Work Text:
It was the Fourth of July again. Granted, the day didn't hold any good memories for Steve after Startcourt, but when Eddie asked to take him to the fair, he still agreed.
Because the Upside Down had been dismantled alongside Henry’s death back in 1986, and Steve had decided that 1987 would be their year.
What was better than to start making good memories together? Even if they were full of nosy teenagers and a platonic soulmate who wouldn't leave Steve alone once they learned about his huge crush on their local metalhead.
It didn't matter that Steve was being careful to not ruin his friendship with Eddie, because everyone—including Nancy and Jonathan, shockingly enough—all advised him to make his moves on Eddie as soon as possible.
But Steve had been burned too many times to not learn his lessons. That he always scared off his partners every time he got too ahead of himself.
No one would ask for a ring after only a week, and frankly, no one sane would want a house and six kids after just one month of dating him.
And since Steve was determined to not repeat his mistake, he tried to give Eddie time to get used to his… clinginess.
So far, Eddie didn't seem to mind Steve spending nearly every day hanging out with him. If anything, he always looked delighted around Steve.
That should mean something, right?
“Which ones d’ya like, Stevie?”
Startled from his daydream, he turned to stare blankly at Eddie and then the gallery gun in Eddie's hands.
“What?”
“Look at those little buddies over there,” Eddie gestured at the stuffed animals displayed behind the shooting targets board. “Why don't you take your pick, sweetheart?”
Steve gaped. This was his first time being asked that kind of question. The very move he usually brandished to make girls swoon, but never expected the day when it’d be used on him.
“Uhm,” he fumbled a bit before pointing at a white bunny in the center, “that one.”
“Cute,” Eddie chuckled.
Steve blushed, unsure which ones Eddie was referring to—him or the stuffed bunny.
Before he could become a stuttering tomato, Eddie cocked the gun and winked at him.
“Watch me, ‘kay?”
Steve nodded and did his best as Eddie's personal cheerleader.
No one remembered how many attempts it took for Eddie to get the prize. But holding Sir Fluffy—“a holy knight,” declared Eddie—in his chest, Steve was moonstruck.
Several years later, after Sir Fluffy was delegated to protect their daughter from nightmares, Steve got himself a new knight in dinosaur pj's.
(“But I’m a dragon,” Eddie protested.
Steve, already halfway into dreamland, just snuggled up in his husband’s arms and mumbled, “G’night, Sir Edwyn the Dragon.”
Letting out an amused huff, Eddie pressed a fond kiss on his forehead, “Sweet dreams, my treasure.”
Somehow, Steve had ended up seeing a unicorn that night.)