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"ARGGGR FUCK!" Steve yells slamming through the door, red in the face, blinded by rage.
"WHOA, dude! Calm down. Are you alright?" Eddie says getting up from the couch, and slowly walking towards Steve, hands slightly up.
Steve snap his head toward Eddie before snapping out of his rage and realizing what he had just done. "Uh." He takes a deep breath and nods trying to calm himself.
Eddie notices Steve has tears in the corners of his eyes, fighting their way to roll down his face. He stiffens, surprised to see Steve in such a state before being hit with a wave of worry.
"Hey, hey, uh?" He sighs. "What happened? Are you sure you're OK?" Eddie asks softly with a soft reassuring smile.
Steve takes a hard sniff, puffing out his chest while wiping his eyes before saying. "Yep, uh-huh. I'm fine. It's just my dad's an unsupportive asshole." He rolls his eyes before walking to the couch, falling on it with a humph.
"Oh." Eddie pauses, turning to Steve, and walking back to the couch. "Well if it makes you feel better most people don't support me." He says sitting down.
"Yeah, but people don't support you because you're weird and play a scary game. Plus it's not from your blood family." Steve says sinking into the couch.
Eddie puts his arm on the back of the couch behind Steve. He sighs. "Well, it's because a lot more than that. They think I'm the opposite of Christian beliefs, in more ways than just how I act, dress, and the fact I play DnD."
Steve turns his head towards Eddie to question him.
Eddie takes a deep breath. "I don't know if you know this but, uh, if you don't follow the basics of the man and woman love system, people tend to hate you. Especially if you 'can't pick' you know? So I act like myself and be as weird as possible because if they're gonna hate me then they better have a lot they hate about me. But hey, I don't feel like it's a bad thing to be proud of who I am." He says rambling.
"Wait, you're gay?" Steve says after a while, sitting up.
"Well sorta. I meant technically I like guys and girls." Eddie says staring at the roof, playing with his hair.
Steve looks at the floor in thought. "T-that isn't gonna be a problem with our, uh, friendship is it?" Eddie asks kinda scared. He looks down at Steve.
Steve lightly laughs. "Nope, don't worry. But, uh...... Man, my dad would hate you..... it would piss him off to know I hang out with you often... a-and Robin, he'd think you two were the reason I'm like I am. Aha. There's only one thing he'd hate more." Steve says mainly talking to himself, still staring at the floor, kinda lost in thought.
Eddie listens slightly confused. He tilts his head before asking. "And what would that be?"
Steve looks up at him. "What? Oh, ah, nothing don't worry. Sorry, I don't know why I said all that. I guess I just want to get back at him." He sighs running his hands through his hair, leaning back.
Eddie purses his lips before cautiously asking. "Did this fight happen because your dad doesn't like the fact you might like guys?"
Steve looks at him with a scarred face. "What!?! No, no, well uh. Technically it was about someone else but he eventually made it about me. But not...." He sank into the corner of the couch trying to distance himself from Eddie.
"Steve... Do you like guys?" Eddie says softly while lightly placing his hand on Steve's shoulder.
Steve jumps before cringing. He stares at Eddie, worried before looking away and nodding slowly.
"Does... Does he hit you because of this?" Eddie whispers.
Steve shakes his head no. "He doesn't know but he suspects and has threatened me when he saw a guy get out of my car once. He's just very against the gays. It doesn't feel safe to be around him sometimes. Good thing he's never home." Steve says with more confidence, getting angry again.
"Dude, I'm sorry you have to deal with that. I wish there was a way to make people like him see that we're not that bad." Eddie says smiling sadly.
Steve stands up. "Maybe there is. Or at least it would piss him off a lot." Eddie looks at him confused. "Is this what you were talking about before?" He asks.
"You could be my pretend boyfriend, it would make his head explode." Steve says determinedly.
Eddie stands up. "Uh, I don't know about that. Steve, you need to calm down and think. This could make him set the whole town against us and I really don't want to be hunted again. You don't want the town against you Steve, trust me. People don't know that we like guys, you would be putting a target on our backs."
"Ed- Eddie, calm down. I thought you were all about sticking it to the man? Why aren't you jumping on this? Are you scared? I mean this is great I'd be free and you'd be right besi-"
"BECAUSE!!!" Eddie yells grabbing Steve's wrists. "You'd be using me, putting me in danger. Steve, you need to think past your emotions. I care about you, I don't want you to have to deal with this. If it was as simple as 'Hey dad, here's my rocker geek boyfriend' I'd be down but it's not."
They stare into each other's eyes before Steve goes to say something, Eddie cuts him off with a sigh. "Fine, if tomorrow, after you've calmed down and slept on the idea, you still want to do this stupid plan, then yes I'll go through with it." He let go of Steve's wrists.
Steve opens his mouth but Eddie cuts him off again. "If we get beat up and shunned from town, I'm blaming you."
Steve laughs before nodding. "Yeah, no that's fair. But people love me, they'd try to get us because of you." He says sitting back down, looking up at Eddie.
Eddie fakes being shocked before sitting down, shoving Steve laughing.
○☆○☆○☆○☆time skip☆○☆○☆○☆○☆○
"Hey, it's getting late you should probably go home." Steve says.
"Yeah, are you going home?" Eddie asks.
"I, I don't really think I should. At least for tonight." Steve says.
Eddie nods in understanding. "Well, I'm not just gonna leave you here, alone. I don't need to be home tonight." He says leaning back to show he's not going anywhere.
"No, go home, sleep. I'll call you tomorrow." Steve says as Eddie leans his head back, closing his eyes.
"Nope, dude. I'm gonna sleep right here. Plus I need to keep an eye on you, so you don't go do something stupid in your 'emotional' state." Eddie says putting his legs up on Steve's lap.
"Ha ha, very funny. Fine, but I'm gonna go sleep on the other couch" Steve says lifting Eddie's legs of his own. He walks over to the other couch and lies down.
"Goodnight Steve." Eddie says. "Yeah, night, Eddie" Steve replies.
☆○☆○☆○☆the morning☆○☆○☆○☆○☆
"Hmmhm- Ahrg!" Steve falls off the couch with a thud. He shakes off the last of his sleep, squinting his eyes before they adjust to the morning light as he gets up. He looks around the room before his eyes land on the curled-up figure of Eddie, still asleep on the couch.
Steve smiles to himself before walking to the kitchen to get a drink of water from the tap. He walks back into the lounge room to see Eddie sitting up stretching.
Eddie looks around before noticing Steve isn't on the other couch. He shoots up before hearing someone chuckle behind him. He spins around and sighs once he sees Steve.
"Don't worry, I didn't go murder anyone while you were asleep." Steve says jokingly.
"Good, because I'd definitely get blamed for that." Eddie jokes back. "So... uh, are we gonna give your dad a heart attack or did you figure out that was a bad idea?" He asks.
"Oh, we're definitely going to do that... Oh if you're still ok with that. But he's probably at work at the moment. He'll be back around lunchtime. And my mum will be out all day, so we can go to my house now and maybe catch him there. We have food." Steve says.
"Yeah, I could definitely eat. Let's go!" Eddie says. They walk out choosing to take Eddie's van, just to piss off Steve's dad more.
○☆○☆○☆○☆time skip again☆○☆○☆○☆○
Steve and Eddie are sitting on Steve's bed talking and eating.
"Hey, where's your bathroom?" Eddie asks.
"It's uh, down the hall on the right." Steve says with his mouthful.
Eddie nods and goes to the bathroom. The front door slams loudly before footsteps are heard. "STEVE, ARE YOU HERE YOU LITTLE SHIT?" Steve's dad yells.
Steve pops his head out of his door. "Oh hey, dad." He smiles. "Whose van is that? Huh?" His dad asks finally reaching Steve's bedroom.
"Oh, that's Eddie's. He gave me a lift home." Steve explained. "WHO?" his dad yells confused.
"Oh, uh, I guess that's me. Hi, I'm Eddie." Eddie says holding his hand out for a handshake. Steve's dad looks at him before scoffing and turning back to his son. Eddie shrugs and walks past him back into Steve's room.
"Oh, right. Dad, this is Eddie, my boyfriend." Steve says grabbing Eddie's arm before he could walk too far into the room, turning back towards the older Harrington. Steve wrapped his arm around Eddie's shoulders before realizing Eddie is taller than him so he moves his arm to Eddie's waist.
"Ha, right. You're just doing this to anger me. You're not gay, and definitely not for this freak." Mr Harrington laughs.
"Excuse me!" Eddie and Steve say at the same time. Eddie wrapped his arm around Steve's shoulders and pulls him closer instinctively.
"Ok then, prove it. Be gay, kiss. I know this is fake because no son of mine would even dare to be gay." He says glaring at his son.
"F-fine." Steve says. He turns towards Eddie but stalls. He looks at Eddie scared. As he's about to step back and accept defeat Eddie grabs his face. Steve nods slightly and Eddie leans in lightly kissing him before turning back towards Mr Harrington, smirking.
Steve frozen on the spot hears his father grumble before a slap is heard. Steve snaps towards his father before jumping between Eddie and his father.
"How dare you!" Steve says to his father before turning to Eddie. "Are you ok-" Steve gets pulled out by his hair, out into the hallway.
"YOU LITTLE FAGGOT. HOW DARE I?! I'M NOT THE ABOMINATION THAT GOES AGAINST GOD!" Mr Harrington yells.
"Steve!?! Get your hands off him!" Eddie pulls Mr Harrington's hand out of Steve's hair before pulling Steve down the stairs.
"I'M SO FUCKING GLAD MY FAMILY DOESN'T HAVE AN UNSUPPORTIVE PSYCHO!" Eddie yells before slamming the door.
They get in the van. "I told you! I FUCKING TOLD YOU STEVE! He could have beat you to a fucking pulp!" Eddie yells. Steve stays quiet.
"That could have been so bad, do you understand that?!" Again no response. Eddie sighs. "Look I'm sorry I'm yelling at you. Are you alright?"
"Steve?! You need to answer me." Eddie says worried. He looks over at Steve who is slumped over in the chair staring out the window and playing with his thumbs. He notices tears starting to form in the shorter man's eyes.
"Shit, welp, detour I guess." Eddie says, taking a turn and parking in front of a house. Eddie gets out and walks to Steve's door, opening it.
"Why are we here?" Steve asks quietly. "Because you need to be around safe people in a safe place." Eddie replies. "Your house is safe, you're safe." Steve says slightly mumbling.
Eddie wraps Steve's arm around his shoulder and pulls him out of the van. "Yes but this was closer and I'm gonna need some help." Eddie says walking with Steve dragging his feet along.
Eddie knocks on the door before Mrs Wheeler opens the door. She's confused as she looks at Steve. "Uh, is Nancy or Mike home?" Eddie asks.
"Y-yes in here, what happened to him?" She asks directing the boys through her house.
"Um, he had a fight with his dad." Eddie says as they reach Nancy's door. "Did you get in this fight too?" She asks as Nancy walks up to them. Mrs Wheeler points to Eddie's bruised cheek. He nods.
"I'll get some ice." She says walking off. As Nancy turns to them confused. She leads Steve to her bed, where he just flops.
"Ok, what exactly happened here? A fight with your dad, Steve?" Nancy asks. Steve doesn't respond.
Eddie sighs. "He fought with his dad last night about something, I'm not 100% sure what. So we stayed at the hangout house. And then Steve suggested we tell his dad we're dating to piss off his father more, which by the way I was against that, for this very reason." Eddie says pointing at Steve.
"Dude? You purposely angered your father?" She turns to Steve, to which he groans.
"Let's just say his dad didn't like that. Even brought God into it. That's after he slapped me and yanked Steve around by his hair. Thankfully nothing too bad happened, except Steve becoming a zombie." Eddie explains.
"I'm not a zombie. I'm just upset he acted like that. Physically, I mean. He hit you." Steve says sitting up.
Mrs Wheeler hands Eddie the ice before leaving again. Eddie sits next to Steve before placing the ice against his stinging cheek, hissing at the pain. Steve looks at him worried.
"I'm fine. But it could have been way worse if I didn't drag you out of there." Eddie says.
"Wait! You said he might try to turn the town against us. You don't thi-" Steve gets cut off as the phone rings in the kitchen.
"Hello? A town meeting? This isn't about your so- ok I'll be there." Mrs Wheeler says before hanging up and walking back to the kids.
"Steve honey that was your dad. He doesn't sound happy. He doesn't know you're here right?" She asks, Steve shakes his head no. "Ok good, you're safe here with Nancy and your friend." She smiles before grabbing her keys as she walks out of the house.
"Oh no! We're dead. The town is gonna kill us because I stupidly acted on my emotions." Steve says laying down.
"No, stupid, the town is going to run us out because we're gay! But yes this is all your fault. I told you what would happen." Eddie says also laying down.
A few moments pass before Nancy speaks up. "So since went did you both know?" Silence. "That you like each other?" They both sit up to see Nancy leaning against a now-closed door.
"What?" Eddie asks. "What do you mean like each other?" Steve asks.
Nancy laughs. "God you two are blind. Ok, so when did you find out about the fact you are both not 100% straight?"
"That would be last night. You think we like each other?" Eddie says raising the ice off his face to look at her.
"Uh yeah, you two have been drooling over each other for weeks. Plus you pretended to be dating today. I bet you had to kiss to prove it to Mr Harrington." She says. Eddie and Steve both blush.
"I knew it. And you liked i-" Nancy was interrupted by banging on the door. "Stay here I'll check it out." She says walking out and closing the door behind her.
Eddie and Steve turn to each other before turning away blushing. Eddie places the ice back on his face just as the door burst open.
"You guys the whole town is looking for you. You need to hide." Dustin says quickly.
"We were hiding. In here, with the door closed, quietly. Then you burst in yelling." Eddie says as cars screech to a hault outside.
"Stay." Dustin says closing the door before running back outside.
Eddie and Steve hide under the bed. They hear yelling coming from outside.
"You are not gonna hurt our friends." They hear Robin yell. "Oh no Robin!" Steve whispers, he goes to leave but Eddie grabs him. "She'll be ok. They're after us not her." Eddie whispers back.
"Yeah, they're under my roof, my protection!" Mrs Wheeler yells.
"You will not hurt my nephew" Eddie's uncle yells.
"They're grown-ups. Let them be who they want to be." An unknown lady yells. They hear more people yelling in their defense. Eddie and Steve look at each other confused.
They get out from under the bed and look out the window. "Dude... That's like half the town... On our side." Eddie says amazed.
"That's my mum. Look she's yelling at my dad. He looks so scared." Steve says. They watch as people start slowly joining the side to protect the men hiding in a girl's room.
Till the last of the attacking side leave. With only Mr Harrington left, he huffs. "Fine whatever. I thought you wouldn't want faggots in our town. Bu-urgh" he get hit in the stomach with a rock that a kid threw. He walks away in pain, his wife running after him waving her finger at him.
Robin burst threw the door. "Come on boys. You're all safe now." They walk down the stairs and out the front door to see most of the crowd leaving. Those who were left were their friends' families.
Eddie's uncle nods as Dustin hugs them both. "So you're both gay?" He jokes. "Who knew?" Robin says sarcastically.
"Shut up!" Says Steve, who seems to be in a much better mood. "Yeah, well it's out now." says Eddie rapping his arm around Steve's shoulders, smiling.