Archive of Our Own ^beta

“Hey, Munson?” 

Steve’s voice rips Eddie out of his reverie, and he tears his gaze away from his notebook. They’ve been quiet for a while- Eddie writing down lyrics, only breaking the silence with the occasional strum of his guitar as he tries out new melodies and Steve reading Eddie’s copy of The Fellowship of the Ring, the only sound coming from him being the occasional frustrated huff whenever a new character appears and he gets confused by so many names. 

(The sight of King Steve Harrington sitting on Eddie’s couch, reading a nerdy book that Eddie let him borrow as they hang out in perfect, comfortable silence has Eddie blinking a few times. If anyone were to ask him a year ago what seemed weirder- the Upside Down or this, Eddie would’ve undoubtedly picked this. Even if it has become a regular thing these past few weeks.)

He removes the pencil he was absently chewing on from his mouth and tucks it behind his ear. “Yes, my liege?” 

“Nerd,” Steve mutters fondly.

“You’re the one reading Lord of the Rings right now, Harrington. You’re the nerd.” 

Steve rolls his eyes, setting the book on the couch face down. Eddie tries not to grimace- the book is too worn down, held only by tape and prayers, and he’s worried Steve might end up ruining it for good by the time he finishes it. “It doesn’t count, I’m only reading it so I can understand what you mean when you talk about it.” 

“Aw, Stevie. That’s sweet of you,” Eddie teases, trying to play off the swoop that his stomach gives when Steve admits that he’s doing this for Eddie.

He delights in the way that Steve blushes a little, lifting the book again to hide his face from Eddie. “Whatever man, see if I invite you to the movies now.” 

“Oh?” Eddie perks up with interest. He puts the guitar aside and crawls on the floor towards the couch, then he props his elbows right next to where Steve’s lying down and rests his chin on his hands. “Do say more, Steve,” he says, batting his eyelashes.

Steve pretends to read for a second, but even with the book shoved against his nose, Eddie can see a little smile tugging at the corners of his mouth at withholding information from Eddie. He breaks easily though, putting the book down again and meeting Eddie’s eyes. “Fine, well, Robin and I are going to the city on Saturday, we’re going to hit the mall and then probably catch a movie. Maybe you’d like to come with us?” 

They’ve been hanging out frequently for a few weeks now, but Eddie still feels a pang of surprise every time Steve invites him somewhere or drops by unannounced, always tempted to ask “why?” not understanding why Steve would want to spend time with him. He also doesn’t understand why Steve sounds unsure- like Eddie could turn down an invitation as good as this one, like Eddie could possibly have any other plans better than this one.

Eddie opens his mouth to enthusiastically say yes to Steve’s invitation when he remembers that he does have plans this Saturday. 

“I can’t,” he says with a pout. Steve’s face twists with disappointment, and it only makes Eddie pout harder. “Don’t get me wrong, I would love to, Stevie, but I- uh- I have plans.” 

Steve frowns. “With your band? The kids?” 

Eddie shakes his head. “My uncle. Wayne and I are grabbing dinner at Enzo’s.” 

“You’re eating at Enzo’s?” Steve asks with a surprised tone. 

“What? Can’t trailer trash like us have a decent meal on a special occasion?” Eddie jokes.

“Hey, don’t call yourself that,” Steve says with a serious expression, squeezing Eddie’s arm where it rests on the couch next to Steve. His hand lingers there, thumb brushing over Eddie’s arm, making goosebumps raise on his skin. Then his finger jerks to a stop as he realizes something. “Wait, special occasion? What special occasion?” 

Eddie grimaces, not realizing that he let that slip. “Uh.” 

“Is it your uncle’s birthday?” Steve asks and Eddie considers for a fraction of a second just lying and saying yes, but before he can Steve’s eyes widen and he’s lifting himself up until he’s sitting on the couch instead of lying down. “Eddie, is it your birthday?” He asks, comically alarmed. 

“Ding, ding, ding!” Eddie says, trying to play it off as a joke, hoping that Steve won’t make a big deal out of it. “Er, yes it is.” 

“Eddie!” Steve says, alarmed. So much for not turning it into a big deal.

“Steve!” He mimics and gets a huff in return. 

“Why didn’t you tell me? Why didn’t you tell anyone?” Steve asks with a troubled frown. 

Eddie shrugs. “It’s not a big deal, Steve-”

But Steve clearly doesn’t think so. “It’s your birthday! We could’ve done something- we could’ve- we could’ve thrown you a party!”

Eddie cringes visibly. “I didn’t want the attention.” 

“Bullshit. I’ve seen you playing D&D and when you perform with your band. You love attention!” 

Eddie looks down and starts playing with one of his leather bracelets, tugging at it and flipping it around his wrist. “It’s different. If I’m performing or DM-ing, I’m actually putting on a show, you know? And I enjoy having people’s attention on me for my awesome music or my amazing storytelling skills. But having people congratulate me or- or give me gifts because I happened to be born on that particular day? Honestly man, I’d rather take another trip to the Upside Down,” he ends with a dry laugh. 

When he looks up at Steve, his bottom lip is jutting out in a pout. Eddie bites his own as his mind goes kiss him, kiss him, kiss him! and he must fight the impulse. 

“So you’re not doing anything? Other than dinner with your uncle?” 

“Nah.” 

Steve narrows his eyes at him. “And you’re okay with that? You’re not- I don’t know secretly hoping we throw you a surprise party?” 

Eddie makes a face. “No offense to your legendary King Harrington’s parties, but I really don’t want one thrown in my name.” 

Steve sighs. “Okay. If that’s what you want I guess I’m okay with it.”

“How magnanimous of you.”

“But-” Steve starts and Eddie drops his face against his palm. “Will you at least let me give you something?” 

Eddie opens one eye, staring at Steve through his fingers. “You want to get me a gift?” 

Steve nods earnestly and Eddie’s heart flutters with warmth. He’s not a fan of gifts- birthday gifts at least. He won’t even let Wayne give him anything other than dinner, but he’s got a soft spot for Steve (and a giant gay crush on the guy) so he says, “I guess I can allow that,” and watches Steve’s eyes light up at the prospect of getting Eddie anything. “Just don’t go too crazy and don’t tell anyone, especially the brats.” 

He can already picture them storming into the trailer on Saturday if they find out it’s his birthday and then Eddie would never get rid of them.

“Yeah, yeah, okay,” Steve accepts and while Eddie believes him, he doesn’t think Steve’s too happy about no one knowing it’s Eddie's birthday.

He tries to distract him. “Sorry I can’t go with you and Buckley to Indy,” Eddie says, poking Steve’s hip and making him squirm away in an adorable way. 

“Me too, I would’ve liked to see you on your birthday, you know?” 

Eddie ducks his head, hoping his hair hides his red cheeks from Steve. 

“Well, seeing your pretty face would be the best birthday present, Stevie, but alas we can’t have it all,” Eddie can't help but flirt. It’s a little addicting to watch Steve react to it- mouth dropping as he’s taken by surprise even if he should be used to it by now, a light blush appearing on his cheeks, a fond eye roll when he thinks Eddie’s just messing with him. If only he knew that Eddie isn’t.

“Shut up.” He waves off Eddie’s flirting, even if there’s a pleased little smile teasing at his mouth. 

“Oh, but it’s true!” Eddie tells him. He grabs Steve’s hand and holds it between both of his, shaking it dramatically. “If I was a dying man, I would wish for the honor of gazing at your face one more time to be bestowed upon me!” 

“Christ, you’re weird,” Steve says, shaking his hand free, but it’s said so fondly that Eddie’s stomach swoops a little. 

It’s probably a ploy to hide his pink cheeks from Eddie when Steve picks up the book and brings it close to his face again. This time, Eddie lets him get back to it, but instead of going back to his songwriting, he stands up and heads to the telephone. “You hungry, man?” Steve hums. “Want me to order pizza?” 

Steve peers at him over the couch. “Can you get-” 

“Pineapple? Fine but only on your half because- gross!” 

“It’s not gross, Eddie!” 

“Yes, it is, no matter what you and Jonathan’s weird friend say!” 

“One of these days I’ll get you to try it.”

“In your dreams, Harrington!” 

He grabs the phone from the wall, but doesn’t call the pizza place right away. He takes advantage of the small space and the fact that Steve has gone back to the book, nose buried in the pages, to look at him for a moment- at the scene in front of him. 

Eddie has come up with some insane stories in his life, but not even he could make this up- Steve Harrington offering to throw a birthday party for him, bummed that he’s not going to see Eddie on his birthday, excited to get Eddie a gift. Steve Harrington, happy to spend his time in Eddie’s shitty trailer- albeit nicer than the last one since it was paid by the government’s hush money. 

It’s ridiculous. And while Eddie might not believe in birthday wishes or care about birthdays at all, he can’t help but think he got one in advance this year when Steve became his friend. 

***

The shrill insistent ringing of the phone in the otherwise silent night wakes Eddie right up, probably because he wasn’t properly asleep yet. He’d stayed up late working on his next campaign and crashed only a little before midnight. Still, what little sleep he got, is enough to leave him sluggish, eyes barely open as he stumbles into the living room, towards the phone. 

He wonders who could possibly be calling this late and more importantly- why. His sleep addled brain suggests that something has to be wrong- something Upside Down related or something at the plant where his uncle works-

He walks a little faster but still clumsily, and he lets out a loud curse just as he picks up the phone when he accidentally hits his foot against the table. “Son of a bitch!” 

“Uh, hello?” 

Through the pain, Eddie immediately recognizes Steve’s voice on the phone. Instead of the happy feeling he gets whenever Steve calls, he freezes in fear. If Steve is calling him in the middle of the night something must’ve happened, something bad-

“Steve, what’s wrong? What happened?” 

“Nothing happened, man, it’s all good,” Steve reassures him and Eddie stares dumbfoundead at the darkness in front of him. 

“Then what the fuck, man? It’s the middle of the night!” It comes out harsher than Eddie would like, but pain is still radiating from his toe and being woken up left him cranky. 

It all goes away when Steve nervously says, “Shit, sorry I didn’t think-” trailing off, but sounding like he regrets calling him. 

Eddie feels bad. “No, shit. Sorry man, I just woke up and hit my fucking toe. Are you okay? Was it a nightmare?” 

It’s been a while since either of them has called the other over a nightmare. It used to happen more often right after the Upside Down, but Eddie knows nightmares can sneak up on you whenever. 

“No, I told you, Eds, nothing happened.” 

Eddie frowns. It’s not that he wishes Steve had a nightmare, he knows how shitty those are, but if he didn’t and nothing else happened then Eddie doesn’t understand why Steve would be calling him in the middle of the night- 

“God, you’re gonna think I’m lame,” Steve says, and this time he sounds like he regrets calling Eddie for a completely different reason.

He tries to get him to relax a little. “I’ve seen your cassette collection, Stevie, I already think you’re lame.”

“Fuck you,” Steve says, but Eddie can hear the smile in his voice. 

“So why are you calling, Steve?” 

“I just- I wanted to wish you a happy birthday. I- I wanted to be the first one to tell you.”

Eddie blinks, wondering for a moment if instead of smashing his toe against the table, he didn’t fall and hit his head and is now imagining this. 

“Eddie?” 

He realizes he hasn’t said anything. Steve probably thinks he fell asleep on the phone. Clearing his throat, he says, “you’re a dork,” cringing a little at just how adoring he sounds. 

“Hey!” Steve protests, but he has no leg to stand on, not when- Christ, not when he just called Eddie in the middle of the night to wish him a happy birthday. 

“You really woke up in the middle of the fucking night to say happy birthday to me?” 

Steve sounds shy when he speaks. “Well, I was talking to Robin and when she hung up it was like a quarter ‘till midnight so I figured I could wait to call you. No big deal.” Eddie wonders for a second what he and Buckley could’ve been talking about that couldn’t wait until tomorrow when they would be spending a whole day together, but that’s the least of his concerns right now. 

“It’s a big deal. You wanted to be the first one to say happy birthday. To little ol’ me.”  

“Well, yeah.” 

“Steve, buddy. No one knows, remember? My uncle is probably gonna be the only other person to wish me a happy birthday and he sleeps all day. You didn’t have to call me at midnight.” 

Steve misinterprets Eddie’s words and he goes back to apologizing for calling. “Oh, right. Shit, yeah maybe I shouldn’t have woken you up-” 

“Don’t think for a moment I’m not glad that you did,” Eddie says before Steve can finish talking. He doesn’t want him to feel bad for this. “Waking up to your voice is the best way to start my birthday.” He realizes how that sounds, but he’s feeling soft and mushy and completely unmetal because Steve called him in the middle of the night for this! 

He can deal with Eddie coming on a little too strong. 

And whatever. It helps Steve sound a little less hesitant the next time he speaks. “Good, I’m glad I called, but I should- I should let you go back to sleep.”

Honestly, sleep is the last thing in Eddie’s mind right now. He would rather keep talking to Steve, but it’s the middle of the night and Steve is supposed to drive himself and Robin to Indy tomorrow and the last thing Eddie wants is for him to fall asleep behind the wheel. 

“Okay. Have fun with Buckley tomorrow,” Eddie says, wishing again that he was going with them. 

“Have a good dinner with your uncle.”

“Thanks.”

“Tell him I said hi.” 

“Will do, Stevie,” Eddie says, and it feels a lot like he’s stalling, like he doesn’t want to hang up, but it’s probably all in Eddie’s head. “Thanks for calling,” he adds because, while Steve might not be, he’s definitely stalling.

“Even if I made you stub your toe and almost gave you a heart attack?” 

Eddie chuckles. “Already forgotten, sweetheart.” 

He thinks he hears a sharp intake of breath coming from the other side of the line, but it might just be Steve yawning, which reminds Eddie that they should hang up. “Goodnight, man.” 

“Yeah, goodnight, Eds. Happy birthday.”

“Thanks, Steve.” 

They both stay on the line for a few more seconds until Steve finally hangs up. Eddie stands there in the darkness for a moment. He’s glad his uncle isn’t there to see him because the way he’s smiling at nothing while thinking of Steve is utterly embarrassing. 

A few more minutes pass and he finally heads back to his room. The smile stays on his face until he falls back asleep. 

***

Dinner with Wayne goes well. 

They don't really acknowledge that it’s Eddie’s birthday until the very end, when his uncle orders two slices of pie like he does every year. 

And like every year, he asks Eddie if he has plans for later. 

“You know I never do anything on my birthday, Wayne,” Eddie says through a mouthful of pie. 

“I know, boy, but I thought this year might be different.” 

Eddie quirks an eyebrow at him. “Why?” 

“Well, you have more people around you for starters. Thought you might want to celebrate with them.” 

“Nah, it’s not a big deal,” Eddie shrugs. “And they’re probably busy anyway.” 

Wayne narrows his eyes at him. “Did you ask them?” When Eddie makes a non committal sound, Wayne shakes his head. He keeps his eyes fixed on Eddie when he says, “I’m sure that Harrington boy would spend it with you if you asked.”

Eddie chokes on the next bite of pie when his uncle casually drops Steve’s name. “Wh-what?” He squeaks in between coughing. 

Wayne’s expression is unreadable. “He already spends a whole lotta time with you. You don’t think he’ll want to celebrate your birthday with you?” 

Eddie resolutely doesn’t mention that Steve actually lamented the fact that he wouldn’t be able to do just that. It’s not important or a big deal, definitely not the way Wayne would make it seem. “I- He’s busy, he- he has plans. Other friends.” 

Wayne nods, but he doesn’t let it go. “Might have him over for dinner sometime then. It’s about time I meet this kid.” 

“You’ve met him!” Eddie says, voice high pitched and a little panicked because the way Wayne is talking about this- he’s never talked about meeting any of Eddie’s friends. And yeah, maybe Eddie didn’t have a lot of them before the Upside Down, but even now he’s not talking about meeting Buckley or any of the brats. Just Steve. Like Steve is different, like he’s-

“Haven’t met him properly,” his uncle says. “Gotta have a talk with him.” 

Eddie lets out a squeak. “You don’t, you really don’t. He’s my friend, Wayne.” He leans forward, even if they’re sitting far away enough from everyone else. “He’s not like me.”

“Are you sure?” 

“Jesus H. Christ!” Eddie exclaims, slumping back against his chair. 

“I just tell it like I see it, son, and what I see is a boy, a good boy who’s been glued to your side for months. I see how you’re with him, but I also see how he’s with you. And there ain’t much difference between the two.”

Eddie runs a hand through his hair, trying really hard not to think too much about what his uncle is saying. He’s been very careful to stomp down any spark of hope he’s felt since he started crushing on Steve, telling himself that Steve will never like him like that, that he’s straight, that he wants a girl, not Eddie. 

Not even if he has, in fact, been glued to Eddie’s side for months, or if the way he smiles when Eddie walks into Family Video brightens his whole face, or if he gladly lets Eddie touch him and flirt with him, and sometimes even flirts back a little. He’s been trying to protect his heart as much as he can, preparing for when Steve inevitably finds someone else, but it’s easier to do that when you think it’s just you noticing the little things. Hearing Wayne say it out loud makes a spark of hope ignite in Eddie’s chest and he furiously has to stomp it down. 

“We- went through a lot,” Eddie explains. Uncle Wayne knows this, even if he doesn’t know the details. Eddie never outright told him what happened, but he saw Eddie’s scars and he listened as the secret government doctors explained to him that Eddie was lucky to be alive. He never asked Eddie about what happened, just signed the NDA’s and accepted the government’s payment, but he knows Eddie went through things no one could explain and he knows Steve was right there with him. “He’s a good guy, he’s looking out for me, but he’s not- it’s not like that. It can’t be like that.” 

Wayne must sense that Eddie is close to freaking out with the way he has to push the words through gritted teeth, so he backs down. “If you say so, boy.”

After that, they each finish their pie in silence, but Eddie’s brain is anything but. Wayne’s words echoing in his mind. 

Are you sure?

Eddie thought he was- he thought there was no way in hell or heaven or the Upside Down that Steve could ever like him, but maybe. Maybe. 

Maybe surviving the Upside Down won’t be the only impossible thing to happen to Eddie this year. 

***

An hour after Uncle Wayne leaves for his shift, a car pulls up in front of their trailer.

Eddie hears it from his bedroom, but assumes that whoever the driver is, isn’t there for him. It’s late and he isn’t expecting anyone, after all. 

To his surprise though, a few minutes later, there’s a knock on the door of the trailer.

He hangs his guitar by the mirror and opens the door to none other than Steve, bouncing from one foot to the other, radiating nervous energy and with a bag thrown over his shoulder. 

“Eddie!” Steve jumps when the door opens and gives Eddie an anxious look that only confuses him further. 

“Um, hi Steve,” he says, narrowing his eyes at his friend. “Everything okay?” 

Steve huffs. “Why do you always assume something’s wrong, man?” 

Because it makes no sense for a pretty boy to call or visit me in the middle of night unless there’s something wrong, he wants to say. 

Instead, he says, “forgive me for being traumatized by past experiences, Harrington.”

Steve rolls his eyes. “Well, everything’s okay, I’m here to give you your gift, er- gifts.” 

“Gifts?” 

“Birthday gifts. Happy birthday, by the way.” 

Eddie huffs. “You already said that. This morning, remember?” 

“Well, yes, but now I’m saying it in person. Besides, I couldn’t give you this over the phone.” He swings the bag over his shoulder and it looks heavy. Eddie eyes it suspiciously. 

“When I said you could get me a gift, I thought you meant a few beers, man.”

Steve scrunches up his nose. “That’s a terrible gift, Eddie. Now are you gonna let me come in?” 

Eddie simply steps aside, letting Steve in and closing the door. He follows him to his bedroom, still feeling very confused. 

Once they make it there, Steve goes back to bouncing on his feet, nervously fiddling with the bag. Eddie sits on his bed and leans back on his palms, cocking his head to the side. 

“Whatcha got for me, Santa Claus?” 

Steve bites his lip while he gives Eddie’s body what his brain treacherously refers to as an appreciative look. But it can’t be. 

Steve quickly shakes his head and averts his eyes, but at least he relaxes a little. 

He digs into the bag and pulls something out. Three cassettes. He hands them to Eddie without meeting his eyes. 

“You got me tapes?” 

“Uh yeah, I had to ask the girl at the record store for help. I told her some albums you like and she suggested those. I don’t think you have them, but I could be wrong, all the covers look the fucking same to me-”

Eddie takes them in his hands, but keeps his eyes on Steve. “You know what tapes I have?” He asks, voice quiet, almost like he doesn’t actually intend to ask it out loud. 

“I- well, you ask me to put them on all the time so I’m familiar with them.” 

Eddie blinks repeatedly, and Steve nervously bites on his lip under the intensity of Eddie’s stare. He makes himself look away, look down at the tapes instead which- no, he doesn’t own. He’s seen them- at Gareth’s probably or the record store he frequents, but he doesn’t own them. And Steve knew that. 

“These look metal, man. Thanks.” 

“Yeah, you’re welcome. Um, I also got you- I kinda ruined yours so I thought I could give you a replacement,” he says and Eddie arches a confused eyebrow at him, not quite following what he’s saying, but then Steve reaches into the bag and pulls out a vest that looks a lot like the one Eddie gave to him in the Upside Down. Except this one can’t be second-hand like the one Eddie got, this one looks expensive. 

“Steve, that’s too much, I can’t-” 

“Dude, it’s your birthday and I told you I ruined the old one.” 

“That was hardly your fault, man, you were bleeding out.” 

Steve shrugs, holding the vest out for Eddie to take. “Look, Eds, I already bought it and I don’t know anyone else who can pull off a vest like you, so. Take it. Please.” 

A vest and a compliment about Eddie being the only one who could pull it off? Did Eddie step into an alternate dimension again without noticing?

He grabs the vest and decides to take a calculated risk, hoping alternate-dimension Steve won’t mind. “I don’t know, you looked sexy as hell in the one I gave you, if I remember correctly,” Eddie says, putting just a little more intent in the words than he usually does, as well as letting his eyes dart to Steve’s chest like he’s remembering how it looked completely bare except for Eddie’s vest. He lifts his eyes back to Steve’s face just in time to watch him gulp noticeably, his cheeks flaring bright red. It’s not odd for Steve to look flustered whenever Eddie pays him a compliment, but this- this is different. 

He lets Steve off the hook for now and gives himself some time to think by shoving the vest over his shoulders. It fits him perfectly and he looks up to thank Steve when he notices the way Steve’s looking at him. 

Not even his cynic self can’t deny that Steve is downright checking him out. 

Stomach fluttering violently, he leans back on the bed again and puts on a smirk. It’s probably a little shaky- he’s too nervous, thrown off kilter by Steve so openly looking at him and enjoying what he sees- but he thinks he pulls it off. “Like what you see, big boy?” He says and delights in the way Steve squeaks and averts his eyes.

He reaches for the bag, probably to give himself something to do, but whatever’s in there doesn’t interest Eddie as much as a flustered, nervous Steve does. A flustered and nervous Steve that’s apparently attracted to Eddie, holy shit. That much is obvious. He pushes himself from the bed and crowds against Steve until their chests are touching. 

“Eddie-” 

“You didn’t answer my question, Steve. Do you like how I look?” 

Steve gulps, eyes darting all over from Eddie’s face to his chest and back to his face again. “Yeah, I- I do but. I have another gift.” 

“It can wait-” 

“No, it can’t, I- let me give you this, please.” 

Eddie itches to tease Steve further, see how far he can take this. Whatever this Steve’s newfound attraction for him is. 

But Steve looks so earnest, and Eddie’s nothing but a pathetic gay man so he takes a step back and lets Steve pull out his last present. 

It’s a book and Eddie recognizes it just by the cover. Even if the cover of the copy he owns has long since faded and it’s no longer recognizable. 

“I- I know how much you like the book and I’m sorry but your copy- it’s pitiful, Eds. I was worried I was going to look at it the wrong way and it would fall apart. So- and I know you’ll probably still keep the other one cause it has to have like sentimental value at this point or whatever, but you should have a copy that you can take places with you without having to worry about the pages falling off, so I got this one for you.” 

Eddie takes this new copy of The Fellowship of the Ring in his hands and stares at Steve with incredulity. It’s such a thoughtful gift- one that tells Eddie so much. Because it’s not just that Steve thinks he looks good in a vest or that he pays attention to what music Eddie listens to- it’s clear that he went looking for this book, that he wanted to get this for Eddie because he knows how special the book is to him. Because he thinks Eddie is special enough to deserve it. To deserve a party for his birthday, to deserve someone calling him at midnight to wish him a good day, to deserve thoughtful gifts. To deserve Steve. 

“Holy fucking shit,” Eddie mutters. “Wayne was right.” 

Steve frowns. “About- the book?” He asks, a little lost. 

Eddie shakes his head a little frantically. “About you, about us. Cause there’s an ‘us’ isn’t there, sweetheart? Please, tell me I’m not wrong.” Steve reaches out, grabbing the lapels of Eddie’s vest in his hands. He looks nervous, but at the same time he looks determined. Sure. 

(Are you sure?)

“You’re not wrong, Eds.”

(Thank fucking god he wasn’t.)

“Fuck,” Eddie curses. He tosses the book on the bed where it lands with a thud, something he never could’ve done with his old copy. Then he cups Steve’s cheeks in his hands. Steve lets out a soft happy sigh at that and Eddie feels his breath against his face with how close they are. So close they could kiss. “Holy shit.” 

It’s not the first time he thinks about how easy it would be to kiss Steve. 

But it’s the first time he thinks he’s allowed. 

“You kiss your uncle with that mouth, Munson?” Steve jokes with a little smirk. The grin Eddie gives him in return is manic. 

“No, but I could kiss you, Harrington.” 

Steve’s breath noticeably catches and Eddie can see it clear as day- the desire in his eyes, the want. He knows Steve can see it in his eyes too. 

“Do it,” Steve says. “Eddie, kiss me.”

And there’s nothing Eddie can do except that.

He leans forward, closing the space between them, shutting his eyes moments before his lips press to Steve’s. 

Steve gasps and his hands tighten on the lapels of the vest as he pulls Eddie closer to him, kissing him back.

Eddie throws himself fully into the kiss, not entirely convinced that he isn’t imagining it but determined to make the most of it. He lowers his hands until they’re holding Steve’s waist and Steve’s move from the vest to Eddie’s shoulders, arms wrapping around them, pulling each other even closer and deepening the kiss. 

When they break apart, it’s only because they have to breathe- not that Eddie cares that much about breathing, not when it gets in the way of kissing Steve. 

Jesus H. Christ, he kissed Steve! 

And Steve- he looks like it. Like he was just thoroughly kissed and enjoyed every minute of it. His eyes are blown wide, his lips kiss-swollen and his cheeks flushed. And he can’t stop looking at Eddie’s own lips with a dazed expression like he can’t wait to do it again. 

Holy shit, I did that! Eddie thinks triumphantly, feeling a high stronger than anything he’s ever felt before just by being the reason why Steve looks like this. 

It wouldn’t matter if a portal to the Upside Down opened on his ceiling right now, this would still go down as the best birthday Eddie ever had just for that. 

“Happy birthday to me, holy shit,” Eddie says, breathing heavily. 

Steve chuckles, letting his forehead rest against Eddie’s. “Yeah, but that- that wasn’t a gift, you know? I mean- I didn’t just let you kiss me because it’s your birthday.” 

Eddie suspected as much, but that doesn’t mean he can’t play dumb. Sue him, he’d like to hear why Steve did it. “Hm why did you let me kiss you then?” 

Steve sees right through his faux innocence, but he plays along. “Well, because I’ve wanted you to do it for a while. Because I like you, Eddie.” 

And Eddie knows this, he would be stupid not to, after tonight, but hearing Steve say it leaves him just as breathless as their kiss did. 

“Christ, Steve, I like you. So fucking much,” Eddie says, and it feels so good to finally say it. It feels even better to see the way Steve beams at him. “I would’ve kissed you a long time ago if I’d known, but I thought-” 

Steve’s fingers play with Eddie’s guitar pick necklace. “I know. I didn’t work it out at first, but-” he leans close, so close, until their lips brush. Eddie wouldn’t need to do much to kiss him again- he wants to kiss him. But he wants to hear what Steve has to say more. “It so happens that I’m crazy about you, Munson.” 

Eddie’s breath leaves him in a rush at his words. “Steve-” He stops, unable to finish whatever he wanted to say with his heart threatening to beat right out of his chest. Steve must be able to feel it- his hand is resting right over it, still playing with the necklace. “God, Steve, I’m so- so goddamn crazy about you. Holy shit.”

Eddie knows he could try to be more romantic and not just repeat everything Steve says with a few more expletives thrown in. But that’s all he can do right now, and in the end it doesn’t matter because Steve’s leaning close and he’s smiling and he’s looking at him with warm and affectionate eyes. 

And Eddie can’t stop himself anymore. 

He moves in and presses their mouths back together again. Steve makes a small surprised sound that melts into a pleased one when Eddie angles his head just right, kissing him enthusiastically. 

When they break apart this time, Eddie takes a step back, but keeps his hands on Steve’s waist. He needs a little distance to clear his head or all he’s going to do is keep kissing Steve. 

“Wayne wants to have you over for dinner.” 

Steve blinks a few times, a little dazed from the kiss and the sudden change of subject. “He does?” Eddie nods. “Wait, you said he was right about me and us. Did he know?” 

Another nod. “I don't know how. I mean, it makes sense he knew about my feelings for you, but then he said- he said that you acted the same way with me as I did with you.” 

“Rob said the same thing. After- after I got over the whole guy thing, I was worried that you didn’t feel the same way, but she said that it was obvious. I just couldn’t see it.” 

Eddie scoffs. “So we’re blind idiots, is what you’re saying?” 

“Yeah,” Steve says, but he doesn’t seem to mind it at all. “I- I would love to come to dinner. Here or- or anywhere and meet your uncle properly. As your- um as your boyfriend?” 

Eddie sways a little on the spot, feeling light-headed at Steve calling himself his boyfriend. He notices the slight hint of hesitation and immediately shuts down whatever ounce of doubt Steve could possibly have. 

“God, Steve, yes holy fuck. Jesus H. Christ.”

“Okay then. Boyfriends it is,” Steve says, beaming at him. Eddie’s answering grin is probably too big and makes him look a little stupid, but he couldn’t possibly contain how happy he feels right now even if he tried. 

*** 

After that, Eddie moves them to the living space because he doesn’t think he can trust himself in bed with Steve right now. He wants to take it slow, but he’s only human and gay and horny, so it’s better to just hang out on the couch for now.

Not that it’s that much easier to resist Steve there- especially not with the way he sits practically on top of him, plastering his body against Eddie’s, leaving him with no choice but to wrap his arm around Steve’s shoulders. With his other hand, he holds his new copy of The Fellowship of the Ring as he reads it out loud. Steve admitted he liked the book, but he prefers to have Eddie read it to him. Eddie had to clear his throat a few times before starting because apparently Steve thought that his Dungeon Master voice was hot and that was enough to make his throat go dry. 

Meanwhile, Steve plays with the rings on Eddie’s hand- the one that rests on his chest. It’s a little distracting and he trips over a few words, but Eddie would rather go back to the Upside Down than ask Steve to stop touching him. 

They stay like that until midnight, Eddie reading and Steve listening aptly. When the digital clock next to the TV changes to 12:01am, Steve interrupts Eddie to point out that his birthday is officially over. 

“For the first time, I’m actually bummed about it,” Eddie says, kissing Steve’s hair. “You know if I had known my birthday would go like this, I wouldn’t have tried to keep it a secret.”

Steve turns his head to the side. “Does this mean I get to throw you a party next year?”

Eddie tries not to react too visibly at the easy way Steve implies that this- that they will be a sure thing even a year from now. “Who knew you were such a birthday enthusiast?” He jokes instead. 

“Yeah, well. I won’t apologize for being happy you were born, man.”

Eddie blinks, letting out a disbelieving huff of laughter. “Steve, sweetheart, don’t take this the wrong way but, coming from a very gay man, that’s the fucking gayest thing I’ve ever heard.”

In one quick movement, Steve turns around on the couch until he’s facing Eddie. His eyes dart down to his lips and they sparkle with interest. “Well, I think we already established I’m at least a little gay.”

Eddie flashes his dimples at him. “Thank fucking God for-” 

Steve catches the last word with his mouth, but Eddie can’t even complain that he cut him off mid-sentence. He’s too busy letting himself be straddled and then kissed by Steve. 

And technically, it’s not Eddie’s birthday anymore but as he circles Steve’s hips with his arms and enthusiastically kisses his boyfriend back, he can’t help but think that his birthday wishes are still coming true.