Archive of Our Own

Tonight’s the night. Eddie finally invited Steve to The Hideout to see Corroded Coffin play after months of his friends/bandmates badgering the ever-loving fuck out of him and pressuring him to just give in.

In theory, Eddie figured it wouldn’t be stressful by any means; he’s just playing another gig — a gig where his best friend raging fucking crush will be somewhere in the crowd, watching him. In practice, Eddie was vibrating with nerves, more so than usual. He’s been anxiously nibbling at his fingernails for the past thirty minutes, but thankfully everything is set up on stage and ready to go. One less thing to worry about.

Eddie could not believe he somehow convinced Steve "the hair" Harrington  to attend a metal show. Well, a more-than-amateur metal show where the crowd consists of mostly drunks and stoners, but a metal show nonetheless! However, the thought of Steve being in the crowd — being there for Eddie — made Eddie’s stomach do somersaults as he not-so-subtly peaked out through the curtains to gaze out over the growing crowd from backstage. His heart felt like a bass drum, double-foot pedals slamming into the vital muscle, threatening to obliterate the fragile membrane.

God, this couldn’t be fucking happening. He’s never been this nervous before a show. Not even the first show Corroded Coffin actually got to play at The Hideout. Then, he’d been high on adrenaline and weed and utterly buzzing with anticipation. Now, he’s stone cold sober and jittering with fear and anxiety.

He needs a fucking cigarette.

But that thought is immediately crushed when a hand lands gently on his shoulder, causing him to jump. Eddie swings his head around to see Gareth looking at him as he carefully withdraws his hand.

”Dude, you good?” Gareth asks, concern subtly gleaming in his eyes.

Eddie blinks a few times then nods. “Yeah. I’m fine,” he tells him, near breathlessly.

Gareth scrunches up his eyebrows. “It’s just another show, Eddie,” he reminds him. There was something in his voice that was making Eddie’s skin itch.

Yeah, a show where Steve Harrington will be watching my every fucking move.

”And just because Steve is gonna be here doesn’t mean it’ll be any different,” Gareth continues, as if he were able to read Eddie’s thoughts. “We’re gonna kick ass either way.”

Eddie bit down on his tongue and forced himself to agree with Gareth. Because Gareth was right, after all, like he goddamn always is. It was just another show that Steve just so happened to agree to attend. It’s not a big deal, and Eddie internally scolds himself for making it seem like it was honestly and truly a bigger deal than it really was.

Gareth stood by his side until it was time for Corroded Coffin to take the stage. Eddie forced down a few deep lungfuls of stagnant air that smelt like alcohol and sweat, and stiffly followed after his bandmates.

Like Gareth had said: just another show. And that’s exactly what it was.

Eddie successfully got his mind off Steve so he could focus on traipsing his nimble fingers up and down the neck of his beloved Warlock and nailing each strumming pattern. He got lost in the music, and didn’t bother paying that much attention to the obvious groupies that were front and center of the crowd or frantically searching the faces before him for Steve. (And thankfully, the lights were bright enough that they prevented Eddie from looking further beyond the Corroded Coffin groupies.)

Fortunately, their set ended with raucous cheering and whooping, and Eddie was able to catch his breath. Unfortunately, the lights came back on and Eddie finally got to see everything in front of him, which meant he instantly began searching the sea of faces for Steve.

The cymbals and bass and wailing guitar were all still shouting mercilessly in his chest when he finally spotted Steve. He was sat at the bar, and he visibly brightened when he caught Eddie’s eye. Eddie was about to wave at him in greeting when Steve’s attention was drawn elsewhere.

A man approached Steve. Eddie couldn’t make out any defining features from the stage so he didn’t know who it was. But he started talking to Steve like they were old friends, snatching his gaze that had been lingering on Eddie a bit too long.

Eddie huffed as he began packing up his guitar as Jeff, Gareth, and Grant were already hauling their shit off-stage. Eddie helped them get everything into the back of his van before he headed back inside. Although, the cold night air felt refreshing on his sweaty skin, so he may have stayed outside a few minutes longer than necessary. Definitely not so he could avoid Steve just a bit longer.

As he was about to dive into the crowd, Eddie’s eyes found Steve with no trouble. Steve and the mystery man were talking, their heads angled inward, too close for Eddie’s taste. There was a twinge underneath his sternum, and the remaining adrenaline coursing throughout his body was coiling into an untidy knot in the pit of his stomach at the sight.

Steve was smiling widely at the man and laughing at something he had said when Eddie got in front of him. Steve noticed him and essentially threw himself at Eddie, his arms coiling around Eddie’s neck and Eddie’s wrapped around Steve’s waist. The proximity was soothing and calmed Eddie down, calmed his post-show nerves and eased that unnecessary weight from his shoulders.

Steve pulled away too soon for Eddie’s liking. But the beaming grin on his face was almost worth it.

”Eddie! That was fucking amazing,” Steve complimented him. “Why have I never seen you perform until tonight?”

Eddie shrugged. “Didn’t think you’d want to come,” he admitted as he shoved his hands into the front pockets of his jeans. “Y’know, I figured the metal scene wasn’t somewhere you’d feel comfortable or welcome, so I never asked.”

”Well, you are an incredible guitar player, so I’m definitely coming more often.”

The way Steve said that made Eddie’s stomach twist and jolt with apprehension. But he would be lying if he said he didn’t like the feel.

And the way he was looking at Eddie? If Eddie didn’t have a firm grip on his self-control at the moment he would be pouncing on Steve in an instant. Finally get to see what the hype was all about when it came to kissing Steve Harrington. Finally get to see what it was like to taste him as their tongues collided and—

“Oh, Eddie!” Steve’s voice knocked him out of his head. “This is Ash,” he said, gesturing to the man standing beside him.

Now, Eddie finally turned his attention to the mystery man. He hadn’t spared him a second glance since he first spotted Steve right after their set.

Ash was a few inches taller than Steve, just like Eddie. His wavy hair was dyed black — a shitty box dye at best, if Eddie had to guess — and hung delicately around his face. He wore a dingy denim jacket that was decorated with some band patches and pins, with a Bad Religion t-shirt underneath. His jeans were tattered and torn, adorned with patches of different fabric patterns and accessorized with safety pins and a couple chains. He had on annoyingly chunky black combat boots, and Eddie could just make out bland black socks sticking out. A small silver ring stuck out of each earlobe and a stud clung to one nostril.

A punk at a metal show.

A punk with Steve Harrington at a metal show, no less.

Eddie must be fucking dreaming.

“Ash, this is Eddie, Eddie, this is Ash,” Steve introduced them.

Ash gave him a tight lipped smile and a brief nod before turning his attention back to Steve. The gesture set something off inside of Eddie, and he didn’t have the guts to give it a name. At least right now.

This guy wasn't rubbing Eddie the right way, and he needed to get away. Of course, he didn't want to leave Steve, whose eyes kept returning to Eddie every few seconds. That alone would keep Eddie glued to where he was standing. But Ash the punk was crowding into Steve’s space and giving Eddie’s the cold shoulder.

"Um . . . well, th-thanks for coming, Stevie," Eddie said to Steve as enthusiastically and genuinely as he could muster. Ash was now fully standing in between Steve’s legs, effectively stealing Steve’s attention entirely. The sight made Eddie grit his teeth until it hurt.

Without another word or attempt at getting Steve to acknowledge him, Eddie spun on his heel and walked away. He shoved his way through the crowd until he was backstage. None of the guys were idling back behind the curtain when he stepped into the secluded area. Eddie groaned, grabbing his leather jacket and stomping for the back door.

Thankfully, the guys were standing next to his van. They were definitely still hyper from adrenaline but very obviously coming down. Gareth was twirling one of his drumsticks around his fingers as he leaned against the van. Jeff was bouncing on the balls of his feet while Grant was half-asleep next to him.

But as soon as they caught sight of Eddie, all signs of exhaustion vanished and they were talking at him at a million miles an hour.

"What’d Harrington think of his first Corroded Coffin performance?" Grant asked.

"Yeah, he had to have had some choice words for it," Heff added from where he was leaning against grant. "Was he polite about hating it or what?"

Grant and Jeff kept badgering Eddie with random questions from the left and the right. And honestly, Eddie couldn't find it in himself to care. Because frankly, he was exhausted, hungry, and maybe just a little bit pissed off. Gareth happened to notice his strained expression and finally relieved Eddie of the chatterboxes they call friends.

"You guys are assholes," Gareth cut in, his tone bland. "We had a damn good show, right? How 'bout we just head Eddie eddie can tell us tomorrow.”

God bless Gareth.

So Eddie reluctantly climbed into the driver's seat and, once everyone was in, he swerved out of The Hideout’s parking lot. And if his throat was tight from the urge to cry then that's for him to know, and him only.

The next morning Eddie felt like a corpse. His limbs were heavy and his head was numb as he shuffled to the kitchen for some breakfast.

As he sat and ate his sad cereal, dejectedly eating it on the couch, Eddie found himself reminiscing about the night before. He remembered having an anxiety attack all day because Steve had agreed to go see Corroded Coffin perform. Which meant his mind reminded him of the fact that Steve hadn't been alone. He had someone with him, a punk for fuck's sake.

It was more than obvious that the guy didn't want to be there. Eddie could tell he had been slightly uncomfortable in a metal-dominated environment but was too proud to say so.

What was his name again? Crash? Rash? Eh, Eddie could care less.

The way he had been all over Steve sent a paralyzing residual shiver up Eddie’s back. He had been deliberately stealing Steve’s attention, something Eddie was 100% sure of.

But Steve had been there to support a friend. Just a friend. Eddie and Steve were nothing more, so Eddie had no reason to feel like this. Whatever this is.

And, it's not like Eddie and Steve flirt like there's no tomorrow. Or that they are always pressed up against each other even when there's plenty of open space around them. Or when Steve will show up to the trailer whenever Eddie calls, when Eddie is bored or lonely, or just wants to see him (which he never outright says). And definitely not when Steve will cuddle with him without complaint.

Yeah. None of that means they're more than friends.

Although, Eddie can’t help it. He can’t push away the pulsing ache in his chest. He can’t clear away the lovesick fog from his brain. Just the thought of Steve hanging out with someone that wasn't him — save for anyone else in the party — made him sick.

He wants Steve, and he wants Steve to himself. He doesn’t want to share. And he sure as hell isn’t going to share with a bitchy fucking punk.

Jesus Christ, he needs help.

Eddie finishes his cereal and sets aside his empty bowl. He sits back against the couch cushions, anxiously nibbling on his bottom lip.

Maybe that is what he needs: help. Maybe he should just go to Steve and talk to him, tell him how he has the biggest fucking crush on him and how it makes him physically ill to think of him with anyone that isn't him.

Eddie nearly laughed at himself for just thinking that.

What about Robin? Robin could help. Yes, Robin could help Eddie!

And he knew for a fact Robin was working at the Family Video today. He could get her alone, in case Steve is working, and tell her what's going on.

Genius.

Unfortunately, when he shows up to the Family Video, Eddie is met with the sight of Steve’s BMW parked out front. Eddie is suddenly nervous, especially as he forces himself to go inside.

But someone basically rams into him when he walks through the door. Eddie finds himself apologizing before recognizing who collided with him.

Fucking Trash.

The punk grimaced at the sight of him but changed his demeanor completely when there was a laugh from further in the store.

Back behind the front counter was Steve, who was hiding his smile underneath his hand. His shoulders were gently shaking from laughing, and it made Eddie see stars.

"Ash, you remember Eddie, right?" Steve said as his giggles were dying down.

Ash — Eddie liked trash more — gave Steve a curt nod. He turned back to Eddie, his eyes cold and dark.

"Yeah, I remember him," he replied, but only loud enough for Eddie to hear. "I’ll catch ya later, Steve," he called over his shoulder before pushing past Eddie out the door.

Eddie grumbled under his breath as he made his way over to Steve. He forced a smile that quickly turned genuine at seeing Steve already smiling gently at him.

”Hi, Eddie,” Steve greeted him.

”Hiya, Stevie.” Eddie grinned brightly at him as he planted his palms flat on the surface of the counter, leaning forward until he was nearly in Steve’s space. “How’s it goin’?”

”It’s going okay,” Steve says. His eyes are soft as he stares at Eddie. “Better now.”

”Yeah? Why’s that?”

Steve shrugged with one shoulder. “I mean, you’re here, so,” he tells Eddie.

This makes Eddie smile even wider and brighter, his grin rivaling the summer sun outside.

”Oh? Little ol’ me?”

Steve doesn’t respond. All he does is gnaw on his bottom lip, clearly biting back a smile, avoiding Eddie’s eyes. It has Eddie’s heart swooping down to his stomach.

”Well, as much as I would love to stay and chat, I need to talk to Robin,” Eddie explains, once he is sure he has Steve’s blushing face imprinted on his brain. “She here?”

The diverting conversation has Steve finally meeting his eyes, but he looks a little disappointed. Although, maybe Eddie was imagining it, because the look is gone in the blink of an eye.

”I’m covering for Rob today,” Steve says. He has the ghost of a grin stretching his lips. “Said she had a family thing.”

Fuck.

Now Eddie has to wait to talk to Robin. He sure as hell isn’t driving over to her house after this. No way.

”Shit, okay.” Eddie couldn’t swallow the slight panic that had found its way into his voice.

”Is everything okay, Eds?” Steve asks, his eyebrows scrunching up.

Eds. Eds. Eds.

Fucking hell, this boy was going to be the death of Eddie.

”Uh, y-yeah, everything’s fine, Stevie,” Eddie says in assurance. “Just had a question for Robin. It can wait, though.”

Steve nods, though he doesn’t look completely convinced.

”But I’ve gotta go now. Talk to ya later.”

Eddie begins to walk back towards the exit when he finds himself stopping just as he is about to reach for the handle to the door. He bites down on his lip as hard as he can before turning back towards Stev.

”Y’wanna go see Corroded Coffin again next Friday?”

Steve’s eyes are wide as he nods enthusiastically.

”Yeah, of course! I’d love to.”

”Sick.” Eddie smiles at Steve once more. “I’ll see ya later, sweetheart.”

And with that, Eddie finally pushes the door and leaves the Family Video. He harshly bites his lip as he’s getting in to his van, scolding himself for inviting Steve to The Hideout again. At this point he’s basically setting himself up for failure, especially if Steve brings Stash next week. The thought sends a jolt of discomfort down Eddie’s spine as he starts the van and gets the hell out of that parking lot.

Eddie didn’t see either Steve or Robin the rest of the week. He was terrified for Friday night but he had to get over himself one way or another. So if that meant seeing his crush bring another guy to his band’s gig, then so fucking be it, right?

Gareth had definitely noticed Eddie’s change in behavior since he first invited Steve to The Hideout. Eddie hadn’t disclosed anything to him or the rest of the band, but Gareth had seen Steve and his plus-one during their performance last week. He knew Eddie wouldn’t react well.

And react well Eddie did not.

Eddie ended up ranting to Gareth profusely after going to Family Video for Robin, where he saw Steve instead. He had bitched on and on about Ash, the annoying punk who had stolen Steve’s attention like it were a pot of gold, something that could be bought and used for his own gain.

Now, if Eddie is honest, he doesn’t have anything against punks. He thinks they’re great people and that they are a very welcoming community. But Ash had rubbed him wrong, and he couldn’t place his finger on why. Their brief interactions had a left a permanent sour taste in Eddie’s mouth.

Now, here he is, just like he was the week prior: standing in the shadows of the curtain, anxiously waiting for Corroded Coffin to go on stage while he scoured the growing crowd for a glimpse of Steve.

Eddie didn’t catch sight of Steve before they had to take the stage. He lost himself in the music, just like always, and hoped to whatever deity that may be watching over him that Stev was here. That Steve was here, not Ash and Ash.

But the almighty deity or whatever the fuck is a cruel bastard. Because as he was done loading all of Corroded Coffin’s instruments and gear into the back of his van, Eddie saw Steve sitting next to Ash at a booth. And Robin?

Without thinking, Eddie pushed his way through the crowd until he reached his friends’ table. Steve was the first to spot him, who jumped to his feet and hugged Eddie tightly. He didn’t seem to notice — or care — that Eddie was still sweaty from performing, or how Eddie clung to him longer than usual.

Robin sure did, though!

Robin cleared her throat from behind Eddie. Steve pulled away from Eddie rather quickly at that, and sat back down next to Ash, who was toying with one of his necklaces, obviously bored. But Eddie couldn’t bring himself to care, especially as Robin gave him a speedy hug before sliding into the booth.

”Eddie, that was awesome!” Robin compliments him once he is sat on the end of the booth across from Steve. “You guys rock.”

”Aw, thanks, Rob,” Eddie says with a genuine smile.

Robin continues talking at Eddie, but he’s just so tired that he begins spacing out. His head is swimming and his heart rate hasn’t calmed down much since the band finished their set. He doesn’t think he’ll stick around much longer before heading home.

Before Eddie can bring himself to politely cut robin off, Steve speaks up.

”Hey, I’m gonna go get some drinks,” he announces as he stands. He looks at Ash. “C’mon. You can come help me.”

Ash rolls his eyes but follows after Steve anyways. Eddie watches them walk away, not realizing he’s glaring at Ash until Robin nudges him. He whips his head around to look at her. All he sees is her looking at him, her eyebrows raised and a pointed gleam in her eyes.

”What?”

”Really?” Robin scoffs. “That’s all you have to say?”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Eddie replies, confused.

Robin groans. “Oh, my god, Eddie. Steve. Your crush on him is blatantly obvious, and it hurts to watch sometimes.”

“Oh, fuck off,” Eddie snaps, but there’s no bite to his voice. He crosses his arms over his chest. “My crush on him is not that obvious, okay? And even if it was, I doubt he feels the same. He’s got Mash over there to keep him company.”

”His name is Ash,” Robin corrects him, although there is a hint of a snicker in her words. “And Steve and Ash just hang out. They met a few weeks ago when Ash came in to the Family Video, and then they became friends. That’s it.”

”You weren’t here last week, Rob. You didn’t see how they were with each other.”

”Yeah? What were they doing? Ash getting all up in Steve’s face and giving him just a little bit of his attention? Steve eating that shit up? Was that what you saw?”

”Well, yeah, but—“

“No, stop. Steve—“ Robin takes a moment to take a deep breath, as if she’s mulling something over. Eddie looks over at her. “Steve likes you, Eddie. A lot. But I don’t think he knows how to deal with that. So I think he’s trying to distract himself with someone who gives him just an ounce of their time, someone who feels familiar. But I know he wants your attention more than anyone else’s.”

He sighs. “Fine. I was gonna talk to you about this anyways, but looks like you beat me to it, Buckley.”

Tobin shoots him a small grin. “Don’t wait too long, okay?” she tells him. Her smile falters before it falls entirely. “He isn’t very nice about, y’know . . . to both me and Steve.”

Eddie doesn’t have to guess what she’s referring to so vaguely. He knows it all too well. Somehow Ash knows about Robin or he was able to figure it out all on his own, which makes Eddie see red.

Eddie clenches his jaw. He hates that Robin is right. Ash isn’t someone Eddie should be envious of. He’s honestly not that attractive, and his cold personality is also not attractive by any means. He is off-putting and had made Eddie uncomfortable right off the bat when they first met. There’s nothing good about him that Eddie has been able to see thus far.

And he could tell what Robin was trying to tell him: tell Steve how he feels. He needs to, especially if this dickhead has been passive aggressive to two of his best friends. Steve and Robin mean a lot to Eddie, and he’d be damned if he let someone get away with harassing them.

”You’ve gotta be fucking kidding me,” Eddie mutters under his breath. He glances back over at the bar to see Steve and Ash heading towards them with glasses of alcohol in hand.

Before Steve can hand Eddie a drink or sit down, Eddie stands. He comes face to face with Steve, whose eyes are wide as he looks at him.

”I’m gonna head home,” Eddie tells him softly. “But thank you for coming, Stevie. Mean a lot to me and the guys.”

Even under the dark lighting of The Hideout, Eddie can clearly Steve’s steve’s face flush bright red. He blinks a couple times before he comes up with a reply.

”Of course, Eds,” Steve says. “I love watching you play.”

Eddie smiles gently at him.

”Good to know.” Eddie bites his tongue momentarily. “Hey, do you wanna come over tomorrow? I need to tell you something.”

”Uh, yeah, sure. Are you okay?”

”Y-Yeah. I’m okay,” Eddie assures him, though it’s a partial lie. “But uh, I’ll see at 6 o’clock tomorrow night? Wayne will be at work.”

Steve nods. “Yeah. I’ll see you then.”

”Cool. See ya, Stevie.”

And with that, Eddie dives back into the crowd until he makes it to the back door backstage. He doesn’t see the rest of the band, but then remembers Jeff had driven his own car and took Gareth and Grant home right after the show.

Eddie is shaking as he drives through the dark. He’s anxious and nervous and downright pissed off. Learning that Ash has been rude and nasty to Robin and Steve about things that they can’t change about themselves is quite possibly the worst thing that could have happened tonight.

When he gets home, Eddie stumbles through the living room of the trailer half-blindly. His vision is blurry from exhaustion, but also from a bought of tears that wants to fall so badly. He chokes them back as he showers. He chokes them back as he puts on semi-clean pajamas. He chokes them back as he curls up in his blankets, wishing sleep would come to him faster.

Eventually, Eddie does slip into a feeble slumber. Anxiety has been chewing away at him since he invited Steve over. He wakes up groggy and grumpy around noon, even though he was already half awake by nine.

Alas, his anxiety does not waver as the day passes. If anything, it gets worse. Then when Wayne is getting ready to leave to head to the plant he stops in Eddie’s open door.

”Hey, Eddie,” he greets him. Eddie snaps his head up to look at his uncle. “Your boy comin’ over tonight?”

”He’s not my—“ Eddie drags out a sigh, knowing it’s not worth arguing with Wayne on the matter. at least right now. “Um, yeah. Yeah, Steve’s coming over to hang out. Hope that’s okay.”

”Course it’s okay,” Wayne says. There’s a mischievous twinkle in his eyes that Eddie does not like seeing, especially when it comes to Steve. “He go to your show last night, then? Y’know, if he’s not your boy after all?”

”Oh, my god. Get out, old man!”

Wayne chuckles softly before telling Eddie goodbye and leaving the trailer for the night. That leaves Eddie alone with his thoughts for the next little while.

And he can’t stop thinking about what he’s going to say to Steve. What could he say? Other than confessing his undying love for him, and how he cares about him more than anything else, what would he even say in the moment?

This is hopeless, Eddie realizes. He is hopeless. He’s bound to make a fool of himself, thus making Steve uncomfortable and ultimately leaving without Eddie even getting a proper sentence out.

He is utterly doomed.

Then there’s a knock on the front door, and Eddie begins to wonder if it’s too late to escape through his window.

But he’s made it this far, hasn’t he? He can make it another hour or so.

Eddie takes a deep breath as he goes to open the door. His pulse is thudding in his neck, and part of him wishes it would just burst spontaneously and kill him. He stamps down the brief thought once he’s face-to-face with Steve. And Steve . . .

Damn, Eddie loves seeing Steve in his tight little polos. They work for him, and he loves it. Eddie would never be caught dead in one himself, but Steve pulls them off so well.

He could pull something else off.

Eddie internally scolds himself for that as he steps aside to let Steve in. Steve smiles at him once the door is closed. But there’s an air of anticipation around them, and Eddie finds himself gagging on it.

“Hi,” Steve greets him. And god, Eddie is already completely gone. How is he supposed to confess his crush on Steve when the guy is looking at him like that? With that charming look on his handsome face, making Eddie get all soft and gooey on the inside? It’s unfair.

”Hi,” Eddie breathes out.

Steve stares at him for a few more seconds, then says, “I don’t mean to be forward or anything, but you said you had something to tell me?”

”Oh, yeah. Right.” Eddie swallows nervously. “Follow me.”

He leads Steve down the hall to his bedroom, where he stands by the door as Steve gingerly sits on the edge of Eddie’s bed. He looks mildly off-kilter and Eddie can’t have that.

Eddie heads for the bed and sits down. He scoots back until he can sit crisscross with plenty of space between him and Steve. This gets Steve to turn towards him, thus pulling one leg up onto the mattress and folding it at the knee. He begins picking idly at his shoelace.

”So, um . . .”

He can’t do this. Why did he think he could do this? This was so much worse than what he had initially anticipated from Robin’s words last night. He was insane for thinking this would be easy.

But Steve is looking at him, his fingers still playing with his shoelace. He’s staring intently and patiently at Eddie as he searches for the right words.

It takes a while but Eddie thinks he knows what he wants to say.

”Never did I expect to be friends with Steve Harrington,” Eddie begins hesitantly. “It was never something I particularly wanted, if I’m honest. But when Henderson and the other gremlins joined Hellfire and they were talking about this Steve guy, I would have never guessed you were one in the same. ‘Cause that Steve gave them rides to school and wherever else out of the kindness of his heart. That Steve was graduated and friends with freshmen. So this supposedly cool Steve I didn’t know was an utter mystery to me.

”Then Henderson finally had us meet. And shit, man, you . . . you were so much better than what I expected. ‘Cause I wasn’t expecting King Steve to be the one those gremlins would not shut up about. And yet, there you were. And I—“ Eddie pauses, glancing briefly at Steve. “I got to learn firsthand that you are truly a good dude. You changed for the better since high school, and that had me scrambling.”

Eddie chances another glance to see Steve still staring at him. But his eyebrows are knitting together and his eyes are shiny and wet.

”You threw me for a loop, Stevie,” Eddie goes on. “I was suddenly spinning out of control but I liked it. I still like it. And I like how caring you are. I like how selfless you are. I like the way you shamelessly flirt with everyone. I like your hugs, whenever you’re comfortable with touch. I like— I like you.”

He says the last part so quietly he barely hears it himself. Though it’s clear that Steve heard it. His eyes are wide and his cheeks are cherry red and Eddie can’t drag his eyes away from him. His heart is racing but he’s too far gone.

”And when you finally came to see us play, I was so excited.” Eddie sniffles, struggling to restrain the tears suddenly begging to fall. “But you had someone with you, and I figured that you were on a date or some shit, I dunno. I got jealous. I got angry. It was obvious to me that you like Ash, so I decided to wallow in my self pity instead of saying something.”

Eddie finally looks away from Steve. He  doesn’t see the tears slip down Steve’s face or the way he’s staring at Eddie with imaginary hearts popping out of his skull. But Eddie said what he wanted to say. What more can he do?

As Eddie’s  gaze is glued to his pillows, Steve shuffles over to him. Eddie grinds his teeth in an attempt to ground himself and Steve settles in next to him, their knees almost touching. The proximity is suddenly terrifying.

”I don’t like Ash like that,” Steve finally says, his voice quiet. “We just hang out sometimes. And he invited himself to The Hideout, but I didn’t wanna be a bitch and tell him no. I do, however, like you. I like you a lot, Eds. Like, it’s insane how much, really.”

A beat passes before there’s a gentle hand cradling Eddie’s jaw. He tenses but allows Steve to maneuver his head to look at him. Steve is smiling gently.

”You okay?” Steve asks.

Eddie returns his smile, albeit a bit sad. “Yeah. I’m okay.”

Steve leans forward until his forehead is resting against Eddie’s. Eddie closes his eyes and basks in the warmth from Steve, the relief he feels after the massive weight has been lifted from his shoulders.

Eddie can feel Steve brushing his thumb along his jawline, and Eddie never wants him to stop.

“Eddie?”

Steve’s voice is close to a whisper.

”Yes, sweetheart?”

”Can— Can K kiss you?”

Eddie’s nodding as Steve finally closes the distance between them.

The feeling of his lips on Steve’s is infinitely better than his initial theory. Steve’s lips are soft and plush and Eddie finds himself reaching for that tight little polo. Eddie grabs onto the fabric and holds tight.

Eddie has no idea how long they’re kissing. He ended up feeling adventurous once he felt Steve brushing his tongue along his lips, and almost fell apart at the seams when Steve began licking into his mouth.

Steve crawled into Eddie’s lap. Eddie immediately wrapped one arm around Steve’s waist and the other slipped into his hair, his fingertips scratching lightly at Steve’s scalp. He experimentally pulls a bit, and is more than satisfied at the small whine it derives from Steve. Steve has both hands on either side of Eddie’s face as they just kept kissing and kissing.

But Steve eventually pulls away from Eddie. His fingers slip into Eddie’s hair as Eddie is blinking open his eyes. He sees Steve’s lips are red and swollen, and he is blushing like mad. His eyelids are at half-mast and the beautiful hazel of his irises are nearly pitch black from his dilated pupils.

“I also really like kissing you,” Eddie says in a breathy voice. It earns a smile from Steve.

”I like kissing you, too,” Steve tells him.

athey lean their foreheads together once more, and Eddie has never felt so relaxed or so hyper in his life. But Steve is massaging his head with the tips of his fingers and the calm begins to outweigh the nerves.

”Stay the night?” Eddie asks. His thumb is rubbing circles into Steve’s hip, and a soft sigh comes as a reply.

”I’d love to.”

”Good.” Eddie bites his lip. “What does this mean for us?”

”I don’t know,” Steve answers. “But personally, I like the idea of being your boyfriend.”

A chuckle escapes Eddie’s throat. “I like that idea too,” he says with a smile. “You wanna be mine, Stevie?”

“Yeah, I’ll be yours, Eds.”

With that, Eddie wraps his arms around Steve’s middle and Steve wraps his around Eddie’s neck. Steve buries his face in Eddie’s hair, his breathing tickling Eddie’s ear. And if this wasn’t the best feeling ever.