Chapter Text
Steve had always felt a vague bubbly feeling whenever he saw a guy with a cute nose and messy hair, starting with Tommy H. in the seventh grade. He never tried to analyze it, especially when his friends were always pairing him up with the next girl. But in the Upside Down, talking to this doe-eyed guy he had never noticed before, he felt it tickle his cheeks when Eddie leaned in to admit his jealousy for him. Eddie began rambling on about a totally inaccurate point involving Nancy, since they were never getting back together after she cheated on him - Jonathan had told him what had happened that night at Murrey’s. Steve was tired of being coupled up and all he could focus on was Eddie’s lips, letting the bubbly feeling rise as he took note of Eddie’s messy, soaked, and a little frazzled state. No matter what Eddie said and what Steve had previously thought, Eddie’s the one who turned out to be a really good guy. He had been scared shitless in the lake, but he jumped in to rescue Steve regardless.
During the next few days, the feeling brushed through Steve’s body whenever Eddie leaned in close. And when Eddie called him “big boy”? That practically felt like a spring breeze to his heart, which was frozen from all of the romantic rejection he had been feeling lately. The feeling was so sudden and confusingly filled him with warmth and giddiness, since this was Eddie Munson: The Hyper King of Nerds, but it reminded him of how Robin said she felt when she talked to Vickie. How her brain kind of stopped and she couldn’t think of what to say or do but she blushed so hard and her heart beat so fast. That’s when it finally occurred to Steve, as he was cruising along the highway in the stolen camper. The warmth had been so familiar because he had once felt it around Nancy, then Robin. So he was… crushing on Eddie Munson? But he was such a nerd! And he always rambled on about fantasy shit that Steve didn’t understand! And he wasn’t even cute!– Well. Maybe his playful smile was kind of pretty. And his big brown eyes were kind of endearing, and on second thought, he had liked Robin’s crazy nerdiness when he initially fell for her. And his little springy walk was charming, and he probably had the most charismatic personality in all of Hawkins. Okay, yeah. Maybe he did have a thing for Eddie, as crazy as that was.
Then he remembered his father, calling him a queer whenever his polo was tucked in or his hair was a little messy even though he liked it that way. His father was going to hate the fact that Steve liked men, and that made Steve smile a little as the camper rumbled down the forest road. Some time later, while he and Robin were making their molotov cocktails on the grassy field, Steve glanced at an adorably hyper Eddie tackling Dustin. Based on the fact that his feelings for Nancy and Robin were unrequited, Eddie would probably never like him back, even if he liked men too. Since the odds of them getting together were as deep as they were going to dig Vecna’s grave, Steve took a deep breath in, and accepted that he would just have to distance himself from his feelings and Eddie until they died off.
Unfortunately for him, distance from Eddie was the last thing he would be getting.
—
The hospital was overcrowded after the "earthquake,” so Steve happened to be situated in the same room as Eddie while they recovered. During the three days Eddie was unconscious, Steve spent his time worryingly peeking behind the curtain that separated his bed from Eddie’s to see if he had woken up yet. His other thrilling main activity to pass the time was to wonder about Robin and Dustin, who were busy figuring things out with their families. They kept him updated on their radios that they unanimously decided everyone in the Upside-Down gang should have in order to be as prepared as possible if Vecna somehow got “resurrected like the undead devil he is,” or whatever Dustin said. But it was usually deafeningly quiet during those three days, since his parents were off in New York or Canada, checking out some elite club. Not that he minded, though; they’d been pulling the same shit since he was twelve years old, when he was “ready to be on his own,” as his dad said with a pat on the shoulder and one hundred bucks for Steve to bike into town to buy himself groceries during their month-long trips. The lack of parental support hadn’t bothered him in years.
What bothered him was the nightmares, newly refreshed by Vecna’s final attack, even though Steve was finally getting over the last ones. They left him gasping in a sweaty stupor to sit awake for the rest of the night, hearing the periodic beeping of Eddie’s ventilation machine just a few feet away. The third night was no different. Steve heard Dustin's calls for him as they were heading back to the gate. Eddie was awake, which should have told Steve that it was just a nightmare, but Eddie was coughing and crying and Steve couldn't move. Dustin was holding Eddie, as if a tight grip could keep the blood from pouring out. Eddie’s eyes glazed over as his body went limp and Dustin began inconsolably weeping. He felt a hand on his shoulder, turning to see Dustin with pleading, watery eyes and a bloody torso, shredded by tiny claws. His father’s voice came out of Dustin's mouth, growling about what a pathetic waste of life Steve was. Robin and Nancy had called from the other direction, but Steve still couldn't move as he watched their bodies lift into the air and snap into pieces. The panic and dread caused Steve's eyes to crack open to the dark hospital ceiling as he blinked away the wetness in his eyes. The stale hospital air in his lungs was practically an Amber and Vanilla Blossom-scented candle (his favorite) because it told him that it was all over. After a moment of calming down, he noticed that there were people behind Eddie’s curtain, talking in low voices, asking questions. What caught his attention was the barely audible raspy voice that answered. He desperately peeked behind the curtain to see Eddie, finally conscious. After a while, Steve heard some government official give Eddie the coverup story he had to adhere to, which they had given Steve the day before.
After waiting for everyone to leave, Steve immediately swept open the curtain.
“Psst! Hey, Eddie,”
But the finally conscious metalhead was already asleep again.
—
Eddie woke up again the next morning at eleven A.M., when an officer came in to uncuff him from the bed. Steve saw him give Eddie a surly frown from behind the half-open curtain, as if he was still not convinced of Eddie’s innocence. As soon as the officer left, Steve leaned around the curtain with a little smile and a wave. He just needed to ignore his stupid unrequited crush until it faded away. He could do this.
“Hey, Eddie,”
“Jesus!” Eddie startled, and as exhausted as he looked, Steve was just glad to see him awake after two days of glancing at his unnervingly motionless face. “Steve? What are you doing here?”
“When we brought you in, they made me stay,” Steve leaned against Eddie’s bed. ”Apparently a ripped up waist isn’t just metal, it’s a medical issue.”
“Unbelieveable,” Eddie smiled. “I thought Steve Harrington could handle anything.”
“Turns out, not really. I immediately passed out when we pulled into the parking lot. Anyway, how are you feeling?”
“Woof, that’s rough. I’m alright. It kind of hurts to breathe, but the handcuff marks are weirdly the biggest issue. But I’m not complaining, since they usually don’t take those off until after I’ve served my time.”
“You’ve been arrested before?” He amusedly asked, crossing his arms.
“Well, I had to put all my good ol’ dad’s teachings to use at some point,” Eddie put his hands up in defense and Steve smiled a little, admitting to himself that he missed him. Eddie’s hands fell back onto the thin gray blanket. “How is everybody?”
“They’re good,” Steve nodded. “Robin dropped by yesterday. Turns out that girl I told you about? The superpowered one? Well, she got her powers back and the whole gang is back in town. Oh, there’s this kid you’re going to have to meet eventually; his name’s Will. He likes D&D, too.”
“Can’t wait to corrupt him, too,” Eddie grinned. “I can’t believe you’re willing to entrust someone in my care.”
“Hey, don’t assume. I've played a campaign in my time…” Steve stopped talking when he saw Eddie’s wide eyes staring straight at him.
“The Steve Harrington has played D&D? Are we still in the alternate universe?”
“Haha, very funny.” Steve said sarcastically. “Will was excited, and all the other shitheads were busy, and Robin and I happened to be off work that Saturday. It wasn’t that bad, actually.”
“Wow. It’s like I don’t even know you,” Eddie put his hand to his chest in pretend shock. “What’s next? Is your biggest dream to raise six children driving down to California?”
“What–” He blushed, rubbing his neck as he quickly looked down. Maybe that wasn’t such a private conversation after all. “Well… It might be, but the position of my co-driver is still open.”
“Well, you’re in luck, because I know just the long-haired beauty that can apply,”
The fact that Eddie was still focusing on Nancy bothered Steve. Maybe he could tease him a little, since they were never getting together. Eddie didn’t have to know he was serious, right? “You’re right, you’d be the perfect candidate,”
Eddie puffed out a laugh, speechless. After a second, he leaned back and replied smugly. “Maybe I’ll consider it if it means I get to torture you with my music.”
“I wouldn’t expect anything less,” He paused, smiling. “I uh… I’m glad to see you awake, finally. I was kind of worried for a second there.”
“Awww, was King Steve worried about little ol’ me?” He broke out into a grin, pulling his hands to his heart. “Did my antics finally break through your walls?”
Steve paused, thinking, He’s been awake for like five minutes and he’s already being fake flirty? This is going to be harder than I thought. Steve shrugged defensively. “I dunno, it was quiet without you.”
Eddie tilted his head down in clear excitement and looked up at Steve with his stupid (not adorable at all) grin. “Thanks, big boy, I missed you too,”
The shock of those words made Steve pause. Big boy. He let his eyes rest on Eddie’s charming brown eyes under his frizzy bangs for a little too long, aware that he probably had pink cheeks. He finally broke out of his stunned state, saying “Whatever, man,” failing to wipe a huge grin off his face. The thought of getting out of Eddie’s proximity before he melted in a puddle crossed his mind for a moment, but Eddie just had this effect on him, made him feel electric or something. He could ignore his feelings… right?
—
The fourth day was spent catching Eddie up on the events of the other adventures with Hopper, Joyce, Jonathan and El. That night, Steve woke up from yet another nightmare. The fact that Eddie was going to be fine didn’t save him from the other three Vecna attacks. The dark of the ceiling grounded him, and he took a deep breath, feeling the sting of his wounds. After a moment of getting used to the silence, he heard a scream he had been the most scared of hearing since he met Eddie. He shot up as fast he could and whipped open the curtain, only to see Eddie’s eyes still closed, gripping the sheets in a cold sweat.
Steve gripped his shoulders and shook him. “Eddie! Hey, Eddie! Wake up!”
Eddie gasped awake, lashes sticking together, breathing heavily in fear. “Steve? I– Chrissy was– We were just–!”
“Hey, it’s okay,” Steve stroked Eddie’s shoulders. “Take deep breaths. We’re fine.”
Steve breathed in slowly, and Eddie followed suit. They breathed out, and in, until Eddie’s voice was less shaky.
“Better?” Steve asked.
All Eddie could do was nod.
“Do you, uh, want me to stay with you?”
His lip quivered before he nodded again and scootched to his left, so that Steve could get onto the bed.
“I, uh,” Eddie’s voice broke. “I’m sorry about that. I don’t really know why I did that.” He avoided eye-contact.
“What? Eddie, no. Everything that happened… It does shit to you. It’s not your fault. Really.” Steve put a hand around Eddie’s shoulder and he looked up, glossy eyed and tight-lipped. “And I promise you, nothing like that is never going to happen again.” Steve looked into his eyes with steely determination to ground him, but Eddie was already scrunching up his face and leaning into Steve’s chest as he began to quietly sob.
After what felt like forever, Eddie’s crying stopped. Steve assumed he had fallen asleep, but when he made a move to get up, he felt Eddie’s hand grip his shirt.
His voice was quiet and rough after crying. “Could you… stay with me? Just for tonight?”
“...Yeah,” Steve lay back down. “Yeah, of course,” Eddie shifted up into the crook under his arm.
He fell asleep like that and after another hour or two, Steve did too.