#is it not romance to seduce a guy with rick astley

[chickensoupleg]

Alas, the poll (and my status) tempted me so. Why not, it came out 1987. Within an appropriate time period.

--

Eddie was sitting on Steve’s couch when he had gotten the idea. He had invited a few friends over to hang out since everyone’s schedules lined up perfectly. A movie night, plain and simple.

Robin was in charge of choosing the movie, and she had snuck in some cheesy comedy romance. Eddie had stopped really watching a couple of minutes in, but Steve was at the very least invested, talking over the movie to Robin. She went between shushing him and talking right back. Billy had conked out sometime during the movie, a blanket draped over his lap. Heather and Chrissy were sitting together, Chrissy on top of Heather’s lap. They were just as invested in the movie, although unlike Steve and Robin they were silent save for a few hushed giggles. Jonathan and Nancy were present as well, Jonathan paying attention as much as Eddie was.

“No, but it’s romantic! It’s a duet about how much they adore each other!” Robin loudly whispers.

“But she totally sounds like she wants to get out of there. Like, yesterday.”

Robin scoffs. “Not the point, it’s like… society standards or whatever. She’s just making fake excuses! She wants to stay with him.”

Steve rolls his eyes. “Okay, but she definitely makes it seem like she wants to go. I mean, it’s pretty clear?”

Robin sighs, turning back to the screen. “You never sang to seduce a lady before about how much you want to keep her?”

Steve shrugs, knocking his shoulder into Eddie’s from the movement. “Eh, once or twice. But they didn’t stick around long. You know, horrendously single still right here.” He gestures at himself. “But it is what it is, you know? Never been sang at either, but whatever.”

Robin chuckles, lightly tapping her fist on Steve’s knee before the only noise left was the movie again.

Eddie glances at Steve silently, watching him sink into his couch, eyes dropping to Nancy for a second before returning to his lap. Steve catches his eyes, shooting him a small smile. Like nothing was wrong.

And, well, that just won’t do.

When everyone had dispersed after the movie he shook Billy awake. Billy grunts, cracking open an eye.

“I have an idea.”

“Oh, joy,” Billy mutters, rolling over.

“Come off it Billy, don’t be so dramatic.”

Billy yawns, readjusting himself. Waves a hand to let Eddie know he could continue talking.

“Okay.” Eddie clears his throat, scooting right up to him. Steve was upstairs with Robin since she had wrestled Steve’s clothes right off of him and shown up to the movie night in it. Billy rolls back over to face him, blue eyes peering up at him through his lashes. He raises an eyebrow as he waits for Eddie to speak. “You like Steve, right?”

“Mmm, yeah. Pretty boy.”

“Right. So do I.” Eddie gestures at himself.

“Mmhmm.” Billy knew this pretty well, they’ve spoken about this at length. It was one of many topics they would ramble to each other about, if not about music or the funny stories Eddie would bring from his job at a mechanic shop.

“Steve was talking about how he’s never been seduced by song.”

“Okay…?”

“So what if we did it.”

Billy is silent, frowning. Eddie is silent, smiling.

Billy sits up, stretching and groaning as his back pops. “You want us to… sing for Steve. Us. For Steve.”

“Could give it a try. You’ve seen his love streak.”

Billy scoffs. “You mean his on and off again first dates that end in no return calls? The many times someone had to come console him before he went ass first into another attempted date? That love streak?”

“Very same.” It was almost pitiful how he tries, but Steve was a creature of love. Seeked it out as much as he seeks nice sweaters and bananas.

“... Okay. What song?”

Eddie blinks. “Well it has to be a song he’ll enjoy.”

“So nothing we listen to,” Billy says.

“He comes to my gigs! Willingly!” Eddie exclaims.

Billy tilts his head, smugging him. “You know he brings headphones just so he can stand in the same room, right. Migraines? Don’t think blasting his eardrums out means he’ll enjoy it very much.”

Eddie pouts, bouncing back a few seconds later. “Then I guess we’ll have to go the alternate route.”

“... Which is?”

“Adhering to Steve Harrington’s very boring, predictable taste in music. And I know just the song. It’ll be perfect for him!”

Billy blinks when Eddie says nothing else. “Are you gonna. Tell me.”

Eddie just smiles secretively, Billy huffing.

“Alright, fine. I’ll bite. Do not make me regret it.”

“Great! By the way, can you dance?”

–

Steve had accepted the invite easily enough. After all, there was no way that Steve could have possibly connect the dots between the movie and Eddie asking him if he wanted to go hang out at some bar that came with free entertainment. Eddie had to wait a few weeks before schedules aligned again. It wasn’t hard to convince Robin, she was down for anything concerning her best friend in the whole entire world. The bar was out of town, in Chicago. Eddie knew the place well, knew it wasn’t judgemental about the type of people they were. Singing here wouldn’t get them kicked out, or worse.

Billy met up with them at the bar, already a drink in. It was the only way he agreed to what they were about to do, being a little tossed before getting on that stage. Chrissy and Heather were there as well, Chrissy happily waving at Eddie.

Chrissy had helped them over the week after Eddie had told her his Super Radical Plan to Seduce Steve. She had agreed with it wholeheartedly, even learned the dance with them just to make sure they were doing it proper. It was so much easier with her around, Eddie was sure he or Billy would end up just throwing the dance out completely.

But, no. Somehow they made it through, and the fruits of their actions was to be revealed right here.

The bar doubled as a karaoke spot where people could go up on the stage whenever to sing their hearts out. Usually it’d be the drunks belching out whatever, or a few who did it for special occasions.

Eddie supposes he and Billy were fulfilling both criterias at the moment.

They didn’t go immediately, Eddie needing a little taste of liquid courage before he could even think about it. He’s used to performing for a crowd, sure, but this was for one guy.

A guy that he likes. A lot.

He looks at Billy knocking back some fruity drink that Heather had used her straw to pour into a shot glass for him. Watches as they do it again.

Well, at least he had the other guy he likes a lot suffering with him. He’s sure that if it wasn’t him, Billy would have done literally anything else. If it wasn't Steve they were doing this for, he would have done anything else.

Eddie knocks his elbow against Billy’s side, jerking his head towards the stage. Billy sighs, sliding off of the stool and following after Eddie. Chrissy gives an early cheer for them as they hop on stage. Eddie taps the microphone.

“Testing! This working? Good. Helllllloooooo everyone! I’m Eddie Munson, and this is my good pal who if I name him onstage he will tear my throat out and render me unable to sing. Now, this particular song and dance goes out to a good pal of ours sitting riiiiight there!” He points in the general direction of Steve, who looks at them with an amused interest. Billy was speaking offstage to the one in charge of the music, Eddie continuing onwards. “This song is for you, Stevie~ Enjoy!”

The beginning starts filtering through the speakers, like dropping a bean down a tube, the TV coming to life with the lyrics. Neither of them needed it though, they practised long and hard for this very moment.

Billy hops on stage, taking the other microphone as they sync up into the dance.

“We’re no stranger to love~ You knows the rules, and so do I!” Eddie belts out, and he hears Chrissy cheering even louder for him. He keeps his eyes on Steve, who was staring right at them with eyes like saucers. Just what they needed. “A full commitment’s what I’m thinking of~”

Billy joins in for the next line. Heather’s laugh is clear even from here, despite her trying to hold it in. Not that she’s trying all that hard. “You wouldn’t get this from any other guy. I just wanna tell you how I’m feeling, gotta make you understand-”

They start singing together, Eddie yanking the microphone out of the stand as Billy continues shaking back and forth. “NEVER GONNA GIVE YOU UP, NEVER GONNA LET YOU DOWN-”

Their friend group erupts in cheers, Steve still stunned in his barstool. Billy and Eddie spin in synchronisation. “Never gonna run around and desert you! Never gonna saaay goodbye! Never gonna tell a lie, and hurt you!” They repeat it again, still dancing together. Someone wolf whistles in the crowd.

Billy sings on his own for the next verse, Eddie jamming out on his own. He grabs the mic, leaning forward and staring into the general crowd. Eddie’s pretty sure a few girls swoon at that, but he gets it. Billy showed up in his nicest clothes, sunglasses perched in his hair despite it being dark outside. “We’ve known each other for so long… Your heart’s been aching but you’re too shy to say it. Inside we both know what’s been going on~” He smirks, pointing between him and Steve. Eddie can see him rose red even from here, clutching his cup like any looser he would drop it on his lap. “We both know the game and we’re gonna play it!”

Eddie joins in again. “Aaand if you ask me how I’m feeling, don’t tell me you’re too blind to see!” They start the chorus again, and the crowd was going wild. Eddie wishes this was the kind of crowd he gets back home, but hey. Win some, lose some.

The song eventually, mercifully, ends. Eddie grins and bows to the applause they receive, Billy hopping right off stage and back to base before there was any more attention on him. Eddie follows after him, Billy collapsing into the bar stool and knocking back another shot as soon as Heather hands it to him. Steve’s eyes move from Billy to Eddie, clearly in shock.

Eddie’s grin falters for a second, but he keeps it up. “So, how was it, Stevie? Like the performance?”

“Was- Did you-” Steve stammers. He shuts his mouth, collects himself, then starts speaking again. “Did you mean that? The song?”

Eddie grins. “Course we did! Didn’t we, Bunny Blue?”

Billy mutters something incoherent, but the nod was all they needed.

“We even learnt the dance. Well, as much of the dance as we could find. Made up most of it with the help of Chrissy.”

Steve’s face was red, whether it was from the alcohol or the obvious serenade. He eventually snorts, then breaks into laughter.

Eddie blinks in confusion, Billy lifting his head to stare at Steve.

“Wha’s so funny, princess?” Billy asks.

Steve was bent over on the stool, Robin patting his lower back. They wait to collect himself, Steve sucking in a deep breath and facing them again.

“Never been seduced before, or by two guys even. But that was- Great. Really great.” Steve taps his chest. “Really gets me right- Right here-” He’s breaking into tears now.

“Oh, Stevie-” Eddie pulls him into a hug, Billy patting him on the head gently.

“It’s so sweeeet of yooooou…..” Steve blubbers. “Sorry, I’m druuuunk….”

“There there, pretty boy. So am I,” Billy mutters, petting through Steve’s hair. “But yeah…. Never- Never gonna… give you up.”

Steve nuzzles into Eddie’s jacket, nodding. “Promise?”

“Never gonna let you down, Stevie. Weren’t you listening?” Eddie grins, Steve wetly giggling.

“Great, now you know how it feels to seduce someone by song!” Robin says. Steve is quick to turn around, jabbing a finger on her chest.

“Yeah, but my argument still stands, they were singing that they wanted to stay! She was singing ‘bout how she wanted to go!”

“Oh don’t you bring this argument back up with me Steven-”

“Ah, you got them riled up again,” Heather says, sipping her drink. “Oh wells, you got your man at least. Nice work.”

“Thanks Heather. Maybe you should sing to Chrissy too. Let her hear your fruitful tunes.” Billy raises his hand for another drink.

Chrissy squeaks, Heather turning her head slow with a devastatingly mischievous look. “You wanna have a go, Chris?”

“Oh, I’m good! Thanks though!” She chirps, already flushed despite not having drunk a sip of alcohol.

“Worth a shot.”