Chapter Text
“You should do it.” Robin leaned over the counter at Family Video, chewing her nail and grinning around it while looking up at Eddie Munson. The man was playing with his curls and couldn’t help the mischievous smirk that was spreading across his face.
“He would know right away, come on.” Robin shook her head wildly and stood up, slamming her palms down onto the counter now, causing an abrupt bang. Steve jumped, and shot a look at the pair from across the store where he was replacing the new arrivals.
“Keep the band practice down over there, Jeez.” He shook his head and turned his attention back to the VHS tapes that he was organising. Eddie let out a breath that he didn’t know he was holding and turned back to Robin who was sticking her tongue out at the other worker. She turned her attention back to Eddie and lowered her voice a bit more than she had before, the mood between their conversation becoming a little more intense.
“I swear, Eddie. You didn’t see him at Scoops Ahoy. He struck out way more than he lets on.” Eddie scoffed and Robin quickly continued, “I mean it! It was hilarious. I kept a tally. You have to hear it!” Eddie lowered his elbows onto the counter and looked up at Robin’s excited face through his bangs. Ever since Hawkins returned to whatever level of normalcy that this would be considered, Eddie had been spending lots of time with Robin at the video store. This also meant he was spending a lot of time around “King Steve”. The legend, the lady killer, the man with the plan so to speak. After everything that they had gone through in the Upside Down together it was comforting to spend time around each other. It felt safer than being alone. Steve and Robin had saved his ass multiple times in their adventure and vice-versa. It was only natural that he wouldn’t hold the same resentment for the popular young man that he had before. But as conversations go, it eventually came up between himself and Robin that he had (repeat, had) been jealous of the tales about how Steve was able to pick up any babe, any time. When he had said that though, Robin had looked stunned at first before falling into an airless laughter, the kind where no noise comes out and you feel like you’re going to suffocate for a split second. Eddie blushed, initially thinking that she was making fun of his confession but eventually she was able to get herself together enough to explain herself.
“Maybe it just doesn’t work on you because you’re… you know.” Robin leaned back and raised her eyebrow, crossing her arms in front of her. Eddie swallowed thickly and just finished with “His best friend!”
“Yeah, yeah, I’m” Robin finger quoted, “Best friend” she dropped her arms, “But I promise you, Steve “The Hair” Harrington is a myth. That guy is about as smooth as a porcupine.” Almost as if on cue, Steve walked directly into a cardboard cutout with Marty McFly who was looking particularly bewildered and knocked it onto the ground, proceeding to then trip over it, hopping around desperately trying to save himself. Robin rolled her eyes and gestured at the scene, Eddie snorting and putting his hands up in defeat.
“Okay, maybe he’s not smooth, but I’m never going to see him put the moves on in action” Whenever Eddie was around it seemed that Steve got a little more professional around the ladies. Eddie thought that he was holding back because of the conversation that they had had in the Upside Down before. It was like Steve was trying to prove to Eddie that he was a stand up, decent guy. Eddie thought it was a little funny at first, maybe even a bit cute. Steve, trying to prove himself to the freaky dungeon master. Like he cared what he thought of him. After a while it got old. It felt fake, stiff and a little bit condescending. Robin had noticed as well, commenting here and there, saying little jabs like “Uh oh, looks like Sir Harrington has arrived” while rolling her eyes and usually earning her a push and flushed cheeks from the other teen. Robin smacked Eddie on the forearm and yanked him closer to whisper at him.
“That’s why I’m saying! You call here, pretend to be a flirty little thing, looking for the right movie,” Robin batted her eyes at Eddie and he batted his right back with a grin, “and then you’ll be able to hear it first hand!” Eddie leaned away and laughed, throwing his arms up in the air.
“But why, pray tell, does it have to be me! Why can it not be, I don’t know… The girl among us with the girl voice?” Robin glanced around the store to make sure Steve was still out of earshot. She leaned across the counter to try and get back into Eddie’s bubble.
“Because, I said he’s awkward, not stupid! He knows my voice too well, especially my impersonation of pretty girls.” Eddie stared at her.
“You are a pretty girl” Robin scrunched her face and waved him off.
“You know what I mean. I know you do voices for your little fantasy game.” Eddie spluttered, trying to interrupt that it was very different and also a very mature game but Robin continued over him. “AND if you do it you can hear it first hand! Just think of it as… role play. You do it all the time anyway!” Eddie stared at her unblinkingly. Robin stared back, facing off with him quietly. After a while she finally let out a breath. “Annnnnd you’ll finally here him loosen up a little, I know it’s been killing you.” Eddie felt his face flush and he twirled around taking an exaggerated step away from the counter and bringing his hands up to entwine with the curly mop on top of his head. It would be kinda funny. Steve would never have to know it was him, he was just one more faceless girl that he struck out with. It was tempting. Too tempting. Eddie could never resist playing a character. Getting to hear little Stevie to come out of his shell a little was just the cherry on top.
“Fine.” Robin hissed a yes and shot her fist into the air in victory. “I’ll do it. One time.” Robin nodded and put up one finger to emphasise the point. Eddie laughed. “I’m only doing this for you, you owe me.” Robin scoffed and turned to start entering some returns.
“Oh yeah, it’s just for me.” Eddie furrowed his brow at her as Steve walked up and set the past week's new arrivals on the counter. Was she being sarcastic? The door’s bell jingled, signalling that a customer had arrived. Steve looked up and became Sir Steve in an instant.
“Hello, ma’am! How may I help you today? We have family fun for the whole… family..” He finished. Eddie and Robin shared a look. Robin gagged. Eddie mouthed ‘tonight’ at her and she gave him a quick thumbs up while Steve guided the middle aged woman who had walked in over to the new arrivals wall that he had just reset. Eddie watched him for a while before taking a few bouncy steps backwards and exiting Family Video with another jingle of the bell. He caught Steve’s eye as he left and put his fingers on top of his head, sticking out his tongue. Steve smiled lopsidedly and gave a small wave. Eddie could have sworn he seemed a little flushed. He let the thought linger briefly in his mind as he walked toward his van, hands now driven down into the pockets of his jacket.
-
Eddie had come back to give Robin a ride home once her shift was finished at the store, leaving their unknowing target behind to close up shop. However instead of taking her home, they drove to Eddie’s trailer. When he had parked he was embarrassed to admit that they had nearly run into the trailer in excitement, Robin giggling and exclaiming that this was going to be priceless.
“You’re going to love it, Ed. It’s a real eye opener” Robin swirled on him and pulled her eyelids up making her eyes wider than natural. Eddie laughed albeit a bit nervously. Since had left the store earlier he had been fixating on what the hell he was even going to say on the phone. The heart of the jealousy that Eddie even had for Steve was his ability (or non ability apparently) to flirt effortlessly. He lacked that, and though face to face he felt that he made up for it in personality and theatrics, his physical charm didn’t translate over the telephone. Eddie was then torn because no, he couldn’t even use his usual tactics. He was trying to be someone else. A fair maiden in need of King Steve and his luscious locks. He was starting to get cold feet.
"Okay you know I'm all for all types of shenanigans, Rob…" the girl turned heel and gave him a dark look.
"Don't tell me you're backing out on me, Munson" Eddie continued past her into his room and she followed quickly and shut the door behind her. Eddie's uncle was at work and wouldn't be home any time soon, and Eddie had already stretched the long cord of the phone to his bedroom. It just seemed like he needed the extra privacy somehow.
"Doesn't it seem a little bit 12 year old girlish? Making prank calls to cute boys?" Eddie gave her some doe eyes and fluttered his fingers under his chin. Robin laughed and collapsed onto his bed.
"Maybe, I dunno. I mean I thought this whole thing up for you anyway." Eddie crossed his arms and leaned up against the door frame, staring at her. 'For me?' he wondered to himself thinking about why she would think he wanted to roleplay a 17 year old female. As if Robin had read his mind, she continued, "You were the one moping about the 'cute boy', saying he wasn't being himself. This is your opportunity to get an inside look! And my opportunity to have a good laugh." She finished with a grin and Eddie ran his fingers through his hair with a sigh.
"Yeah yeah, I'm very much regretting talking to you about this whole thing. There's a reason people repress things." Robin made a face and grabbed the phone, cradling it in her arms.
"So I'll dial? It's nearly closing so the place will be empty, it's a Monday night." She lifted the phone from the receiver grinning while she effortlessly started to push in the numbers in a dance that her fingers knew by heart. Eddie wrapped his arms around himself and started bouncing on the spot and gritting his teeth.
"Jesus… Jesus H Christ… this is so stupid this is STU-" His rambling cut off by an monotonous version of a voice he knew very well.
"Thanks for calling Family Video where we have videos for the whole family. Steve speaking, how can I help you?" Robin pushed the phone speaker against the rocker’s ear hard and he felt like the pressure was going to make his head explode. His mouth opened and closed a few times like a fish in a bowl. Robin poked his chest and mouthed words like go, now, say something. The line had a low fuzz of background noise before Steve spoke again. “Hello? Can I help you?” Eddie cleared his throat and realised it sounded way too low to be a young sweet thing and halfway through he raised a few octaves.
“Uhm… yes… Hi! I’m looking for…” Eddie covered the mouthpiece and whispered desperately at Robin, “heelllp meeee!” she was barely keeping herself together, shoulders shaking with glee and laughter.
“Suggestions!” Robin whispered and motioned him to keep going. Eddie rolled his eyes and uncovered the mouthpiece. He shook his head a little, trying to get into character and Robin watched as he softened his expression and batted his eyes at the phone which sent her deep into hysterics, she snatched one of the pillows off of the bed and buried her face into it to smother the squeaks and snorts.
“Romantic movie suggestions?” Eddie put on his sweetest voice and twirled the phone cord around his finger for good measure. He heard a small sigh on the other line, Steve apparently was not pleased to be giving his opinions about romantic comedies. Eddie tried to save face a bit. “My boyfriend just broke up with me! You know… for… college. I want something to cheer me up.” He looked at Robin giving her an expression that hopefully conveyed the level of what the fuck am I doing that he felt. Steve sounded out on the other end of the line, sounding a little more engaged.
“Oh, so sorry to hear that… miss? Sorry, I didn’t catch your name?” Eddie started to reply
“It’s Ed- Ellie! My name is Ellie.” Robin may have survived secret underground bases, Mindflayers, demobats and mind control creatures but this? This may actually kill her.
“Ellie. That’s a great name. Your guy must be heartless to give up someone who sounds so sweet.” Eddie could hear the smile in Steve’s voice, and his stomach did a surprising flip. Why was he doing this again? Just leading on his friend for a rise? Something started to feel off. Steve continued on. “You know, lucky you, I’m not going to college myself. I mean I could. I could, I mean I’m just saving up, getting some work experience, life experience, it’s important, I mean I think it’s important” Eddie found himself starting to smile at the ramble that Steve fell into and didn’t really want to save him from it. Robin may have been right after all.
“Yeah, lucky me.” Eddie said and tried to giggle sweetly, it ended up sounding a little reminiscent of a sneeze. He adjusted and tried to continue on. Robin had finally recovered and was listening intently, mouth in an open smile. “I’ve seen you at the store before, Steve. You look too good for college anyway.” Robin raised her eyebrows and then waggled them at Eddie who aggressively mouthed ‘WHAT’ at her. He meant it though, Steve didn’t need one of those money pits. He was smart enough to defeat horrific monsters, he had the balls to protect all of his little minions. He was too good to pay it back to the man. He heard Steve laugh nervously and could picture him running a hand through his mane and shaking it around as he did when he was feeling awkward.
“Well, thanks, stalker. You have to tell me, what do you look like? I couldn’t have missed you if you were in here, I have an eye for the finer things.” Robin was listening at the earpiece close to Eddie’s face and she pulled back to fake gag at Eddie theatrically. Eddie was biting his knuckles lightly to hold in his own laughter. That one was bad, he had to admit.
“Well, I have long brown curly hair, and brown eyes…” Eddie started and then stopped. He couldn’t really just describe himself. He had to change it up. “And I was wearing a neon pink top with a lime green stripe.” Maybe that was too much.
“Sounds like I couldn’t have missed you, you’re just my type. I must have been temporarily blind.” Just my type. The words rang in Eddie’s head. Did he really say this to every random girl that called the store? That walked up to the counter? Steve “The Dog” Harrington?
“Well next time you’ll have to make it up to me.” Eddie heard his girly little voice come out of him as if it had a mind of its own. Turns out Ellie was a dog person.
“Maybe I could help you find something more romantic than just a movie, Ellie.” Did Steve’s voice sound deeper?
“Oh, Steve, you haven’t even given me a recommendation yet. How can I even trust that you know what romance is?” A throaty laugh came through the receiver and Eddie felt his stomach flip again. What was that? Something to think about later, because Steve was talking again.
“I guess you’re right. Well I could recommend Pretty in Pink, if you’re into the popular stuff. Or if you’re into good looking guys with great hair I would put aside a copy of Top Gun.” Eddie snorted and shook his head.
“That’s not really a romance, is it?” Steve tsked
“There’s romance there! You just have to trust me.”
“Sounds like you just want me to watch Top Gun.”
“Well I like to have someone to watch it with who hasn’t seen it, otherwise watching it for the twelfth time is just sad.”
“Yeah, that’s the sad part. Not that you're asking girls you just met to come watch a movie with you.”
“No, the sad part is actually that you haven’t asked me if I’m single yet.” Eddie’s cheeks were starting to hurt from smiling so long. He heard a small cough from beside him and suddenly he was dropped back into reality. Robin was right there beside him, staring at him with an odd look that seemed to be assessing his entire personality. Suddenly, Eddie was desperate to hang up.
“Okay, I trust you. I’ll rent Top Gun, See you later, thanks for everything, byyyeeee!” Eddie could hear Steve spluttering for him to wait before he slammed the phone down on the base and stared at it in silence. He was overtly aware of the eyes burning into him and how loudly he was breathing. Why was he breathing so loud? Robin finally broke the silence.
“So… that was… different.” Eddie scrubbed his face with his palms and stood up to pace the room.
“I was in character! Ellie possessed me!” Robin looked unconvinced as Eddie moved around erratically. “You said he was bad! Bad flirt! Terrible!” Robin threw her hands in the air.
“Yeah! He is! But I didn’t know that was your weakness!” Eddie whipped around and pointed at her, taking a step toward her.
“No, no, no, no, not MY weakness!” He then pointed to the phone sitting on the bed. “That was ELLIE’S weakness, and that was your fault!” Robin scoffed and sat up from the bed finally and grabbed her bag that she had haphazardly thrown into the corner of the room when she had arrived.
“Okay, ‘Ellie’, my fault that you totally fell for the jock boy charm.” She opened the door to leave. “Are you gonna give me a ride home?” Eddie groaned and swiped the keys for his van off of his dresser. They silently walked to the vehicle and drove most of the way to Robin’s house that way. She finally broke the tension when they rolled into her driveway. “Was it worth it to hear him loosen up a bit at least?” Eddie shrugged and waved her off. As she got out and walked up the pavement he drummed the roof of the inside of the van. Quietly he finally whispered.
“Yeah. It was.”
-
Eddie avoided the video store for a few days. He had a meeting with the Hellfire Club and he just wasn’t all there. Dustin gave him a look when he had avoided doing the female character voices, and Mike groaned when he cut off the ending early.
“What the hell, Eddie! We’re so close to the Lair of Endless Sorrow!” Eddie waved him off and gathered his game pieces, books and character sheets.
“Next week. My life doesn’t revolve around you little goblins,” Will had joined the club once he and the rest of the Byers family moved back to Hawkins after the end of Vecna and Eddie heard him mumble something about being a wizard, not a goblin. “Besides, I have people to see, songs to play, hearts to break.” Lucas laughed at the last part.
“Yeah, I doubt that. Chicks are just LINING up to get a piece of you after DMing a long campaign.” Eddie feigned a knife plunging into his chest and stumbled backwards.
“You wound me, Sinclair! The ladies appreciate my class, they just don’t know that my class is a Rogue!” The boys laughed and slowly filed out of the basement of the Wheeler home. As he walked through he caught the eye of Nancy in the kitchen and gave her a small wave as he glanced over her appearance. Maybe Steve did have a type. Big brown eyes, curly brown hair. His stomach flipped again in that now familiar way when he thought too much about Steve Harrington. Nancy smiled softly and waved back as he saw Jonathan come into view and slide an arm around her lower back to curl around her waist. Eddie looked away and continued out the door to his van and he watched the rest of the boys say their goodbyes and mount their bicycles. Eddie tapped his fingers on the steering wheel for a minute before starting up the van and pulling out of the driveway, heading in the direction of Family Video. It was time to try and face Robin after the awkwardness of the other night’s prank gone weird. Eddie couldn’t stop thinking about how easily he had fallen into the banter that he and Steve had created and it was driving him crazy. He half wanted it all the time and half never wanted to experience it again. It was unlike other flirting experiences that he had before. They had always felt like Eddie was trying too hard, putting on a front. With Steve and ‘Ellie’ it had come smoothly. It was different. The power seemed shared and it was a smooth push and pull for the little time that it had lasted. It had planted itself in his brain like a foreign seed that replayed in his head for the last three nights. Eddie couldn’t work it out on his own. He was going to need a friend. He rolled slowly into a parking spot in front of the store right behind Steve’s car. Turning off the ignition Eddie looked into the rearview mirror at himself and smacked his cheeks a few times, hyping himself up. He beat a false murder rap, he could talk about feelings. The man hopped out of his van and sauntered up to the door trying to force his trademarked Eddie Munson doesn’t give a fuck vibe as he walked through the front door. Robin was at the front counter reading a magazine and looked up to him when she heard the jingle of the door bell. She nonchalantly licked her pointer finger and flipped the page of the magazine and looked back down to it.
“I was wondering how long it would take for you to suck it up.” Eddie’s chest deflated and he scoffed as he walked over to the counter with his proverbial tail between his legs.
“It was embarrassing, it was bad, I took it badly.” Eddie put his hands together in a prayer and looked at Robin with begging eyes. "Forgive me?" She looked at him out of the corner of her eye and her mouth twitched into a small smirk.
"I suppose. Anyway, he's been much worse. I need some backup." Robin gestured vaguely to the back of the store where Eddie heard some small crashes and footsteps quickly moving through the shelving. Steve then burst around the corner, obviously trying to look casual. Eddie stared at him wide eyed. Steve looked around and made eye contact with the older boy.
"It's you." Eddie looked down at himself and patted down his denim vest as if taking inventory.
"Yeah, I guess so. In the flesh. Did you miss me, Harrigton?" Steve’s cheeks flushed slightly and before he could speak, Robin’s voice drifted in from behind the counter.
"He's been waiting for a giiirrrl" Steve gave her a look and Eddie felt a lump forming in his throat.
"No! I just thought it was an actual paying customer that might need some service!" Steve spit out with a hint of teasing, trying to save face. Eddie couldn’t help himself and jumped in.
"So you're just ready to service anyone who walks in the door, Stevie?" Steve's face deepened into an even darker shade and Robin laughed beside him although, did it seem a little forced? Steve stuttered a bit before turning and walking back into the aisles of VHS tapes. When he was out of earshot, Robin punched Eddie on the bicep and, to be honest, it really fucking hurt. Eddie exclaimed and was about to ask her why but she already grabbed the leather of his sleeve and was dragging him down to her level at the counter.
"He has been insufferable the past 2 shifts, waiting for some brunette bombshell to waltz in here and rent Top Gun." She whispered loudly, "I feel totally guilty…" she released Eddie’s clothes and put a hand through her ginger hair. Eddie blinked a few times, processing the situation.
"He's… waiting for Ellie?" Robin shushed him quickly and made an x with her pointer fingers.
"Don't say that name!! You're gonna bring him back here! I would rather that he moped out of my eyesight than up here!" She put her hands on her chest "My little heart can't handle it." Eddie felt a little sick. He felt the guilt creeping into his heart as well. He had just wanted to play around, talk to Steve, hear his awkwardness and then shut him down. It wasn't his intention to play with the guy's emotions. It turned out that Eddie wasn't the only one suffering. There was something inside him that felt a bit… jealous? Was it jealousy? Of himself? That was an odd conflict between his head and his heart. He just felt that if he had left such an impression on someone with his flirting skills, Eddie should be able to be the one to brag about it, right? Not Ellie. It didn't really matter that it was Steve. It could have been anyone. Eddie coughed to interrupt his own thoughts and focused back on Robin.
"Well what are we going to do about it?" Robin gave him a blank look.
"Nothing? We're going to wait for it to extinguish itself and never talk about it again? Starting now?" She shut the magazine and stuffed it back onto the shelf beside the till and started to busy herself with the stack of tapes beside her that were waiting to be organised. Eddie noted that Top Gun was on the top of the pile. Robin held it up and shook it a little. "See? He even brought it up to the front 'just in case'" she tried to impersonate Steve but it just wasn't right. Eddie grabbed the tape from her.
"Well what if I rent it? Then it'll be out of the way. Out of sight out of mind, yeah?" Robin thought for a moment and shrugged.
"You still have to pay." Eddie rolled his eyes and pulled out his wallet quickly so that they could finish their exchange before Steve had a chance to come back and witness it. He tucked the tape inside his jacket and patted it for good measure. Maybe he would even watch it. Steve did recommend it after all, it couldn’t be all bad. He looked past Robin to the back of the store and caught Steve’s eye over the racks. The teenager stared at him and lifted his hand into an awkward wave and Eddie raised his arm up and waved by wiggling his fingers. Steve looked away quickly and ducked back down to continue his work. Eddie frowned. Robin piped up interrupting Eddie’s thoughts about why Steve would be avoiding him. “Can you give me a ride home actually? Since you’re here?” Eddie looked at her and smiled.
“I suppose if you forgive me for causing you major awkwardness.” He looked back towards where Steve had been but the other boy was now gone again.
“I will never let you live that down. You have my forgiveness but not my mercy.” Eddie’s smile widened and he put his hands up in surrender.
“And I would do you the same courtesy, my fair maiden.” Eddie bowed low. Robin laughed and rounded the counter to come to Eddie’s side. Robin called back to her co-worker to announce her shift was over and she was going to catch a ride with him. Steve’s hair became barely visible in the back of the store over the shelving.
“Use protection.” He called out at them monotonously, peeking up just so you could see his eyes now. Robin flipped him the bird and Steve’s eyebrows waggled. “I meant seatbelts!” This drew an honest laughter from Eddie but once it sounded out Steve ducked down out of sight again. Eddie looked at Robin who shrugged and started to walk out of the store. It was starting to bug Eddie. Not that Steve and him were exceptionally close, but today it felt like he was downright avoiding him. The older boy had gone into that store fully expecting to be the one that was feeling weird and embarrassed. Steve had no reason to. He voiced these thoughts to Robin once they were in the van and driving.
“Maybe he just thinks that I told you how lovesick he’s been over one little phone call and thinks you’re gonna be all… Eddie about it.” Eddie scoffed and turned the corner.
“What the hell does that mean?” He knew what it meant. He knew that he had a tendency to play too much and prod too hard. It wasn’t personal though. It’s just how his personality was.
“Well I don’t know. Like I said before.” Robin pulled a water bottle out from her bag and took a swig before continuing. “He’ll never hear from ‘Ellie’ again and he’ll get over it. Things will be back to normal, and he’ll just hold onto fake heartbreak for the summer.” Eddie bit his lip as he mulled that over. Just never hear from her again? If it were him, Eddie would want some sort of closure. Then he would be able to let it go. Something that would let him get over the voice on the phone. Maybe that’s what Eddie needed too, to put all this weirdness to rest.
“I’m gonna call him again.” Robin was in the middle of another sip which she promptly spat out over the dash. Eddie jumped, the van swerving over the road a little as he fumbled for something to clean it with. “Hey! Watch the interior, this is a high class vehicle!” Robin punched his arm causing him to swerve again.
“Are you even fucking listening! I said we’re letting it die! How does that equate to another phone call??!” Eddie blocked another hit, seeing it coming this time.
“Hear me out! Jesus Christ!” Robin hit him again for good measure and Eddie pulled into her driveway. As he put the brakes on he turned to face his passenger. “If I call and say ‘Hey, what are your new arrivals this week? Oh by the way I’m moving to Florida to be with my boyfriend. I hope you find your soulmate’ he’ll get over it way quicker and…” Robin stared at him angrily, “you still don’t like this plan, do you?” Robin punched his arm again and Eddie was starting to think he was seriously going to have a bruise there.
“Do. Not. Call. Him.” Robin punctuated every word with a snap and Eddie rolled his eyes.
“Yeah, okay! Okay. I hear you.”
“What did I say then?”
“... Don’t make me do this.”
“Eddie. What did I just say?”
“... Don’t call him.”
“Don’t call him, Eddie.” Robin grabbed her bag and her bottle and opened the passenger door to jump out. She turned back at him one last time. “I mean it.” Eddie nodded and gripped the steering wheel tightly as the door slammed and he watched the girl walk up to the front door.
-
Thirty minutes later Eddie was sitting cross legged on his bed with three items in front of him. The Top Gun VHS tape that he had rented with the Family Video sticker plastered over Kelly Mcgillis’s face, the Hawkins telephone book opened to the Yellow Pages, another Family Video logo screaming out at him, and his telephone with the cord stretched once again into his bedroom from the living room of the trailer. He stared at everything and drummed his fingers on the phone book in a speedy tempo. He said he wouldn’t call.
“I shouldn’t.” Eddie muttered and yet he was still memorising the numbers on the page. He jumped up off of the bed and walked over to his guitar and pulled it off the wall, strumming a few absent minded chords and running his fingers over the frets all the while keeping his eye on the phone. It was nearly closing time for the video store, and he knew that Steve was closing alone again. He couldn’t get the thought out of his head. It was consuming him. He replayed how Steve was acting in the store earlier in the day, awkward and strange. He thought about how it contrasted so deeply with what he already knew about him. How it was so opposite of how he had interacted with Steve on the phone. Robin’s directions drifted across his mind and he played a few more aggressive notes on the instrument before putting it back in its place. He turned, running his hands through his hair and groaning. He closed his eyes and tried to clear his mind and it all went black except for Steve’s voice.
“You’re just my type.”
Eddie walked over to the bed and before he could think he was dialling the number for Family Video. The line rang once… Twice… before Steve picked up breathlessly.
“Family Video, Steve speaking, how can I help you?” It was two minutes after closing. Eddie realised he must have ran back to the phone after closing the till. He bit his lip before replying.
“Hi, Steve… It’s… It’s Ellie.” Eddie put on the same voice he had before, higher pitched and strange coming out of the mouth of an Ozzy looking freak. He heard Steve breathe in deeply and his own breath hitched momentarily in his throat. Maybe this really was a bad idea. Robin was right. This was awful.
“H-Hey Ellie!” Steve stuttered out and Eddie squeezed his eyes shut and grimaced slightly. Steve continued. “It’s kind of late for a respectable young lady to be calling, don’t you think?” Eddie chuckled and tried to keep his voice in character.
“Well that’s a bit of an assumption, who said I was respectable?” Eddie paused and listened before continuing, “Unless that’s your type too, then I could smarten up.” No, what? He was supposed to be letting Steve down here, what the hell was he saying?
“Oh no, I’m into the whole rebellion thing, keep going.” Eddie could hear the smile in his voice. “Don’t tell me you don’t rewind the tapes when you return them, I might fall in love.” Eddie bit his knuckles as he did when he was trying to keep himself together, as if the little bit of pain was the only thing tethering him to real life.
“Well I don’t want to brag but I also steal pens from public offices so I’m a real badass.” Eddie replied sarcastically. Steve laughed and it rang in Eddie’s ears pleasantly and he made a note to hear it in person sometime soon.
“Not that I was waiting or anything but… you didn’t come in to rent anything yet… unless I missed you?” Eddie swallowed thickly. Right. He had to bite the bullet here. Perfect opportunity.
“Yeah, about that..” He trailed off and heard Steve breathing on the other line. Something was stopping him from getting the rest of his sentence out. The thought of giving Steve bad news after he had saved his life multiple times just seemed impossible. “I… uhm…”
“It’s okay!” Steve recovered himself first “I didn’t mean that you had to or anything, I’m not trying to be creepy or whatever, no pressure you know!” His voice was overly upbeat.
“No, that’s.. That’s actually why I called back,” Eddie started. “I… It turns out my dad…” The line was silent.
“Your… dad?”
“My dad, yeah, he has Top Gun, he bought it!” What. “And I… I just wanted to tell you that… I didn’t need to rent it anymore so that’s why I didn’t come into the store.” WHAT “But I wanted to let you know that…” The line was quiet again. Eddie squeezed his eyes shut and was quietly smacking his forehead with the heel of his palm.
“Oh, okay… No, that's great, uhm… Have you watched it yet?”
“Not yet, I was just,” Eddie paused, picking up the cassette and turning it in his hand, “I just was about to and I thought about you.” He ended and felt his face flush.
“Wow, you're still thinking about little ol’ me?” Steve teased “That’s okay though, somebody actually rented it today so it wouldn’t have been here anyway. Now you don’t have to miss out on a cinematic masterpiece.” Eddie wondered if he knew that it was him that had rented out the tape.
"Oh yeah? You conned some other unsuspecting girl into thinking this was a romance movie?" Steve laughed
"No, never. It was a friend of mine actually. Doesn't really seem like his type of movie but I guess he's full of surprises." Steve trailed off and Eddie sat silently taking in what he had said. He swallowed thickly and responded.
"Really, like uh… like what else?" He couldn’t help himself.
"Well I mean, I guess I thought he was kinda freaky when I first met him." Eddie frowned. Typical. Steve carried on. "Now I know he really is. But he's also pretty brave. Nice. Kinda sweet to some people that are important to me. Turns out he's a really nice dude." Eddie sat on the bed staring into nothingness, his brain short circuiting from the things he had just heard.
"He sounds… he sounds awesome." Eddie squeaked out, not knowing what to say from there. Steve chuckled.
"Yeah, he is. You want me to set you up with him? I could but… I admit, I'd be a bit disappointed." Eddie tried to recover.
"Nah, that's okay. I prefer my guys to be a little less freaky."
"You might be disappointed instead, I can be kinda freaky."
"Mmhmm, tell me, what's the freakiest thing you've got going on, Steve?" The line was silent for a minute. Then Steve responded.
"How long have you got?"
-
Two hours later Eddie was still on the phone with Steve. One thing had led to another and before he could control himself he was asking about everything he could ever want to know about the guy. Steve’s favourite colour is blue, although it got a bit tainted from working at the ice cream shop. He loved cherry ripple ice cream the most of all the flavours there. He hid it from everyone, but he actually had a collection of Spiderman comics. Little bits and pieces of Steve that he had never had a moment to consider before. They had conversations before, but the big ones had all felt so heavy. They were about secret Russian bases, past heartbreaks and exes, and superpowered evil beings. It was hard to fit in between what song made you think of home (It was Break My Stride, Steve said that his dad played it non stop) or what your childhood dog was named (Franklin. It was Franklin.). There was laughter and Eddie found himself telling Steve things about himself under the guise of being “Ellie” that he hadn’t really ever told anyone else.
“Hey, I hate to break this to you but I have to leave the store soon. I’ve been here all night.”
Steve said to Eddie, stifling a yawn. It was late, but Eddie could have stayed on the phone til morning if he was being honest with himself.
“So you’ve had enough of me then, Harrington?” Eddie played it up, putting fake hurt into his dainty voice.
“Absolutely not. What about giving me your number? I could call you from my house?” Eddie bit his lip. That wasn’t a good idea. He couldn’t have Steve making the connection between Ellie and himself.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea…” Eddie voiced his thoughts and Steve started to backtrack.
“Oh! Oh right… sorry I didn’t mean to like… overstep.” Eddie could hear embarrassment in his tone and tried to cover.
“No! I mean I would love to! But my dad he’s uh… pretty strict and I mean I just broke up with my boyfriend. I don’t want him thinking I’m some sort of hussy.” Steve laughed and Eddie sighed.
“Okay, fair enough. Will you… Will you call again? I don’t work tomorrow but I’ll be closing on Monday…” Eddie flushed and put his free hand through his hair. This hadn’t gone how he had wanted it to. But he was so happy, how could he say no?
“Yeah! I mean yes. I will. You can hold me to it.”
“I’m sorry, all I heard was that I can hold you? Is that right?”
“You wish, Stevie!”
“I do.” Eddie pulled the phone down in front of his heart for a moment and bit down hard on his knuckles. He willed the feeling in his stomach to die away, the feeling of a thousand fluttering butterflies chaotically bumping into each other. That was the one issue he was having throughout the conversation. Steve kept dropping little flirtations here and there, back and forth and Eddie felt compelled to play along in order to make the character believable. But it was starting to really affect him.
“Well, maybe next time. You have to go, remember?” Steve laughed breathily over the line and he muttered something that Eddie didn’t quite catch.
“Yeah, I know. Okay. Monday then.”
“Monday.”
“Looking forward to it, Ellie.”
“Me… me too. Really. Goodnight.”
“Goodnight.” a click, and then the line was dead air ringing out in Eddie’s ears. After a moment he hung up his phone and laid his head back on his pillow, staring up at the ceiling. After a few minutes of absorbing everything that had just happened, he stood up and put the phone and phone book onto his dresser beside the movie that he had yet to watch. He grabbed his guitar off of the wall and fell back onto his bed, absentmindedly strumming it before falling into a rhythm of a familiar tune, something in his repertoire. He quietly sang along with it.
“Whenever we dream, that’s when we fly. So here is a dream for just you and I” Eddie hummed into the higher notes of the song and slowed down into the quiet of the evening air. Then it hit him.
“Robin is going to fucking kill me…”
-
The skies were ocean blue. Not clear and crystal, but teal and green, blues and indigos all colliding together and washing between the clouds that looked like seafoam. The breeze that flowed over them was cooling, a blessing as the still air felt hot and stifling. Eddie felt fingers gliding up his thigh, over the denim of his jeans and onto his hip bone where it stilled. He was laying on his back in soft grass that tickled his sides as the wind caused it to dance around them. His eyes were closed and he made a sound of disagreement as the touch stopped and reached down to encourage it along. His fingers met with someone else’s and they intertwined together, buzzing. He became a puppeteer, sliding the other hand with his over his navel, onto his ribs and then to his pecs. He kept his eyes closed and smiled as he felt another body move up in tandem with the movement of their hands and a pleasant weight of someone straddling his hips settled upon him, his hips being squeezed by the twitching muscles of someone’s thighs. He grinned and wiggled just a little, enough to settle the two bodies into something impossibly closer than they had already been. He felt heat inside him, rising up and making his heart beat quicken. Eddie could feel the hand untangle from his and start to trace his collarbone. Eddie tilted his chin to give it better access and it trailed behind his neck and into his hair. He felt a soft breath, a face coming close to his own and the hand that was in his hair pulled with gentle pressure to bring them close. Eddie felt soft lips descend upon his own, moving slowly. He pushed into the kiss, reaching his own hands up and finding soft, silky locks and running his fingers through them. A bite, and soothe, a suckle and sigh. It felt incredible. He pushed, they pulled. The movements between them started to deepen and he felt a tongue connect with his, sparking his insides and lighting a fire. He pulled them closer, one hand leaving the person’s hair and finding their hip, sliding around a belt loop and pulling their hips down to cause friction between them. The person moaned, deep and breathy, the air between their lips was sweet and heated. The sound was familiar and Eddie wanted to hear it over and over again. He pulled again and this time he bucked his hips up at the same time which elicited a gasp from his partner.
“Fuck, Ellie!” Eddie’s eyelids flew open to see the flushed face and lust blown, lidded eyes of Steve Harrington.
“AHH FUCK!” Eddie yelled as he started to fall through the ground, the grass and soil started to break away and drift, gravity seeming to disappear.
“Eddie?” He heard a distant voice and felt himself finally drop, his stomach jumping into his throat. Impact hit him like a lightning strike. “Eddie!” Pure black consumed him for a split second before his eyes snapped open once again, the familiar sights of his room coming into view. He realised that he was on his floor, blankets pooled around him. He looked down, he was tenting in his boxers, only half hard now that the fall had woken him up.
“EDDIE!” His bedroom door flew open then and Eddie shrieked, scrambling to gather the blankets around him as Robin stormed into his room and stared down at him. He looked up at her with sleep mussed hair, his face flushed and hands pushing down on the blankets over his groin, the excitement he had leftover from his unexpected dream fading extremely fast. She stared at him for a moment with her eyes wide before grimacing and making disgusted noises, swinging around and covering her face. “Oh COME ON, are you not too old for this shit!” Eddie desperately grasped for his jeans that he had thrown haphazardly on the floor the night before.
“Are you kidding me??! A perfectly virile young man can’t wake up with a boner in his own fucking home?!” Eddie tripped over the blanket as he tried to get up and pull on his pants up and fell loudly into his dresser. “Ah, fuck!” He rubbed his shoulder where he had hit and finally was able to pull the jeans up. “How did you get in here anyway?!” Robin was still facing the door with her face covered.
“Your uncle let me in, obviously!” Robin spat out. “Are you decent yet? We have to talk. I know you fucking called Steve last night!” Eddie groaned deeply and pulled his hair. What time was it even? He needed a fucking coffee or a whiskey or a joint. He looked at the alarm clock on his bedside table, the face showing to be past noon. Had he slept in that late?
“How do you even know already?” He grumbled, pushing past her and walking out toward the kitchen of the trailer. He saw his uncle sitting on the couch and pointedly staring at the TV. “Morning, Uncle Wayne.”
“Mornin’” Wayne took a long sip of coffee. “She wouldn’t take no for an answer.” Eddie nodded.
“I figured.” Robin followed in behind Eddie and put her hands on her hips.
“What the hell were you thinking, you idiot.” Wayne looked back at the TV, body language screaming that he was staying out of it. Eddie grabbed his jacket off the knob of the front closet door and bent down to pull on his sneakers.
“Come on.” Eddie muttered at her as she watched him tie the laces. “Let’s go talk over waffles. You’ll yell at me less in public.” She narrowed her eyes at him.
“That’s what you think.” Wayne chuckled from the couch. Eddie and Robin both shot murderous looks at him and the man turned it into a cough and took another long sip from his mug. Eddie swung the screen door open and gestured for Robin to walk ahead of him.
“After you, sweetheart.” Robin punched him hard in the chest as she walked by and Eddie yelped. He looked back at Wayne who was grinning at him now that Robin had exited.
“Good luck with that one.” Eddie made a sarcastic laugh and rolled his eyes before snatching his keys and wallet off the kitchen counter and following after his friend. He walked up to the van and got in the driver's side before leaning over and unlocking the passenger door. Robin swung the door open and slammed it shut when she got in, causing Eddie to wince.
“Be careful with my baby!” Eddie whined. Robin shot him a glare.
“Just drive.”
-
Eddie and Robin sat across from each other from the diner staring into each other's faces. Eddie looked meek and guilty while Robin had the appearance of fire. The drive there had consisted mostly of Robin muttering things like 'I can't fucking believe you.' And 'stupid boys' while Eddie tried to stay quiet so that she wouldn't blow up on him again. The waitress came by and dropped off two plates in front of them.
"Here you go!" Her tone was filled with honey and contrasted the mood that was fizzing between the two at the table, "One Belgian waffle platter with whipped cream and strawberries and a classic with scrambled eggs!" Eddie looked up at her and smiled but it must have come off as more of a grimace because the grin on the server's face faltered a little. He wondered if she knew morse code, he could blink SOS to her.
"Yeah, thanks." Robin said dismissively. The server cleared her throat and walked away from the table leaving Eddie to suffer through whatever was to come. Deservedly so. He was racking his brain for some kind of excuse for his actions, but he hadn't been drunk, stoned, concussed or possessed. It was entirely his own decision to lead Steve on further. Robin was cutting into her waffles and took a massive bite, strawberries and whipped cream sliding off the piece and plopping back down onto the plate. Eddie just stared at his own food. He didn't really feel much like eating yet. He watched the redhead a little while as she stuffed her face angrily before making an attempt to clear his name, waiting until her mouth was full so she couldn't interrupt.
"I'm really sorry, Robin. I know I said I wouldn't call. I just…" Eddie struggled to figure out how to explain the invisible feeling he had when he thought about sad mopey Steve and his voice over the phone. Flashes of his dream came flooding back into his head. He physically shook his hair and groaned. "Auuugh!! I can't explain it! I don't know why I did it!" He tapered off, cheeks flushing and eyes wide. “I think there’s something truly wrong with me…” Robin watched him as she chewed slowly, appraising him and what he was saying. She grabbed her napkin and wiped away some syrup that had caught around the edge of her mouth before linking her hands together and putting them down on the table in front of her.
“Okay… So this wasn’t just to mess with him?” Eddie pushed the food around on his plate without taking a bite. He scowled at the mess of greasy diner food.
“Why is everyone so ready to think I’m an asshole?” Robin jutted her chin out at him and raised a hand.
“Because you have spent 20 long years trying to convince everyone that you’re an asshole?” Eddie dropped his fork down with a clatter and stared out the window.
“Wow. It’s not my fault people can’t handle my charm.” He muttered trying to play it cool but that one hurt a little. Eddie wasn’t trying to be an asshole. He just had learned a long time ago that rejection was much easier to swallow when he was the one that doled it out first. Push things away and then you never get attached enough to feel the bandaid rip off when things are over. That was the rule he had broken after the fight in the Upside Down. There were too many moments where his life flashed before his eyes and Steve had been right there to drag him back, Dustin pulled him away just in time, or Robin smashed a monster right as its jaws were about to clench around him. Experiences like that cause cracks in peoples walls. Robin sighed and took another bite of her waffle, letting Eddie breath. After a moment she continued their conversation.
“Have you considered that you called Steve because… you like talking to him?” She had calmed down finally and her voice was tentative and gentle now. Eddie looked at her blankly.
“Well yeah I mean… I obviously like talking to him. He saved my life.” Robin smiled sardonically
“I mean like…” She sighed and leaned back into her seat. “You like talking to him but now you like… flirt-talking with him?” She finished awkwardly. Eddie avoided making eye contact with her and drummed his fingers on the table. He could hear his blood rushing to his ears and knew that he was blushing which was absolutely embarrassing. He really did not want to admit it. He tried sarcasm.
“Yeah. I like flirting with Steve Harrington.” When the words arrived in Eddie’s mind they were sarcastic and mocking. As if anyone could think that. When they left his mouth however it came out as a mere statement of guilt. A quiet confession. Robin tilted her head.
“What? I didn’t hear you-”
“I said I like it!” Eddie leaned low across the table and hissed. Robin’s eyes widened and she jumped back a little, startled by how raw the man sounded. It came out angrily but somehow there was a low vibration of fear to the edges. They sat there like that for a moment as the waitress walked by once again.
“How’s everything tasti-”
“FINE.” The two interrupted in unison. The waitress jumped and scurried off to the next table, muttering about needing a new job. Robin looked back at Eddie who had once again set his attention to the window beside him. He was rubbing his hand across his mouth, swiping over his lips as if to wipe away the taste of his confession.
“That’s okay… you know.” Robin started. “If anyone understands… I mean you’re kinda talking to the right person.” She stumbles over the rest of her words. Eddie bristled.
“I have dated girls. I have had sex with lots of girls. Okay?” It was childish. He didn’t really know where he was going with this. “I love boobs. This isn’t about… that.” His dream was hinting that maybe it was a little bit about that, but the girl in front of him didn’t need to see that little window into his subconscious. Robin flushed and looked around to see if they had any uninvited listeners on their conversation. There was only one other booth occupied close to them and the couple sitting together were much more interested in each other than the ‘freaks’ eating their waffles.
“Well what is it about then, huh? Cause you’re getting awfully close to sounding like an asshole again.” Eddie looked her in the eye finally and saw her glassy eyes staring back into him. He softened.
“I don’t know. It was just like… We could talk about anything when I was Ellie.” He sat back and leaned against the booth. “Like, he wasn’t holding back and I guess I wasn’t either. Since we got back it’s been really tough, you know? I wanted to be his friend but I didn’t really know how. But when I’m Ellie…” Robin frowned and Eddie tapered off with a shrug.
“But you can’t-” She wildly gestured with her hands, “Sustain it!”
“I know that. Look, I really meant to end it last night, I just got carried away.”
“For two hours?” That made Eddie pause.
“... How did you know about all of this anyway?” Robin chewed her thumbnail and looked away.
“Well… now I don’t want to say now that I know you’re all googly for him.” Eddie shook his head. He wasn’t ‘googly’ for anyone. Robin sighed. “Well either way…” Eddie’s heart was speeding up despite his objections. Steve had already told Robin about Ellie and his conversation. That was obvious. But now he wanted to know more.
“So… what did he say about me?” Another heavy sigh released from the girl and she looked like she had now lost her appetite, pushing the half eaten waffles away from her to the edge of the table.
“Well if he didn’t have a crush before, you definitely secured it now. He called me at eight this morning to talk my ear off about how you two talked all night.” Eddie’s stomach flipped. It was a good thing he hadn’t eaten anything, otherwise it might be trying to claw its way out by now. “He said you guys had a real ‘co-nnec-tion’” She used finger quotes to enunciate the last word. That ended him. Eddie was beside himself. He felt like his whole body was buzzing. He couldn’t stop the smile that spread across his lips and he touched them lightly with his fingers in a slight disbelief. Robin grunted from across the table. “Yeah. Not about that my ass.” Eddie bristled.
“Whatever. That’s good though, right?” She stared at Eddie.
“In what way?”
“Well he liked talking to me too?” Robin reached across the table and swiped at Eddie’s head. He leaned back just in time for her to just manage tickling his bangs. “What?!”
“No, he liked talking to a girl named Ellie who wears hot pink and likes romance movies!”
“... So should I call him again and really break it off this time?” Robin tossed her head back and stared at the ceiling.
“Wow, you just need to self-destruct, hey?” She let her head loll to the side a little, “I really don’t know if you should call again, for both of you. What happens when he figures out it’s you?” Eddie chewed at his bottom lip.
“If he figures it out.” He mumbled. Robin looked at him sadly and reached across the table to hold onto his hands.
“Look, what if you just came to hang out with us. Got to actually see him outside of work.” She squeezed his hands. “Talk to Steve like Eddie.” Eddie pursed his lips a little. The problem lay in that when he had been on the phone with Steve he didn’t really lie about much, just a few details here and there. He had been honest about his favourite songs, movies, colours and childhood memories. What would he think of all those coincidences?
“I don’t know, Rob. I’ll think about it.” She smiled a little.
“You should. Listen to me for once.” Eddie cracked a smile back.
“You know how well I work with authority, Buckley.” Robin laughed sarcastically.
“Yeah, you have a natural affinity for it.” The two of them laughed together and it felt like the tension had finally snapped and allowed a small ray of sunshine in to warm the mood. The waitress toddled by once again and grinned at them.
“Oh! Look who finally made up! Can I get you two anything else?” The two rolled their eyes in unison.
“Cheque, please.”
-