#i've been busy writing for other steddie events and i almost forgot to do this one but here it is

[steveseddie]

show time

written for @steddiemicrofic prompt “time, 485 words” | rated: t | cw: none | tags: corroded coffin concert, pre-relationship, eddie is nervous, steve is a sweetheart

***

The backdoor of The Hideout opens as Eddie takes the last hit from his cigarette.

Steve’s head pokes out. “Eddie?” 

“Right here, big boy.”

Steve squints until his eyes adjust to the alley’s dim lighting. “Hey,” he says with a soft smile that does little to calm Eddie’s nerves. “Gareth sent me. It’s almost time.”

Without meaning to, Eddie winces. He stubs out his cigarette before grabbing another one. His third one. “Cool, yeah, I’ll– I’ll be right there,” he stammers, fumbling with his lighter.

Steve steps closer, his fingers brushing Eddie’s as he grabs it and flicks it for him. “You okay?” 

“Yup, yeah, I’m okay. Great, even!” Eddie mumbles, his now lit cigarette dangling from his lips. 

Steve raises an eyebrow. “Is that why your hands are shaking?” 

Eddie’s eyes flicker to his hand, shakily fidgeting with the lighter. “Um, okay, maybe I’m not.” 

A divot appears between Steve’s eyebrows. Eddie’s panicky brain spares a moment to think ‘cute’ before going back to spiraling. 

“What’s wrong?” 

Eddie tips his head back, groaning. He leans against the brick wall. “It’s dumb.” 

“Try me,” Steve says, doing the same, his shoulder pushing against Eddie’s. 

“I’m nervous? About the show. We’re– we’re used to playing for five drunks on a good night but today there’s like, an actual crowd! Which makes you wonder if some of those people aren’t here to throw tomatoes at the town’s freak, or– or pig’s blood! It’s also the first time I’m doing this since I was a demobat chew toy and you know how hard it was to– to get back to where I was with my guitar playing and my singing and I still can’t shake off the feeling that I fucking suck!” 

There’s a moment of silence as Eddie catches his breath after saying all of that in one breath. Then Steve is knocking their shoulders together, saying, “That’s not dumb.” 

Eddie sighs. “It’s fucking unmetal, is what it is! I don’t even care what these people think!”

“You care what some of them think.”

And of course he does– his bandmates, Robin, Steve.

“Shut up, you’ll ruin my reputation.”

“You’re kind of doing that already,” Steve teases. “Where’s that big confidence of yours, Eddie?”

“Dunno.” Eddie puts the cigarette out with his boot. “Probably in the Upside Down with my missing nipple.”

Steve snorts. “Maybe I can give you back one of those.” He stands in front of Eddie, grabbing his shoulders. “Eddie Munson, you’re a smoking hot, badass rockstar and you’re gonna kill it tonight,” he says earnestly–

Then he kisses Eddie square on the lips before he’s even done processing that Steve just called him ‘smoking hot’. 

And before he’s done processing that, Steve shoves him through the door to where his bandmates are waiting.

“Ready, man?” Gareth asks. 

Eddie winks at Steve who slips back into the crowd with Robin.

“Let’s fucking do this.”