Chapter Text
Steve's been a librarian at Hawkins Elementary school for a while now. He never thought he would ever want to be back in a school but, ever since Dustin and the kids grew up, he missed having them around. He decided to find a way to fill the hole left in his heart; and since he didn't exactly have the patience for being a teacher, he settled with librarian.
He liked the job. He got to see kids every now and then without being overwhelmed, and got to help the kids pick out books to read and learn. A simple job and a simple life.
Eddie's been all over the world thanks to Corroded Coffin's many tours, but he's been meaning to slow down; and what better way than to return to what he knows, Hawkins. He decides to take a job offer for a music teaching position to stay connected to music while also taking a well needed break.
—
Steve's heard stories of the new hot music teacher, from Robin and other teachers, but he's yet to meet him personally.
As he’s putting away books that've been returned at the end of the day, he hears a knock on the glass door. He turns, and there he is. The new teacher everyone's been talking about.
“One moment,” Steve says as he walks to the door to open it. He's surprised to see who it is and wonders why he's here. The library.
“Sorry about that, didn't expect to have visitors after school hours.”
“That's alright,” Eddie smiles, “I just wanted to make a few copies before I left for the day. Robin said I could find one in the library.”
Robin was the art teacher, of course Eddie knew Robin. Being in the same art field and all.
“It's the closed door behind the counter.” Steve points to the door next to his office, not quite looking at Eddie.
“Thanks.” Steve watches Eddie as he walks behind the counter and enters the copy room. Then Steve just stands there, stunned and watching, not quite sure what to do with this beautiful man that has just crossed his path. He stares for a good few minutes before Eddie turns to look out the doorway and Steve immediately snaps back to reality and goes back to putting away books.
A few minutes later, Eddie leaves the copy room and turns to head out.
“Thanks man, I'll probably be back to make more copies if these kids keep losing their music,” Eddie says with a slight chuckle.
“Better get used to it, took forever for them to not lose their books they checked out.”
“Yeah,” Eddie laughs out, “see you around, Harrington.”
Steve watches as Eddie leaves the library. Harrington … Does he remember…
—
“I don't know Robin, it was just weird. The whole interaction.” Steve and Robin are hanging out in the library after school, getting ready for their weekly coffee hangout, which they have on Fridays, to share their funny stories of kids eating crayons or losing books or, on occasion, their love lives.
“It's not that weird, he just came to use the printer,” Robin says as she watches Steve putting away books.
“He called me Harington. He remembered me,” Steve said, astonished.
“It hasn't been that long, you're not that easy to forget, and what's the big deal with him remembering you?”
“The only interactions I've had with him are bad ones, and I don't want him to see me as the ‘King that beats up people like him’,” Steve sounded desperate.
“He probably doesn't see you like that, and even if he did, he definitely sees that you've grown,” Robin reassures him.
Steve's still worried, but he relaxes more as he and Robin talk about Eddie, that is until there's a knock on the glass door.
“Speak of the devil,” Robin says as she skips over to open the door.
“Hey Robin,” Eddie says with a smile. “Just came to use the printer again, the kids are going to learn a new song Monday.”
“Fun, what's it called? Maybe I’ll remember it from my days in band.”
Eddie and Robin talk about band stuff while Eddie makes his way to the copy machine. Steve just stands there, listening and not listening at the same time, staring off into space.
“Hey Stevie… you okay?” Robin asks with concern.
“What- yeah yeah, fine.”
“You sure…” Eddie adds.
“Yeah, just tired, long week.”
“Oh, yeah. Well, I should probably go anyway, I'm tired myself,” Eddie says as he walks to the door, “have a nice night guys.”
“You too, see ya,” Robin says over her shoulder while she turns to Steve.
“What was that?”
“What.”
“You just completely froze while Eddie was here.”
“I- what- no I didn't!”
“Oh my god. You have a crush on Eddie!” Robin gasps.
“What. No! You have no idea what you're talking about!” Steve blushes profusely.
“You have a crush! You have a crush!” Robin chants and giggles like a little girl.
“Shut up shut up shut up!” Steve playfully pushes Robin and they both end in a fit of laughter.
—
The coffee shop was nice, quiet, and the perfect ambiance for the conversation Steve and Robin were having.
“He's just so. Hot. And cool. And funny.”
“Mhm. So I've heard from you and many others,” Robin says with a sip from her tea.
“I cant stop thinking about him. I just wish I could see him outside of work. But I'm too afraid to talk to him. And what would we even talk about.” Steve rambles while Robin listens.
“You know you could just ask him to hang out right?”
“But-”
“No, no buts. You got this, you're Steve fucking Harington. And, I love you, but I'm sick of listening to you complain when you're not willing to do something about it.”
“You know what,” Steve says with enthusiasm, “you're right. Im going to ask Eddie out after work Monday.”
“There you go. Now, can I talk about my love life?” Robin pleads with a bit of exaggeration.
“Yeah yeah,” Steve says with a roll of his eyes.
—
The weekend is one of the longest Steve's had in a while, the anticipation eating at him and growing even stronger as he gets closer and closer to Monday.
Steve can't stop thinking about everything that could go wrong. What if he chickens out, what if he freezes up again and makes a fool of himself. What if he waits too long and Eddie's already left by the time he gets the courage. What if Eddie doesn't even show up to work. What if-
He could go on forever.
But no matter how long it seems, Monday comes and Steve has to wait till the school day is over. The day is slow with barely any kids coming into the library so he's able to get everything in order so he can leave earlier to make sure he doesn’t miss Eddie on his way. And finally, the time has come and he's hyped himself up.
When he gets to the band room the doors open and Eddie's nowhere to be found. Steve's worried he's missed him but still he knocks on the door and then out pops Eddie from his office.
“Steve, what a nice surprise,” Eddie says with a big smile on his face. Steve's heart skips a beat at the genuine happiness on Eddie's face.
“Yeah, hi.”
“What brings you here to my humble band room? I don't think I have a copy machine that you can use,” Eddie's says with a chuckle and a grin.
“Haha no I um, came to ask… if you… possibly… uh…”
“Yes?”
“Would you like to get coffee with me? Like. Today possibly?” Steve blurts out with embarrassment.
“Oh, Um. Sure. Just let me grab my stuff.” Eddie turns back into his office and gathered his stuff while Steve stands there, red faced and trying to catch his breath, not aware that he'd been holding it.
“Let me make sure the instrument storage is all clean and then we can go.”
“Okay.” Steve says while he watches Eddie walk across the room to a big storage closet that has a bunch of shelves with instruments lined against the walls. Eddie comes back out with a few pieces of trash and throws them into the bin.
“All set now Harrington,” Eddie says as he turns to face Steve.
“Okay. It's not too far if you're okay with walking, or not, you're call.”
“Walkings good. I like walking,” Eddie says with a smile. God does Steve love that smile, all his teeth on show. And his dimples. Steve could stare at him all day.
“Alright, follow me.”
—
As they walk to the coffee shop they try to make small talk. At first it's a bit awkward but soon they get on to a topic that they can both relate to and it's smooth sailing from there.
When they get to the coffee shop they sit at a table by a window in the corner of the shop. They both order coffee with Eddie getting a plain croissant with butter and Steve gets a strawberry pastry.
“I wouldn't see you as a strawberry person.”
“Really? What do you see me as?”
“I don't know, blueberry maybe?”
Steve chuckles, “Blueberry huh, I guess blueberries nice. I see you more as a chocolate than a plain.”
“Chocolates good too, but I have to be in the mood for a chocolate pastry.”
They talk more, and laugh more, and the daylight flies by.
“Why do you always call me Harington?”
“Oh. I don't know. I just do? I guess that's just what I'm used to.”
“Interesting,” Steve says with a small smile.
“How is that interesting?”
“I dunno, just is.”
“Would you rather me call you King Steve? Or perhaps you're majesty,” Eddie says with a grin.
“Please no,” Steve laughs out.
“How about sweetheart?” Eddie says in a low voice and Steve's face turns red all the way to his ears. Eddie just sits there smiling and Steve tries to laugh it off as he looks out the window and sees how the sun has already gone down.
“Oh wow. Dark already,” Steve says with genuine surprise.
“Shall I walk you home?” Eddie says, following Steve's gaze.
“Um, sure. If you want” Steve says, still a bit pink with blush.
“Okay then.”
Steve gets the bill, which he insits on since he invited Eddie, and then they both walk out the coffee shop towards Steve's house.
“So. Do you like, remember me from school?” Steve asks a bit carefully, afraid of what Eddie might remember.
“Yeah kinda. You're kinda hard to forget.” Steve blushes at this a bit.
“Hey, I want to say sorry if I ever did anything mean to you. I promise I've grown as a person.”
“Oh yeah no totally. I can see that.”
“Okay. Good. I was worried you still thought I was a dick or something.”
“No of course not.” Eddie said defensively turning to Steve, “Is that why you asked to get coffee with me?”
“Kinda. I did want to make sure we were on good terms, but also I just wanted to hangout with you.”
“Really.”
“Mhm.”
“Well I'm flattered.”
Steve playfully pushes at eddie and they continue talking and walking till they get to Steve's house.
“Thanks for walking me home. You didn't have to do that,” Steve chuckles.
“I know, but, I wanted to,” Eddie smiles.
“Goodnight sweetheart.”
Steve's face burns red, “G- Goodnight.”
Eddie smirks and turns away leaving Steve staring out the open door till he breaks free of the trance he was under and shuts the door. Eddie fucking Munson.