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Eddie walks into Family Video, a smile lighting up his face upon seeing Steve, who is walking through the aisles restocking movies. Steve's got his tongue tucked between his teeth, a familiar look of confusion scrunching his brows together.
Eddie gets a brilliant idea and he ducks down between the stacks of VHS' stalking towards the oblivious boy just a few feet away. He creeps quietly in the direction of Steve. He catches Robin's eye as she comes out from the back, and he puts a finger to his lips silently asking for her not to say anything. She repeats the motion with a grin, sealing her silence.
He creeps closer to Steve until he's behind the same shelf as him. He takes a breath before jumping up with a loud exclamation of "BOO!"
Steve's whole body lurches and he lets out a scream. VHS cases clatter to the floor around him, a loud thunk punctuating each drop. Eddie and Robin are both cracking up, Robin is bent over the counter with tears forming in the corners of her eyes.
"Jesus, Munson, what the hell?" Steve grumbles, grabbing his chest as he looks straight at the culprit.
"Oh c'mon, Stevie, I was just havin' some fun." He chuckles. "Besides, it was too good an opportunity to pass up. You were so lost in your own world, Harrington."
"Yeah well you can pick all these up and put them back for me now, asshole." Steve replies, rolling his eyes and trying to hold back a smile. He turns his glare onto Robin for her involvement in Eddie's antics.
"I suppose it's the least I can do, my liege." Eddie laughs, walking around to the other side now. He crouches down scooping up VHS tapes, looking at each title as he does so.
"These people have such shit taste." He laughs seeing Mr. Mom, Risky Business and The Breakfast Club in the piles. Steve picks up The Breakfast Club, holding it up to Eddie.
"I figured you'd feel so seen by Bender. Doesn't he speak to your tortured soul?" Steve teases and Eddie visibly cringes.
"You've got me all figured out, don't ya, Harrington?" His tone is sarcastic as he starts placing the movie boxes back on the shelves in the wrong places. Robin and Steve both groan at the same time watching the cheeky grin take over Eddie's face.
"No, no, no, no. Eddie Munson you know that's not where that goes." Steve says sternly, using what Eddie affectionately refers to as his 'dad'
voice.
"It's not? Well perhaps you'll just have to show me where it goes?" He bats his lashes, flashing Steve his most innocent, doe-eyed expression.
"Why I ever became friends with you is beyond me." Steve is grumbling under his breath, going around grabbing the ones Eddie put up wrong.
"I'm going to the back again. Byyye." Robin announces mostly to herself, leaving the idiots to their own devices.
They don't even notice her going, Eddie is following Steve down the aisles pretending to pay attention as he goes over the alphabetized system. This is not the first time Eddie has heard the spiel, and it most likely won't be the last.
"This one goes…" Steve pauses, pulling that same look from before while he thinks. He looks around another moment.
"Right here!" He says, face lighting up in recognition.
Eddie hasn't been paying attention to a word Steve has been saying. His attention is placed on other things like Steve's hands, the way one could hold four VHS boxes easily. He also liked the way Steve's lips looked as they formed the words he was using to chastise him, though he tried not to look at them too much.
"-ello, Eddie… Earth to Eddie!" Steve is snapping his fingers in front of Eddie's face, and he comes back into focus, blinking a few times. He sees that Steve has been holding a VHS out to him for him to put back, and he rolls his eyes. Was he really gonna make him do this?
"You weren't even listening, were you?" He accuses and Eddie's face goes sheepish.
"Sorry I'm not creaming my jeans over the inner machinations of an alphabetized organization system."
"Whatever, Munson." Steve groans, shoving him, as he starts putting the movies away himself…again. "Was there any particular reason you came in tonight? Perhaps you actually came to rent a movie this time."
"Oh, Stevie, don't you know I only come here for you?" He coos, batting his lashes some more.
"Rude, I'm here too." Robin calls out from the back.
"Love you, Robin!" Eddie calls back, a goofy smile on his lips. He steps back towards the counter leaning his back against it so he can continue watching Steve work.
"Oh, yes, I forgot your one true pleasure in life is messing with me."
"I'm actually here to ask if you're free next Friday? Corroded Coffin's got another gig." Eddie says excitedly, tapping the counter as he speaks.
"Ah I'm sorry, I've got a date." Steve groans, his lips curving into a half frown. "I've got a good feeling about this one."
He always says that. Eddie thinks to himself.
Robin comes back out and winces when she recognizes the look on Eddie's fallen face. She's been there one too many times before.
"But wait, I haven't even told you guys the best part!" Eddie says trying to maintain enthusiasm. "It's not at the hideaway, we actually booked a bar in Indianapolis! A big bar!"
"What? That's awesome, man!" Steve stops stocking movies to run over and wrap Eddie in a hug.
"I know, dude! That's why you have to come!"
Steve hunches his shoulders a bit, rubbing the back of his neck. "I'd love to Ed, I really would but I don't wanna cancel, that'd be, I don't know, it'd be a dick move."
"Well, Eds, I will for sure be there. Number one Corroded Coffin fan right here!" She says enthusiastically. "I couldn't be more proud of y'all!"
"Thanks, Robin." Eddie's eyes have turned down, and he's now playing with the ends of his hair. A nervous habit she's noticed he has. On the other hand, Steve seems completely oblivious to Eddie's shift in mood.
"I promise if you guys book the place again, which I'm sure you will, I will for sure make it."
"Well I appreciate the vote of confidence." Eddie sighs, turning his face away from Steve. "Guess I'll be out of your hair now."
"Eddie, don't be upset!" Steve calls out, but it's too late, Eddie is walking out of the video store at top speed. He turns to look at Robin with an exasperated look, she shrugs, shakes her head and walks away to hide in the back yet again.
What the hell was that all about? Steve asks himself.
****
"Be right there!" Eddie calls out from his room responding to a knock on the door. He's wondering who it could be since he wasn't expecting anyone and as far as he knew neither was Wayne.
He opens the door hesitantly, and to his surprise it's Steve.
"Hello, Judas." Eddie says ushering him in and Steve's face is pinched in confusion.
"You're so dramatic." Steve groans, rubbing a hand down his face.
Eddie moves out of the way, bowing as Steve enters, a hand over his heart.
“Welcome, King Steve." Steve rolls his eyes.
"Can't you just act normal for once, dude?"
"Oof…absolutely crushing. Now what brings you to castle Munson?"
"I was hoping we could hangout, I feel bad that I'm missing your show tomorrow."
"Well you should, it's gonna take a lot of groveling to make up for it too." Eddie says with a wounded puppy dog look.
"Here I am to…grovel."
"Shall I prepare us a…" Eddie pantomimes putting a joint to his lips with a smirk. Steve lets out a laugh against his better judgment. His palms get sweaty looking at Eddie's lips and he wipes them on his jeans, shaking his head to clear his thoughts.
"Yeah, you're good with your fingers." As soon as the words are out of his mouth Steve internally cringes at himself. Eddie's eyebrows shoot up and his smirk grows.
"You noticed? I'm touched." Eddie coos patting Steve's cheek before making a bee line for his room.
What the hell Harrington? He thinks to himself, you're good with your fingers?! He's waving his arms around as he mentally chastises himself.
"You comin'?" Eddie asks, turning to look back at him with a grin. Steve sheepishly nods, following behind Eddie.
****
Stop staring. Stop staring. Steve keeps repeating to himself, trying to keep his eyes off of Eddie's skillful fingers as he carefully rolls the joint for them. His collar feels tight and he can feel the sweat starting to form on his forehead. Maybe this was a mistake.
Steve can't see it but Eddie's hands are shaky as he works the thin sheet of paper. He's hyper aware of Steve's eyes on him, can see the sweat glistening at his temples. It's unfair for him to look so good when sweating.
Steve is almost done in when Eddie does the final step in making a joint. Eddie brings the perfectly rolled bundle up to his mouth and slowly licks a line up the side in order to seal it. His face is red hot and his pants have become slightly tented.
"Alright, done." Eddie's voice comes out a lot smoother than he feels at the moment. He was good at covering up his emotions. "Will you grab that lighter there?" He says nodding his head towards a silver zippo with a skull emblazoned on it.
Steve silently picks it up, handing it over to him. Eddie trades the joint for the lighter and Steve promptly places it between his lips.
Eddie flicks the lighter open, placing it against the tip, a soft crackle filling the air as he lights it.
Steve inhales, holding it for a few seconds before letting the smoke pass through his lips in a smooth stream. Stop staring. Stop staring. Eddie groans to himself, eyes flitting to Steve's lips and away again over and over.
A comfortable silence takes over, the only sound in the room is Eddie's cassette playing some mix he'd made, and their breathing. Steve takes another hit before passing the joint over to Eddie.
"You know, Harrington, rolling these isn't all my fingers are good for." Eddie croons with a teasing lilt to his voice.
"W-what?" Steve's cheeks go pink and he splutters around the smoke in his lungs. Eddie belly laughs, handing off the joint again to get his acoustic guitar from its resting place.
"They're good at this too."
Steve groans, rubbing his face, willing the blush to disappear. Eddie sits back down and starts strumming a few chords. He doesn't say anything else, and starts playing a melody that Steve can't quite place. This must be something new he's been working on.
Steve is enthralled, hung on every note, then Eddie starts singing. His voice is soft, almost shy and Steve feels like he could cry. He's not going to because how embarrassing would that be, but he could.
The lyrics to this new song are clearly about someone Eddie likes and Steve's jaw tenses with every new verse. When he's done Eddie can't look up for anything, nervous of what Steve thinks.
"That was definitely different from your usual Corroded stuff, but I liked it." He admits. "Whoever you wrote it about is incredibly lucky."
Eddie's head snaps up, face full of disbelief. He doesn't say anything though, simply shaking his head. "Thanks, man. I don't think it's one I'll be playing at a show anytime soon, but I was inspired by someone really close to me." He says, laying it on thick.
Steve is wracking his brain thinking of people Eddie was close to that he could be crushing on. It obviously wasn't Robin or Nancy. It could be one of his band mates, but that was doubtful. Perhaps Argyle? They'd been spending a lot of time together since he'd arrived from California, but he didn't think they were that close yet. However, the more he thought about it the sadder he became.
Eddie is just staring at him, mouth agape. He has it so bad for this absolute himbo of a man. A frown takes over though once he notices the shift in Steve's mood.
"You okay, Stevie?" He rests a hand on the other man's shoulder.
"Yeah, yeah I'm all good." He lies, voice tinny and distant. He gently nudges Eddie's hand off of his shoulder standing up and putting the joint down in the ashtray on Eddie's desk.
"I-I think I'm gonna head out. Good luck tomorrow, I know you guys are gonna kill it." He says with a smile that doesn't quite reach his eyes.
"Harrington…" What are you doing Munson!?
"Yeah?" Steve questions turning back to look at Eddie, brows raised.
"Nothing, forget it." He sighs dejectedly, feeling pathetic.
"O…kay." Steve breaths, stepping towards the door.
"Eh, don't-don't, go on that date." Eddie says softly, unsure if Steve would even hear him. He pauses mid step, shoulders tensing before he turns his head just enough to see Eddie in his peripheral.
"Why?"
"You know why, Steve." He says with more conviction.
"Say it." Steve turns fully now to look at Eddie. His eyes have a softness, hope, but he's definitely got his guard up.
"B-because, you know that girl isn't the one."
"That's the only reason?" His voice wavers.
Eddie grabs Steve's forearm, the words choked in his throat. Why couldn't he just spit it out?!
"Because I like you! Because… I'm in love with you." He feels as though he might get sick now that the words hang in the air. No words are spoken for what feels like an eternity but it's merely seconds, before Steve turns tail, grabs Eddie's face and kisses him.
Eddie doesn't immediately register what's happening, his eyes widening to the size of saucers as he processes that Steve is kissing him. He quickly becomes pliant under Steve's touch, kissing him back. Steve flips them around, pressing Eddie up against his doorframe, deepening the kiss.
"You're an idiot, Munson." He chuckles, pulling away for a breath.
"If I'm an idiot then so are you." Eddie quips back with a smirk.
"We're idiots together." Steve grins leaning in to kiss him again. His thumb rubs Eddie's cheek, and squeezes his chin tenderly before releasing it. Eddie's face has gained a rosy hue, and he actually giggles at Steve.
"Looks like I still have a date tomorrow." Steve says, and Eddie's eyebrows shoot up.
"Steve Harrington you complete, and utter asshole! You kiss me like that and you're still gonna go on that date?!" Eddie yells.
"I meant with you. See? Idiot." Steve teases with a wink. Eddie deflates, well now he just feels silly. Steve punches him in the arm with a chuckle and Eddie's blush deepens.
"I have a gig tomorrow, asshole."
"Saturday?"
"Well, where're you taking me?"
"Enzo's?" Steve says, a hint of mischief in his eyes.
"Not in a million years would I go to some stuffy ass place like Enzo's." He huffs, rolling his eyes.
"I know, you're also way more gullible than I thought." Steve laughs leaning in to peck Eddie's lips some more. "Idiot."