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July 9th, 1996.
Eddie is 30 and past the phase where he would be drinking tequila on a Tuesday afternoon. But this is an emergency. One that he inflicted on himself, but still.
Gareth insisted that it didn't make sense to pick someone up at the airport when you don't have a car, but Eddie doesn't want Steve to land alone in New York. They've been back in touch for such little time, he wants to be a good friend, he wants this to be the reunion of a lifetime. None of them planned on letting the friendship fade, but with one in New York and the other in San Francisco, it just kinda happened.
Eddie is still fucking nervous, though. Hence why his water bottle has Jose Cuervo in it.
And also why he's trying to buy breath mints ato disguise it from a machine that is not helping. And why he doesn't see the panel announcing that Steve's flight landed twenty minutes earlier.
“Fucking shit-” he slaps the machine and stares at the stuck pack of Mentos. He slaps it two times again before hearing a familiar laugh behind his back. Holy hell. He's gonna scream. The last time he saw Steve was in 1990, they traded letters and pictures here and there, but it's not the same. Eddie is holding his breath as he turns, they stare at each other for brief seconds before Steve smiles and opens his arms, inviting. It feels different and familiar trading a hug, patting backs like they're checking if the other is real. Steve looks slightly different too, with sharper features, a more polished version of his old hairstyle, wearing a button up shirt with short sleeves, black moccasins instead of sneakers. But his smile, his laugh and the way he hugs is the same.
“Damn, Eds! Your hair is longer!”
“And yours is shorter, big boy.”
“A little.” He smiles and then looks at the vending machine “What were you fighting against here?”
“God-damned number three, the bane of my existence.”
Steve fishes a bill from his pocket and orders the same. They watch as the machine pushes both orders and Steve laughs loud as Eddie curses the machine. Then they talk a little about their lives, banter. Eddie teases Steve for bringing a suitcase for a three day trip and receives a horrified look followed by “I'm not traveling with a backpack!”
There's a small shuttle trip to the Howard Beach subway station, then Eddie finds two seats front to front. Steve frowns.
“Dude. C'mere!” he points to the seat by his side “I always like better sitting side by side. Y'know, on dates and stuff.” Eddie tries hard not to squeak because, what the fuck? This is a subway ride, not a date. Ok, they used to have an unspoken reciprocated crush that never went anywhere back in their teen days. A big fat head over heels crush that was dismissed for the sake of moving to opposite sides of the country to pursue adulthood. Eddie thought it was past, but it is hard not to feel things with Steve acting like t's second nature.
They're still sitting on the subway when he asks if Eddie was drinking.
“I'm– Getting warmed up for tomorrow?”
“Don't look at me like I'm gonna roast you!”
“Not my fault you look so responsible now, Doc!” Eddie says, because they used to be at the same level – high school failures – now Steve is a doctor while Eddie writes jingles for a living. He feels embarrassed and defensive.
“Gimme that. Let's get smashed, take me to a bar.”
“What kind?”
“I’ll love any place with you.”
The night flies after they leave Steve's suitcase in Eddie's almost empty apartment and walk to a bar nearby. It's a tacky place, with outdated music and middle aged people. They drink and laugh and talk and it's perfect. Steve gets insanely happy when Eddie says he mentioned their friendship in a lyric he's writing, asks if he has it with him. Eddie does, in a little notebook inside his vest pocket. He feels uneasy but enamoured when Steve reads it right there. He can see Steve’s face light up as he reads the inside joke thrown in the verse.
They go back home half walking, half hugging, almost tripping and emanating a happiness Eddie didn't know he could still feel.
Of course the next day is also blessed by Saint Jose. Steve says he doesn't believe Eddie is going to Lollapalooza, Eddie answers with “I know! I can't believe Metallica is playing Lollapalooza.”
He watches indie bands Steve knows and loves and loves them too because his enthusiasm is contagious and he looks so beautiful singing and sweating and the sun makes his hazel eyes look even prettier and more magnetic.
It rains the whole night and Eddie feels Steve watching him go crazy for Metallica. They drink until the stars blur and their soaked clothes stop bothering them. Eddie's shoes and pants are a mess of mud because of the mosh pit, but he doesn't care, they're still singing when they get to the subway.
“Why did you tattoo a dog?” Steve points to one of Eddie's tattoos.
“It's a skull! Why does everyone think it looks like a dog?”
“Because it does.” He shrugs, “Next station is me.” Steve shouts. He's staying at Nancy's tonight, they're having their friend reunion tomorrow.
Eddie doesn't know if they'll see each other again before Steve leaves. What if they don't? What if there's another six years before they reunite again? It's desperating. Steve says a drunken goodbye and goes. Eddie thinks for a second before following him, alcohol giving him the courage he didn't have years before.
“Steve!” Eddie marches towards him. I'll always be there to catch you, he thinks. There's a lot to be said. And he can only hope it goes well as those two nights did. And God bless liquid courage.