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Eddie doesn’t apologize. It’s just not really what he does. He knows he can be an asshole, sometimes. But he kind of lives by doing his own thing and not really giving a fuck who or what he offends. He just is who he is. It’s not that he never admits if he was wrong. It’s just, he doesn’t really think learning warrants an apology either. It’s not like anyone ever apologized to him for all the assumptions they made about him. For writing him off as a loser failure before they ever got to know him. For assuming he’s an idiot because he can’t focus long enough at school to just fucking graduate. For chasing him through town and calling him a fucking murderer. No ‘Sorry we thought you mutilated a teenage girl, our bad,’ from the mob of people who wanted him dead.
I know what you’re thinking. Eddie, that’s a good reason to apologize when you’re wrong. You know how it feels to be on the other end of that. But honestly, fuck that. If he can get over it, everyone else can too. It’s been his motto for…well, forever. Unapologetically himself.
But goddamn Steve Harrington. He never feels worse than when he sees Steve’s face scrunch, his eyes going all kicked puppy when Eddie sends a snide remark his way, no matter how harmless the teasing was meant. Steve takes things personally. Everytime. Eddie can see the way he internalizes it immediately, taking it as truth. And he hates it. Wants nothing more than for Steve to smile. Wants him to know how amazing he is.
So he finds ‘I’m sorry’ slipping from his lips more and more. When his mouth is quicker than his brain. When he teases Steve for a particularly poloy polo and he looks down with a little pout on his lips, smoothing the fabric with his hand.
“I’m sorry, Stevie. You look nice.”
When Steve says he doesn’t really read, and Eddie lets out a rude snort, ugly attitude from before he really knew Steve seeping through, and he watches Steve’s face fall, just a little.
“ I’m sorry. That was– I could recommend something you might like.”
He even finds himself apologizing for shit he didn’t do. Like when Dustin and Mike are ragging on Steve for not understanding DnD, the one time they actually convince him to come and watch and he sees Steve sink further in his chair and go quiet.
“ I’m sorry I haven’t taught these heathens better manners, Harrington. Let me know if you have any questions.”
And when they get high one night and Steve is sitting next to him looking soft and spacey, and Eddie can’t help but lean in a brush a stray hair out of his face, bringing their faces closer and closer together until their lips press together and Eddie pulls back and takes in the shocked look on Steve’s face.
“Fuck– Steve, I’m sor–”
Steve cuts him off, crashing their lips back together as he pulls Eddie close with a handful of his shirt. “ Eddie. Stop apologizing.”