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When Eddie Munson bursts through the doors of Family Video in his usual flourish – bright smile, wide eyes, his hair and jacket following behind him like a cape – Steve expects the usual. Talk about DnD, about the kids…you know, the usual. Steve should have known better, especially when he caught the barely noticeable glint of mischief in the Dungeon Master’s eyes.
Eddie waits until Steve is finished with his customer before sidling up to the counter and leaning his body forward onto it. He props his elbows up, never breaking his eye contact with Steve. Eddie is promptly on the receiving end of Steve Harrington’s suspicious mom glare.
“What are you plotting? You have your plotting face on.”
Eddie brings a hand to his chest as if to cradle his heart. He lets out a dramatic gasp. “Harrington, you wound me. What makes you think I’m plotting something?”
Steve scoffs and fixes Eddie with a Look. Eddie holds Steve’s eyes for a silent moment before sighing and letting his forehead fall to the counter. “Fine, you got me.”
Steve’s face breaks out into a triumphant smile. “I knew it. So, you gonna tell me, Munson?”
Eddie looks back up at Steve. He studies the expression on his face for a moment before nodding, albeit reluctantly. Steve waits patiently for Eddie to start talking. When Eddie does, it’s nothing like Steve thought it was going to be.
“Okay, before I start, I just want to say…I don’t want you to feel obligated to say yes.” Eddie takes a deep breath, grabbing a chunk of his hair and bringing it forward to hide his mouth.
“I’ll keep that in mind.” Steve assures. Eddie offers a small smile.
“Well, obviously you know it’s been about three months since the whole… shebang . I never asked you about this earlier because I couldn’t, but since I’m able to do this again, I wanted to ask….would you wanna come watch us play at The Hideout tonight?”
Eddie rambles on, averting his eyes away from Steve. The man behind the counter goes to respond when Eddie begins again.
“A-As I said, you can say no. You probably should, I mean…it’s Friday night, and you’ve probably got some girl waiting for you to pick her up for a date, and–”
“Eddie.” Steve interrupts. “You’re rambling.”
Eddie clears his throat and rapidly shakes his head, like he’s erasing an Etch-A-Sketch. “Sorry, sorry. I didn’t mean to word-vomit, I just…I’d really like you to be there. You and the girls, if you wanna invite them.”
Steve smiles softly, and gently rests his hand on Eddie’s arm. This causes the metalhead to look back at Steve, and Steve’s eyes are filled with amusement, but also a considerable amount of fondness.
“We’ll come. Of course, we’ll come, Eddie.” Steve answers, squeezing Eddie’s bicep reassuringly.
Eddie finally breaks into a grin and he nods, as if willing himself to believe Steve’s answer. Steve loves Eddie’s smile. He would do anything and everything if it meant getting to see that smile on Eddie’s face 24/7.
“No hot date tonight?” Eddie’s teasing him, but Steve can still hear a bit of apprehension in his voice.
Steve shakes his head. “No hot date tonight.”
Eddie’s smile somehow grows. “Alright, cool, cool. I mean…not cool that you don’t have a date, I-...” Eddie groans in frustration at himself. “You know what I mean.”
Steve gives a fond chuckle. “I know what you mean. I’ll see you tonight, okay?”
“Yeah….yeah, I’ll see you tonight. Eight o’clock”
“Eight o’clock.” Steve repeats. It’s a promise.
Eddie slowly backs away from the counter, the grin still plastered on his face. As he walks out the door, he turns around to give Steve a wave. Steve waves right back, his own grin appearing. When Eddie is completely out of sight, Steve lets out a sigh.
Three months since Vecna…two months since Steve came to terms with his not-so-subtle feelings for one Eddie Munson - his infatuation, which Robin liked to call it.
Speak of the Devil and he shall appear. As Steve sighs, he hears a throat clear behind him.
“So…Eight o’clock…”
“Shut up, Robin.”
Robin throws her hands up in surrender. “Hey, I was just reiterating what was already established.”
Steve rolls his eyes and turns around to face her. “Rob, I have nothing to wear. My clothes don’t really…fit the scene.”
Robin squints at him and hums. She taps her chin in thought for a few moments before breaking out into a bright grin.
“We’re going shopping, come on.” Robin grabs his wrist and pulls him toward the door.
“Robin? Rob, we’re working!”
“Keith will understand. Now, shut up and let's go get you some clothes!”
Steve rolls his eyes, locking the door behind them and flipping the open sign on the door to read “closed.” He unlocks his car and gets into the driver’s seat, starting it quickly and tearing out of the Family Video parking lot
If you had told Steve two years ago that he would have the hots for Eddie “The Freak” Munson, he would have laughed in your face, and probably would have broken your nose. But now, very aware of the way his heart flutters, and his breath catches in his throat around Eddie, he can accept the situation for what it is – His fear doesn’t matter. He’s completely, and irrevocably, in love with Eddie Munson.
~~ * ~~
Two hours later, Robin and Nancy drop the bags full of clothes onto Steve’s bed. Steve watches them sift through the clothes, including several pairs of tight black jeans, and way too many t-shirts of bands he doesn’t know. Robin and Nancy giggle to each other, occasionally looking back at Steve with bright grins. Steve rolls his eyes – he is never going to hear the end of this. Especially from Robin.
Robin and Nancy seem to eventually settle on an outfit and Nancy holds it out to him. Steve takes it without argument.
Steve moves into his bathroom and closes the door behind him, locking it. He looks down at the clothes in his hands and sighs. It’s a pair of, surprise, tight black jeans, and a black t-shirt. He unfolds it to read the front – Iron Maiden. Steve has never once listened to them, but he knows they are one of Eddie’s favorite bands. Steve takes off his red polo and blue jeans, and he swaps them out for the concert outfit. He looks at himself in the bathroom mirror when he’s done, and he has to admit, he looks pretty fucking good.
The jeans fit him perfectly, accentuating his thighs – and ass. The shirt hugs his arms just enough to show the muscle there. The shirt is also shorter than he’d usually buy – if he were to raise his arms, his hips and stomach would be exposed, as well as his battle scars. Steve smiles at himself in the mirror, teasing his hair to make it look only slightly messy.
Steve clears his throat and walks out of the bathroom. He enters his bedroom with a small knock on the door, causing Robin and Nancy to look up at him as he walks in. When they see him, their eyes light up with delight. They take in his features and Robin is the first to speak.
“Dude! You look awesome!” Robin exclaims. Nancy nods from beside her.
“You just need some final touches and you’ll be set.” Nancy turns to the small pile of accessories on the bed and holds up a chain. “Put this on your jeans.”
Steve does as he’s told, but not before trying and failing several times, causing Robin to have to step in to help him. She calls him a dingus, and yeah, he deserved that one.
Nancy then hands him three rings. They’re silver and clunky, and definitely not his usual style. Steve puts them on – the skull on his right ring finger, the bat on his right middle finger, and the coffin on his left ring finger. Steve analyzes the three rings on his hands, and he immediately understands why Eddie loves them so much. They chill the parts of skin that they touch, and they’re a nice constant weight – they’re grounding.
“Are we done now?” Steve asks, glancing up at the two girls. Nancy is holding something behind her back.
Nancy and Robin glance at each other, mischief dancing in their eyes, and Steve immediately regrets every decision he’s made today. Nancy uncovers her hand, in it a stick that looks like it could be a pencil. Steve raises an eyebrow.
“What is that?” Steve asks, voice wary. Nancy and Robin smirk.
“Eyeliner.” Robin replies simply.
“No,” Steve starts, “no, no, no, no, no…”
Steve’s protests do nothing two stop the girls, and five minutes later, he’s resisting the urge to rub at his eyes. He glares at the ground, his lips formed in a pout. The girls are giggling at his side.
“Okay, dingus, stop moping. We’ve gotta go.” Robin urges, lightly punching his shoulder. Steve grumbles, but gets up anyway.
As the group starts to move toward the bedroom door, a lightbulb flicks on in his head. He runs to his closet and pries open the doors. Steve quickly sorts through his jackets and polos before finding what he’s looking for.
Eddie’s vest.
Steve slips it onto his shoulders and grins at the girls. “Okay, now we can go.”
~~*~~
The Hideout is very, very crowded. It’s hot, and the air inside the building makes sweat form on your skin almost immediately. Steve tries to stay close to Robin and Nancy as the three of them push their way to the front of the crowd. Steve runs into several older guys, all muscular and tattooed and Steve would be absolutely terrified if it weren’t for the small apologetic smiles they give him as he also apologizes.
They make it to the head of the crowd, now standing directly in front of the Hideout’s little stage – if that’s what you could call it. Steve stands with his arms crossed over his chest, closing himself off. Unfamiliar environments in clothes that aren’t his own do not work great wonders for his mind. Robin seems to notice how tense he is and rests her head against his shoulder.
“You okay?” She asks. Steve gives her a small smile.
“Yeah. I’ll feel a lot better when Eddie gets his ass on stage though.” Steve chuckles. Robin smiles at him and moves her head off of him.
It’s almost as if Eddie can hear every conversation Steve has about him, because as Robin lifts her head, the rest of the lights in the Hideout go off, only leaving on the three simple stage lights. Steve swallows nervously as the other three members of Corroded Coffin walk out onto the stage. They wave at the crowd, pointing to a few specific people and greeting them.
Regulars , Steve assumes
The drummer – Gareth? – sits at his drum kit, and the other two members, whose names Steve can’t remember, grab their guitars and hoist the straps over their shoulders. The guitarist strums a single chord, and Steve guesses it was the cue, because a moment later, Eddie makes himself known.
He walks out onto the stage with his head held high, a bright grin on his face, and his guitar hanging off of his shoulder. Eddie fist bumps each member of the band before sidling up to the microphone. In the glow of the brightest stage light, Steve now gets a good look at him. Eddie’s wearing his usual jeans, and tonight he’s pairing them with a cropped version of his own band’s t-shirt. He can see the trauma the bats left on Eddie’s skin. His scars are silver and prominent – and so fucking beautiful. Steve loves Eddie’s scars a lot.
The light causes Eddie’s hair to shine, and the way his hair falls makes it look like a halo around his head. Steve wouldn’t be surprised if Eddie was an actual angel.
Eddie wraps a ringed hand around the housing of the microphone and looks out into the crowd. His eyes scan the room, searching for something . His smile falls a bit before he looks to the front of the crowd. His gaze lands on Steve, then flickers over to Nancy and Robin before looking right back at him. His grin immediately brightens again, and he sends a wink to Steve.
Steve feels his face heat up.
“Good evening…” Eddie greets into the microphone, his voice low and raspy. It sends shivers down Steve’s spine. The crowd murmurs and there’s a few stray whoops in response to Eddie. He smirks and shakes his head, clicking his tongue in disappointment. “I said… good fucking evening !”
And that gets the crowd going. They cheer and wolf whistle at Eddie. He rolls his eyes fondly and bows to the audience.
He stands up straight again, his guitar thumping against his thigh. “Welcome to the Hideout. I know we don’t usually play on Fridays, but right now we’re taking what we can get.” Eddie chuckles, and Steve can hear the sadness masked in it. “ Anyway, we’re Corroded Coffin, and we’re gonna play you some sick fucking music!”
Steve can’t help the grin that takes over his face as Eddie starts off the first song with a few chords on his guitar. The band quickly picks up, and Steve has to admit, they’re pretty good at what they do. Steve only barely recognizes the song they start with, and it takes him a moment to place it. He lets out a startled laugh when he realizes where he’s heard it. Master of Puppets , the Upside Down. It’s amazing to Steve that Eddie can still even play that song with the shit that’s tied to it now. Steve’s proud of him and he can feel his pride swell in his chest
When Eddie starts to sing, Steve feels like he’s been struck by lightning. His voice is raspy, yet somehow it’s still smooth. If Steve wasn’t wholly in love with Eddie before, this was the final nail in the (corroded) coffin.
Robin glances over at Steve, flicking his chin harshly. He turns to glare at her and all she does is shrug.
“You were gonna catch flies if your mouth hung open any longer.” She teases. Steve rolls his eyes and turns back to watching Eddie.
During the entire performance, Steve can’t take his eyes off of Eddie. He’s in his element and it’s absolutely stunning. Steve is so caught up in the way Eddie looks under the stage lights that he doesn’t realize Eddie is speaking until Robin elbows him.
“This next song will be our last for the night,” the crowd boos, “I know, I know. I’m very sorry, but come back and see us next time if you want to hear more. Now, this next song is…different from what we usually play, and that is because I’m dedicating it to a special someone tonight.” Eddie makes eye contact with Steve. “This is for you.”
Eddie sets his guitar down on his stand and brings forward a keyboard, placing it right under the microphone. Eddie tests out a few of the keys before smiling to himself. He begins playing the opening chords, and Steve’s heart practically stops.
“Highway run, into the midnight sun. Wheels go round and round, you’re on my mind…”
Journey. Eddie is playing Journey for Steve. He didn’t even know Eddie was able to play piano alongside his guitar.
“Restless hearts sleep alone tonight. Sendin’ all my love along the wire…”
Eddie sings with such soul that Steve can see how much this song means to him, in this specific moment.
“They say that the road ain’t no place to start a family. Right down the line it’s been you and me…”
That line rings true to Steve. After all of the Vecna shit, even during the Vecna shit, Eddie stuck by his side. And now, they’re stronger than ever. Hell, they’re practically co-parenting the kids at this point.
“And lovin’ a music man ain’t always what it’s supposed to be. Oh, you stand by me.”
Eddie makes eye contact with Steve again.
“I’m forever yours, faithfully.”
Steve swallows nervously, his hands shaking as he takes in the meaning of Eddie dedicating this song to him. Eddie loves him too. Fuck…. Eddie loves him too!
“Circus life, under the big top world. We all need the clowns to make us smile…”
Eddie grins brightly and gives Steve a shrug. Steve can’t help but smile back. Eddie is the clown in Steve life – in a good way, of course. Eddie is always trying his best to make Steve happy.
“Through space and time…” Eddie circles his finger around in the air. He’s thinking about the Upside Down.
“Always another show. Wondering where I am, lost without you…”
Steve gets it. He doesn’t know where he’d be right now if it weren’t for Eddie. He’d be lost in his head, with his own fucked up thoughts, probably.
“And being apart ain’t easy on this love affair. Two strangers learn to fall in love again…”
Steve can feel the emotion in Eddie’s voice. After all of the pain they’ve gone through, just with relationships – Steve with Nancy, Eddie with his trips to Indianapolis – they deserve happiness. They deserve to fall in love, to be in love, and to be loved in return.
“I get the joy of rediscovering you. Oh, you stand by me. I'm forever yours, faithfully…”
Steve remembers how shocked Eddie was when he had learned that Steve was no longer the man he was in high school. When Eddie had said that he was “actually a good dude,” that was Eddie beginning to figure out who Steve was now. These past few months have all been Eddie rediscovering Steve as a person.
As the music trails off, Steve’s heart speeds up even more. Now that the show is over, he has to confront what is in front of him. He loves Eddie, and Eddie loves him back. This is simple…it’s simple .
Eddie walks off stage with his band and Steve watches him go until he’s out of sight. The crowd around him disbands, and he can’t get himself to move. Robin pokes at his arm and Nancy is looking at him expectantly. They knew…he can see it in their eyes. Steve thinks about having to go backstage and talk to Eddie, and suddenly it’s way too hot and his vision is blurring.
“Steve? You alright?” Nancy asks. Steve nods, clearing his throat.
“Y-Yeah..yeah i’m alright. I’m- I’m gonna head home. Tell Eddie that he did amazing, I just…I can’t…not right now.”
Steve pushes his way to the front door of the Hideout, ignoring Robin calling after him. He’s never been more grateful than right now that Nancy demanded he let her drive her own car.
When Steve makes it outside, he takes a deep breath, the chill of the night air making his throat and lungs burn. He unlocks his car and quickly gets inside. Steve puts the key in the ignition and turns it. He doesn’t wait any longer before shifting gears and tearing out of his parking spot.
~~*~~
It’s been a week – a goddamn week .
Seven days of Robin’s pitying but also disappointed looks. Steve loves her, but she really needs to mind her own business in this situation.
One-hundred and sixty-three hours since Eddie’s performance at the Hideout, and since the last time Steve saw him. According to his outside sources, AKA Dustin, Eddie is consciously avoiding Family Video – and Steve – like the plague.
Steve knows he fucked up badly, but he doesn’t know the extent to which he fucked up until Dustin storms into Family Video with his brows furrowed, and a fire in his eyes.
Dustin stops in front of the counter and glares at Steve for a moment before pointing his index finger at him. “You.”
Steve raises an eyebrow. “Me?”
“You.” Dustin confirms with a nod.
Steve rolls his eyes and heaves a sigh, leaning forward onto the counter. “What about me?”
Dustin places his hands on his hips, a perfect copy of Steve’s stance. “Eddie postponed Hellfire.”
Steve immediately stiffens and his heart thumps uneasily in his chest. “He what?”
“Are you deaf?” Dustin insults. “I said, Eddie postponed Hellfire! You need to talk to him, Steve. Like, right now.”
“Dustin, I wouldn’t even know where to start.” Steve tries to explain. Dustin tuts, placing his hand over Steve’s mouth. Steve yells, his words mumbles by Dustin's palm.
“I don’t care, Steve. I really don't. It doesn’t matter what happened between you two because it’s hurting you both, not just him. You look like someone kicked your dog then kicked you in the nuts.”
Steve grumbles against Dustin’s palm before batting his hand away. Dustin keeps his eyes set on Steve like he’s trying to analyze whatever deep emotions are running through him. Steve clears his throat and shakes his head.
“I don’t think he'll even forgive me, man.”
Dustin scoffs. “Are you kidding me? Steve, you’re not that stupid.”
Steve throws his hands up in the air. “I’m not stupid! I’m just being honest!”
“Well, you’re wrong! I’ve never seen Eddie look as happy as he did when he was with you. Steve, you made him happy, and I’m not an idiot so you shouldn’t have expected that I wouldn’t find out.”
Steve’s eyes widen. “Find out what?”
Dustin glares at him again. “Steve, Eddie looks at you like you hung the moon and the stars, and you look at him like he’s the goddamn sun.”
Steve just blinks at Dustin for a moment before sighing. “When did you get so emotionally intelligent?”
Dustin gives him a small smile. “Always have been. Now, will you go talk to him?”
“Fine…” Steve says reluctantly. “It has to wait until after my shift though.”
“No need.” Steve spins around to find Robin leaning against the Sci-Fi shelf. “Go get your man, dingus. I’ll hold down the fort.”
“No, Robin. You need me here, and-”
“Steve, it’s dead today. I’ll be fine. Just go.” Robin grins at him. Steve takes a deep breath and smiles back. He nods at her and turns back to Dustin.
“I owe you two.”
“You can make it up to us by going to see Eddie .” Dustin urges.
“Okay, okay! I’m going. I’ll call you guys later!” Steve yells as he exits the store.
Dustin and Robin exchange glances, both of them gigging. Things were going to be okay.
~~*~~
Steve pulls into Forest Hills Trailer Park at exactly seven thirty-five. He’s got his music down low, and he can only slightly work out the closing notes of a Wham! song. Steve pulls up to the trailer and sees Eddie’s van parked outside. As Steve parks his car in front of Eddie’s trailer, anxiety builds in his chest. He’s scared.
After all of the terrifying shit he’s been through, confronting his feelings for Eddie Munson is by far the scariest thing he’s ever done. Steve takes a deep breath and gets out of his car. He taps his fingers on his thigh as he walks up to Eddie’s door. He can do this. He’s done stuff like this before, this is no different.
Except it is…it’s extremely different because, this time, it means something. It means more.
Steve climbs the final step onto their small porch and raises his hand to knock on the door. He gives three soft knocks, hoping that it was enough for Eddie to hear. He fiddles with the bat ring on his left hand, never taking it off since that night. From the other side of the door, Steve hears the sound of footsteps approaching. He takes a deep breath, and the metal door swings open.
Eddie stands in the doorway, his eyes widening only slightly as he looks at Steve. There’s a foot of space between them and Steve wants so badly to close that distance.
“Harrington…to whom do I owe the pleasure?” Eddie asks sarcastically. He leans against the doorframe with his arms crossed over his chest. His brows are furrowed, and Steve can immediately feel the anger, and the hurt , radiating off of him. However, that's not all. Eddie’s scared too. Steve can see it in the way his foot taps against the floor, in the way his fingers pinch at the skin on his arm.
“Eddie…h-hey, listen, I just- I wanted to talk. About…things.” Steve stammers, wringing his hands together.
Eddie raises an eyebrow. “You wanted to talk? About things ? What things , Steven?”
Steve flinches and Eddie’s about to speak up again when Steve mumbles, “Don’t call me that.”
“Call you what?”
“Steven. Only my parents call me Steven. Please…I really don’t want you to call me that.” Steve answers quietly. He looks at Eddie with big, pleading eyes.
Eddie blinks at him, taking in his expression for a few moments. He moves aside gesturing for Steve to come in. Steve gives him a small smile and steps inside the trailer, his hands still clasped together. Eddie closes the door behind them and leans against it – he’s waiting for Steve to talk.
Steve takes a deep breath and looks back to Eddie. “First, I want to say I’m sorry.”
Confusion washes over Eddie’s face, and he quirks an eyebrow. “Apologize? For what?”
Steve’s eyebrows furrow, and he feels his own confusion take hold. “I thought it would be obvious. I- I’m really sorry for- for running away…after the show.”
Eddie shook his head. “It's okay, Harrington. You don’t have to apologize. I’m used to it.”
“What?”
“You don’t feel the same way, and that’s alright. I don’t want you to feel like you have to apologize for not reciprocating my feelings.” Eddie explains.
“What? No, Eddie…that’s- that’s not what I meant. I- I ran away because I-...” Steve trails off.
“Because you…?” Eddie urges, stepping forward.
“I ran away because I was scared. I ran away because I knew what I was feeling, and then I knew what you were feeling, and it all built up and I started to panic. Eddie, I’m so fucking sorry that I ran away.”
Steve finishes his rant breathlessly, watching Eddie for any sort of reaction. Eddie stares at him, his eyes wide. It’s obvious that a confession is not what he was expecting from Steve, but Steve can see the new stance he’s taken. Eddie is standing with his arms at his sides now, his muscles relaxed. He’s no longer closed off the way he was when Steve first knocked on the door.
After a few junctures of silence, Eddie walks forward, slowly closing the gap between them. He stops when he’s only a foot away. It’s a safe distance, Steve decides.
“Do you mean it?” Eddie asks, his voice a whisper.
Steve swallows nervously, and he nods. “Yeah…yeah, I mean it. I mean every damn word.”
The neutral line of Eddie’s lips curves into a soft smile, and Steve can’t help but let himself copy it. Eddie’s fingers twitch toward Steve at his side. Eddie wants to reach out – to touch him. Steve notices and takes the initiative. He takes a hold of Eddie’s hand, squeezing it reassuringly. Eddie’s eyes flicker down to their hands and he clears his throat.
“You deserve better than me, Steve. You deserve someone who you can love publicly, and openly – not someone people think is a cult leader, not a drug dealer…not a man . You deserve everything good in the world.” Eddie whispers, looking down at the ground, refusing to meet Steve’s eyes.
Steve feels tears gather in his eyes. Eddie doesn’t see just how amazing he actually is. Stev reaches out and cups Eddie’s cheek with his free hand, causing Eddie to finally look up at him. Steve smiles at Eddie – his grin bright, and his eyes glossed over.
“You are everything good, Eddie Fuck, you are way more than good. You’re fucking amazing, magnificent even.” Steve explains imperatively. “Eddie, I am absolutely head-over-heels for you.”
Eddie lets out a shaking breath, his smile growing. His voice is unsteady when he speaks. “I’m head-over-heels for you too, Stevie.”
Steve grins brightly. “Yeah?”
“Yeah.” Eddie confirms. Steve’s eyes flicker down to Eddie’s lips. When Steve moves his gaze back up to Eddie’s, he finds Eddie’s eyes on his own lips. Steve lets out a small, enamored chuckle.
“Eddie, can I-”
“Yes, please yes.” Steve surges forward, capturing Eddie’s lips with his own.
Eddie’s lips are slightly chapped, Steve notices. His lips don’t feel like any of the girls he’d kissed in the past, and Steve would be a fool to say he hated it. Their lips were soft, and smooth – Eddie’s are rough, and warm.
Girls tasted like whatever lipstick they had on at that moment in time – sometimes it was chapstick: fruity, and sweet. Eddie tastes like cigarettes and a hint of coffee. Steve hates coffee, but he’s obsessed with the way it tastes on Eddie’s tongue. Steve never wanted to stop kissing him.
As if the way he tastes isn’t consuming enough, Steve then notices the way Eddie smells . There’s the cigarette smoke again, lingering on his skin and hair, as if he’d just been smoking one before Steve got there. Underneath the smoke, there’s a scent of leather, and wood. Eddie smells like a bonfire. Steve thinks it fits him.
Eddie kisses like it’s the first and last time they’ll ever get the chance to do this. Steve threads his fingers into Eddie’s unruly hair, and Eddie makes a low noise in his throat. Steve loves it. Eddie grasps Steve’s hips, pulling him flush against his body. Steve makes a surprised noise as he’s pulled forward, but immediately melts back into the kiss. Eddie’s a black hole, and Steve is a star caught in his gravity.
It’s Eddie who eventually breaks the connection. He pulls away with a gasp and rests his forehead against Steve’s as he takes in a few deep breaths. Steve can feel Eddie’s breath fanning against his face and opens his eyes to look at him. Eddie’s face is flushed, and his hair is more of a mess than it already was. He looks ethereal.
“Christ, Stevie…you’ve been holding out on me.” Eddie jokes with a breathy chuckle. Steve grins.
“I’ll make it up to you.”
Eddie looks up at Steve through his lashes and gives him a wily smirk. “Oh, I’m counting on it, sweetheart.”
Steve flushes bright red. “I’m going to ignore that. We could have been doing this for a week if I wasn’t such an idiot.”
Eddie kisses Steve’s cheek and squeezes his hips lightly. “You can be an idiot sometimes, yeah…but you’re the kind of idiot I can see myself getting old with.”
Steve’s chest swells with adoration. “You wanna grow old with me?”
“I do. I really do.” Eddie reassures in a whisper.
Steve pulls Eddie into another kiss, this one soft and full of love and infatuation. Steve loves this man with every fiber of his being. They pull away after a moment and they take the time to look at each other. To really look at each other.
They’re happy. They’re really happy.
“I like the sound of that…growing old with you.” Steve says earnestly.
“Guess you could say I’m forever yours, Stevie.” Eddie grins.
“Faithfully?”
“Faithfully.”