy I was dating’s idea, I had a blast.” As if to prove his point, Steve pulled his house keys from his pocket. The band’s insignia as a keychain was the center of the cluster. 

Long fingers wrapped around the loop, snatching it from Steve’s hand. “I can’t believe you got to see Hammett play live. I tried to get tickets but all the stadiums in New York were too expensive.” 

Steve’s live music experiences carried through an easy conversation that lasted well into the next couple of hours. Eddie didn’t linger on Steve’s easy admittance (it was like Steve being gay didn’t even matter to him), though he seemed a bit more eager to open up and talk now. 

Every now and again, Hop came over to refill their coffee cups and ask about more food, but neither ordered anything else. Eddie asked Steve questions and answered animatedly about his own experiences in return. It was plain to see that while they were very different in both taste and experience, Steve and Eddie had a lot in common. 

Enough, at least, to keep them talking well into the later part of the morning. By the time Steve came up for air, the sun was high in the sky, shining through the open windows. Taking a glance at the clock on the wall, Steve let out a surprised breath. “It’s almost 10AM. How did we spend so long talking?” As he thought about it, Steve figured he hadn’t ever sat still for so long without noticing the time passing him by. 

“You’re easy to talk to, Steve. Too easy, almost. I’m glad you joined the family.” Standing up as he spoke, Eddie dug into his back pocket. He threw a crunched up 20 on the table, grinning in Steve’s direction. “I’ll see you tonight, big boy. Try not to stare too hard, though. You don’t want the customers getting jealous.” 

For the next few minutes, Steve sat in the booth, staring out the glass until Eddie disappeared down the road. And though he could no longer see the enigma of a man, Steve didn’t move until Eddie’s words no longer made him hot around the collar. Embarrassingly, Steve had to stay seated for quite a while. Long enough for Hopper to come sniffing around him again. 

“If you’re not going to buy anything else, kid, you’ve gotta go. It’s almost time for the lunch rush.” 

Blushing, Steve nodded. He got up and dropped another 20 on the table, telling Hopper to keep the change. After spending way too many hours camped out in that back booth, Steve knew the owner deserved the extra dollars for his time and patience. If trips to Hop’s were a nightly thing like Steve assumed, the older man must have the heart of a saint. Steve was almost positive the crew didn’t go as hard as usual last night for Steve’s sake. He had only scratched the surface of the things his new family was capable of. 

That very truth became increasingly more apparent as the days went by. On the slower nights, Steve sat on the last barstool, chatting with Nancy and Robin as they slung drinks and took their turn up on the makeshift stage. Since Eddie was such a hot commodity, Steve had to wait until the end of the night to have those sweaty curls in his vision. The crew rotated around the bar to serve but Eddie spent most of his time in the middle, swamped with orders and demands to talk to him. 

Despite the small amount of time Steve got with him, Eddie always made their minutes together worth the previous hours of anticipation Steve sat with on a constant basis. He winked and flirted and made inside jokes that not even the girls would understand. To Steve, Eddie’s smile shone brighter than ever when he worked Steve’s end of the bar. 

Others seemed to notice that, too. 

After three solid weeks of working at the bar and finding his place amongst the Coyote Ugly crowd, Steve felt at home and steady on his feet. Joyce no longer watched him or had Kenny shadow him during the busier parts of the night. And aside from the times he allowed himself to get distracted by Eddie, Steve was vigilante and upfront about doing his job and doing it well. 

Of course, the regulars that were around to see all the staff interact with each other were bound to figure out Steve’s weak spots. There were only a handful of moments throughout the night where trouble could seep through the cracks. Those people who wanted to cause it knew the exact second Steve took his eyes off the crowd to give Eddie his utmost attention. 

It was too bad that they chose a target that Steve wouldn’t allow a single bad thing to happen to. 

After Eddie finished his solo dance of the night, Steve fondly watched him attempt to jump back behind the bar to finish off serving last call drinks. Before Eddie could get his feet on the ground, however, hands shot out of the crowd and grabbed his shoulders. In an instant, Eddie’s happy smile dropped from his face and fear set in. Despite being strong and aware of himself, Eddie couldn’t take on a mobbing crowd that seemed more determined to pull him in by the passing second.

Cursing his distraction, Steve threw himself into the fray. He could barely hear Eddie’s voice calling out to him in the crowd, but the sound of it kept him going. Steve pushed and shoved and barreled over anyone in his way in order to get to Eddie. Steve didn’t let go of the adrenaline guiding him until Eddie was safe in his arms. 

It took a rough hug from Eddie to stop Steve from lashing out once his charge was safe. There must’ve been murder in his eyes because Eddie used both of his sweaty hands to grip Steve’s cheeks. “He’s not worth losing your job over, Stevie. You got to me. I’m safe.” Eddie brushed his thumbs over Steve’s eyebrows, trying to calm him down. “You can finish saving the day by getting me out of here. I think I took an elbow to the ribs somewhere in that scuffle.” 

Those were the magic words. Hearing that Eddie was hurt, Steve dropped all his ideas of being big and tough in favor of making sure Eddie got out of the crowd safely. If things were his way, Steve would’ve carried Eddie out of the chaos, but everything around them was already too hectic. Instead, he wrapped the dancer up with his right arm, putting himself between Eddie and the crowd, and pushed their way back through. 

Steve didn’t stop until they were out of the bar in the cool night air. Eddie’s face was red, flushed with both effort from dancing and heat from the dozens of bodies that tried to take him down. Without much thought, Steve reached out to palm Eddie’s cheek, hoping the touch was grounding. 

“I’m sorry I got distracted. That guy got to you because I was too busy watching you shake your ass.” Steve tried his best to smile, though the gesture wasn’t all that successful. He felt a heaviness in his heart that was hard to deal with. His feelings and the way he allowed them to overtake him almost got Eddie hurt. 

“You’re such an ass. That guy was going to get to me whether you were fully prepared for him, or not. Joyce started to hire bouncers because people can’t help themselves. It’s okay that you’re human and took a second to enjoy the show.” Even a little winded and thrown off balance by the crowd, Eddie still had all of his wits about him. Enough for him to wink saucily in Steve’s direction, at least. 

The gesture pulled a laugh from Steve’s chest that bled through the tension building up between them. Soon enough, Eddie joined in. They stared at each other as laughter and something else, something a lot less namable, settled in. It was clear to Steve that Eddie felt it just as much as he did. They drifted together without thought or hesitation. 

“It’s totally cliché of me to do this right now but I think I’m going to kiss you,” Steve whispered, rubbing his nose along Eddie’s. There was a moment where they shared breath, where Steve waited for Eddie to say something or back away. When that didn’t happen, Steve bucked up all his courage and took a leap. 

Eddie’s lips were slightly chapped and slicked wet from his tongue running over them. As Steve pressed in, he didn’t angle his head perfectly, so he caught more of the side of Eddie’s lips. Despite the misfire, Steve hadn’t ever felt a spark run up his spine the way it did with Eddie so near. After a quick shift and the right adjustment, Steve’s arms were around Eddie’s hips and they were kissing like they’d done it a billion times before. 

The bliss lasted just long enough for Kenny to come crashing through the front door. “Are you two okay – “ Kenny started to ask but stopped when Steve abruptly pulled himself away from Eddie. His mused hair and red lips would’ve given them away, anyway, but Eddie cleared the air right up. He yanked Steve back in for another chaste yet tongue filled kiss. 

“We are now, Ken. Thanks for checking in.” Eddie smirked over at the other bouncer before straightening his vest, running a hand through his curls, and taking in a long deep breath. “I have tabs to close out, boys. I’ll see you two later.” 

Like they hadn’t been tangled up together just moments ago, Eddie left Steve standing on the sidewalk alone with a bemused expression on his face. 

Kenny chuckled loudly, grinning in Steve’s direction. Though he went with the flow, Steve’s coworker didn’t balk at sharing his version of wise words. 

“You picked one hell of a spitfire to attach yourself to. You better buckle up, Harrington. You’re in for a ride.” 

Despite the taunt being meant as a warning, Steve leaned into the idea that he caught himself a wild child. After spending years trapped in a small town bubble, Steve was ready to see some crazy shit and experience life out of bounds. His exploration with love took him outside of the norm, simply because he gave up pretending and decided to date guys when the itch became too commanding to ignore. 

The sense of adventure and craving for more were thoroughly sated when Eddie was around, though. Without thinking much about what that meant, Steve’s mind, body, and soul reached out towards an energy that could rival his own. And though Kenny didn’t know it, Eddie was in for an interesting ride, too. One, Steve figured, Eddie didn’t expect.  

That thought was still fresh in his head when the bar closed half an hour later. Instead of joining the rest of the family at Hop’s, Steve pulled Eddie aside. “I’m not ready to wind down for the night. Do you know somewhere we can go?” 

Eddie looked at the group heading towards their usual haunt, then back at Steve. Slowly, a knowing grin slipped across those red lips. Eddie with an idea was even more enticing than the usual saucy character Steve got to see. He was so distracted by the smirk, Steve almost missed out on Eddie’s genius. 

“There’s a little gay bar that plays music until 5AM. We’ll have a couple hours to dance around.” His brown eyes were big, as if offering up a gay bar was some sort of challenge or something. 

Slipping his hand into Eddie’s, Steve answered as he tangled their fingers together. “A couple hours to dance around sounds great.” Leaning in, Steve pressed a teasing kiss to the shell of Eddie’s ear. “I hope you dance as well with a partner as you do on your own.” 

Throwing back his own challenge had the desired effect. Eddie scoffed, rolling his eyes exaggeratedly. “Oh, you’ll see, Stevie. You’ll see.” 

The walk over to The Bottom didn’t take long. Eddie was practically dragging Steve along – Steve figured he was both eager and cold in the chilly darkness. The guy checking IDs must’ve recognized Eddie because he didn’t stop them as they passed. Just like that, the silence of the night was gone, replaced with a steadily thumping beat that set Steve’s mind on fire. 

Eddie ignored the bar outright, pulling Steve through the crowd without thought until they were amongst the mass of wiggling bodies. Instead of shying away from the crowd like he did earlier that evening, Eddie closed his eyes, obviously getting lost in the vibe the music provided. For a greedy second, Steve stood there watching. Though, that compulsion didn’t last long. Since meeting Eddie and watching him move his body, Steve finally had the opportunity to use his hands and dance along with him. His fingertips ached to touch. 

It took a couple deep breaths to muster up the courage to take the two steps separating them. Eddie looked so natural spinning along to the music. His hips were perfectly times to the beat, enticing and glorious because of their precision. Steve blinked, taking a quick look around at the crowd slowly closing in on them. He would absolutely lose his chance if he didn’t take the initiative. 

How silly was it that closing this gap was harder than bringing Eddie’s lips to his for an amazing first kiss. For some reason, the distance between them felt symbolic. Getting rid of it was Steve’s metaphorical wave of the white flag. He’d been trying to fend off the thrumming feelings that just wouldn’t go away but there was no use. By the time Steve wrapped his hands around Eddie’s waist, another decision had been made. Pulling Eddie close meant letting him in, too. 

Steve, despite feeling fear in the back of his mind, welcomed the contentment that blossomed as Eddie leaned into his embrace, closing the gaps and filling up the missing spaces. 

Needless to say, Eddie danced far better with a partner than he ever did on the bar on his own. 

Chapter Text

Their time spent twinning themselves together on the dance floor opened Steve and Eddie’s relationship up to a whole new level. While they didn’t follow each other home that night to act upon the obvious lust, Steve left Eddie at the front of his apartment building with a kiss on the back of the hand and a promise to call him before work the next day. 

All the dates that followed took on that same pattern, too.

Steve tried not to think about what that could mean for their newly blossoming relationship. If he allowed himself to get caught up on the outward expression of things happening between them, Steve would drive himself crazy and miss the greatness going on that he could understand. 

Growing closer to Eddie wasn’t the burden his self-conscious made it out to be, either. It’d been a long time since Steve took the time to know the person his heart galloped along for. And though no one before made him feel like Eddie did now, Steve understood the path of his former relationships to get the general gist of things. 

They had strayed off course right from the very start. 

Steve didn’t know how to navigate becoming best friends with the man he also desperately wanted in such a visceral way. The new dynamic was confusing and special and the sort of thing Steve wanted to explore, even with the lingering trepidation. Every moment spent with Eddie was better than the ones without. That alone spoke volumes of their connection, despite the outright conversation about it not yet taking place. Being 25 and on his own in the city meant playing by its rules. Dating wasn’t the steady thing it was back in Hawkins. And hadn’t Steve ran fast and far away to escape that boxed in feeling? 

Stuck thinking about that much too deeply, Steve missed the scrape of the bar stool next to him. He didn’t recognize that anyone had sat down until a hand landed on his forearm. Robin was looking back at him with an affectionate smile and an inquisitive glint in her eyes. 

“Doing okay, Steve?”

Steve forced himself to relax, nodding his head. Robin knew about his songwriter hopes – she snooped around enough for him to explain things every now and then. “Yeah, I’m good, thanks. I’ve been stuck on this bridge for days now. I’m thinking too hard about it. Every time I dig a little deeper for it, I just get distracted.” 

Robin shifted on the stool until the heels of her boots were hooked on the metal rung of the bar. Being so tall, Robin sat at the same height as Steve, looking him right in the eye. “Might be time to take a break, then. This is your first all-day event. I don’t doubt you’re out of sorts.” 

Nodding at that truth, Steve put his pen down, marking his place in his lyric book for later. “That could be it. I am running off a lot less sleep than usual. I can’t believe we have to open the bar in less than an hour. Do we do events like this often?” 

When the private party first made it on his schedule, Steve didn’t blink an eye. Joyce promised double the pay during the event, so it was hard to pass up. Never mind the fact that Eddie and all his friends would be there, too. Steve said yes before he thought much about it. Kenny not showing up with the rest of them should’ve been his sign. There was a reason the seasoned bouncer passed on the extra cash. The night following was going to be absolute torture, Steve just knew it. 

Though, the two hours’ worth of nonstop entertainment could still make it worthwhile if Steve managed to keep the memories fresh. Eddie, despite always keeping the same look during their shows at night, changed his outfit entirely. Fitted camo pants took the place of his usual leather. Instead of a vest, Eddie wore a cropped tank top that showed off his neck, arms, and his thin little waist. His curls were tamed by a low ponytail that hopped and skipped every time Eddie moved. 

Since there was no crowd to be all that worried about, Steve luckily got to watch every moment of the special routine. Many group dances were ones that Steve hadn’t seen before. The crew moved together so well, Steve was probably more impressed than the people there for the party were. 

Despite the fatigue Steve knew was coming, he had more than enough fuel to fan the fire when the going got too tough. 

Blinking back to his conversation with Robin, Steve caught enough of what she was saying to know that the special events were rare, usually done for friends of Joyce at a pretty penny. Steve was happy to know there was a chance (even if it was a small one) to see another side of Eddie again. That must’ve been clear on his face because Robin elbowed him with an amused grin parting her lips.

“You’ve got it bad, Harrington. I didn’t believe it when Nancy told me the other day but it’s true. You two are all goo-goo eyed for each other.” 

Still slightly distracted, Steve only caught onto the last bit of Robin’s annoyed statement. “He looks at me like that, too?” 

Scoffing, because she was both dramatic and tired of stupid people’s bull shit, Robin threw her hands in the air. “You two are both hopeless. I hope you get your heads out your asses and find some happiness together.” 

Lucky to have made it out of that conversation without a sharp hit to the back of the head, Steve sat up straight as she walked away, forcing himself to focus on the here and now. Everyone that worked the event was milling around, waiting for the doors to open for the club’s actual business hours. Nancy was chatting with Joyce, and Robin had moved on to a corner by herself. Steve kept sweeping his eyes until he saw Eddie stretching his legs on the other side of the bar. 

Steve grabbed his lyric book and got up, making his way over to a bent over Eddie. It would’ve been silly to pass up the opportunity to appreciate such a masterpiece, so Steve let his eyes linger on Eddie’s shapely ass. He’d changed back into his leather pants that left nothing to the imagination. 

“My eyes are up here, you know?” Eddie questioned jokingly as he stood up. A soft smile graced his lips. “What have you got there?”

Hugging the book to his chest, Steve thought about denying he had anything in his hands at all. He was quick to remember, however, just how easy Eddie was to talk to, how, after a long time of not being able to, Steve had someone he could trust. “It’s my lyric book. I uh – want to be a song writer.” 

“How have we been dating for weeks and I’m just now finding this out?” Eddie asked, his voice incredulous. 

Without thinking, Steve said the first thing that came to his mind. “Is that what we’ve been doing, dating?” 

Eddie froze for a moment before a new gear kicked in. He didn’t say anything, though he stepped into Steve’s space and threw his arms around him. “I’ve done wrong by you.” 

Steve tried to argue – “no, you’re great – “ but was cut off.

“Commitment is hard for me. It takes me a second to settle in. Especially when I like someone. And I really like you, Stevie. Really. More than is safe or appropriate for my fickle little heart.” 

Acting entirely on instinct, Steve wrapped his arms around Eddie’s waist and pulled him close. They kissed, chastely but long and loud enough for everyone in the room to hear the statement they were making. Steve pulled back with a wide smile. “I like you, too. Boyfriend?” 

When Eddie didn’t protest, Steve said it again and again and again until Joyce shouted across the room – “we’re happy for you guys but shut the fuck up already. Don’t let it affect your work!”

They mumbled a “yes ma’am” though the words were hard to hear over their boyish giggles. Steve’s tiredness was gone, easily replaced with a giddy feeling that lingered well into Eddie’s next dance where he looked in Steve’s direction and winked, sparking the fire further. 

The crew teased them for it ruthlessly at breakfast. 

“I thought Steve’s head was going to explode,” Kenny said, finally joining them for some pancakes after the doors were closed. He had a family to get home to that usually trumped Hop’s famous griddle cakes, though he made the exception now. 

Turning his head to defend himself, Steve was beaten to the punch. Robin smirked over in his direction. “I always think Steve’s about to melt when Eddie’s on the bar. We have a little betting pool going…” 

Robin trailed off because Nancy elbowed her hard in the ribs. Though, it was too late. Steve quirked a brow in their direction. 

“A betting pool?” 

Eddie snorted, rubbing a hand up Steve’s thigh. “They’re betting on when you’ll lose control and rush the stage. I happen to think you know better than that but Nancy and Robin believe otherwise.” 

“You look caught between mesmerized and jealous as heck at all times. It’s hard to side with Eddie when I’ve seen Steve’s crazy eye,” Nancy chimed in with a smirk. 

Busting through the trash talk, Steve spluttered out – “I do not have a crazy eye!” 

It was Kenny that came in as the tie breaker. “You kind of do. I think it’s cute. Monica looks at me that way when we’re around her sisters. She’ll cut a bitch if anyone even thinks about touching what’s hers.” 

The table couldn’t hold it together after that, not even Steve. They were so loud, Hop crawled out from behind the grill to investigate the raucous sound coming from their booth. A look born from the mix between incredulousness and affection lingered on his face.  

“You guys make too much noise.” Hop said abruptly. It seemed like he was going to head back to the kitchen, but he turned around again, eyeing them slowly. “Though, the family you’ve created – it’s very nice.” 

Steve grabbed at Eddie’s hand, tangling their fingers together under the table. They all smiled at Hop until he scurried back to his place behind the grill. Things were quiet for another moment before Steve barreled through the silence. 

“I do not have a crazy eye, though. Eddie, tell them.” 

Everyone held their breath for a second, waiting for Eddie to answer. Steve knew where his boyfriend’s head was at long before his lips formed the words. The reassuring squeeze of their tangled hands gave him away.

“It’s sweet, Stevie.” 

There was a scoff from Steve and then Eddie tried again, “I like it, baby. I swear!” 

The rest of the table ignored the lover’s spat in favor of exchanging money and laughing wholeheartedly. Nancy slipped Robin a 20 from her fresh stack of tips, shaking her head. 

“It’s scary how well you know them,” Nancy muttered, popping her last piece of pancake into her mouth. 

Robin grinned, eyeing Steve and Eddie who were still playfully bickering. “I like seeing my friends happy. It’s hard not to notice.” 

---- 

Steve spent his next few shifts trying to prove everyone wrong but there was no use. It was hard, despite not being conscious of it, not to glare out at the crowd as Eddie slammed his feet against the bar and worked the steps of dances that were all too familiar now. Steve hadn’t even seen much passed the skin Eddie put on display for everyone, yet his mind went insane thinking about the amount of lust people had for something that felt like his. 

It took genuine effort for Steve to remind himself that Eddie was a person to be respected and loved, not a thing to be owned and coveted. 

His heart leaned more towards the possessive side, however, so rationality was difficult to manage on a good day. 

All the teasing he got from the crew made it worse, somehow. Steve was directly aware of all the eyes that followed each of Eddie’s moves now. He took stock of all the men and women that craved a piece of someone they would never have. Steve had to force himself to stay where he needed to be during performances. Despite the burning desire to take things into his own hands, Steve didn’t want to make any of the people taunting him right. What good would that do, anyway? Steve liked the ability to spend his nights watching his friends perform. No amount of heckling was going to take a good job away from him. He was stronger than that. 

Though, it did effect Steve’s mood substantially. 

The crew knew not to mess with Steve as they sat down for their early morning ritual a few days later. Steve was checked out in a way that he hadn’t allowed himself to be since he moved to the city. The stress of keeping his shit together and always behaving made it hard to focus. So much so that Eddie prodded him halfway through his breakfast, pointing at the door. “Let’s go. You look like you need some air.” 

Eddie made excuses for them as Steve moved through time on autopilot. He didn’t touch down in reality again until Eddie guided him onto the sidewalk, a concerned look on his face. “You okay in there, Stevie? I’m a little scared.” 

With a quick blink, Steve worked to get his shit together. He heard the fear in Eddie’s voice, even felt his worry. “I let Robin and Nancy get to me. I’m okay. Just – feeling the stress a little.” 

Instead of a scolding that Steve assumed he’d get, Eddie grabbed at Steve’s neck, gripping his skin there lightly. “You poor thing. Want to come home with me? I can take care of you.” 

For the first time since things started between them, Steve saw a heat in Eddie’s eyes that wasn’t free to him before. The bubble of want that was always festering when Eddie was near started to swirl with excitement. And despite being on a relatively crowded sidewalk in San Francisco, Steve’s body immediately reacted to the invitation. Without saying anything at all, Steve made his want known. 

With a laugh, Eddie nodded his understanding. After taking Steve’s hand again, Eddie led them a few blocks away from the diner to the apartment complex that Steve knew very well from the outside. As they climbed the stairs to Eddie’s apartment, Steve did his best to remember the red metal that made up the stairwell and the number of steps necessary to get to the third floor. He wanted to soak everything in where Eddie was concerned, this first for them especially. 

Lingering outside of Eddie’s door, Steve took in the doormat that said ‘metal music ahead, we’re not sorry for the inconvenience’. The pure absurdity and true Eddie nature of it had Steve laughing, which brought a smile to Eddie’s face. 

“Gareth got it for me last Christmas. You’ll see why in a second.” 

The door opened up to a big apartment with a huge empty space on the far left side, made even prettier by the open windows lining it. It took no effort at all to imagine Eddie with Gareth and the two other members of Jet Black that Steve hadn’t yet come to know, making music where nothing but air existed now. The room seemed to echo with the noise Steve knew his boyfriend could and did produce often. 

He hoped then, more than anything, that Eddie kept him around long enough to experience living so freely. Steve was eager to experience it for himself. 

After a moment of letting Steve be nosy, Eddie pushed him forward, further into the house. 

Creaking footsteps didn’t stop until they were in Eddie’s bedroom. Steve didn’t have to be there previously to recognize things that were so unmistakably Eddie. So much of the space spoke for itself. A spare pair of combat boots was thrown across the floor with last night’s flannel there in a heap with the scattered shoes. The stuffed animal that Steve won Eddie when they went to the fair a couple of weeks ago was on the top of his dresser, obviously in a spot of honor. There were cassettes and sheet music and books stacked up by the side of the bed. Despite never stepping foot in the room, Steve recognized Eddie everywhere he looked. 

“I think I might love you,” Steve muttered, caught up in the intensity of his feelings. He didn’t have enough time to process the immensity of his statement because Eddie was beaming at him across the room. He patted the bed next to him, that fire from earlier back in his eyes. 

“I know. I’m right there with you.” And though Eddie didn’t speak those three little words, Steve felt the truth in the ones he did say. At least, he was confident in the fact that Eddie meant them. 

He didn’t second guess stripping out of his black shirt to join Eddie on the bed. The time for questioning was gone, Steve knew that because of the confident way Eddie rolled him over and went about stripping him down the second he was near. 

Eddie’s hands were sure as they unbuttoned Steve’s jeans, tugging them off. His fingers worked their way under the hem of Steve’s boxer briefs, pulling those along, too. When Steve was completely naked, Eddie straddled Steve’s legs and began disrobing himself. 

And though it was weird to be nude on his own, Steve appreciated the show Eddie put on while getting himself onto Steve’s level. Embarrassment became a secondhand thing when so much more of Eddie was suddenly on display. 

The weeks of longing made the slow peel of Eddie’s vest and tight leather pants an outright spectacle. Steve’s cock throbbed with pent up desire – Eddie finally pressing himself against him, skin on skin, was a small mercy. 

From there, Eddie proceeded to kiss every inch of Steve’s body. Every now and again, he’d travel back up to Steve’s ear, where he’d nibble on the lobe before saying the most magical words. “I’m yours, you know. They may look but you get to take me home. Only you get to touch.” Every time Eddie mumbled anything akin to that, Steve shivered and moaned his pleasure. Despite the possessive nature he knew it portrayed, Steve liked the thought of Eddie being his and appreciated the man himself saying it even more. 

All the feelings of jealousy slowly slipped by the wayside. Eddie took him under and kept him in a haze with firm touches and a view that Steve couldn’t look away from. Watching Eddie open himself up was almost too much. His hips were sinuous and precise as he rocked back onto his own fingers, just like they always were when Eddie was up on the bar, dancing away.

If the sight was a preview for what was to come, Steve had no idea how he was going to keep himself together. 

Yet, he found it easy to grab onto Eddie’s hips as he climbed onto Steve’s lap. Eddie took control over everything but the tightness of the squeeze Steve delivered with his hands. There would absolutely be bruises on that pale skin when they were done. Steve was already gripping until the skin turned white under the pressure. 

Losing all train of thought, Steve choked back a scream as Eddie started to sink down upon him. Eddie’s hole was so very tight and Steve hadn’t wanted someone so much in a long time. Steve had to blink his eyes shut in a desperate attempt to stop himself from falling over the edge right from the start. Just like he assumed, Eddie was a whirlwind of overwhelm and absolute joy. 

Calloused hands were rough upon Steve’s cheeks, forcing him to look up and directly into those chocolatey brown eyes. Steve shuddered under the scrutiny, wanting to break Eddie’s gaze and get himself back under control. 

“Hey, hey. Look at me,” Eddie muttered, kissing Steve’s cheeks lightly. 

“Eddie, I can’t – I’ll cum,” Steve breathily admitted, squeezing Eddie’s hip harder to drive that point home. 

“You’re okay. Look at me,” Eddie whispered, brushing a few strands of stray hair from Steve’s forehead. “I’m yours, okay? No matter what happens, I’m up there moving for you.” Eddie enunciated that thought by swiveling his hips, pulling a punched out moan from both of their chests. “I like the way you look at me. That you’re possessive. It reminds me that you’re mine, too.” 

Steve ducked his head, hiding it in the crook of Eddie’s neck. Panting out a few breaths, Steve nodded, brushing his nose across Eddie’s skin once the rush to cum passed. “I am yours. Probably have been since I first saw you up on that bar.” 

Tipping his head back, because the pleasure was too much, Steve groaned around Eddie’s name. “Probably always have been, honestly.” 

“Fuck yes,” Eddie replied, picking up the pace of his hips. 

Thankfully, the time for talking was done after that. 

Steve didn’t have any control left within him other than that needed to hang onto Eddie’s skin for dear life. Every swivel and friction filled drop made it hard to contribute much to what was happening – Steve was rendered unable to do anything but take what Eddie was giving. Amongst the pleasurable chaos, Eddie had Steve at his wit’s end, completely under the spell of his body’s movements and the tender kisses that juxtaposed all the overwhelming things happening at once. 

There was no way to tell where things between them started and ended. Steve was positive watching Eddie cum untouched pulled him over the edge, though he’d never be sure – every sensation made him want to blow a gasket. His eyes shut against his will when the most mind blowing orgasm finally dragged Steve under its heavy waves. His throat was hoarse when the white light finally let go of him and Steve floated back down to Earth. 

Like Steve had come to trust him to do, Eddie was there to catch him. He wrapped his arms tightly around Steve’s shoulders, pressing their bodies together despite the mess. His lips were warm on Steve’s skin, though no less calming as they pressed kisses to a sweaty forehead. Steve got to drift back to reality with soothing touches and a familiar voice that babbled everything and nothing at him. The entire space around him was filled to the brim with Eddie. Selfishly, Steve liked the way that felt and wanted to stay there forever. 

“You back with me?” Eddie asked after a while, brushing Steve’s hair away from his forehead. 

Looking up, Steve nodded Eddie’s way, smiling goofily. “Yeah, sorry. I haven’t gotten hit upside the head like that since I first learned what my dick was actually for.” 

Eddie tossed his head back, cackling almost insanely. “You’re fucking ridiculous. You can just compliment me; I know I’m good.” 

Steve leaned up to press a quick kiss to Eddie’s mouth. “Yeah you are. The very best.” 

An odd look crossed Eddie’s face then, the moment turning serious. “I meant everything I said. While we were – y’know.” 

Watching the blush cascade across Eddie’s face was much too satisfying, especially after what they’d just done. It almost distracted Steve from the immensity of Eddie’s words. Knowing he wanted to respect all of what Eddie had to say, Steve dragged a finger across Eddie’s cheek, shushing him. “I can feel how much you mean that.” Pressing a kiss to Eddie’s lips again, Steve smiled as he leaned away. “But, I won’t mind being told again and again. Even when we’re not – y’know.” 

Eddie’s blush deepened. He turned his head away jokingly, scoffing for dramatics. “Tell me why I put up with you again.” 

Sobering slightly, Steve ducked his head, nuzzling into Eddie’s neck. “You’re my best friend.” 

With a sigh, Eddie snuggled down against the mattress, pulling Steve close. He didn’t need to say anything for either man to know the depth of that truth or how reciprocated it was. 

Chapter Text

Slowly but surely, Steve found a way to come to terms with the flash of jealousy that always overwhelmed him when Eddie danced. It never hurt, either, that Eddie went out of his way to find Steve’s eyes when he looked out into the crowd. That small bit of connection reminded Steve how close they were, how their relationship had progressed so much since news of the betting pool first came to the surface. And though the feeling still lingered, Steve overcame the impulsive urge to protect Eddie from everyone’s wandering eyes. 

He simply did his best to enjoy himself, instead. 

Settling into their relationship helped Steve with the other block he’d been dealing with, too. The lyrics, since moving to San Francisco, just wouldn’t come. He had so much to say yet Steve hadn’t the slightest clue how to access rhymes and phrases that used to flow out of him so easily. 

The act of falling in love brought words to the forefront of Steve’s mind that he’d been so desperately digging for. 

Eddie, it seemed, was more than just his best friend and lover. Steve found muse in the way Eddie looked at the people he cared for. Verses came together when Steve gave himself the opportunity to marvel at Eddie’s ability to drive him up the wall with just the shimmy of his hips. Stepping out into the darkness of the night after the bar closed and tangling his fingers with Eddie’s played the perfect backdrop to a song that was very quickly coming together. 

In fact, things were going so well that Steve let his guard down. He allowed Robin to get closer to him after finding out that they appreciated some of the same kinds of music and movies, that they were from very similar small towns, that queerness existed within them both. Steve was putting down roots in a spot that hadn’t felt like it had nearly enough sunshine for anything to flourish, yet the plant of his life was growing all the same. It was too good; good to the point where disaster was the only thing that could come through and ruin it.

The tides started to turn after a rough night at the bar. 

Nancy, who was usually the nicest of the bunch, lost her temper with a random customer. It would’ve been okay if the guy hadn’t been the fire marshal there to enjoy the entertainment while conducting his assessment. Her sharp words turned into a harsh scolding that Joyce didn’t hesitate to give in front of everyone. The show, from that point on, didn’t have its usual light. 

No one felt up to heading to the diner for breakfast, so Steve dragged Eddie back to his apartment. It was a little farther from work, which meant they didn’t often spend time there. Not to mention the fact that it was much smaller than Eddie’s place and dreary, too. Life existed in the walls of Eddie’s apartment where nothing but loneliness grew in the space that Steve hadn’t even attempted to cultivate.

Having Eddie there, however, made the apartment a little more homey. 

Especially when they fell into bed together and Eddie occupied a previously empty space. Steve loved the way Eddie fit in with the cream colored sheets brought with him from home. And though his room wasn’t decorated with little pieces of himself like Eddie’s space was, Steve recognized himself there a little more now. 

It wasn’t hard to figure out that Eddie was the thing tying everything together. Throughout the weeks, Eddie became home to him. 

And despite the warmth that thought brought him, it was shocking to his system and kept him up long into the night. 

Eventually, Steve fell into a fitful sleep. 

His tiredness had him in bed the next morning far longer than he usually allowed himself. Bleary eyed, Steve blinked back to consciousness to find the other side of the bed empty. Reaching out with his hand to touch the sheets, coolness there told him Eddie hadn’t been in bed for quite some time. With a yawn, Steve forced himself up. 

Lethargy followed him out into the living room where Eddie was stretched out across the couch in nothing but a pair of Steve’s pajama bottoms and a smile. The sight was divine and quickly peaking his interest until Steve noticed what Eddie had in his hands. The lyric book Steve always kept in his backpack was opened to an obviously well-loved page. Without having to peer over Eddie’s shoulder, Steve already knew Eddie found the song about him. 

“What are you doing, Eddie? Did you go in my bag to get that?” Instead of wishing his boyfriend a good morning, Steve lashed out, surprising them both. 

Eddie quirked his brow, obviously trying to stay calm. “No, actually. It’s rude as hell for you to accuse me of that. Your shit was all over the floor, must’ve fallen off the counter or something while we slept. I shoveled everything back in but this was open and caught my eye. My name is on this page, Steve. You can’t really blame me.”

Walking around the couch, Steve sat down next to Eddie, forcing himself not to yank the book from the other’s hands. “It’s not – it’s not ready yet. Not even for you to see.” 

“Steve, this song is great. You’re so talented. Why haven’t you tried to get someone to play this? Or done it yourself? You could really make a go of song writing, baby. I’m – “ Eddie probably had more to say but Steve cut him off. 

“It’s not ready yet, Eddie. I’m – I can’t believe that you just decided to pick up something so private.” 

With a quick tilt of his head, Eddie’s entire mood changed. “Are you serious? You’ve always got your nose in this thing. How do you ever expect to be a writer if you never let anyone look at what you’re writing? I’ve been performing for years and despite all those eyes on me, I’m still up on a bar, dancing for my paycheck. Not anywhere near a real stage like I want to be.” 

“I’m not like you, Eddie. I can’t just… put myself out there like that. I haven’t known what I want all of my life. I still don’t really know, but writing suits me. I know I can do something meaningful with it.” 

Sighing, Eddie closed the notebook on his lap, sidling up to Steve, even wrapping an arma round him. “Your work is meaningful, Steve. There are people who can get your stuff out there so it’s even more impactful.” 

“It’s not ready yet, Eddie. I’m – I’m not ready.” 

“Steve, you can’t – “ 

Steve was fast to jump out of Eddie’s comforting embrace, getting to his feet. “What’s the point of this? Why are you pushing so hard? I’m not ready. That’s all that matters to me right now. Why can’t you just accept that?”

Eddie followed him, his face pinched. “You’re so talented, Steve. It kills me to know you’re just sitting on words that could move so many people.” 

“It kills you? Eddie, I’m the one who can’t grow the balls to push myself forward. I’m suffocating on my own cowardice. Choking on all the hesitation. I don’t know what I’m doing, Eddie. I’m – “ Steve couldn’t go on. Between the relatively sleepless night and all the emotions threatening to overwhelm him, words just weren’t a thing anymore. 

Strong arms caught Steve before he could fall into the wide open pit of madness trying to suck him in. Eddie said nothing as he held Steve close. The argument, whatever it actually was about, went by the wayside in favor of the two of them clinging to the other for support.

And though Steve wasn’t sure how he felt about Eddie peeping into that portion of his life, the comfort the other man provided was more than enough to soothe the ache currently eating him up. 

In so many ways, Eddie was right. 

Steve knew stagnation wasn’t what he came to San Francisco for. Yet, the thought of stepping out and putting his work up for everyone to see and critique and tear down made a real feeling of fear settle in his gut. 

---- 

Despite them not actually fighting, things were strained between Steve and Eddie the following days. Going to work didn’t have the same flare it usually did and Steve dreaded the moments where he was alone in his head because a new voice echoed there, urging him in a whole new direction. Steve was so stuck inside himself that soothing things in his relationship just wasn’t top priority. 

And of course, because they could, things got much worse. 

The Friday night following Steve’s meltdown was a busy one. Coyote Ugly was starting their holiday party push, so private events and longer nights were quickly becoming the norm. That particular evening, Steve worked a holiday party that immediately melted into his normal work hours. The sparkly nature of the sight of Eddie in blue jeans and tall cowboy boots wasn’t even enough to keep his head in the game. 

Halfway through the usual show, Steve felt the heavy stare of someone in the crowd. Since there were so many people there, Steve had no chance of picking out the specific person drilling holes into the back of his head. He tried to ignore it but the stare got hotter as the night went on. Instead of staying in his usual spot to catch the best view of Eddie on the stage, Steve moved closer to the edge of the bar. At least there he was a few short feet from the people he needed to protect if the person who owned the stare that hadn’t left him all night decided to strike. 

As it turned out, Steve was the intended victim. After all the girls and Eddie got through their solo dances and the crowd started to even out, Steve let go of his paranoia and hyperfocus. The crew had plans to head to Hop’s for a large, well-deserved breakfast. Before long, Nancy drew him into a conversation about it that Steve let distract him until Eddie was done. Upon noticing his boyfriend finally free from the crowd, Steve shot Nancy a sorry smile before heading in Eddie’s direction. 

By now, no one took it personally that Eddie and Steve flocked to each other. 

“Good show tonight, baby,” Steve said as he settled on the bar stool in front of Eddie. He had something else in mind, though a sharp shout of his name from across the bar distracted him. 

Looking up, Steve was shocked to see a very angry man standing in front of him. 

“Are you Steve?” 

Perplexed, Steve nodded. “Yes? Do I know – “ 

Steve didn’t get through his question before a fist smacked across the left side of his face. 

“Tommy, what the fuck?” Eddie shouted, jumping over the bar to get to Steve. 

Seeing red, Steve tried to stand up from his stool with no success. Between Eddie holding him down and the swimming of his head, Steve remained right where he was. By the time he felt up to anything but spinning with the world around him, Kenny had removed Steve’s aggressor and only Eddie and Joyce were still lingering by the bar. 

“What the fuck was that?” Steve questioned as Joyce pushed a bag of ice against his already bruised up cheek. 

Exchanging a look with Joyce, Eddie wrapped an arm around Steve’s shoulder. “That’s my crazy ex-boyfriend. Every now and again, Tommy comes in and makes a mess out of everything. We haven’t been together in over three years but… he’s insane, so.” 

Steve yanked the leaking bag of ice away from his eye, frowning. “Wait, I just got clobbered by your ex-boyfriend? Why didn’t anyone tell me I should be on the lookout? I’m the security here for fuck’s sake!” 

Eddie shrugged his shoulders, grimacing. “He’s never punched anyone before. You’re the first guy I’ve dated since.” With a reverent hand, Eddie reached out to touch the bruise on Steve’s cheek. “I’m sorry, Stevie.” 

Rationally, Steve knew none of what just happened was Eddie’s fault. How could anyone predict something crazy like a rogue punch from a jealous ex? At the same time, Steve’s ability to think things through left the building when sharp knuckles hit his face. 

“I can’t deal with this right now. I think I’m concussed because I’m about a second away from flying off the handle very uncharacteristically.” Sucking in a deep breath, Steve turned to Joyce. “Can you get me home? I don’t want to be here right now.” 

Though she was surprised by the request, Joyce nodded. “You bet, honey. You take the next couple of days off, too. Kenny can cover for you.” 

Before Steve could get up, Eddie grabbed his arm. “You sure I can’t take you home? I really am sorry, baby. Tommy doesn’t mean anything to me.” 

“I don’t care about Tommy. I just – can’t right now. You’re the easiest outlet to express my… I don’t even know what emotion I’m feeling at the moment, but I don’t think you deserve to be on the receiving end of any of my frustration. I need to go home and curl up in a little ball and forget that I live in a world where getting punched by an ex is an actual reality. I love you, but I can’t be by you right now, Eddie. For both our sakes” 

Wanting to soothe the burn of those words, Steve pressed a soft kiss to Eddie’s cheek. “Come check on me tomorrow.” 

When tomorrow came, Eddie called but Steve didn’t bother to answer. Between the raging headache and the odd feeling lingering in his gut, Steve didn’t have the brain bytes to get up and take Eddie’s call. He spent most of his first day off passed out on the edge of his cold bed, sleeping away the mugginess of having his brains rattled. 

The second day that Steve didn’t answer the phone, such a ready excuse wasn’t available. His headache had subsided but the heaviness in his chest hadn’t. Steve craved the warmth of Eddie’s embrace but the thought of putting forth any effort to connect and be present drained what little energy he did have. 

Solitude was the way Steve dealt with everything. It was his norm.

Too bad he found friends that cared way too much about him to let that type of behavior go on. 

The afternoon of the third day without answering anyone’s calls, Steve woke up to a hard knock on the door. 

Expecting Eddie to be there, Steve was shocked to see Robin standing in his doorway, instead. She looked pissed to see him, though her presence in general was soothing regardless of the sneer on her face. 

“So, you’re alive, then.” 

Robin didn’t wait for Steve to invite her in, she simply pushed passed him with a huff. Other than Eddie, Robin was the only other person who’d been to his apartment, who he felt comfortable enough to let in. She knew where the kitchen was, so Steve followed her there. Despite being surprised by her just showing up, Steve was glad to see her, even more so when she started to make coffee. 

“You’ve got Eddie freaked out, I hope you know that,” Robin said as she scooped out the perfect amount of coffee beans. She didn’t speak again until the heavenly sound of them starting to brew echoed in the room. 

“Do you plan to rejoin the world or are you going to hermit yourself away like this forever?” 

Sucking in a long breath, Steve let himself be vulnerable. At this point, what did he really have to lose? 

“I’m not the best when it comes to heavy emotions, having them or dealing with someone else who does, too. I love Eddie so much that I just… can’t fathom the idea of something coming between us. The physical manifestation of a fear I didn’t acknowledge until recently was just too much. I needed some space.” 

The look on Robin’s face softened and she came to tuck into his side. “I honestly get that. I’m still not over what happened with Tommy and you’re the one that’s sporting the huge bruise. But Steve – “ Robin said, grabbing his arm, “you can’t shut people that love you out. Eddie is positive you’re going to break up with him. Joyce doesn’t think you’re going to come back.” 

Steve shook his head, frowning despite the pain still throbbing there. “That’s stupid. I’d never ditch you guys. I didn’t know what family was until I met you. I’m not giving that feeling up now that I’ve finally found it.” 

Without warning, Robin threw her arms around Steve, hugging him to her side. “You have to tell people that. Remind them that you’re here to stay. You can’t just disappear, okay? Not anymore.” 

Leaning into her, Steve closed his eyes, relaxing for the first time in days. “Yeah, okay. I’m sorry. I’ll call Eddie after a cup or two of coffee.” 

Robin pulled away with an unusually eerie grin. 

“I have an even better idea.” 

Chapter Text

After Robin told him about the special event happening at Coyote Ugly later that night, their conversation quickly shifted into idle chit chat. Steve, despite appreciating the solitude, was glad to have someone to speak to, someone who understood him. And while he missed Eddie, Steve couldn’t deny that he felt calmer with Robin as his reintroduction to society. Eddie made him feel so much that the overwhelm would probably just bubble back up. The two cups of coffee he shared with his friend turned Steve’s mood right around. When Robin left, Steve was already eager to get back to work. To see his friends. To be happy again. 

Dressed in his usual black jeans and button down shirt, Steve walked into a dark bar. Surprise washed over him – had he heard Robin wrong earlier? Before he could spiral into dreary doom and gloom thoughts, Robin came through a door that Steve hadn’t known existed. She looked different than usual, more grungy and done up than her typical performance look. 

“Is this place magical? I swear you guys come out of doors I never knew were there.” Steve laughed awkwardly, trying to calm himself down. “What’s with the look? Is there a different theme tonight?” 

Robin leaned against the bar, relaxing back on her elbows. “This is Joyce’s place. I wouldn’t put it past her to be some sort of spell caster or something. You’d never guess how old she is.” They both laughed at that, though Robin sobered up fast. “You’re about to walk into something you’re not expecting. I wanted to tell you before you got blindsided by the whole thing.” 

Taken aback, Steve squinted in Robin’s direction. His hands came up on their own accord to rest on his hips. He looked like a dissatisfied parent about to scold his child. “Robin – what did you do?” 

Smiling, Robin straightened up so she could reach out to him. Her hand settled gently on his shoulder. “Okay, good. Remember that I am the one that did this.” She paused for a second, catching his eye. “I stole your lyric book. The night that Tommy came in and knocked you out, I took it. Eddie told me about your fight and you know I’ve been sneaking little glances over your shoulder at the lyrics you write when we’re on break and you pretend that no one is watching, Even though we all are.” 

Robin squeezed his arm, smilingly lightly. “I couldn’t let something so beautiful come between you two.” 

For just a second, Steve wanted to be angry, to shout and scream and lash out about the invasion of his privacy. He got himself ready to rant at her but stopped short. In all his wallowing, Steve hadn’t even noticed the book’s absence. Since he found it in Eddie’s hands, Steve couldn’t remember trying to take it back or squander it away. 

No wonder. 

Taking a deep breath, Steve crossed his arms over his chest. He squeezed himself tight, tying himself as much to the ground as possible. “I’m not actually as surprised as I should be. It was only a matter of time before one of you tried something. Tell me what I’m getting myself into. Am I going to be embarrassed?” 

Robin’s face quickly went through a plethora of emotions. She was surprised and then shocked and then entertained all in the span of a couple seconds. Steve let himself laugh at her – he was just glad to be calm and not completely done in by his overly caring friend’s gesture. 

“Stop thinking so negatively. You know the band that Gareth and Eddie are in? I am their lead singer. Once I got my hands on your words, Steve, the song just flowed out of me. You’re going to be stoked to see what we did with the groundwork you put down.” Robin laced her fingers together, nervously bringing them to her mouth. “I am sorry I went behind your back, though. Eddie tried to stop me but once we got to work, there was nothing in the world that could slow us down.” 

Not thinking, simply reacting, Steve closed the gap between them to wrap Robin up into a tight hug. “Don’t apologize yet. Let me hear the song, then you can grovel.” 

She swatted him lightly on the chest as she pulled out of his embrace. They shared a smile, then Robin grabbed his hand and led him up a narrow flight of stairs that led to the roof. Steve was mystified to be in yet another part of the building he didn’t know existed. 

“Go easy on him, okay? He means well. I’ll see you after the show,” Robin said once they were in front of the stage. She didn’t wait for him to answer – Steve’s attention had already been caught elsewhere, anyway. 

Eddie was on the stage in an outfit that Steve had yet to see. His legs were covered in black denim that wasn’t tight but had enough rips across the front to reveal the perfect amount of skin. A cropped black and white baseball tee covered his chest. A worn leather jacket and jean Dio vest finished the look. The only thing Steve recognized was the broken-in pair of combat boots that sat on Eddie’s feet. Their familiarity had Steve smiling widely. At least something in all the chaos stayed the same. 

After another few moments of marveling at Eddie’s new look, the rest of Steve’s mind was much too focused on this new version of his boyfriend to really fret about anything else. Though the nerves lingered, Eddie was an amazing distraction.

How fair was it that Eddie had appeal in every setting he was in, anyway? Steve didn’t think it was. Though, he got to reap the benefits, so he did his best not to care. Not when Eddie finally spotted him, too. Their eyes met and held. There was so much both of them needed to say but now wasn’t the time. The lights dimmed, signaling a starting show. 

For now, Steve would have to settle for that small moment of connection. 

As promised, Robin walked to the center of the makeshift stage, a tambourine in her hand. The instrument juxtaposed everything that was going on up on the stage but Steve was excited by it. Not knowing that Robin was a singer made the entire experience a surprise that Steve couldn’t fathom or wait to enjoy. It was almost enough for him to forget that Robin was kind of an asshole. 

Almost. 

Steve brushed all of his emotions aside as the all too recognizable spot light lingered on Robin. She stepped up to the microphone, squinting a little. “Joyce, you’re the bomb for setting this up. We’re Jet Black starting the night off with a song called Can’t Fight the Moonlight. Our dearest Steve Harrington wrote the lyrics.” 

Robin looked in his direction with a wink, grinning all the while. 

Suddenly, the lights cut out and everything was silent. Steve didn’t have it in him to look away from the spot Robin was last in, despite his curiosity. The dramatics were on purpose, part of the show. If he learned anything during his time at the bar it was that all lighting, sound, and stage cues had a purpose. Steve appreciated the shock value when drums and guitar entered the picture. As those sounds collided, the light popped back up to focus in on Robin who raised a hand to the microphone and started to sing. 

For the first time in the entirety of his life, Steve heard something he’d written sung out of someone else’s mouth. 

Robin’s voice was mellow, sitting in an alto range that melded nicely with Eddie’s heavy guitar and the hard drums that Gareth played. A guy that Steve didn’t know rocked bass on the far side of the stage, melding into the overall sound seamlessly. The way all the parts and pieces worked together made Steve’s heart race. It was so much like he imagined, yet so different, too. 

The artistic liberties that Jet Black took was what the collection of words and phrases and bridges that turned into choruses needed. 

About halfway through the song, Steve finally got over his shock enough to pay attention and watch Eddie perform. Unlike his time on the bar top, Eddie added to the presence on the stage, instead of taking it over. He played his guitar with flair and accuracy, completely tuned into the music. Steve already admitted to being in love with him but the feeling grew a billion times bigger watching Eddie do something he truly loved. 

After Steve stopped beaming about how good Eddie was, he needed to apologize to his boyfriend for the way he treated him over the book. 

When all was said and done, he’d been right in all sorts of ways. 

Steve found himself able to move a little closer to the stage once they finished playing his song. Jet Black cruised through another three songs that Steve rocked out to, reaching up for Robin’s hand like a crazy fan and blatantly staring at Eddie in jeans that hugged his butt just right. Steve’s head swam with the amount of genuine love he felt for the guitarist who smiled back at him, walking slowly up the stage to play at the edge where Steve was leaning. 

The sudden surge of understanding Steve had for the guys that tried to pull Eddie down from the bar reduced the urge Steve had to yank Eddie close. Steve forced himself to take a step back and gaze adoringly up at his gorgeous man who had a great heart and many talents as Eddie finished his solo, never taking his eyes off Steve. It was overwhelming and amazing, the sort of rush that Steve had been craving most of his life. 

And though his head pounded and the fatigue he’d been fighting off for days started to creep back in, Steve stayed in the moment and gave his friends his all. The effort they went to doing something Steve was never going to do for himself said a lot about the connection he made with each of them. Steve’s family never cared for him, making the feeling rushing through him now completely foreign. It took a while to get with the picture, but Steve finally understood. 

He understood so well that Steve didn’t hesitate to pull Eddie into a sweaty hug when the show was over and the crowd had all but disappeared. All the layers Eddie wore on stage made him a sopping mess but Steve didn’t care. He squeezed Eddie to him, holding him tightly, breathing him in. 

“I’m sorry, Steve – “ Eddie started to say but Steve’s mouth cut him off. 

Kissing him chastely, Steve reached up to cup Eddie’s cheeks. Everyone around them already knew about things between the two of them, so Steve didn’t worry about the many eyes watching him touch Eddie so openly. “You shouldn’t be. I’m stubborn. I dug my feet in when you were only trying to help. Clearly, you know what you’re talking about.” 

Pulling away, Steve continued. “You were amazing. Let’s do whatever we can to make sure you get to play the guitar like that all the time.” 

Eddie beamed at him, his eyes shining. “I love you.” 

Without a second thought, Steve said it back. This time, it wasn’t in a manic rage or because of a sticky situation. “I love you, too.” The weight on Steve’s chest lifted, making the heat of the moment even more severe. “So much.” 

Joyce, always one to have perfect timing, swooped in before Steve could kiss Eddie again. Though it was probably a good thing, both of them groaned. 

“It’s for your own good, boys. There’s someone who wants to meet you, anyhow.” 

---- 

As it turned out, Joyce had friends in many different places. A record producer, one looking to expand upon a sound bound to blow up soon, was interested in recording Steve’s song, among a handful of others they wanted him to write. 

It took a bit for Steve to get over the surreal nature of the whole thing before he jumped on board. Not only was the deal making Steve a published song writer, Eddie and his band were getting a chance to put out a record they got to make with their own sound under their own terms. The whole thing was the type of dream that Steve constantly thought he was going to wake up from. 

Not even the recording studio, which Steve spent 15 solid days in, made Steve truly believe this thing was happening. He tried not to lean on the successful feeling he was fighting in case it all came crumbling down. When it came to success, Steve didn’t have much experience. Though, the final track with Robin’s voice and Eddie’s recognizable guitar lines made it hard for Steve not to believe. 

Once Can’t Fight the Moonlight was laid down fully, writing the remaining four songs the studio wanted was easy. With the band’s sound in mind and his muse constantly staring at him across the glass, Steve had half a dozen sheets of lyrics ready to record within a few weeks of their first time in the recording studio.. 

Things were busy, but one thing remained the same – Steve watched Eddie dance on the bar almost every night. Despite the success they were seeing with the few sound clips they’d sent out, Joyce was the main reason things were starting to amp up for them. If both Eddie and Robin stepped away, half of Joyce’s dancers were gone, just like that.

To help sweeten the deal and assure they didn’t quit, Joyce came up with a rooftop bar night and invited Jet Black to perform as the headliner every Friday. That weekly gig was the perfect opportunity for the band to try out the new songs Steve wrote before they hit the recording studio. 

When the recording company eventually came back with a desire to put together a whole album, Steve already had several more Jet Black songs written and ready to go. 

Little by little, the band’s success started to become too much for Eddie and Robin to handle. Performances outside the city dragged the members of Jet Black and Steve away for several nights at a time. 

Things came to a head when an exhausted Eddie slipped and hurt himself dancing on the bar. 

Joyce, later that evening, kissed both Eddie and Steve’s heads with tears in her eyes. “You butterflies have to flutter off now. You’ve grown bigger than this place. Just promise me you’ll come back whenever you can. You’ll always have a place here. You’ll always be family.” 

Their last breakfast as a group was shockingly somber. Everyone sat around the table like the world was ending, like they were splitting up instead of moving on. 

The family didn’t have to break up, Steve even said so. 

“We have to stop acting like we’ll never see each other again.” Steve reached under the table, grabbing Eddie’s hand. “Joyce is going to book Jet Black all the time. We’ll see each other. We’re family. We stick together. End of story.” 

Nancy, who hadn’t been present in things much lately, spoke up. “That’s easy for you to say. I’m the only one that’s not leaving. I’ll be two-stepping on that bar forever.” 

“Why don’t you come with us, then?” Eddie asked, squeezing Steve’s fingers. The entire table stared at him, practically willing Eddie to continue. “The crowd always loves me in my weird outfits. You can come design costumes for us. Between you and Robin, I’ll never have to dress myself again.” 

Though she was speechless, Nancy nodded enthusiastically, her hand shooting out to grab onto Eddie’s free forearm. She trembled in an attempt not to cry. “Thank you.” 

Eddie took his hand from Steve’s to place it overtop Nancy’s. “Family sticks together. End of story.” 

Chapter Text

Steve had no idea how he’d been talked into climbing on top of the bar, he really didn’t. His dance skills had not improved over the years and his time playing basketball made his knees ache something fierce if he wasn’t careful – especially now that he was getting older. 

Eddie, however, even ten years later, was hard not to follow mindlessly. 

They were back for another Alumni night with Robin and Nancy and a handful of other people ranging in ages. Over the years, Joyce watched a few more performers come and go, off to different careers or somewhere else to charm a different crowd.

As expected, Joyce had Jet Black on her stage whenever she could, though that became more and more difficult the bigger the band got. When Steve had a say, which wasn’t all that often in the earlier days, Coyote Ugly’s Rooftop Bar was always on their venue list. 

The third year in a row that Joyce got denied by their manager, Steve put his foot down and stepped up into the role. He spent all of his time with the band writing songs with and for them, why shouldn’t he protect their interests? As soon as Steve could swing it, Joyce got a quarterly gig on the rooftop, expanding Coyote’s exposure and cementing Jet Black’s legacy there. 

Time passed and albums came and went but the family they built in that bar stuck around. 

Nancy found herself heading off to college the second she could, pursuing a degree in fashion design that made her a hot commodity when she eventually finished school. Robin snapped her up as her personal stylist and kept the old crew together. The gang traveled and toured and lived within a block or two of each other. 

Despite always seeing each other, though, there was nothing like a night where they got to be young again. 

Steve knew none of the steps of the line dance that everyone fell into, but it was easy enough to cling to Eddie and follow the cues of his body. They’d been together long enough that Eddie’s limbs oftentimes felt like his own. Steve’s basic talent at being coordinated made it easy not to trip over his own feet, though that was the extent of his ability to keep up. None of that mattered, anyway. Steve appreciated the ability to watch his husband exist with an unfettered happiness up close. There was nothing like the stomp of Eddie’s combat boots to make Steve feel 25 again. 

When the scream of his knees became too much, Steve disentangled himself from the line and climbed down from the bar. Joyce and Hopper were tangled up together along the back wall, watching the stage with affectionate eyes. Steve was still astonished that the gruff chef and high strung woman were able to coexist with each other. Though, Hopper looked at her with a gooiness that Steve recognized in himself. He understood the smile that grew across Hopper’s face when Joyce stared back. 

Eddie’s gaze still made him weak in the knees and the resulting smile that spread across his husband’s face kept all the bull shit they dealt with manageable. That was love. After having to be strong and on her own for so long, Steve was glad Joyce found Hopper – that they had each other. 

Walking over to his favorite spot by the bar, Steve parked himself there and turned his attention back to the stage. Just like old times, Eddie was staring out into the dark abyss, looking for Steve in the crowd. When their eyes met, Steve let himself smile. Though he got to see Eddie work big stages and huge crowds on a frequent basis, nothing felt as good as the tight squeeze of good memories wrapping him up. Steve’s heart raced the same way it did that first night he saw Eddie on the bar, dancing his little heart out. 

The nostalgic feeling was made even better when the music stopped and Eddie climbed down from his spot on the bar. He didn’t hesitate to stride across the space between them or to fling himself into Steve’s arms. They embraced tightly, hugging as if they hadn’t seen each other in ages. Really, both of them still had trouble keeping their hands to themselves. 

“You look good up there. The good life hasn’t robbed you of any of your dancing skills,” Steve mumbled as he pressed a quick kiss to Eddie’s cheek. “I bet Joyce wouldn’t mind fitting you into the rotation again.” 

Despite the happiness dripping off of him, Eddie grimaced. “You’ll never catch me saying this to anyone else but I think I’m too old. My back is killing me!” Eddie’s exclamation drew an easy laugh from Steve’s chest – he’d been guilty of thinking the same thing just moments before. 

“Alright, old man. I’ll be sure to tell Nancy that when she tries to drag you back up there in a minute or two.” 

Eddie drew back, quirking his brow. “You’d never do that. Could you imagine the grief I’d get? You’re a much better husband than that, Stevie. I just know it.” 

As if summoned by their words, Nancy came running up to them, a happy gleam in her eye. “We’re starting up again. You coming, Eddie?” 

Steve kissed Eddie’s forehead, then gave him a little push. “Go dance for me.”

Even though he left Steve with a lingering stink eye, Eddie grinned at him the entire time he stomped on the bar. Steve watched Eddie giggling and laughing with their closest friends and family, feeling himself fall even more in love by the second. It seemed impossible to crave someone more than he already did but Steve felt it. His heart grew and the spot inside of him that was just for Eddie filled up with new memories and moments Steve so desperately wanted to keep. 

He couldn’t fight the draw of someone so beautiful and full of life back when things all began. Weaker now and even more desperate for Eddie, Steve didn’t even attempt to brush away the tugging pull of Eddie’s draw. 

What use was it when all the best things came from that winning smile and those rich, chocolatey brown eyes?  

Steve learned long ago he’d never be able to fight it. Why start now?