Chapter Text
“Dustin just called…” Robin said casually from her seat in front of the computer.
“he wanted to know if we had ‘Return of the Living Dead’ in stock. He’s coming in with Eddie later to pick it up.” She put a slight emphasis on Eddie.
“That’s nice.” Steve said, trying to sound indifferent despite his heart jumping into his throat at the mere mention of Eddie’s name.
“You gonna say anything to him?” Robin asked curiously. He could hear the smile in her voice as she typed absently behind him.
Steve cleared his throat, uncomfortably. He dropped the slinky he’d been fiddling with on the counter and picked up a pencil. It slowly splintered under the forced pressure of his thumb.
“No.” Steve kept his body forward, not wanting to see Robin’s glare.
He wasn’t sure why he’d told her about these confusing feelings for Eddie that he’d been experiencing. She was his best friend, and she did trust him with so many of her own secrets. He just didn’t know what his feelings meant. Granted every time he talked to Eddie, or saw him, he had that warm tingly feeling that usually, for him, meant he liked someone. But maybe it wasn’t that kind of like? Maybe it was just a friendship like? Of course he didn’t think of his friends when he was in bed alone at night. And Eddie often times crept into his mind then. More often then he wanted to admit.
“Why not?” Robin whined.
Steve heard the wheels on her chair move back and closed his eyes waiting for her to pop down next to him and begin her fast passed onslaught of questions… again.
“I can’t believe you won’t try. Come on! We all deserve a little happiness right? With everything that’s happened? You and Eddie could be happy together.” She grinned wide.
“You don’t even know if he likes me like that.” Steve said under his breath, and tilted his head away.
“Oh Pleeaase! He flirts with you constantly!”
“He kinda flirts with everybody.” Steve rose his eyebrows.
“Not like he does with you…believe me.” Robin said.
He wanted to believe her. The idea that he’d be seeing Eddie soon was starting to make him jittery with nerves. It had been a week since the last time they’d spoken. Steve had picked up Dustin and Lucas from Eddie’s place after their last DnD session.
Eddie had come out just to say a quick, “Hey Harrington!”. Flashing his 1000 watt smile at him, making Steve think about his dimples for days.
Steve had been hoping to talk to him then, just something friendly that he hoped would ease the constant ‘Eddie’ thoughts. He planned to steal a moment away from the boys just to be alone with Eddie for a minute. But of course Dustin was on a sugar crazed rampage, immediately going over every encounter they had gotten into during the game.
“Have fun with that, Harrington.” Eddie grinned again, setting his dark chocolate brown eyes on him and winked, causing the blood to rush into every area Steve didn’t want it to.
After that, Steve gave the completely platonic, 'dude head nod', not trusting himself to even open his mouth, and took the boys home.
-
“I don’t even know what I’d say…” Steve said, as he made pencil lines on the counter and erased them. It was like the first time he asked out a girl all over again… only worse. He was lying to himself to think he didn’t have real feelings for Eddie, and Eddie was a friend, and part of the “friend circle”. If he asked him out and Eddie said ‘No’. He didn’t even want to think how awkward that would be.
“Don’t say anything, just… ask him out.” Robin nodded her head.
Steve finally looked at her, and nodded his head sarcastically.
“Sure, I’ll listen to you because you’re the authority on just… asking people out.” Steve squinted his eyes at her.
“Completely different situation here, we know Eddie likes guys.” Robin said like that solved all the problems.
“That doesn’t mean he likes me!” He looked around making sure there was no one within ear shot. “He’s all into metal music, and…and DnD and a bunch of other stuff I know nothing about.”
“So?” Robin made a face. “You think he wouldn’t want to tell you all about it? You think he wouldn’t get all excited about you showing an interest in his interests?” Robin rose her eyebrows. “Plus you do have other things in common.” Robin said lowering her voice further. “It might be nice to be with someone who knows your shit, someone you can be honest with. You have history.”
Steve looked down at the counter. He’d gotten closer to Eddie after they’d escaped the Upside Down. Steve had pulled Eddie out after he’d gotten nearly killed by bats, and the two of them had gotten close as the weeks past. Then Eddie had gotten better and became more independent. They were still friends but they had their own lives again, the video store opened back up, and Steve went back to work. Eddie started up the band again and DnD. They didn’t see each other as much and Steve couldn’t help the piece of him that was missing now that Eddie wasn’t always around. He missed him as a friend terribly, but it was more than that.
“Steve,” Robin sighed and her smiled faltered. “You’re my best friend, and I love you. But… I think if you do nothing about these feelings you have, you’ll regret it… more than, anything.”
Steve let out a deep sigh, finally breaking his pencil in half.
“So are you going to take your own advice and just, ask out Vickie?” Steve looked up at her.
“Maybe. After I see some of that, ‘Harrington Charm’ work on Eddie I’ll be… inspired.” Robin shook her hair dazzled, then grinned at him, before heading back to answer the ringing phone they’d been ignoring.
Steve smiled and shook his head turning back towards the glass doors. Was he really contemplating doing this? His pulse picked up every time someone walked by the front door. He caught himself longing to see dark curly hair, a leather jacket and ripped jeans. I can do this, I used to be good at this, I think?
Robin was on another call with a customer trying to give them directions, while Steve tried to calm himself from hyperventilating.
“Oh my God…” Robin mouthed to him when he turned back to stare at her. She rolled her eyes and pointed to the phone. “Grandpa’s lost…” she whispered. Then suddenly her eyes went wide.
“Actually by time you get here we’ll be closed bye!” Robin said quickly, and slammed the phone down before Steve could register what was happening.
The front door jingled and Steve’s heart stopped. Robin looked at him intensely. ‘King Steve’ she mouthed and nodded. He would have laughed if he wasn’t so terrified.
“Hey Eddie!” She said in an almost too cheery voice over Steve’s head. She hopped out behind the counter and skipped off, leaving him alone with Eddie.
“Buckley.” Eddie said. Steve could hear the confusion in his voice. Great make him weirded out already Rob.
Steve blinked hard, maybe there was still some ‘King Steve’ in him somewhere. He turned around taking in Eddie, who was now leaning over the counter on his elbows.
“Hey, Harrington.” Eddie said in his flirtatious manner, making Steve remind himself to breath. Ok, two can play at this game.
“Hey, Eddie.” Steve said warmly, bringing his arms up on the counter. His arm lightly touching Eddie’s. Their faces inches from each other as Steve brought his eyes down to Eddie’s lips and back up to his dark eyes. Eddie watched him with interest.
He half smiled turning his head slightly in Steve’s direction. “Haven’t seen you in awhile, Stevie.”
“You miss me?” Steve kept his eyes on Eddie’s, a small smirk played his lips. Stay cool, Stay cool
“Always.” Eddie said, without missing a beat. And Steve wondered what would happen if he closed the small gap between them and tasted Eddie’s lips right then and there. The thought surprised him, it wasn’t frightening. Quite the opposite actually.
“Maybe… we can do something about that.” Steve let his fingers run lightly down Eddie’s arm, until he grazed his thumb over the soft skin of Eddie’s hand.
Eddie looked down at Steve’s hand on his, and crooked an eyebrow. “What’d you have in mind?” He asked.
“I’d like to take you on a date.” Steve whispered, as the words left his mouth he practically saw them written in the air in front of his face, hanging there for anyone to see. The heat rose steadily up his chest into his face. Relax relax relax
Eddie’s eyes shot up, narrowing at Steve, “S…Seriously?”
“Yeah.” He gave what he hoped was a confident grin, trying to mask the nerves that threaten to make his hands shake. He took a chance and leaned a touch closer.
“Will you go on a date with me, Eds?”
“Funny joke.” Eddie said humorlessly, and straightened as he began backing away.
Fuck. Something had gone terribly wrong, maybe confident was the wrong way to go. Before Steve could stop himself he popped up from his chair and reached out, grabbing Eddie’s jacket to keep him from walking away. Maybe desperate was a better speed for Eddie, Steve would be happy to oblige.
“I’m not joking Eddie, I wouldn’t do that to you. I promise.” He said quickly. Ready to jump over the counter to stop him.
Eddie eyed him, “You… really want to go on a date, with me?” He asked incredulous.
Steve nodded. “Yes… please.” He couldn’t control the nervous grin that spread over his face. His suave demeanor completely dissipated at this point. Eddie’s face softened as he looked Steve up and down.
“Well. You did say please.” Eddie grinned, the dimples Steve loved on display.
Steve smiled wider, and let out an unintentional chuckle of relief.
“Movies? Friday?” He asked. Hoping Eddie couldn’t hear his heart pounding in his chest, it was certainly drumming in his own ears.
The glass door swung open and a booming voice made them both jump a foot in the air.
“What the hell Eddie? I’ve been waiting forever!” Dustin rose his hands and stared at Eddie with his mouth open.
“Jesus Christ, Henderson.” Eddie put his hands on his head, revealing scarred skin on his stomach, that Steve tried not to look at. “Chill, would you?”
“All you needed to do was grab the movie and come back. What does that take?! Like, 30 seconds?! Instead your in here flirting with Steve!” Dustin shook his head and stalked off towards the horror section.
“I…” Eddie started to say as Dustin walked off but he stopped himself. He turned to Steve,
“How did he know that?” Eddie asked, looking at Steve seriously causing them both to giggled. Gratefully relieving one of the many knots that currently resided in Steve’s stomach.
Dustin walked back up, setting the movie on the counter in front of Steve.
“10 seconds, Man.” He turned back to Eddie shrugging is shoulders and shaking his head.
“I’m terribly sorry Sir, how will you ever forgive me? How can I forgive myself?” Eddie held his hands to his heart, sarcastically pleading with Dustin.
Steve chuckled, enamored with Eddie’s over the top apology. He felt the heat rush into his face again.
Dustin shook his head at Eddie’s display, clearly seeing the sarcasm flow off him in waves. He turned back to Steve and tilted his head him questioningly. “Why is your face is all red Steve? Are you sick?”
“Yeah, maybe.” Steve laughed again, he wasn’t even upset at Dustin’s revealing question, he was too jittery and happy from his last conversation. “Go, enjoy your movie.” He threw the VHS tape in a bag and pushed it at Dustin.
Eddie put his hands on Dustin’s shoulders, leading him towards the door.
“We need to go over custody agreements, Harrington. You're not pulling your weight with this kid.” He joked, as he pushed Dustin out the door.
“We can go over it Friday. I’ll pick you up at 6:30?” Steve asked hopefully.
“Can’t wait.” Eddie smiled, keeping his eyes on Steve as he slowly backed out. Steve grinned watching Eddie go until he turned the corner, then allowed himself to let out a deep shaky breath.
Robin reappeared behind him not a moment later, wrapping her arms around his waist from behind, making him jump in surprise.
“I’m so proud of you!” She said excitedly shaking him a bit. “I’ve never seen the 'Harrington Charm’ work so well! Instant response! He must really like you.” Robin scrunched her face, comically.
“Ha ha.” Steve said sarcastically. He leaned his head back and breathed out a deep breath again. He did it, he had a date with Eddie. Holy shit I have a date with Eddie. He slowly sat back down into his chair.
“Steve…what’s going on? You look like your going to hurl in the return bin.” Robin bent her knees getting eye level with him.
“I don’t know how to do this Rob…what if I fuck it up?” Steve covered his mouth with his hands, shit he might actually throw up. This was completely uncharted territory, he’d never taken a guy out before. Was there some kind of etiquette? What if he did something wrong?
“Ok, you need to relax. It’s Eddie. You know him, you like him, you get each other, and you know each others shit. And…most importantly, he likes you.”
“We don’t know that.” Steve looked at Robin intensely.
“Oh, come on! I was spying from the new releases, I saw his face.” Robin grinned. “He looooves you.” She said making goo goo eyes at him.
“Shut up, Rob.” Steve put his face in his hands.
“Ugh, don’t think of it like a date.” She pulled his hands down. “Think of it as the two of you just hanging out. Just be… sweeter then normal, and, if you’re lucky, maybe a little smooch fest at the end.” She smiled wide. “Hold on, why am I giving ‘King Steve’ dating advice? You’ve gone like 100 dates.”
“It’s been a long time since I dated someone I actually…” Steve trailed off.
“Cared about?” Robin offered, tilting her head to the side.
Steve moaned and lowered his head to the counter top. Yeah. Cared too much.
“Can I be your best man?” Robin giggled.
“I hate you…” Steve groaned into the counter.