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Steve is still fuzzy on how this has become his life, maybe three concussions in as many years were to blame. However it happened, Steve was here now and there was no going back. He had fought monsters like his last name was Winchester and he rode around in an Impala instead of his BMW. He saved the world a few god damn times and had the physical and mental scars to prove it. Example; the three concussions. That was just the tip of the iceberg of his twilight zone life. The others…
Steven Grant Harrington was hopelessly in love with Eddie "The Freak" Munson, and Steve Harrington was slowly but surely turning into a soft punk.
It all started with giving Eddie rides to his physical therapy (nearly a month in a coma after becoming some demobats snack warrants it apparently) post saving the world from Vecna and making the choice to allow him to connect his phone to his car’s bluetooth. Which Eddie of course shuffled through a metal station on Pandora.
Then it played…
“No idea why this is playing on this station but damn, I haven’t heard this song in years.” The metalhead said, chuckling as the BMW filled with a slow guitar before the rest of the band and the singer joined.
Hey, Dad, look at me
Think back, and talk to me
Did I grow up according to plan?
And do you think I'm wasting my time
Doing things I wanna do?
But it hurts when you disapprove all along
And now I try hard to make it
I just want to make you proud
I'm never gonna be good enough for you
Can't pretend that I'm alright
And you can't change me
Steve felt a knot in his chest yank and if he wasn’t so used to startling things happening while he was driving, the car would have jerked into the oncoming lane. He flicked his eyes to the radio display for a second, trying to catch a title, before putting his eyes back on the road. That knot got tighter and tighter as he listened to the lyrics, eyes aching as he thought of his parents and his big empty home in the best neighborhood in this stupid small town.
Did you know you used to be my hero?
All the days you spent with me
Now seem so far away
And it feels like you don't care any more
And now I try hard to make it
I just wanna make you proud
I'm never gonna be good enough for you
I can't stand another fight
And nothing's all right
Steve cleared his throat as casually as possible and glanced at Eddie, “Who is this?” He asked the older boy as casually as he could. “What? You never heard of Simple Plan? A few of their song were every-fucking–where!” Eddie laughed, dramatically flailing his hands.
“Sorry, I guess I don’t pay that much attention to band names.” Steve laughed, giving the metalhead a sheepish smile. “They aren’t bad.” “For a mainstream pop punk band, sure…” Eddie huffed before launching into a rant about music and the various alt subgenes in a need to educate Steve.
Simple Plan…
When Steve finally got back to his (big, empty, cold) house, he went straight for his computer and searched Simple Plan on Youtube. He clicked on the first one and jerked when the song from the ride came on, along with those feelings it brought.. Here in the loneliness of his room in his (big, empty, cold) house he let the tears fall as he thought of his parents and how hard he tried (and tried and tried and tried. Fucking LOOK AT ME PLEASE) to be good, to worthy, to be PERFECT. He just wanted them to love him, to make him feel enough for someone for once in his life. He was so busy crying he didn’t realize that it was on autoplay until lyrics to another song got to him.
Do you ever want to run away?
Do you lock yourself in your room?
With the radio on turned up so loud
That no one hears you screaming
Jesus H. Christ, why was this getting to him so much? Why was it making him feel….seen. For maybe the first in his life he felt understood.
Steve wiped the tears away with his sweater sleeve as the song finished, taking calming breaths (Harrington men don’t cry, Steven.) He looked back at the screen and started clicking around for more Simple Plan songs.
Then he found others, more punk and alt bands that spoke to that gaping ache in his chest. MCR. Panic! FOB. and more. And more. He also truly listen to the metal Eddie loved so.
He spent hours finding songs and adding them to his spotify, with minimum tears thankfully.
Months pass as everyone heals, mentally and physically, from saving the world for the third? Fourth? Time. Max went from wheelchair to crutches to about ready to get back on her precious skateboard. The kids (teens, Steve, they're teens now) went from Freshman to Sophomores. Smiling became easier, the nightmares started being manageable some of the time. His parents finally fucked off for good and left the house to him to live in because they wouldn't really get any money off of it thanks to the market tanking due to the Vecna-quake. (He moved Robin in almost instantly.) Eddie graduated, a couple years late due to failing once and a late birthday (Of course the metalhead was born on Halloween), but The Party were the loudest cheers at the graduation. Eddie's smile after he got done doing his devil horns was something else. Pure sunshine. A goddamn puppy. Speaking of Eddie…
The older boy slowly became Steve’s other best friend, his laugh and smile and silly antics (thank god the Upside Down didn’t take that from him.) were so damn endearing that it made it hard not to befriend him. Or it could be that big fat crush that Steve has developed on him. Built on co-parenting a bunch of baby nerds, trauma bonding from the Upside Down, and just quiet nights of video games, movies, and Eddie playing on his guitar.
Don't even get Steve started on Eddie playing on that guitar and how he looks with it. Ring adored long, pale and slender fingers plucking the strings effortlessly. Eddie in just skinny jeans and loose black tank, his heavy boots and leather jacket tossed aside. Hair in messy bun with pieces framing his face. His black tattoos and silver piercings stark against his skin, the many daydreams Steve has had about them and putting his mouth on them are kind of concerning. (especially the snake bites, those and his rings covered hands are always stars in his day dreams. Shit. Focus, Harrington, fucking focus.)
Point is, Steve loved Eddie, which was shocking for someone who thought they were straight but according to Robin and her tumblr, sexuality isn't linear. There's something about the messy hair, dimply smile, dramatic puppy personality wrapped up in fucking combat boots, leather jacket and tattoos that makes Steve turn into goo. Or a blushing mess when he's caught by Robin and Dustin pining because that's his life now.
Only Robin knew about his trip into pop punk and alt music, even giving him bands like Halestorm and Paramore to listen to. With minimum teasing by Steve for her obvious fangirl crush on Lzzy Hale. Totally minimum. (She got him back by teasing him about Eddie and how he whined for 10 minutes about how their hands are perfect for holding each other's. The skin tone contrast would be beautiful.) They have it playing all the time now, dancing around their living room or headbanging in his car and screaming the lyrics to their favorites. It always left them giggling and feeling like the teens they are.
(Robin went with him when he gave in to the urge to get tattoo and piercing, yes both. He got a simplified version of his nail bat on his bicep and his septum done. Robin got a bit jealous at how good it looked and decided to get her septum pierced as well. Then they got all mushy and sappier by getting matching ice cream cone tattoos behind their ears. Which hurt like a bitch but was worth it to cement their life long bond.)
He hasn't told Eddie about anything, his new taste in music and his feelings for the metalhead. He wasn’t sure he was ever going to for at least one of those things. Because while Eddie might accept his new taste in music, he'll reject him all the same. Because he was King Steve and he had to live with the consequences of it. Who was he kidding, Eddie would tease him so much about all of it before gently letting him down because the man is a pitbull, rough on the outside but a goddamn softie on inside. (Mmm, maybe Robin would be up for a puppy. He always wanted a dog.)
He really can't believe this was his life but he honestly wouldn't trade it, he has his little found family now.
Currently Steve had the newest band he found playing through the house from his Bluetooth speaker as he danced around and cleaned the downstairs of the house. (It was his first day off of his job at the hardware store in a couple weeks and things have gotten bad since Robin was working just as much as him.)Wearing some short red shorts and tank top with the armholes almost down to his waistband (judging by the graphics on the front it was actually Eddie's and he's never giving it back.) Steve was in his own little world as he shook hips about. He barely heard the door over the music, his back to the door as he elbows deep in the sink hand washing dishes even though they had a washer, he found the routine soothing in a way.
What a cheap perfume
I hate this room
So testify
But I still tried
And you need that stamp
Little handshake tramp
And you hit me more
And my face's still sore
"Hey Birdie, you won't believe the band I stumbled upon! The lead singer is so hot and I swear I must have a damn type in men. He's tall and lean, dark hair and covered in tattoos! He's only missing the piercings and brown eyes." Steve babbled out, actually bouncing on his feet as he bopped to the song playing. "I swear if I see him with a guitar I might just drop to my knees and beg. Here let me play my favorite song so far. It'sa fun song!" He continued when his platonic soulmate stayed quiet, drying his hands with a dish towel and reaching for phone to search for the song. "Actually he has a piercing, but it's a tongue piercing. Which sent me down the thought process of Eddie with a tongue piercing and I think I broke my own mind for a bit." He giggled nervously, finally finding the song and humming along while dancing again.
Don't you move
Can't you stay where you are, just for now?
I could be your perfect disaster
You could be my ever after
You could be my ever after, after all
I could be your perfect disaster
You could be my ever after
Apologies, I'm not myself but I can guarantee
That when I get back, you won't believe
That you know me well
Don't wanna think about it
I'm fuckin' tired of getting sick about it
Now stand back up and be a man about it
And fight for something, fight for something, fight for something
Steve left out a soft, choked laugh as he stopped singing along and turned around. "There's a thought, huh? Being a hot mess and someone finding you to be a perfect mess." He mused, looking up to look at his best friend and freezing when he met dark brown eyes. "Ed-Eddie! You're-Why are you here?" He asked, crossing his arms and cocking his hip in what the kids call his Mom Stance.
"I came ta see if you wanted to hang out since you're off today and I got outta the garage early today…" Eddie trailed off, crossing his arms and cocking his head to the side with a slow almost feral grin. "But 'magine my surprise when I come in ta a song about beggin' on knees playin' and you shaking your ass in those tiny ass shorts to it. Then! Then you babble 'bout a hot lead singer and how he was so close to yer type before playing me such a pretty song…whose the artist?" The older boy ranted, waving a hand around as his control of his accent slipped, letting the foothills and red mud of his (and Wayne's) childhood through.
Steve couldn't help to notice how cute he looked, his hair was up and he was in a band shirt that showed off how working in an auto shop (and lugging around his Amp for band practice) was bulking him up ever so slightly. He'd never be broad like Steve was but Steve thinks he could manhandle Steve even better now. He had a flannel shirt tied around his waist that just emphasized how tiny it was and jeans they spent hours writing his favorite lyrics and doodles on last month. Steve was so stupidly in love with this man. "Steve?"
"Huh? Oh, they're called Marianas Trench." Steve stuttered, turning off the music just to find something to do. His face felt warm with a blush as his brain worked through what he babbled out. "Song is called Ever After."
"Nice, nice. I'll look 'em up later because they sound pretty good." Eddie said, nodding his head slowly as he kept his eyes on Steve. He seemed to debate on something for a minute, fingers tapping against his arm to a rhythm in his head, before nodding to himself and closing the distance between them. Steve soon found himself pressed against the counter and looking up at Eddie, a blush spreading as he sees the intense look aimed at him from the metal head. "Eddie?" He breathed, eyes flickering towards the older boy's lips then back to his eyes. "What's wrong? Are you mad at me?"
"What? No, 'course not Sweetheart." Eddie said, placing a hand on Steve's waist and squeezing it reassuringly. "Just makin' sure that I figured something out right." He soothed, his other hand joining the first on Steve's waist. "Oh? What is it?" Steve breathed out, feeling a blush on his face from how close the object of affection was to him. "Well like I said, came in ta you babblin' on about your type of guy. Which, ain't that just a pleasant surprise, you like guys too." Eddie said, almost feral grin on his face again as he leaned down to almost press their foreheads today. "From what I gathered, you like 'em tall and lean with tats and piercings…" He mused, fingers slipping to the bare skin of Steve's sides through his gaping arm holes. "With brown hair and eyes. That sounds very familiar, Mr. Harrington, very very familiar."
Steve's breath caught in his throat as he stared up at Eddie in a mix of surprise, hope, and just nerves. "Does it?" He breathed, licking his lips before biting the top one. He feels flustered when he sees how Eddie zeros in on his lips and his eyes seem to darken. "Yea, baby boy, it does…and the fact you admitted to thinking about me with a tongue piercing just cemented it as to who it is." Eddie said softly, a little awe in his voice as if he couldn't believe it. "You like..me? Steve, do you like me?" He asked, cupping his cheek and tracing a thumb softly along his orbital bone.
Steve took a deep breath, eyes glued to Eddie's, as he covered the older man's hand with his and nodded. "I don't just like you, Eddie, I love you. I'm in love with you Edward Wayne Munson." He breathed, turning and pressing a kiss to a calloused thumb then to soft palm. "So damn much."
"Oh Angel…" Eddie breathed, voice cracking just a bit as he pressed their foreheads together finally. "I love you too, I love you so much, sunshine. I thought it was a lost cause, that I was another statistic of the queer kid falling in love with his straight best friend." He murmured, taking Steve's hands in his and kissing his knuckles one by one between words. "But you feel the same and Jesus Christ, it's the best damn thing to ever happen to me. Above seeing Metallica in concert last year. Above surviving literal Hell." He giggled, giddy and so, so happy. "You're so amazing and I could do something totally not metal like skip and squeal."
Steve giggled himself, awed as he soaks up Eddie's affection and leaning into it all like a dying man. "You're amazing, Eds, amazing and gorgeous and smart. God, I'm not good with words and I wish I was so I could tell you exactly how much I love and treasure you." He said, pressing his own kisses into Eddie's hands and those rings he loves so much. "So…does this mean you'll take me on a date?" He asked in a tease, barely hiding the hope in his chest.
"Damn right I am, gonna wine and dine you like you wouldn't believe. Treat you like the prince you are." Eddie said, feral grin back as he pulled Steve to him so he could wrap his arms around his waist. "Gonna know yer socks off, Stevie boy, just you wait." He promised, bumping their noses together and causing Steve to giggle. "But before that…can I finally kiss you?" He asked, sliding his hand up to trace a thumb over the former jock's bottom lip.
"Please." Steve pleaded, leaning up as Eddie is leaning down to meet in a soft kiss. He sighed softly through his nose as he melted into Eddie's arms, wrapping his own around the older's shoulders and slipping his fingers into his surprisingly soft hair. The kiss stayed soft and lazy, just enjoying the closeness of their bodies and feelings, it ended just as softly with them pulling back to breath and smile at each other. Steve gently tucked a loose curl behind Eddie's ear and playfully flicked his small gauge, causing the taller to giggle. "I'm so happy." He murmured, leaning in to nuzzle into Eddie's shoulder and breathe him in (under the grease and sweat of the garage, he finds the apple of Eddie's shampoo and the cinnamon of his cologne). "Me too, sweetheart, me too." Eddie said, voice a soothing rumbling sound from where Steve's good ear was pressed to his neck. He smiled when he felt a kiss pressed to his hair and pressed his own to the tattoo of a dragon peeking out of Eddie's shirt.
They stood just holding onto each other for a while, Steve playing with a loose curl and Eddie tracing patterns on Steve's back, enjoying the closeness once again. "So…When did Steve Harrington start listening to alt music?" Eddie asked, a tease in his voice that makes Steve laugh softly. "I'll tell you on our date, and about all the bands I'm loving." He promised, pressing another kiss to Eddie's neck before pulling away and smiling up at him. "Or I can tell you now if you help me finish deep cleaning the house?" He asked, pulling out the sweet angel face.
"God, don't make that face! You know I'm weak to that face." Eddie whined, dropping his head back in defeat before sighing softly and nodding. "Fucking..Fine. I'll help you. Lucky you're so cute." He grumbled, kissing Steve's forehead while the younger man did a happy little wiggle. "What can I do?"
"Use your height and start cleaning the top shelves and on top the fridge." Steve asked, smiling at him. "And I'll tell you about this video I saw that tells you the best order to listen to The Black Parade to really get the story." He continued, hands back in dish water and a new bounce to his actions.
He's never been so happy to have been wrong about someone's reactions, nor has he been happier to be the sole attention of someone as he gushed about My Chemical Romance then about Simple Plan, the band that started it all.
By the time Robin actually came home, they were distracted by each other, again, after Steve mentioned his new tattoos and piercing and Eddie just had to look.