#eddie is steve's gay awakening

[hairmetal666]

NSFW; Modern AU

Eddie feels like the luckiest man alive, that he gets to count Steve Harrington and Robin Buckley as his best friends, but he wasn't sure about it at first. No matter how often his new little sheepies praised Steve, Eddie remembered high school. He remembered the Steve that was a grade-A, top-choice asshole. But then--Robin comes out to him. And Steve knows. Steve knows and he's cool about it. So, Eddie comes out to them and Steve is cool about that too.

It fucks Eddie up a little, if he's being honest. Like, Steve, objectively, is hot, but Eddie's only ever been superficially attracted to him. He thinks the whole jock archetype just doesn't do a lot for him. Too much negativity attached to their whole thing. But he'd be lying if he said part of him isn't intrigued.

He doesn't develop a crush on Steve, though. Somehow, through all the charm and bitchiness and not-so-secret kindness, his heart remains unmoved. It must be the jock thing.

And then he's scrolling on Twitter. He's scrolling on Twitter and he's not looking for porn, not even in a "Oh no, I never look at porn on the internet" way, and there's this video.

The first thing he sees is the lowered waist band of a pair of 90's-style basketball shorts, Pacers logo just visible. Then it's the long fingers, the broad hands. They're skimming down a tanned, toned torso, not a six-pack but it's somehow sexier this way. Their path draws Eddie's eyes to the dot of moles, the spread of freckles. They're so kissable, Eddie's mouth waters. Those fingers, they linger against the trimmed thatch of dark hair just peaking out over the elastic, before pulling that waistband lower.

Eddie's hard. Rock hard. Fuck, he's so hard a wind gust could make him come.

The guy on screen, he's got his gorgeous dick in hand, giving himself slow strokes and thumbing at the tip to collect the obvious slickness beading there.

It's not really a decision when Eddie unzips and shoves his jeans just low enough to take himself in hand. On screen, the hand speeds up, the stomach shivering, breath coming in soft bursts, somehow almost more intoxicating than the jerking off.

Eddie times his strokes with the video, coming apart faster than he ever has watching porn. He can tell the guy is close, his grip goes tighter, his breath shorter. Eddie's about to go off like a fucking rocket.

The hand stills, the guy's cock fucking quivers, and he's ready for the money shot, will totally come at the same time, except--it doesn't happen.

The screen goes black.

Eddie comes all over himself.

"Fuck, shit, goddamnit," he hisses. He flails around trying to find something to clean himself up with and pause the video so he can read the fucking text.

As wiped up as he can be without showering, Eddie runs the video back a few seconds to see the words, "want the full experience? Subscribe to my OnlyFans."

He's never clicked a link so fast in his life. He's never really explored OnlyFans before, but he signs up for the free trial without a second thought.

The guy's username is KingJock016 and under usual circumstances, Eddie would be disgusted, but it's too late for that. He's already scrolling through thumbnails of hands and dicks and asses and butt plugs and dildos, pausing briefly at a preview of one where KingJock is bent at the waist, perfect ass--dotted with freckles-- framed by the bands of a jock strap. He's deliciously hairy, deliciously ripe, and Eddie is firming up again.

Without fully meaning to, he hits play, and the video starts with KingJock already rocking his cock into his fist. He's moaning in this one, full throated, almost desperate. And there's something about it, something that catches in Eddie's brain, but he can't focus on that when he's watching KingJock trace a finger around his own asshole.

It's insane that Eddie is this far gone without seeing the guy's face, that his toes are curling at the mere sight of KingJock fucking himself. The sounds are obscene, the slick and snap of skin on skin, the throaty moans, the creak of the bed as KingJock rocks into his fist and back onto his fingers.

Eddie's not even touching himself, and he's already standing at complete attention, a heady ache already starting in his balls.

And then KingJock flips his head back, revealing a shock of chestnut hair, the taut lines of a mole-kissed throat, the hard line of a jaw. One eye flashes open, looks directly at the camera, at Eddie.

It's fucking Steve Harrington.

Eddie comes all over himself again.

It's Steve. His best friend, Steve. His straight best friend. Making content clearly targeted for queer men? I mean, Eddie can't fault him. Like, nice work if you can get it, but Steve???

He hasn't done anything to clean up because his thoughts are spiraling too hard. How long has this been going on? Does Robin know? Should Eddie subscribe ? Leave a comment about how this video made him come untouched? Join a live? No, no, of course not. Steve was his real life friend. He couldn't hang out with him and then watch him fuck himself on a wall-mounted dildo.

He hits subscribe though. He'll hate himself for it later. It's only for the trial period, anyway.

He wipes himself off, but the come is already drying, sticky, against his skin and in his body hair. He needs a shower. He needs to practice being normal around Steve now that he--

Shit, Steve. They're going to the movies tonight. Steve's supposed to pick him up in, shit, fuck twenty minutes.

Eddie hurls himself into the shower, moves so quickly he doesn't really have time to think about Steve having an OnlyFans, about how hard he got off to his friend, about how he keeps having flashes of Steve's perfect body play through his head.

It's hard to ignore it when Steve is standing at his door in his form hugging jeans and little t-shirt and Eddie's done for, a dead man; here lies Eddie Munson. He's just standing in the doorway, smiling at Steve and he knows it's manic, but he can't slip it.

"Are you okay?" Steve asks. Eddie hears the words but all it does is remind him of KingJock's breathy moans.

"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" He keeps smiling.

Steve's eyes narrow. He leans into Eddie's space. "Did you drop acid again? We told you not to do it alo--"

"I didn't! Nothing's wrong."

"Your face is all flushed. You feeling okay? You could have a fever."

Before Eddie can react, Steve's resting the back of his hand on his forehead. Eddie flinches, swatting Steve away, which devolves into a brief slap fight.

"I don't have a fever, man. I'm fine. Hot shower, is all."

"If you say so. Ready to get going?"

Eddie nods. He can totally do this. He can pretend he doesn't know about the OnlyFans and the face Steve makes when he's about to come.

The drive is quiet. Too quiet. He thinks his bones are trying to rip through his skin.

He starts talking, isn't even tracking what he's saying. Dnd and then suddenly it's hobbits and then Star Trek for reasons even he doesn't comprehend. He glances over at Steve, and he's burnished golden from the light of the setting sun. He's so beautiful. How did Eddie miss it all this time? Why did he--

"Get any new subscribers lately?" He hears come out of his mouth.

Steve slams on the breaks, sending Eddie careening into he dashboard.

"Jesus Christ, what the fuck," Eddie shrieks. The car behind them lays on the horn, then speeds past when it's clear they aren't moving.

"Why are you saying what the fuck at me?" Steve hisses back. He hits the gas, pulling the car to the side of the road. "Eddie--what the fuck?"

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," he chants. He hides his head in his hands. "I didn't mean to--I'm so fucking sorry."

"How'd you find it?"

Eddie snorts. "One of your videos showed up on my TL. That's the algorithm for you."

"Jesus christ," Steve mutters. "You weren't supposed to--it's--"

"What are you even doing, man?"

"My Family Video salary won't cut it, if we're moving to Indy."

"You're not even gay."

Steve mumbles something, but he's looking out the window and not at Eddie at all.

"What was that?"

"Maybe I am!" Steve doesn't shout, but it's forceful.

Eddie's mouth drops. "Does Robin know?"

Steve stares forward, hands tightening on the wheel.

"And you didn't tell me?" It hurts, he's surprised how much, so much it takes his breath.

"It wasn't like that, Ed."

"Oh, no? Then what was it like?"

"It doesn't matter."

"The fuck it doesn't! I'm the first person you should've come to! I know exactly what it's like."

"No, you don't." Steve explodes. "You don't because you made me realize. And I couldn't talk to you about it because I like you. And, yeah, maybe starting an OnlyFans as part of my gay awakening is weird to you, but it's done a lot for me, okay?"

Steve said a lot of stuff just there, a lot of important things, but Eddie's glitched out on one part. "You like...me?"

"Yeah, like. Have you met you?" Steve slumps in his seat, like he's defeated. "You're fucking beautiful, dude. And smart and funny and passionate. Nerdy as hell. I didn't stand a chance."

"But I'm--" Eddie shakes his head. "I mean, look at me."

"I have." Steve nods. "A lot. I really like what I see."

"When I realized it was you in those videos, I came all over myself. Untouched," Eddie blurts. He flushes deep crimson immediately. "Oh my god, I can't believe I just--"

Steve is laughing, hands pressed over his mouth.

"Shut up, shut up," Eddie swipes at him. "It's not funny, oh my god."

When Steve gets it together, he finally looks at Eddie, and there's pink in his cheeks and a shine to his eyes. "That might be the most gratifying thing anyone has ever said to me."

"Yeah, well. It was humiliating."

"It's hot, Eddie."

His blush hasn't cooled even a bit. "Yeah?" His voice comes out deep, husky.

"I wouldn't mind, uh--that is, if it's cool with you--seeing it for myself?"

Eddie giggles. "You wanna make me come untouched, sweetheart?"

Steve shifts in his seat. "I'd really like that. Will you let me?"

"Uh-huh, absolutely, definitely. If you don't put this car in drive and get us back to my place, I'm going to literally die."

Steve laughs again, a bright, free thing, and he swings back onto the road. "Not yet, you aren't."

That sends a shock of pleasant shivers down Eddie's spine, right to his dick.

"Maybe we can even make a video together sometime."

Eddie, much to his deep embarrassment, whines, hips shifting with the sudden need for relief. "Oh, you didn't want me to die before because this is how you're planning on killing me."

Steve turns to him, a smirk on his lips and a devilish glint in his eye. "You have no idea what I'm going to do to you."

[artaxlivs]

Which came first? The chicken or the scrambled eggs?

Rated E: Smut below the line, link to the Ao3 is here.

"Boy, you know I love you, right?" Uncle Wayne says gruffly over his favorite Garfield mug.

Oh jeez.

Eddie wracks his brain trying to figure out what Wayne's figured out this time. The drug deals? He'd thought they were both silently agreeing that they knew but wouldn't speak of those. The Upside Down? Nah, Eddie covered that pretty well, gave the same bullshit story the Feds did. Maybe something mundane like Eddie not doing his dishes?

That's an age-old argument right there.

Damn it.

"I know you do, old man," Eddie sighs, finally just deciding to take whatever it is on the chin. "Say what you wanna say."

There's a brief pause while Uncle Wayne must gather his thoughts - and the irrational swoop of Eddie's stomach over that is gonna give him nightmares because his abandonment issues are wide and deep - then Wayne clears his throat and says, "Whoever it is that you been leaving in your bedroom to sneak out after I fall asleep every morning...you can just invite him out for breakfast with us."

Eddie chokes on his own coffee. Well, sort of coffee - it's a lot of sugar and milk with a splash of coffee.

Not her. Him. They've never talked about it but Eddie knows Wayne has always had his suspicions. But he wasn't ready to have this conversation before the sun was even all the way up.

Before Eddie can finish coughing down his throatful of coffee, though, Wayne is shouting, "Eddie's boyfriend - you can come out and have some eggs if you want!"

A loud thump and the sound of someone obviously scrambling up from a bed comes from Eddie's room. "Yes, sir."  A muffled voice calls back.

Staring down the short hallway in horror, Eddie has a minor freak out. Okay - major freak out. But silently and quickly because...ohhhh this tangled web he’s woven for himself....

"Jesus Christ, Wayne." Eddie shakes his head before dropping it on the formica tabletop. He doesn't have to look up to know that Wayne is smiling that little smile that he gets when he proves that he's still smarter than Eddie is sneaky.

Wayne pulls open the fridge and gets the eggs back out, adding three more to the mixing bowl to whisk up.

Eddie still doesn't lift his head when Steve comes out of the bedroom because he just cannot bear to meet Steve's eyes. He eventually does look up, though, when he hears Wayne swear under his breath and nearly drop the frying pan.

"Ain't you the Harrington boy?" Wayne asks, looking a little dazed, obviously not expecting Steve Harrington to be standing barefoot, wearing one of Eddie's band T-shirts and a pair of his own sweats, in their tiny trailer kitchen, hastily shaping his hair into order as he reaches his hand out to shake.

"Yes, sir. And, um, I'd appreciate it if you kept that between us," Steve suddenly looks smaller, "for now, at least. I'm not sure what my dad...um, well." He worries his bottom lip and crosses his arms over his chest protectively, tucking his hands tight against his body. "I just - I don't think he'd approve. My - my dad."

Approve of what? Slumming it in a trailer park with a petty drug dealer? Because contrary to what Wayne thinks, Steve is not Eddie's boyfriend. They sleep together but not together. It's just for the nightmares. Sleeping alone sucks.

Wayne is nodding, though, the crease between his eyebrows the only thing giving away that he's upset about what he's hearing. Eddie's really not sure what he's thinking but he doesn't ask because maybe - just maybe - if no one asks anything specific, they can get out of this breakfast without Eddie being outed or any of them being embarrassed.

Because, contrary to Wayne’s assumption, Steve does not know that Eddie is gay. Or that the all night spooning they've been doing for weeks now is not as platonic for Eddie as it is for Steve. Eddie's not crossing any boundaries or anything creepy or anything, he's just...pining. It's fine. He'll get over it.

If they get through this breakfast without Eddie being outed, at least.

Steve, of course, offers to help but Wayne turns him down, nudges him toward the coffee pot to pour himself a mug instead. Which he does. Scoffing incredulously, Eddie gets up and swipes the mug from him, pouring it’s contents into Wayne's almost empty mug before setting it in the sink and taking out a clean plastic cup with a faded Charlie Brown & Linus on it.

"Sit." He tells Steve and reaches into the fridge for the orange juice he knows Steve prefers. He ignores the arched eyebrow Wayne aims at him. Mind your business, old man.

Breakfast is just scrambled eggs and toast. It's quick and not too heavy so Wayne can go to sleep after. It's always been the one meal they're guaranteed to have together. Even when most teenagers were sleeping in until ten am or noon, Eddie has always gotten up around 6:30 because Wayne's shift ends at six and he comes straight home and takes a shower, then they have breakfast together.

"So...Mr. Munson-" Steve starts after he swallows a drink of his juice and settles into one of the cracked vinyl chairs.

"Just Wayne, kid," Wayne insists gruffly, setting the pan of eggs down on a pot holder on the table.

"Oh - sorry," Steve says, letting his eyes fall away. It's weird, seeing him cowed by Wayne. Steve doesn't normally do that with adults. He's a charmer. He charms them all. Mrs. Wheeler would force Nancy to marry Steve if she could and Mrs. Henderson thinks that Steve is the second coming.

"Don't gotta be sorry...Steve. Just - call me Wayne." He comes back with a plate of toast. The butter and jam are already on the table. Eddie loads up his plate knowing Steve will do the polite thing and take less than him.

Clearing his throat, Steve nods, "Yes sir - W-Wayne." He stumbles over the first name but then keeps going - "I was just wondering...about the hats? And the mugs?" He looks around like he's taking them all in for the first time.

With a little smile, Wayne looks from the rows of hats and mugs to Steve and then back again. "Those are all Eddie." He doesn't elaborate but Steve's already nodding with a warm smile.

"I had a feeling." Steve nods again, slathering jam on a slice of toast. "Let me guess - this is him taking the joke way too far?"

The sound that comes out of Wayne can really only be called a chortle. There's nothing else that fits. Eddie is so glad his mouth was empty because it's like nothing he's ever heard from Wayne and he would have choked on his food. As it is, he makes a little offended squawk that they both ignore.

"Yup. You know him well I see." Wayne nods at Eddie but looks at Steve. "He got me this Garfield mug and a matching hat for his first Christmas here and I didn't want to disappoint him so I went a little overboard about how much I loved them. Wore the hat and used the mug religiously." He lifts the Garfield mug up for a sip and lifts an eyebrow at Eddie.

Steve knocks his knee against Eddie's under the table and when Eddie looks over at him, he’s smiling a fond smile at Eddie. He ducks his head to hide what he knows is a blush on his cheeks, letting Wayne and Steve steer the conversation where they want for the rest of the meal.

It’s not until they’re washing up and Wayne’s waved goodnight to them both, that Eddie speaks again. He bumps his hip into Steve’s as Steve finishes washing and rinsing the plastic cup and hands it over for Eddie to dry. “Sorry about that.”

Sliding the egg pan into the soapy water, Steve dries his hands off on a towel, leaving the pan to soak and turns to Eddie, hip propped against the counter. ‘For what?” Steve asks, confusion evident on his face.

He flounders for a moment, trying to find a way to steer Steve away from the flashing neon arrow pointing to Eddie that screams “GAY” without giving himself away if Steve hasn’t gotten that idea. “Um, just Wayne and your dad and - you know, all of this.” He waves his hand around in a general all encompassing circle to include the trailer, his life and Eddie himself.

“Do you want to kiss me?” Eddie is pretty sure Steve asks but it’s so unexpected that his brain almost comes to a screeching halt.

“W-what?”

“I asked,” Steve says, removing the scant foot of space between them by sliding along the edge of the counter, “if you wanted to kiss me?”

Eddie swallows, a lifetime of fear balled up in his throat. It has long since threatened to choke him but this time he pushes through it. Because dammit - he’s jumped into a lake and swam after 3 other teenagers he barely knew, he’s tromped through an alternate dimension, he’s played Metallica in hell and outran a horde of demon bats. He’s faced a fucking Lich with nothing but handmade weapons. He can do this. He can.

“Yes,” it’s barely a whisper and made through trembling lips but Steve hears it because he smiles, warm and soft and the next thing Eddie knows, their lips are pressed together and yes, yes, yes. Steve’s lips are just as warm and soft as his smile and just a little demanding as he pushes past Eddie’s and slips his tongue into Eddie’s mouth. 

Steve Harrington tastes like orange juice and possibilities. And before Eddie can decide what to do with that, Steve is dragging him down the hallway and back into his messy, unmade too small bed. He’s pressing Eddie down on his back and leaning over him to kiss him again. He’s rolling his hips against Eddie’s, brushing their hard cocks together in a way that makes Eddie’s toes curl.

And it feels like every night they laid here together, whispering into each other’s shoulders, every night they spent cocooned in safety, every brush of skin on skin was foreplay, was flirting, was courting - that all of it was a lead up to this moment where they could slip easily from friendship to something more.

Eager and keyed up, Eddie pushes Steve’s sweats down to his thighs, follows by shoving his own down as well. Copying Steve’s movement when he yanks off his shirt and then they’re skin to skin, dicks rubbing against each other as they both grind and chase their pleasure together. Steve shifts, putting his thigh between Eddie’s and cupping his ass to pull him forward and there it is, they’re slotted together just right. 

Eddie feels a little zing of pleasure up his back as he ruts against Steve. They haven’t stopped kissing long enough for Eddie to even moan Steve’s name but it’s fine, it’s great, he’s so close already, just a bit more, he’s almost there. He thrusts up and Steve squeezes his ass again, pushing their bodies together. His hand slips around, dipping  between Eddie’s cheeks, sliding one finger down his cleft until it presses against his hole where, sure, he has touched, but no one else has. Steve slipping just the tip of one finger into Eddie is enough to send him tumbling over the edge with a muffled shout.

Eddie’s still twitching through the aftershocks when Steve moves his hand back to Eddie’s hip, Steve holds him still so he can thrust into the sticky mess that Eddie’s made between them. “That was, fuck, so hot,” Steve swears before he clamps his mouth to Eddie’s again, pulling a whine from him just before Steve comes with his own shout swallowed up by Eddie’s mouth.

Slowly, their breathing returns to normal, the sweat cools on their skin and Steve languidly traces one finger through the mess as it starts to stick to Eddie’s treasure trail. Finally, when Eddie can think clearly again, he asks, “So I guess this means you’re not worried that Wayne thinks you’re my boyfriend?”

“Worried?” Steve grins up at him from where he’s resting his head on Eddie’s shoulder. “I think we should make him dinner before he goes to work as a thank you.” He rolls up, propping a hand on either side of Eddie’s chest to look down at him with a fond smile, “I mean, how long would we have lain next to each other in the dark waiting for the other one to make the first move?”

Going up on his elbows brings Eddie’s lips close enough to Steve for a kiss but he doesn't yet, he just stares up at him for a moment, then, with complete honesty, he tells Steve, “I’d have lain next to you for forever if I had to.”

Check it out on Ao3

[steve-thehair-mamabear]

This guy? This beautiful loser?

Not Eddie Munson. This is baby kirk hammett.

And you are telling me that Steve Harrington wouldn't like metallica? That he wouldn't have an honest-to-goddess poster of the band over his bed? That he wouldn't have his initial bi-crisis when he and Robin are shooting the shit and she makes an off-handed comment about how that guy with the hair and those lips looks like Munson, holy crappola, Steve?

Sounds fake.

[hawkinsbnbg]

Pinterest

written for 'pin' | word count: 388 | rated: M | ao3 | @steddiemicrofic

The first time Munson pinned him on a wall, it was an accident fueled by misunderstanding and fear.

The second time Munson pinned him on a wall, it was a result of their playful bantering turned heated argument.

The third time Munson pinned him on a wall, Steve tried to convince himself that the fluttering in his stomach was nothing special.

Countless times later, when Munson became Eddie, and Steve was pinned on a wall again, he grimaced at the spark of arousal flared in his guts.

This is dangerous, he told himself.

“I’m not gay,” he confessed to Robin one night. “But Eddie is…”

“Handsome? Pretty? Groundbreakingly beautiful?” Robin supplied helpfully with a mirthful arch of her eyebrow.

Steve gulped. He recalled those moments when Eddie was too close, when their breath mingled, when Steve thought he was going to be devoured by those too-black eyes only for Eddie to release him from a vice-like grip.

His throat started to constrict and felt dry all of a sudden.

“Intense. He’s too intense and I feel like drowning every time I’m near him,” Steve conceded quietly, half scared and half hopeful about what might happen between him and Eddie the next time they were left alone together.

Robin looked at him for a moment that stretched far too long for his comfort before patting his shoulder gently.

Although she shared no words, strangely, her action was enough to convey her condolences for the death of his heterosexuality.

The realization that he wasn't just attracted to Eddie physically came to him in the form of a song.

Sitting in a chair by the study table, Eddie held his beloved guitar and looked at Steve with something that might be akin to adoration.

“You wrote this for me?” Steve wondered in awe after the song finished.

“Yeah,” Eddie set his guitar aside and cleared his throat slightly. “You don't need to like it, this is just an experiment and–”

“I do like it,” Steve felt his face heated at the sight of Eddie’s blooming smile.

Their eyes met and Steve knew his heart was gone forever.

Later, when Eddie pinned him down on his bed, Steve looked up smugly.

“So you've been down bad for me, huh?”

Eddie rolled his eyes fondly and shut him up with a perfect kiss.

[dwobbitfromtheshire]

This headcanon is for anyone even if you headcanon Eddie's sexuality differently. I personally think he's bisexual but you do you, pretty little tumblebees. Buzz. Buzz.

Eddie is probably a super senior for a reason. You think he knows he is into men? Probably not. Meanwhile, Steve, who is used to hiding who he is from Hawkins by putting on the mask of King Steve and keeping it from his parents. . .yeah, that guy knows he likes men. He's confident, but he's never had the opportunity other than making out with Tommy a few times. Steve was pretty sure that Vickie likes women for a reason. I mean, other than being supportive of his best friend's crush. Meanwhile, Eddie's the kind of guy who thinks it's straight to think a guy's lips are very kissable. He doesn't question it.

You know, until the spring break from hell is happening, and suddenly Steve Harrington is taking off his sweater. The red alert is blaring loudly in his mind. The brain cells in his head are running around and screaming as the walls he built for himself are crumbling down. Suddenly, he's recalling every interaction he's had with a guy that he's had aggressive feelings about, like Steve in sophomore year. Oh God, he had a crush on the guy. Then he's pulling up the memory files on Billy. Nope, he definitely hated that fucker. Just like that, Eddie needs a smoke, and just like that, Robin is yanking it out of his hand. Which was probably a good thing, because they were probably ruined from his last trip through the lake.

[your-stranger-halfblood-things]

"And that's how I met your dad"

[resident-gay-bitch]

seven minutes in heaven? more like seven minutes to question my entire existence.

Whatever you do, don’t think about Steve being content in his bisexuality because after Robin came out to him he started researching and questioning and having deep dark conversations with her.

Whatever you do, don’t think about Eddie having no clue he was gay because of course he wasn’t. And anytime a whisper of that terrifying question popped into his head he blocked it out because he couldn’t be anymore of a Freak, or a disappointment to his father. And he really couldn’t let Wayne down after all he has done for him.

Whatever you do, don’t think about Steve and Robin being sure Eddie was gay and often talking about it together, and about Steve’s definite crush on him and about this game of cat and mouse the pair were playing. Steve was just waiting for Eddie to make the first real move, because he was sick of playing the ‘guy’ in the relationship, and he was sick of doing the chasing, and Eddie was bold and confident and liked to tease.

Whatever you do, don’t think about Eddie having no clue Steve was bi, or that Robin was gay, or about anyone’s sexualities or anything because he just didn’t think about that stuff. He didn’t need to.

Whatever you do, don’t think about the party having a sleepover in Mike Wheelers basement, sleeping bags strewn about the room and snacks everywhere as they played a game of seven minutes in heaven, reduced down to three because they couldn’t be bothered waiting that long for the next turn.

Whatever you do, don’t think about Eddie spinning the bottle and landing on Steve and doing a little pump of his eyebrows because it was Steve, and Eddie was always like that with Steve, they were best friends.

Whatever you do, don’t think about Steve standing up with a massive grin and grabbing Eddie by the hand and practically dragging him into that little basement bathroom because he thought this is it. Its finally happening. Months of chasing back and forth and this is where Eddie was going to make his move. Steve was sure of it.

Whatever you do, don’t think about Eddie taking a laid back seat on the porcelain sink as Steve eagerly slammed the door shut behind them. He lent back against the mirror and started thinking of a fun story or secret to tell Steve because that’s what he did with Dustin, and Max, and El, and Argyle, and even Robin who made it clear they weren’t kissing, he didn’t want to kiss her anyway.

Whatever you do, don’t think about Steve walking over to Eddie in his tight little basketball shorts with a grin and strawberry glossed lips and placing his hands on the sink on either side of Eddie, leaning in close so Eddie could make his move.

Whatever you do, don’t think about Eddie trying to avert his eyes because Steve was so close and ohmygod was it hot in here?

Whatever you do, don’t think about Steve getting a little confused because Eddie was trying to make normal conversation and wasn’t looking him in the eye.

Whatever you do, don’t think about Eddie not understanding anything he was feeling right now because Steve was not supposed to be making him feel like this.

Whatever you do, don’t think about Steve looking at Eddie’s watch and realising they only had one minute left and Eddie still hadn’t kissed him and he was awkward and nervous and looked kind of uncomfortable and maybe Robin and Steve had it all wrong. So he took a little step back and straight up just asked Eddie if he was gay.

Whatever you do, don’t think about Eddie turning red and getting all flustered and trying to tell Steve “No. No, no. I’m not gay, definitely not gay. I’m not, I’m sure… I’m, I can’t be. I like girls… I only like girls. I don’t think… guys are just… they don’t… I’m not…” and trying to convince Steve -himself- that he wasn’t gay.

Whatever you do, don’t think about Steve squinting his eyes at Eddie because Eddie was just so… dramatic about it, and he wasn’t getting offended he was just trying to tell Steve he wasn’t, and he noticed there were only ten seconds left before one of the kids would swing open that bathroom door now.

Whatever you do, don’t think about Eddie feeling a lump in his throat and like he wanted to cry as he tried to talk but just couldn’t get convincing words out and Steve was looking at him weirdly and it just made everything worse.

Whatever you do, don’t think about Steve taking a few fuck it steps forward and grabbing Eddie and kissing him, hard, slipping in a little tongue.

Whatever you do, don’t think about Eddie not kissing Steve back because whatthefuckSteve?! but the moment he felt Steve’s tongue poke into his mouth, his own tongue was licking against it like a reflex and he started to kiss Steve back.

Whatever you do, don’t think about Steve pulling back the moment he felt Eddie start kissing him, a smug smile on his lips as he stepped backwards, one, two, three times.

Whatever you do, don’t think about Max swinging the door open, right on cue and letting Steve walk past her, all smug and proud and grinning, and she looked at Eddie who had pink cheeks and wide eyes and strawberry lip gloss smeared against his lips and he was all flustered and she rolled her eyes, murmuring a little “ew”.

Whatever you do, don’t think about Eddie sitting across from Steve in the circle for the next five turns of the game, legs crossed and pink cheeked and his head hung low when he wasn’t staring.

Whatever you do, don’t think about Steve still smugly smiling because he made Eddie a flustered, quiet mess, and he was very obviously whispering to Robin all about it because they kept looking over at Eddie and smirking.

Whatever you do, don’t think about Eddie not being able to sleep that night because Mike Wheeler’s basement smells like teenage boy, and had constant snoring echoing through the walls, and Steve’s glossed up lips were on his mind.

Whatever you do, don’t think about Robin and Steve laying beside eachother, giggling and whispering all night about their stupid crushes because that’s all they talked about these days.

Whatever you do, don’t think about Eddie getting frustrated with himself and getting up to go have some milk or something, maybe to step outside for a smoke to just clear his head because he wasn’t gay.

Whatever you do, don’t think about Steve noticing and following him up in his little shorts, and popping on some more strawberry gloss, just in case, and walking up the stairs to find Eddie drinking water and looking out the window because he didn’t want to touch the Wheelers fancy fridge and fuck it up.

Whatever you do, don’t think about Eddie still not understanding anything he was feeling, and why he was thinking about Steve’s lips so much, and the taste of his lipgloss, and the feel of him so close.

Whatever you do, don’t think about Steve walking up to Eddie and leaning back on the island behind him, and asking if Eddie was okay.

Whatever you do, don’t think about Eddie almost jumping out of his skin at the sudden sound of Steve’s voice that also happens to give him goosebumps in more ways than one, but promising Steve he was fine.

Whatever you do, don’t think about Steve apologising for overstepping because Eddie didn’t seem fine in the slightest, and maybe he and Robin were wrong. So, so wrong and maybe Eddie was gonna hate him now.

Whatever you do, don’t think about Eddie telling Steve, out of the blue, that he sure as shit wasn’t gay. He couldn’t be. It was impossible, he liked girls, he was sure of it, they were pretty.

Whatever you do, don’t think about Steve wanting to cry, but forcing himself not to.

Whatever you do, don’t think about Eddie looking up at Steve with glossy eyes in the dark of the kitchen, and the faintest whisper leaving his lips as he said, “I wish you were a girl”.

Whatever you do, don’t think about Steve’s heart skipping a beat at that, and the silence lingering in the air as they just looked at one another.

Whatever you do, don’t think about Eddie letting a singular tear fall because he was just so overwhelmed with everything and didn’t know what else to do.

Whatever you do, don’t think about Steve walking up to Eddie, grabbing his shoulders softly and turning him back around to face the window, whilst Steve jumped up to sit on the counter, pulling Eddie between his legs and holding his hands, telling Eddie that he would probably make a very pretty girl if Eddie needed.

Whatever you do, don’t think about Eddie smiling as Steve applied some more of his lipgloss and smacking his lips, and pretending to flick a long strand of hair back from his shoulder, and tweak his voice to sound more feminine as he asked Eddie if he looked pretty. And Eddie said yes, a little too quickly.

Whatever you do, don’t think about Steve slinging his arms over Eddie’s shoulders and asking if he wanted a kiss.

Whatever you do, don’t think about Eddie tentatively holding Steve’s waist as he lent in to kiss him, slowly moving closer, calculated, swallowing, a nervous wreck.

Whatever you do, don’t think about Steve closing the gap that little bit faster and smiling against Eddie’s soft lips, gloss smeared between the two.

Whatever you do, don’t think about Eddie melting into the kiss because apparently he did like kissing boys now, or maybe it was just Steve. But he liked it, and he gripped Steve’s hips and pulled him in closer until their chests were flush and Steve’s hands were in Eddie’s hair and their mouths were wet and tasted like strawberry lipgloss.

Whatever you do, don’t think about Steve pulling back for a breath of air and to check if Eddie was okay because he cared and he felt another tear slip into their mouths.

Whatever you do, don’t think about Eddie chasing Steve’s lips the second they parted, leaning over with his fingers digging into Steve’s sides hard and not letting the kiss stop because he never wanted to stop kissing Steve.

Whatever you do, don’t think about Steve wiggling even closer, and Eddie’s hands dropping to his ass to hold him there, just for a moment and in that moment Steve let out a little whimper of satisfaction.

Whatever you do, don’t think about Eddie pulling his hands back to Steve’s hips because this was all so new and he didn’t want to take it too far yet, whatever it was, but he’d keep that little sound in mind and would remember to put his hands there later.

Whatever you do, don’t think about Eddie gripping Steve’s waist a little tighter because Steve tugged on his curls to deepen the kiss and it made him feel crazy, and he pressed himself harder into Steve because it all just felt so right for once, unlike all the times he’d kiss girls and couldn’t wait for it to be over.

Whatever you do, don’t think about Steve wrapping his legs around Eddie’s waist and locking his ankles together to keep him in place.

Whatever you do, don’t think about Eddie pressing chase little pecks to Steve’s lips and whispering thankyou between each one, more tears slipping from his wet eyes.

Whatever you do, don’t think about Steve wiping those tears away and pulling Eddie back in for another long and needy kiss because he was just as intoxicated by it as Eddie.

Whatever you do, don’t think about Max waking up with the need to pee, but Mike was taking forever in the basement bathroom so she wandered upstairs and heard some weird, wet slapping noise and silent little whimpers and she thought it might be a Demogorgon or something so she peaked around the corner to get an eye full of Eddie sucking Steve’s face off, and she stopped, and scoffed and rolled her eyes and muttered a little “ew”.

Whatever you do, don’t think about both of them turning around red faces and terrified to look at Max, scared she was gonna cry bloody mary.

Whatever you do, don’t think about Max shaking her head and turning for the bathroom and throwing her hands up with a groan and the word “Finally” being shouted.

Whatever you do, don’t think about Eddie turning back to Steve and asking what this meant now, because he was scared and confused and didn’t understand anything.

Whatever you do, don’t think about Steve sweeping hair back from Eddie’s face and soothing his anxiety’s away, and promising Eddie this could be whatever he needed it to, and that he wasn’t alone, he never would be again.

Whatever you do, don’t think about Eddie kissing Steve again because it’s all he could think to do now, and he cried into the kiss because things finally felt like they were clicking into place, and this giant weight was being lifted off his shoulders.

Whatever you do, don’t think about the pair heading back down stairs and curling up under Eddie’s sleeping bag, nimble fingers tracing over Steve’s chest as Eddie kissed his collarbone and neck in the dark.

Whatever you do, don’t think about the party waking up in the morning to find Eddie and Steve tangled up together, Steves strawberry gloss sticky and stuck to Eddie’s cheek and somehow marking his own neck, and then not thinking anything of it because everyone thought they had been dating for months and were glad they finally felt comfortable enough to show it.

Whatever you do, please think about Eddie adding a little rainbow rectangle patch to his battle vest a week later.

[vyncentevelyn]

Update: I wrote Part 1.

I’m at work. And I will write this at some point, but I have to vent about it now. It may even appear in my longer work. Who knows. But anyway…

I’d say we’re post S1. So Steve and Nancy are already kind of on the rocks. And in this version Nancy decides to try out for the school play, Romeo & Juliet.

She of course gets the role of Juliet.

But our Eddie, well he was born to play Mercutio.

And just imagine Steve going to see Nancy play Juliet but then is just captivated by Mercutio.

And like he knows who Eddie Munson is but it’s the first time he sees him as not just a dealer, not just “The Freak.”

And after opening night, Steve goes home and he can’t sleep. He stares at his ceiling. Tries to forget about the older boy in red stage lighting, smirking before he challenges Tybalt. And only falling asleep after he gets out of bed and forces himself to do push ups until he exhausts himself.

And Steve tries to tell himself he’s just being a good boyfriend when he attends every performance. Tells himself and anyone else, he’s there for Nancy. (Of course, he’s there for Nancy.) But he can’t ignore the way he waits in nervous anticipation for the scenes with Mercutio.

The way his stomach somersaults every time Eddie saunters onto the stage. The way his heartbeat picks up during his scenes. How blush blooms across his cheeks and down his neck when Eddie scans the audience and locks eyes with him at least once during every show. How goosebumps rise on his arms every time Eddie’s voice drops to a ravaging baritone to deliver the lines, “Why the devil came you between us? I was hurt under your arm…” How he wishes he could be Romeo when Eddie cups the actor’s cheek just before he exits the stage…

[rindecisions]

Valentine's Day '85 You Know Where to Find Me Part 1

Explicit | 10k | Sexual Exploration

Find the rest and more here

༒༒༒༒༒༒༒༒༒༒༒༒༒༒༒༒༒༒༒༒༒༒༒༒

Steve spent his senior year valentine’s moping. The previous year he had Nancy, this year, he had no one. It was probably the first valentine he’d spent single in at least three years. He just couldn’t bring himself to date anyone else after her. The last bell of the day was his salvation from the mushy couples and especially Nancy and Jonathan. He was just glad he didn’t have basketball practice today; he didn’t want to deal with Billy and Tommy’s taunting.

He got to his locker and opened it, surprised when there was a black, heart-shaped box sitting on top of his books. How the hell? He looked around and there were only the tiny vents on the front of his locker. There was no way that box could fit through it. Someone had to open his locker in order to put that there. Yeah, that’s not creepy at all. He opened the cardboard box; it was filled with chocolates. On the lid underside, there was a short note:

Sattler Quarry

-E.

“E’?” Steve couldn’t think of anyone he knew whose name started with an E other than El, and he knew for a fact it wasn’t her. He put the box in his backpack and left. The quarry cliff was in the direction of his house anyway, so when he got in his car, he decided to at least take a peek. He hated taking the road that passed the quarry. It was mainly gravel, so he worried about his car’s paint job, but sure enough, there was someone sitting on the cliff. There wasn’t much snow left on the ground, and what remained was mainly in the brush on either side of the cliff access.

The dark shoulder-length wavy hair made him think it was Nancy for a second, but the person he was looking at seemed fairly tall, and nowhere near as delicate. Who on earth? Steve was worried he had a stalker or something, but figured he might as well confront her now.

He took the box from his bag and got out of the car. It was mild as far as mid-February went. The temperature hung somewhere just above freezing. He sighed and started walking over. “Hey, I don’t think I-”

“Holy shit!” The person jumped. “You showed.”

That’s a man! Steve was completely thrown off by that fact.

Eddie smiled up at him. “I thought you’d ignore it.”

“I-” Steve looked at him, confused. “Do I know you?”

Eddie snorted and looked back over the deep quarry; one leg was hanging over the cliff while he leaned on the other. “We have two classes together.”

“I’m sorry, I don’t-”

“It’s cool.” Eddie interrupted and pat the gravel next to him, offering for Steve to join him. “Name’s Eddie.”

E. Steve heaved a heavy sigh and sat down, keeping an arm’s distance between them. At least he didn’t need to fight off some crazy stalker, but what the hell did this guy want? “Steve.”

Eddie chuckled and glanced over at him. “Who doesn’t know Steve Harrington?”

Steve smirked. “Fair.” He may not know this man, but something about his casual demeanor made it easy for him to relax. He held up the box of chocolates. “So, this was your doing?”

“Guilty as charged,” Eddie laughed, picking up a pebble and sending it for a two-hundred-foot ride to the quarry below.

“Why though?” Steve set the box on the ground between them.

“I don’t know why I went through with it, but ever since they started putting up valentine’s decorations, you’ve been moping.”

“I have not!” Steve defended.

“Oh, you so have. Whenever you saw a couple or, god forbid, you saw Wheeler, you would.” He mimed one of Steve’s pouts and sighed dramatically. “At them.”

Despite his best effort, he couldn’t stop himself from snorting at Eddie’s face. “I do not look like that.”

“Well, your face, same expression,” Eddie said flatly.

“Whatever.” Steve shook his head. “But that still doesn’t explain why you did it.”

“I felt bad for you, man.” Eddie shrugged. “For some reason, it bugged me for you to go home and pout all night.”

“I wasn’t going to pout.”

Eddie quirked his brow at Steve. “Then what did you have planned?”

Steve leaned back on the heels of his hands as he looked up at the dimming sky. ”Probably go home, watch a movie or two, jerk off, and pass out.”

“So, mope.”

Steve swept some gravel at Eddie, making him laugh. “So, these are pity chocolates?” Steve briefly picked up the box.

Eddie huffed a small laugh. “If you want to look at them like that.” Eddie flicked a couple of the larger pebbles off of his lap and over the cliff.

“What would you call them then?”

He swept the rest of the gravel off of his lap. “A friendly peace offering?” He shrugged.

“Peace offering?” Steve furrowed his brow.

“Well, you’re a jock that likes to beat up guys like me.”

Steve sighed. “I’ve never liked that. I don’t know why I’m telling you this, but it was all for my image.”

“I guess my peace offering worked.”

Steve laughed. “Sure, let’s say that’s it, but I have to ask.” He glanced over at Eddie, their eyes meeting for the first time, making him freeze momentarily before blinking and continuing. “How did you get that in my locker?”

Eddie chuckled and tossed another pebble into the quarry. “Those padlocks are easy to crack if you know what you’re doing.”

“Are you some kind of criminal?” Steve said warily.

Eddie shrugged. “When you’re raised by one…” He sighed and leaned on his knee, watching the sunset.

Steve pursed his lips in sympathy. “You aren’t alone in the shitty parent department.”

Eddie raised a skeptical eyebrow at Steve. “You have shitty parents?”

Steve snorted. “Oh, hell yeah.”

“So, is that whole ‘perfect family’ image fake as well?”

“Yup.”

Eddie nodded and sucked on his lips. “So, why did you come?”

“To reject a stalker or something.”

Eddie glanced away and curled his lips in further than before.

“But turns out it was just some weirdo trying to be friendly.” Steve smiled playfully at Eddie, who spat a quick laugh.

“This ‘weirdo’ isn’t keeping you here. You can leave whenever.”

“I know, but I think I want to stick around. I've never really hung out around here.” Steve sat up and stared at the sunset. “Plus, you’re right. I’d just mope if I went home.”

“Wheeler really ripped your heart out, didn't she?” Eddie rested his head on his knee and looked over at Steve.

“It's not that straightforward. I technically broke up with her.” He sighed and pulled a knee up to lean on. “She seemed happy with Jonathan, and I told her to be with him instead.”

Eddie huffed. “That's love if I've ever seen it.”

“I guess.” Steve groaned and put his forehead on his knee. “Have you ever known someone so incredibly perfect, have them within your grasp and see them on a daily basis, but have to just watch them be happier with others than they'd ever be with you?”

Eddie's expression softened as he stared at Steve. He scanned his body and sighed. “Yeah, I can say I’m pretty damn familiar with that feeling.”

“Then you know how much it sucks.” He glanced over at Eddie, meeting his eye.

Eddie took a deep breath and nodded. “Unfortunately, I do.” He turned back to the almost fully set sun. They sat in a sorrowful silence for almost a minute before Eddie broke it. “Hey man, want a beer?”

Steve was taken aback by the sudden offer. “I don't know. I have to drive.”

“Same, I was just going to chill here until I was sober enough.”

Steve shook his head and gently chuckled. “Fine, why not?”

Eddie beamed and jumped to his feet, hurrying around the corner of the road and out of sight. Steve turned his attention back to the sliver of sunlight on the horizon and waited for Eddie to return. Maybe all he needed was a change of pace. He felt better than he had in months. It wasn’t long before Eddie came around the corner with a six-pack hanging off of each hand.

“You just had these in your car?” Steve laughed as Eddie set the two six packs down.

Eddie rubbed his hands together and warmed them up with his breath. “Trust me, that's not the worst thing in there.”

Steve raised an eyebrow. “You know what? I’m not going to ask.”

Eddie laughed and handed Steve a can. “Probably for the best.”

He took the can and opened it. “Don’t say it like that, I’ll get curious,” he laughed and took a long drink.

Eddie opened his own and watched Steve chug the beer, keeping his eyes on his throat and collar, just visible from under his jacket. He sighed and drank from the can in his hand. After Steve crushed his empty can and put it down, Eddie picked it up and set it on the gravel in front of him. He laid on his stomach behind the collapsed can and looked at it seriously before he flicked it, hurling it over the cliff. Steve laughed as he watched the can fall out of sight. Eddie finished his beer, crushed the can as much as possible, and tossed it straight into the air, batting it with his hand as it fell. The impact sent it spinning into the quarry below. “Try it, it’s fun.”

Steve laughed, opened another can, chugged it, crushed it, tossed it into the air, and punched it. Eddie clapped and cheered as he watched the can disappear. It was a lot more fun than Steve had expected. “Hang on.” Steve got up and ran to the trunk of his car. He grabbed the normal bat, deciding he didn’t want to explain why he had a murder bat in his car to a stranger. Once Eddie realized what Steve was doing, he popped open another beer and downed it. He crushed the can as he approached with the bat. Steve squared up a few feet away from him, twirled the bat, and tapped it on the ground. “Let ‘er rip.”

Eddie grinned and gave the can the best throw he could. Steve managed to hit the pathetic pitch and sent the can soaring over the cliff. Eddie whistled as he watched it. “Nice.”

“You gotta work on your arm,” Steve teased.

“I don’t play sports,” Eddie said plainly, opening another can.

“Obviously.” Steve sat on the ground next to Eddie, setting the bat beside him, and looked up at the twilight sky as he grabbed a beer. “Let me guess, you play video games, read comics, and play that weird fantasy board game.”

“D&D is much more than a board game.” He finished the beer and tossed it over the cliff before lying on the ground with his hands behind his head.

“So, I hear.” Steve crossed his arms over his knees and sipped at his beer.

Eddie snorted. “You know people that play D&D?”

Steve laughed. “Surprisingly, yes.”

“That is surprising.” Eddie stared at the growing number of stars in the sky.

The box of chocolates caught Steve’s eye. He picked it up and set it between them. “Wanna split it?” he offered, opening the box.

Eddie laughed and grinned a little too happily. “Sure.” he picked up one of the chocolates and smiled at it before popping it into his mouth, watching Steve do the same.

Steve finished it with a contemplative expression. “What flavor are these?”

“Cannabis,” Eddie snorted.

“What?” Steve said in shock, pausing just before eating another.

Eddie laughed. “Weed, Marijuana, THC.”

“Are you saying these are edibles?” he said in disbelief, holding the chocolate between his fingers.

Eddie nodded with a big grin, eating another.

“You gave me a box of edibles?!”

“Yep,” he said before swallowing.

“What if I got home and ate all of them without knowing?”

Eddie shrugged. “You’d have a good night? They’re not that strong and I didn’t think you’d show up, so I wanted to make sure you didn’t spend the day moping.”

Steve sighed and ate the one in his hand. Eddie’s face fell in awe as he watched Steve lick the melted chocolate off of his index finger and thumb. Steve caught Eddie staring. “What’s up?”

Eddie quickly glanced back at the quarry. “No- nothing. I’m just, uh, surprised you’re still okay with eating them.”

“It’s not the first time I’ve gotten high, man.”

“Seriously?” Eddie looked back at Steve with a surprised and pleased expression.

“Yeah?” Steve didn’t know why Eddie would be surprised at that. “It’s not like I’m some goody-two-shoes or whatnot.”

Eddie chuckled with a small nod. “True.” He sat up and faced Steve. “You’re not the same person you portray at school.”

Steve sighed and looked over at Eddie. “I’m trying to change that.”

Eddie tilted his head. “You want to be a douche?”

“No,” Steve groaned in annoyance. “The other way around.”

“You’re trying to be this at school?” He was almost impressed.

“Ish.” He opened another beer but shook his head before taking a drink. The world spun. “Whoa.”

“Hitting you too?” Eddie chuckled with a chocolate in his mouth.

“Yeah, what the hell?” Steve set the beer down and got his bearings.

“Drinking makes the high hit harder and faster.”

“No shit. Fuck.” Once he got used to the rush, he started sipping at the beer.

Eddie had one more chocolate and pushed the box to Steve. “Rest are yours, man.”

Steve chuckled and picked up one of the few remaining candies. “Why?” Steve asked softly, staring at the piece of chocolate.

“I already had half-”

“No, not that,” Steve interrupted, eating the candy. “Why did you care enough to do this for me?”

Eddie sighed, leaned back on his hands and shrugged. “As I said, I saw you moping around and had the urge to do something about it.”

“Even though I’m a ‘jock that likes beating up guys like you’?”

“Hey, I never said I was smart.”

Steve chuckled.

“But I make a point not to judge people too harshly before I get to know them.”

“You’re a better man than me.”

Eddie shook his head. “I highly doubt that.” He got himself a beer.

“Don’t sell yourself short. Not many people would do something like this for a total stranger.”

“You really do live in your own little world,” Eddie chuckled.

“What do you mean?” Steve sipped at his beer.

“We've had at least one class together every semester for the last four years.”

“Shit, seriously?”

“Yeah, man.”

“Sorry, maybe I do get caught up in my own shit a bit too much.”

“Eh, don't worry about it.” Eddie swept a handful of gravel toward the cliff. The sounds of the rocks tumbling down the steep edge echoed into the night. “We all got our own shit going on.”

“Doesn’t excuse me ignoring you.”

Eddie looked at Steve. “You aren’t right now, are you?”

“I guess.” Steve knocked back the last of the beer and fell backward. He crushed it and tossed it in the air. When he tried to hit it, his hand flew past the can and it landed beside him, rolling into the brush. “I think I’m officially high.” Steve chuckled and looked up at the sky, putting his arms under his head.

Eddie gazed at him. A part of him was bummed that Valentine’s was in winter because Steve had a semi-thick windbreaker on. He looked down at the box and saw there was still one candy left. “You still have one more.”

Steve chuckled. “I don’t want to move.” He opened his mouth with an, “ah.”

Eddie laughed and picked it up, dropping it into Steve’s open mouth, making him flinch and cover it with his hand.

“I didn’t think you’d do it,” he laughed around the chocolate.

Eddie smiled and tossed the empty box like a frisbee over the quarry pit. He laid down beside Steve and joined him in looking at the stars. The milky way had become visible. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath of the cold winter air. The feeling of his hair moving made Eddie jump and look at Steve, who had a lock of his hair in his hand and was staring at it. “Everything okay?” he asked.

“Yeah,” Steve said hazily, twirling the lock in his fingers. “Your hair looks like Nancy’s.”

“Oh,” Eddie swallowed as he watched Steve examine his hair.

“Thanks, by the way,” Steve said, letting go of Eddie’s hair and rolling onto his side to get a better look at him. “I needed this.”

Eddie huffed a small laugh and smiled. “Seriously, not an issue. I would have done this same thing, just alone in my room. So, I’m glad you decided to come confront your stalker.”

Steve laughed through his nose and closed his eyes. He was enjoying the sensation of being buzzed and high. With his eyes closed, it felt like the world was moving around him. Eddie sighed softly as he stared at Steve’s content face. He wanted to run his thumb over his plush pink lips. The blend of the cold air and being intoxicated made the tip of his nose and his cheeks slightly pink as well. When Steve opened his eyes, he saw Eddie staring at him and he smiled. He reached out and poked Eddie’s nose. “Boop,” he said softly with a giggle.

“What the fuck?” Eddie reeled back, laughing awkwardly and in complete confusion.

Steve snorted and started laughing. “Sorry, I have really bad impulse control when I’m high.”

Eddie laughed nervously. “Um, okay. That’s fine, just don’t go hurling yourself over the cliff or anything.”

Steve rolled onto his back, chuckling. “Don’t worry, I don’t think I’m going to move from this spot until the world decides to settle the fuck down.”

Eddie snorted. “May be awhile.”

“Then I guess you’re keeping me company.”

“What, am I your babysitter?”

“That would be a change of pace.”

“Huh?” Eddie squinted at him.

“It’s a long story.” Steve waved his hand dismissively.

Eddie shrugged and rolled onto his back, resting his hands loosely beside his head, twiddling with the rocks. “I’m not following you if you do decide to jump off.”

“I wouldn’t expect you to.” Steve tilted his head lazily toward Eddie. The rings on his hand caught his attention.

Eddie froze when he felt Steve grab his hand and examine his rings. Steve pulled on his hand, causing him to scoot closer so Steve could hold the hand over his face. He blinked and tried to focus on the bulky decorative rings. As he did, he felt Eddie’s rough fingers.

“You have callouses.” He turned Eddie’s hand around and looked at it, running his thumb over the rough pads of his fingers.

“I play guitar. Of course, I have callouses.”

“You do?!” Steve sounded excited.

Eddie smiled. “Yeah.”

“That’s so cool.” He continued to stare at Eddie’s fingers and gently rubbed them, feeling the coarse texture.

Eddie’s heart rate was up, and not just because of his intoxication. This was by far the closest he’d ever been to Steve. Even in the dim light of the night, he could see a dark freckle on his neck and a smaller one on his cheek. “Keep it up. You may just buff the callouses off.”

Steve chuckled. “Sorry, I like the texture of them.”

“No need to apologize.” He swallowed. “I kind of like you touching them. It’s like a massage.”

Steve paused and rested Eddie’s hand, palm up, on his chest as he continued to fiddle with it. “Hey, Eddie? Can I say something weird?”

“Um, alright?” He tried to regulate his breathing and not focus on the fact that Steve was pressing his hand against his chest.

“I kind of wish you were a woman,” he said simply.

“What?” Eddie was almost offended, but mainly confused. “Why?”

Steve smiled. “I told you it was weird, but I haven’t felt this comfortable around anyone in a long ass time. And I think if you were a chick, I would have made a move on you by now.”

“Excuse me?” Eddie let Steve keep his hand as he propped himself up to get a better look at Steve’s face. “How high are you?”

Steve snorted. “Pretty high.”

“Are you saying you’re into me?” Eddie said warily.

“No,” Steve giggled, lazily shaking his head. “The girl you.” He lifted a hand and plucked his fingers over Eddie’s lips.

Eddie licked his lips as his heart pounded in his throat. “Why do I have to be a girl?”

Steve blew a raspberry. “Men don’t kiss each other.” He spun Eddie’s middle finger ring around.

“What are you talking about?” Eddie shook his head. “Men kiss each other all the time.”

“Really?” He blinked with his whole face and looked at Eddie. “Isn’t it like illegal or something?”

Eddie laughed. “It’s not illegal to kiss, and they lifted the sex law as well.”

“Huh,” Steve didn’t have the brainpower to think about anything deeply.

“Plus, we’re already breaking the law by drinking and being high.”

“True.” Steve closed his eyes. “Fuck the police,” he mumbled, followed by a faint snort.

Eddie wasn’t sure if he should take his opportunity or not, but it was very tempting. He looked so vulnerable with his eyes closed and head vaguely tilted in his direction. I’m not drunk enough for this shit. He sat up and took his hand back.

“Aw,” Steve quietly complained as the hand slipped out of his.

Eddie grabbed a beer and immediately chugged the whole thing, tossing the crushed can into the bushes.

“Why aren’t you as high as I am?” Steve asked with a faint complaint in his voice.

“I’m not all that affected by THC. I feel it, but I can handle it.”

“Ah,” Steve nodded.

Eddie chugged one more can, tossing that one into the quarry. He took a deep breath and turned to Steve. “Still only want the chick version of me?”

“Dude, I can’t figure that shit out right now,” Steve laughed and looked up at Eddie. “But I do kind of want your hand back.”

Eddie chuckled. “You really like my callouses, don’t you?”

“Yeah.” Steve closed his eyes again, snickering. He jumped and opened them back up when he felt Eddie run his fingers over his lips and cheek. He relaxed and grabbed Eddie’s hand, rubbing it on his face.

Eddie bit his lip nervously as he watched Steve nuzzle his hand. “Is it better on more sensitive skin?”

Steve nodded, facilitating his fingers dragging over his cheek. With a deep, shuddered breath, Eddie slid his hand onto the side of Steve’s neck, making him shiver and chuckle. He couldn’t believe Steve was letting him touch him like this. He kind of felt like he was taking advantage of Steve’s inebriated state, but he also didn’t want to miss what was likely his only chance. He didn’t intend for things to go even this far, let alone where they could go from here. Steve’s skin was softer than he expected, or it was just the intoxication. He swallowed as he dragged his hand off Steve’s neck and down the front of his jacket, pulling the zipper with it. The soft smile on Steve’s face was reassuring and concerning. When he unlatched the end of Steve’s jacket, he huffed at the small sliver of belly visible between his polo shirt and pale jeans. He had Steve exactly where he wanted him, but was uncertain how to approach him being so out of it. Tentatively, he grazed his fingertips over the warm, visible skin, causing Steve’s stomach to twitch involuntarily and making him snicker. Steve took a deep breath when Eddie pushed up the hem of his shirt.

Steve chuckled. “What’re you doing?”

“You like my hands, right?” He placed his whole palm on Steve’s stomach and pushed it under his shirt. Steve took a sharp breath and closed his eyes at the feeling.

“Yeah.” Steve looked at Eddie. “I’ve never had a guy touch me like this.”

“Did you want me to stop?” Eddie slid his hand back, partially removing it from the shirt.

“No, not particularly.” Steve reached up and brushed his fingers through the hair that was dangling over Eddie’s shoulder. The feeling of Eddie sliding his hand further under his shirt and onto his waist made him sigh. He scanned over Eddie’s face, his eyes lingering on his lips. Eddie’s words ran through his mind, ‘Men kiss all the time’. Steve propped himself up onto his elbows, startling Eddie.

“I thought you weren’t going to move until you sobered up?” He chuckled nervously at how close Steve’s face was. Unintentionally, he tightened his grip on Steve’s waist.

Steve’s eyes darted frantically all over Eddie’s face. “For a guy, you’re really pretty.” He heaved a half-laugh.

“Pardon?” Eddie stiffened.

“I-” Steve placed a hand on the back of Eddie’s neck and gently tugged him closer. “I said you’re pretty,” he whispered as he pulled Eddie’s face closer and pressed their lips together.

Eddie’s eyes were impossibly wide at Steve’s kiss. He’d stopped breathing and was certain his heart had paused as well. He didn’t know if he was allowed to reciprocate or not, but was unable to stop himself from giving in. He closed his eyes, sighed, and leaned into it, pushing his hand around Steve’s back and gently holding him. When Steve pulled away, Eddie stared at him in disbelief.

Steve smiled and fell back to the ground. “Hmm,” he giggled. “That wasn’t gross.”

“What?” Eddie asked in a daze.

He snorted. “I was always told kissing a guy was gross, but it’s not.”

“Um.” Eddie continued to caress Steve’s side. “Then would you… mind if I did it again?”

Steve chuckled and gazed up at Eddie. “Fine by me.”

Eddie swallowed and crawled over Steve, pushing his hand up to his ribs as he lined their faces up. He licked his lips and gazed at him in awe. The vision of Steve below him was one he wished he could capture an image of. His content smile and hooded eyes were borderline ethereal. He grunted when Steve placed a hand back on his neck and pulled him down. As soon as their lips touched, Eddie closed his eyes and gasped through his nose. He gripped Steve’s ribs and pressed into the kiss, unable to believe that Steve was the one holding him in place. The desire for more was strong, so he tested the waters by gently pressing his tongue against Steve’s lips. Immediately, Steve opened his mouth and slid his tongue into Eddie's. Humming into the escalated kiss, Eddie pressed his own tongue into it as well. His whole body was on fire at finally feeling the inside of Steve’s mouth, something he’d craved for years. If Steve was willing to do this, what else was he willing to do? How far could he push it?

In order to put more force into their kiss, Steve slightly propped himself up onto an elbow, completely locking their mouths together. Eddie’s body quivered at the increase in passion, and he slid his hand onto Steve’s back, caressing the soft skin and indulging in the feeling of Steve’s tongue dancing around his own. Maybe it was due to his mind being clouded, but at least in that moment, Steve didn’t care that Eddie was a man, he was just lost in his touch. He still wanted more, so he moved the hand from Eddie's neck and used it to open his well-worn jacket in order to feel over his slender waist. Eddie groaned into Steve’s mouth when he felt the hand on his skin. There was no way this was actually happening. Eddie almost didn’t want to let himself believe it, but he couldn’t deny the reality. He shivered as Steve ran his hand over his chest and was startled out of the moment when he heard him burst into laughter. “What’s up?” Eddie asked, staring down at his amused face.

“Sorry,” Steve huffed, trying to calm his giggle fit. “I was just thrown off because you don’t have tits.”

“No, I don’t,” Eddie said flatly. “Is that a deal breaker?”

“Oddly enough, no.” Steve laid back on the gravel, caught his breath, and pulled Eddie down to him, locking their mouths together again.

Eddie slid his other hand over the side of Steve’s face and into his hair as he explored his mouth and torso. With one arm wrapped around Eddie’s neck and the other pressing on his back, Steve had him firmly in place. He twitched when he felt a thumb graze over his nipple. Eddie’s touch had already been causing his body to respond, but something about that small gesture was intimate enough for him to fully acknowledge the direction things were going. His initial reaction was to reject it, so he pushed Eddie away. Their eyes met, both with their own startled stare. The only sounds that broke the silence of the night were their heavy breaths and the rustle of an approaching gust of wind. The cold winter air flowed between them, blowing Eddie’s hair over his cheek. A swell of tension built in Steve’s chest, and as soon as Eddie’s hair settled to its original position, he dove back into the kiss with more vigor than before.

Eddie’s mind was spinning from the substance high and the high of their passion. Steve’s body was well built, but had a soft suppleness to it that drove Eddie wild. He hummed as he sunk his fingers into one of Steve’s pecs with a gentle squeeze. Out of everywhere on Steve’s luscious body, the part Eddie wanted to touch more than anything was Steve’s ass. He’d stared at it so many times and dreamed of pressing his fingers into the plush globes. The last couple beers were kicking in and it made it hard for him to deny himself the luxury. He pressed his palm into Steve’s pec and slid it onto his waist, following his erotic curve to the top of his jeans. He felt Steve’s fingertips press into his back as his hands moved across his body. The feeling of Eddie pushing his fingers below his belt and onto his hip made Steve freeze. The sudden change in Steve’s state made Eddie pause and lift out of their kiss. “You good?” he asked hazily.

“Uh,” Steve blinked dramatically and looked up at Eddie. There weren’t many thoughts going on in his head, but he didn’t want Eddie to stop touching him. “Yeah,” he sighed.

With a small nod, Eddie pushed his fingers a little further under the tight belt and grazed them over his hipbone. Steve moved his hands to Eddie’s chest and gently pushed him into a sitting position. Eddie didn’t fight him and sat back on his heels. He watched in awe as Steve closed his eyes and unclasped his belt, pulling it free from the belt loops and tossing it aside.

“There,” Steve said sleepily.

Eddie couldn’t believe his eyes. Steve was obviously hard. To be fair, so was he, but that’s to be expected when you have the man of your dreams in your hands. Was Steve actually hard for him? There was no way. He was snapped out of his trance when Steve picked up both of Eddie’s hands and placed them on his chest, over his shirt.

“Keep.” He gave Eddie a hooded gaze and chuckled feebly. “Keep touching. I like it.” He closed his eyes and pressed Eddie’s hands into his pecs, then delicately stroked his fingers over his rings.

Eddie’s jaw dropped, and he huffed in complete disbelief. Even though it was likely just the inebriation, Steve was still asking, borderline begging for his touch, and he had no intention of denying him that request. He slid his hands back under Steve’s shirt and enjoyed watching him take a deep breath and smile. “Where do you want me to touch?” Eddie dragged his thumbs over the faint happy trail.

“Anywhere,” Steve said with a drowsy laugh, peeking his eyes open slightly and watching Eddie bite his lip.

“Anywhere, huh?” Eddie smiled coyly and moved his hands so he could loop his pinkies under the hem of Steve’s pants and dragged them around his hips. Steve sighed and closed his eyes, allowing Eddie to gently lift his hips and graze his fingers over his lower back.

Eddie took a deep shuddered breath as he pushed his hands into Steve’s pants, under his boxers, and finally got his prize. He groaned and rolled his eyes up as his fingers sunk into the amazing texture of Steve’s ass cheeks. They were far better than anything he could have imagined. He wasn’t sure if it was possible for him to get even harder than he already was, but if so, that did it. He set his spinning head on Steve’s chest as he indulged in massaging the supple ass. He could feel Steve's chest heave with heavy breaths and involuntary laughs. He glanced up at Steve’s euphoric expression, bit his shirt, and pulled it up so he could kiss around his diaphragm. Steve took a sharp breath at the new feeling, but didn’t push him away, instead he placed a hand on Eddie’s shoulder and gently gripped him.

Steve’s grip didn’t prevent his movements as Eddie kissed around his torso. Eddie’s heart raced like never before at Steve’s acceptance. Tentatively, he slid his hands off of Steve’s ass, letting him relax his hips back to the ground. One hand joined Eddie’s lips in exploring his chest, the other rubbed Steve’s thigh over his jeans, inching its way higher. Steve’s grip on Eddie’s shoulder tightened before he ran it down the arm of his jacket and onto the hand on his thigh. Eddie froze when Steve gripped the hand. Slowly, Steve dragged the hand higher, increasing Eddie’s anxiety as he did, and heaved a deep groan when Steve pressed his hand to the hard bulge in his jeans. Holy shit! He gently gripped the dick through the jeans, receiving a relieved sigh from Steve.

“A-are you sure?” Eddie lifted himself so he could get a clear view of Steve’s face, unable to stop himself from grazing his fingers over the outline of the dick in his hand.

Steve pressed Eddie’s hand firmly against it and grunted. “Does that answer your question?”

Eddie nodded nervously.

“Good.” He continued to grind Eddie’s hand on his groin as he lifted himself onto an elbow and kissed Eddie’s slightly parted lips.

Eddie’s head spun in the best way as their lips met. He pressed his tongue into Steve’s mouth as he quickly popped the button on the jeans and unzipped them. He pushed into the kiss, lowering Steve back to the ground while he slid the impressive cock out of the front of his boxers. Steve groaned into their kiss at the first stroke. Eddie smiled and sighed as he gripped it and ran his hand over the soft skin of the shaft. He was actually touching Steve’s dick, something he was certain would only remain in his fantasies. Steve was panting for him, and it sounded more erotic than he expected it would. His own jeans were very uncomfortable, but he didn’t want to take either hand off of Steve’s body in order to give himself relief. He nearly lost it when Steve started moving his hips, thrusting into his hand. He added more vigor to their kiss as he started stroking faster. Every pant, moan, and groan Steve offered was just another box checked on his list of desires.

In order to hear Steve more clearly, Eddie pulled from the kiss and moved to tease his ear with his tongue. Steve shuddered a fairly loud sigh and pressed a hand to the back of Eddie’s head, tangling his fingers in his wild hair. As he’d hoped, the sounds Steve made rang clear into the night. They were soft and erratic. Eddie wanted more; he wanted him louder. He tightened his grip and sped up his pace, receiving his prize of a deep guttural groan and a firm grip on the back of his head. He gasped when he felt Steve touch his waist and slide his hand under his shirt. Eddie closed his eyes and let Steve feel his back and sides freely as he focused on getting Steve off. He treated Steve’s dick as his own, focusing on all the same motions he liked, and it seemed to be working.

Eddie gently kissed down Steve’s neck. When Steve tensed at the teasing sensation, Eddie licked and clamped his lips around a flexed tendon. He ran his tongue over the skin as he delicately sucked on it. Steve sighed a soft groan and gripped Eddie’s slender waist. Even though he was a man, his body was pretty similar to his type, lean with a narrow waist. The only thing that was missing were the boobs. He ran his hand up Eddie’s flat chest, gently circling his finger around his soft areola. It didn’t feel like much, but Eddie was enjoying any attention Steve was willing to offer him. Eventually, Eddie started to taste a hint of something metallic and released his suction on Steve’s neck. Licking and kissing his claim.

When Eddie ran his thumb over the head of Steve’s dick, he swooned at feeling the slick build-up of pre-cum smear over it. He locked their mouths back together and huffed when Steve was the first one to force his tongue through their lips. Eddie quivered as he stroked Steve with only one goal in mind. He relished Steve’s moans and flexes at the increase in intensity. The feeling of Steve’s body writhing below him as he got closer to orgasm was torturously sexy. Steve dug his short nails into Eddie’s back as his panting and groans got louder and more rapid. He broke the kiss and tipped his head back. Eddie took the opportunity to kiss down his throat and around his Adam’s apple. Once Eddie felt the familiar warning flexes, he moved his hand near the head of the dick, catching the cum in his hand before it shot over Steve’s shirt and jacket. Steve moaned loud enough for it to faintly echo around them. The warm flood of semen coated Eddie’s fingers as he continued to stroke the last few spurts out of him.

Steve groaned and let his body go limp, panting. Eddie lifted himself so he was sitting on his heels and looked at the cum coating his hand, Steve’s cum. He turned his attention to Steve himself, who was panting, one hand still limply resting on Eddie’s hip. He perked when Steve started chuckling. “What’s so funny?”

Steve shook his head. “Nothing really, but I’ve never gotten off to someone giving me a hand-job before.”

Eddie smirked. “That’s understandable, you’ve only gotten hand-jobs from women. I have a dick, so I know what feels good.”

Steve nodded lazily, closing his eyes. “Makes sense.” He shivered as Eddie put his dick away for him and closed his pants back up.

“I’m going to go wash this off.” He flicked his cum covered hand, sending some of it flying to the gravel beside them.

“Mmkay,” Steve chuckled and closed his eyes.

Eddie shook his head, trying to get some sense of stability as he grabbed the two remaining beers and ungracefully walked to the back of his van. After he opened the back doors, he set the beers inside and grabbed a water bottle from a torn open pack beside his amp. He opened it with his teeth and spat out the cap into the back. He took a long drink from it before pouring it onto his hand, rubbing his fingers over his palm to remove the bulk of the cum. He was still in disbelief at what just happened, to think that Steve Harrington would let a man touch him like that, let alone the town freak. He was positive that this night was going to end with him having the worst case of blue balls he’s ever experienced. With a heavy sigh, he wiped the rest of the water and cum on his pants before grabbing a few more bottles of water and returning to Steve.

When he got back, Steve was still laying on the ground, spinning the empty six-pack ring on his finger. Eddie smiled and sat next to him, handing him a bottle of water.

“Thanks.” Steve let the plastic ring fall off of his finger as he took the bottle and sat up. He cracked it open and chugged half of it in one go. Eddie opened one for himself and casually drank it, keeping his eyes locked on Steve’s profile. He watched Steve’s lips move as he spoke. “I really expected that to be weirder than it was.”

Eddie laughed briefly and leaned back on a hand, looking over the quarry. “Yeah?”

“Yeah.” Steve swirled the water in his bottle. “My brain isn’t back on-line yet, but it’s odd to think I could be gay.” He snorted.

Eddie nearly choked on his water and looked back at him. “Trust me, Steve. You are not gay.”

“Really?” Steve glanced over at Eddie.

“Really,” he laughed.

“Well, that’s a relief.” Steve tipped the last of the water into his mouth.

“Don’t like the idea of being gay?”

“I just like boobies too much to want to switch to dick.”

Eddie laughed at Steve’s naivety. He wasn’t going to put out the effort to explain the complexities of sexual orientation to an intoxicated, rich boy.

“Wait,” Steve yawned as he laid back down. “So, are you gay?”

“Gay as they come,” Eddie said plainly.

Steve nodded. “So, were the chocolates actually you trying to hit on me?”

Eddie smiled and lay down beside him. “Maybe to some degree. I mean, you are a very attractive man.”

Something about hearing that from another man made the compliment hit harder. Steve huffed through his nose and smiled at Eddie. “Is that why you’re still pitching?” the bulge in Eddie’s pants caught his attention.

“Yup,” Eddie said unashamed, staring at the sky with his hands behind his head.

“Why don’t you just jerk off?”

Eddie raised his eyebrows at Steve in shock. “That has to be the weed talking.”

“Nah,” Steve chuckled. “You’ve never jerked off around your friends before?”

“No!” Eddie’s eyes were wide at Steve’s words.

“I used to do it all the time with Tommy.” Steve shrugged as he spoke casually.

“Hagan?” Eddie furrowed his brow at this flood of new, baffling information.

“Yeah.”

“Sometimes I swear straight guys are gayer than we are.”

“I don’t see how it’s gay. We watch porn of women and jerk off. It’s not too different from watching a movie with a friend.”

“That’s all well and good, but me masturbating next to you would be like you beating one off beside Nancy. A.K.A. a little more than awkward. Also, why are you trying to convince me to jerk it in front of you?”

“Not trying to convince. Just letting you know it wouldn’t bother me.” He glanced over at Eddie. “Y’know, if you wanted to avoid blue balls. It’s not like I’m going to touch you or anything.”

“It’d be less weird if you did,” Eddie mumbled under his breath.

“Did you want me to?” Steve offered simply.

Eddie whipped his head to Steve. “What?” ******************************Steve did not just offer that!

“Did you want me to return the favor?”

“You don’t have to do that!” Eddie stated loudly.

Steve shrugged. “Only seems fair.” He sat up and got closer to Eddie, who was propping himself up on an elbow. “Did you not want me to?”

“I- I mean, I won’t say no, but I didn’t expect anything in return.” He swallowed as Steve inched up to him.

Steve smiled and gave Eddie a gentle kiss, making him relax a little.

“You really don’t have to do this, Steve.” Every nerve in his body was on high alert. “I can just take care of it when I get ho-” He was cut off by Steve pressing his tongue into his mouth. He closed his eyes and shivered when he felt Steve’s hand on his thigh. As soon as Steve pulled from the kiss, Eddie frantically stated, “Steve, seriously, you do-” Once again, he got cut off by Steve’s mouth on his own.

Steve pulled away and smiled, sliding his hands further up Eddie’s thigh. “What if a part of me is curious?” He watched Eddie’s eyes roll up as he pressed his hand over the trapped erection. Eddie’s resolve to fight Steve was thin to begin with, but that entirely broke any desire to push Steve away.

Fuck it. Eddie grabbed the back of Steve’s head and plunged his tongue into his mouth, receiving a faint sigh as their tongues intertwined. Steve did his best to stay in the kiss as he unbuckled Eddie’s belt. There was a taboo to what he was doing, a feeling that he rarely let himself indulge in, and a thrill to it as he pulled the belt free and started in on the button to Eddie’s jeans. Steve’s eagerness was more than Eddie could have asked for. Maybe Steve actually was bi. Did he have any chance of this becoming more than a one-night stand? He dared not hope for something so outlandish and chose to just let himself enjoy the moment as it was.

Eddie groaned loudly into Steve’s mouth when his dick was finally freed and touched. It was the first time anyone other than himself had touched it, and it was vastly different from him doing it himself. He just couldn’t accept that the first man ever to touch him like this was Steve Harrington. Eddie let himself fall back and out of the kiss, closing his eyes and focusing on the feeling of Steve’s soft hand stroking him. He stretched out, panting, and running his hands through his hair.

Steve swallowed. He didn’t hate the experience as much as he thought he would. What started as a curiosity had transformed into a fixation. Eddie’s back arched, his jacket falling to the side as his chest lifted from it, revealing just how slender he was. Steve was still pretty high and buzzed, but he had come down enough to be fully aware of his actions and there was no denying he had a dick in his hand and was stroking it with the intent to get another man off, a man that had just done the same for him. From everything he’d been told, he was certain this would feel gross or wrong in some way, but it didn’t. In fact, he kind of liked it. He just treated the dick the way he would want someone to treat his, and Eddie looked like he was losing his mind. The rapid heaving of Eddie’s chest, his lustful sounds, and the way his body writhed was surprisingly attractive. He honestly couldn’t tell if he would prefer Eddie to be a woman or not.

Eddie was embarrassed, not only by Steve doing this, but also because he was already getting close. He wasn’t able to stop himself from moving his hips and moaning loudly as he was pushed to the brink of orgasm. Steve was so distracted by watching Eddie’s body convulse and the sounds of his pleasure ringing through his ears, that he didn’t notice Eddie was getting close until a bit of cum hit him on the cheek, the rest spilling onto Eddie’s exposed stomach as he groaned dramatically and arched his back. Steve stared at his cum covered hand, not something he was unfamiliar with, but it was the first time it was someone else’s. His eyes settled past his hand and onto the softening cock and mess of semen around it. He’d just gotten a man off, he’d just gotten off to a man, and his body was almost urging him for more if the new pressure in his jeans was any indication.

Eddie let his body relax as he panted in relief. When he opened his eyes, he saw Steve staring at his cum drenched hand. He chuckled weakly. “There’s an unopened water bottle behin-” His mouth fell open when Steve turned to face him and he noticed the streak of cum on his cheek. “Shit, sorry.” Eddie sat up and wiped it off with his thumb, startled when Steve took the opportunity to kiss him. He closed his eyes, wiping the cum from his thumb and onto his still-open jeans. He leaned into the kiss and slid a hand up the arm Steve was using to support himself, bummed there was a jacket between his hand and Steve’s skin. “Was that as weird as you thought it would be?” Eddie asked playfully as they parted.

Steve sighed and grabbed the water bottle. “No…” Eddie helped him open it. “It wasn’t that weird at all, honestly.” He poured the water over his hand and used his shirt to dry it off and wipe off the left-over cum. After his hand was clear, he drank half of what remained and handed it to Eddie, who smiled and finished it off. “You sure I’m not gay?” There was a hint of worry in his voice.

“You can like both, you know?” Eddie said plainly, finally catching his breath. He used the bottom of his shirt to wipe up what cum he could and fixed his pants.

“You can? I thought it was a one or the other thing.”

“It’s not that simple. I won’t get into the grit of it, but do you like women’s bodies?”

“Absolutely,” Steve answered quickly.

“Did you like my body?” Eddie asked, sitting up.

Steve glanced away in thought. “Yeah, I think I did.”

“Then you like both. There’s no shame in that.” He shrugged and stretched. He could feel the effects of the high slowly waning.

“Huh…” Steve sat up and crossed his legs and arms. He’d never really thought about it like that, but he’d also never thought about jerking a guy off.

“How’re you feeling, anyway?”

The question snapped Steve out of his thoughts. “Getting there. Wouldn’t trust myself behind a wheel yet, though.”

Eddie chuckled. “Same.” He felt a strange, nervous elation as he laid back down. He watched his breath in the cool air. It made him want a cigarette, but he didn’t want to go back to his car where he left them.

Steve gazed over at Eddie and moved so that when he laid down, their heads were perpendicular. “Ever done that before?” He stared up at the night sky.

“Nah, that was my first hand-job.”

“Giving or receiving?”

“Both.”

Steve raised an eyebrow. “Shit. Are you a virgin?”

Eddie laughed weakly. “Yeah.”

“Don’t tell me that was your first kiss, too?”

“It was,” he snickered.

“Shit, man, sorry.”

Eddie laughed and rested the back of his hand on Steve’s chest. “Don’t be. I’m glad it was you.” He twitched when Steve grabbed his hand and started messing with his rings and callouses again.

Slowly, reality settled in and Steve sighed, giving Eddie’s hand a firm squeeze. “I hate to ask this, but… could we act like this never happened?”

Even though Eddie was expecting it, the words still stung. “Yeah…”

“Sorry, I jus-”

“Don’t worry, man. I get it.” He gripped Steve’s hand.

“Thanks.”

They laid there in silence while Steve continued to passively toy with Eddie’s hand. “Oh,” Eddie broke the silence. “I gave you a hickey, sorry.”

Steve laughed. “It’s fine. No one would think it was from a man, so I’ll just avoid talking about it.”

“Yeah, who would ever think that Steve Harrington, the king of Hawkins High, would ever touch another man’s cock?”

He shook his head at the absurdity of what he'd done. “I was right there with them until tonight.”

“I’m flattered I was the one to open your eyes to the other side.”

Steve chuckled. “I’ve got to hand it to you. That’s not an easy feat.”

“You already did.”

Steve lightly hit Eddie in the chest, unable to repress a laugh. “Shut up.”

“I know you don’t know me well, but that’s something that has been deemed impossible by everyone that does.”

“Seems to be a common trait with your kind.” Steve took his hand off of Eddie’s chest and returned to playing with his rings.

“My kind?”

“Nerds,” he said plainly.

“I still can’t wrap my brain around you hanging out with freaks and nerds.”

“It’s a long story that I’d rather not get into, but yeah, I know at least four little shits that adore that fucking game.”

“And they’re children? Aren’t you full of surprises?”

“They’ll be in high school next year, actually.”

“If I fail another year, I’ll keep an eye out for them.”

“Another?”

Eddie laughed. “Yeah, this is my second senior year.”

“And I thought my grades were bad.”

“If I can’t be the best, why not be the worst?”

Steve snorted. “Interesting way to look at it.”

“Eh, it’s not like rock stars need good grades.”

“Rock star, huh?” Steve said skeptically.

“You’ll be eating that tone when you see my name on billboards.”

“Got a band?” He turned his attention from Eddie’s rings to his callouses.

“Hells yeah.” Steve rubbing his fingers was relaxing. “Corroded Coffin, baby.”

“Quite the name. What do you play?”

“Only the sickest metal. You should come see us sometime.”

“You have a show?”

“There you go with that tone again. And yes, of course, we have a show. We play every Tuesday night at the Hideout.”

“I’ll have to keep it in mind.” He squeezed Eddie’s hand and set it aside, sitting up. His head didn’t immediately spin. “I think I’m good enough to at least make it the mile-ish home.”

Eddie sighed and sat up. “You sure?”

“What?” Steve smiled cockily. “Don’t want me to go?”

Eddie chuckled. “I am enjoying the company.”

“Me too, but I’m beat. And if I don’t head home soon, I’ll pass out at the wheel.” Steve stood and stretched with a yawn.

Eddie stood as well and picked up Steve’s baseball bat, meekly handing it to him. “So I guess this is goodbye. After you leave, we’ll just be back to strangers.”

Steve’s face softened at Eddie’s disappointed expression. He wanted to tell him otherwise, but was unable to. “Yeah…” Steve swung the bat in his hand. “Thanks again for tonight. I’m glad I showed up.”

“Me too.” Eddie smiled softly. They nodded to each other, and Steve walked away. “Hey, Steve,” he impulsively called after him, taking a step forward. He froze as soon as Steve looked at him. “This, uh,”

Steve raised his eyebrow at Eddie being awkward. It was strangely adorable.

“This may be a little weird, but do you think…” He pulled at his lip with his teeth. “Do you think I could get one last kiss?”

Steve smiled at the request and set the bat down by the back tire of his car. He quickly walked up to Eddie and pulled him into a kiss by his waist. Eddie groaned on contact and wrapped his arms around Steve’s neck. He was grateful Eddie asked for it because he’d been wanting to kiss him since they laid down.

“Thanks,” Eddie said shyly as they pulled away.

Steve shook his head. “I wanted to anyway.”

“Really?” Eddie tried to step back, then smiled when he noticed Steve was firmly holding him in place.

“Eddie…”

Hearing Steve say his name so intimately made Eddie’s whole body tingle.

Steve brought a hand to Eddie’s cheek and caressed his thumb over his lips. “Just because I want us to act like this didn’t happen, doesn’t mean I’m going to forget it ever happened.”

Eddie smiled happily.

“You’ve given me a night to remember, that’s for sure.” He cupped the back of Eddie’s head and pulled him into a kiss.

Eddie tightened his grip around Steve’s neck and pressed desperately against his lips. “Right back at ya.” They shared another brief kiss before stepping away from each other. Steve ran his fingers through the ends of Eddie’s hair. After a deep breath, Eddie stole one more kiss. “If you want a round two, you know where to find me.”

Steve huffed a small laugh and nodded, unsure if he’d ever actually take up the offer.

“Now get out of here before I decide to take you home myself.” He watched as Steve put the bat in his trunk and walk to the driver’s side. “Drive safe, Harrington,” he called with a wave.

Steve waved back. “You too.”

“Oh, I’m never safe, don’t worry.”

Steve laughed and shook his head as he got in the car. He gave Eddie one more glance before driving off. Watching the taillights disappear around a corner filled Eddie with a deep heaviness. He sighed and turned back to the cliff, collecting anything they left. He smiled when he saw that Steve had forgot his belt. He brought it with him and returned home.

༒༒༒༒༒༒༒༒༒༒༒༒༒༒༒༒༒༒༒༒༒༒༒༒

The next day, Eddie felt a sense of pride when Steve wore a shirt that clearly showed off the hickey he left. He enjoyed watching him get teased for it and he got goosebumps every time their eyes met. For the first time, he knew Steve actually saw him and wasn’t seeing through him. None of Eddie’s friends knew he was gay, so he didn’t exactly have anyone to talk to about what happened, but if he did, and he hadn’t made that promise, he’d be talking their ear off.

༒༒༒༒༒༒༒༒༒༒༒༒༒༒༒༒༒༒༒༒༒༒༒༒

Steve did his best not to stare at Eddie anytime they were near each other, and just as he’d stated, they had two classes together and frequently passed each other in the halls. At the end of the day, he went to his locker and started laughing when he saw his belt in it. He picked it up and noticed a piece of paper tucked in the buckle. It had a phone number on it followed by ‘-E’. Steve smiled to himself and tucked the note in his pocket and the belt in his bag before leaving.

[mrsweasley23]

Wayne is ill. Bills are mounting and Eddie is struggling to keep up. Eddie doesn't want to get into trouble and leave Wayne alone so drugs are out. What the hell does he have worth anything? What the hell is he good at? Nothing that could raise the amount he needs. So Eddie decides to sell his virginity to the highest bidder. Steve hears about this and is horrified, worried for Eddie's safety. He's not jealous, of course, because he's definitely, definitely not gay. So, in saviour Steve style, he has to step up and make the highest bid. However, he knows Eddie will think it's charity if he doesn't take what he has paid good money for so he has to seal the deal. But just because he cares about Eddie. He's definitely not gay. Not even a little bit...

[morganski-19]

Conversation 2: Labyrinth

This happens prefic, mentioned in chapter two of the main fic. can be read as a stand-alone. also available on ao3

“I just don’t understand why you are so reluctant to watch it,” Robin complains from where she is draped against Steve’s countertop.

Steve rolls his eyes. “It’s not that I’m reluctant to watch it. I just don’t think I’ll like it very much is all.” The microwave dings and he takes out the bag and pours the popcorn into a bowl.

Robin groans. “You never think you like anything. And then you watch it and you end up loving it.” Steve gives her a disbelieving glare. “Ok, half the time. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t give it a chance, though.” She wanders over and plucks a popcorn kernel. 

“Hey,” he swaps her hand out of the way, “No snacking until Eddie gets here.” 

“Speaking of which, how’s that going,” Robin bounces her eyebrows. 

A lump forms in Steve’s throat that he can’t explain. “What do you mean? We’re friends.”

She rolls her eyes. “Uh huh, sure. But is there like, anything more than-” Before Robin can go on about whatever she seems to think is going on between Steve and Eddie, which is nothing because they are just friends and Steve’s straight so it would never end up being more than that, the doorbell rings. 

Steve walks over to the door and opens it to Eddie leaning on his doorway. “Harrington. Are you ready to see the great masterpiece that is Labyrinth?” He says with a mischievous smile.

Apparently, the movie was a favorite between Eddie and Robin, much to Steve’s disliking. Not that he’s mad that they want him to see it, he likes it when people share the things they love with him. It makes him feel like they trust him enough to not be judged for it. Except this may be the exception since the movie has fucking puppets and David Bowie with big hair and eyeliner. It’s just a movie he doesn’t think he’ll find himself liking.

“He is definitely not,” Robin calls out from the kitchen. “He’s been complaining about having to watch it for the last hour.”

Eddie does an exasperated, dramatic gasp and slaps a hand to his chest. “I can not believe that you would be so dramatic about something that you have yet to see. You never know, you could like it.”

“Yeah I’m the dramatic one,” Steve mutters as he rolls his eyes. “It has puppets. Doesn’t seem like something I’d like.”

“Awww, scared puppets are just for children, Stevie. You have clearly not seen the puppets in Dark Crystal then, those have given many a child nightmares.” Steve steps out of the way to let Eddie into the house. “And if you truly do not like it, then at least you get some free beer out of it,” He raises a case of beer, the bottles clanking together.

“I told you you didn’t have to bring anything.” 

Eddie places the case down on the counter with a thump. “Yes, I know. But you let all of the little twerps raid your fridge for whatever they want, plus me and Birdie when we’re here. Someone has to repay the favor sometime.”

A warmth fills Steve's chest. It’s something he can’t quite explain but happens a lot when he’s around Eddie. The small gestures that the other would do to make sure that Steve felt included or make sure that he was checked up on. He never looked down at Steve when he said something dumb or asked a million questions. The opposite in fact. Eddie would explain what was going on without any malice or condescending nature or repeat something that Steve didn’t catch without rolling his eyes. It wasn’t much, but it still made Steve smile. 

It also filled his mind and heart with something he hasn’t felt in a long time. Something that he doesn’t quite understand, and doesn’t really think he wants to. It’s odd and confusing and makes his head hurt and heart ache when he thinks too much about it. So he pushes it away into a little box in the back of his mind to forget about it forever. He’s had too much to think about in the past few months, he thinks that a few moments of peace are well deserved before his world changes again. Because he thinks that thinking about it too much would only open up something that he’ll never be able to shut again. 

And that is something that scares him.

“Thanks,” Steve mutters. 

Eddie opens up two beers, shoving one into Steve’s hand. “No problem, man,” he says while clinking their bottles. Steve stares at his bottle for a bit, confusion flooding in.

A piece of popcorn makes contact with Steve’s forehead. “Are we going to watch this or what?” Robin asks annoyed. 

“Ugh, yeah, I guess so,” Steve says, falling out of his trance. 

“Don’t sound so excited, Harrington.” 

Steve rolls his eyes as he slides the tape into the VCR. Taking his place on the couch between Eddie and Robin, it starts to play. Robin squirms around on the couch until she finds a comfortable position, laying her legs in Steve’s lap. She has commandeered the popcorn bowl, only passing it over every once in a while, but successfully eating over half the bowl by herself in the first twenty minutes. 

The movie is confusing, to say the least. For some reason, he can’t seem to follow the plot too well, something just not clicking right in his brain. He can tell that there is a baby, which got kidnapped because the girl wished him away. And the book she was reading was actually real and came to life because it apparently can do that. The goblin king, who was David Bowie in surprisingly tight pants for a children’s movie, would dance around and sing in practically every scene he was in. Steve can’t say exactly why, but his eyes find themselves fixated on him whenever he’s on screen.

And then suddenly, there are puppets. But not the puppets that Steve was expecting. Large bulky puppets that are quite ugly looking if you ask him, which is probably the point since they’re supposed to be goblins and other creatures. 

Eddie leans over Steve’s shoulder, hair tickling his neck, whispering, “You know those puppets are made by the same guy who makes the muppets?”

“Really?” Steve whispers back.

He nods. “Yeah, he’s the one who made the movie. Made the one I mentioned before too. Can’t imagine this being the same gut who sings ‘It’s Not Easy Being Green’, huh?”

“Not really, no,” he replies, laughing to himself about what it would look like if Kermit of Fozzy rounded the corner and joined the group.  

Eddie seems satisfied, leaning back into his space. His leg, however, doesn’t. It is still pressed up against Steve from when he shifted to lean over. Normally, he wouldn’t mind. It’s not the biggest couch in the world and can become crowded when people spread out. Especially when Robin claims a good bit by spreading out. But something about the constant presence was suffocating Steve. 

It’s not like they haven’t been close like this before. They’d often get this close on the couch during movie nights. And Eddie was never shy about physical touch before, always touching Steve or getting up in his personal space when they hung out. It was something that Steve found he really liked. He’d never really had that with a friend before all of this. Even Robin had her moments where she needed her space, and he was more willing to give it. But even then, it was never him reaching out for the touch. Steve never realized how much he missed that until Eddie came around. 

Bowie returns to the screen with a dance, prancing about the screen while he sings. Steve tenses, but he can’t really place why. He feels, weird. That’s all he can describe it as. Something about it just doesn’t feel right, like he wants to feel something for him, but can’t. Because something isn’t right with it. He takes a long swig of his beer. 

He’s rolling a crystal ball on his hands when Eddie leans over again. “He’s not the one actually doing that. They had someone standing behind him sticking their hands out through his arms to do the tricks.” 

“Huh,” Steve asks confused, not being able to visualize what Eddie was saying. 

“Here,” Eddie motions for Steve to lean forward a bit. He wraps an arm around his back and sticks both of his hands under Steve’s arm, reaching out in front of him. Like hugging him from behind, but not. Steve stiffens, breath hitching at the touch. “Like this.”

“Oh,” is all Steve can muster, overwhelmed by the presence. 

Eddie removes his arms, Steve’s back feeling empty from the lack of warmth. “Yeah, and the guy had to do it blind too.”

“Could you both shut up and watch the damn movie?” Robin complains, cutting off any thought that was starting to form in Steve’s head. The two shut up, diverting their attention back to the movie. 

Sarah continues to make her way through the labyrinth, meeting goblins and other creatures until she makes her way to the end of it. Eddie shifts again, resting an arm on the back of the couch, brushing against the back of Steve’s neck. 

His breath hitches again at the touch as a line of electricity shoots down his spine. It’s nothing, he tries to convince himself. But when he shifts, inadvertently getting close to Eddie again, another spark shoots through him. It’s different, but not all the same. Steve stiffens, trying to separate himself from Eddie’s touch without the other noticing or getting offended. Because he can’t think about this here, not now. Here he might not be able to ignore it, and that’s all Steve wants to do.

He’s started having thoughts like these before. Noticed how sometimes he would act differently around Eddie than he would anyone else. Finding it hard to find the right words, getting flustered easily with something so simple the other did. A warmth finding its way to his face or his heart beating a bit too fast when the other was around. Hell, he even did it tonight. The dots wanted to connect, but Steve stopped them, focusing hard on trying to figure out whatever the hell was going on with this movie. 

The end of the movie comes as Sarah confronts Bowie’s character for the last time. He again can’t seem to take his eyes away from the actor, confused as to why he can’t seem to do so. 

Suddenly, the box breaks open and it all starts to make sense. He’s attracted to him, that’s clear. It’s like whenever there was a female character on the screen who had their shirt off for a few seconds or just looked hot. Except this time it isn’t a girl and happens to be David fucking Bowie in tight pants in a movie he’s barely paid any attention to because he’s so confused as to why he feels so weird. 

And something about it all still feels wrong. 

Something is whispered in Steve’s ear that he can’t quite comprehend. “Hm,” He questions. 

“Micheal Jackson was initially interested to be Jareth, but Henson’s daughters convinced him to go with Bowie instead,” Eddie whispers, sending more shivers through Steve, heading down to a place he doesn’t want them to be. 

He breaks away from Eddie’s touch, leaning his head on the back of the couch. Except he doesn’t because Eddie’s arm is there, so it rests there instead. Steve can’t seem to pull it away, feeling immense warmth flood through him at the touch. Again he shifts, pressing his side up against Eddie, running toward feeling more of that warmth. 

As Jareth is defeated by the girl reciting the last line of her book, Steve can’t help but think about what it would look like for someone else to play him. He’s sure that Jackson or anyone else would pull it off, but it would be different. Something about Bowie playing the role seems right, though, the whole rocker vibe was fitting somehow. 

Yet, he can’t help but think about what another person would look like in the role. Maybe someone with darker hair, curly even. Add a few chains to the outfit, a few rings maybe too. If they even wanted to, add the character playing guitar along with the music in the movie. 

Eddie shifts again, brushing his hand on Steve’s shoulder, almost resting it there to see if Steve would say anything about it. He doesn’t because the feeling of being this close to Eddie makes his heart thunder in his chest. The box cannot be closed. 

Oh

Oh

Oh shit, no. 

Eddie nudges him on the shoulder, “Hey, you alright?”

He hadn’t noticed it in the moment, but he was clenching his fists and his breath was increased, almost on the verge of hyperventilating. “Yeah, I’m fine,” Steve lies. Because in actuality, Steve was terrified. 

[kermitscavern]

The John Hughes Blues Pt. 4

<- prev | find it on AO3! | next ->

time for some Eddie pov 👀👀 ft. Eddie's gay awakening

Eddie Munson misses Steve Harrington. And Eddie Munson might hate himself a little bit, too. That’s the only reason he can come up with for this self-imposed isolation, some complex kind of self-sabotage. Sometimes he thinks he hates Steve Harrington, for making him feel like this, for forcing him to do this to himself. He knows that’s stupid, though, because Eddie Munson loves Steve Harrington.

Love and hate are two sides of the same coin, isn’t that how the saying goes? Eddie thinks he understands now. Feeling for a person so strongly that you’re not sure what you’re feeling anymore. I love you. I hate you. I hate you because I love you. It’s all Steve’s fault, really, for making him love him. It was hard to tell when it started, though, because Eddie had always kind of admired Steve, he was a good-looking guy. But he was pretty sure he fell, and fell hard, when Steve started caring.

Steve always cared, in some way, because caring for people was practically his default setting. But Eddie had known that he’d made it into Steve’s inner circle when he started really caring, personally and fervently. It was the same feeling as walking into your favorite coffee shop and being able to order “the regular,” the feeling of familiarity, of belonging. He knew he had made it when Steve remembered to order him a large fries from the pizza place, because it was the one time he allowed himself to splurge. He knew he had made it when Steve correctly guessed three different songs when they went for a ride one night, like he had been studying or something. When Eddie had jokingly asked him if he had, it was a delight to see him turn pink and hesitantly deny the accusation. Eddie loved that he cared. That fucker.

Because now he has to hate him for making him love him, otherwise it’s very possible he’ll implode. He’s trying to flip the coin, because Steve made him love him, knowing he’d never love him back. Eddie’s gone down that road enough times to know the only way to protect himself is to flip that love to hate.

The first time Eddie fell in love with a straight boy was freshman year. He hadn’t had many friends in middle school, a broken home life plus a small town had made him an outsider from early on. Lucky for him, Hawkins High had kids from Hawkins and their neighboring town, so there was a host of new faces that hadn’t known him long enough to hate him yet. Among these faces was one Eddie came to be particularly fond of— Caleb Montgomery.

Throughout middle school, Eddie had just thought he was a late bloomer. Sure, he grew like a weed, his voice dropped, but he kept wondering when the whole “liking girls” thing was supposed to kick in. Evidently, it never did. Eddie had always admired boys, but he thought it was the same thing as girls looking at models in magazines and saying, “God, look at her! I wish I had tits like that.” In his mind, admiring people was totally fine, as long as you weren’t, like, weird about it. Then came locker rooms after gym class, and Eddie quickly took to changing alone, in a toilet stall. He finally realized why the whole “liking girls” thing never kicked in.

Enter freshman year drama class. After realizing that fading into the background wouldn’t make the bullies go away, Eddie began to take their perception of him in stride. He created a kind of alter ego, someone supremely confident to the point of being untouchable. Someone overly dramatic. So he joined drama. He acted “The Freak” well enough he thought he might as well give it a shot, and besides, he figured he’d much prefer the kinds of people he met in drama class to the ones he’d meet in shop. It turned out he really did, especially when that kind of person turned out to be Caleb.

The two got extremely close extremely quickly, and Eddie got maybe a little bit too attached. He didn’t mean to get a crush on Caleb, but once he realized what was happening it was a little bit too late. It was embarrassing looking back, really. How clingy he got, how often he tried to pass it off with phrases like “attached at the hip” and “brotherly bond.” He was fifteen when he figured out he was gay, but he had learned to hide it way before then. He wasn’t as good at hiding it as he thought, it turned out, because by January Caleb had stopped inviting him over as often, and by February Caleb was pulling him aside and telling him to ‘cut it out, you’re being really needy and weird. Just leave me alone for a bit, okay? you’re kinda creeping me out.’ Though not so eloquently put, the words had stung. So it turned out the stereotype about drama kids wasn’t always true, but at least Caleb wasn’t nasty about it. They stopped talking, but at least he never told anyone else. He still gave Eddie a small perfunctory smile when they passed in the halls, and by the time they got to senior year, Eddie was dreading telling his uncle he had failed half his classes and would have to repeat, but at least it would mark an end to the painful half-smiles and the crushing guilt that came with them.

Since then, Eddie has dedicated himself to making sure it never happens again. Whenever he feels himself getting close to someone, he makes sure to pull away first, for both their sakes. He hates that he has to do it to Steve, because there was something about him that really was just different,but he knows it’s for the best.

[morganbritton132]

Wait.

You know who else is into really niche stuff and photography? Jonathan Byers.

That guy goes out to California, picks up an art book from a thrift store, and falls in love with the way this specific model is photographed.

Once everything calms down and the Byers are back in Hawkins, he tries to recreate one of the photos. It’s not working so he shows his friends the picture to see if they have any ideas.

Robin looks at it and then at Steve with just the biggest smile. Steve is just like, “Shut the fuck up, Robin.”

Steve, a former child model that was moderately successful in very niche art house circles and would’ve probably still been successful if his parents didn’t try to fix their relationship by dumping him in a small town and becoming conservative, thanks god everyday that Hawkins is where culture goes to die. Those pictures will never see the light of day here and he’s happy about that.

Robin, the daughter of hippies and lover of niche art house stuff, spends year harboring a crush on a pretty androgynous girl in her parents’ art books.

She shows one to Steve and says something like, “This is the girl that made me realize that I liked girls.”

Steve’s like… “That’s me.”

Robin just stares at him so Steve moves her finger to a different person on the page and says, “Say it was her. I can get you her number.”

[your-stranger-halfblood-things]

Eddie cought himself from falling by propping himself up against a tree. He slumped down to the ground. "Steve, I need a break. I'm out of blood and I'm really dizzy," the vampire said with a shiver.

Steve looked at him in concern. "If you need blood, you can always drink some of mine," he offered.

Eddie shook his head. "I'd kill you."

"No. The bats bit me too, so I'm kind of immune to it now. I'm sure I'll be immune to your bites too," Steve insisted. "And you're dying...again. You need to drink."

Silence.

"Fine. How do you want to do this?" Eddie asked. "Wrist or neck?"

"I think wrist would hurt more, so maybe my neck." Steve came closer to Eddie and dropped to his knees so he was leveled with the other man. "Do your worst."

"Don't tempt me," Eddie muttered, eyeing Steve's neck. He was hungry and the thought of drinking blood from a live human made his head swarm.

Eddie leaned in on his knees and touched Steve's shoulders. The younger man tilted his head to the right and gave the vampire room to drink from. Then he waited. He waited for the pain, but none came.

"Ed-" Steve started to question, but then Eddie kissed his neck. It made him question everything. Eddie kissed my neck. And before he could dive deeper into the thought, Eddie sunk his fangs into him. "Ah-"

The feeling was odd, but not bad. It stung a little, and he could feel the blood moving, but he didn't mind it. All he could think about was how Eddie's lips were on his neck. And Eddie was being so gentle with him that it made Steve wonder why he ever doubted Eddie ever.

Eddie started making noises as he drank more and more, sucking harder and harder. Eddie backed away from Steve, blood dripping from his lips, and he stared at the younger man before lunging at him. He knocked Steve onto the leafy, dirt ground and crawled on him. He went back to licking and drinking from his neck. The younger man whimpered.

Steve looked up at the sky with tears in his eyes. It hurt, what Eddie was doing to him hurt. But he liked it. He didn't know what was wrong with him. "Eddie, please." He didn't know what he wanted, he just knew he wanted Eddie to continue whatever this was.

They didn't talk about it after. Eddie was busy cleaning his face and Steve was bandaging up his neck with the first aid they brought. It was as if it never happened, but it did happen. And it meant everything to Steve.

[dwobbitfromtheshire]

I love where Steve is the clueless one, but I love it and believe it even more that Steve got dick before Eddie did, and with the hanky thing. . .there's no way he's cruising 24/7, but I do love those headcanons. It's just not mine. He did it as a metalhead thing, and I firmly believe that he got hit on quite a few times, leaving him quite confused. . .Plus, Steve was in so many sports: baseball, swim team, basketball. . .so homoerotical charged. . .he definitely hooked up with some of his teammates even if he didn't know he was bisexual. I also like to headcanon that he didn't really know he liked women until Nancy Wheeler. Maybe he thought he was trying to like women because he thought that's what he was supposed to do. Like, don't get me wrong, I like the idea of Eddie or Jonathan being his bisexual awakening, but there's something about Nancy Wheeler being his bisexual awakening that is soooo good. I've probably already said this before but fuck it, I'm going to say it again because now, that I'm thinking about it, that's probably why he's so awkward with women after Nancy. He had no problem flirting with them when he thought he was gay because it was harmless, and it didn't lead to anywhere. He knew that, and most of the women knew that. . .

[rotteneldritchhorror]

I desperately need Steve to stop getting his bi awakening/solidifications from being almost killed by guys who hate him

First Jonathan kicks his teeth in and starts up that whole “maybe… men?” Thought process

Then fucking Billy beating the shit out of him and him having to reckon with both hating his guts and thinking he’s hot as shit

Then he fully realised “hmmmm maybe these aren’t normal feelings- maybe this is gay shit” with Eddie holding a broken bottle to his throat lol

Please can this man have have a guy-crush that Doesn’t start and/or end their relationship with them kicking his ass