Chapter Text
Steve is beginning to think that admitting his dream life to Nancy had been a mistake.
Not that he doesn’t still dream about it, of course. But the universe seems to have answered too quickly. Kind of like a genie offering you three wishes, and then twisting them so you wish you had never rubbed that stupid lamp in the first place.
Because he does not make enough at Family Video, and he had not gotten enough hush money from the government this go around, to keep buying these children so much goddamn pizza.
And wings.
And soda.
And Doritos.
And don’t even get him started on the amount of money he has spent on gas, chauffeuring them all around because god forbid he makes friends who are old enough to see over a steering wheel.
Oh, and apparently he moonlights as a shrink, because on these said car rides, the kids think it’s the perfect time to open up about their troubles. Lucas and Mike are by far the worst, always asking Steve advice on how to prevent their girlfriends from ever breaking up with them again. Will doesn’t say much, though, or takes the time to ask how Steve has been, which almost seems…worse? It makes him worry that there’s something Will wants to share that he doesn’t feel comfortable telling Steve. It’s the strangest contradiction in the world - so tired of hearing the kids’ problems but terrified that he hasn’t listened well enough.
Steve just doesn’t know anymore.
He loves them all, he reminds himself, would hurl himself in front of anything the Upside Down would try to throw their way again in a heartbeat, but now they’ve decided that his basement is the best place to play Dungeons and Dragons and Steve might just lose what’s left of his mind.
He finds solace in Robin’s company, since Nancy and Jonathan have made up in remarkable fashion and are spending the last few days of summer in solitude before going off to their respective colleges. Honestly, thank goodness for Robin and her patience for Steve’s whining. She’d even picked up a driver’s manual from the DMV; whether she’s trying for her driver’s license to help share the load or because she wants to keep Steve distracted while people shout their initiative rolls at the top of their lungs, Steve isn’t sure. But at this point he doesn’t care.
“Is there any pepperoni left?” Steve groans after Robin gets a question right about turning onto a one-way road.
She stretches up from her spot on the carpet, eyeline not much higher than Steve’s position on the couch, and makes a triumphant noise.
“Looks like there’s one left - I’ll grab it!” She exclaims, already scrambling up before Steve has the chance to offer to get it himself.
Honestly, best friend ever.
But maybe it’ll just be the thought that counts, because as Robin picks up the last piece of pepperoni pizza, a voice calls out, “Hey, I was going to eat that!”
It’s Eddie who’s called out, interrupting himself from what was admittedly a decent Orc impression.
“Finders keepers, DM’s weepers,” Robin chides back, sticking her tongue out for good measure.
“Let him have it,” Steve says with a wave of his hand, “he hasn’t even eaten yet. Too busy walking the troupe through that doomed maze.”
“How do you know it’s doomed?” Lucas calls out.
“Yeah, Will the Wise would have totally seen if anything was coming with his last perception check!” Henderson adds.
Steve groans again, wondering why he said anything in the first place.
He knows it’s doomed because Eddie told him so, not an hour before he had rounded up the kids this afternoon. Steve had enacted a no-questions-asked, open-door policy since El had torn Vecna to pieces and shut the gate for good - or maybe for now, Steve will never make that dangerous of an assumption - and had been a little surprised when the biggest taker was Eddie Munson.
Steve had thought he would mind, having the formerly wanted high school graduate around every other day, but he finds Eddie’s whole persona pretty nice when it’s just the two of them. Likes hearing Eddie talk about his day, because it usually involves a lot of song ideas and the new city Eddie has convinced himself is where Corroded Coffin will move to and make it big. Steve even likes hearing about the D&D campaign because Eddie always simplifies it, doesn’t expect Steve to know every little thing, instead kind of making it sound like a movie plot.
Eddie also offers to help with, like, the dishes and shit, even if he isn’t responsible for them being in the sink. It’s refreshing.
Steve even finds he can sleep with Eddie around, taking some of the best naps he’s ever had in his favorite spot on the couch. No nightmares, either. Goddamn miracle.
Anyway, Steve knows the party is doomed because Eddie had said if they had chosen to keep the sketchy looking glass that Mike’s character (an elf rogue, maybe? Or is that Erica?) looted from a minor battle they had been in to enter the maze, that some kind of demon would possess Mike when they got to the heart of the maze. That’s honestly the only plot line that Steve had recalled with most certainty, because he had told Eddie it sounded the coolest and Eddie had smiled, like, a really big smile.
Steve likes seeing Eddie smile. Feels like he deserves to smile as much as he wants, given everything.
He’s caught in his own thoughts long enough that the party has continued on, but when Steve looks over again, Eddie glances at him and widens his eyes as if to say, don’t spoil it, man.
Steve frowns in a way that he hopes conveys remorse, then picks up the driver’s manual again and flips to a page about traffic circles.
“Okay Robin, this next question is super important. Because screwing up a traffic circle is high up on my list of pet peeves.”
–
The party barely escapes the maze intact, Eddie definitely improvising some kind of miraculous anti-possession amulet. Steve thinks Eddie has been going a little easy on them, but then again Eddie seems to be a little softer than everyone had initially thought.
They’re all packing up their stuff, Steve gathering the pizza boxes, when Eddie puts a hand on Steve’s shoulder.
“Thanks for saving me a slice, Stevie,” he says, a little quietly.
Steve’s mouth inexplicably goes dry. “Y-yeah, I mean, you’ve gotta eat, right? And you don’t like Hawaiian, so…”
Eddie scoffs. “So perceptive.” Then, addressing the room in his DM voice, “hey, why’s Mama Steve gotta do all the clean-up when he’s already opened his home to you gremlins?”
Will is the first to pop up, everyone else following suit shortly after. They all look a little bashful, avoiding eye contact with Steve, but Steve barely notices. Because Eddie is still standing really close, and his hand is still on Steve’s shoulder, and he called Steve Mama Steve which he has never done before, and he’s making the kids help, and-
It’s fine. Steve’s fine.
Breathe, dude.
“Thanks,” Steve says softly.
Eddie pats him on the shoulder twice and winks. “We’ll get them trained up eventually. And thanks,” he continues, moving over to the table to clean up his own stuff, “for letting us use your place. Don’t know if I’ve ever actually said that since we started coming here.”
His shirt rides up a bit as he reaches to get a die from the far side of the table, exposing some still-red scars along his hip. It takes Steve too long to tear his eyes away, his heart stuttering, mind flashing to Demobats and bleeding and trying to get Eddie through the gate before his eyes close for good, until Eddie straightens up.
Steve pretends, probably a little lamely, that he’s busy picking a thread from his shirt. The kids and Robin have all gone to the kitchen, so it’s suddenly too quiet. “It’s no problem, really. My parents would rather I use the place than try to find a renter right now. Just might need to work a second job to cover all these meal expenses.” He says the last few words with a shrug, not sure why he can’t meet Eddie’s eyes.
Eddie chuckles. “Mama Steve, always putting the kids first. Bet that six-kid fantasy has lost some of its charm, hey?”
Steve can feel the heat in his cheeks, at a loss for words. Mama Steve. Eddie had heard him talk about his dream family, what seems like a year ago but has only been a few months.
Mama Steve.
“Uh, no,” Steve tries, voice cracking. Clearing his throat, he tries again. “No, I think it’s still what I want. But, you know, not for a while. Gotta probably get into college, get a better job, all that.”
When he actually catches Eddie’s gaze, it’s like Eddie is looking into his soul, one corner of his mouth quirked up. It may be the most intense expression Steve has ever seen on the guy, and it makes him feel like an ant under a magnifying glass. Before he can answer, Steve blurts out, “plus, like, it doesn’t look like the girl I thought I would live that life with wants that life for herself.” He thinks he should feel bitter, but honestly, he can’t find any ill feelings towards Nancy - or Jonathan, for that matter.
“Don’t worry, Harrington, true parental figure like you? You’ll have all the babies you want, I’m sure of it,” Eddie says, and for some reason Steve’s brain starts buzzing. Something about that phrasing, making Steve seem like he’ll be the one-
“Thanks,” Steve says, turning away from Eddie and all but dashing out of the room, saying la la la in his head to clear any other thoughts from his brain. His breathing doesn’t even out until he’s in the kitchen with the others, who are arguing over who should take home the leftover cookies that Mrs. Wheeler had made.
“Just leave them here,” Steve announces. “You’re all going to be back tomorrow or the next day, begging to use my pool or some shit.”
That seems to settle it, and the kids clear out to Steve’s car and Eddie’s van. At least today some of the parents had offered to drop the kids off, and Eddie almost always helps with the take-home duties, so Steve has to do the simple rounds of Robin, Dustin, and Will.
He drops Dustin off first, then Will. As he waves to Mrs. Byers through the open window, he gets an idea.
“Hey, Robin, get out of the car for a second,” Steve says, unbuckling his seatbelt and opening his door. Robin follows suit, and before Steve can think more on it, he dashes to the passenger seat.
“You’re driving us back to your place,” he states.
Robin’s eyes go comically wide. “No- no way, Steve, just because I got some questions right doesn’t mean I’m going to be able to get this thing home in one piece, plus it’s illegal, imagine if we get caught-”
“Robin, there’s no one on the road right now, and Hopper’s better half is literally giving you a thumbs up through her front window,” Steve says, pointing to the woman who’s grinning and nearly jumping up and down with excitement. Steve wouldn’t be surprised if in the next instant, Mrs. Byers is holding a hand-painted banner that says GO ROBIN GO. “Get in the damn car.”
Robin gets in, fastens her seatbelt, checks that Steve’s seatbelt is done up, then checks her seatbelt again.
“Mirrors,” Steve says softly.
“Right,” Robin says, adjusting each mirror, narrating her actions. “Okay, let’s do this.” She starts the car, pulls it out onto the road with only a few too many brake-taps.
She goes approximately five miles per hour the entire way home, but by the time she pulls in front of her house - so far from the curb Steve almost laughs, but doesn’t - she’s beaming.
“Okay, that went well!” Steve says, holding his hand up for a high-five.
“I did it!” Robin exclaims, forgoing the high five and just shaking Steve’s hand in all directions with both of her own. She looks nervous for a second, though, and says, “I didn’t bump your tires on the curb, right?”
Steve has to laugh, then. “No, you’re good.” He can work on parking another time.
They get out of the car, hugging in celebration by the hood before Steve moves to get back into the driver’s seat. But Robin catches his arm before he can move a step.
“Thanks so much Steve,” Robin says, almost sounding choked up. “I promise, I’ll get my license soon, and then I’ll use my savings to buy a car, and then you won’t have to always drive me and the kids around all the time.”
She starts to say something else, but Steve cuts her off with a wave of his hand. “Robin, Robin, that’s not why I want to help you get a license, okay? You’re welcome to help me with the driving and whatever, but don’t feel obligated. I just want you to feel independent. You may not be going to college this year but maybe you’ll want to next year, or maybe you’ll want to move somewhere else, and you just never know when you’ll need these skills, right?”
Robin lets go of Steve’s arm, her smile so big it makes her eyes crinkle. “You really are such a dad, you know that?”
“Yeah, yeah,” Steve dismisses, stepping to the driver’s side and opening the door. “See you at changeover tomorrow, and let me know if you want a pick-up after closing.”
He watches Robin walk up the lawn, then unlock and enter her house. It makes Steve a little sad, that everyone in town is locking their doors regularly now, that the kids’ parents still don’t want them riding their bikes past dark, but it’s not like he can fault anyone. Will’s Mind Flayer-sense hasn’t acted up in months, Eleven seems calmer than ever, and Max hasn’t needed to listen to Kate Bush on repeat for what seems like forever, but Steve fears that the unease weighing in the air like the Florida humidity will never truly disappear.
As he drives himself back home, he starts to get why Eddie and the rest of Corroded Coffin find so much joy in dreaming about living anywhere but here.
He just wishes he could bring himself to feel the same way.
–
Just as he had predicted, Dustin calls Steve the next morning before he has to head to Family Video, asking if the party can come over again the following day.
“Have you seen the forecast? It’s going to be perfect for a pool day!” Dustin exclaims. “And Mike even asked Nancy, and she said she and Jonathan would be interested in coming by because they’re leaving soon and they’ll bring Mike and El and Lucas and Erica so you don’t have to pick those guys up.”
Steve puts the phone to his other ear, leaning against the wall. Sighs just to seem put out. “Well, if Nancy and Jonathan are going to do half the work for me, I guess it’s okay. So no D&D tomorrow, just pool?”
“Why, do you wanna play?” Dustin asks. Doesn’t even wait for the answer he knows is coming and says, “No man, Eddie said he needs a bit more time to work out the next part of the campaign. I think we’ll be there by about eleven. Okay, have a good day at work! Bye!”
Steve barely has time to say goodbye before Dustin is hanging up.
“Kids,” he whispers to himself as he dons his Family Video vest and heads out the door.
–
It’s only an hour into his shift and Steve is so bored. It’s not even that the place is a ghost town, quite the opposite in fact - he’s already seen more customers in the past twenty minutes than he sometimes sees all day. It’s just that work always sucks without Robin, because as much as Steve doesn’t think that they are codependent, he really doesn’t know what to do with himself half the time when she isn’t around. Even a simple question of what movie he should put on to play in the background plagues his mind. Surely he can’t watch Grease again. That would be one too many times, right?
He’s taken out of his reverie by the ringing of the phone.
“Family Video, this is Steve, how can I help you?”
“How’s it looking over there, Harrington?”
Steve’s heart drops a little at the joy in Eddie’s voice. “Sorry, ma’am, all the copies of The Goonies are currently rented out. Perhaps try again later today?”
It’s a little code he, Eddie, and Robin have come up with. Though Eddie had his name cleared before scars could form from the Demobat bites, the court of public opinion holds Eddie as the biggest outsider in Hawkins. The vandalism and slushie-throwing is likely a thing of the past now, but Eddie still can’t handle large crowds, can’t handle the idea of people watching him with that much hatred. He often comes to visit Family Video during their lulls, parking in the back, but Steve knows right now there would be too many people in one place.
“No problem, Steve-o. What time are you off? Henderson told me you’re having a little pool party tomorrow - I assume I’m invited, obviously, as I’ll be the life of it all - and I thought maybe you’d want some company to pick up reinforcements.”
Steve’s stomach does a little flip flop for reasons unknown. He hits random keys on the computer, pretending to look up a movie. “Yes, ma’am, we have four in stock.” Then, looking around quickly and confirming no one is in close earshot, whispers, “I’ll pick you up, okay?”
Eddie laughs, a good, deep kind of chuckle. Steve’s stomach is still doing its best pancake-in-a-frying-pan routine. Probably just because this phone call is so silly and secretive. “See you after four then, Harrington.”
“You too, ma’am.” Steve hangs up, and has no time to think about his stomach being so unsettled because a guy approaches with some horror movie that Steve thinks has entirely too much red on the cover, barely thanking Steve before sauntering out the front door.
The shift continues to drag on, after that.
–
Steve confirms that Robin a) does not need a ride home that night and b) is also in for the pool party when she comes in for the evening shift. He also decides to rent the most recent return - Teen Wolf - because why not, it’s been off the shelves more than it's been on them. Must be worth a shot, and it’s PG so it shouldn’t cause any nightmares.
He heads straight to Eddie’s, smiling as he sees the characteristic mess of dark brown hair bouncing out the door as he pulls up. Eddie’s wearing a new pair of jeans, these ones acid washed with just as many holes as his other pairs, and dark sunglasses. He’s got a tattered black baseball cap in his hands, which Steve thinks has a snowball’s chance of actually fitting on that mess of hair. Eddie’s beaming as he gets in the passenger seat, and Steve can’t help but return the grin.
“Hey, Munson.”
“Harrington.”
“Any particular reason you’re so pleased to see me?” Steve asks.
Eddie gasps in a dramatic show of hurt. “Am I not allowed to recognize the honor that is having The King’s sole attention?”
Steve can’t help but blush, just a little. He plays it cool by turning the car around and peeling out onto the main road. “Are you even going to get out of the car?”
“Of course, why else would I bring this?” Eddie says, holding up the baseball cap like a trophy. He then forces it onto his head, and it sits about as well as Steve had assumed it would. “With these shades and this hat, I will be nigh recognizable.”
Steve isn’t sure if Eddie is kidding or not, and doesn’t have the heart to burst his bubble. But if this is what makes Eddie feel better about going out to get some drinks and snacks, Steve will keep his thoughts to himself.
Steve lets Eddie fiddle with the music as they head to the store. He puts on something pretty cool, actually, heavy on the drums but a good tune.
In the store, Eddie surprises Steve by grabbing a cart and storming ahead of him.
“Uh, where are you going?” Steve asks.
Eddie just winks dramatically behind his sunglasses. “Follow me, babe,” he says, as if steam isn’t erupting from Steve’s ears.
They’re going through the produce section first, Eddie grabbing lettuce, tomatoes, onion, cantaloupe, apples, and corn on the cob. Steve is thoroughly confused, especially because Eddie is shining exactly zero light on his intentions. After three failed attempts to get Eddie to talk, Steve just shuts up and tries not to draw attention to either of them, even though Eddie keeps jumping on the cart and riding it down the aisle like a little kid.
Steve doesn’t have it in him to even be a little annoyed.
They continue on, getting the regular stuff for hangouts, but also some pickles, butter, hamburger buns, marshmallows, graham crackers, and chocolate. Steve puts the pieces together, his theory proven correct once they get to the meat section and Eddie grabs a huge package of ground beef. He doesn’t say anything, though, because he thinks Eddie is getting some kind of satisfaction from Steve’s confusion.
At the checkout, Eddie tells Steve he forgot worcestershire sauce, and would Steve please be so kind as to go get some. The checkout lady tells him it’s in aisle three, and by the time he’s back all the groceries are packed into bags, which are loaded into the cart, and Eddie is standing there with an impossibly large smile on his face.
“I didn’t actually need that, Harrington, sorry,” he says, as he takes the bottle from Steve and hands it to the lady, who takes it without complaint. “Dorothy and I just needed you to be far enough away that you wouldn’t protest that I paid.”
Steve looks between Dorothy and Eddie, flabbergasted, and Dorothy - that traitor - just shrugs. Steve throws her a smile and waits until he and Eddie are out the door before he starts chewing Eddie out.
“Eddie, man, you should let me pay for some of that!” He hisses. “I-”
“I don’t want to hear it, Stevie,” Eddie interrupts. “You’re not the only one who can provide for this family. Plus, I need to show off that I can cook - I guess if you consider grilling burgers cooking. Now help me load these groceries into your car and maybe I’ll let you buy the beer.”
Steve is floored by the kind gesture, and he starts loading the bags dutifully. Maybe he can sneak some cash into Eddie’s wallet tomorrow, or something.
Eddie does let Steve buy the beer, thankfully, and then soon enough they’re back at Steve’s place. Eddie helps unload the groceries, and Steve almost forgets about Teen Wolf until it’s the last thing to grab from his backseat.
His palms get a little sweaty as Eddie trudges back out of the house. It’s just a movie with a friend, right? It shouldn’t be weird to ask.
“Hey, uh, so I know we just - I mean you just - bought a bunch of food, but what do you say to ordering a pizza and watching this probably horrible movie with me tonight?” Steve asks, way too fast.
Eddie snatches Teen Wolf out of Steve’s raised and and grins, then meets Steve’s eyes. They flash a little manically, which doesn’t help Steve’s sweaty palm situation. “I can think of no better way to spend a Friday night.”
Eddie takes care of ordering the pizza while Steve sets up the movie. He reclines in his favorite spot on the couch as Eddie finishes up the call. When Eddie enters the room, he smiles at Steve in the way that makes Steve feel like an ant again, and suddenly he wants to be covered up from head to toe.
“Pass me that blanket, will you?” Steve points to a light, fuzzy one that Nancy usually claims.
“Sure thing, babe.” Eddie unfolds and throws the blanket over Steve, whose entire insides are on fire just from that single word. Steve adjusts the blanket for something to do while Eddie takes off his jacket and gets settled on the other side of the couch.
Steve laments too long over possibly bringing the whole babe thing up and then Eddie is staring at him and Steve clears his throat. “Sorry,” he half-grunts, and finally starts the movie.
The pizza arrives in less than 30 minutes as promised, and thank goodness because Steve hasn’t been able to focus on the movie at all. Instead, his thoughts have been plagued by the word babe said over and over, by secret winks in grocery stores, by wildly bouncing curly brown hair attached to the most captivating voice Steve has ever heard.
He’s not - he can’t be - right? Or maybe he can be. Would that be so wrong? It doesn’t feel wrong.
He needs to talk to Robin.
Steve is just glad that Eddie had also insisted on paying for the pizza too, because as Eddie is busy with the delivery guy, Steve sprints upstairs to the phone in his parents’ room and dials Family Video.
“Family Video, this is Robin, how can I help you?”
“Robin, it’s an emergency.”
“What? Oh my god, Steve, what happened? Who’s hurt? Is it you? Do you need me to call Hopper? Oh my god, is it Hopper?”
“Shit, sorry,” Steve says hurriedly, interrupting Robin’s spiral. “Sorry, not that kind of emergency.”
Robin swears under her breath. “Holy shit, Steve, you’re lucky I love you so much. Okay, fine, what is this non-emergency emergency?”
Steve suddenly can’t talk. He hears the front door close and he thinks about how Eddie is probably wondering where he is. Maybe he can just say he had to go to the bathroom, yeah, that’s something normal people do.
“Steve?”
Steve tries to talk again, gets a syllable out and then stops. Can’t think about what to say.
“Okay, Steve, now you’re actually scaring me again. Talk.” Robin demands.
Steve squints his eyes and just goes for it. “Okay, so Eddie is over and he bought groceries to have a barbecue tomorrow because I’ve been complaining about paying for so much recently, and he just paid for pizza, and we’re watching a movie, and he’s wearing new jeans, and he put a blanket over me, and he called me babe, Robin, babe, and I can’t get my insides to stay settled for, like, a single second.” Steve catches his breath; apparently now that he’s started talking he can’t stop. “He’s been over more recently and I thought I liked his company just because I like company, like I like your company, but I think I like his company in a different way, cause I like when he smiles at me and I want him to keep smiling at me like that, and I thought I only liked boobies but apparently I like Eddie?”
He ends in a half-question, half-exclamation, terrified at the realization and the confession wrapped in one. His breath is shaky, and he pinches his thigh, gets himself to calm down.
“Wow, Steve,” Robin says. “I’m proud of you.”
“Proud of me? Proud of me why?” Steve asks, getting hysterical again because that was definitely Eddie yelling up after him, asking if things are alright.
“I thought it would take you at least another month to realize you had a thing for Eddie. But I guess this timing makes sense too,” Robin contemplates.
Steve is going to ask what she means, but then he hears Eddie’s steps coming slowly up the stairs. “Quick, Robin, what do I do?”
“Share the pizza, sit nice and close, and then make your move!” Robin says, like it’s easy.
“I can’t do that, are you serious?” Steve’s mouth is dry again.
But Robin isn’t having it. “Come on, maybe if you make a move on Eddie it’ll be enough inspiration for me to finally try to kiss Vickie,” she says, which, low move, because now she knows Steve will do it. He’ll do anything to encourage Robin to take the next step with Vickie.
“I hate you,” Steve says. “Gotta go.”
“Love you too! Bye!” Robin says, the last word getting cut off as Steve hangs up the phone a little aggressively.
Just in time, too, because Eddie finds Steve in that moment. “Harrington? Everything okay?” He asks tentatively, picking at his fingernails.
It’s then that Steve remembers Eddie has a thing about quiet and dark at the same time, now. That his brain has rewired to make him think that if he leaves someone alone for a second, that he might come back to their eyes rolled back, unable to move.
“Shit, sorry Eds, I just had forgotten to ask Robin, uh, if she needed a ride home tonight,” Steve lies. “We’re good though, come on, pizza’s getting cold.”
He pats Eddie on the elbow, then beats him through the door and runs down the stairs. Eddie follows more slowly, but doesn’t have the same tension in his shoulders back at the couch that he had upstairs.
Eddie’s put the pizza box between their spots on the couch, along with some napkins and a couple of Cokes on the coffee table. Steve gets comfortable again and helps himself to a slice, waiting until Eddie has done the same before starting the movie again.
The pizza helps him calm down a bit, and he can focus on the movie. Maybe he missed some important plot points but he can’t really follow it anyway, so his mind wanders to Eddie.
Would it be so bad to make a move? Sure, Eddie might be straight, and that would be embarrassing as hell, but he would probably be really cool about it. He made two of the D&D side characters gay, that’s gotta mean something, right? And now that Steve has started thinking about kissing Eddie, holding hands with Eddie, maybe doing some things under the blankets with Eddie, he can’t really stop.
Fuck it, he thinks. He has the Robin seal of approval, and she’s his best friend. She knows him better than he knows himself. This is a good kind of nervousness, the kind that means something.
He decides to come up with a game plan. Okay, so let’s say tonight is a date. It kind of counts as one, right? So how does Steve turn this from two guys sitting on a couch eating pizza into a proper date that ends with kissing? What would he do if this was a girl?
First, he’s gotta move the pizza box that’s sitting between them. Once Steve confirms with Eddie that he’s done eating, he moves the box to the chair beside the couch and scoots over to the now-vacant spot, nearly touching Eddie.
“I think there’s a spring or something digging into my back over there,” Steve says nonchalantly. “Mind if I share your footrest?”
Eddie gestures grandly to where his lower half is making room for Steve. “What’s mine is yours, my liege.”
Okay, step one is done. Steve gives himself a mental high-five, also has the imaginary Robin in his head give him a high-five too because he thinks she would be pretty proud of that move. Step two is pretty easy: Steve takes the blanket that was initially all for himself and throws it over both of their legs. He turns to Eddie, who looks right back at Steve and wow, their faces are actually pretty close. Eddie has some pizza sauce on his upper lip that Steve wants to lick off.
“Not too warm?” Steve asks quietly.
Eddie just smiles, wiggles that bit closer so they’re actually, honest-to-God touching from shoulder to ankle. “I like it toasty,” he replies, like it’s nothing.
And maybe it’s because Steve is used to this generic sort of date-move, or maybe it’s because Eddie is still keeping his hands to himself, or maybe Steve has finally come to terms with the fact that he enjoys casual human contact, but Steve’s heart rate drops below its max beats per minute. He’s still only paying half-attention to the movie, which still isn’t very good. At least the graphics aren’t too realistic. Nothing to ignite this hypersensitive fight-or-flight.
“Pass me my Coke?” Eddie asks, a short while later. Steve tries to play it cool by keeping his eyes on the screen while he leans forward to grab the can from the coffee table, so when he leans back to hand it to Eddie, he gets a little spooked by something against his back.
It’s Eddie’s arm, in perfect position to drape across Steve’s shoulders. Which, okay, that’s very smooth. Eddie takes the Coke with his free hand as Steve settles back in so they’re properly cuddling, barely able to contain a smile.
“This okay?” Eddie asks quietly, and Steve gets his first hint that Eddie might be nervous. Though alarm bells are ringing in Steve’s head, he does his best to seem as at ease as possible.
“Yeah,” is all Steve says.
He can’t believe how weirdly right this all feels. He may be freaking out internally but he can’t bring himself to care that he’s into a guy. It’s probably because this isn’t just some guy, it’s Eddie. The Freak, the hero of the Upside Down, the strangest and most captivating friend Steve has ever made.
Steve gives himself approximately one second to consider that maybe this is just Eddie being touchy-feely before Eddie’s thumb starts moving back and forth on Steve’s shoulder. Just that little touch has Steve’s breath catch in his throat. He assures himself that this isn’t too fast, that he’s made these exact moves before on girls, that this is the good kind of frightening.
Taking a deep breath, Steve makes the next move: he puts his hand on Eddie’s thigh. Not too high, just kind of on the side, and doesn’t move it an inch. He gives himself another mental high-five when he hears a small intake of breath.
“This okay?” Steve parrots Eddie’s words back to him, only this time he turns to face Eddie. Eddie looks back almost immediately.
Eddie’s eyes are so wide, lit up by the flashing lights of the television, his mouth slightly parted. Steve holds Eddie’s gaze just long enough before flicking his eyes down to look at his lips, then right back up. He moves only slightly closer - the true Harrington move that has a one-hundred percent success rate in getting him what he wants.
It doesn’t fail him this time, either. Eddie closes his eyes and leans forward, Steve copying him until their lips brush lightly. It’s electrifying. Steve deepens the kiss as he moves his hand slightly higher and tighter around Eddie’s thigh, his other hand landing on the curve of Eddie’s jaw.
Eddie's skin is a little scratchy but his lips are so soft, and it makes Steve frantic for more. He moves his tongue past Eddie’s lips and then they’re properly making out. Eddie pulls back just far enough to nip at Steve’s lower lip and the sensation goes all the way down to Steve’s toes. Suddenly he’s half hard and yeah, they might be touching everywhere, but Steve needs more.
“Eddie,” Steve breathes, climbing on top so his knees bracket Eddie’s hips. He goes right back to kissing, and then Eddie’s hands are in Steve’s hair and Steve goes boneless.
He groans, and Eddie catches Steve’s lip in his teeth again. “You like when I play with your hair, baby?” He pulls at the thick strands of hair at Steve’s neck and Steve whines, a noise he’s never heard himself make before, and Steve grinds his hips down into Eddie’s. They’re both hard in their jeans and the friction is incredible.
Steve doesn’t remember the last time he’s felt this desperate. He’s lost in the feeling of having Eddie everywhere. It’s all so much, so good. He needs more. The only thing keeping him grounded are his own hands roaming Eddie’s body. His fingertips play at Eddie’s t-shirt, a question on his lips he can’t wait to ask.
“Can I?” Steve whispers. Eddie kisses along his jawline, leaning forward so his back is off the couch.
“You can do anything you want, Stevie,” Eddie hisses into Steve’s ear. He slots their lips back together, moving his tongue along Steve’s, before he has to break away for Steve to get Eddie’s shirt over his head. Eddie takes that opportunity to take Steve’s polo off too, messing Steve’s hair up royally in the process. It doesn’t matter, though, because Eddie’s right hand is back into Steve’s scalp once their shirts have been tossed to the floor, his other hand tracing up and down Steve’s spine.
Steve can’t stop grinding down against Eddie. He’s always kinda liked this too-rough, too-tight feeling, but it had felt weird to draw it on too long when it had been with a girl. Now, he can’t help but move harder, a little faster, holding on to Eddie’s shoulders like a buoy in the deep end. Eddie’s hips are moving a bit too, egging Steve on.
“Can’t get enough, can you?” Eddie challenges sweetly. “Mama Steve, always so focused on keeping the kids happy. Never taking the time for herself.”
Steve’s dick twitches, hard, and he almost swallows his own tongue. “Eddie,” he gasps.
“Too far?” Eddie asks, voice suddenly very clear. He looks Steve in the eye.
In a moment of clarity, Steve realizes Eddie could either run with this or stop that train of thought entirely and he’d probably be fine with it either way. Steve swallows hard, allows himself to briefly consider the implications of the answer he wants to give before just going for it.
“No, I, um, I like it,” Steve admits. “You can say that - those things - if you want.”
The look on Eddie’s face goes from something soft to the intensity of a bonfire in an instant, like a hunger has taken him over and he’s giving in to it.
“God, you’re perfect,” he says, right before licking into Steve’s mouth again.
It’s all just so much. They’re careening towards something, Steve knows it, and he never wants to stop. He spares a thought to realize the room is almost pitch black now; the movie must be rolling the credits. He wishes he could see Eddie, see their bodies moving against each other. Eddie’s hands are everywhere, roaming all over Steve’s torso, back to his hair, to the dimples on his back, stuttering and soft on the scars on his neck. Steve wants more, so much more.
“Eddie, can I?” Steve asks, palming clumsily at Eddie’s hard dick, the button of his jeans.
Eddie thrusts up into Steve’s hand, which forces Steve’s wrist to bump into his own hard dick and there’s a beautiful zing of pleasure that causes his eyelids to flutter.
“Yeah, baby, do it.” And that’s all the permission Steve needs. He pops open the button and in record time has Eddie’s dick out of his boxers. Eddie gasps into Steve’s mouth as Steve takes him in hand, squeezing at the base and then setting a quick, light rhythm.
It feels kind of strange, but only because of the unfamiliar angle. Otherwise Steve’s brain is short-circuiting from endorphins. He misses the friction, though, then gets a brilliant idea.
“I’m gonna-” Steve cuts himself off and just does it, moves so he’s straddling one of Eddie’s thighs, Eddie bending his leg to give Steve a better angle. Then he’s rocking his hips again, chasing the burning pleasure while keeping time with his hand, up and down, up and down. Tucks his face into Eddie’s neck, mouthing at the soft skin there.
Eddie lets out a breathy laugh. “Yeah, sweetheart, rub one out on me. Bet that feels so good on your clit. Getting yourself so wet and ready for me to fuck you.”
Steve whines, hips stuttering, hand squeezing probably too tight. Tries to say something, chokes on his words. He picks up the pace only when Eddie starts thrusting into his hand again, moving his hips in quicker, shorter jerks like he’s felt girls do. As if - as if he-
An escalating heat builds at the base of his spine as he picks up speed. He locks his lips onto Eddie’s neck, sucking hard, knowing he’s leaving a mark. God, this couldn’t possibly feel any better. He hears Eddie chanting yes, yes, yes and all he wants is to stay coherent enough to get Eddie to come. He needs Eddie to come first. It’s, like, suddenly the most important thing in the world.
“Yeah, Eddie, come on, do it, I want you to come, please-”
He’s cut off by Eddie’s rough groan. Eddie surges up to take Steve’s mouth, a kiss that feels like it might bruise.
“Fuck, baby, I’m coming,” Eddie warns.
Eddie’s hand joins Steve’s on his dick to catch the come spurting onto his stomach. Steve lets go, slows his hips, and moves his hand to cup and roll Eddie’s balls. Eddie’s dick gives another twitch, and Steve smiles. He’s glad he’s not the only one who likes that sensation.
They share another deep kiss that's mostly tongue. Eddie is panting, clean hand playing at the waistband of Steve’s jeans.
Then Steve can’t think of anything else but his own release. He starts rocking again, putting a bit more of his hips into it, and that heat is building even more rapidly than before. He knows he can get there like this, but he wants something else that his hindbrain suddenly knows will make it even better.
“Eddie, talk to me, please, please Eddie,” Steve begs.
Eddie’s dry hand cups Steve’s jaw, kisses him again. When they part, Eddie’s eyes are so soft and knowing that Steve has to close his own, tilts his head down an inch.
“It’s so much, isn’t it sweetheart?” Eddie says as he puts his forehead to Steve’s temple. “Bet you’ve never come like this. Those guys didn’t know what you wanted. Probably never even made a girl like you come before.”
The heat is in Steve’s hairline now, his fingertips, his toes. His dick is so hard and rubbed so raw and he can’t stop moving.
Eddie doesn’t stop talking, either. “You’re so perfect, darling. I know you want me to fuck you but I don’t want you to think that’s all this can be. I want to take things slow with you. I’m gonna make you come in a million different ways. Maybe next time I’ll eat you out, get that pussy even wetter than it is already.”
Steve can’t breathe. His whole body is on fire. He thrusts down one, two more times and then finally the air returns back to his lungs as he comes, the electricity frying every single last one of his brain cells. It’s worth it. It goes on longer than Steve thought was even possible, his body unable to stop jerking up and down with the aftershocks.
Finally, he collapses against Eddie, spent, and Eddie’s arms are there to catch him. Steve tucks his face back into where he had sucked a hickey into Eddie’s neck and wills his breathing back to normal. It takes a while.
Eddie straightens his legs, moving over so Steve is tucked into Eddie’s side. His dry hand is tracing little circles on Steve’s forearm.
“That was…okay?” Steve asks, briefly self-conscious.
Eddie laughs, loud in the quiet intimacy of the room. “Steve, man, I don’t know if I can put into words how okay that was. I don’t even know if I can write a guitar solo to explain it. Okay?”
Steve hides his smile on Eddie's shoulder. “Yeah, alright. I believe you.”
“Good,” Eddie says with finality. “But I would like to clean up. Let me lean forward for a second?”
Together, they move so Eddie can grab the napkins off the table and then Eddie’s wiping up his hand, his stomach, and a bit of Steve’s tricep. Steve kinda feels gross with the mess in his pants, but he also really doesn’t want to move.
“Do you, um, maybe want to stay here tonight?” Steve mutters quickly.
Eddie’s head whips to face Steve. His lips are parted, his eyebrows furrowed in thought before he breaks into a smile. “Yeah, Stevie? You wanna have a sleepover?”
Steve swallows, nods. Takes the challenge. “Yeah, Eds, I do.”
“Well, alright then,” Eddie says, beaming.
They make quick work of shutting off the TV, putting the pizza in the fridge, and walking upstairs to Steve’s room. They leave their shirts downstairs. Eddie leaves his pants unbuttoned so when he gets to Steve’s room, he easily shucks them off, socks too, and flings himself onto the bed.
“Do you have a favorite side?” He asks as Steve takes off his own pants and socks.
Steve nods his head towards the vacant spot on the bed, the left side. “Right there."
He goes to pull back the bedsheet, when Eddie leans over and blocks the motion. “I require one kiss for entry,” he demands.
Steve huffs, shakes his head with a smile. “This is my bed,” he protests.
Eddie shrugs. “I don’t make the rules, babe, I just enforce them.”
Steve doesn’t know why, but he’s blushing again. Eddie is just so…endearing. It makes Steve melt a little.
“Fine,” he whines, making a big show of leaning down to peck at Eddie’s lips, pressing just a bit tighter than probably necessary. When he pulls away, they have matching smiles.
Eddie shifts back to the right side, pulling the bedsheet back for Steve. “Your fare has been paid. You may now enter.”
“Gee, thanks,” Steve says. They gets cozy under the covers, but in doing so Steve has a brief moment of unease when he thinks about exactly how they’re going to sleep when Eddie manhandles Steve into being little spoon. It feels…really nice.
“I am definitely pulling out of this position before my arm falls asleep. I apologize in advance for any snoring you may or may not hear,” Eddie informs him.
Steve hides his smile into his pillow, this time. “Fair. I don’t really like to cuddle in my sleep anyway, so this works.”
“Cool.”
They lay like that for a while. Steve’s thoughts have mostly quieted down, but he’s still not great at falling asleep. He feels calmer than he has in months - years, maybe - with the prospect of sleep coming, with the warmth of Eddie beside him.
It’s long enough that he thinks Eddie may have actually fallen asleep like this, but then Eddie sighs a little and pulls his arm out from under Steve. Steve waits a beat, then two, and says what he can’t get out of his head.
“Um, thanks, by the way. For today. I had - I had a really good time,” he whispers.
Then there’s a hand in his hair, stroking, almost petting a few times. Steve tries his best not to lean into it. The movement stops, then Eddie’s kissing the back of Steve’s head before pulling away gently.
“Me too,” Eddie says softly. “Night, Steve.”
“Night, Eddie.”