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Steve hummed as he decorated the little glass orb. Eddie told him that he and Wayne make a new ornament every year but that they agreed Steve could make it this time, to celebrate their first Christmas together. Steve added his final few dashes of glitter before he looked over at his boyfriend...only to find him tangled in the tree lights.
“You good there?” He asked with a chuckle. Eddie glared at him before joining in.
“Usually Wayne does this part. But, I thought I could get it done before he gets home.” Steve smiled. Wayne still lived in Hawkins, but he was visiting a lady friend in Chicago this weekend.
“Let me get you out.” The two spent the next hour untangling Eddie and attempting to untangle the lights, only for them to still be in a twisted bundle when Wayne entered.
“Boys.” He nodded his head as he shook of his boots. He glanced at the pile of lights on the floor. “Eddie…” he said threateningly.
“I didn’t break any this time! I think…” Eddie trailed off, properly shame faced.
“He does this every year.” Wayne informed Steve. He took a seat in his recliner and held his hand out. Eddie dutifully put the string into Wayne’s hands and within a few minutes they were completely untangled and flat.
“Thanks.” Eddie said sheepishly before he started to wind them around the tree.
“I think he does it because he wants to see me give up.” Wayne stage whispered to Steve, who snorted.
“Will you?” Steve asked.
“Eddie’s been a challenge all his life. I aint givin’ up on him yet.” Wayne said fondly. He sobered before he looked at Steve, concern written all over his face. “You gonna be okay when he goes on tour?”
Eddie just told him about it today. The band toured over December every year, it was a tradition that he wasn’t going to break, but he always made it home for Christmas. Wayne said one time he bought a horse and rode it through the snow. He wouldn’t put it past Eddie to be honest.
“Yeah, I mean. I don’t love it. But we’ve been apart for longer than a month right? It can’t be so bad.” Steve said though the look in Wayne’s eyes told him he didn’t fool anyone. In truth, Eddie stayed in Hawkins after that benefit concert for a while. The whole band did, helping out their families for a while. But everyone was back in California for the past two months. Except Eddie, who stayed, for Steve.
Wayne was ready to move to LA with him, but Steve needed to wait a few more months. He lost his only guy friend in Tommy and though he wanted throw his whole life into Eddie’s, it wasn’t a good idea. Robin encouraged him to wait, let himself date Eddie without relying on him in any way, to make sure the relationship was real, and Eddie agreed.
So, now, he was going to get his degree in business to help Robin run her foreign language book store. He had all the necessary paperwork, including an acceptance letter, to get into UCLA. He was ready.
But, this tour would be the final test. They haven’t been apart for more than a few days since they started dating, and he could barely handle that. If he couldn’t get through this month, how was he going to survive a year long tour?
“Stevie! Put your ornament on!” Eddie shouted, ripping Steve out of his mood. He stood and placed his glass bulb with “Stevie’s first Christmas” and the year written on it, onto a middle branch. “Nice!” Eddie said as he kissed him.
Steve sighed. He’d miss him like a limb, but he knew what they had was worth waiting for.