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They watch as Steve books it to the ladder opposite Jonathan and begins to climb. Nancy looks disappointed but resigned to this little courting ritual and she turns away. Robin turns with her, joking about men and their neanderthal ways in a show of solidarity.
Eddie, on the other hand, snickers to himself and enjoys the show.
Steve clambers up the ladder like a spider monkey and by the time Jonathan reaches the top Steve is right there with him. Unfortunately for them Eddie is the only one paying a lick of attention because Murray arrived with their food delivery a whole day early, aren't they lucky, and Rob and Nance are getting things unloaded.
"I fixed it!" They shout down in unison, and Eddie can't help but laugh at the synchronised lean over the railing to bask in the audience they thought they had.
He gives them a wave. The little finger wiggle a habit borrowed from Steve who'd borrowed it from Robin. Jonathan leans back with an eyeroll that's visible even from the ground with the way he moves his whole head with it.
Steve waves back. Like a sweetheart.
Then shoves Jonathan over to his ladder. Like a brat.
Eddie decides the descent will be more enjoyable from directly below but ambles over to Murray and the girls first to see what treats he can pilfer. Gatorade and a box of Boppers acquired, he gets to the ladder just in time to watch Steve make his way down. He's slower this time, more careful.
Thank you gay jesus for blessing one Eddie Munson on this day.
His eyes dart up at the last second as Steve jumps to the ground. He holds out the drink and snacks and Steve takes them with a smile that morphes into a grin when he realises just what he's holding.
"Boppers!" He exclaims. "Man I missed these things, thanks dude."
Eddie shrugs with a smile of his own.
"No problem, Murray got here earlier than expected and I figured you'd want dibs before anyone else got in there."
No one else was gonna get in there. Steve was absolutely the only one in their group who ate those.
"Now c'mon," He ushers Steve forwards with a flourish. "time to get the power back on. Hawkins would be nowhere without its dynamic duo serenading them with their dulcet tones."
Steve pulls a face. It's bitchy and bratty and beautiful because Eddie can see the uptick of his mouth in a smug smile even as he sighs.
"Robin is the one doing the serenading, you know this." He says as they walk to get the power to the tower rebooted.
"Now now, don't sell yourself short Steve-o!" He grins, spring in his step and with a little lean into Steve's space. As a treat. "Your job is very important, sweetheart. We'd be lost without you."
Steve takes a gulp of the gatorade. Eddie watches as a single drop makes its way down the side of his mouth and neck.
God he'd like to lick it u-
"Whatever you say, Munson."
Eddie is the one to get the power started again, citing Steve's likelihood to spill his drink all over the electricals as the reason but mostly he'd just wanted to have a turn being useful too. No way he would've scaled the radio tower even if he'd wanted to show off his ultra-macho capabilities, not with his scars pulling and muscles aching like they do.
But this is easy enough.
"You know, he totally thought you were trying to impress Nancy with that stunt, dude." He says, filling the silence as Steve drinks and munches on his first Bopper.
Steve lets out a dramatic groan, mouth full of his sweet treat. Eddie smiles. The unabashed dramatics are borrowed from him (he borrowed them from Wayne but no one ever believes him when he tells them).
"Oh my god how many times I'm not trying to impress Nancy! I was trying to impress-" a pause.
Eddie raises a brow. Steve pouts.
"Nobody! I wasn't trying to impress anyone."
Eddie hums.
"Okay." He says, and he smiles soft enough that he hopes Steve won't think he's teasing. "I believe you. But you should let him know that sometime soon. I'm sure it's fun to wind the guy up but I fear for your pretty face again if he takes your rivalry to the next level."
He wriggles the fingers on both hands at rivalry and Steve scoffs and shoves him lightly. He bounces right back into Steve's orbit and they make their way outside.
The whole of Hawkins High had lost their shit at the sight of King Steve himself bested by Jonathan Byers of all people back in the day, and while Eddie had revelled in it just a little in '83, the Eddie of today doesn't really want to see any of his friends get pummelled. Especially if it deprives him of the absolute work of art that's Steve's face.
"Yeah right." Steve dismisses. "I've already told him. So many times! It's not that serious. Tommy used to get the same sometimes, it's just guy stuff you know? Trying to one up each other that's friend shit!"
Eddie frowns.
"You don't have to go all macho to be friends with a guy Steve. You aren't like that with me."
The man shrugs, a little crinkle between his eyebrows forming as he thinks. Eddie gives him time.
"Yeah, well that's different." He settles on. Nodding as if that was the end of that.
Eddie chuckles, nudging Steve maybe too softly. Too fondly.
"Sure." He concedes. "We're a little different. And you know what, if you've already talked to Byers I guess it's fair game."
They've stopped just outside the station and Steve turns to smirk at him all smug, the glint in his eyes dangerous.
Eddie can't help but to reach out and grasp him by the chin, shaking his head a little like an unruly dog. He lets go before Steve can bat him away.
"Go on, have your fun."
They make their way inside.