Chapter Text
Steve had stayed at Eddies trailer for a few days after that. Robin would come round to check up on them, and they also had to call Dustin to let him know that Steve was in fact alive. They told the kid that he was sick.
They’d ended up hatching a plan, which none of them particularly liked. Robin would pretend to be Steve's girlfriend in front of his parents, and Steve would put on the performance of his damn life, swearing he wasn’t ‘queer’, that it was all some sort of stupid misunderstanding and that he wouldn’t be friends with Eddie Munson anymore.
Eddie sat in his trailer, wracked with nerves, after Steve and Robin left for the Harrington household that night.
He’d gotten a phone call the next day, Steve telling him that his parents bought it, that his mother praised the lord and his father is making him go on a trip with them so he can ‘clear his head’ and ‘reform as a family’. He also profusely apologised, frantic and embarrassed, saying he actually kissed Robin just to make it convincing. Barely a peck, really. Eddie just laughed and said it was fine, that he’s not exactly worried about Robin stealing him away any time soon, that he’s more concerned about poor Robin being subjected to that.
They barely got to see each other the two weeks before Steve went to Virginia with his parents. Steve called him a handful of times in the three weeks he was away, mostly complaining about how hellish it was and all the stupid shit his parents say and how he’d rather blow his brains out than listen to another one of his fathers finance lectures. Eddie would tell him that Hawkins sucks without him, and that he and his new girlfriend (Robin) miss him very much. Steve would groan, ranting about the fact he had to tell his mom how much he missed Robin all the time to make their act convincing. Then Steve would softly say he misses Eddie too.
Eddie really did miss him. Sure, he occupied himself with D&D and Corroded Coffin and him and Robin keeping each other company, but it was almost frightening the feeling of something being missing without Steve here.
When Steve got back after the longest 21 days of Eddie’s life, he’d come straight to his trailer, telling his parents he was off to see Robin because he ‘missed her so much’.
But really, he’d missed Eddie so much. And thats why it was damn lucky that Wayne was at work. Because after the wholesome greeting of Eddie running over to Steve's car and almost tackling the guy to the ground, they went into the trailer, and as soon as that door was closed, Eddie's back was against a wall and Steve's lips were on his. Their clothes were quickly abandoned as they headed to the bedroom, mouths barely parting for more than a few seconds, and it was Eddie who was pushed back on the bed, Steve climbing on top of him.
Steve had murmured how much he missed Eddie into the crook of his neck, kissing the soft skin there before that turned into biting, not hard, just enough to leave a mark. Eddie just choked out something about missing him too as his blunt nails dug into Steve's shoulders, trying to clutch at the remaining strands of self control he had as he slowly unraveled beneath him. When Steve was close, and Eddie could always tell (despite his hazy perception through his own pleasure) because of the way Steve's hips stutter and jerk like its involuntary, Steve whispered ‘I love you’. Clearly, that really did something for him, because no one had ever said that to Eddie in these circumstances before, and all he did in response is make this pathetic little noise, akin to a whimper, as they both finished.
He thought about it afterwards, how revolutionary this was, as previously Eddie had mostly gotten off at calling names and slapping and biting and all that other stuff that fell under the criteria for having that black and white bandana in his back pocket. Another thing was that bandana primarily being in the left pocket.
But hey, he guesses Steve Harrington has changed his life in a multitude of ways. He doesn’t mind being on either side, and neither does Steve, apparently, as the next morning, as soon as Wayne left for work, they barely managed to brush their teeth before Steve was bent over the countertop in that cramped bathroom.
Steve went back to work, but he was still under rather close supervision from his parents, his mom would now ‘clean’ his room at least once a week, clearly searching for anything incriminating, so Steve purposefully hid a couple magazines with naked ladies on the front just to cover himself a little more. Steve forced Robin to come round relatively often, just to show her face and keep up the charade, which she complained about for as long as she could. She told Eddie she doesn’t know how he puts up with Steve because she’s about to throw herself in front of a car from merely pretending for a few minutes to be with him. Eddie just laughed and told her he doesn’t have to deal with his parents, thats how.
Although, Eddie did slash David Harringtons tires. He never fully admitted to it, but Steve sussed him out pretty quickly. Steve didn’t scold him or tell him off or anything, just grinned at him and shook his head fondly, before swiftly moving the conversation on.
Slowly, things were starting to go back to normal. Steve wouldn’t get intensely questioned every time he left the house, apparently tensions were lowering back down to the normal level that was always in the Harrington household, and Robin needing to show her face became less and less frequent, until she was free of the burden of having to visit the Harrington house to keep up appearances.
Steve was still weighed down by it, Eddie could tell. Every so often, he’d get this spaced-out look on his face, and just stare at his shoes. They talked about it sometimes, vaguely, late at night. It pained Eddie when Steve confessed that he felt ashamed for lying to his parents, and for letting his father speak about Eddie that way. Eddie just held him and promised him that it was alright, that they had to do what they had to do, and that they were gonna get through this. They did. They managed.
After a month, Steve's parents were off to California again on a business trip, Steve apparently now trusted again to be at home alone, and Steve was free. He threw a party, just because he could.
“So, when are people turning up?” Eddie quirks a brow, perched on the kitchen island, legs swinging. “Gotta make sure the kiddies are home for bedtime.” He smirks.
Steve scoffs at him as he’s arranging cases of beer on the counter like it's an art piece. “Told them 7.” He turns, pulling open the cupboard and surveying the snack situation. “And they can leave whenever they want. They can sleep in a pile on the floor in the living room for all I care.”
Eddie snorts a laugh. “Wooooow,” He stretches out sarcastically. “Gonna be a wild night, huh?”
Steve shoots him a glare over his shoulder. “Hopefully.” He mutters. “For me, at least. I’m planning on getting drunk enough I forget how to walk.”
“Atta boy.” Eddie grins wide, sliding off the counter and clapping him on the back as Steve pulls two bags of chips out the cupboard.
He spins round, pulling two beers out a case and holding one out to Steve. “Can’t hurt to get a head start.” He tilts his head, and Steve huffs a laugh, taking the beer and cracking it open with a hiss.
“Cheers.” He winks at Eddie, tapping their cans together before throwing his head back, taking a big swig.
They’d drunk two each by the time anyone showed up. This was just supposed to be a casual get together, really. But it’s been just over a year since it all happened, since it all ended. Since they’d saved the world and Eddie thought his life was over for ever, first in a metaphorical sense and then in a literal sense, but he was dragged away by Steve ‘the Hair’ Harrington and returned to the real world with a new group of friends, a big crush, and a warrant for his arrest.
It was a strange time for the kids, too. Max, as she’d almost lost her life too, been cursed and put into a coma she thankfully recovered from, and all the younger ones, really, as they’d lost a friend.
They all arrived first, bundling out of Lucas’ car and hammering on Steve's front door a few minutes past 7.
Robin, Nancy and Jonathan were next, the girls chatting enthusiastically as Jonathan trailed behind them like a lapdog, car left parked next to Lucas’, except Byers planned to leave it there and walk home, coming back the next day to get it so they can all drink. Or maybe they’d all just crash on Steve’s couch. Whatever was easiest.
As soon as they got in the door, Eddie clapped his hands and announced they were doing shots. Steve grabbed shot glasses from his cupboards and Eddie poured vodka into each one, before they all clinked them together and threw them back. Robin pulled a face, complaining and muttering something about hating shots. Nancy called her a wuss. Not even 15 minutes later, Steve convinced Eddie to do another with him (it didn’t take any convincing at all).
Eddie ended up talking to Jonathan for a while, him sat back in the armchair and Eddie perched on the arm, both of them with a cup in their hand, Jonathan a Jack and coke, Eddie’s was… whatever concoction Steve had poured in there.
“I’m telling you, man.” Eddie furrows his brows. “One campaign.”
Jonathan laughs into his drink. “If Wills never been able to convince me, you’re not going to.”
“God, you’re stubborn.” Eddie sighs, exasperated.
“Says you.” Jonathan says pointedly.
“Exactly. This is a war you’re not going to win.” He grins, taking a quick swig of his concoction. “We can make you a bard. Or a paladin.”
Jonathan shakes his head in amusement. “No way. I wouldn’t be any good at it.”
Eddie scoffs. “It’s not about being good at it. It’s about having fun.”
Jonathan gives him an incredulous look. “Will told me you once gave Mike a 20 minute lecture about spellcasting.”
Eddie just shrugs innocently. “He needed to learn. But I wouldn’t lecture you.” Byers looks unconvinced. “Come on, even Steve played once. And I didn’t yell at him.”
He gives him a dry, unimpressed look. “Gee, I wonder why.”
Eddie kicks him playfully. “You saying I went easy on him? Because I don’t hold those kinds of biases, Byers. I’ll go easy on you, too.”
“No,” Jonathan brings his cup to his lips. “I’m saying he had certain motivations for playing in the first place.”
Eddie just scowls at him, and he huffs a laugh into his drink.
“Seriously, dude,” Eddie leans his elbows forward on his knees. “You telling me you don’t want to watch your brother rolling to charm little Wheeler?” He grins, raising a brow.
Something unreadable flickers in Jonathans expression, before he just glances over to Will, where he’s sat mostly listening to Mike and Lucas talk.
“As thrilling as that sounds, I think i’ll pass, Eddie.”
Eddie narrows his eyes. “Why? Already sick of them?”
Jonathan just hums, side-eying him. “You could say that.”
Eddie frowns. Jonathan clearly knows something. Eddie's very observant, especially when it comes to sniffing out other people like him. Alarms blare in his head every time Will and Mikes hands brush when they’re playing. And Eddie is painfully nosy.
“Come on, Byers. What’s going on?” He prompts, nudging him in the arm. He just laughs.
“Nothing thats any of your business, Munson.” He says, bringing the cup to his lips again.
Eddie just huffs but leaves it there, turning to watch whatever commotion is going on.
The kids are harassing Steve again. He’s stood there, hands on hips, as Dustin stands in front of him, whining about something.
“Come on, Steve.” He huffs. “It’s just one.”
Steve rolls his eyes. “One will lead to two and then you’ll be blacked out in my back yard.”
Mike scoffs. “We’re 16.”
“Exactly.” Steve furrows his brows, and Nancy laughs as she walks past with Robin, who’s shoving popcorn in her mouth.
“Hypocrite.” She grins, and Steve glares at her.
“What, you want me to let your little brother throw back tequila?” He scowls at her, and she just rolls her eyes, taking a handful of popcorn out of Robins bowl.
“Sure, one never hurt.” She shoots Mike a grin, who smiles back at her. “You were doing worse at their age.”
“See, Steve!” Dustin gestures to Nancy.
“I say two or three never hurt.” Max shrugs, but she’s quite clearly playing up to be cool.
Steve sighs, shaking his head.
“Come on, Harrington. It’s a party.” Eddie calls over with a wolfish grin, raising his cup at him.
Steve glares at him. He gets really pissed off when Eddie sides with the younger ones and not him. He says he’s somehow ended up babysitting Eddie as well. Eddie thinks Steve would make a great dad one day, before remembering that’s quite literally impossible for them to achieve, which makes him quite sad until he realises he himself would probably be a real shitty father, and it’s not so sad anymore.
“Fine.” Steve grumbles, and turns to trudge off to the kitchen as the others cheer, before trailing behind him.
Nancy shakes her head in amusement, before looking ag Jonathan. “You okay with Will?” She gestures vaguely towards the kitchen.
Jonathan nods. “He’ll be smart. It’s Mike i’m worried about.”
Nancy pulls a pace, and Robin grimaces. “If any of them throw up on the carpet I am not helping to clean up.”
The other three laugh.
A few minutes later, Lucas and Max return, both with a can in their hands.
“Aren’t you driving, Sinclair?” Eddie narrows his eyes at him.
“It’s just a beer.” He shrugs. “I didn’t do a shot.”
“I did his for him.” Max grins, wide and proud.
“Yeah, and you almost spat out.” Lucas snickers, which earns him a firm punch on the arm.
“You children best behave yourselves.” Robin mutters, clearly disapproving.
Max scoffs. “I thought this was supposed to be a party.”
That makes Nancy laugh, and Robin just gives her a dry look. Mike and Will re-enter the room, with Steve and Dustin not far behind.
Mikes laughing about something rather hysterically.
“It’s not that funny.” Will scolds, but he’s smiling too.
“You should’ve seen your face!” He wheezes, and Will just shakes his head.
“It was fucking disgusting.” He mutters, before his eyes flicker over to Jonathan. His older brother just smirks at him.
Steve’s now laughing and doing that dorky thing where he and Dustin fight with imaginary light sabers, and Eddie grins to himself. Dustin dramatically delivers a final blow, and Steve staggers back, clutching his imaginary wound.
Dustin catches Eddie looking, and beams at him.
“Hey, Eddie!” Dustin calls, turning and walking over, and Steve swiftly recovers from his fake death, quickly falling into step with Dustin. “What is that?” He gestures to the drink in his hand.
“No idea.” Eddie smirks, holding it out to him for him to take a sip. “Ask him.” He nods towards Steve, who’s now just stood there, grinning like an idiot.
Dustin takes a sip, and grimaces, before thrusting it back towards Eddie, who takes it back, laughing.
“Did you do a shot with them?” Jonathan pipes up, narrowing his eyes at Steve.
Steve shrugs, still grinning. “Yeah.”
Eddie frowns. “It’s eight thirty, Harrington.” He points out. “That’s your third.”
Steve rolls his eyes. “And what? That’s nothing.”
“You’ve had a few drinks, too.”
“Who’s counting?” He says dismissively.
“Him, apparently.” Dustin snorts, gesturing at Eddie.
Steve laughs, and Eddie just hums.
“Quit being a party pooper, Munson.” He grins, and Eddie's eyes widen. Never in his damn life had anyone called him a party pooper.
“I am not,” He scoffs. “You’re just beating me.” He stands. “Come on, Johnny boy. Shot time.” He announces, beckoning for Jonathan to follow.
He just shrugs at Steve and Dustin before following Eddie out the room.
Eddie storms into the kitchen, grabbing the vodka and screwing the lid off.
“You don’t have to do one.” He sighs, and Jonathan just shrugs, the cup in his hand now empty.
“Why not.” He smiles, and Eddie grins back at him, pouring the liquid into two of the glasses.
“Look at you. Turning into a party animal.”
Jonathan scoffs a laugh. “Gotta make up for highschool some how.”
Eddie grins at that, and they clink their glasses together before throwing their heads back.
Their glasses clack back down onto the counter and Jonathan pulls a face. Eddie laughs as Jonathan pours himself another drink to sip on, and they hear a few cheers and someone turn the music that was playing quietly up louder, blasting Micheal Jackson.
The two of them return to the living room to find Nancy and Robin doing some sort of improvised dance, as Steve is seemingly teaching Dustin how to moonwalk, as Lucas rolls his eyes and shows them how it’s really done. Mike is pulling Will up off the couch by the arm, and Max is just laughing as Lucas winks at her dramatically.
Jonathan and Eddie share a look.
Oh dear.
Eddie just grins.
“You a good dancer, Byers?”
“Absolutely not.” Jonathan announces, striding off to return to the armchair across the room, but his arm is grabbed by Nancy, almost spilling his drink.
Eddie smirks, watching as Jonathan proceeds to spin her around. He then laughs as Robin grabs Steve, mirroring them, going on her tiptoes to awkwardly spin Steve around.
He sets his drink down on the coffee table, sauntering up to them.
“Having fun?” He quirks a brow.
“Fancy seeing you here.” Steve grins, raising his brows.
The song ends, and they all begin to settle for a second, before the starting notes of Footloose start playing.
Steves face visibly brightens, and Robin groans.
“Oh, dear god.” She mumbles, and Eddie laughs.
“Everyone clear out, give him room.” He teases, and Steve bites his lip, grinning wide and boyish.
“Prepare yourself, baby.” He stretches an arm dramatically. “You’re about to be blown away.”
The chorus is starting, and he then starts doing a slightly smaller, more stumbled recreation of some of the line dancing from the movie. He has this big grin plastered on his face like he thinks he looks like the coolest guy here as he throws his foot out, and Dustin and Lucas cheer, and Jonathan wolf-whistles him, which Eddie finds absolutely hilarious.
Steve points at Nancy. “Come on, Wheeler. I know you know this part.”
Nancy rolls her eyes, before stepping forward, feigning reluctance before grinning and stepping into place, and the two of them start snapping their fingers enthusiastically. Robin laughs, surprised, and cheers.
“Dear god, they have too much time on their hands.” Mike mumbles somewhere beside him, and Eddie snorts a laugh.
From then on, this is how the party goes. Dancing stupidly in Steves living room, music too loud, Steve downing drinks like he’s made it his mission to pass out by the end of the night. He challenges Eddie to a shotgun, stabbing the sides of the beer cans and seeing who can down it faster. He starts not to notice when the kids disappear to the kitchen and return with a red solo cup in their hand, some drink they’ve made almost spilling out the top. Or he just doesn’t care.
Jonathan and Nancy awfully try to recreate the lift from dirty dancing, which results in them both on the floor in a heap, laughing their heads off. The younger ones play a game of pretending the floor is lava, clambering over Steves couch and Mike almost falling off the coffee table, Will heroically grabbing his wrist and saving him. Dustin yells at Eddie that he’s ‘in the lava’, so Eddie obviously launches himself at Steve and climbs onto his back. Steve scolds him because now they’re both ‘in the lava, idiot’.
Steve and Eddie play a game that they name Dustin's Potions, where they let Dustin have free reign and go and make them a drink. They both end up being awfully strong and utterly gross, Steves more so, so he solves this by downing it as quickly as possible.
At some point, Robin attempts on scolding Max for drinking enough to stack her beer cans into a pyramid, but Nancy interrupts with a drunken lecture on how ‘us girls have to stick together’. Robin mutters something about how Nancy’s supposed to be ‘the responsible one’, but doesn’t push it. Max is just laughing at the both of them.
Eddie goes out for a smoke, which ends up with him, Jonathan and Steve laying outside in the grass, the warm buzz of alcohol protecting them from the cold, lit cigarettes in their hands as Eddie and Jonathan point out different constellations. Byers spews out a few space facts which Eddie finds rather interesting, but Steve doesn’t, calling them both dorks. Eventually, Will steps out from the sliding doors onto the patio, staring at them.
“Jonathan, are you smoking?” He calls sternly.
Jonathan sits up too fast, crushing the rest of his mostly burnt out cigarette into the grass.
“No.” He calls back.
Will just laughs.
“Oooooh, you’re in trouble, Byers.” Eddie grins, teasing.
“Shut up.” Jonathan pokes him in the ribs, but he’s grinning too.
“Remind me, who’s the older brother again?” Steve grins, before taking a long drag.
Jonathan just sighs, shaking his head, and Steve and Eddie erupt into laughter, knees drawing up and hair falling back into the grass, both of them way, way too drunk.
Jonathan grins at them fondly, before pushing himself up to go and either explain himself to Will, or lecture Will on how he should never smoke.
Steve and Eddie just continue almost crying of laughter at nothing in particular, before Steve eventually sighs, sitting up.
“What?” Eddie grins up at him.
“Cold.” Steve announces, pushing himself up and swaying a little, before reaching a hand out to help Eddie up.
They both stumble back, laugh again, and head back in.
When they go back in, they’re quickly roped into a debate over best ice cream flavours between Dustin and Lucas, which Steve claims he has a professional opinion on as he worked at Scoops. This ends with Robin being dragged into it.
“Mint Choc Chip is for heathens, Robin.” Steve declares, pointing a dramatic finger at her.
“Oh, come on. You have the palette of a child.” She huffs.
“I do not.” Steve furrows his brows, way too invested in this. “It tastes like toothpaste.”
Robin scoffs, about to argue, before Dustin interrupts.
“How does this help our debate between Chocolate and Vanilla?” He frowns, waving a hand.
“Because neither of them are the best!” Steve scolds.
“God, expand your horizons, children.” Robin throws her arms out dramatically.
Lucas laugh, but Dustin looks unimpressed. Steve is swaying slightly on his feet, vision a little hazy, as he’s very, very drunk.
And clearly, so is Eddie, whose been uncharacteristically quiet standing there, somehow with a red solo cup returned to his hand. His other hand grabs Steve's arm.
“‘M going to the toilet.” He announces, but it’s more of a mumble.
Steve furrows his brows, concerned. “You okay?” His tone softens a little.
“Yeah. Fine.” Eddie whacks Steve on the arm as he steps away. “I can hold my drink, Harrington.” He gives him a half hearted grin, before he turns on his heel and disappears into the hall.
Steve and Robin share a look.
“I hope he gets it in the toilet.” Robin raises her brows, and Steve shakes his head.
“He’s not gonna throw up.”
“I’d throw up if I had to eat Mint Choc Chip ice cream.” Dustin grumbles, and they all laugh.
“Shut up.” Robin rolls her eyes. “You once ate a cone of Bubblegum with chocolate sprinkles.”
Dustin shrugs, proud grin on his face. “And it was good.”
Lucas groans. “You’re so weird, dude.”
Steve snorts a laugh.
The debate continues, becoming more dramatic and sprinkles and sauces come into the equation.
Lucas and Dustin end up going around the room, asking everyone whats better, and when Vanilla is the most popular out of the two, Dustin scoffs and says it’s because half the people here are old and boring.
A few minutes later, Steve's talking to Nancy about highschool, teasing each other, or, Nancy teasing Steve about things he did.
“Hey,” She narrows her eyes, scanning the room. “Wheres Eddie?”
Steve frowns, turning his head to look around. “Shit.”
Nancy snorts. “What?”
“He went to the toilet, like, ages ago.” Steve blinks at her. “I should probably go check on him.”
“Yeah, maybe.” She looks amused, with a slight twitch of concern in her expression.
Steve sighs, going to turn away.
“Go get ‘im, tiger.” She calls after him, and he gives her a little mock salute before turning and disappearing down the hall.
The sound of the music and voices fade slightly as he makes his way through the house. The lights off and the doors open to the downstairs bathroom, so he guesses Eddies probably upstairs. He trudges up the steps, clinging to the handrail for dear life so he doesn’t trip over nothing and fall down, before he makes it to the top. The lights on in the upstairs bathroom.
He doesn’t knock, just pushes the door open.
Eddie Munson is gripping the counter, knuckles white, dark curls messy and falling over his face and shoulders. His backs to Steve and he can’t see his face in the mirror, and theres a red solo cup which has fallen on its side, luckily empty. Steves gaze flickers over to the toilet, which seems clean. Good.
“You okay?” He asks, and Eddie barely reacts.
“I’m fine,” He slurs, waving a hand, not turning to look at Steve. “‘s fine.”
Something deep in Steve’s core stabs him. It almost shocks him into sobriety. He stands there, in the doorway of his own bathroom, his boyfriend out his mind drunk, the sound of music and laughter from downstairs painfully distant, thrumming through the house like a memory.
An awful, heavy feeling crawls through his body, and it twists at his stomach, making him feel like maybe he’s about to vomit. It doesn’t make sense, and it’s confusing, and he’s terribly drunk, but through the haze of alcohol and dulled perception, theres a distinct ache in his chest.
Suddenly, he’s not in his own house anymore. He’s at that stupid Halloween party from senior year. Billy Hargrove just beat his keg stand record and Nancy Wheeler spilled punch down her shirt. They’re in the bathroom, and Nancy Wheeler, the first girl he ever loved, is telling him it’s bullshit. It’s all bullshit. She’ll go home with Jonathan Byers and Steve’ll realise he’s never enough.
The fear hits him like a punch in the gut. It’s irrational, and only in his head because he’s too drunk to think straight right now, but the pure ache of instinctual fear of that interaction being mirrored, of Eddie doing the same, of experiencing that pain again seeps past the dull haze of his drunken state.
That two seconds is enough to sober him up.
“Eddie?” He says, softly, almost broken.
At that, Eddie’s head picks up, and he spins around.
“Stevie!” He beams. His hair is a mess and falling over his face, and his lanky frame sways a little after turning around too fast. But there's a look of utter joy on his face.
All the anxiety is washed out almost immediately, and Steve just grins, scoffing a laugh at him.
“Hello.” He smiles, almost sheepishly.
“Hey.” Eddie grins. “I didn’t throw up.” He declares, gesturing to the toilet.”
“What have you been doing in here then?” Steve tilts his head, amused, and steps further into the room, pushing the door closed behind him, not all the way.
“Just in case. Thought I might.” Eddie shrugs. “Eddie one, alcohol zero.”
Steve laughs, stepping towards him again. “Good for you. It’s beating me.” He bites his lip, trying to not let his anxiety or relief show. Not that Eddie’s anywhere near sober enough to notice. “I’m about to pass out.”
“We have gone a little heavy.” Eddie runs a hand through his hair, a few strands catching on his silver rings.
“Seriously. It’s a losing battle. It’s got a gun.” Steve doesn’t entirely know what he’s saying.
Eddie’s grin widens in amusement. “The beers got a gun?”
“The beers got a gun.” Steve nods in confirmation. “Get down.” He steps forward, grabbing Eddie. “It’s okay. I’ll take a bullet for you.”
Eddie starts laughing, finding Steve way funnier than he actually is. His head falls forward onto his shoulder as his own shoulders jerk with his hysterical giggling.
“You’re an idiot.” He mumbles, grinning. His arms come up, snaking around Steves waste.
“So are you.” Steve argues fondly. Eddie lifts his head, and their faces are very close, eyelevel with each other as they never did resolve the argument about who’s taller, even if it was only by a centimetre.
“We’re both idiots.” Eddie confirms. “Idiots who clearly can’t handle their drink as well as they used to.”
“We aren’t that old.” Steve furrows his brows.
“You peaked in highschool.” Eddie snorts.
“Its true,” Steve sighs. “I had the keg stand record for a whole year, you know.” He grins.
Eddie laughs again, arms tightening around Steve's waist, just holding him, maybe to keep himself up right, maybe just because he can. Steve smiles to himself, hands that were on Eddie’s forearms snaking around his shoulders.
Eddie smells like smoke and alcohol and that cologne that Nancy and Jonathan got him for Christmas. He smells good and familiar and everything's alright. Everything's okay.
“Love you.” Eddie mumbles, quiet and raw.
Steve's chest does that stupid warm fuzzy thing, and it replaces any of the anxiety or fear or hurt from the past that was still lingering inside of him. Suddenly, the thought in his head was that this time, he got it right. This time, it was all going to work out. Nothing before this mattered. It was all okay. He almost felt like crying.
“Love you too.” He responds quietly, voice almost cracking. He gently runs his fingers through Esdie’s hair.
Eddie pulls away again, bringing them back to being face to face. He stares at Steve, brown eyes wide, pupils blown. They flick down to Steves lips, then back up to his eyes, and Steves stomach does that silly slip he thought was supposed to have gone away by now.
Eddies hands are on his waist, twisting them and pushing him back against the bathroom counter, and then Eddies mouth is on his before he can say anything else. He lets out a small surprised noise against his mouth, before melting into it.
It’s drunken and messy and hot, and Eddie’s kissing him slow like there’s nothing else in the world he’d rather be doing. It doesn’t take long for him to push his tongue in carefully, Steve parting his lips to accept it. Their tongues push against each other, Eddie licking deep into Steve's mouth, grip tightening on his waist. Steve's fingers dig into Eddie's shoulder blades, and he lets out a low ‘mm’ into Steve's mouth. His hand slips under Steves shirt, feeling the warm, smooth skin there, and parts their lips, starting to press hot, open mouthed kisses down Steve's jaw and neck. Steves hand comes up and tangles in Eddies hair at the base of his head, curling it into his fingers and tugging a little as he shifts his head to give him better access.
Steve’ll never get tired of this. Of someone wanting him. Knowing him and wanting him still. Loving him. Steve pulls his head away by his hair and pushes their mouths together, messy and careless. His hips are pressed back against the counter as Eddie’s hands explore the skin of his waist, tilting his head just to deepen the kiss, it descending into something more hungry. Steve lets out a sigh, one hand still in his hair, other pulling Eddie impossibly closer as their tongues push into each other's mouths. Steve lightly bites down on Eddie's bottom lip which earns a low groan out of him, and Steve feels a surge of pride, and something a little more depraved.
But their make out was rudely interrupted by a loud, horrified, comically high pitched shriek.
They break apart, eyes snapping open, and Steve shoves Eddie away when he sees Dustin Henderson looking completely horrified, standing in the doorway. The kid looks like he’s about to cry, or vomit, and it’s more terrified than Steve had ever seen him look, even when facing a pack of demodogs.
Henderson staggers backwards, presumably to run away as fast as he can, but Steve springs into action, lunging forward, grabbing the kid by the arm and yanking him back into the bathroom, slamming the door shut behind them and clicking the lock.
“NO!” Dustin yells out. “Let me out!” His voice wavers.
“Dustin-“ Steve attempts, and Eddies not helping at all, as he’s just fallen onto the toilet seat in hysterics.
“NANCY!” Dustin shouts, now pounding on the door with his fists as Steve holds the door shut. “ROBIN! SOMEONE, HELP!”
Eddie’s laughing so hard there’s practically tears coming from his eyes. Steve feels nauseous.
“Jesus Christ, Henderson, shut the fuck up.” Steve barks, and Dustin just looks up at him in complete helpless horror.
Steve sighs, dragging a hand over his face, as Dustin has accepted defeat. He glances over at Eddie, who’s now just grinning like this is the most entertaining thing thats ever happened to him.
“Why the fuck are you up here?” Steve asks, exasperated.
“Mikes pissing in the toilet downstairs.”
“Couldn’t you just wait?”
“No, Steve. I couldn’t.” He scoffs, folding his arms. “I wish I did.”
Steve groans, his head falling forward and thunking against the wood of the door.
“You really drunk enough to just swap spit with each other?” Dustin gestures wildly between the two of them, voice raised.
Steve straightens up, throwing a glance at Eddie, who’s finally stopped grinning.
“Uh…” Steve starts awkwardly.
“Seriously, what the fuck is going on!” Dusgin spits, eyes wide.
“You’re cool, right?” Steve asks quietly, brows furrowed. Dustin scoffs a laugh.
“No, i’m not cool. I’m not cool at all!” He yells. “I- I think i’m traumatised…” Dustin looks at his hands reflectively.
Eddie snorts. “He means cool about… queer people. Shithead.”
Dustin looks at him, frowning. “I mean yeah, sure. Wills gay.”
Steve lets out a sigh of relief, but Eddie’s laughing again. He claps his hands together.
“I fucking knew it!” He half-yells, grin sharp and proud.
Steve blinks. “Wait, hold on, what?” His eyes widen like he’s just clocked what Dustin said.
“Shit.” Dustin breathes. “I wasn’t supposed to- forget I ever said that, okay?” He waves his hands desperately, shooting both of them a pointed look.
Eddie makes a gesture like he’s sealing his lips, and Steve rakes a hand through his hair.
“What the fuck…” He mutters to himself.
“No, dumbass.” Dustin barks, pointing at Steve now, quickly recovering from his accidental admission. “I’m the one supposed to be what-the-fuck-ing.”
“Alright, shithead.” Steve retorts. “That’s- you-“ He stumbles, not entirely sure what to say.
“One of you, for the love of god, explain to me why you were eating each others faces off!” He pleads, the last half of his sentence more of a violent hiss.
Eddie snorts a laugh again, and Steve, finally, shoots him a glare.
“Quit laughing, asshole! Help me out here!” He bites, and Eddie just looks at him, amused.
“What do you want me to say, sweetheart?” He tilts his head.
“I’m so confused.” Dustin mutters.
“Do we- are we telling him the truth?” Steve whispers to Eddie like Dustin isn’t standing literally right there.
Eddie shrugs. Steve gives him an unimpressed look, before turning back to Dustin.
“Right, okay.” He sighs, preparing himself. “You’re not allowed to tell anyone this, you little shit. None of your friends, your mom, not even your fat stupid cat.”
“Too far, man.” Dustin tuts, and Steve frowns.
“Sorry. Kinda freaking out, over here, um-“ Steve chews the inside of his cheek, looking over at Eddie for any kind of help.
Eddie exhales, rolling his eyes, before leaning forward, elbows on his knees. “Dusty-buns.” He starts, but miserably fails at trying to be serious, a grin breaking out on his face. “I am unfortunately endowed with the burden of being Steve Harringtons boyfriend.”
Steve scoffs, brows furrowing, as Dustin's expression fades into complete shock. Eyes wide, mouth slightly ajar, frozen.
“You’re not serious.”
“As a heart attack, Henderson.” Eddie tilts his head, smirking.
Dustin looks like his entire world had just been shifted on it’s axis.
“No…” He mutters, and then buries his face in his hands. “No, no.”
Steve shoots Eddie a concerned look, but Eddie just shrugs, grinning back at him.
“You- it was weird enough when you guys were even friends!” Dustin gestures out, looking almost devastated. “Boyfriends? Seriously?” He spits.
Steve and Eddie just blink at him.
“Steve, you’re- I thought you were straight?” The poor kid looks utterly confused, and Eddie scoffs. “I thought you were still into Nancy!”
“Oh, come on.” Steve groans. “That’s such old news. That was like a year ago!”
“Oh, dear god, I’ve been taking girl advice from a gay guy.” Dustin mutters, staring at the floor.
“Hey!” Steve whacks him on the shoulder. “I’m still good with the ladies, you little dork. I like girls.” He folds his arms, but quickly catches the dry look Eddie's giving him. “I’m just… as good with guys, I guess.” He shrugs, and Dustin looks up at him, frowning.
“You- I just-“ Dustin stutters. “Why wouldn’t you tell me, man! We’re supposed to be, like, best friends.”
“We’re not best friends.”
“Second best friends.”
Steve narrows his eyes at him, before sighing.
“I don’t know, man. Never came up.”
Dustin scoffs, about to protest, but Eddie interrupts.
“Why is no one ever shocked when they find out I like guys?”
They both give him a deadpan stare.
“You might think I’m a child, but i’m not fucking stupid, Eddie.” Dustin says dryly, and Eddie frowns. Steve, finally, huffs a small laugh.
“What gave it away?” Eddie narrows his eyes, but theres a smirk pulling at the corners of his mouth.
“If nothing else, you mashing faces with him, maybe!” Dustin hisses, gesturing at Steve. “I can’t believe neither of you told me!”
He shoots them both a disappointed look, and Eddie and Steve look equally guilty.
“How long?”
“How long what?” Steve raises a brow.
“How long have you been… ‘boyfriends’?” He acts like the word physically repulses him. Not in a disapproving way, just in a disgusted that it’s Steve and Eddie way.
“10 months?” Steve tilts his head, pondering. “9 months. 9 months?” He furrows his brows, looking over at Eddie, who just nods in agreement.
Dustin looks gobsmacked again.
“9 MONTHS?” He yells. “You’re fucking kidding me. That’s like, enough time to conceive and birth a baby.” He compares in utter disbelief.
Eddie snorts a laugh. “Fortunately not biologically possible, Henderson.”
Dustin's expression fades into a grimace. “Jesus Christ, ew.” He staggers a step back, burying his face in his hands. “Ew.” He repeats into his hands.
“What?” Steve scoffs.
“Never getting that image out of my head.” Dustin mumbles.
“What?” Steve repeats, painfully oblivious.
Eddie grins, before making a motion with his hand, his index finger and thumb forming a circle on one hand, the other index finger poking in and out of the hole. Repeatedly.
Steve grimaces as well, now, and Dustin's lowered his hands just to see that.
He groans. “Oh my god, you’re disgusting.” He turns around, hands tangling into his hair. “Ew.” He mutters to himself. Eddie laughs, and Steve glares at him.
“Okay, that was unnecessary.” He hisses.
Eddie just shrugs, as Dustin is left spiralling into despair, eventually turning back around.
“I can’t believe this. This- this is actually crazy.” He looks between the two of them in utter disbelief.
“Stop being dramatic.” Eddie rolls his eyes.
“Who else knows?” Dustin furrows his brows, and Eddie and Steve look at each other.
“Robin,” Steve starts listing, thinking. “Nancy and Jonathan,” Dustin frowns at this. “Wayne, obviously.” He points at Eddie. “And my dad, for a second. Which wasn’t fun.”
Eddie sucks in an awkward breath, and Dustin just looks more upset.
“I can’t believe this.”
“Sorry.” Steve says quietly, which makes Dustin's face soften a little.
“I just- I can’t believe you wouldn’t tell me.” He says, tone a touch more kind. “Both of you.”
“You can never be too careful.” Eddie admits softly, shrugging, and Dustin frowns at him.
“I don’t care that you're both guys.” He furrows his brows. “This is just… weird. You’re, like, polar opposites.”
Steve huffs a laugh now, his anxiety alleviated slightly.
“And I am totally gonna have nightmares about,” He gestures vaguely between the two of them. “This. That.” He throws a hand out to the spot where Steve was pressed up against the counter a few minutes prior.
Steve clicks his tongue. “Maybe you should learn to knock.”
“The door was open.” Dustin hisses. “Speaking of, I still really need to piss.”
Eddie laughs, picking himself up from the toilet seat and swaying slightly, still drunk.
“Come on, Stevie. Let the boy pee.” He grins, hooking his arm through Steves and reaching to unlock the door.
“This conversation is not over.” Steve announces as he lets Eddie drag him out the room.
“Yeah, yeah, whatever.” Dustin sighs, slamming the door shut behind them.
Steve and Eddie are left standing in the dark hall, party still going on downstairs, music and laughter distant as they stand there, staring at each other.
Then, they both start laughing.
“Oh my god.” Eddie mutters.
“That was awful.” Steve grumbles, smiling.
“Poor kid.” Eddie shakes his head. “He’s seen too much.”
Steve just scoffs, and they head into Steves room which is next door, switching the light on and flopping down on the bed.
“What do we tell him?” Steve asks.
“Haven’t we already told him enough?” Eddie sighs, laying down on his back.
“Have you met Dustin? He’ll have a hundred more questions.”
Eddie snorts a laugh. “So? We answer them.”
“I didn’t want him to find out like this.” Steve says quietly. Eddie sits up, putting a hand on his arm.
“We couldn’t hide it forever.”
“I know.” He nods softly.
A few minutes later, Dustin appears in the doorway, hand over his eyes.
“You guys are decent, right?”
Eddie snorts. “We wouldn’t leave the door open if we weren’t.”
“You did last time.” Dustin grumbles.
“Did you wash your hands?” Steve raises a brow as Dustin drops his hand from over his eyes to glare at him.
“Yes, I washed my hands, Steve. Some of us aren’t disgusting pigs.”
Steve frowns, and Eddie laughs.
Dustin walks further into the room, pulling out Steves desk chair and perching on it.
“So…” He starts. “You two are… a thing.”
Eddie nods slowly. “Unfortunately.”
Steve whacks him. “Shut up.”
“Stop flirting. I can’t take it.” Dustin scowls.
“That wasn’t flirting. That was violence.” Eddie pouts at Steve, who just rolls his eyes.
“Come on, Henderson. I’ve not got all day.”
“Sorry. Just still in shock, I think.” Dustin mumbles, looking utterly confused.
“First of all, you’re not gonna tell anyone, right?” Eddie leans forward a little, tone careful. Dustin shakes his head.
“No. I promise.”
Eddie nods approvingly.
“I was gonna tell you, by the way. I swear.” Steve says suddenly. “Eventually.”
“No, it’s fine. I get it.” Dustin dismisses. “I just… wow. Didn’t expect this. At all. Like, not even in my nightmares.”
“Shut up.” Steve rolls his eyes.
“How did… how did this happen?” Dustin asks, intrigued expression on his face.
“Well, basically, I carried out a satanic ritual and cursed him and Steves been under my spell ever since.” Eddie shrugs, feigning casualty.
Dustin scoffs, rolling his eyes.
“No,” Steve shakes his head, glaring at Eddie. “I found a magic lamp with a genie inside and it misheard me when I said I wanted a girlfriend.”
Eddie punches him in the arm, hard, but they both start giggling at each other like crazy.
“Ah.” Dustin nods, leaning back like he understands now. “That’s how.”
They give him a puzzled look. “Huh?”
“You’re both stupid.” Dustin says dryly. “Match made in heaven.”
That makes the both of them start laughing harder, and Dustin just looks a little amused.
They end up talking to Dustin for a while, Steve having to explain how he likes boys and girls and has for a long time but it took him a crisis and saving a guys life to realise it. Eddie has a hard time taking it all seriously, but ends up explaining how he did, in fact, have a crush on Steve, which results in the other two teasing him until he threatens to kill the both of them.
Dustin seems to be coming to terms with it all, although still expresses his utter bewilderment. Steve the King Harrington and Eddie the Freak Munson. Both his friends from two completely polar opposite ends of the highschool hierarchy, two seemingly contrasting people who became friends when everything went to shit and they realised they had more in common than they’d ever thought.
Dustin eventually sighs and says he’s ‘happy for them, or whatever’, and Steve just ruffles his hair and Eddie gives the kid a rather aggressive hug. They eventually went back down, returning to the party after what’s felt like way too long. Dustin has the incredibly difficult mission of returning to his friends and containing himself. Not telling them. Not saying a word.
Steve immediately pulls Robin aside, probably to freak the fuck out, and Eddie just stands with Jonathan, watching Robin start doubling over in laughter.
“What happened?” Jonathan raises a brow.
“Dustin found out.” Eddie smirks.
Jonathan looks a little perplexed.
“About me and Steve.” Eddie lowers his voice, not that anyone else was listening, too busy talking and laughing, music too loud.
Jonathans eyes widen. “Oh.” Eddie just nods slowly. “How.”
Eddie grins at him. “Use your imagination.”
Jonathan pulls a face, frowning.
The rest of the night goes relatively smoothly. When it comes time for Lucas to drive all the younger ones home, Dustin quietly speaks to Steve, proudly telling him he’s managed to keep his mouth shut for a few hours, like he’s supposed to be rewarded for that. Steve just dryly congratulates him and claps him on the back. They filter out the door, leaving the older ones to sit in a circle in the living room, spread out on the couches, still rather drunk, music turned down low. They end up sharing the horrifying experience, Robin falling into hysterics again, to which Steve chucks a bottle cap at her face.
Steve and Eddie decided it wasn’t so bad. Dustin knowing wasn’t hurting anyone, and the kid was good friends with the both of them. They know he won’t spill, or they’re hoping he doesn’t. They both regret not telling him sooner, and just talking to him, but it went as best as it possibly could’ve gone. Steve says he regrets not locking the door.
It probably wasn’t the best way to find out, going to pee and finding your two older guy friends who are like brothers to you and a year ago were totally jealous of each other for that, now making out. But hey, Dustin's seen worse, and it was only, like, a split second before Steve had shoved Eddie away.
Now that it’s over, though, Steve can remember the bathroom events before they were rudely interrupted. Can remember the way Eddie looked at him, off his shit drunk, eyes wide and glinting in the dim light, pure happiness at the fact that Steve Harrington was in his own bathroom checking up on him. The way Eddie was so incredibly intoxicated, and had mumbled those soft words to him. It wasn’t bullshit. It was real.
Somehow, somewhere along the way, something had gone right in Steve Harringtons life. Taken a turn for the better. Honestly, he’d never felt more fulfilled in his life. Despite his father, despite what happened months ago, what he has to now pretend to be in front of his parents, it got better. It actually got better.
He’s genuinely believes that Eddie Munson is the best thing thats ever happened to him.
If you’d told him that in highschool, he’d laugh, or probably try to beat the shit out of you.
But he was miserable and an asshole in highschool, so what did he know?
The last year of his life had been the best so far. And it wasn’t because Vecna was dead, or the upside down was closed, or him and Hawkins was safe. It was because of the metalhead freak whose life he’d saved. In dragging that weird, quite sad suspected murderers ass out of literal hell, the guy had ended up saving Steve’s life, too. In a more sentimental, metaphorical sense.
He can’t wait for the day that he can tell the whole damn world that.