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Eddie is deep in thought when a knock on his front door demands his attention. He didn’t expect any visitors today but isn’t surprised to find Steve Harrington standing on the steps, greeting him with one of his sunshine smiles before entering unprompted, pushing right past Eddie like he owns the fucking place.
And in a way, he does. Has become such a frequent guest in the Munson house that he doesn’t need to be told to feel at home anymore, just fits right in, easily, like he belongs here.
“Wayne asked me to check on you while he's gone on his fishing trip. But I guess he was more worried about the house still standing than what you are up to,” Steve says with the biggest grin on his face.
“That so? Didn’t know you’re still on babysitter duty,” Eddie teases back, can laugh about it now that he’s not really dependent on anyone’s help anymore.
A few months back, it would’ve rubbed him the wrong way, maybe. Not because he didn’t secretly enjoy Steve’s company whenever he popped by to see how he’s doing, but because he hated feeling like a burden. He knows Steve never saw it that way, but it was hard for Eddie not to seethe in self-pity when his body was still too broken to function.
That’s how it all started, after everything had ended. When evil was defeated and they could slowly start healing. When Eddie was still in recovery and Wayne wouldn’t leave his side, too scared of losing him again. There Steve was, showing up like a knight in tight jeans and polo shirt, offering his help and not taking no for an answer. Bringing by groceries and pre-cooked meals despite uncle Wayne’s protest, worming his way into the old stubborn man’s heart and earning his trust one visit at a time. Making sure Eddie was resting, and eating, and doing his exercises – never asking for anything in return.
And at first, Eddie was certain he was only doing this because Dustin forced him to, or maybe out of some unfounded feeling of guilt. Thought that once he was back on track, Steve would stop coming over, would stop caring. But he never did.
It still baffles Eddie sometimes, when he thinks too hard about how far they’ve come. He doesn’t know when exactly the shift had happened, where they went from trauma-bound acquaintances to actual friends, but even after everything he had to endure to end up where he is now, Eddie wouldn’t want to change it for the world. Because living through this insane apocalyptic fever dream together might’ve almost killed him, but a life without Steve in it just isn’t an option Eddie would be willing to choose could he turn back time.
“Working on new music?” Steve asks when he comes back out of the kitchen, two bottles of soda in his hand – one for Eddie, one for himself – curiously eyeing the clatter of sheets on the coffee table.
“More or less,” Eddie sighs, “I’m kinda stuck, don’t know where I wanna go with this.”
Steve gets comfortable on the couch – his side of the couch, the one he always occupies – careful not to jostle the guitar Eddie hastily leaned against the backrest when he went to open the door for him. Eddie drops down next to him and pulls the guitar back in his lap.
“Can I show you what I have so far?”
Gareth would give him so much shit for that, if he could hear him right now. He’s usually very guarded when it comes to sharing unfinished songs, when they’re still raw and flawed, but it’s different with Steve.
‘Just because you have a crush on him,’ he hears Gareth’s teasing voice in the back of his mind and rolls his eyes. Not because it’s not true, but because that’s not the only reason why he doesn’t mind being vulnerable around Steve.
The guy has seen him at his absolute worst. Stuck with him even when Eddie was at his lowest. Held him through his weakest moments without ever judging him. Eddie trusts him, maybe more than he trusts anyone else, and that’s why he doesn’t mind bearing his heart in front of him.
“Yes, please! You know I love listening to you play.”
Eddie’s heart flips but he ignores the heat spreading in his cheeks, hopes Steve doesn’t catch him blushing.
“I don’t have much. Just a silly melody I can’t get out of my head.”
Steve doesn’t say anything but nods, looking at him expectantly.
Eddie starts picking the strings in the same recurring pattern, playing the same consecutive chords that have been on a loop in his mind for weeks now. A tune that’s so different from the music he usually plays – softer, slower, coming straight from the heart.
Next to him, he can feel Steve shifting closer, so close their knees are touching, and when Eddie looks up, he finds Steve smiling back, hazel eyes so full of fondness and adoration it makes his stomach swoop.
It’s then, something clicks into place. Eddie’s fingers keep moving, switching to a new pattern, a rhythm that matches the beat of his heart. The melody evolves, grows, filled with a meaning Eddie now understands. It builds and becomes what it was always meant to be, exposing emotions that finally break free. Resonating in the echo of a fading confession when Eddie’s fingers still.
“That’s- beautiful,” Steve says after a beat of silence, and Eddie exhales a breath he didn’t know he was holding. Feels lighter than before, but also nervous.
“It’s for you,” he blurts out without thinking, covers his mouth with a hand too late. “I, I mean-”
“For me?”
Steve sounds incredulous, and Eddie can’t blame him. He didn’t mean to pour out his feelings like that, without a warning, without ever having given him a sign before. But it’s out now, kind of. In a way Eddie is sure Steve understands.
“You wrote me a song?” Steve asks again, the high pitch of his voice giving away his excitement.
“I mean, I’m sure I can change it up a bit to make it better but-”
“Eddie, it’s perfect! I love it.”
Two large hands cover each side of his face and Eddie can barely put down the guitar before he gets pulled towards Steve. Almost loses his balance but catches himself with his finger in Steve’s hair as their mouths clash a little too hard. Kisses him a little too sloppy at first, before the initial shock settles and their movements slow, easing into a gentle press of lips and tentative tongues chasing one another. Testing, offering, taking as much as they’re given in return. Playing, teasing, giggling into each other’s mouths until it turns into full-blown laughter.
Eddie feels lightheaded when they part, just enough to catch their breaths, Steve’s forehead resting against his own.
“Shit. Sorry,” Eddie huffs out, but doesn’t regret one second of it.
“Can’t believe I just did that,” Steve adds, and doesn’t sound rueful at all.
“Wanna do it again?”