Work Text:
I:the straw
The bell rings above the family video door, and Steve can't be bothered to look up from the desk. One would argue this demonstrates a lack of work ethic. Steve would argue that he doesn't give a shit.
Since, so far, the upside-down has yet to kill him, it's obvious that bordom will be what does it. He doesn't have that much to complain about, but he has little to no friends, no girlfriend, and practically nothing going for him. Working a dead-end job at a video store certainly doesn't make him feel better. Plus, it's Monday, so it's not like they're getting much business anyway.
"Woah, who died?"
Steve's head whips towards the voice. Standing there, across from the counter, is Eddie Munson.
Eddie's presence in his live is a new... but not unwelcome change.
Sure, the old Steve Harrigton would never be caught dead with someone like Munson. But that Steve 's life changed the day he fought a monster in the Byers' living room in '83. Current Steve would like to think he's a better person than he was. Munson may not completely mesh with him, but he makes the kids happy. And he's admittedly pretty funny. And cool. So he doesn't really mind having him around.
"Uhh, Earth to Harrington?"
He blinks, "Oh, hey Munson. Whatch'a doing here?"
Eddie leans against the counter, one arm hidden behind him.
"Well, I was in the neighboorhood, as they say. Thought I'd stop by to visit my favorite video store employee." He smirks.
Steve snorts, "Wow, I'm honored to recieve such a high title. I'm sure I had so much competition."
The other boy's brows furrow in mock apology, "Oh, I'm sorry Harrington, I wasn't talking about you, I was talking about Robin."
He rolls his eyes, "Of course you were. She actually isn't here. Sorry, but you'll have to deal with me instead."
Eddie leans further toward him, letting out an amused sigh.
"Aww man. Well I don't mind."
His stomach lurches a bit. Steve doesn't have much experince in... closely conversing with people other than Robin and Dustin, so he's a little rusty on his people skills. So it makes sense that he's a little nervous. He supposes.
And hey, his recent social ineptitude makes his... tendancy to stare pretty normal as well. He's staring at Eddie a little more than he would anyone else, but again, that's normal. He's just nervous to make a new close personal friend. Yeah.
Y'know, he doesn't really understand how Eddie wasn't getting more positive attention in high school. Now that he's staring at him, he's kind of a looker. He's got a nice face shape, and his hair is kind of... beautiful? And he's got these big wide brown eyes. And he has a really nice smile, he guesses.
Eddie coughs, "So, I brought you something."
He finally removes his arm from behind his back, placing a cup on the counter between them. It's a blue raspberry slushie from the nearest gas station.
He smiles, "Oh, thanks man. I was practically falling asleep over here, I need some sugar in me."
He grabs the drink and starts sipping on the straw. Although the drink was freezing, he can feel his insides get warmer. It was a nice gesture. He looks up at Eddie, giving him a grateful grin.
Eddie's cheeks turn a shade darker, and Steve can't help but appreciate the color. It looks nice on him.
"Right, well, the kids and I want to have our next campaign soon, but I can't host. Trailer is too small, you see."
Steve scoffs with a smile, "Oh, I do see!," He gestures to the drink, "This was a bribe. You want to host at my place."
Eddie holds his hands behind him and shrugs, slightly bowing his head while wearing a sheepish look, "Guilty."
Steve takes the straw back into his mouth. He has this nervous tic, it's kind of annoying really, but he bites straws. He can't really help it. He looks up at Eddie, still biting the straw, considering his request.
Eddie just looks down at him, his eyes trailing the movements his mouth is making. He feels a wave of what must be embarassment in his stomach, and immediately retracts the straw from his lips.
"Yeah, you can have your little Dragons game at my house. Just no mucking up the living room, alright?"
Eddie breaks out of his stupor and slaps the counter in an excited beat.
"Great! I guess I'll see you Saturday."
Steve smirks, "Unless you... happen to be in the neighborhood again. It wouldn't be so bad to see you in here again before then."
Eddie grabs a lock of hair and slightly covers his face nervously. His cheeks turn another shade darker, and Steve finds himself liking that shade too. The boy across from him gives him a soft smile, then nods.
II: lip biting
Eddie Munson was a weak, weak man. This is a universal truth.
And when Steve "The Hair" Harrington practically asks him to visit again, how could he possibly refuse? And sure, when he likes someone, does he act like a desperate teenage girl? Unfortunatley yes. Which is why as he's walking to the door of Family Video once again, he's fidgeting with a mixtape that he has stashed in his pocket.
Eddie has never been the type to be chill about anything. Ever. So although he hasn't spent much time around Steve since the whole... upside-down... shit, he's had this raging crush on the guy. If he was honest, even before the upside-down shit. Way before. The mixtape may be a little sudden in Steve's point of view, but its not exactly the first one he's made dedicated to him. This is just the first one he's ever had the balls to actually give to him.
He opens the door and strolls in, trying to look casual. He sees Steve, alone, sitting behind the counter again. Steve's head shoots up at the sound of the bell and his whole face lights up when he sees Eddie. Which could mean nothing. Steve is probably just happy to see a friend.
"Hey, back again already?"
Eddie laughs, "Well, you just seemed so eager to see me again. Had to stop by," He shrugs.
Steve bites his lip. Eddie stares at it. His lips are, to be so honest, gorgeous. He already looks like an Adonis, and there's so much to like about him. But those lips, man. Might be his favorite thing.
"Did you happen to bring me anything today, or was that just a one-time thing?" He jokes.
Eddie puts his hand in his pocket, fingering with the edges of the tape.
"Now that you mention it...," He fishes the tape out of his pocket, placing it on the counter.
Steve darts his eyes back and forth between him and the tape, before a shy smile graces his beautiful face. He picks up the tape, looking at all the songs Eddie had written on the side.
"You made this for me?" He asks quietly, and Eddie doesn't know if he's imagining the sparkle in his eye.
He nods, "I just, um, thought I should educate you on good music."
Steve raises a brow in question, "What, had enough of my top 40's bullshit?," He asks with mirth.
He crosses his arms, "Y'know I actually can't seem to mind it as long as you're listening to it."
Steve's smile drops slightly, a considering look overtaking his features.
Too much, too much, Eddie. Draw it back.
"Anyway, it just wouldn't hurt to expand your taste a bit."
Steve looks at him silently before he bites his lip again, a warm smile finding it's way on his face once more.
"I guess not, Munson."
And Eddie really, really hopes they're not talking about music anymore.
-
"He made you a mixtape?" Robin asks, surprise on her face.
Steve shrugs, "It's not a big deal," He assures.
"It so is a big deal!"
It was just a friendly gesture. He probably makes mixtapes like that all the time for his friends. Eddie, as far as he knows, doesn't shy around his affection for his friends. This is probably something he does at the regular.
"I don't see how it is. He's just giving a friend a gift."
Robin looks at him with a deadpan expression.
"Steve, even I know you're not that stupid."
His mouth drops and he scrunches his brow. Before he can protest, she places a hand in front of him, a silent motion to stop.
"Let me ask you something. If, let's say, a girl were to give you a mixtape. What would you think?"
"Well... I'd probably think she's flirting with me."
She looks at him with her brows raised. Steve stares at her silently, trying to grasp onto what she's getting at. He feels a swoop in his stomach, connecting the dots.
"Wait. You think- you think Eddie is flirting with me?" He asks incredulously.
"I mean would it really be that crazy to say? He made you a mixtape, for christ sakes!"
"It could've been friendly!"
"Okay, how about this? Pretend he is one hundred percent flirting and likes you. How would you feel about that?" She asks slowly.
And Steve goes quiet. Well, Eddie is his friend. He's a new presence in his life and he likes the change. A lot, he supposes. He doesn't think he's ever met anyone like him before. It's hard to believe that Eddie would like someone like him, he could easily get someone better than him. There's lots to like about Eddie. Like, pretty much everything.
His stomach swoops again, and his heart thumps faster.
Listen, Steve knows he's kind of an idiot, but he's not a complete idiot. Now that someone else is pointing out the... seemingly obvious, he knows this feeling in his stomach. He's felt it so many times before. He knows what this is.
"But... I like girls."
Robin's eyes soften, "Oh, Steve. You can... you can like both, you know?"
He looks at her with wide eyes, "You can?"
She nods, placing a hand on his shoulder.
Steve looks back at the family video door Eddie walked out of before.
"Do you really think he likes me?"
"Dingus, he's obsessed with you. I see the way he looks at you, dude."
He nods.
"He's coming over with the kids tomorrow. Can you come be my moral support?"
"I'll be there."
III: lip touching
"Alright little sheepies, we've arrived. Don't make a ruckus, Steve was kind enough to let us have our campaign here. So let's behave."
"Yes, dad." The kids say in unison, dripping in sarcasm.
"Yeah, yuck it up twerps." He mutters and turns off the van.
They all walk up to the house and Eddie rings the doorbell. Pretty soon afterward, the door flies open and the gaggle of kids go running in.
"Hey, try not to trample me, will ya?" Steve scolds.
And holy shit.
Steve is wearing his fucking vest.
He leans against the door, looking at Eddie, wearing his fucking vest.
"Hi," he waves.
Eddie thinks he might faint.
"Hey Steve," he borderline croaks out, "I didn't know you still had that."
Steve looks down at himself, then smiles at Eddie.
"Yeah, sorry I haven't given it back. I saw it in my closet today and thought it'd be fitting," He leans further against the doorframe, "You want it back?"
Eddie looks at him again, admiring the way the vest makes his shoulders look broader. Just looking at it reminds him of when he was wearing it with nothing under. Jesus Christ, he doesn't need to be thinking about that right now.
He swallows, "No, no, keep it. It looks better on you."
Clearly, he must've gotten into his stash and forgot about it, because he has to be imagining the blush on Steve's face right now.
"Hey! Are you guys just gonna be standing in the doorway all night or are you gonna come in?" Robin butts in.
Eddie coughs nervously, "Right. I bet the kids are probably getting impatient by now."
-
He stands, hovering over the table, looking at the kids menacingly.
“Alright, my brave adventurers,” he began, his voice dropping to a dramatic tone. “The great necromancer, Malroth the Undying, stands before you. His skeletal hands weave dark tendrils of magic, the air around him crackling with necrotic energy. Behind him, the legendary artifact—the Amulet of Dawnsilver—rests on an obsidian pedestal. You’ve fought through his legions, survived his traps. This is it. The final showdown. What do you do?”
Mike, a paladin, slammed his hands on the table. “I charge forward, sword raised, and cast Divine Smite!”
Eddie clapped his hands. “Bold move, Wheeler! Roll to hit.”
The die clattered across the table, landing on a 17
“With your bonuses, that’s a hit!” Eddie roared, flipping through his notes. “You charge toward Malroth, your sword blazing with holy light. The strike lands, searing through his tattered robes and burning into his undead flesh. He screeches in pain—but he’s not down yet!”
He looks away from the table briefly, eyes catching on Steve, who sits on the couch next to them. He's got his index finger grazing his bottom lip. Eddie watches the movement for a second before turning back to the game.
Dustin, always the strategist, adjusted his glasses. “Alright, I cast Fireball, aiming to hit Malroth without hitting Mike.”
Eddie raised an eyebrow. “Ooh, threading the needle. Roll for damage!”
Dustin’s dice tumbled, adding up to a hefty 21 with modifiers.
“Boom!” Eddie shouted, throwing his arms in the air. “The Fireball explodes, engulfing Malroth in flames. His dark magic falters for a moment, but his red eyes burn brighter than ever. ‘You dare challenge me?’ he screeches, raising a hand to summon shadowy chains from the ground. Mike, roll a Strength save!”
The paladin’s roll was a natural 20.
“Let’s go!” Mike cheered, pumping his fist.
Eddie mimicked the necromancer’s frustration. “The chains shatter!"
His eyes find Steve again, who is now looking right back at him. High on the adrenaline from the game, he on a whim shoots him a wink. Steve's mouth, which his fingers are still toying with, spread into a wide grin.
Erica smirks, “Lady Applejack leaps onto the pedestal, grabs the amulet, and shoves it into Malroth’s chest!”
“Roll Acrobatics!” Eddie shouted, barely able to contain his glee.
The die spun, and eventually lands on a 19.
“Yes!” Erica exclaims.
“Lady Applejack darts through the chaos,” Eddie narrates, his voice rising with excitement. “You leap onto the pedestal, snatch the amulet, and slam it into Malroth’s chest. The artifact glows, its radiant energy tearing through his undead form. He lets out one final, ear-piercing scream before exploding into ash.”
The room erupted into cheers and high-fives as Eddie leans back, spreading his arms. “Congratulations, heroes. Malroth is no more, the Amulet of Dawnsilver is safe, and the kingdom owes you a debt of gratitude.”
A round of applause sounds from the couch, and Eddie stands and bows for the peanut gallery. Steve watches with a bemused expression, “Is it always this dramatic?” he asked, smirking.
Eddie turns, wearing a wicked grin. “What’s the point of D&D if it isn’t dramatic, Harrington? Besides, they just saved the world. Show some respect.”
Steve holds up his hands in mock surrender. “Hey, I’m impressed. You’re all a bunch of nerdy little badasses.”
Eddie smirks, "But I'm you're favorite, aren't I?"
Steve just looks at him with wide eyes, his smile growing impossibly bigger. His fingers are still trailing the edge of his bottom lip, and Eddie has to assume is some kind of nervous habit. He thinks he's developing his own kind of habit of staring at whatever he does with those lips.
"Yeah, you are." He responds, which gets an immediate squawk from Dustin and Robin.
He laughs and sits next to Steve, his arm stretching over the other man's shoulders.
"You heard it here first, folks. I am Steve Harrington's favorite!"
"I DETEST THAT!" Robin's voice cuts in.
IV: the lollipop
Steve really doesn't know how he went so long without being aware of his crush on Eddie. He really, truly, doesn't know. Because now that he's been made aware, it's all he can think about. For pete's sake, he doesn't even remember being this... infatuated with Nance. Even when he's talking about nerdy shit, Steve can't keep his eyes off of him.
Although now that he thinks about it, he's always been into the nerd types, hasn't he?
In fact, he finds the nerdy thing so entrancing that he agreed to see Labyrinth with Eddie, even if it's not his usual kind of movie.
"That was so sick! That was so sick, right?"
Steve nods, taking the lollipop he's eating out of his mouth. "Yes, yeah, so sick."
Eddie groans, "Please tell me you were paying attention to anything other than Jennifer Connelly."
Well... he was also staring at David Bowie.
He smiles sheepishly, placing the lollipop back in his mouth, and Eddie groans again.
They walk passed the side ofthe building, and Eddie stops to lean against the brick wall.
"She's great and all, but.. she's not my type."
Steve let out a questioning hum.
He nods, "Yeah, yeah, I've always um," he coughs, "I've always been more of a Bowie guy."
Steve leans on the wall next to him and rests his head against it. He looks at Eddie in shock, well, not shock exactly. He definitely had a feeling that Eddie likes him. Robin practically slammed the idea over his head a million times, but the confirmation makes him drop his mouth in surprise. He barely has enough time to take out the lollipop again before it falls.
Eddie looks at him with a scrunched brow, "Steve? Can you say something?"
"Right, that's, that's cool...," He trails off before finding his voice again, "I'm... I'm a Bowie guy, too."
Eddie looks at him sharply, surprise coloring his features. He leans closer to Steve, whispering almost conspiratorially, "You are?"
Steve looks into those beautiful brown eyes, the ones he can't seem to get out of his head lately, and nods.
"Bowie and Jennifer Connelly. Big fan of both."
He puts the lollipop back between his lips without breaking eye contact with Eddie. Almost immediately, His eyes trail the candy, which is almost as pink as Steve's lips.
"You are?" He whispers.
Steve hums an affrimative around the hard candy, taking more of it into his mouth.
Eddie, who is still staring at his mouth, groans quietly.
"Well, aren't you just full of surprises, Stevie?"
The nickname ignites a fire in his chest, and sets off his heart into a frenzy. He releases the candy from his mouth, an audible pop sounding out. It makes Eddie's cheeks turn a delicious shade of crimson. Screw any doubts that Eddie likes him. Steve clearly has an effect on him.
He may not have dated or even tried to be with a guy before, but he knows this. He's had plently of experince, sure, with girls, but he knows what being flirted with looks like. Admittedly, he's a little rusty at the actual act of flirting with other people.
"Hey, so, I'm thinking of having a pool party at my place. Would you wanna..." He trails off.
Eddie smirks, "Is it gonna be like one of your old King Steve parties?"
Steve shoves him lightly, "Nah man, you know that's not me anymore. It'll just be us and the kids. Nance and Robin too, of course."
Eddie smiles, and his eyes catch on Steve's lips again, "Of course."
He raises a brow at this, leaning closer, "So? Are you in?"
"Always, Stevie."
V: the popsicle
"Chill, just be chill." Eddie mutters to himself.
He rings the doorbell, and gets a weird sense of deja vu. He's half expecting Steve to open the door wearing his vest again, but that's just wishful thinking, he supposes.
When Steve actually opens the door, he is competely shirtless.
Jesus Christ, sometimes reality is better than dreams.
"Hey, Eddie, come in! Everyone's by the pool," He grabs Eddie's hand, "Here, I'll show you where the bathroom is so you can change into your trunks."
"No, it's fine, I'm wearing them underneath my jeans."
"Cool, let's go out with everyone else then."
He leads Eddie to the backyard, where everyone else is sitting next to the pool. They all cheer at his appearance, which Eddie laughs about. He greets everyone and then sits on one of the pool chairs.
"I'm just gonna go get popsicles for everyone. Want one, Eds?"
He nearly chokes at the nickname.
"No thanks, I'm good."
Steve nods and goes inside to get the popsicles. Eddie toys with the material of the chair under him, staring at the place in the floor where Steve was just standing.
"So, when are you gonna tell him you have a big fat crush on him?"
He whips his head around to see Robin standing behind him.
He curses, nearly jumping out of his skin, "Jesus Christ, Robin! Scared the shit out of me!"
She laughs, "Sorry, sorry! I just have to know."
He feigns confusion, "Know what?"
She stares at him unamused, "When you're gonna tell Steve about your big, fat, gay, crush on him."
"Robs, quiet down! What if someone hears?"
Robin snorts, "Oh please, as if you've been subtle about it. I'm pretty sure the only person who doesn't know by now is Steve. He's so oblivious, I truly don't know how he got so many girls in high school."
"Well the obliviousness kind of works for him, y'know? It's cute.. or whatever."
"All I'm saying is, you should make a move soon. Tell him how you feel."
Eddie shakes his head, "No, he couldn't possibly like me that way."
Robin rolls her eyes and groans.
"God, you might be even more oblivious than he is," She mutters.
"Sorry?"
"Listen. I usually don't like dishing out Steve's business, but it gets to a point. Tell him how you feel."
She looks at him meaningfully, then her eyes dart to the side. He looks over to where she's looking, and sees Steve passing out popsicles to the kids.
"Just trust me, Eddie."
He looks back at her before nodding subtly.
"And maybe get in the pool. Give him something to look at, yeah?"
He laughs, pushing her shoulder lightly, "Yeah, whatever Buckly."
He then shrugs off his leather jacket, which by the way, it was way too hot to be wearing it anyway. He stood up from the pool chair and grabbed the hem of his top. He threw a playful wink at Robin, who just gagged before laughing. He tore off his shirt and placed it on the chair before moving to his belt. He takes it off, along with his jeans, which go on the chair aswell.
He turns back to Robin, "You wouldn't happen to have a hair tie or something, would you?"
"You're in luck." She says, handing him the one on her arm.
He tucks the tie in between his teeth, using his hands to pull his hair up. He looks toward Steve again, who is fuly staring at him now. He's got his lips wrapped around a popsicle. Eddie takes the tie from his teeth and ties his hair into a ponytail.
"I think I'm gonna take you up on your advice, actually."
He doesn't even wait for Robin's reply, just walks off. He thinks he hears laughter from her, but he just keeps walking. He walks until Steve is in front of him.
"Hey." He says, trying to keep it casual.
Steve takes the popsicle out of his mouth, licking the juice on his lips.
"Hi," he smiles.
"So, I was wondering if I could talk to you? Privately?"
Steve's brows raise, "Oh, um, yeah. Of course. Let's go inside." He puts the popsicle in his mouth again, and Eddie can only follow him inside like a lost puppy.
Once inside, Steve leans against a countertop in the kitchen, hand holding the stick of the popsicle.
"So? What did you wanna talk about?," He licks the popsicle.
Just a reminder, Eddie is a weak, weak man.
He can only stare at his lips around that goddamn popsicle.
"Right, right, I just... wanted to tell you something."
Steve smirks around the popsicle, then takes a step closer.
"Tell me what?"
He swallows, "Well.."
Steve takes another step closer, "Eddie? What is it?"
And before Steve can stick the popsicle back in his mouth, Eddie grabs his hand. He uses his free hand and tighly touches Steve's bottom lip with his thumb.
"Eds?" Steve whispers, his eyes flicking between Eddie's.
VI: his lips
"Is this... okay?" He says softly.
Steve smiles, then drops the popsicle. Screw the floor, he'll clean it later. Right now, all he can focus on are Eddie's eyes. His hand has a bit of melted popsicle on it, but he doesn't really care. He combs his fingers between Eddie's curls.
"It's more than okay. It's perfect."
Eddie leans closer, his nose grazing Steve's. They take a moment to breathe in eachother's air.
"I have been so obsessed with these lips. You have no fucking idea." Eddie mutters.
Steve lightly kisses the thumb that's still on his bottom lip.
"I think I have an idea."
He closes the gap between them, and it wasn’t soft. It wasn’t careful. It was all heat and urgency, Steve’s lips moving against Eddie’s like he’d been holding this back for far too long. And in a way, he was. Although he wasn't entirely aware of it yet, he's been nursing this... crush on Eddie for ages. Eddie made a sound—half surprise, half something else entirely—and then he was kissing back, just as desperate.
His hands found Steve's chest, gripping him lightly, as if to keep himself grounded. Steve’s hands slid further into Eddie’s hair, grasping his neck, pulling him closer, and Eddie swore he felt the world tilt. Steve leaned into him, his body lining up over Eddie's. The countertop dug into Eddie's back, but he didn’t care—he just pulled Steve even tighter against him, like letting go wasn’t an option.
When they finally broke apart, both of them were breathing hard, their foreheads pressed together. Eddie’s wide eyes searched Steve’s face, his lips red and slightly swollen.
"I've been wanting to do that for so long.." He says, stars in his eyes.
Steve's grin is as bright as the sun's.
"God, me too."
Eddie leans into him some more, closing the gap again. This time, when their lips met, it was slower but no less intense, like they had all the time in the world. Eddie’s hands moved, sliding up Steve’s chest and curling around the back of his neck, his rings cold against Steve’s skin. He tugged Steve closer, trying to hold onto the heat of the moment. Steve responded by pressing harder, his lips parting slightly, and Eddie felt his breath catch when he felt Steve’s tongue graze against his bottom lip.
The kiss turned messy and urgent, filled with the kind of passion neither of them had fully let themselves feel until now. Suddenly, Steve's lips, his glorious lips, started trailing down Eddie's jaw, and he let out a strangled groan.
"Yeah, y'like that? Huh?" Steve mutters against his skin, and Eddie moans softly. He nods, "Yeah, yes. Oh my god, yes."
Steve starts leaving a mark on Eddie's neck, softly sucking his skin.
"Hey what are you guys- OH MY GOD."
Dustin's voice cuts through the air.
Steve and Eddie break apart immediately, standing across the kitchen from eachother.
"I JUST CAME IN HERE TO CHECK ON YOU GUYS, I WASN'T EXPECTING TO SEE YOU SUCKING FACE!"
"Dont call it that! Just, oh my god, go!" Steve yelps.
"NO FUNNY BUSINESS." Dustin yells while leaving.
"GO!"
They stand there in silence, staring at the door, before Steve finally looks at Eddie again. He slinks back to his spot in front of him, placing his hand on Eddie's cheek.
"Hey, you okay?"
Eddie laughs, "Yeah it's fine. I just don't think we're ever gonna live this down."
Steve laughs with him, "Yeah we probably wont."
He leans closer, then plants a soft, feather light kiss onto Eddie's lips.
"Now let's go back outside before he sends a search party."
He takes Eddie's hand in his, and they walk out, leaving Steve's abandoned popsicle on the floor. They'll clean it up later. They have all the time in the world.