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It had seemed like such a good idea. A road trip to visit Robin on campus, a few days away from the boring day-to-day grind that had become the everyday norm back in Hawkins.
Steve had to admit, it had been one of Eddie's better ideas right until it wasn’t anymore.
He had been feeling on top of the world as the three of them had danced around Robin's dorm room earlier. Finally he felt like he had regrown a missing limb, part of him had been drowning and had come up for air for the first time in forever.
Bottoms up, was very much the stuff of Robin's wildest dreams.
They had barely made it through the door when Robin had been pulled away by one of her classmates, leaving Eddie and Steve to work out where the bar was and try to negotiate their way through the throng of sweaty dancing bodies that swayed under the disco lights.
Of course they had descended on the one weekend Robin was caught up doing things with her pride group, not that Steve minded, but he had kind of hoped that they could have spent the weekend doing things together, not sharing their well-earned quality time with strangers.
As it stood he had spent most of his time with Eddie, something he could have done without driving across state. He had spent last night asleep next to Eddie on the mattress in the back of the van. Trying his hardest to not question the suspicious stains on both the mattress and the sleeping bag that Eddie had hastily thrown over them both to stave off the cold.
Steve couldn’t say he minded that much when he woke up with a mouth full of Eddie’s untamable mane and his body starfished on top of him.
He told himself it was because he was missing Robin, and Eddie wasn’t a replacement, just a place for that desperate need for closeness he craved to find refuge. He doubted anyone would believe him though.
Sure they could have forked out for a motel, but Eddie had pleaded his case, saying it would be like camping… and hadn't Steve promised him he would take him camping?
Steve had a feeling that it was more to avoid the strange looks that the two of them had to endure whenever they tried to book a room.
Eddie always used the excuse that Seve looked like he was turning tricks when you stood him next to a fucked up mess like himself.
Steve hated it when Eddie talked about himself like that, especially when right now most of the eyes that were looking their way were very much not looking at Steve.
Two drinks down and on to the third and Steve was regretting the way the night had turned.
A dark cloud had descended over him, and he couldn’t put his finger on why?
Sure he had Robin back at his side, he should be happy, but right now all he could think about was Eddie. Eddie who had finally caved when the seventh incredibly handsome guy of the night had asked him to dance.
Despite appearances, Eddie could dance when he wanted, drunk or stoned and bopping around Steve’s front room to many cheesy or heavy rock songs. Swaying Steve in his arms like he was some damsel that Eddie was destined to sweep off her feet.
Now in the strobing lights and under the disco ball, here in a gay club miles away from anyone who knew them, Eddie seemed to have found a shining knight to sweep off his feet instead.
Steve’s drink soured in his mouth, as his thoughts record scratched to a clattering halt.
He should be the one that Eddie was wooing, he should be the one that Eddie was dancing with all eyes on them.
He would call himself stupid, but Eddie had told him he wasn’t allowed to do that anymore, not on his watch.
How had he not realised that he was in love with Eddie before now?
Robin grinned as Steve pushed his drink into her hand, “Oh! Is it time?” Robin asked, “Did you finally?” she nodded towards Eddie, “I was starting to think I was going to have to spell it out to you” she pushed him on his way “Go get em tiger.”
Eddie caught his eye as he joined the dancefloor, his eyebrow raising in a question as he looked over his Knights shoulder. He must have read something in Steve’s expression because he dropped his hands from the dashing man’s waist and excused himself to make his way to Steve. Ignoring the fallen noblemans irritated calls as he tried to follow him.
“Something wrong?” Eddie asked leaning in to make himself heard over the pounding sound of the speakers.
Like a magnet Steve’s hand’s moved to Eddie’s waist, a possessiveness he hadn’t realised he had until he saw an active threat making him stake his claim.
“Not anymore.” he let his lips ghost across Eddie’s ear as he lent in to speak. He felt Eddie shiver under his touch, face turning to look at him properly.
“Yeah why’s that?”
“Saved something stupidly important that I love from falling through my fingers like a dumbass.” Steve said, sweeping one hand up Eddie’s side and twisting it into his hair. Eddie’s eyes sparkled but not as much as his smile.
“No calling yourself a dumbass either, unless that someone you love isn’t me then you can just go ahead and-” Steve didn’t give him a chance to finish. He had his own prince sweep off his feet, starting with a kiss, and hopefully an upgrade from the back of the van to a hotel on the way back to Hawkins.