#platonic chrissy and eddie

[elidoesntbreathwee]

Chrissy and Eddie being alive and happy and best friends :)

// CW! descriptions of ED //

-

Eddie had seen Chrissy around school a fair amount of times, and of course at the middle school talent show, but if he was honest, he would have never guessed what she was really like. He kinda thought she'd be mean and scary, like a stereotypical popular cheerleader, and then he met her in the woods one day.

She was way cooler than Eddie had thought she'd be. She laughed at his jokes and made some good ones herself. She'd come there for a reason, though, so Eddie delivered, of course, but he and Chrissy had gotten more out of it than they thought they would.

Chrissy wanted something stronger than Eddie had on him though, so Eddie just decided to take her to his and his uncle's trailer. He got her what she wanted, she payed, then left. Eddie thought that'd be the last time he would talk to Chrissy, but he was most certainly wrong.

-

Only a week or so later, Eddie had run into Chrissy again, not in the woods or anything, in a much more normal place, with less suspicious activity. Eddie was making his way back to his trailer after getting some soda form a corner store, when he saw Chrissy a little bit ahead of him. He didn't think to walk up to her, since he usually never talked to his costumers again, unless they wanted more of the good stuff, but Chrissy turned around at just the right moment and smiled brightly. She jogged over to him cheerfully.

"Eddie! Hi, how are you?!" She said, still smiling.

"Hey Chrissy," Eddie smiled. "I've been good, actually. Did the stuff help you?"

Chrissy looked lost for a moment, then realized what he meant.

"Oh! Yeah, I guess a little."

"Glad it helped"

"Do you... i dont know. Do you want to talk at like, a coffee shop?"

"Uhh, sure. Why not."

Chrissy led Eddie to her favorite coffee shop in town, called Café Java, where she visited semi-regularly, to the point that a few of the employees knew who she was. Chrissy ordered a vanilla latte, and Eddie, after trying his best to understand what all the different types were, chose an americano, because he panicked.

They talked for a while, and somehow they'd been talking for 3 hours. When Eddie realized this he remembered that his soda was probably now warm. He told Chrissy that he needed to take them home, and that they should hang out again soon.

He ran home and put his soda in the fridge :)

-

The next night, Eddie had been up trying to write a song, when he heard a knock on the trailer's door. Wayne had work that night, so it couldn't have been him, so Eddie was curious. He set down his pen and went to open the door.

"Hey" Chrissy said, with a worried smile on her face, and did a small wave.

"Chrissy? Is everything ok?"

"Yeah... I just... I just got scared I guess, and I didn't know where to go."

"Don't you have a boyfriend you could go to?"

"He... doesn't understand. It's complicated, but, he gets upset... I guess... so I don't really want to go to him." Chrissy was fidgeting with the zipper on her jacket, the same way Eddie messed with his rings when he was nervous.

"Oh. Well, come on in, make yourself comfy, and I'll getcha some water, alright." Eddie smile as Chrissy walked in and sat on the couch in the middle of their living room.

"Do you wanna talk about why ya got scared?" He said as he handed her a glass of water, then sat next to her.

"I dont know... you'd probably think I was insane..."

"Hey, no matter what it is, I won't think that, but if you really don't wanna tell me, you don't have to. We can talk about something else?" Eddie patted Chrissy's shoulder, hoping she got the non-verbal message that he was here for her.

"No, I- uh, I need to get it off my chest." she took a deep breath, then let it out. "Sometimes I get... visions, i guess, of my mom and she's screaming at me, telling me that I..." Chrissy bit her lip, trying to stop herself from crying, but failed. Eddie put his arm around her to comfort her. "Sorry, I didn't mean to cry in front of you"

"Hey, its ok, Chrissy, you dont have to worry. Y'need more water?"

"No- no thank you, im alright." Chrissy sniffled.

"Alright."

"So um, she says that, um.. basically she yells at me about how Im... ugly, and that I shouldn't be eating as much as i do... but" she glanced at Eddie to make sure he didn't look angry. "but i really only eat two (2) small meals and she's still not happy... and my dad" Chrissy started sobbing. Between sobs she got out "My dad just sits there like nothing's even happening, like he doesn't even care"

Eddie hugged her tightly for a while, until she her breathing was more regular, and she had stopped crying. He put his hands on her shoulders and looked her in the eye "Chrissy, you're probably the prettiest girl in the entire school, and if your parents can't even see that, then they're full of shit. I know I can't just fix all the damage that's been done, but I wanna help you, because you're my friend, Chrissy, and I don't want anything bad to happen to you."

Chrissy was silent for a moment, then she hugged Eddie again "Thank you so much. You dont know how much it means to me that- that you'd be there for me."

"Hey, are ya hungry?" Eddie said, pulling out of the hug.

"... Mhm." Chrissy nodded

"Welp," Eddie stood up "We dont have a lot, but uh, we've prolly got some spaghetti, if ya like that?"

Chrissy laughed "Yeah! Yeah, that'd be great!"

Chrissy ended up staying over the whole night. They had talked more and Eddie brought out his cards and taught her how to play Palace, then they just messed around. If you asked either of them what happened the rest of the night, they wouldn't have known. They had just been there.

-

After that they had hung out anytime they could, whether it was going to a café, or seeing a movie. Sometimes Chrissy sat by and watched Hellfire, and Eddie would watch her cheer practice. One day, though, someone found out about it all, and was not happy.

"WHY ARE YOU HANGING AROUND THIS LOW LIFE? HE'S JUST GONNA HURT YOU!"

"Jason! He- he's not like that, you're wrong about him! He's a good person and he'd never hurt me!" Chrissy insisted.

"THAT'S WHAT YOU THINK! IT'S WHAT HE WANTS YOU TO THINK SO YOU'LL HANG OUT WITH HIM AND THEN HE'LL HURT YOU! Listen, Chrissy, I just dont want you to get hurt." Jason put his hands on his shoulders.

"And I wont! He wont hurt me."

"Chri-"

"HE WONT!" That was the first time Chrissy had ever raised her voice at Jason Carver, her boyfriend. On the other hand, Jason yelling at her was becoming more and more common.

"Listen, Chrissy. You can hang out with him, but if you choose to do that, we're done."

"Jason, you aren't serious, right?" Chrissy moved back from him.

"No! I'm very serious! Eddie's some low life prick, and you're hanging out with him more that you're hanging out with me! So either you stop going near him, or you stay away from me."

"... ok then." Chrissy started walking away.

"Where are you going?!" Jason started walking after her

Chrissy turned around "You said it was you or Eddie, i choose him. He doesn't yell at me, and he actually cares about what i think. So goodbye, Jason. Were over."

And that was the end of it. Chrissy later found out from talking to people about it, that especially near the end, their relationship sounded pretty toxic, and it was good that she broke it off before it could get wore.

Chrissy went to find Eddie as quick as possible, because although she seemed confident on the outside, she was a wreck on the in side.

"Eddie, I broke up with him" Chrissy said, standing in Eddie's doorway, once again.

"Come'ere." Chrissy hugged Eddie tightly, then after a few moments, Eddie led Chrissy to the couch, and they talked about it until it was morning again.

-

One day, the two (2) of them had decided to have a movie marathon night, so they went to Family Video. Eddie was about to walk in, when he looked up and saw *him*. Eddie walked away from the door

"Where are you going?" Chrissy asked

"What do you mean? I'm not going anywhere." Eddie said, stoping in his tracks.

Chrissy looked in through the door "Is it her? Do... you like her?"

"Uhhh, something like that, sure"

"Oh?" Chrissy stared for a moment "She is pretty."

"Robin? I mean, yeah, she is." Eddie smiled awkwardly, not wanting to seem like he was lying. Unfortunately for him, Chrissy could tell that this wasn't about Robin.

"Come on, Eddie, we're friends! You can tell me." Chrissy smiled. "But, you don't have to if you don't want to"

"mMMmmmerg auhhhhhhhhhhhhh..." Eddie said, sounding intelligent (sarcasm lmao). "mmm... Ok, I just- yeah, It's not about Robin. Let's just find some movies to watch though. That cool?" Eddie had started to fidget with his rings.

"Yeah, that's cool." Chrissy smiled as Eddie opened the door for her to walk in.

Robin greeted them from the counter, before going back to the book she was reading.

They looked around for a while and each found 2 movies.

"You ready to check out?" Eddie said once he and Chrissy had met back in their meeting spot (the romcom section)

"Yup! What'd you get?"

"E.T. and Back To The Future. 'M just in the mood for sci-fi. How 'bout you?" Eddie pointed at the tapes in Chrissy's hands

"Well, I got The Wizard of Oz, because it used to be my favorite, and I got Heathers!" Chrissy smiled big. "I'm so excited!"

When they got to the front desk (AN which was like 10 steps away im so silly :p) Eddie tried to avoid eye contact, furthering Chrissy's suspicion that he definitely liked someone behind that desk.

"Hey Eddie." Steve smiled "Dustin said he had fun last night..." Steve said awkwardly, since he didn't usually talk to Eddie when he picked the kids up from Hellfire.

"Hey. Glad he did..." Eddie said, equally awkwardly.

There was awkward silence while Steve was doing his thing (AN idk how to rent movies so ur just gonna deal with poor descriptions) and when he handed Eddie his tapes, his hand lingered for just a moment too long, their hands touching.

"Uh... Sinclair won his game, right?" Eddie had seen Dustin, Mike, and Erica run up to Lucas the night before, asking him questions about the game. Eddie had seen them jumping so he assumed Lucas had won.

"Yeah, he did! Super proud of the kid." Steve smiled "He made the winning shot, too!" Ever since Lucas had made the winning shot for the Championship game, he hadn't been on the bench in a while, and he'd been winning a lot of games too.

"No way! Guess I can't be that mad at him for missing Hellfire then." Steve and Eddie both chuckled "Well, uh, we gotta watch these." He looked at Chrissy, who had been rather quiet through Steve and Eddie's awkward interaction

"Chrissy?" Eddie waved his hand in front of her face

"Huh! Oh, sorry." Chrissy's face went red "See you guys" Chrissy smiled at Steve and Robin

As the two (2) were heading out the door, Eddie nudged Chrissy

"What?" Chrissy said

"Come ooon, you're face was bright red!" Eddie argued

"You startled me and I was embarrassed!" Chrissy laughed, knowing it wasn't the full truth "Besides, who cares what my face looked like: 'Glad he did, Steve' 'Sinclair won his game, right, Steve' 'Wow! Really, Steve!'"

"Ok!" Chrissy laughed. "First of all, that wasn't how the conversation went, and second, it was just a friendly conversation!" Eddie defended

"Sureee" Chrissy smiled slyly

"Yeah, yeah, smile all ya want." Eddie nudged Chrissy playfully, and she nudged him back. They kept on walking to Eddie's trailer to watch their movies.

-

Chrissy and Eddie had been watching their movies for about three (3) hours, and had watched E.T. and when an hour through The Wizard of Oz, but Eddie hadn't been paying very much attention.

He and Chrissy had been friends for a while, and they had gotten to know each other really well, but there was always something that Eddie kept from her. He'd planed on telling her eventually, it just wasn't something that everyone took kindly too. His uncle loved him no matter what, so when Eddie came out to Wayne, it wasn't that big of a deal, but Eddie knew not everyone was like that. But earlier that day when Chrissy had teased him about Steve, she seemed like it didn't bother her that Eddie and Steve were both guys. Even her comment about Robin, which Eddie first took as Chrissy just being nice, seemed a little bit like she didn't mean it in just a friendly way. Eddie decided that she seemed safe enough, and that if she wasn't she wouldn't tell everyone she could about how much more of a freak Eddie "The Freak" Munson was.

"Chrissy?" Eddie said, after a deep breath

"Yeah? What's up?" Chrissy turned down the movie a little bit, then turned back to Eddie.

"Uhm..." Eddie took another deep breath "Ok, I'm just gonna say it, and it'd be nice if you didn't tell the whole world about it."

"Of course I wouldn't tell anyone, not if you asked me not to, Eddie." Chrissy furrowed her brow slightly, confused as to why Eddie felt he needed to say that.

"Ok... um. Chrissy, I'm gay."

Chrissy was silent, her eyes wide.

"Yeah, yeah, ok, I kinda had a feeling this might happen." Eddie stood up "I'll help you get you're stuff an-"

"What?"

"What do you mean?" Eddie said slowly

"Why would we get my stuff? I'm not leaving."

"You're not... weirded out?" Eddie asked

"Of course not! You're my best friend! Who you love isn't going to change that." Eddie's eyes started to water as Chrissy stood up and grabbed Eddie's shoulder's "You're amazing, Eddie, any way you come. I hope we can always be best friends." She smiled "I'm happy you felt comfortable enough to tell me."

Even if Eddie tried, he couldn't have stopped himself from crying. Chrissy hugged him tightly and Eddie hugged her back, just as tight.

"Thank you." He said through tears. Chrissy hugged him just a little bit tighter before letting go.

"You ready to keep watching the movies now?" She asked

Eddie laughed "You betcha"

-

Chrissy had insisted they return the movies as soon as possible, though Eddie wasn't sure why. The morning after their marathon, after they'd both eaten breakfast, they headed out to Family Video, where they'd been just they day before.

Chrissy held the door open for Eddie, who was carrying the movies, and gestured for him to walk in.

"Thanks! Guess we're going in turns" Eddie smiled at her

"Yup!" Chrissy smiled.

Chrissy walked into the Family Video, Eddie following behind her. behind the counter, Steve greeted them,

"Back already?" Steve said.

"Yeah, uh, we watched all our movies and I don't want any late fees, so... yeah" Eddie said awkwardly, seriously though, why cant he just be normal around Steve, Eddie thought, he guessed it wasn't too big of a deal, since Steve seemed awkward around him too.

"Oh, cool... Uh, I can take those for you..." Steve replied, holding out his hand to take the stack of tapes. Eddie handed him the tapes and Steve went to put them on a counter behind him.

"Well, uh, It was good to see you." Eddie said after awkward silence.

"Yeah, you too." Steve smiled, Eddie smiled back before turning to Chrissy.

"You ready to go?" Chrissy was staring into the room in the back. "Uhh... Chrissy?"

"Oh! Yeah! I'm ready, yeah." She said, startled.

"Alrighty." Eddie chuckled. "See ya, Stevie." He waved at Steve, Steve waving back, his face looking more red than usual.

Once Eddie and Chrissy had walked out of the video store, Eddie nudged her shoulder, something that seemed to happen every time they came out of that store.

"Soooo... What were you staring at?" Eddie smiled slyly.

"Shut up." Chrissy rolled her eyes.

“Oh come on, you got to tease me last time, I thought we were taking turns” Eddie said, now walking backwards, so as to face Chrissy.

“Fine,” Chrissy said, trying to hide a smile and sighing, “There was just something cool in the backroom.”

“Whatever you say Chris” Eddie said, turning to walk normally.

-

One lazy afternoon, Chrissy had come over to the Munson’s trailer to hang out. When Eddie opened the door, Chrissy could definitely tell that he was high. She didn’t mind or anything, she could just tell he’d been smoking.

“Chrissycat! Hey, what’s up!” Eddie said, if this had been TV, this would be the moment where Chrissy looked directly at the camera and said ‘definitely high.’

“Hi Eddie, How are you?” Chrissy asked.

“Uhh, I’m good, yeah, come in!” Eddie said, and as Chrissy stepped in he shut the door with a loud thud that made Chrissy jump.

Chrissy sat on the couch, and Eddie draped himself over the place on the couch next to her.

“Soooo, How’s it goin’?” Eddie asked, drawing out most of his words.

“It’s going good, how about you?” Chrissy smiled at him.

“Um, It’s going… Uh… Chriss” Eddie paused. “You promise you won’t laugh?”

“Yeah, Eddie, I promise.” Chrissy said sincerely. 

“So uh, I’ve been thinkin’ this afternoon and well I- , well, you know,” Eddie inhaled deeply. “I think, no I definitely have a crush on Steve, y’know?” He looked over at Chrissy.

Then he heard a suppressed giggle.

“What?”

Chrissy couldn’t hold it back anymore, she began laughing like crazy.

“What! Chrisss, come onn, you promised!” Eddie said, lightly hitting her shoulder.

“No, no, it’s just you were kinda obvious and I was gonna tell you” Chrissy began to calm her laughing down, “the same thing - well, not the same thing, but that I definitely have a crush on someone, but, y’know, not Steve.”

Eddie stared at her. “Wait… Do you think Steve already knows I like him! Ahg!” Eddie panicked. 

“I don’t think you’re obvious to him, just to me, don’t worry, silly.” Chrissy said to calm him.

“Wait, so who do you definitely have a crush on? You said you have a definitely crush on someone, right?” Eddie said, straight faced.

“‘A definitely crush’? Eddie, oh my god. But yeah, um, I have a crush…” Chrissy said laughing at ‘a definitely crush’. “ Um… Yeah so you know how you’re gay?”

“Yeah?” Eddie responded.

“I think I am too.” Chrissy breathed out, looking at the ceiling. “Ever since I broke up with Jason I’ve been thinking, y’know? I’ve had ‘boyfriends’ but only because people expect me to be with them. Eddie, “She said, now looking at Eddie. “I think I like girls - Like, just girls.”

“Sick, man.” Eddie said, hugging her. It wasn’t quite the response she was expecting, but she wasn't expecting Eddie to be high either.

“Yeah, Eddie, It is pretty sick.” Chrissy said smiling.

“Now we're both gay nerds!” Eddie said, releasing Chrissy from his bear trap of a hug.

Chrissy laughed.

“So, who’s your cruuush.” Eddie said like a middle school girl.

Chrissy rolled her eyes. “Fine. It’s… well, Robin.”

“Oh my god this is perfect! Our crushes work at the same place, so it’ll be easier for me to wingman you and hopelessly pine!” Eddie said enthusiastically. 

“Wait, you expect to wingman me, and think that I’ll let you just be hopeless? No way, Eddie! You’re getting a date with Steve.” Chrissy announced to the walls of Eddie’s living room.

“Chrissycat, I’m glad you’re my friend.” Eddie said on a slightly more serious note.

“I’m glad you're my friend too, Eddie.” Chrissy smiled. The rest of the afternoon, the two just hung out, if you asked either of them what happened, they couldn’t tell you, they wouldn’t have known. They had just been there together.

----

(A/N) Helloooo hope you liked this, and sorry if its a bit inconsistent (or if there r typos), it took me like 11 months to write lol, and tho it was a struggle bus for me and my procrastination, it was very fun to write. A like or reblog would be SO INCREDIBLY APPRECIATED especially on this :') Hope u have a good day :D

[dwobbitfromtheshire]

Robin might platonically marry Steve, though it's not the only reason, just so she can say dramatically in an argument:

"That's it! I'm divorcing you, and I'm taking everything!"

It's usually only said when they're playing monopoly. Steve would respond with:

"Fine! But I'm keeping your last name and the kids!"

"I never wanted them in the first place!" Robin shrieked.

"What a rude thing for our dad to say," Dustin said.

They were eating popcorn and watching the whole thing unfold before them.

"Well, it's not like we don't all have daddy issues," Max said. "Except for Lucas."

"What am I looking forward to with that? Any advice?" Lucas said.

"Don't date older men," Max said. "Especially ones who are old enough to actually be your father."

"You mean the same age as Robin?" Lucas asked.

"Yeah," Max said.

"Damn, there was this cute college guy - "

"Cheating whore!" Robin shrieked.

"And here it comes," Max grinned.

She hollered and flipped the table.

"Yeah, that's right, I cheated. Dustin isn't yours!" Steve yelled.

"I knew it!" Robin gasped.

"Okay, so when Dustin said that things get intense with Steve and Robin during Monopoly. . ." Nancy said, trailing off.

"Yeah, he wasn't kidding," Jonathan said.

Eddie was gaping with Jonathan, Nancy, Vickie, Chrissy, and Argyle while the kids watched from the sidelines.

"Who else isn't mine?! I bet it's both Mike and Dustin. They both could be Eddie's! Look at them!" Robin yelled.

"Babe, I swear, I didn't touch Steve," Eddie said to Chrissy.

"Okay, first off, Dustin and Mike are not actually Steve’s sons, and two, this is just a game," Chrissy said. "Also, Steve can't get pregnant."

"Oh no! Did the doctor say why?" Eddie asked with a gasp.

"Eddie? Did you smoke with Jonathan and Argyle without me?" Chrissy asked.

"Totally," Argyle said.

"The wedding rings were a nice touch," Nancy said.

"Oh, no, they actually got married. I was the witness!" Vickie exclaimed happily. "I got to kiss the bride!"

"What?!"

"We were at Steve's house when Steve's parents came home and immediately started ragging on Steve about what a disappointment he was, that they were his only family. . .blah, blah, blah. Anyway, Robin was like "not anymore" before dragging him out of the house. We went to a wedding chapel, and I watched as my girlfriend married her platonic soulmate," Vickie said. "It was a beautiful ceremony. Didn't you notice that Steve took her last name?"

"I thought he kept calling for Robin whenever someone said Harrington," Jonathan realized. "He was correcting them."

"Buckley!" Argyle laughed.

"Yeah!" Steve and Robin yelled, looking at them.

"Holy shit," Dustin muttered.

"Well, hey, we're no longer bastards," Max said. "Except Mike. There's no fixing that."

"Hey!"

[estrellami-1]

Fall For You

Prompt from this post | Ao3 link

“Eddie!” Steve calls, walking into the apartment. He finds Eddie at the table and sets his hands down on the surface, wide eyes staring at Eddie. “You’ve got a membership at that gym, right?”

Eddie blinks up at him from his bowl of cereal. “The climbing gym?”

“Yeah.”

Eddie tilts his head side to side. “I’m mooching off Jeff’s membership right now, but I’m about to run out of free passes, so I’m thinking about getting my own. Why?”

“I asked the workers if my boyfriend counted as family for the discount and they said yes.”

Eddie blinks at him. “Do you have a secret boyfriend I don’t know about?”

“No, it would be you.” He sits across from Eddie and spreads his hands out. “If we pretend to be boyfriends, we can get the discount, and then you could climb and I could use the gym.”

“Robin climbs too,” Eddie points out. “You don’t want to pretend to be her boyfriend?”

“Ew,” Steve says, screwing up his face. “No, she’s basically my sister.”

“Right,” Eddie says slowly, “but it’s fake.”

Steve shakes his head. “You’ve seen her try to act, Eds,” he reminds him. “She’s hopeless. Siblings are an easier act for her because that’s closer to true. Please, Eddie? Just one time, we just need to go to the front desk together once, tell them we’re together, and get our discount. We don’t even have to go to the gym together at all, if you don’t want, if you- I don’t know, if there’s someone there you hang out with? You can keep doing that! We just need to go to the front desk together once. Please?”

Eddie sighs, long and drawn-out, dropping his spoon in his now-empty bowl and leaning back. “Damn you and your puppy eyes,” he says by way of answer.

“Yes!” Steve jumps up, pumps his arm in the air, and rounds the table to hug Eddie. “Thank you! You won’t regret this!”

He’s out of the room and down the hall before Eddie can blink, can even move, so he misses Eddie’s second, quieter sigh.

“Somehow I doubt that,” he murmurs, lips quirked up in a sad sort of smile. “But it’s worth it.”

He leaves the for you unsaid, even to himself, and brings his bowl to the kitchen.

“Hey, Chrissy!” Eddie greets the woman at the front desk. “How’s it going?”

“Hi, Eddie!” Chrissy says. “Good, busy today.”

“How’re you and Jason?”

She bites her lip. “We are no longer.”

Eddie drops to his knees and raises his hands. “Finally!” He crows, popping back up and leaning over the counter. “I’m so proud of you, Chris, seriously.” He pauses. “Wait, you initiated it, right?”

She giggles and nods. “He didn’t want to accept it at first, but I stood my ground and he finally agreed. He’s coming to pick up his stuff tomorrow.”

Eddie’s brows furrow. “Are you gonna be okay? I can move my schedule around, be there if you want someone as a buffer.”

She blinks big eyes up at him. “Would you? I don’t want to inconvenience you, but Jason-”

Eddie waves her off, pulling his phone out of his pocket. “It’s no inconvenience, seriously. What time’s he coming over?”

“Eleven.”

“Okay, and… put your address in, please?” He hands his phone over, and she quickly types it in. “I’ll be there a bit before eleven, if that works for you, just to make sure I’m there before he is. Oh, and here, add your number. I’ll shoot you a text, that way you’ll have my number, and can call if he gets there before I do.”

“You’re a lifesaver, Eddie, seriously.”

“Nah,” he grins. “I’m a regular asshole, you just wore me down.”

Behind him, Steve snorts.

Eddie whirls around. “See? He agrees with me!”

“No I don’t,” Steve laughs. “Eds, you’re an asshole in the way teddy bears are scary.”

Eddie frowns. “But they’re not scary.”

“Exactly.”

Eddie narrows his eyes at Steve. “So you don’t agree with me.”

“Not even a little.”

“Oh, I remember you!” Chrissy pipes up. “You came in yesterday asking about your boyfriend! Is he here?”

“Uh,” Steve says, blushing. “Yeah. He’s right in front of you.”

Chrissy blinks. “Eddie?”

“Surprise,” he says, raising little jazz hands and sending Chrissy a sheepish grin.

“Okay, I take it back, you are an asshole,” Chrissy says, but she’s grinning. “How dare you not tell me you have a boyfriend!”

“Oh,” Eddie says, “um.”

“I asked him not to,” Steve smoothly cuts in. “I’m sorry. We’ve had some… not great reactions in the past.”

Chrissy huffs, rolls her eyes. “Well I sure hope you don’t get that reaction here! If you do, just come find me. That person may find their account suspended.” She winks at them, and Eddie grins.

“There’s really no need for that, but we appreciate it. For now, think you could get us both set up with a membership?”

“Oh,” Steve says, “Robin!”

“Oh, right!” Eddie turns to Chrissy. “Can his sister join if we have all her info? Or does she need to be here?”

“She needs to be here, but we can always add her later. You two will be paying more until she joins, though.”

Eddie waves a hand. “That’s fine.”

She gets them set up, then hesitates, biting her lip. “I hate to ask,” she addresses Steve, “but are you busy tomorrow? As much as Eddie is willing, and I’m very glad he is, Jason’s stronger than him, and just in case-”

“You don’t need to explain it,” Steve promises her. “We’ll both be there a little before eleven tomorrow.”

Chrissy sags like a marionette with cut strings. “Oh, thank you. Thank you both. Seriously.”

“Not a problem,” Steve assures her.

They move on into the gym, then wave to Chrissy on their way out.

The next day they head to her apartment and arrive just when they said they would. Chrissy greets them both with a hug. “Thank you so much for being here,” she tells them. “Can I get you anything? Coffee?”

“If I ever say no to coffee, you have my permission to shoot me,” Eddie tells her seriously.

Steve snorts. “Ditto. We’d love coffee.”

She gets them each a mug, pulls out the sugar and creamer. Eddie nudges Steve out of the way, fixes his coffee the way he likes it. Steve smiles in thanks, nudges Eddie teasingly when he winks.

Chrissy sighs. “You two are so cute together,” she tells them.

Steve blushes. Eddie pulls a strand of hair over his face. “Thank you,” Steve says.

“How long have you been together?”

“Not very long at all, but we’ve known each other since high school.”

Eddie snickers. “He hated me.”

Steve rolls his eyes. “I didn’t hate you, I thought you were weird, and I was right.”

“He hated me,” Eddie assures Chrissy.

“Christ,” Steve mutters, looking up at the ceiling.

Chrissy giggles. “How’d you become friends?”

“That’s my younger brother’s fault,” Steve tells her. “He’s obsessed with Dungeons and Dragons, and Eddie was the resident Dragon Master-”

“Dungeon Master, Stevie.”

“-yeah, that—in high school. I graduated before him, so he was there in his senior year when my brother, Dustin, was a freshman.”

Eddie snickers. “You don’t have to sugarcoat it. I was held back,” he tells Chrissy. “Had to take senior year three times. He graduated during my second senior year, and then Dustin came my third go ‘round. He brought a whole pack of rugrats with him.”

“They get into a lot of… situations,” Steve picks up. “And as his brother, I end up involved through no fault of my own. In one of these situations, Eddie got involved. We got to talking and realized, outside of the high school hierarchy lens, we’re not that different.” He smirks. “He’s still weird, though.”

“Hell yeah I am, that’s a badge of honor, sweetheart, I wear that with pride!”

Before Steve can retort, there’s a knock on the door.

Chrissy takes a deep breath, brushes by them, and opens the door. “Jason.”

“Chrissy. Didn’t take you long to change the locks.”

She sets her jaw. “This isn’t your apartment anymore, Jason. You have no right to walk in whenever you want to.”

“Jesus,” Eddie murmurs to Steve, “he’s a piece of work, huh?”

“Uh-huh,” Steve agrees distractedly. “That- that’s Jason?”

“I mean, I haven’t seen the guy before today, but I assume so.” He looks at Steve, frowns a little. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

Steve takes a breath. “I’m fine. Trying to decide if I should be a bitch or not.”

“Always yes,” Eddie says immediately. “Unless you mean to Chrissy? In which case no.”

“No, not to Chrissy. I’ve met Jason before, about four months ago. But he called himself Liam.”

“Holy shit!” Eddie whispers. “Terrible hookup Liam?”

Steve nods. “One and the same.”

Just then, Jason glances over at them. His face pales with recognition, but he quickly schools himself. “Who’s this?”

“Jason, is it?” Steve asks disinterestedly. “Thats funny. I could’ve sworn you called yourself Liam when we hooked up four months ago.” He crosses his arms. “You didn’t mention a girlfriend, either.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Mhm. Chrissy,” Steve asks, “does Jason have a mole above his right butt cheek?”

“He does,” Chrissy agrees, narrowing her eyes at Jason. “and a birthmark-”

“On the inside of his left thigh?”

“Exactly.” Chrissy crosses her arms.

“Never thought I’d be the other woman,” Steve says. “I don’t appreciate being played. And I especially don’t appreciate you cheating on Chrissy.”

“Nor do I,” Chrissy says, rounding on Jason. “How dare you?”

“I didn’t!”

“Oh, yeah, like I believe that. How long? How many times, Jason? How many times were you home late because work went long, because you had meetings?” She laughs, loud and sardonic. “Oh, and let’s not forget that business trip to Florida. Unless that wasn’t for business at all, was it?” She laughs again, then walks away, shaking her head. “Get your shit and get out of here.”

She walks into the kitchen. Steve and Eddie exchange a glance, then immediately follow her.

“Chris?” Eddie murmurs. “You alright?”

She rolls her eyes at him, reaching for a mug. Her hand is shaking. Steve immediately jumps for the coffee pot, pours her a cup. “Would anybody be alright? After having something like that happen?”

“Probably not,” Eddie admits. “What can we do?”

She sighs, shakes her head. “I don’t think there’s anything to do. I’m just seeing a lot of ice cream in my future.”

Steve snorts. “I’ve been there. Actually, uh.” He shifts uncomfortably. “The last time I was there was about four months ago.”

Chrissy’s smart, so it’s only a second before she connects the dots, and she spins around to stare open-mouthed at him. “Him?”

Steve nods. “I don’t have to talk about it if you don’t wanna hear it.”

“I absolutely want to hear it,” she tells him. “What happened?”

“Well,” Steve says, “we call him terrible hookup Liam even though I’ve never hooked up with another Liam. Or, I guess, a Liam at all, considering his name is actually Jason.” He frowns. “And why’d he change his name anyways? It’s not like we knew each other four months ago.”

Chrissy rolls her eyes. “Who knows. What happened that made it so terrible?”

Steve snorts. “Well, first I think we need to establish what you’re comfortable with hearing.”

She leans towards him, eyes big and serious. “I’ve seen every inch of that man. There is nothing that you could say that I wouldn’t be comfortable with.”

Steve studies her for a minute, then shrugs. “Okay. So it’s a hookup, right? We’d met at a bar, there weren’t any sparks but there didn’t have to be for a hookup, just mutual attraction, and that was there, at least on the surface. So we go back to his place and he fucks me. And I swear to God I’ve never had a worse fuck. He didn’t hurt me or anything, but he was trying to get himself off and wasn’t really caring about how I was doing, y’know?”

Chrissy snorts. “I know, trust me.”

Steve winces. “Right. He lasted maybe five minutes? Pulled out, got up, and basically went alright, nice meeting you, now leave please. Meanwhile I’m laying there completely unsatisfied. He couldn’t have missed more if he’d tried. And I’m just… dumbfounded, basically. I’ve never met anyone like that before. So I leave and head back home, and Ed’s waiting up for me-”

“I’d nearly forgotten,” Eddie murmurs. “That’s when I realized I loved him.”

“Oh?” Chrissy says, interest piqued.

Eddie nods. “Mhm. He got home and was ranting about how terrible his hookup had been, and all I can think about is how he deserves better, how I would do better, if I could, never let him go, never leave him unsatisfied again-”

Steve’s breath catches. He remembers the night, remembers the fight they’d had, how he wanted to go back out the next night but Eddie-

Eddie had yelled, because he does that; he gets excited and he rants and rambles and throws his arms around and forgets things like personal space.

I can’t keep watching you hurt yourself like this, Eddie had said, too loud for the room, for Steve’s fragile heart.

So don’t, Steve had said, and slammed the door to his room.

They didn’t talk about it again.

But that was just- that was Eddie, just being his friend. Heart on his sleeve, because that’s how it is with the people he trusts.

He shakes the thought away, focuses back on the conversation at hand.

“That’s so sweet,” Chrissy coos, brows drawn up. “You two are so lucky to have each other.”

“I know,” Eddie murmurs, smiling at Steve.

It doesn’t reach his eyes.

Steve smiles back, sad and a little lost. “I think one of us should probably keep an eye on Jason,” he says quietly. “I’d do it, but since he and I know each other-”

Eddie shakes his head. “It could end badly, I know. I’ll go.”

Jason does, in fact, get his shit and get out. Steve and Eddie follow him down, Eddie cites work as a reason they can’t stay even though Steve knows he doesn’t have work for a few more hours.

When they get back to their apartment, Eddie immediately sequesters himself in his room.

At a loss, Steve heads to his room. Shuts the door. Doesn’t mean to fall asleep. Wakes up when the front door shuts, signaling Eddie leaving.

He’s not sure why his chest hurts at that thought.

The next day Eddie’s back to normal, so Steve does his best to act normal too. Chalks it up to thinking about the worst fight they’d had to date.

Life goes back to normal, and soon they’re back to their regular schedule. They go to the gym together as often as not, since their schedules usually align.

There’s one such day Eddie’s climbing, taking a break on a bouldering route and holding on by three points, letting his right arm hang loose, get some blood back into it. He looks around the gym, sees Steve hopping off the treadmill.

He watches as Steve lifts the hem of his shirt to wipe his face, and oh-

Hello, stomach. Hello, happy trail.

Eddie’s left hand flexes. Relaxes. He falls.

“Shit!”

He knows how to fall, lands on his feet and rolls backwards, distributing the force. Lays there for a minute, breathing hard, categorizing.

He’s known he’s liked Steve for a while. That’s an open secret to anyone except Steve, though maybe that’s not so true anymore, based on that day at Chrissy’s.

But Eddie’s never seen him work out before. Never seen his abs as he flexes slightly, the little bit of pouch he gets when he leans over, and that fucking hair-

“Eddie!” Steve calls, dropping to his knees at Eddie’s side. “That was, like, a ten-foot fall, man, are you okay?”

Eddie blinks up at him. A fluorescent angel, backlit by bulbs high in the ceiling. “Fine,” he says, when he can find his words again. “Just a bruised ego.”

Steve tilts concerned brows at him. “Are you sure? Your ankles are fine? You didn’t hit your head?”

Eddie smiles, shakes his head, sits up. “I’m fine, I swear. I’ve fallen from higher. Hell, I’ve jumped from higher.”

“You’re sure?”

Eddie laughs, shakes his head. Stands and offers Steve a hand up. “C’mon, let me show you.” He scans the wall, picks an easy route, white holds. “This is the easiest route we’re gonna find here. I’m gonna teach you how to fall, ready?” He jumps up, grabs a hold. Shows off a little, pulls himself up by his arm to grab another hold higher up, gets his feet on the wall too. Releases his left arm, grins down at Steve, only about three feet below him. “We’re gonna start here to learn, ‘cause it’s pretty hard to fuck up badly enough at three feet to actually injure yourself. You’re gonna let go, land on your feet, and roll back.” He looks at Steve, studies the ground around them. “Move back a foot? Yeah, good. Now watch. Feet, then roll to your back.” He jumps and does as he said, grinning at Steve once he’s on his back again. “See? Just like parkour, you’re distributing the energy you get from jumping. This way you don’t end with a fucked ankle or knee.” He rocks himself up to a sitting position, unclips his chalk bag, and offers it to Steve with another grin. “Chalk up, big boy, your turn.”

Steve rolls his eyes, but chalks up anyways. Climbs up to where Eddie was. It takes him longer, and he’s sure he looks more awkward than Eddie had, but it’s easy enough.

He looks down at Eddie, then further still to the ground. It looks far, even though he knows there’s only about three feet of distance. He takes a deep breath and lets go, letting the momentum carry him over onto his back.

He explodes into a breathless laugh, accepting Eddie’s arm up. “See?” Eddie says, then hands over the chalk bag again. “One more time, then you’re going all the way to the top.”

Steve glances up nervously. Eddie smiles, hands him the bag, and shows him the route. “Feet here, hands here to start, yeah? Your legs are stronger than your arms, so push up with your legs instead of pulling with your arms. Make a mental map of the route before you start and stick to it if you can. This bit can be a bit tricky; right hand reaches over here, and left hand takes the hold your right was just on, see?” He drops his left hand to look down at Steve. “Got it so far?”

Steve’s face is the picture of doubt. “I think so.”

Eddie snorts, scrambles to the top. “It’s easier once you’re doing it anyways. Hands-on is easier than watching. Then once you’re up here, you grab onto this last one with both hands, and that means you’ve completed the route. Got it?”

“Yeah.”

“Now from here, you’ve got two options. You can climb back down the way you came, which is possible but it means you tire yourself out faster.”

“Or?”

Eddie grins, lets go. “You jump!”

He lands on his feet, lets the momentum take him down onto his back with a giggle. “Your turn.”

“Christ,” Steve mutters. “Okay.”

“It’s not gonna be as easy as I made it look,” Eddie tells him. “I’ve been doing this for months.” He points to a sign. “This route, with the white holds, is v-zero, see? Then it goes up, v-one, two, three, all the way up to eleven. I’m regularly climbing v-seven, sometimes v-eight. It takes time to get up to that level, and I’ve learned a lot that you can really only learn through doing. Robin’s been going for a while, too, right? And she’s about at v-four, sometimes five if it’s an easier climb.”

“So you’re saying…”

Eddie chuckles. “Don’t beat yourself up if you can’t do it, or if it’s harder for you than I made it look.”

“Cool,” Steve nods. “Probably gonna beat myself up if I can’t do it.”

“Steve!” Eddie laughs, shoving him a little.

Steve laughs back, reaches for the bag, which Eddie hands him. “Here, clip it on around your waist. That way if your hands get sweaty on the climb, you can re-chalk them so you can get a better grip.”

Steve does, glances at the wall, takes a breath, and grabs on.

He gets about halfway up before he begins to slow, and about three-quarters of the way up before he’s moving at practically a snail’s pace, looking between his hands and feet, looking for the next hold. He gets to the place Eddie had warned him about. He moves his right hand over, almost gets a grip, tries again-

And falls.

“Shit!” He yelps. He does his best to fall the way Eddie had shown him, and finds that not only does it work, it doesn’t hurt and it’s actually kind of fun.

He bursts out laughing as soon as he meets Eddie’s worried eyes. Eddie’s brows smooth out, and he chuckles as he offers Steve a hand up. “Harder than you thought, huh?”

“Much,” Steve nods with a grin. “Fun, though. Can I try again?”

“Hell yeah!” Eddie grins. “Go for it! Might want to shake your hands out before you do, get your blood flowing to them again. You were pretty spread out, your hands were above you a lot of the time, and you got less blood to your hands than you should’ve. Try keeping your arms a little closer next time, really rely on your legs to push you up. And when you get up to that spot again-” he points, then sighs. “Fuck it, give me a second.”

He scrambles up, puts his hands and feet on the holds Steve had. “Here’s where you were, right? And here-” he moves his feet to holds a little higher “-is where I was. See how my arms aren’t quite as high above me anymore? It also means this hold is easier to reach.” He grabs the next hold, then decides to show off some and dangle from that hand, grinning at Steve.

Steve laughs, pretends to throw the chalk bag at him. “Showoff!”

“If I can’t now, when can I?” Eddie retorts, dropping back down to the mat and rolling all the way back, over his shoulder to end up kneeling.

Steve snorts, shakes his arms out, chalks up again, and tries one more time.

This time he makes it to the top, and Eddie whoops as soon as he touches the last hold with both hands. “Nice one, Stevie! You’re a natural!”

Steve laughs, glances down at Eddie, and drops, rolling back the way Eddie had taught him. “Okay, your turn. Show me what you can do.” He hands him the chalk bag, and Eddie grins, looking around as he clips it back on.

“Okay, here, these green holds, see? That tag is the same color as v-seven, and I did that climb last time I was here.” He chalks up, scans the route, nods, and starts.

He’s up in a little under two minutes, grinning down at Steve after he taps the final hold.

“Damn,” Steve grins. “Think I could try?”

Eddie snorts, jumps down. “Sure.” He’s stands up and gestures Steve closer to the wall. “See how there’s two tags here? One here, one there? That means you start by holding both of these. Then you get your feet up here, yeah?”

“Yeah,” Steve agrees, so Eddie moves back and Steve tries.

He almost immediately falls. “What the fuck,” he laughs, “how do you hold on?”

Eddie grins. “Hard, isn’t it? You’ve gotta get your fingers around best you can and pull together. Like the, uh.” He holds his arms out to the side, then brings them both forward. “Whatever machine this is.”

Steve snickers. “Chest fly. That makes sense, but are your fingers strong enough to grip like that? How do you build up the strength?”

Eddie shrugs. “How do you go from benching one plate to two?”

Steve snorts. “Okay, I get it.” He tries again and is able to hold on longer this time, but ends up on his ass anyways.

“Here,” Eddie says, “let’s try this. Get back up there, and I’ll help hold your hands there, so you can still start the right way.”

Steve gets back up, and Eddie slots in behind him, slides his fingers between Steve’s, and supports him. “There,” he murmurs. “Now you see that hold above you? You’re going to reach with your right hand and grab it. Pull with your left a little when you let go with your right so you stay on the wall.”

Steve turns his head to the side, and only then does Eddie realize how close they are; his nose brushes Steve’s cheek as he nods. “Got it. You won’t let me fall?”

“Never,” Eddie promises in a whisper. “I’ve got you, Stevie.”

Steve takes a breath. Nods. Rocks to his right, then as he moves to his left, Eddie lets go of his hands and brings his own hands to Steve’s hips, stabilizing him. “You’re going to want to keep pulling your arms together,” Eddie tells him. “Keep that tension. Now see that hold up and to your left?”

“Uh-huh. That’s where my left hand goes?”

“Exactly. Swing up and grab it.”

Steve does so, then moves his feet up to a couple of higher holds as well.

“Now this is what we call dyno,” Eddie tells him. “Short for dynamic. See that hold above you?”

“Oh, you mean the y-shaped one? Or the little button-looking one? Or maybe you mean the one that looks like a mushroom.”

Eddie snickers, carefully moves away from Steve, then scrambles up on some holds next to him. “This one.” He taps it twice, then jumps down and quickly gets back in position. “Try and reach it.”

Steve does, and immediately fails. “What the fuck? How do I reach that?”

“That’s the dyno move I was talking about. You keep your feet here, crouch down best you can, and jump. Let me get out of the way, because you’re probably going to fall and I’d rather it not be on me.” He moves off to the side, then nods at Steve. “Go ahead.”

Steve narrows his eyes, crouches down, and jumps up. His hand grazes the hold, but he isn’t able to grab it and ultimately falls onto the mat.

“I call bull,” he laughs. “No way you can do that.”

Eddie laughs. “You just saw me do it!”

“Nope. Nuh-uh. That’s impossible. I didn’t see you jump.”

Eddie grins, rolls his eyes, chalks up real quick before climbing back up to that spot. “This is probably what you saw,” he says, reaching up with his hands while staying crouched, then exploding up and grabbing the hold. “I made it more all of one movement, instead of stopping and then jumping.” He releases his left hand to grin down at Steve.

Steve looks like he’s been sucking on a lemon. “That’s impressive,” he says.

Eddie frowns, jumps down. “Are you okay?”

Steve takes a breath, smoothes his features out. “I’m fine.”

“I wasn’t trying to make you feel bad.”

Steve smiles. “I know. You didn’t. I’m fine, I swear.”

“Okay,” Eddie says, unsure. “Um. Are you ready to go? Done working out?”

“Sure,” Steve agrees, and digs his keys out, offering them to Eddie. “Would you mind driving?”

“Okay,” Eddie says, half joking, “now I know there’s something wrong.”

Steve sighs, ducks his head. “I’ve just got a lot on my mind.”

“Anything I can help with?”

Steve looks up at Eddie from under his lashes with a half-smile. “No. But thanks.”

“You’ll tell me if that changes and I can help?”

Steve snorts. “I swear on your Uncle Wayne.”

“Good,” Eddie tells him, wrapping an arm around his shoulders and leading him out. “Coffee on me?”

“You don’t have to-”

“Let me rephrase. I’m getting coffee.”

Steve snickers. “Thanks.”

“Anytime, Stevie.”

They’re back at the gym a few days later when Steve slots his arm around Eddie.

Eddie, who was studying a route, jerks in surprise. “Please play along,” Steve murmurs. “This girl will not leave me alone.”

Eddie laughs like Steve had said something funny, pulls him in, and presses his lips to Steve’s cheek. “I gotcha,” he murmurs when he pulls away. “What’s going on?”

Steve shakes his head. “What were you looking at?”

Eddie points at the wall, traces a line. “See the blue holds? See the three close together, then the one further, kinda up and to the left?”

“Mhm. That’s a… uh, a dyno move?”

“Exactly. The problem is, see the holds below? There’s not a comfortable place for my feet. They’re either too high or too low.”

Steve frowns. “Could you… maybe put your feet on the higher one, then use your hands and kind of… swing up to the higher one?”

“Probably,” Eddie admits. “I think what I need more than anything else is practice on this route.”

Steve hums, moves away. “Show me?”

Eddie does, groaning when he falls again. He pops back up before Steve can worry and spins around to find Steve talking with a girl.

His body language looks extremely uncomfortable, is the first thing Eddie sees. He’s leaning away from her, one foot back like he’s about to walk away, arms crossed. He’s got his customer service smile on, so Eddie bounds over with a, “Stevie!” He grabs onto Steve’s shoulders with a bright smile.

Steve laughs and grins back at him, then just as suddenly his expression falls. “I missed it! Did you do it?”

“Nope!” Eddie snickers. “Think I just need practice. Who’s your friend, baby?”

“Oh, this is Cynthia. Cynthia, meet Eddie, my boyfriend.”

Eddie releases Steve and grins as he extends his hand to shake, which she does with some reluctance. “Nice to meet you!”

“Yeah, you too. Anyways, Steve, I’ve gotta get going, but it was nice to meet you!”

“Yeah,” Steve says, “you too,” but he’s still got his customer service smile on.

Eddie wraps his arm around Steve’s shoulders as she walks away. “She the one who was giving you trouble?”

Steve hums affirmatively. “Apparently I don’t look bi. Do I look bi? I do, right?”

“The bi-est,” Eddie agrees. “She doesn’t know what she’s talking about.”

Steve chuckles, then nudges Eddie over to the wall. “Okay, no interruptions this time, show me?”

Something in Eddie thrills at the fact that Steve is asking, wants to learn more about something Eddie’s passionate about. He grins wide and bounds over, makes his way to the problem area, swings up as he jumps-

And grabs the hold.

“You did it!” Steve yells, just as Eddie is realizing that very fact.

“Holy shit!” He grins down at Steve, gets his other hand and his feet on the holds. “Okay, from here should be easy enough.”

Steve snorts. “None of that is easy, dude.”

Eddie completes the route and jumps down, rolling on his back and grinning up at Steve. “Would’ve been cooler if I could’ve flashed it, though.”

Steve raises an eyebrow. “Not sure the wall cares about that, but the employees might.”

Eddie snickers and shakes his head. “No, flashing means completing a route the first time you try it. Mind outta the gutter, Stevie. ‘Sides, I can’t show just anyone the goods.”

Steve rolls his eyes with a grin. “Yeah, yeah, you’re not a slut like I am, I know.”

“Hey, you said it, not me.”

They both laugh, and Steve slaps Eddie on the back before he walks away, back to the wall to attempt a different climb.

They’re back home the next day when Eddie walks into the kitchen to see Steve staring at a tub of peanut butter. “I hate you.”

Eddie blinks. “You talking to me or the peanut butter?”

Steve pouts up at him. “My forearms are sore, and my hands hurt, and I can’t open the peanut butter because you were the last one to close it.”

“Oh, shit,” Eddie says, and opens the jar for him. “Sorry, man, I never get that sore anymore.”

Steve waves him off, dumps some peanut butter in the blender. “I’m used to being sore, and it’s a good hurt, y’know? Building muscle.” He puts the peanut butter away, grabs the milk from the fridge. Pours some of that, too. “Do you know when Chrissy’s working next? I know she broke up with Jason not too long ago, but she hasn’t met Robin yet.”

“Oh, shit, yeah, they’d be great together! I think… Tuesday? Or- no, shit, that was last week.” He sighs, pulls his phone out. “I’ll text her. Are we gonna try and wingman?”

Steve considers it, pulls the protein powder from the pantry. “For any normal person, I’d say yes. But you know how Robin is. She’s a rambler. If they can’t handle it right out of the gate, they don’t have a chance. It’s best to just let Robin be.”

“You know Chrissy’s gonna be sweet about the rambling.”

“I also know Robin rambles even more when confronted with a cute girl. I know Chrissy is pretty exactly her type. And I know Chrissy’s got a dirty mind but blushes at the slightest thing. I think they’re gonna be perfect for each other.”

Eddie grins back at Steve, tosses him a banana. Pulls his phone out of his pocket and grins at the screen. “She works today, tomorrow, and Friday.”

Steve tilts his head, looks at the ceiling. Eddie grabs the chocolate syrup and drizzles some into the blender, capping it before turning it on.

“Thanks. Thursday work?”

“It should. Rob doesn’t have school that day and she doesn’t work until that night. When do you work that day?”

“I don’t, actually, the new guy’s taking all my shifts.”

Steve chuckles. “I work that morning but I should be back by eleven, if you want to head to the gym then?”

“Sure, I’ll get Buck up with the promise of muffins.”

“Ooh,” Steve says, “blueberry?”

“Always,” Eddie agrees. “Although I might do some chocolate chip this time, too, I know you’ve got a sweet tooth.” He looks significantly at the blender, and Steve laughs.

“You don’t have to make them just for me.”

“Oh, right, cause I’m not going to have a chocolate chip muffin. And Robin definitely won’t.” He shrugs. “Besides, even if it was just for you, it’d be worth it.”

He’s hesitant as he says it, not sure how his heart will be received, but it’s worth it for the bright blush that Steve turns away to hide.

Eddie sighs, grabs a bowl and the Honeycomb. Steve pours his shake into a glass, and together they separately get on with their day.

Thursday dawns with Eddie cursing his promise to Steve. He’s not a morning person, and the muffins take a while to make.

He finally gets them in the oven and collapses onto the couch with a sigh, pulling his phone out and opening his messages with Steve.

Eddie: are you heading by the coffee shop on your way home 👀

Steve: I could be 👀

Eddie: 👀

Steve: I’ll be home 11:15

Eddie: 👍

Steve gets home with their coffees just as Robin’s trudging to the table to eat. If Eddie’s not a morning person, he doesn’t know what Robin is; she’s a zombie until she gets coffee, and even then she needs not to be spoken to until she’s finished her mug.

She stops in her tracks and makes desperate grabby hands at Steve, who chuckles, kisses her temple, and hands her a cup.

He hip-checks Eddie as he hands him his coffee then continues into his room to change out of his work clothes and into gym clothes.

He’s back in a few minutes, chugging the rest of his own coffee and throwing it in the trash on his way to the table, sitting down with a happy sigh. “Thanks, Eds.”

Eddie chuckles. “No problem, Stevie.”

“You have a plan for the gym?”

“I don’t have a plan for my life, dude. I just climb whatever I want to climb.”

Robin mutters something under her breath about climbing and Steve and trees. Under the table, Steve kicks her.

Eddie decides he doesn’t want to get in the middle of that.

Soon enough they’re on their way to the gym. Steve’s driving, and Robin has permanent passenger privilege, which means Eddie’s relegated to the backseat. He doesn’t mind, he knows how Steve and Robin are, but he lets his mind wander.

Sure, Steve’s hot. That’s a pretty objective fact. But he’s also kind. He can also be kind of a bitch, but really that just adds to his charm. He’s fiercely protective of his friends but will let people walk all over him.

Eddie wants to protect him. He wants to show Steve that he’s worth just as much as anyone else is; more, to Eddie. He wants to take Steve on drives, hold his hand over the console. He wants to get a bucket of popcorn at the movie theater and spend most of the movie eating popcorn and talking shit about the characters, fingers getting tangled when there’s just unpopped kernels left.

He wants them to know each other so well that they don’t need to ask, just do instead; he wants to surprise Steve with a coffee because he knows he’s tired, or a sweet treat because he knows he’s had a bad day.

They get to the gym before he can follow that specific train of thought too far.

“Chrissy!” He yells, grinning at the redhead, who grins back.

“Eddie! And Steve, hi! And- is this your sister?”

“This is Robin,” Steve agrees, pushing her forward.

“Hi,” she squeaks out, eyes wide.

“I like your name,” she says.

“Oh. Um. Thank you? I didn’t pick it.”

Chrissy giggles. “No, but you didn’t change it, either, that’s gotta count for something. You’re here for a membership, right? Have you been here before?”

“Y-yeah, and uh, I have, a few times.”

Chrissy pouts. “And I’m just now meeting you? That’s not fair!” She blushes a little, focuses on the counter when she says, “Maybe we could get to know each other more? Maybe over dinner?”

Robin blinks until Steve nudges her. “Yes!” She bursts out. “Please. I’d, um, I’d like that?”

Chrissy grins at her. “I’m glad. I can’t get your number while I’m on the clock, but maybe I could give you mine? We could text, find a time to meet up?”

“O-okay,” Robin agrees.

Steve nudges Eddie, and they slip away after scanning their tags.

Steve sighs happily. “I knew they’d get along.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Eddie laughs. “Casanova, I know. You gonna climb or work out today?”

Steve shrugs a shoulder. “Probably just work out, but I’ll definitely come watch you two when I finish.”

“Cool,” Eddie says. “Um. You can come find me if anyone bothers you, yeah?”

“Yeah,” Steve agrees warmly. “Same to you.”

Eddie snorts. “Right, like this is so attractive.” He gestures to himself, and Steve stops in his tracks, brows furrowed.

“You- you’re joking, right?” Eddie gives him a confused look, and Steve’s brows skyrocket. “Dude, you know you’re insanely hot, right?”

“Tell that to all of the boyfriends I’ve had. Oh, wait, I haven’t had any.”

“Okay, and that’s their loss. You’re a great friend and I know you’d be a great boyfriend. Or fuck, if you’re looking for a one night stand. You’re attentive and conscientious and you put others’ needs above your own. And, again, you’re hot. Hell, if I’d ever had any indication you wanted me back, I’d be all over you.”

“You-” Eddie blinks. “What?”

Steve winces. “I didn’t really mean to say that here. Can we, like, ignore it? Until we’re home? Or forever?”

“I mean, it takes two to have a conversation, so I don’t really have a choice unless I wanna talk at you, but…” he shakes his head. “What the fuck, dude?”

Steve winces again. “I know, I’m sorry, I swear Robin rubs off on me and I just start rambling. But I can- I mean, it’s been this long and I haven’t, like, acted on it, and I can just… continue to not act on it, y’know? Nothing- nothing has to change.”

“I think everything’s going to change,” Eddie says, then notices the way Steve’s holding himself, small and unsure, and relents. “We can wait till we’re home,” he says softly.

Just then, Robin runs up and flings herself at Steve. “Dingus!” She exclaims. “I have a date!”

Eddie watches Steve pull back behind a wall, plaster a smile on his face. Only the edges peel a little, let Eddie know it’s not real. Robin would notice, too, if she weren’t so excited. “That’s great, Robs!”

“I know! I mean, we don’t actually have a date yet, but we’re going to, unless I completely misread what she meant by get to know me-”

“You didn’t.”

“Okay cool, cool. Ah! I’m so excited!”

Steve grins at her. “That’s seriously great, Robbie. I’m super excited for you. Where are you going?”

“There’s that new coffee shop down by the mall, y’know? She’s never been, and I’ve never been- should I go first? To, like, figure it out? So I don’t look stupid?”

“I mean,” Steve says, “she hasn’t gone either, right? So whatever happens, you’ll learn together.”

“Oh, that’s true. Okay. I won’t go first, then.”

Steve snorts. “Okay. You want the car or were you planning to take the bus?”

She rolls her eyes. “You know I don’t drive unless I don’t have a choice. And the bus goes right to the mall anyways, and it’s not that far a walk to the coffee shop.”

“Okay,” Steve shrugs.

“Okay,” Robin says, clapping her hands with a grin and looking between the two of them. “What are we doing first?”

“We aren’t doing anything,” Steve tells her. “I’m just working out today.”

Eddie’s heart tugs pitifully. He pushes it away. “I’ve got no idea what I’m gonna climb,” he says, and looks around. “Maybe that route, with the green holds to start?”

Robin frowns at him. “I can do that one.” Eddie shrugs, so she does, too. “Alright. I guess just… yell? When you’re ready to go?”

“Can do,” Steve nods, and takes off for the gym.

Eddie turns to the wall with a quiet sigh as Robin heads off in search of a route to climb.

Eddie tends to throw himself into things, he’s well aware. He knows putting his earbuds in won’t help that fact, but it’ll help distract him, so he does it.

It’s only when there’s a tap on his shoulder that he wakes up and realizes his hands are shaking. “Hey,” Robin says when he takes his earbud out. “Steve’s waiting up front for us.”

He follows her out, slips into the backseat. Can’t help but notice the way Steve’s eyes slide over his face in the rearview mirror.

When they get back, Eddie’s barely extricated himself from the backseat by the time Steve’s in the apartment with his door shut.

With a heavy heart, feeling like he’s walking to the gallows, he knocks on Steve’s door. “Steve?” He asks. “Can… can we talk? Please?”

He doesn’t say a word. Doesn’t make a sound. Doesn’t come out that night, even for dinner.

Eddie goes to bed with a heavy heart, but doesn’t actually fall asleep until nearly four in the morning. He wakes up to the sound of Steve’s door closing again. He rolls over, buries his face in his pillow, and quietly cries himself to sleep again.

He doesn’t see Steve at all that day. He finally catches him the next morning. It’s earlier than he’d like to be awake, but it’s not like he’s going to be able to sleep without talking to him.

He walks out to the kitchen and stops short at the sight of Steve.

He looks terrible. His eyes are puffy, his hair is flat and greasy, and his shirt is creased and rumpled.

“Steve,” he murmurs, flinching when Steve jumps. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.”

“Sorry,” Steve says nonsensically, hurrying around the kitchen. He won’t look at Eddie. “Sorry, I- I’m almost done, I’ll get out of your hair-”

“Steve,” he quietly repeats. “Can we talk?”

“I’m sorry,” Steve says again. “We- we don’t have to, I can- I’ll get over it, nothing has to change. Or- if you’re not comfortable with it, if you want to move- or if you want me to move-”

“I don’t want to move. And I don’t want you to move. Steve, please. Just talk to me.”

Steve shudders out a sigh. “I think I said it all already. What, you want to hear it again?”

“Clearly this time,” Eddie says. “Yes. Please.”

Steve sighs, runs his finger along a crack in the countertop, where two pieces join up. “I like you,” he whispers. “And I have for a while.” He grips his mug tight, shuts his eyes. His shoulders round, his head dips. “And I- I know you don’t feel the same, and that’s fine, I can get over it-”

“Hang on a second, Stevie,” Eddie requests. He takes a small step forward. “Who said I don’t like you back?”

“Well, why would you?” He asks. “I love too fast and too hard. Even Nancy couldn’t keep up and she’s the most intense person I know.”

“There’s a difference between just plain intensity and devotion,” Eddie murmurs. He takes another step forward, leans sideways on the counter. “I know devotion. I’ve known it, I think, since you walked into my life.” Steve sobs once before cutting himself off, curling into himself even more. “Stevie?”

“Don’t say that,” he whispers. “Please don’t.”

“It’s true.”

“It can’t be. I- I don’t get that. I don’t get you. It’s not that simple.”

“Why not?” Eddie questions. “It’s the truth, Stevie, I liked you the moment I saw you. Then I saw you interact with Robin, and I saw the bitchy persona you pull out sometimes, and I saw you tired and sad and mad and sick and goofy, and I’ve loved every single facet of you that I’ve seen. What haven’t I seen yet, Stevie? Why can’t I like you? How can I prove that I do?”

Steve shakes his head, releases his mug to wrap his arms around himself. “You can’t.”

“Then how can I help you prove it? Stevie,” he murmurs, taking another careful step forward. “Sweetheart. Can I hug you?”

Another choked noise. A small nod.

Eddie steps forward again, his last two strides taking him all the way to Steve. He gently pulls him in, tucks his head on his shoulder, wraps an arm around his waist and runs a hand through his hair. “Sweetheart,” he murmurs again, “how could I not love you?”

“No one ever has. Why would you be different?”

“Robin?”

“‘S different.”

“Then maybe I am, too.”

He pulls back, pushes Steve’s hair out of his face with a sad smile on. “Hey. You got anywhere to be for the next little bit?” Steve shakes his head. “Good, then c’mon. You can bring your coffee.” He pulls back entirely, just holding on to Steve’s left hand so he can grab his mug, then leads him to the living room, where he pulls Steve down onto the couch and into his arms again.

“I don’t know if you caught it,” he murmurs, “but when we were at Chrissy’s and she asked how we met, I told her the story of when I knew I fell in love with you. That was all true.”

“I heard it,” Steve admits. “I just couldn’t let myself believe it.”

“All this time,” Eddie breathes. “We could’ve skipped all of this if I’d just told you. I’m sorry, sweetheart.”

Steve shakes his head. “‘S not your fault. ‘S mine.”

“Now I just refuse to believe that,” Eddie tells him. “First of all, I could’ve told you ages ago. That’s on no one but myself. You couldn’t have known how I was feeling.”

After a pause, Steve lifts his head to ask, “and second of all?”

“Okay, I don’t really have one.” Steve hits him with the bitchiest look, and Eddie collapses into giggles.

Suddenly Steve looks unsure. “You even like me when I’m being a bitch?”

“I love you all of the time,” Eddie tells him. “But you being a bitch is definitely one of the reasons I originally fell for you.”

“Really?”

“Mhm. Are you gonna tease me if I say I think it’s hot?”

Steve hums, lays his head back down. “Only a little.”

Eddie snorts. “It is. You can hold your own, and you’re so smart, and… I dunno. It’s hot.”

Steve snorts. “So eloquent.”

Eddie chuckles. “Believe me yet?”

“I’m starting to,” Steve promises. “I think… I think I just need time.”

“Take all the time you need, as long as I can hold you like this in the meantime.”

Steve hides his smile in Eddie’s chest. “Deal.”

They’re still there two hours later when Robin stumbles out of her room.

“Morning,” Steve tells her happily. “Eddie and I are dating.”

“I thought you already were,” Chrissy says, appearing in Robin’s doorway.

[arelliann]

@astrangersummer Week 8: Pool

Hey, hey guys, hey guys watch this, watch, hey, hey guys, hey, you weren’t watching :(

See their Roadtrip of ‘86 Series so far here

[lavenderstobins]

the conversation that happened in my head

[every-aj-needs-an-angel]

Okay this one's been stuck in my head all day but I have absolutely time to write it so please share this vision with me

Try as they might, Steve and Robin couldn't get tickets to Chrissy Cunningham's arena tour, but they could get tickets to a festival she was playing.

The last thing Steve ever wanted to do was go and stand in a muddy field for sixteen hours while they waited for the headline act. But he was pretty sure Robin was in love with her favourite musician, and he wasn't about to deny his best friend a chance at love.

So he helped her make personalised t-shirts because honestly all the other bands in the line-up kinda sounded like they sucked.

His read, "Only Here for Chrissy" on the front and "I'm Steve" on the back and Robin's read "Chrissy, Will You Be My Girlfriend?" on the front and "If Lost, Please Return To Steve" on the back.

And it turned out, as they stood against the barrier in a not so muddy field, on a lovely, warm, but overcast, May day, that even bands that sucked could be fun. Even if it was only because they spent their day with earplugs in, so their eardrums wouldn't combust, bitching about each artist's lack of ability to put notes or an outfit together.

During the lunchtime intermission, the pair made friends with the lesbian couple next to them, Kayla and Jess, who were also eagerly awaiting Chrissy's set and similarly liked to mock those who committed crimes against sound and fashion. Steve was glad to have met them, they were really nice, and he felt better about leaving her to use the bathroom or to fetch food, knowing Robin was in safe hands.

He also felt better about letting her wander off, not that it stopped him from stressing out when she and Kayla had been missing for over fifteen minutes. He spread himself out to keep their places against the railing with his back to the stage, watching the crowd intently. Jess wasn't quite as chatty once they were alone, but she seemed content enough, bobbing along to the band that'd appeared on the stage.

Steve didn't turn back around to face the stage until he spotted the girls heading back towards them, he gave them a wave and turned around to look at the guys who hadn't been attempting to destroy anyone's hearing and was met with the face of the most gorgeous man he'd ever seen. Pretty face, long curly hair tied up in a bun, muscle tee showing off his many tattoos, piercings and chains and glittery Docs; Steve felt himself owl blink and blush.

God's gift to mankind was kneeling centre stage, guitar in hand making the most beautiful sounds Steve had ever heard as his fingers flew over the strings, and it was only when the rest of the band kicked back in that the man looked up, winked directly at Steve, and then jumped back to his feet, spending the rest of the song bouncing around the stage.

Steve only realised his mouth was agape when Robin finally arrived next to him and elbowed him hard in the ribs, giving him the same look she did whenever he was embarrassing in the club. He watched the rest of the Corroded Coffin, according to the backdrop, set in awe. Screaming and clapping along when they wished everyone a great day, throwing picks and drumsticks into the crowd and taking a bow; patting each other on the back as they wandered offstage.

As soon as it was quiet again, Robin wanted to know what the hell was wrong with his face and honestly, he couldn't answer her. He didn't even believe in love, not for himself at least, and he certainly didn't believe in love at first sight. It didn't stop him from spending the next couple of hours watching the faces at the sides of the stage, hoping to catch a glimpse of his new favourite guitarist, though.

As soon as Chrissy hit the stage, Steve got lost, between filming the set and watching Robin trying not to hyperventilate when Chrissy spotted her t-shirt, pointed to her, and giving her a coy little wink, blew her a kiss.

"An old school friend is here with me tonight, and I'd like him to help me out with this next track. Especially for the beauty in the front row, this is Girlfriend!"

The crowd went wild as the beat kicked in, but Steve was still watching Robin because it looked like she'd stopped breathing altogether. That was until she gasped loudly and started smacking Steve in the way she always did whenever she got overly excited; pointing wildly at the stage, and it was only when he looked over he saw Corroded Coffins guitarist bouncing up and down next to Chrissy.

Instead of the black muscle vest and skinny jeans he'd been sporting earlier in the day, he had changed into pale blue board shorts and a baggy white t-shirt that read "Hey Steve!" written in black sharpie with a giant winking smiley face underneath that could only really be seen when he swung his guitar around his back to copy Chrissy's dance moves.

The song ended, and the friends hugged, Chrissy waving him off the stage and calling out, "Eddie Munson everybody!" letting the crowd go wild for her friend before launching into the rest of her set.

By the time Chrissy had actually left the stage, Robin looked exhausted, having screamed and sung and danced herself out. They hung around a bit, said goodbye to Kayla and Jess, wishing them a safe journey home, and they were just taking one last look at the now empty stage when he heard someone yell his name...

[hbyrde36]

Speak Now

For @firefly-party HAPPY BIRTHDAY BESTIE! 🥳

Steddie | M | WC: 6150 | AO3

TW: Use of homophobic slur, emotionally abusive relationship (not Steddie)

Eddie couldn’t believe he’d let it get this far. 

In just under 24 hours Chrissy would be saying I do to the biggest asshole on the planet, and he was almost out of time to intervene. 

All throughout the wedding planning phase, from venue tours and cake tastings to florist visits—appointments to which Eddie himself had accompanied the bride-to-be in place of her scumbag fiancé—he’d wracked his brain for some way to convince her to see the truth.

Jason was the worst. His boyish good looks and wholesome charm belied a rotten interior. Like many evildoers he hid in plain sight, committing his heinous acts in private and doing everything in his power to keep it covered up, camouflaging his emotional abuse with passive aggressive comments and intermittent love-bombing.

And to top it all off? 

The bastard was cheating on her. 

Unfortunately, Eddie had no tangible proof of this villainous treachery. Not for lack of trying, but that bleach-blonde sleazeball was as slippery as a snake. So, instead of trying to convince Chrissy of what he’d overheard last month when he’d showed up at her and Jason’s apartment unannounced and caught the little on fucker on FaceTime, having a very much not innocent chat with another woman, tonight Eddie set out to open her eyes to all the ways her fiancé was entirely wrong for her, and pray she called this insanity off.

“Come on, slowpoke!” Chrissy teased from up ahead, sticking her tongue out at him before dashing across the road to the next block.

Eddie huffed and puffed, his former smoker’s lungs not helping in his struggle to keep up with his gym-rat best friend who did things like yoga and pilates for fun. Seriously, who in their right mind considers exercise an enjoyable hobby?

“Keep your panties on, wench,” he grumbled, lumbering along behind her. “I told you we should have called an Uber!”

She spun in place, giving him the full effect of her eye roll as she continued to outpace him walking backwards.

Show off.

“You act like you’re the one wearing four inch heels.” She said, continuing to goad him.

“Well maybe I would be, Christine, if you hadn’t made us take the bus and then walk six blocks!”

He’d offered to pay for their ride. Hell, he’d planned on covering everything tonight. This was technically her bachelorette party after all, and now that his record shop was finally pulling a profit he could afford it and then some, but not only had she insisted on going dutch, she apparently felt that reliving the nostalgia of their broke-ass early 20’s, when they relied on public transportation and their own feet to get around, would be a fun way to celebrate.

It was just the two of them tonight. Eddie knew it wasn’t quite what Chrissy had envisioned, not that she’d ever admit it aloud, but in the four years and some change she and Jason had been together, the guy had managed to estrange her from just about every one of her friends except for him.

“Don’t be a baby, we’re almost there.”

Sure enough, by the time he’d caught up enough to walk side by side with her, they were coming up to the drab exterior of some new bar with a kitschy clever one word name that Eddie had already forgotten.

The front was all gray brick and dark tinted glass, the sign above it unlit and still under construction, but Chrissy assured him the place was open, and if this was where she wanted to be tonight, then who was Eddie to judge. 

As unassuming and frankly boring as the outside was, the inside of the place was the complete opposite. Eddie pushed in the door and was immediately assaulted by sight and sound. Unseen speakers played Good Luck, Babe at a volume that was just barely on the right side of too loud, jarring at first but not so blaring that you couldn’t hear yourself speak. Colorblocked walls in all the shades of the rainbow laid the backdrop for a long, bright pink lacquered bar that sat against the back wall, leaving a wide open space in the middle that was clearly meant to be a dance floor, and a small stage down the opposite end. 

Just inside the entrance he was greeted by the disinterested smile of a woman with a messy bob, her face clean of makeup, posted up on a stool as if she were a bouncer. Eddie supposed she must be stronger than she looked. The woman didn’t stay disinterested for long, as soon as Chrissy stepped up next to him, the bouncer’s eyes went wide, giving her an obvious once-over.

Eddie didn’t think much of it, until the woman waved them in and he got a better look at the bar’s clientele. It was slow for a bar in the city on a Friday night, which made it all the easier to notice amongst the sparse crowd the pair of masc lesbians shooting the shit down one end of the bar, a gaggle of twinks on the other, and sitting in the corner happily sipping on her drink alone was a middle aged drag queen all done up in a tall Dolly Parton style blonde wig and sequined sheriff’s uniform, complete with high heeled boots that she had propped up on the stool across from her.

Eddie stopped in his tracks, his hand shooting out to grab Chrissy’s arm when she moved to go around him, pulling her close so he wouldn’t have to yell. “Chris… is this a gay bar?”

“Yeah!” She said, grinning wide and bright, her high, tight ponytail bobbing as she nodded her head.

A deep frown pulled at his lips before he could stop it. It wasn’t that he minded, obviously, but it was more than a little unexpected for sure.

Her smile fell as she watched his face. “What’s wrong? I thought you’d be happy.” 

“I'm not not happy, but this isn’t about me. It’s your last night as a free woman. Wouldn’t you rather go somewhere fancy? Consider your options? Let your eyes wander a little—”

She cut him a hard look, jaw tightening dangerously.

He raised his hands in surrender, and tried to laugh it off as if he hadn’t been one thousand percent serious. “Just for fun! Y’know, get hit on one last time before the cuffs get snapped on for good?”

Not that she couldn't be hit on in a place like this, as evidenced by the bounder checking her out so blatantly, but to his knowledge his bestie had always been so very unfortunately straight.

He really didn’t understand straight people, it just wasn’t natural.

“Eddie!” She admonished, whapping him with her handbag.

“What?!”

“Nothing,” she sighed, shaking her head. “Look, Jason doesn’t like me going out to bars without him, I figured this way he’s less likely to be mad.”

Eddie grit his teeth, fighting to bite his tongue at first, but considering the theme of the night was: Mission Runaway Bride, he figured he might as well take advantage of the opening and start right now. 

He threw an arm over her shoulder in hopes of softening the blow, and resumed their trek to the cotton candy colored bar and a vacant pair of its matching stools. “Cause that’s a totally normal and healthy thing to have to do to make sure your future husband doesn’t fly into a jealous rage.”

“He’s just sensitive,” she said, defensive as always. “Besides, gay bars have much better eye-candy.”

As if it had been scripted and choreographed, the very second the words left her lips, the swinging doors behind the bar burst open, revealing the single most perfect specimen of a man Eddie had ever laid eyes on. Muscular arms flexed and bulged under the weight of the box he was carrying, straining the fabric of his black t-shirt, stretched tight across an ample chest. His face would have been right at home on any Greek statue, lightly tanned and adorned with beauty marks, crowned with artfully tousled hair that fell over a pair of stunning hazel eyes framed with long thick lashes.

The man turned his back, set the heavy box down, and started unpacking bottles of booze. Eddie's throat ran dry as he watched the guy repeatedly bend down, his plump ass on perfect display in his well-fitting jeans for a moment before he straightened up again, the hem of his cut off t-shirt lifting to reveal a tempting strip of bare skin as he placed each bottle up on the shelf. 

Eddie licked his lips involuntarily at the indecent sight. “Can’t argue that,” he conceded, his eyes never leaving the one-man show as he let Chrissy go so they could take their seats. The guy was probably just a bar back who would disappear through the door he came in any second now never to be seen again, Eddie thought sadly. 

But it was just as well, Eddie didn’t exactly have the attention span to be able to complete his mission while being distracted all night by a pretty-boy with a nice ass.

Except, he didn’t walk away. Pretty-boy kicked the empty box aside when he was done, running a hand through his hair as he turned and headed straight for them. His shirt, which Eddie could now see had the name Steve embroidered on it over his left pec in hot pink thread, raised again, this time offering a perfect view of the most titillating happy trail.

“Sorry about that, we’re still getting some things stocked up,” Steve—the bartender, apparently—said, his eyes flicking up and down what he could see of Eddie over the bar. “What can I make for ya?” 

Oh fuck.

Was it Eddie’s imagination or did Steve just… check him out?

“Margarita, please, with salt,” Chrissy answered straightaway.

Eddie felt his lips pull into a wide grin as he held Steve’s gaze, a smile that he knew would show off his dimples to full effect. “Whatever you have on tap works for me, sweetheart.”

As he knew they would, or hoped anyway, Steve's eyes lingered on Eddie’s mouth for an extra long beat. He was pleased with himself for all of 3 seconds before Chrissy made a loud sound of disgust to his left. 

“Ugh, beer, Eddie?” She looked down her nose at him, frowning. “That’s so boring.”

This bitch.

“Fine, fine.” Eddie flipped her off before turning his eyes back up at Steve, keeping them wide and coy as he asked, “what is the least boring drink you can make for me, Stevie?”

He was probably laying it on a little thick by cooing the guy’s name like that and batting his eyelashes, but he couldn’t seem to help himself. Once they got their drinks though, that was it, he’d hunker down and get to work on saving Chrissy’s future.

Steve bit his lip, shooting Eddie an honest to god wink as he answered. “Easy choice, that would be a hurricane shot.”

“Sounds great.” Eddie wasn’t usually one for shots, but he’d take whatever Steve was offering as long as he kept looking at him like that.

“Don’t you want to know what it is first?” Steve narrowed his eyes, leaning hard against the bar, a little quirk to his perfectly arched brow.

“No need,” Eddie said quickly. “I love surprises.”

With an awkward yet strangely adorable two-finger salute, Steve stepped away, presumably to make their drinks, and when Eddie finally managed to pull his gaze away from the man’s exquisite backside, he found himself face-to-face with a small neon pink dick and balls hovering an inch away from his nose.

“Jesus Christ.” He reared back, snatching what turned out to be a novelty straw out of Chrissy’s hand. Fucking thing had veins and everything. 

Looking far too pleased with herself, Chrissy reached back into her bag and pulled her own electric blue penis straw out, twirling it between her fingers. 

“Seriously, Chris?”

“Why do you hate fun?” She asked, sticking out her bottom lip as far as it would go.

“You know that doesn’t work on meee,” he sang, waving the pink straw around like a magic wand, and booping her on the nose with it.

“What’s the problem, Munson, too big for you to handle?”

Partially for the bit, and partially because his ego refused to let him be underestimated, even if it was obviously a joke, Eddie locked eyes with her and with the most serious of expressions, began to lave his tongue back and forth over the itty bitty cockhead.

Chrissy kept an irritatingly straight face as she watched, unblinking, and it rapidly became a test of wills to see who would break first. 

Eddie upped his game, swirling his tongue over the little hole in the top, before pushing the entire thing past the seam of his lips, bobbing up and down the very short length of the vascular plastic appendage.

A loud snort, immediately followed by hysterical laughter rang out next to Eddie’s head, causing him to have the startling realization that they were, in fact, still in public. He froze with the dick-straw nestled between his lips, flicking his eyes cautiously to the side and confirmed that—yep!—that was hot bartender Steve alright, standing there, cackling as he set Chrissy’s drink down in front of her, after seeing god-only-knew how much of that entire display. 

Eddie spit the incriminating piece of evidence out, letting the straw fall to the bar, where it bounced—twice.

At least Steve looked mildly impressed, on top of amused.

“I’m getting married tomorrow,” Chrissy explained, leaning in towards Steve to whisper-shout conspiratorially. “And Eddie here is my maid of honor.”

“Eddie,” Steve repeated with a mischievous grin, his warm honey gaze swinging Eddie’s way again. “Is she making you wear some godawful dress with puffy sleeves?”

“I wish,” Eddie grumbled, remembering the way his dark features and tattoos had popped against the baby pink chiffon gown. He’d only tried it on to make Chrissy laugh during a disastrous trip to David’s Bridal with her horrible mother, but he would have worn it in a heartbeat. That gown and pair of shit kickers? He’d have had every closeted Carver man on their knees at the reception. 

“Just a regular boring black suit for me I'm afraid, wouldn’t want to offend the groom’s delicate sensibilities.”

“You did look really pretty,” Chrissy said, taking a careful sip from her martini.

Preening, Eddie reached for his own drink, glancing at Steve to see the man giving him another lingering look, as though he were trying to imagine him in a fancy dress and liked what he saw, only to realize there was no glass in front of him.

“Forgetting something?” Eddie asked, arching his brow.

Steve gave a little shake of his head. “Just wanted to make sure you were ready.”

“I was born ready, big boy,” Eddie said, leaning back in his seat and spreading his legs a little.

“Eugh, gag me,” Chrissy groaned. “That was awful.”

“It wasn’t meant for you,” Eddie hissed.

“It was pretty bad,” Steve agreed, but looked charmed regardless. 

It figured on the one night he had a mission that didn’t involve picking someone up to take home, Eddie would find not only the hottest man on earth, but a man who seemed to appreciate his admittedly unique appeal.

Steve did set a tall shot glass down on the bar then, but placed it to the side and much too far out of reach to be meant for Eddie, or so he thought. The next thing he knew Steve was leaping up on top of the bar, making the move look effortless, before crouching down so low he was practically level with Eddie’s face.

Eddie swallowed hard, his mouth suddenly as dry as the Sahara. He had no idea what was the fuck was happening right now, but Steve’s jeans were so tight they left almost nothing to the imagination, the outline of his dick was like—right there. Honestly, Eddie wasn’t even sure how the man was holding a squat without splitting the fabric.

Still balanced on the balls of his feet, Steve raised both eyebrows, asking silent permission for whatever it was he was about to do.

Eddie could only nod, the ability to form words nothing more than a distant memory.

What came next happened so fast, and yet felt like slow motion at the same time. From one blink to the next Steve’s huge hand was tucked under Eddie's chin, grabbing him firmly by the jaw, squeezing gently until he got the hint to open his mouth.

“Good boy,” Steve murmured low, holding Eddie tight as he picked up the shot with his free hand, poured the drink between his own lips, and leaned in even closer, spitting it right into Eddie’s waiting mouth.

The fiery liquid quickly filled him. Thankfully Eddie’s instincts kicked in and he swallowed reflexively, the liquor warming his throat all the way down to pool in his stomach, adding to the blaze that had been ignited in his groin the second Steve had grabbed his face.

And that wasn’t all.

Before he could even begin to recover, Eddie was suddenly doused in the face with a cup full of cold water, and was mid-gasp when he felt the sharp sting of a palm slapping his cheek.

A small crowd had formed around them without Eddie’s notice, and as the sound of the slap reverberated in his head, they erupted into cheers and wolf whistles.

Startled, and very aware of the sudden raging boner he was sporting, Eddie blinked the water out of his eyes, taking in the sight of Chrissy with her hand over her mouth, absolutely losing her shit, and Steve, still hovering over him with a guilty smile and pink cheeks.

“Bathroom,” he managed to mumble out as he slipped from his stool and took off towards a doorway he prayed housed the bar’s facilities.

It did. Eddie stumbled into the blessedly empty bathroom and rushed to the sink, leaning on it heavily as he groaned, palming himself through his jeans.

He only got a second of peace before the door swung open behind him.

“I’m sorry, I—”

Eddie whirled at the voice, water droplets flying off his dripping hair to hit the wall.

It was Steve, both a relief and a fact that made Eddie's heart race, walking towards him, wearing a nervous smile and holding a white hand towel. Eddie held himself still as Steve approached, feeling frozen in place while the man gently, almost tenderly, dried him off.

“I tried to tell you,” Steve whispered. “Maybe I should have tried harder.”

“Don’t be sorry,” Eddie said, breathlessly, finally finding his voice again “I think that was the best drink I’ve ever—”

He was cut off mid sentence by Steve’s mouth crashing into his. It had to be the single hottest way he’d ever been interrupted, and you know what? 

Words were overrated anyway.

Eddie moaned into the kiss, his hands finding their way to Steve’s waist and that slutty cropped hem, sneaking under the fabric to caress the bare skin beneath. He tilted his head, opening up for the tongue he could feel teasing the edge of his lips, and couldn’t stop another desperate sound from clawing its way up his throat.

Thank god Chrissy hadn’t followed him in there too, she’d never let him hear the end of this.

Oh, goddamnit.

Thinking of her instantly sent Eddie hurtling back to reality, forcing him to fight against his very nature as a man to pull himself away from Steve’s luscious mouth.

“Wait-wait, I-I can’t,” he panted.

“Shit,” Steve cursed, hands raised and mouth set in disappointed frown. “Sorry, I should have known. A catch like you, of course you have a boyfriend.”

Eddie’s mouth fell open of its own accord.

He did alright as far as hook-ups went but—

A catch? 

Him?

He shook his head, disbelief briefly robbing him of his ability to speak yet again, something Steve seemed to have a talent for.

“Oh,” Steve chirped, rubbing nervously at the back of his neck. “Um… girlfriend?”

“I’m not opposed,” Eddie managed, the proud bisexual in him feeling the need to clarify. “But no, no girlfriend either.”

“So, what is it then?” Steve asked, a small grin returning to his lips, looking equal parts hopeful and confused. “Am I not your type?”

Eddie heaved a sigh, pushing off the wall to pace the short length of the tile floor. “It’s Chrissy, my friend out there? This guy she’s supposed to marry tomorrow, he’s… well, he’s a fucking monster, is what he is. Tonight is my last chance to save her from a fate worse than death! And as much as I'd like to get to know you better in this remarkably spotless bathroom for a bar—”

Steve snorted from the sidelines where he’d been watching Eddie’s rant, head tilted like an amused puppy. “Thanks, cleaned it myself.”

“So you see?” Eddie went on, throwing his hands up in defeat. “I just can’t afford that kind of distraction right now.”

“Right, okay,” Steve bobbed his head in a nod as if he understood, but his mouth twisted into a smirk. “Are you always this dramatic?”

“Who’s side are you on?!” Eddie squawked.

With another soft laugh, the kind that made the corners of his eyes crinkle, Steve joined him in the middle of the floor, cupping his face and gazing at him with a look that was far too fond for a pair of strangers who’s just met. 

Even if they had already swapped spit in various and lovely ways. 

Somehow though, when Steve touched him, they didn’t feel much like strangers at all. 

“Definitely yours, gorgeous,” Steve said, leaning in to press a chaste kiss to his cheek. “What can I do to help?” 

The plan was simple.

Under the guise of chatting about their own failed romantic pasts, Steve and Eddie would casually mention as many deal breakers as possible that might apply to Chrissy and Jason. Eddie had more than enough inside information to help lead them in the right direction and Steve seemed strangely familiar with toxic relationships. 

After a quick huddle Eddie returned to his bar stool at Chrissy’s side, arriving just in time to see her typing furiously and frowning at her phone, an all too familiar sight, and he knew without having to peek at her screen exactly who was texting her. 

Chrissy placed the phone face down on the bar when she noticed he was back, her smile returning in full force like everything was still sunsets and rainbows. She was getting far too good at that these days. If he hadn’t seen the quick switch, he'd have no idea that anything was wrong.

“There you are,” she said, taking her almost empty drink in hand. “Did you fall in?”

“Har har,” Eddie shot her a dull look. At the same moment, Steve reappeared through the service door behind the bar and headed their way.

Chrissy’s eyes narrowed, taking one look between the two of them before leaning in to whisper in Eddie’s ear. “Or should I say, did you fall to your knees in there?”

Oh god did he wish.

“I wasn’t gone that long. Even someone with my skills needs time to work his magic!” He hissed, straightening as Steve drew closer. “He was helping me dry my hair, that’s all.”

She hummed suspiciously, but let it go.

“Another round for you two?” Steve asked.

“Sure!” Chrissy said.

Eddie held up his hand before either of them could even ask. “Just the beer this time, please. I don’t care how boring it is.”

In reality he would love to consume all of his alcohol by way of Steve’s mouth for the foreseeable future, but alas, there was work to be done. A full pint glass was slid in front of him seconds later, without commentary, though he did get another wink from Steve that warmed him down to his toes. He reached for it, and shouldn’t have been as surprised as he was when Chrissy aimed and fired, landing that damn pink penis straw right in his glass.

“Come on,” Eddie whined. “No one drinks beer through a straw.” He took a sip from the side of the glass to illustrate his point, and got a dick to the nose for his trouble. 

Steve let out an obviously fake cough to hide his laugh.

“I don’t know how you drink that stuff anyway, it’s disgusting,” she said, grimacing.

“You know,” Steve began, doing that thing bartenders do where they polish up glasses that are already clean. “Speaking of disgusting drinks, I once broke up with a guy because he kept buying orange juice with pulp in it.”

Oookay.

Well, it wasn’t the smoothest transition ever, but with a little tequila running through her system Chrissy didn’t seem to notice, only letting out a little giggle as she shouted, “What?!”

“Maybe it’s silly, but in my defense, he knew I hated it. Then he’d get mad because he’d bought it just for me, and I—wasn’t being grateful enough.” The last Steve said with honest to god air quotes, and Eddie fell a little in love on the spot.

“Aww,” Chrissy leaned over the bar to pat Steve’s arm. “That’s not silly at all! You deserve whatever type of juice you prefer, and a partner who listens to you.”

Eddie wanted to scream. If only she’d hold the same standard for herself that she wished for a relative stranger, this whole thing could have been avoided!

Instead he took a long swig of his beer, holding the pink penis safely away from his face this time, and casually slid into the conversation. “Kinda reminds me of that time Jason got you a strawberry shortcake for your birthday.”

Chrissy scoffed, crossing her arms defensively. “You’re never gonna let that go are you?”

Eddie shrugged, trying to stay calm as his heart beat out of his chest. He hadn’t meant to hit a nerve so early on. 

“Well, that’s not the same thing at all,” she muttered, turning to Steve like she felt the need to defend Jason’s honor. “He felt so bad about it. Eddie didn’t see how upset he was after everyone left.”

“I bet,” Eddie shot under his breath. Fucking guy could have killed her. He had no doubt that Jason had freaked out after they all left, probably faked crying even and made it all about himself and how bad he felt. 

“Don’t like strawberries?” Steve asked, innocently hitting the nail right on its head.

“No, um,” Chrissy faltered, chewing on her bottom lip. “I’m allergic.” 

“There it is,” Eddie said, unable to help himself.

“At least Jason remembered my birthday,” she shot back with venom. “What was that one’s name again, Eddie?”

Eddie buried his head in his hands. He hadn’t really stopped to consider the painful consequences of a stroll down his own memory lane, cluttered with the ghosts of his terrible exes past, being part of the agenda.

“Billy,” he grumbled out between his fingers. “He was a piece of work.”

“Please tell me you broke up with him for that,” Steve said.

“Nope!” Chrissy announced gleefully. “Stayed with him for another six months.”

Eddie wanted to kick her.

He raised embarrassed eyes, feeling pathetic as he met Steve’s sad gaze. Steve’s hands twitched like he wanted to reach out, but someone started to flag him down from the other end of the bar and he was forced to step away.

“That was a low blow, Chris,” Eddie said after a beat, draining the last of the beer from his glass as he watched Steve work.

“You started it,” she said, elbowing him in the ribs for good measure, which was fair.. “Besides, what’s the problem? Now Steve totally feels bad for you!”

“Are you trying to land me a pity fuck?”

She shrugged, swirling the tip of her finger around the rim of her glass. “I dunno, I think if we played our cards right we could land you a pity wedding date for tomorrow.”

Eddie took a long blink, half lost in a fantasy world where he got to see Steve all dolled up and wearing a suit just for him, half disappointed to realize he hadn’t made so much as a dent in her delulu armor yet.

The clock was ticking, and he was starting to wonder if this whole plan was stupid. Maybe it was time to just lay it all out in plain english, black and white, and hope for the best.

“It’s funny that you brought up Billy. He’s the only guy I ever dated that Jason got along with. I wonder why that is.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Chrissy asked, her tone sharp.

“Birds of a feather and all that.” Eddie knew there were probably a hundred better ways to go about this, but at the end of the day there was no path through this that wasn’t going to hurt.

Chrissy let her head fall back, letting out a long suffering sigh. “Look, I know you think he’s an asshole, but—”

“I don’t think, I know,” Eddie plowed ahead, cutting her off. “He treats you like shit, honey. The strawberry thing was bad enough but it’s like he can never be wrong about anything! I’ve never heard him apologize to you, not once! He’s manipulative, controlling, has something to say about everything you wear, what you eat, how much time you spend with me—”

Not halfway through his speech she was out of her seat, trying to walk away.

But Eddie wasn’t having it. He slid out of his stool to follow her, still talking the whole time. “Whether you want to admit it or not, he has isolated you from all of your friends, and I think if your mother wasn’t exactly like him, he’d have cut you off from your parents too! He won’t let you get a dog, he forgot your last two anniversaries—”

“Eddie, stop!” She shouted suddenly, whirling on her heel to face him. “You two have been at each other’s throats for years and I'm sick of it! I’m tired of being caught in the middle. It’s like you’re trying to make me choose between you and it’s not fair!”

“—And he cheated on you!”

“What did you say?” She reared back as if he’d struck her, and it broke Eddie’s heart. 

He felt more than saw when Steve came up behind him, a warmth at his back and soft words asking him if he was alright, telling him to stay calm, but how could he?

“I saw it, Chris, with my own two eyes,” Eddie said, pleading with her to just believe him. 

“I-I don’t…” she stuttered out. “Why are you pushing this? Don’t you want me to be happy?”

“Of course I do!” Eddie took her face in his hands, his heart aching terribly. “Babe, of course I want you to be happy, but I know you’re not happy with him. I don’t understand why you’d do this to yourself. Why do you stay with him?”

“Because he loves me, Eddie!” She cried. She grabbed at his wrists but didn’t pull his hands away. If anything she was holding on for dear life, and leaning into his touch. “Who else would put up with me?”

Put up with her?

Oh, Jason was officially a dead man.

Eddie was about to say just that, and tell Chrissy that the right person would count themselves lucky to have her, that it was her who was settling for less than she deserved, not Jason, but a loud scuffle at the main entrance drew their attention.

Speak of the devil.

“There she is,” Jason said, sauntering over with the casual air of a nighttime stroll, as if he hadn’t just weaseled his way into the bar by force. The bouncer followed, face red and full of rage, but Jason’s two sidekicks, Andy and Patrick, remained by the door with one eye on Jason and the other on the exit.

Cowards.

Steve seemed to have put two and two together, and in the most swoon-worthy move imaginable, stepped out in front of Eddie and Chrissy like the world’s sexiest guard dog.

“What are you doing with my bride-to-be?” Jason asked with squinted eyes as he stepped up to Steve, puffing out his chest like that would somehow make up for the three inches of height difference between them. 

Steve raised his hands, palms out. “Hey man, no one here is looking for any trouble. Truth be told, I'm a little more interested in the maid of honor.”

“What are you doing here, Carver? Don’t you have your own party to be at?” Eddie spat, moving to Steve’s side with Chrissy hanging off his back. As much of a turn on as this was, he didn’t need Steve to defend him from this prick.

“I just wanted to see how my girl was doing, that’s all. Is that a crime?” Jason growled.

That would have usually been Chrissy’s cue to speak up, to start making excuses for Jason’s behavior and go with him to calm him down, but this time she stayed quiet, arms shaking where they clung to Eddie.

“You mean stalking?” Eddie scoffed. “Yeah, actually. That is a crime.”

Jason lunged till he was practically nose-to-nose with Eddie, spitting as he shouted, “it’s not stalking if she’s mine, freak.”

“That’s enough!” The female bouncer announced, swiftly latching on to one of Jason’s arms and locking it behind his back.

“Don’t touch me, dyke,” Jason bellowed, trying and failing to shake himself loose from her grasp.

Eddie didn’t even flinch but Chrissy let out a shocked gasp. It certainly wasn’t the first time Jason had used a slur, but maybe it was the first time she’d really let herself hear it.

The woman, for her part, simply laughed, muttering “I am what I am,” putting more and more pressure on Jason’s arm until he cried out in pain and started to drag him away. 

“Wait!” Chrissy yelled, finally darting out from behind Eddie.

“Baby?” Jason called out.

The bouncer paused, to Eddie’s dismay, but didn’t let go of Jason’s arm, letting her Chrissy get as close as she dared.

For a terrifying moment Eddie thought he’d lost her, that she was going to stay with Jason like she always had, but then she wound up, pulled her fist back, and punched him square in the face with a satisfying crack.

Eddie had never been more proud.

“Just to be clear,” she said, as they all watched blood begin to trickle out of Jason’s nose. “The wedding is off.”

“You little bitch, I—” Jason’s voice broke off in a wordless scream as the bouncer wrenched his other arm behind his back and frog marched him to the door.

Eddie quickly rushed to Chrissy’s side and scooped her up in his arms.

“That felt good,” she mumbled into his chest as she melted into the hug.

“You okay?” Eddie whispered into her hair, rocking her back and forth.

After a few she pulled back to look at him, eyes wet but a fierce smile on her lips. “Yeah, I will be.”

They stayed at the bar until last call, learning over many rounds of free drinks sent with condolences from other patrons, that Steve was not only the bartender, but that he owned the place along with his best friend Robin, who just so happened to be the bouncer who’d helped save the day.

The four of them chatted all night, and when closing time came Steve and Robin accompanied Eddie and Chrissy back to Eddie’s apartment to keep her company, and cheer her up after what had to be one of the toughest nights of her life.

To no one’s surprise, Eddie and Steve wasted no time getting together, sneaking off in the wee hours of the morning to Eddie’s bedroom once the girls had passed out on the couch, fucking until the sun came up. 

They made things official halfway through brunch that very afternoon.

It took six months for Chrissy to come out as bisexual and three more for her to admit she had a crush on Robin specifically. All understandable given the big break up. But exactly one year to the day, in the same bar where the foursome had met and saved Chrissy from making a terrible mistake, she pulled Robin out to the middle of the dance floor and kissed her square on the mouth in front of all of their new friends.

Thanks to the lovely @penny00dreadful and @pearynice for all the beta work and cheerleading as usual!

Permanent taglist (open): @penny00dreadful @pearynice @hitlikehammers @sidekick-hero @firefly-party

@bookworm0690 @wonderland-girl143-blog  @goodolefashionedloverboi @themagicalari @awkwardgravity1

@rocknrollsalad @eternal-sunflowers @cringe-culture-is-dead-99

[stevieschrodinger]

Part One FortyOne

Eddie flops over the back of the couch, landing on Steve, “look look look,” he tucks his hair out of the way, showing off his slightly too pointy ear, and a brand new silver stud.

“You got it done,” Steve rubs around it carefully with his thumb, “is it sore?”

“Not really. Here, will you help me?” Eddie wriggles, pulling a scrappy, folded bit of paper out of his pocket.

Steve takes it, trying to adjust to avoid all of Eddie’s pointy bits as he wriggles around, “oh, cleaning instructions, yeah. Sure.”

“And look at this. I’m not allowed it until it heals,” Eddie pulls out a box, showing Steve a dangly, shiny silver earring.

“Such a magpie,” Steve tells him fondly, “what else did you get up to with Chrissy?”

Eddie shrugs, “looked around the mall, got lunch,” Eddie fiddles with the front of Steve’s shirt, chewing his lip, “there’s a guitar in the music shop,” he starts, but doesn’t go anywhere with it.

“You short, huh? By a lot?”

Eddie nods sadly.

Steve runs his fingers through Eddie’s hair, thinking. It’s probably a dumb idea, and it’s definitely going to come back to bite him but...Steve finds he doesn’t give a shit, “come with me a second. I’ve got an idea.”

Steve’s Dads office is bare bones now; there’s basically nothing left in there since his dad isn’t home very often. Everything is dusty, Steve never goes in there. Eddie opened the door once out of curiosity, but didn’t bother again once he understood what the little room was.

Steve starts pulling open the desk drawers while Eddie hovers in the doorway, “won’t you get in trouble?”

“He probably doesn’t even remember this stuff is here,” the bottom two drawers are empty but for some old receipts and scrappy bits of paper, but the top drawer...Steve finds a letter opener, it looks silver, with a fancy, shiny wooden handle. Steve’s sure his father wouldn’t own something that only looks silver. There’s also a fancy fountain pen, and a cut crystal inkwell sitting on a silver base that has clearly never been used. The nib of the pen and glass of the bottle are immaculate, never having been near any ink.

It looks like the sort of thing you’d get as a work gift, probably twenty years of service or something else fucking dumb. It’s clearly all meaningless to his Dad, otherwise it wouldn’t have been sat here all this time.

“Okay,” Steve tells Eddie, “lets go.”

Eddie’s wringing his hands together nervously in the doorway, “isn’t this stealing?” He whisper hisses from the doorway, like Steve’s dad is going to jump out at them any moment. Or Hopper.

“I mean...you want a guitar, right?” Steve grins, feeling a little reckless, “come on baby, get your jacket, lets go.”

Despite looking guilty when he’d been standing next to Steve at the pawn shop, Eddie’s theft related anxiety seems to evaporate the moment he’s holding the guitar. It’s red, and a little dangerous looking, and Steve understands completely why Eddie was so drawn to it. It has a really nice hard case, and Eddie is clearly beyond thrilled. The thing comes with a little maintenance manual, some picks, and a spare set of strings, and Eddie gathers his treasures together. They have just enough to cover grabbing the smallest little amp in the whole store, but at least it means Eddie has something to plug the thing into so he can actually play it.

If and when Steve ever gets any backlash from his Dad, he figures it’ll be worth it.

He hopes it’s worth it, at least.

“Eddie...you could have driven yourself,” Steve laments, kind of trying not to sound too sorry for himself as he pulls up in Gareth’s driveway.

“No,” Eddie says as Steve puts the beemer in park, “come and say hello.”

“Do I have to?” Steve does his best to give Eddie puppy dog eyes, but Eddie’s having none of it, “this isn’t going to magically fix anything.”

“I want them to...know you now. You’re the best,” Eddie smiles, leaning over to give Steve’s hand a quick squeeze before he clambers out of the car.

Steve sighs and resists the urge to rest his head against the steering wheel, “okay. Okay I can do this.”

Steve climbs out, following Eddie into the garage, Gareth and Jeff already crowding around where Eddie has the guitar case open on the couch.

“...and Stevie helped me buy it!” Eddie is telling them proudly.

“Oh yeah, he shake some kid down for his lunch money?” Jeff says sarcastically, clearly not having spotted that Steve is basically two feet behind him.

“I never actually did anything like that.” Jeff just shrugs a shoulder at him, the atmosphere suddenly palpable again. Steve certainly isn’t going to tell them he did it by stealing from his own Dad, “okay, Eddie, what time should I come pick you up?”

Eddie shrugs, so Gareth fills in, “around half eight?”

“No problem, see you later. Have fun.”

“Just ten minutes!” Eddie had said enthusiastically when he’d let Steve back into the garage. It’s got to have been at least twenty, and because it’s fucking freezing outside, Steve finds himself sitting on the ratty couch listening to them practice. There’s quite a bit of stop and start going on as they work themselves out, Steve recognizes the tune from Stuff Eddie listens to, and he’s pretty sure it’s Metallica.

Its familiar enough that he’s tapping his foot, anyway. After about half an hour they make one complete play through, even if it was a little wobbly in places. Steve still gives them a one man round of applause, earning himself a glowing smile from Eddie. He also gets a bit of a funny look from everyone else, but honestly the discomfort has already gotten old and Steve’s doing his best to push past it.

“This is so much fun!” Eddie calls to him as the final, loud, notes trail off.

Steve is, in that moment, almost unbearably fond of him.

Steve’s at the table, formulating a quick grocery list. He can grab what they need after his shift today. Eddie slides into the seat opposite Steve, he’s eating a pear. Steve watches as Eddie finishes it, downing his coffee so he can drop the pear core into the now empty mug.

Steve can’t help but smile, “you loved them so much, you used to eat the whole thing.”

Eddie shrugs, “all the food here was the best. Still is the best. Only ever having one thing to eat was...not great,” Eddie grimaces at the memory, “but I guess I never knew about pizza so,” he shrugs gamely.

“What was it like?” Steve asks, curious, tapping the end of his pen against the paper pad, “what do you remember, about when you first got here?”

Eddie thinks for a second, thoughtful, “I think...the sun is probably the strongest memory. The sky here is so different. It hurt my eyes real bad at first, it was so bright, the shades helped but...it was just so warm and clean feeling, I guess. I was so scared though, at the beginning. The-you know those men who took me. Big scary clothes with masks on and they...had this sort of stick with a rope on the end,” Eddie rubs at his throat unconsciously, “that’s how they caught me.”

“We don’t have to talk about it, if you don’t want to,” Steve holds his hand out to Eddie over the table, linking their fingers together, trying to be reassuring. It must have been terrifying to Eddie, especially with no point of reference, he would have been being stolen away by monsters he had never seen before. Never the less, Steve would be lying if he said he wasn’t curious about Eddie’s memories.

“I’d never seen people before. Nothing like them, the noises they were making. The lights were too bright, you know? Everything was just...so much. And I was so scared. Like, that’s all I was? Just...fear. And then you saved me. I was still frightened though. Sorry.”

Steve snorts a soft laugh, “I forgive you, given the circumstances. And...the pool, I suppose that was really different, and you didn’t have...anywhere to hide. I remember feeling bad about that, how you were always curled up at the bottom at first, trying to hide in the corner?”

“Yeah..I…” Eddie frowns for a second, “I remember that, I think. The water was...so clear. I couldn’t hide in it. But...I don’t think it took that long before I realized I didn’t have anything to hide from, not really.”

“Still...I’m sorry. I...a lot of stuff happened fast and I wish I could have done more, somehow.”

Eddie smiles softly back, “you don’t need to think that but...thank you,” he squeezes Steve’s hand. “I remember when I learned your name,” he says quietly, fiddling with Steve’s fingers now, a soft look on his face. Introspective and thoughtful, he speaks softly, “I remember being able to make that noise and you would answer. I could...call you, and then you’d come and make noises of your own. I didn’t understand any of them but...you always had something for me. Quiet noises or...something nice to eat. Or drink,” Eddie grins suddenly, turning enthusiastic, “I can’t explain it, but the first time I tried a beer I thought it tasted like how the sun felt. And that was...I don’t know, like a door opened. Like the world opening up, that I had the time and energy to think about stuff like that. Complicated things, not just...food or hiding.”

“You think when you were...you know, in The Upside Down, I suppose you were trying to survive all the time and...you were so thin,” Steve doesn’t remember a lot from the day he rescued Eddie, he’d been beat to hell and he was fucking high, but he remembers carrying Eddie from the bathtub down to the pool, and he’d felt to small and frail. He’d hardly weighed anything.

“Yeah, the vines were hard to eat. Especially the big ones, the small ones were the best, and I knew how to plant the stalks to grow more, but they took time to grow, and if someone else found them, they'd just eat them. Not like I could stay and watch out for them.”

“No...the way you went for the frozen peas. And the celery,” Steve shudders, “just...downing a stick of celery like it was nothing- wait, is that why you gave Hopper a pine cone?”

“Yeah...I mean I think I understood he was looking out for us, and he could plant that, and grow food so...it was the most valuable thing I felt I had.”

“It makes so much sense now. You were talking pretty well by the point though, you were getting good with your picture book.”

“Probably the second most important thing you gave me.”

“The second?” Steve smiles, curious, “and what was the first?”

“My name. Something just for myself, a way of...thinking about myself, I guess and that...I don’t really know how to explain how much that changed things. I think it was the first time I even realized that I was...me. It was…” Eddie frowns and shakes his head, like it’s too big of an idea to try and communicate.

“I...think I understand. Like if you never had anyone to speak to before that. I mean I guess if no one ever called me Steve...if I never had anyone to talk to, I’m not sure...I’m not sure what that would do to me, you know, eventually. That must have been so lonely,” sympathy spikes in Steve. All that time Eddie had been so so alone.

Eddie shrugs, still gripping Steve’s fingers across the table, “I didn’t even know what lonely was. Having someone else there...was never a thought I had. Or even could have had. Everything else was dangerous. Being alone was safe. And then there was you. Feeding me, not hurting me. Everything in The Upside Down tries to hurt you, you know?”

Steve makes a noise, “pfffffft. Don’t I know it,” but he thinks back, “you were nervous of everyone but me for a long time, it felt like,” Steve sniggers, remembering, “that day when you saw Robs off, because she’d been tickling me. You saved me.”

Eddie gasps quietly, clearly staring at nothing, lost in his memory, “I remember that! I thought...I think I thought she was hurting you. And you...you had all these people around you who all looked like you but...you never fought with each other, and you just...were together. No one was fighting for food or...a safe place to hide it was just...it took me a long time to understand, but I knew you needed help fighting Robin off.” Eddie smirks, “your teeth aren’t sharp, you don’t have claws, how were you going to defend yourself?”

“Dustin thought you were defending me because I was your food source?”

“No,” Eddie says firmly, “no, not at all you were...I didn’t really have a way of thinking of it past sort of...Demodogs, I guess. They usually were in groups, and they would fight each other, but only sometimes. So I kind of knew you were like that, like a pack, to each other, I guess? They would still hurt each other though, if the fight was bad enough. I thought you could still be in danger from Robin.” Eddie gives a vague half shrug, his fingers shifting in Steve’s grasp, “I wasn’t too worried about food, grass was fine, and the inside of the skinny tree branches was okay.”

Steve slow blinks, “I’m sorry...you were eating...grass and trees?”

Eddie nods, “oh yeah, you slept a lot. I didn’t really sleep at all, just a few hours, I think. I mean, I do now, obviously, but even when I was upstairs with you, I would sleep a bit, then wait, and then sleep a little more.”

“Right, okay, so lets go back to you saving me because you...liked me?” Steve grins at him.

Eddie ducks his head, a little shy, “maybe but...not in any kind of specific way? Tadpoles don’t have sex or anything, so I wasn’t...it’s not like I was thinking about you like that it was just...you were mine, I think. My person. Besides,” Eddie huffs a laugh, “you took me out of the tank. You carried me away from that place. If anything, you rescued me.”

“You make it sound so romantic.”

Eddie grins, “my knight in shining armor.”

Steve snorts, “think it was a Scoops Ahoy! Uniform actually-”

“Hush hush hush,” Eddie leans over the table, a finger pressed to Steve’s lips, “don’t spoil it.”

Steve smiles, getting up to get Eddie a glass of milk now that his coffee is done.

“Am I dropping you to band practice tonight?” Steve asks, already resigned to Eddie's campaign.

They’ve kicked up practice to two nights a week already, and Eddie seems to be having the time of his life hanging out with these guys. They’re all giant nerds, and this might only be Eddie’s fourth practice, but he comes home full of stories about how he’s going to be playing some Dungeons and Dragons thing with them in a couple of weekends time. He wants to try painting tiny little models with them too.

Steve encourages it, obviously, even if he doesn’t fully get it. He’s glad Eddie’s trying these things and finding new things to enjoy.

Maybe Steve should try and find like an evening amateur basketball team, or something like that at the rec center. He could start jogging again maybe, join a walking group. He's always kind of wanted to try tennis. But, something. Anything.

“Yeah, will you? You can...come and say hello?” Eddie asks tentatively.

“You know what? Fuck it. I can do this,” Steve gets up, determined, heading into the kitchen.

“What?” Eddie trails after him, watching Steve pull out ingredients and then the baking trays. “Are you making cookies?”

“Yup. For the band. I am a good guy now and I have said sorry and they are going to like me. Even if I have to drown them in fucking snicker-doodle.”

“Oh I like those-”

“I don’t actually have the stuff for snicker-doodle, it’s going to be macadamia, but my point still stands!”

Eddie’s arms slide around Steve’s middle, hugging him tight from behind as he weighs out flour and sugar, “I love you so much,” Eddie whispers against Steve’s shoulder.

Eddie holds they plate of cookies carefully as he gets out of the car. Steve takes them so he can get his guitar.

Steve takes a deep breath, squaring his shoulders as Gareth pulls up the shutter. He walks in, side by side with Eddie, “hi, I made you guys cookies for practice.”

They’re all looking at Steve like he’s some strange unidentifiable creature that just slithered into the garage. Which, okay, school bully turns up with home made cookies; Steve can see that it’s a pretty extreme rebrand, but he feels vaguely confident that he can just keep being himself and it’ll be fine.

“They’re macadamia, they’re really good,” Eddie informs the three guys.

Steve holds out the plate to Gareth, giving it a little wiggle until he takes one. When Gareth doesn’t immediately drop dead, the others come forward too, Jeff and the third guy, who Eddie finally told Steve is called Andy.

“They are good,” Gareth says, and it’s not even grudging, just genuine, which Steve is pleased with.

“So how come you’re always Eddie’s ride,” Jeff vaguely indicates the garage door and presumably the beemer sitting on the other side, “Eddie says you live together?”

“Yeah, Eddie’s from Finland...he’s here like, learning English, and stuff,” Steve says vaguely. He doesn’t think he’s ever had to actually use their cover story before.

“Right, so why’s he living with you?”

“Because Stevie’s my boyyeeest. Friend. Best friend. Yup. Right?”

Steve blinks at Eddie. He has just fucked that completely, but Steve smiles, “right. Yup. Best friend. Just...helping out.”

Everyone's staring at them, but at least the blow is softened with cookies; no one can look truly judgemental with a mouthful of cookie.

“Harrington, I would not have guessed you to be the sort to have a...best friend,” Jeff says, vaguely.

“Yeah,” Gareth adds with his mouthful, “we don’t care who is who’s best friend, you know? Anyone can have any kind of best friend. It would be a bit hypocritical of us to claim to be like, alternative and accepting of stuff and then judge two dudes for being...best friends.”

Eddie’s looking back and forth between them, “Stevie, is this one of those things? The not saying what you mean things?”

“Yeah, yeah Eds.”

“Oh. Sorry,” Steve smiles at him, “didn’t mean to…” Eddie gestures vaguely with his cookie.

“It’s fine...apparently you have cool friends.”

Steve ends up staying and watching band practice, and despite them being objectively terrible most of the time, he still enjoys himself.

The phone starts ringing as Steve is kicking off his shoes in the hallway, “Eddie?” He calls through the house, before picking up the phone.

“Hello?”

“Hi honey, are you and Eddie doing okay?”

Steve smiles, “yeah Joyce, thanks, all good, and you?”

“Well I haven't seen Jon for three days and I can’t even understand Will’s Math homework so I figure…pretty average?” Steve snorts a laugh, “anyway, we haven't had everyone together since new year so I was thinking a pot luck on Sunday afternoon, what do you think?”

Steve figures it has been all of three and a half weeks since new year, but Joyce likes to see all the kids together, she likes to know that everyone is okay. Steve loves her for it, “sure thing, what do you want us to bring?”

“Not pasta salad,” she tells him firmly, “I keep telling them no, we’re going to end up with five different types of pasta.”

“Okay Joyce, not pasta salad, got it,” Eddie thumps down the stairs as Steve’s talking, and Steve watches as he flops down on the bottom step.

“Bye honey.”

Steve hangs up, heading over, “baby, are you okay?”

“I was sick,” Eddie tells him plaintively, looking pathetic and a little pale.

“Oh, what like, something you ate?” Steve crouches down, feeling Eddie’s forehead. He feels fine despite looking washed out.

“I don’t know, I just felt sick and then...bleurgh,” he makes a half hearted puking noise, “I cleaned up,” he adds.

Steve makes a mental note to check the bathroom, “come and sit on the couch, I’ll get you some water to sip, okay?” Eddie agrees, slouching after Steve to the couch and Steve gets the water.

“You said water,” Eddie tells him.

“Yeah it-” Steve looks down, he’s holding a glass of milk. It throws him for a second, because he knew he was getting water, but he does remember pouring a milk instead, “sorry, I’ll have this, I’ll go get you some water.”

He manages it the second time, “Joyce has invited us over on Sunday, for a pot luck,” Steve tells Eddie as they snuggle up on the couch.

“That’s when you all bring a thing? A food thing, I mean?”

“Yeah.”

“I’ve never been to one,” Eddie tells him, snuggling his face awkwardly up under Steve’s armpit, curled up all meek and pathetic, “what are you making?”

“Not pasta salad, Joyce said no to that, and not a dessert, Joyce’s pies and Nancy’s cobblers are both really good. Probably something with vegetables, those kids don’t eat enough vegetables. Maybe the stuffed peppers. Or vegetable skewers, maybe.”

“I liked the peppers when you did them. I want to make something, too,” Eddie’s voice is muffled from where it’s shoved against Steve. He’s trying to hook their legs together but his leg keeps sliding down, and in the end Steve just grabs his thigh and holds Eddie’s leg over his lap.

“Do you know what you want to make?”

“Under the sea salad. I saw it in a magazine.”

Steve rubs at Eddie’s back, “still feeling sick? And what’s an under the sea salad?”

“No it’s...going. And it’s tuna in lime jello on top of canned pears and cream cheese. It looked so cool in the pictures. I need a jello mold.”

Steve takes a deep breath, “well it’ll definitely be the star of the show, I can pretty much guarantee it.”

Part FortyThree

[frankenstein-ate-my-left-shoe]

one chance

111 words | T | for @steddiemicrofic's july challenge "one"

here's the text! without the names/usernames, it's 111 words exactly!

Your Local Freak™ @/edmunsn what i would give for one (1) chance with king steve.. pls.. i promise id blow your muind chris c. @/86theham uhmmm.. chris c. @/86theham eddie, sweetie, this isn’t your priv Your Local Freak™ @/edmunsn can you come over and kill me dead? It’ll only take a sec… ok cool. thanks

Your Local Freak™ @/edmunsn what i would give for one (1) chance with king steve.. pls.. i promise id blow your muind Robert M. Buckley III @/bobin 👀 Robert M. Buckley III @/bobin @/steveharrington Your Local Freak™ @/edmunsn i hate you

Your Local Freak™ @/edmunsn what i would give for one (1) chance with king steve.. pls.. i promise id blow your muind steeb @/steveharrington open my dm munson Your Local Freak™ @/edmunsn no steeb @/steveharrington fine. be there in 5 Your Local Freak™ @/edmunsn ???!!!

Your Local Freak™ @/edmunsn what i would give for one (1) chance with king steve.. pls.. i promise id blow your muind Your Local Freak™ @/edmunsn update:

[hairmetal666]

Closing shifts at Scoops Ahoy are always boring, but Robin took off early to study and nobody is coming in for ice cream at 8pm on a school night in mid-winter. Steve's alone and has been for the last forty-five minutes, with no end in sight.

He's doing tricks with his scooper, counting how many times he can twist it through his fingers without dropping it (57 so far), when the most beautiful man Steve has ever seen, walks in. He's got long dark hair that falls in perfect curls around his shoulders; wide eyes the same deep brown of fresh, dark coffee; and the most perfect plump mouth.

Steve can't move, his head going fuzzy. His eyes catch on the man's chest--visible through the black mesh tank top he's wearing-- revealing tantalizing swirls of black ink and the glint of silver bars through each nipple. The guy also has on leather pants that cling to the line of his legs like a second skin.

Jesus. Steve just realized he's bi and the physical embodiment of his wet dreams walks into the store like it's nothing. He's going to die.

The man rushes to the counter, his eyes finally falling on Steve, and it's like his feet get caught on each other for a second before he struts forward. His face melts into this heart-stopping smile, bringing out the cutest set of dimples Steve has ever seen. This is it, Steve is done for, time of death, 8:06pm.

"Ahoy, sailor," the man says with a mischievous glint in those dark eyes.

He returns the smile and somewhere, somehow, finds the words to reply, "I think that's my line."

Steve leans towards the counter, but in doing so, drops the scooper hanging from his fingers. The metallic clatter is harsh against the tile, and blood rushes to his cheek. "Whoops," he mumbles. He ducks down to retrieve it, mentally kicking himself for his clumsiness.

The man's smile only grows, and now there's a faint flush across his pale cheeks. And fuck if Steve can't help but smile right back, to let their eye contact linger.

"What can I get you?" He asks. His voice is way too low for regular customer service, and if he flutters his eyelashes too--well, that's between him and the USS Butterscotch.

"I know this is ridiculous. It's late and it's starting to snow," the man says. He leans over the counter. "But I need a strawberry shake to go."

"Strawberry shake, good choice," Steve nods. "Coming right up."

They don't stop looking at each other or smiling as he blends up the drink, and when he hands the cup over, their fingers brush, linger, both their faces staining red.

"How much do I owe you?" he asks.

Steve shakes his head. "On the house."

"You really know how to charm a guy, sailor-boy."

"Maybe I'm hoping to see you again."

"Depends," the man says. His smile widening, his dimples getting somehow deeper.

"On?"

"How good this shake is." He winks.

Steve thinks he might burst into flame before the man can taste the drink, but then the guy glances at his watch and curses. "Sorry, sweetheart, I gotta run. Been a pleasure, sailor."

And with that, he runs from the store, strawberry shake clutched in his long-fingered grasp.

Steve collapses against the counter, burying his face in his hands. He's not ever gonna recover from that.

---

Eddie's guitar is in his lap, his melted strawberry shake at his side. He can't get the guy from the ice cream shop out of his head.

Fuck, he had all that perfect hair under that silly little hat; his face dotted with cute little moles and freckles; eyes that flashed from honey to gold to green flecked hazel; and the poutiest, most perfect lips ever had Eddie seen. Not to mention how he looked bent over in those itty bitty shorts. Shit, if he isn't totally done for.

He can't stop smiling.

That is until a guitar pick hits him right in the forehead, dragging his attention back to his surroundings.

"Earth to Eddie," their manager, Chrissy, says. "You go on in ten minutes."

"Don't tell me you didn't get the stupid shake." Gareth shakes his head.

"No, I got it. Not to worry."

"Then what's up with you?" Jeff asks.

Eddie can't help the huge, stupid smile that illuminates his face.

"There was a guy," Eddie sighs.

Chrissy and his bandmates share a look. "Let me guess," Gareth says. "You walked in and he was like 'Oh, Mr. Munson. Let me get you ice cream, let me suck your dick. Oooh, you're so hot. Corroded Coffin is my favorite band.'"

"C'mon, no. I don't even think he knew who I was."

At one point, that would've bothered him. But now, after five years of hooking up with dudes who were only interested in famous Eddie Munson, he likes that the guy from the ice cream parlor seemed totally oblivious. That, when his eyes lit up with interest, it was for genuine attraction and not name recognition.

"Did you get his number?" Chrissy asks.

He slumps. "No."

His friends all groan. Another guitar pick flies at him, getting caught up in his curls.

"Well, you'll go back tomorrow. Now get your head in the game, Munson! You have a sold out stadium to play!"

---

"I'm not kidding you, Robs, he was the hottest guy I've ever seen. I didn't even know dudes could be that beautiful."

"Uh-huh," she says.

"You're not even listening." He jabs her in the ribs, making her squeak.

"Sorry, sorry," she bats his hands away. "Describe him again?"

And he does, leaving nothing out. Once he's done, Robin is gaping at him, gum about to fall out of her open mouth.

"What?"

She grabs his wrist, dragging him out of the store.

"Robin, what are you doing? We're supposed to be working!"

She doesn't answer, just hauls him to the record store down the hall.

"Was it this guy?" She asks. She's out of breath.

"What?"

"Steve! Was it him?" She gestures to a new release display and it's Steve's turn for speechlessness.

He's surrounded of images of the man from last night; on magazines, CDs, cassettes, on a couple posters hanging on display. He's with a couple of other guys, they're in a band called Corroded Coffin, but all Steve can see is deep brown eyes and plush lips, the bright dimples.

"Well?" Robin demands.

"Yeah," he nods. "That's him."

"Oh my god!" Robin screams. She grabs his arm and squeezes. "You flirted with Eddie Munson! Steve! You minx!"

"It was nothing," he blushes. "He's probably got someone already, anyway. I mean, look at him."

Robin makes a little face. "There are some rumors, but nothing serious."

"It was a nice dream," he says. He gives her a little smile. "Now, let's get back to work."

She loops her arm through his. "Whatever you say, dingus."

---

It's been a long day of slinging ice cream. Maybe Robin's revelation that the cute guy from the night before was an insanely famous rockstar is to blame, but Steve is exhausted.

"Hey, dingus!" Robin calls from the front.

"Yeah?" he mumbles.

"Some guy is here for you. He looks a lot like Eddie Munson."

She's not even finished with her sentence before Steve is vaulting back behind the counter, coming face-to-face with the man of his dreams.

Eddie's gorgeous, his face already flushed a faint pink. And just like the night before, Steve can't help but smile at the man before him, who dimples up immediately in return.

He forgets that Robin is there until she says, "Go get 'em, tiger," and snaps him in the chest with a towel.

With Robin gone, they still don't say anything for a second, both smiling and blushing and staring at each other.

"So, uh, I guess you're wondering why I'm back today."

"That's easy," Steve says. "It was the best strawberry milkshake you ever had."

Eddie laughs with his head back and Steve is stuck staring at the long lines of his throat.

"Well, it was the best, no question. Made me realize I was a fool not to ask for your number."

Somehow Steve's smile grows. He jots his name and number on a Scoops napkin, passing it to Eddie who does the same, before carefully ripping the paper in half.

"We're still on tour for the next three months, but I'll call you when I can?"

"I'm looking forward to it."

"Talk soon, sweetheart," Eddie leans into Steve's space, pressing a kiss to his cheek.

Steve still has a hand resting on the spot when Robin re-emerges.

"Oooh, you've got it sooo bad," she sing-songs.

He's so happy, he can't even bother to shush her.

---

Corroded Coffin has a new album out. It's a huge hit, number ones across the board, a fixture on MTV. It's full of heavy metal love songs, sales bolstered by the rumors that Eddie's been in a secret relationship for years.

They're at the Grammys, nominated for Best Metal Performance. The band has moved on down the red carpet, but Eddie's still answering questions, their assistant waiting with him. The interviewer asks Eddie, "There's a lot of speculation about your romantic life because of this album. There are rumors that the song 'Sailor Boy' is in reference to how you met your lover. Will you tell fans about the person you're dating, the one who inspired the album?"

"No," Eddie smiles for the camera. "But oh, do I love the way he moans," he sings a lyric of the song in question before giving the interviewer a lascivious wink, and continuing on down the carpet.

Years later, after Eddie and Steve are comfortably out and married and Corroded Coffin has cemented themselves in metal history, the video of that interview will be uploaded to YouTube.

It's obvious, now, the way Eddie and Steve, the "assistant", gravitate towards each other. How Steve flushes a pretty crimson that spreads below the collar of his shirt as Eddie sings. The way Eddie smirks at him with a raised eyebrow. The way his hand cradles the small of Steve's back as they walk away together.

It causes a frenzy online, fans compiling blog posts and videos of moments of Steve and Eddie being totally obvious about being in love before the world knew that they were.

Eventually, Steve posts a photo to the band's webpage. It's of him and Eddie at Scoops Ahoy. He's wearing his uniform, and Eddie is in a faded Metallica t-shirt and ripped jeans. They stand at the counter with their arms around each other, smiling hard, eyes locked. He captions it with, "putting the sailor boy allegations to rest."

[dwobbitfromtheshire]

A few years after Spring Break, in Steve and Robin's new apartment. . .

Steve: After dating Nancy and Jonathan, which it did not end badly, we just wanted different things, and it only bought us closer together as friends, I have decided that I will only be dating couples from now.

Robin: Yeah, that actually makes sense for you. Didn't you date Tommy and Carol?

Steve: It was a one night stand.

Eddie burst into the apartment, holding Chrissy's hand.

Eddie: *grinning* We're here. The party can start!

Chrissy: Hi, Robin, Hi Steve! . . . Robin, why is he smiling at us like that?

Steve: You two come here often?

Robin slapped her palm to her forehead.

Eddie: *blinking* Yeah, you gave us a key, man.

[sp0o0kylights]

Part One

The drive's short one. 

Steve gets out of his car, opening the passenger door for Chrissy and escorting her up to the house, quietly envisioning what Jason would look like if a real monster got him.

What would he say, staring down the crazy, five-starred head, filled with teeth and drool? Would he turn back? Or run?

(Steve swears he doesn't take great pleasure in imagining Carver getting eaten, but he'll admit to taking a little.)  

"Chrissy do you have any idea--oh." Mrs. Cunningham startles, grasping her robe at the front as she spots Steve standing next to her daughter.  

"Hi Miss Cunningham." He says.

"Hello." She says suspiciously. "And who are you?"

"I'm Steve Harrington, ma'am." He watches as her mother straightens immediately at his name, and sinks right into the ol' Harrington charm, knowing instantly it will work. "I know you were expecting Jason, but I'm afraid he wasn't able to drive Chrissy home." 

"Oh, Steve! It's so late I almost didn't recognize you." She titters, suspicion gone. "Your mother and I are on the same charity board." 

Of course they were.

"I thought you were dating that nice Nancy girl." She says with a squint that mimics Chrissy's, because even in the midst of a crisis he can't escape the gossip that is Hawkins upper echelon. 

"Nance is waiting in the car." Steve lies smoothly. "I just wanted to make sure Chrissy got home safe." 

"What happened?" Chrissy's father appears, ushering them both in while blatantly peering around them, eyes sweeping the street before closing the door.

Steve recognizes the move. He's checking for nosy neighbors. 

"Jason and I broke up." Chrissy admits.

"What?" 

"We..." She falters in front of her parents. 

"What happened to Jason?" Her father asks, tuning back in once they're safely away from peering eyes.

"I'm afraid Jason and some of his friends brought beer to the party." Steve steps in to explain.  

"Oh Chrissy, it's a high school party. That's no reason to break up with him." Her mother fusses, face flushing in embarrassment. Her eyes dart from her daughter to Steve and back, and Steve knows he needs to start damage control. 

If he plays it right he can burn Jason while he's at it. 

"He was horrible, mom. Just awful." Chrissy says, but Steve can tell she's shrinking under her mothers gaze. 

"He drank quite a lot, Miss Cunningham." With a theatrical wince, Steve turns to face Chrissy's dad, lowers his voice and says "I'm going to have to talk to Coach about it." 

He gets the intended response, which is a raised eyebrow. "That bad, huh?" 

Steve nods once, painting a pained smile on his face. "He made a real fool of himself tonight, Sir. The basketball team has a reputation to uphold." 

"Oh." Mrs. Cunningham says, hand fluttering in front of her face. "I never would have thought…"

"He's normally a good guy. I don't know what got into him." Steve has them both eating out of the palm of his hand, attention neatly off Chrissy and onto the story he's feeding them. 

Its worth it to see her shoulders relax. 

"I couldn't let him take Chrissy home in the state he was in Sir, and he got very…" 

Steve pauses. 

Fills his voice with tempered disappointment, channeling his dad. "Belligerent. Said some nasty things."  

"Really?" Mr. Cunningham says, with a low whistle, and Steve knows by his tone alone that he's bought in.

Hook, line, sinker.

Steve nods once. "I have to get back to my girlfriend, but Chrissy'" He turns earnestly here, to let her know he's not faking this next bit. "Let me know if Jason bothers you at school. I'll set him straight again if I have to." 

"Thank you Steve." Mr. Cunningham says, as Chrissy's mom hustles her daughter towards the kitchen. 

Steve shakes his hand, then waves at Crissy as she calls her own thank you over her shoulder, before disappearing out the door and back to his car.

The same one where Nancy very much isn't. 

That's a problem for tomorrow Steve.

xXx

Tomorrow Steve gets into an argument with Nancy. 

She can't recall that Jonathan took her home, or that he's bullshit, their whole relationship, bullshit--

But she also can't tell him she loves him.

So Steve snaps at her. Storms off.

 Play’s more basketball.

It takes less than two hours for him to get mopey and another three for him to spiral into deciding he was wrong somehow.

That's what his mom said all the time anyway, wasn't it? The man's always wrong Steven, and he's the man here so…

He gets flowers, chocolates, and fucking waylaid (by Dustin Henderson with his Grow a Monster) and things go sideways from there.

 Train tracks and a junkyard and demodogs make time speed up. An encounter with Billy and a dinner plate causes Steve's recollection of the evening to be fuzzy. 

He just knows that in the middle of dodging death, he has the realization that Nance wants to break up with him.

That he should let her. 

Even if it hurts, even if he doesn't want to. 

She wants to be let go.

So Steve does. He respects her, and when he has a moment after its all over, he tells her to go with Jonathan.

(At least he permanently gets the squirts out if this. Or at least everyone but Mike.

Even if most of them are shitheads and one of them's Hargrove's step sister.

It's--something.

But when Dustin keeps pestering him, demanding Steve drive him all over Hawkins and then drags him to the movies, well.

It might be the best something Steve's had in his life so far. )

xXx

"Oh shit. Is that from Caver?" Eddie asks, popping up near Steve's car like the clown in a jack in the box. 

"Carver can't hit for shit. This was Hargrove." Steve replies, attempting an eyeroll before remembering that his entire face is a bruise. 

One, giant, never ending bruise. 

"I guess his step sister gave him the slip to come hang out with these kids I watch sometimes. I didn't know she wasn't supposed to be there." Steve shrugs, because it's the technical truth. 

If you turn it sideways and squint anyway. 

"Asshole tried to threaten the kid Max is into by slamming him into a wall and screaming shit, so I stepped in, and--" He waves at his face. 

The same one he's already getting looks for. 

"I was winning." Steve sighs theatrically. "He broke a plate over my head."

The story seemed to freeze Eddie but he recovers with a quick shake of his head. 

"You poor thing." He tuts. "Let me guess--you were more worried about the hair than the wound?" 

Eddie's hands flutter like he's going to touch Steve's head but he seems to contain himself at the last minute.

The hospital threatened to buzz it for stitches." Steve says darkly, playing into the bit. 

(He had not gone to a hospital. 

None of them had.)  

"What would our King be without his crown of hair?" Eddie laments, in a falsetto that was half insult half oddly sincere. It was jarring in that it was hard to get a read on, but the more Steve was around the guy the less it seemed malicious and the more it came off  as just….goofy.

Eddie Munson, Steve decided, was not a freak.

 He was a dorky little weirdo, just like all the other kids Steve now hung out with. 

Just older, and with slightly better hair. 

"Hey Eddie." Another boy calls out, approaching cautiously. 

He's got a leather jacket on, and if Steve thinks hard enough he can sort of conjure up a memory of the guy at Eddie's lunch table, throwing a piece of bread at a pale sophomore decked out in plaid. "You good man?" 

"Yeah Jeff, just checkin' in on the Hair here." Eddie sticks a thumb towards Steve, who raises his hand and waves. 

The falsetto comes back, somehow higher as the older boy swoons over Steves arm. "Soothing his poor soul after that brute Hargrove almost killed him." 

"Has anyone ever told you you're a lot like Bugs Bunny?" Steve asks, the thought leaving his mouth the instant he had it.

(He doesn't care, it's a legitimate question.) 

It has the effect of making Munson look downright chuffed. "I have actually, but only by my Uncle." 

"Why are you checking in?" Jeff interrupts, before seeming to realize he said it out loud. " Ah, I mean--"

"Oh he didn't tell you?" Steve says, as casually as he can muster. "Eddie claimed me and Chrissy at a party last weekend." 

See Munson? Two people could play the weird bit game. 

They've attracted more of Eddie's friends now, two more boys in leather jackets edging closer like frightened deer. 

(One of which is the aforementioned younger man Jeff threw bread at, and Steve vaguely thinks the guy's name starts with a g.) 

"Apparently we're his minions now." Steve tells Jeff in a rather put upon manner. 

"It was just you, the fair maiden chose otherwise." Eddie counters dismissively, voice dropping down low. 

Steve snorts. Hums a sarcastic; "Like you'd let us choose." 

Eddie finally abandons whatever voice that was supposed to be (a villain, Steve thinks, and wonders if it hurts Eddies throat to drop from a false high to a deep low that quickly.)  to say:

 "Mock me all you like, Harrington, but you can't deny the bit worked." 

Steve automatically went for another eye roll, and gets a flash of pain for it. "Who said I was mocking you, you dork? Just stating facts." 

Yet again, Eddie reacts weird to the comment. He looks almost bashful for a second, before he recovers, tugging his hair in front of his face as he plays with it.

The bell rings once in warning, and Steve makes a face towards the doors. 

"I gotta go, Mrs Clicks out to fail me. See you around, Eddie. Jeff." The way his eyes are bruised up he can't quite make out the face Jeff makes at that, but Steve's pretty sure the guys mouth was open. 

"She's a nasty one, my minion, best stay on your toes around her." Eddie calls, and Steve waves a hand in the air to show he heard. 

"What just happened?" Jeff asks, far too loudly for how close Steve still is. 

It makes him chuckle a bit, even as one of the other guys says something in a far quieter voice that has Munson squawking and flapping his arms like a bird. 

The winding little feelings in his chest squeeze his heart, and Steve shakes his head, refusing to be fond of Eddie Munson. 

xXx

College rejection letters come in, one after the another.

Steve could have made it into a few schools he's certain, except he hadn't really applied to any.

Not that any college other than Penn Hurst mattered. His dad wanted him to be a legacy, come hell or high water.

Steve's punishment was hand picked by his parents, and he gets the sailor outfit his new minimum wage job requires is supposed to be a part of it--that his dad made him apply because it was the most embarrassing thing he could think to subject Steve too-- but honestly? 

It's not that bad. 

Not even with Robin, the manager he met yesterday, and who positively, completely and totally, hates Steve’s guts.  

He figures he has time to win her over. 

All the time in the world, now that demons aren't trying to eat his, or any of the kid's, faces. He can focus on the small things. Build himself back up.

Figure out the person he wants to be, now that he's no longer King Steve. 

It’s the thought that kept him from attending any graduation parties. To go felt like backsliding into old habits. 

‘If the kids--if it comes back again--’ 

Getting drunk at night in a random house seemed almost irresponsible.

Particularly not with people Steve has history with, without anyone he really cares about being present. Certainly not Nance and Jonathan, who he wishes he didn’t know are at some end-of-year game night one of Nancy’s friends is hosting. 

(Steve can’t think about that for a number of reasons. 

When he does--because of course he does-- he makes sure to focus on the weirdness that is Jonathan Byers being someone he cares about, instead of the fact he can’t seem to kill his love for Nancy. 

Or that he's horrifically jealous of their relationship. 

That the best sleep he had ever had was between them, two nights after the lab, when they crammed themselves into Jonathan's bed because they all couldn't quite believe it was over.

That night had been so incredibly weird, but grouping together felt safer. Smarter.

Better.

Not in a way Steve wants to put into words. 

Not in a way he wants to confront at all.) 

His parents hadn’t been able to make it home to watch him walk at his graduation--his father landing a last minute meeting with some important person or other. 

Faked apologies were given, money transferred, and Steve, not wanting to sit in his too-huge house, had meandered to Family Video. 

Tried to forget his father’s cold voice in the background of his mother’s call, loudly announcing he’d have made it a priority to see Steve graduate-- if he’d gotten into Penn Hurst. 

Steve just shakes his head. Pushes those thoughts into the back of his head, into the same place all his other weird thoughts live.

The glare he gets from the tall, pimple-ridden guy working the rental counter was expected.

Chrissy Cunningham, was not. 

"I thought you’d be at one of the parties.” He tells her, when he turns down the romance aisle and finds her staring blankly at a shelf. 

She startles, before recognition flits over her face and a warm smile is directed his way. 

“I'm honestly not a fan of parties." She confides in him, hand clutching a tape in her hands."Not those kinds, anyway.” 

"More slumber parties, less keg stands your speed?" Steve guessed, blatantly turning his head sideways in order to read the title.

She awards him with a wider smile. "Exactly." 

"Chrissy Cunningham. Are you renting Jaws?" He teases, leaning in just a touch.

She flushes, but turns and squares up to him. Steve's delighted to see it. 

"Why yes I am. I'll do you one better and even admit it's one of my favorite movies." 

Steve grins at her, and sees the way she lights up on response, eyes bright. 

This is the Chrissy that Carver had tried to kill. The strength and pure fun that radiates off her enhances the beauty she has to something almost otherworldly. 

Steve has seen enough beauty in his life to recognize when it will stay. That Chrissy wil one day be 80 years old, with gray hair and knit sweaters, and she'll still be able to light up a room. 

"Like sharks killing people that much huh?” He teases. And it’s easy, slipping into this part of himself around her. The part he’s been trying to get back. 

The confidence that he walked with, before monsters crawled out of the ground, and Nancy put a hole in his heart.

"I'll let you in on a secret. ." Chrissy leans in, dropping her voice low enough that Steve has to lean in a bit too to hear. "My favorite character is the shark." 

Steve playfully gapes at her, and for the first  time in a long time, feels like things will be okay. 

He’ll be okay.

He won’t be King Steve. He’s not Nancy's Boyfriend Steve either--but someone else. Himself.

A Steve who exists outside of Hawkins High, outside his family name. 

He likes it.

"I told you that was his car. Steve!" A too familiar voice calls and Steve can't mask the despair that hits him as he turns to his (now least) favorite shithead, whose storming through Family Video’s doors. 

"Dustin." He identifies, with an edge to his voice he can only pray Chrissy doesn't pick up on. "Other brats. What are you doing?" 

Mike stands stubbornly at Dustin's right, Lucas nervous at his left. 

Will Byers is situated next to Mike but Steve's not as familiar with him, and has no idea how to interpret the kid. 

If he had to guess based on the face he’s being sent, Will’s more nervous then the rest--but equally determined. 

(This does not make Steve feel better. It in fact, somewhat convinces them they’ve run headfirst back into trouble.) 

"Well we were going to go to Lucas’s, but now, we're bumming a ride from you!" 

"I'm busy." He says flatly. 

"Ste~eeeve!" 

"I didn't know you had a brother." Chrissy says, hand covering her mouth. 

Looking back at her, Steve's pretty sure she's trying to physically hold back laughter. 

If one could shoot lasers with their eyes, Steve would be nailing Dustin for ruining--whatever it was that was happening here. 

"He's a rescue" Steve says flatly. "It’s not working out though. We're planning on returning him to the shelter.” 

"Wow Steve." Dustin returns, offended. "First of all, if anyone's rescuing anyone I rescued you, or did you suddenly forget that you show up to family dinner every Thursday at my house like a sad orpha--mmpphh!" 

‘Mmpphh’ because Steve had taken several long strides across the store to smack his hand over Dustin's mouth. 

"Sorry Chrissy, it would appear the asshole children I am paid to babysit escaped whoever is supposed to be watching them." He shakes Dustins head, in lue of strangling him. “Hit me up later we’ll discuss the shark’s best kills.” 

“Will do.” Chrissy says, as Steve begins the process of shoving his four smaller friends out the door. “Drive safe!” 

“No you don’t, and you’re gonna prove it by swinging through McDonalds for us.” Dustin sing-songs, swinging himself into the passenger side of the Beemer. 

“You assholes owe me, big time.” Steve hisses, as Lucas and Mike instantly begin making kissy faces the second they’re out into the parking lot. "I had plans tonight!"

“Do you have McDonalds money?” Steve asks, only to immediately wince at himself because fuck did he just sound like a soccer mom. 

“I have money I took out of my mom’s wallet.” Mike says as he settles into the car with his friends.

“Fine.” Steve sighs in defeat, starting the car. 

He determinedly does not ask if the idiots walked here, because there is a suspicious lack of bicycles, if only because he hit his mom quota for the day and Steve refuses to say anything else that might edge out his cool persona.

The one he swears he still has.

Supposedly. 

("Does my mom really pay you to watch me?" Dustin asks a while later, when the other brats are distracted. His voice is painfully honest, and softer than it normally is. 

"In food, yes." Steve says, because he’s not that much of an asshole--and maybe, because Dustin is truly his only friend right now.

Steve honestly looks forward to those Thursday dinners, helping Ma Henderson and having her fuss over him in a way his parents never had. 

In a way no one ever had. 

Dustin lands a solid kick to his ankle, making Steve curse. "That's not payment you ass!"

"Ow, God Dustin--" 

"Just admit you're my actual friend, you dick!" 

"Language! I swear your mom stole you from wolves, you animal--" Steve swatted at him. 

Maybe, possibly later, he will go on to admit that yes, Dustin is his friend. 

He will even agree to making up a stupid handshake for it. 

It involves lightsabers and gore at least, which Steve insists is very cool.)

[arelliann]

For @astrangersummer Week 1: short shorts & nail polish

I'm hoping to do a polaroid for every week of the event, mostly Steddie, a lil Stobin and Buckingham on the side, following them all on a summer road-trip

I'll be adding them all here

[artbean]

REBEL GIRL

by @annanevermore (nevertheless_5 on ao3)

“I cut my hair and it’s…not good. I know you can fix it. I should have gone to you first. I was just feeling annoyed and frustrated and suddenly tired of my hair, of all the expectations of looking like this…”

He could almost see her waving her hands at herself, even over the phone. She would make it look cute. He smiled at the mental image.

“Eddie, I need you.”

on to the second @strangerthingsreversebigbang! this one was an absolute blast and i’m thrilled to have put more platonic hellcheer content out in the world. make sure to check out the fic!<3

[wheneverfeasible]

Cheerleader!Eddie AU pt. 1

POV: Eddie

When Eddie found a sobbing Chrissy in the restrooms after school, where he had been about to tag some stupid shit about one of the football players who had left him with a bruised face a previous week, he hadn’t expected it to lead to them becoming friends, her breaking up with her shithead boyfriend, or him joining the cheer squad.

Yet here he is, wearing the stupid school colors and his long hair tied up in a ponytail to match Chrissy’s, even down to the identical green scrunchie. Chrissy was lucky he loved her. Platonically, of course. They’d kissed after everything, figuring that’s that the thing between them was, but it ended up being like kissing a sibling (or so Eddie guessed, not ever having had one before), but quickly discovered that whatever middle school crush might have existed was well and truly gone.

Everything else was just right, however, and if such a thing as platonic soulmates existed, then Chrissy was well and truly his. She had to be, to get him to agree to this stupid shit.

He wasn’t an official member of the cheer squad at first, nothing more than a glorified backup, but he helped her in all the practices and learned all the moves and somehow, without realizing when, he started performing at games and pep rallies. Which didn’t help the queer rumors from spreading, even when Chrissy acted like his beard at first. Because the rumors would have been galling if they hadn’t been true.

Don’t get him wrong; he liked chicks too. But there was something to be said about seeing a pretty boy on his knees.

He played it up, taunting the other team and his own with blown kisses and suggestive hand motions with his tongue in his cheek, but he had cheerleader privilege, and Chrissy’s best friend privileges, so he actually managed to avoid anything more than pointed words and threats, which he then always turned into a kink thing to make the jocks uncomfortable.

“Oh, you’re right, Princess, I look amazing on my knees,” he cooed with a wink when King Steve himself deigned to be one of the insulting masses. Of course, all Harrington had said was that he should stop messing around and get back under the pyramid during cheer practice instead of poking fun at the basketball players on the other side of the gym.

Harrington always flushed whenever Eddie got too weird, too freaky, too queer, and it was quickly becoming one of his favorite things. Chrissy teased him about it when he’d go out of his way to harass Harrington, telling him to stop pulling the king’s pigtails, which he vehemently denied doing.

No way. Nuh uh. Not King Steve. Gag him with a spoon, or whatever they said in the movies Chrissy always made him watch.

Soon Harrington started snapping back, however, but with an amused smile on his face. More than that, he’d snapped at Hagan to leave Gareth alone when he’d come to playfully jeer at Eddie until they could head to Hellfire together. (Chrissy had actually taken DnD up too eventually, much to everyone’s surprise, though it was less surprising than her Level 7 Chaotic Neutral homebrew half-Orc male Barbarian whose tragic backstory was only known to Eddie so far, seeing as he had helped her craft Uragoth the Undaunted.)

To say that Eddie was surprised when Harrington of all people protected a freak was an understatement. And then it kept happening. Harrington always stepped in if he saw any freak or nerd being bullied, he even used logic, pointing out that Eddie was both freak and cheerleader, so going after the freaks was going after him and the cheer squad, and did any jock really want to piss off the cheerleaders?

A jock using logic? Unheard of!

Eddie was a little flattered though to think that his freaks had best friend privileges as well because of him, that he could be the shield offering them protection simply by straddling the line between the two sects at school.

Harrington never stopped snarking with Eddie, however, always calling him a freak but always with that smile that almost spoke of something…fond.

And then it was the day of the big game, the championship, and Chrissy was giggling as she tried to pretend like she was having second thoughts, even as her hands never faltered getting him ready. They, and the rest of the squad who had slowly warmed up to Eddie, had scoured the rule book to make certain he could do it, smirking amongst themselves at the surprise they had in stock.

Eddie waited at the end of the line, waited for their introduction, and then he was running in with the rest of the cheer squad, his pale and hairy legs flashing beneath the short green skirt. Gareth and the rest of the freaks screamed, sending out wolf whistles and making enough noise to draw the attention of anyone who might not have noticed yet.

Eddie only had eyes for one person though.

Harrington’s gaze was fixed solely on him as he jogged out wearing the female cheerleading uniform, a bright pink high on cheekbones and his mouth agape, and Eddie thought he had even seen the guy swallow as his eyes took in Eddie in a skirt.

The game went exactly as the cheer squad had hoped, their secret routine putting Eddie front and center, and he took great enjoyment in rolling his hips suggestively and blowing his kisses and winks as he taunted the opposing team, resulting in more than one fumble when he distracted them. The fact that Harrington seemed equally distracted seemed something else entirely.

As well as the fact that Harrington roughly fouled the player from the other team that Eddie had pointedly flirted with during their halftime routine.

Hawkins Tigers won in the end, easily, with Harrington scoring the final winning points like the king he was, pointing at Eddie right before he took the shot with a wink. Eddie rolled his eyes, almost hoping Harrington would miss in retaliation for the tease. Instead, Harrington ended the game as the buzzer sounded with his last three-pointer and the crowd went wild.

Typical.

Less typical, however, was how Harrington strode through the crowd right after, bypassing the celebrating teammates and cheerleaders and fans that had streamed onto the court, to head straight for Eddie. Eddie was given just the barest moment to wonder if he was about to be hate crimed when Harrington’s hand landed on his back, the other cupping the back of his head, and he was spun into a dip as Harrington leaned in for a kiss.

Except Harrington didn’t immediately kiss him, he hovered above his lips, his eyes looking into Eddie’s asking for permission, and really…what more could Eddie do except wrap his arms around Harrington’s neck and close the distance?

If later that night Eddie was still wearing that skirt as he and Harrington came to an understanding, well, no one needed to know.

And if the next night it was Steve wearing the cheerleading skirt…that was between him and his king.

Part 2

[withacapitalp]

All this was inspired by listening to She’s So Overrated by Madilyn Bailey so fair warning LMAO. Also this got SO MUCH LONGER THAN I MEANT IT TO IM SORRY IT WAS JUST ME WRITING DOWN AN IDEA......

Okay so I’m having thoughts about modern AU lead singer Eddie Munson who’s been in the industry for years with the boys. Corroded Coffin is a staple of the metal industry, but for a few years he’s been feeling really stalled in his career and just stuck in place. He’s still making music, still performing, but he feels like he’s getting farther and farther from that kid who used to scream and sing in his closet bedroom in the shoebox apartment he used to share with Wayne. 

So when he and the boys are in an interview and the interviewee brings up how “King” Steve Harrington from The Four is trying to reinvent himself with the help of former bandmate Robin Buckley, Eddie goes off. He works himself up into a little tizzy, ranting Munson Doctrine style about how a former teen pop star trying to become some second rate folk singer isn’t anything special, and that he wouldn’t be caught dead cashing in like that. 

That Steve’s music is bad (even though he’s honestly never listened to it) and “King” Steve is overrated. How even Beiber is better than him. He’s just bullshit. 

Of course the interview goes viral, and finds its way to Steve and Robin. Robin listens to it first and she doesn’t want Steve to watch it. She knows how close things like this cut him (especially that word), and how he’s been dealing with a lot of hate from everyone even from former fans who are confused by the sharp contrast of his new music- aka the music he’s finally being allowed to write now that he’s broken away from his momager- but Steve makes her show him. 

She’s sure that she’s going to have to spend the next week rebuilding his confidence. 

And instead, Steve’s lip curls into a smile, and he grabs his songbook, telling her to find her guitar. 

Eddie wakes up five days after the interview to a huge flood of social media notifications, a dozen missed calls from the boys and his manager and his uncle. He ignores them all and goes to see what he fucked up this time. 

Eddie opens Youtube and it’s at the top of his recommendations. The thumbnail is Steve and Robin sitting together with a guitar in her lap. The title of the video is just one word. 

Bullshit. 

This can’t be good. 

Eddie listens to it even though he doesn’t want to. He’s a lot of things, but he’s not a coward. Not anymore. He listens to it because he has to know how much he’s fucked up. 

And then he listens to it again. And again. And again. 

It gets stuck in his head. All of it. Not just the song (which admittedly is pretty killer) but also hearing the flippantly mean words he had casually thrown at Steve being shoved back in his face. He had seen Steve as an abstract thing, just a symbol of everything wrong with the industry, not a real person. And now this actual human being that he’s hearing has turned all of that garbage into a song that feels more genuine then most of the music on the last two albums he wrote himself. A song that has heart, joy, and a strong current of pain underneath, especially in the bridge where Steve just sings the word bullshit over and over. 

There’s even more than that. He also sees the way Robin and Steve interact while they’re working the smiles, the jabs, the silly little way Steve bobs his head along as he listens to her play, the way they both collapse into giggles at the end as Steve directly quotes the part of the interview where Eddie said that Steve “is just another laundry basket devil trying to act like a big shot now that he’s too old for teen girls to moon over.” 

He can’t remember the last time he and the boys had that much fun making a song. 

Hell, Eddie even sees their apartment. It’s a pretty nondescript room, but he can see the wear and tear on the furniture, the cobwebs in the corners of the room, the slightly drooping houseplant with the name “Dart” lovingly painted on its pot. It feels like a home, and as Eddie looks around at the bedroom in his far too big mansion, he feels even more like a fraud. 

Eddie listens to the song on repeat for most of the morning. In the afternoon he finally answers everyone, and starts to put his plan into motion. 

By that evening he’s on the phone with Steve asking him and Robin to help Corroded Coffin write their next song.