Archive of Our Own ^beta

Steve knows, he knows shouldn’t be lamenting his lack of a date for Valentine’s day, that he’s been lucky to have a partner to show off every year since he was 14. But he’d been having bad luck with ladies before Vecna, searching for that spark he’d had with Nancy and never finding it. So much energy put into wheeling a girl just so he could tell (brag to) someone else (Dustin and/or Robin) about it and not feel like a loser that hit his high before 18.

Before the upside down changed them all forever.  

Before he knew what it felt like to be chewed on.

So yeah, a good portion of this past year his body has been semi-mangled, the PTSD firmly rooted in place, and he’s been unable to sleep through the fucking night. Not all that strange that he’s been feeling even more broken than his semi-new baseline.

And so ok, without thinking overly hard (he’ll be the first to admit he has a tendency to inelegantly blurt shit out), he pours his heart and woes all over present company; in this case Eddie. And is in turn rudely mocked for his ‘role in perpetuating the crass commercialism of Hallmark’ whatever the fuck that meant.

They’re smoking in Eddie’s room, some German band (Helloween? Cute.) playing at the slightly more manageable ‘company’s over’ decibel levels.

Eddie’s sat on the desk, feet in a wobbly wooden chair, plucking at guitar strings along with the music. Steve has witnessed this routine dozens of times at this point; those fingers diligently plucking out a song over and over till he gets it just right, the triumphant smile when something is played straight through perfectly for the first time. Steve is always so impressed the guy can just listen to music and replicate what he hears.

“Do gay guys even do Valentine’s day?” Steve hands the joint back to Eddie who takes it with a slight scoff.

“Not sure man. Haven’t exactly had a boyfriend. Ever.” Well, that’s- really surprising actually. Eddie’s definitely weird, but in like a sexy nerd way? Which, yeah, isn’t everyone’s thing necessarily but the guy has a good face and nice body. Just acted like a charming goofball and dressed…odd. But even Steve can admit there’s a lot of appeal to the style the guy is rocking, very Lost boys or Class of 1984. And it’s way more weird to Steve that no one has been into that.

“But like, you’ve been on dates right?” Eddie rolls his eyes, plucking hard at a string.

“Not as such.” His voice sounds like it’s trying to be terribly nonchalant, but they’ve been friends for almost a year now and Steve can tell he’s hitting some kind of nerve. This is a side of Eddie they never talk about.

The few times the other man ventured to talk about his sexuality (‘girls are like, cute and stuff, but at most I just want to, I don’t know, talk about their hair-care routine and bo- uh, just hang out’) he seemed stilted and uncomfortable, and since Steve doesn’t know how to make him more comfortable beyond full acceptance, he never asks many of the questions burning his brain. Eddie is the only gay man he’s ever met as far as he knows, and Steve is weirdly curious.

He feels that need to understand rush up inside him. Robin calls it his ‘nosy need-to-know.’ This is something he’s just not gonna let go this time.

“Sooo what, you just don’t get laid?” Eddie laughs luckily, but it sounds kind of tight and forced.

“Dude, I don’t exactly need to be wined and dined to show a guy a good time.” Which is such a foreign concept to Steve he’s genuinely taken aback. He thoroughly enjoys the wining and dining part! Treating someone special, making them feel good. Has no one ever tried to make Eddie feel good? Is it just different for guys with other guys?

Steve imagines asking out a generic dude. Picking him up in his beemer, giving direct sincere compliments to make him blush, going to the movies, sitting together in the anticipation-laden dark, the nerves of deciding exactly when to hold his hand. Which- they wouldn’t really be able to do in a town like this huh? Is that why Eddie has never been on a date?

Steve feels a flash of anger and helplessness. Squeezes a fist tightly.

Fuck it, he’d hold his hand anyway, just more covertly. Finds a syrupy sweetness coating his stomach as he thinks of two people caring about each other so much they find secret, hidden ways to love and be together despite the fear and possible repercussions.

So yeah, he thinks even if he was only interested in guys, he’d still like the dating part just as much.

Especially with Eddie.

Who Steve finds unexpectedly charming, viciously witty and spontaneously up for any adventure. Who’s such a dork he often calls the things they do an adventure, or even better, a quest. Whatever he titles it, whatever they do, their hang-outs are always full of Eddie’s lyrical voice and big hands gesticulating through vibrant stories and laughter.

Steve looks forward to it every time. Looks forward to the Eddie of it. How could someone else have never felt that way about him? He’s Steve’s best guy friend, maybe the best friend outside of Robin he’s ever had. Just can’t imagine that so far no one else has seemed to see how wonderful Eddie is, how good it feels to make him feel good.

Steve stays silent for a while, sitting against the mattress, letting the weed disconnect his thoughts for a bit.

“Sooooo,” Eddie leads. Steve tilts his head to look up at him. Dark eyes flick to his quickly and then away. “What’s it like? Uh, the dating thing.” Steve sits up a bit, intrigued. Eddie has stopped playing with his guitar for the moment, instead picking at the edge of his cut-off sweats. Steve wrestles his fuzzy mind back to working by taking a large gulp of water, letting fresh clarity burst into his brain.

For some reason he has a burning urge to really sell the ‘dating thing’ to Eddie.

“I mean,” clears his throat. “First off it’s just, like fun. You go out with someone you like, hope they might like you too, do an activity you both enjoy. It’s like being with a friend that you really want to kiss.” Eddie nods a little and elation takes hold of Steve.

“Yeah, there’s all this anticipation, even if it’s not the first date. Cause you really like each other, feel really attracted to each other. When your eyes meet your whole body fizzes with adrenaline and you just want to feel them against you.” 

Eddie squirms suddenly and Steve wonders if he made him uncomfortable. They never really talk about sex. Steve’s tried a few times, but Eddie seems so fucking uncomfortable with it all that he’d felt too bad to try again. Tonight’s the first night he’s talked about dating in a while. Well, that was easy seeing as he’d given up dating since…since Vecna? Fuck.

Steve sways a little acknowledging that. Jesus Christ, it’s been almost a year?! His ability to compartmentalize was getting a little too scary. Why hadn’t Robin said anything? How could he not have noticed?? But, it’s not like Steve hasn’t had dry spells before.

After his break up with Nancy it took him almost 8 months to recover. And this time dating would have had to include months of healing, constant nightmares, and the fucked-up landscape of his body. So yeah, he hasn’t really felt the compulsion to invite a new person to experience all of that.

And he hasn’t really been lonely though cause all that potential date-time has been taken up in the man across from him since Robin left for school. Huh.

Eddie breaks him out of his painful reveries. “It kind of, to these simple ears, sounds like a complicated, expensive way to prolong the process of getting laid.” Eddie’s voice is smirky and teasing, but Steve just feels a rush of sadness. Like finding out someone can’t really taste food.

That they don’t even have an idea of what they’re missing.

“Yeah well. Some things are nice to savor.” Dark eyes snap up, piercing into Steve. He feels held down under the intensity. Steve watches in real time as red emerges on Eddie’s cheeks before he starts fiddling around with the guitar again and clears his throat.

“Can’t really take the time to savor when you’re fucking in a bar bathroom, or an alley. Or sometimes if I like them enough, back of the van parked out of the way.” Eddie’s voice is deep and rumbly, eyebrows wiggly in a ridiculous suggestive way.

Saliva pools under Steve’s tongue, hot flushing embarrassment tingling across his skin, forcing his nipples to harden. He breathes out harshly as he feels his cock twitch. Sometimes Eddie’s voice just did that to him.

Before he can shove the reactions away like he usually does, he’s suddenly imagining Eddie in all of those places. It’s just confused snippets of hands grabbing, lips sliding against each other in the dark, too worried about getting caught to really fall into it.

“Those the only places you’ve had sex?” His voice is thin, he takes another gulp of water. Well, he had wanted Eddie to feel comfortable talking about his sex life.

Eddie looks surprised, then confused. “Uh….and the woods?” Shrugs. Just fucking shrugs. Steve’s heart breaks a little more.

“Dude, in all seriousness: you need to find better guys.” Eddie lets out a bark of laughter, covers his mouth quickly as if he’d shocked himself- pops his eyes open wide so wide, letting some giggles out through his long, (talented, dexterous) fingers.

Steve stares at that hand, so much bigger and stronger than a girl’s. Eddie clears his throat, letting it fall away to nod sagely.

“You know, you may be correct there Stevie. Unfortunately, the pool in which I humbly tread is not well stocked.” And of course, he’s right. There’s probably only a few very closeted choices in the surrounding area, and more numerous but dangerous choices in the bigger towns and cities. Steve thinks of those secret, hidden moments and understands why most gay men wouldn’t bother with dating.

An idea shapes a little in his mind, but he doesn’t want to look too closely, like staring into the face of a Demogorgon while only holding a bat. Understands it’s a deeply terrifying thing that if he looks at directly, he’s gonna fuck up the swing.

He breathes. Tips his head back to stare at the ceiling again.

“That’s a real shame Munson, bet you’d be fun to seduce. You’re quite the catch.”

The guitar squeals out a sour chord and when Steve looks over Eddie is half off the desk, bracing a hand against his dresser as if he’d fallen.

“Alright there klutz?” Eddie glares and flips him off. He rights himself and saunters over to the amp, hips sashaying outlandishly. Steve traces his eyes all over them anyway, wondering what they would feel like gripped beneath his hands. He’s so distracted he doesn’t notice the sound getting cranked till Eddie starts shredding as hard and loud as possible.

Steve screams, throwing hands over his ears and launches himself out of the room. The noise finally stops as Eddie collapses into laughter.

“Fuck you man! Not cool.” Steve shakes his head at his friend dramatically rolling against the wall. He snorts, glances over at the clock on the microwave. “Shit, it’s almost 3, I should go.”

Eddie stops laughing, but a huge grin is still biting his face. Instead of staring at his dimples (again) Steve moves to the door, bending over to slip on his shoes. He hears Eddie come into the living room behind him.

“Well Harrington, tonight was certainly an education.” He straightens quickly enough to catch Eddie’s eyes somewhere below his waist before they bounce away, but Steve can see they’re shimmering with mirth and something like nervousness.

The idea blooms again, and Steve lets it live. Wants it to live.

“Since you’re not busy, you want to hang out Saturday? Have an early shift, so I’ll be done by 4.” Eddie looks completely taken aback.

“You want to hang out. On Valentine’s Day. With me?” Steve shrugs like it’s not a big deal, but his heart is thumping wildly.

“The new Stallone movie will be out and I can’t go Friday. Although Friday the 13^th seems like your thing.” Eddie laughs beautifully at that, crossing his arms. He looks down at the floor bashfully while Steve waits in a few agonizing breaths of silence.

“I shall be the first to admit it is indeed more up my alley.” His foot taps rapidly for a moment. Then throws his arms out dramatically. “Sure Stevie, fuck it. Let’s go to the movies on the corniest day of the year.” He points a menacing finger. “But if you get me flowers I shall stuff them down your throat.”

It’s Steve who laughs this time, shaking his head.

“Wouldn’t dream of it.” Their eyes finally catch comfortably together, Eddie’s filled with so much warmth Steve feels himself sway towards him. He resists the pull and opens the door.

Eddie says “see you Saturday then?” the slight upswing making it a question. They’re still just looking at each other.

“Yeah man, see you Saturday.” Eddie watches him down the steps, and yeah maybe it’s a little dangerous to be walking backwards but Steve doesn’t want to break the eye contact, cause the longer it goes the higher Eddie’s eyebrows get, the wider and more bitten his smile goes.

He finally has to look down to unlock the car, but when he looks back Eddie is still watching, his gaze soft and open.

The urge to go back up the steps and kiss the other man is so overwhelming Steve grabs onto the frame of his car. Want pulses through him in a way it hasn’t in over a year. He shakes all over with it. Manages to get out, “Night Eddie.”

Wonders if the other man would let him, if he would pull Steve back into the trailer, into his bedroom. Push Steve back onto his bed and-

“Night Steve.”

Steve takes a deep breath, gives a little wave and finally scrambles into the car. Cranks the music to get out of his own head and starts the journey back home.   

-

02/14/1987

Saturday has Steve staring at the ridiculous pile of clothes teetering on his bed, amazed at himself for this level of frustration. He’s showered, shaved, his hair is done and now he just needs an outfit but can’t decide the level of...trying he’s going for.

He’s still on the edge of committing to the idea of taking Eddie Munson out on a date. And one Eddie had only tangentially agreed to. Cause he doesn’t actually know it’s a date. But is it? It doesn’t have to be, can be just two guy friends hanging out like losers because they couldn’t get real dates.

But then Steve thinks about Eddie only being with guys who wanted one thing that definitely didn’t include making Eddie feel like someone special, maybe taking him rough and hard when Eddie…maybe he wanted soft and sweet? Did Eddie even know he might want that?

What’s it like?

And that’s the thing isn’t it? Why Steve is panicking over getting this just right; he wants to give Eddie something good that is just for him, wants to sweep him off his feet and maybe see if those lips are as plush as they look.

Steve closes his eyes and breathes deeply. Usually when his thoughts strayed in that direction, he firmly shuts it down. Kissing other boys isn’t something he’d ever intended acting on so why even think about it?

But now, now that he had Eddie’s soft question running freely in his brain (what’s it like?) and the knowledge that Eddie has never been properly treated (to Steve’s standards), he lets himself really think of kissing Eddie. Imagines pulling him close, getting a hand up into all that wild hair to tilt him just right-

Holy shit. Yeah, he’s doing this.

With that settled in his mind he grabs a pair of tight white-wash jeans, the yellow cable knit sweater Robin had gotten him for Christmas (I kind of missed the old one, you looked nice dingus) and a plain white polo underneath with the collar popped.

He snags a folded-up piece of paper from the desk before he can change his mind out of horrifying embarrassment, ignoring the clothing heap as a later-Steve problem. He rushes downstairs in a flurry of nerves to grab his wallet, the nicer of his jackets and new bright white, blue checked Nikes.

He has an hour and a half-hour still before they need to be at the theater but the anticipation is boiling so high Steve decides it doesn’t really matter if he’s early right?

It's like he blinks and he’s pulling to a stop in front of Eddie’s trailer. Before his nerves can crank back up he jumps out and practically runs up the short staircase, knocking probably too hard on the door.

There’s a thump and some swearing from inside, just discernable over whatever metal album Eddie is playing. The door opens forcefully, warm air immediately enveloping Steve and his mind whites out.

Eddie is shirtless.

His long scarred torso is on full display and Steve hasn’t seen this much of his skin since last July, the only time Eddie went in the pool with the rest of them. The day that kick-started Steve actively not thinking about touching Eddie, just because he’d wondered if he’d put on sunscreen, and then wondered if Eddie would let Steve put sunscreen on him and what it would feel like to smooth his hands all over that pale skin.

So this is a lot for Steve. Who hasn’t said anything. Fuck.

“Uh, hey sorry I’m early.” Eddie laughs, stepping back and gesturing Steve graciously into his home, as if Steve isn’t over all the time.

“That is more than alright, but as you can see, I am not quite ready for public consumption.”

I’d consume you.

Steve squeaks and wants to smack himself. Eddie just gives him an odd look.

“Uh-” clears his throat. “No problem man, make yourself…consumable, or whatever.” Thankfully Eddie just laughs at his idiocy. Win for Steve.

Eddie backs towards his bedroom, eyes sweeping quickly down Steve’s body. He takes several deep breaths to stay calm. Eddie is probably just judging him for his ‘relentlessly preppy’ clothes. He still hopes the other man likes what he sees anyway.

“Um, make yourself at home.” Is mumbled and then Eddie damn near scampers away, slamming the bedroom door shut.

Steve lets out an explosive breath, running his hands through his hair before remembering he’s trying to look good, date good. He grits his teeth and moves to check it out in the microwave, fixing it back into place.

He has fully committed to giving Eddie the Steve Harrington Experience and that’s what he’s going to get. Admittedly a slightly pared-down version, but good enough to make Eddie want to date Steve. Wait, no. Good enough to make Eddie want to date in general. Cause dating is fun and Steve is going to show Eddie that.

He braces his hands against the counter-top and breathes some more. Maybe he should have talked to Robin. But she probably would have tried to talk him out of this, found some really good arguments that would have Steve even more nervous, cause he’s at least smart enough to recognize he would have gone ahead and put himself in this situation anyway.

He actually feels a bit better realizing that; not even Robin’s well-meaning pointing out of his dumbassery would have been enough to keep Steve from making a fool of himself. Good to know.

“I see you kept your promise of no flowers.” Steve whips around as Eddie saunters into the kitchen and he’s taken by the same feeling he’d get when seeing a pretty girl all dressed up, just for him. Like electricity is zapping around inside his chest and stomach, so flustered that someone liked him enough to try. Because Eddie…it looks like he’s actually trying. He looks incredible.

The pants have changed, are probably the only pair Eddie owns without any holes, still black of course. But his shirt is a jewel blue Henley that Steve has never seen, unbuttoned so his sharp collarbones are visible. It’s such a striking and flattering color on Eddie that Steve immediately wants to buy him more clothes in that exact shade.

“Holy shit you look good.” Steve breathes out without thinking, then flushes with embarrassment when he realizes he said that out loud.

Eddie, who’s been fiddling with latching a bracelet, snaps his head up in surprise and the metal goes clattering to the ground. Steve immediately bends to pick it up, moving maybe closer than necessary to hand it back.

Their fingers brush lightly as Eddie reaches for it and Steve feels raw and achy where they touch. He shoves his hand into his jacket pocket before it can do something insane like wrap around Eddie’s neck and pull him in for a kiss. Jesus.

“Uh, thanks Steve.” Eddie’s voice is shaky and he doesn’t look up as he finishes putting the bracelet on. But then those large dark eyes, even more luminous when paired with that color, Jesus Christ, flick up from under his long eyelashes. “Right back at ya handsome.”

His smile is flirty and teasing just like how Eddie always is, but it still makes Steve flush even deeper. He tries to think of anything else to say, remembering the comment Eddie made before Steve melted over a shirt.

“Right, so no flowers upon pain of choking, but you can’t have Valentine’s Day without something corny.” He takes out a box of candy hearts and flicks them at Eddie who fumbles the catch but laughs uproariously when he recognizes them. Steve also pulls out the folded paper and hands it over a little less forcefully.

His nerves jump around as Eddie unfolds it good-naturedly, watches his eyes sweep over Steve’s admittedly bad drawing of a shark coming up from the bottom, mouth opened to swallow a swimmer that looks nothing like Eddie cause Steve can’t art for his life, but he made the hair really curly to get the point across.

Eddie snorts at the drawing, his eyes lifting to read the message:

You’re Jawsome!

Be my Valentine

Steve xoxo

Steve had expected more laughter, some jokes at his expense about the shitty drawing and even shittier pun. What he hadn’t expect is the man to go all soft, his smile wide and surprised.

“Jaws,” Eddie says, looking up through those insane lashes again, “is my favorite movie.” Steve swallows.

“Yeah man, I know.” Eddie bites his lip, shakes his head, and carefully folds the paper back up, slipping in into his jean pocket. Then he forcefully clears his throat and claps his hands together theatrically.

“Alright Mr. Harrington, we’re all dressed up with places to go!” Some kind of manic energy takes hold and Eddie flies around the trailer, jacket wallet and shoes picked up along the path of his whirlwind.

Steve just stands in the middle, laughing at Eddie’s exuberance, proud that he is at least part of the reason, because Eddie seems a lot more flattered by the gifts than put off.

That’s at least good start.

___________________

They grab pizza first, falling into the old argument about pineapple enhancing or desecrating the sanctity of bread, sauce and cheese. Steve shakes his head, appalled that Argyle’s brief stint in Hawkin ruined his respect for the people he thought he knew. At least El, Lucas and Max are on his side. Pineapple on pizza is sacrilege.

It’s so comfortable and familiar that Steve forgets any subtext to the energy tonight till he looks up to see a group of highschoolers walk in holding hands. Because they’re in pairs of girls and boys and they’re allowed to do that.

He looks across the table at Eddie, his hands are slightly greasy and flickering hypnotically around to help emphasis why the sweetness of pineapple pairs beautifully with the salty, stretchy cheese and Steve wants to take one so badly he has to clutch at his napkin to stop himself.

Eddie seems to take his silence as some kind of agreement because he’s suddenly making plans for a blind pizza-tasting party (at Steve’s of course, best set up, best hospitality) while sorting through the box of candy hearts and Steve is so enamored he just nods along, realizing with a lot of self-loathing that he’s actually going to try the vileness of pineapple on pizza yet again, just to make the man in front of him happy.

It’s in a daze that he waves away Eddie’s money and pays for the food, getting a “thanks Stevie” purred at him. Steve tries to hide the shiver it elicits with a cough. His body is starting to thrum with anticipation.

He thinks he should take this slow, take this careful, but now that he’s allowed his libido the tiniest peak at a possible future it’s like he’s been lit up inside. He’s aching for the other man.

And now they’re going to be pressed together in a dark theater. No big deal.

___________

The Hawk is absolutely packed, but almost everyone is part of a couple and flooding the theater showing the newest romcom. A few have decided to Stallone it up, but the girls of those pairs look less than thrilled and consequentially the theater is fairly empty, making it easy for them to secure seats in the empty back-half of the theater.

Steve wants to say he actually enjoys the movie, but he really isn’t paying attention for most of it. First trying to wrestle (is this movie about arm-wrestling, seriously?) every piece of popcorn from Eddie’s greedy claws- grabbing his shoulder, pinning his leg in place with his own- till the other man finally shares, after enough people have shushed them.

Then he just has to deal with Eddie leaning over with his own commentary every few minutes, his lips close, his breath hot and buttery as it slides over Steve’s ear. So of course, Steve has to give back as good as he gets, mostly gossiping about the people he recognizes around the theater, making Eddie giggle with juicy pieces of embarrassments from parties and high school.

Eddie seems to actually be getting into the move about halfway through, eyes riveted to the screen and Steve can’t look away. His profile is captivating, lips slightly parted, light flickering over his features.

This is the moment.

The moment Steve would make his move; scoot in close, lay his arm gently over his date’s shoulder, let them snuggle up into him. But Steve’s too uneasy about that. No one is around them, but if someone looked back and saw Steve’s arm slung around another man’s shoulder there’s no way that would be interpreted as a ‘just friend’ things.

But Eddie’s arm is laying on the armrest, hand dangling over the edge, palm up as if it’s just waiting to be held. There’s no way for anyone to see their hands below the seat line…but he also doesn’t want to embarrass Eddie. And yet, now all Steve can think about is the dry warmth of Eddie’s callused palm, and if he doesn’t make his move soon Eddie might change positions.

As casually as he can Steve lifts his arm, laying it gently along the arm rest, their skin just barely brushing where they’ve pushed up their sleeves. He feels the other man start in surprise, beginning to pull away and Steve panics.

He grabs suddenly and tightly at Eddie’s hand, not quite catching his fingers right and squishing a few together awkwardly, but he’s afraid to let go, let Eddie pull away completely. A few tense moments slip by, the scene on screen making no sense.

“Steve?” It’s breathed almost too quietly to hear, but Steve’s entire being is so focused on Eddie he hears it perfectly. And he isn’t trying to pull away. That buoys Steve’s hope enough that flexes his fingers till they’re lined up perfectly and their palms come flush together

Christ, how is something so simple making his heart pound like this? He finally looks over, but Eddie is still facing forward, his eyes wide.

“This ok?” It’s asked equally quietly, but maybe Eddie is as tuned in as Steve because after a few moments a look is darted over, eyebrows scrunched and confused, but he nods. Steve’s heart fucking soars. He squeezes gently at the hand grasped in his own, and Eddie squeezes back. They finish out the movie like that, Steve’s thumb occasionally making soft passes over the back of Eddie’s hand, and every time Eddie jerkily mirrors the movement.

Finally the credits roll, house lights rise and people start exiting the theater. Steve doesn’t move though, and neither does Eddie. When most people are gone the other man clears his throat.

“So like, were you so sad to not have a Valentine’s date you’re recreating the experience with the only loser who said yes?” The look Eddie throws over is smirky, but tight and closed off.

“No! No, it’s not like that.” Eddie doesn’t look convinced at all, and worse he pulls his hand back. Steve doesn’t want to have this conversation here, even if the theater is empty now, but someone is going to come in soon to start cleaning.

He should have said something sooner. Eddie isn’t looking at him, just playing with the ring on the hand Steve was just holding. Steve tries to swallow his heart back down his throat. “I didn’t ask anyone else out.”

“So you what? You were asking me out?” Eddie’s voice is still soft, but laced with disbelief and something bordering on anger. Fuck, Steve had to fix this quick.

“I just- I wanted you to know, what it’s like to go on a date.” Eddie still doesn’t look at him.

“You didn’t need to take me on a pity date man.” Shit Eddie sounds fully angry now, Steve watches him rub fingers along his eyebrows before his hand flicks out dismissively. “I don’t-I don’t give a shit about stuff like this, I already said that.” Steve shifts uncomfortably. It’s all falling apart.

It had been so good up to this point, one of the best dates of his life honestly and Eddie hadn’t even known it was one. Here it is, time for Steve to take his swing. He shifts in his seat to face Eddie who still won’t look at him.

“Eddie look man, I’m sorry. I should have been up front right from the beginning. I wanted to go on a date with you, yeah cause I wanted you to know what it was like. But, uh, mostly-” He swallows heavily. “Mostly it was because I like you. Like…romantically. And I wanted to go on a date with you, specifically.”

Eddie has stopped fidgeting, and when Steve looks up the other man is finally looking back, his eyes wide and shining, a small gentle smile on his lips.

“Holy shit are you serious?” Steve looks around quickly before brushing a strand of hair away from Eddie’s face like he has wanted to all night, tucking it behind a shapely ear, letting his finger trace along the shell and over the apple of Eddie’s cheek. Steve feels the other man shiver, eyes flickering shut.

“I’m very serious.”

Eddie takes a few deep breaths. “Yeah ok, we should uh-maybe not talk about this here though?” Steve nods probably too enthusiastically, shooting immediately to his feet. Eddie’s laughter follows him out of the theater and back to the street.

“Jeez sweetheart, in a hurry are we?” It isn’t a new endearment, but the implications are new and it sends something delicious and terrifying through his stomach. Steve doesn’t say anything until they reach his car, letting instinct take over and opens the door like a gentleman, with a self-satisfied bow.

Eddie is a touch too smug when he dips an elegant bow back, breathes “Why thank you sir. A man could get used to this kind of treatment.” Steve closes his eyes briefly.

This is another moment. One where he’d lean over the door, as if he couldn’t help himself (and sometimes he really couldn’t), pulling his date gently up, into his lips, the door a purposeful barrier leaving them wanting more. Made them crave full contact.

Eddie is his same height, so his lips are even more accessible, so close that Steve realizes they’re breathing the same air and that he’s staring. Been staring. Staring so hard at Eddie’s bright, disbelieving smile that he thinks he deserves a goddamn medal for not leaning forward in Hawkins largest parking lot and show everyone how much this man turns him on.

Just as Eddie moves to get in the car Steve unshackles some of his restraint to lean closer- closer closer- and whispers, “You know, I’ve always loved watching you smile, you have gorgeous lips.”

He feels deeply satisfied Eddie is still frozen in place by the time he hurries around the car, throwing himself into the driver’s side. Watches in delight as Eddie seems to shake back into himself and get in much more carefully, tucked forward so that the hands in his jacket pockets are in front of his groin.

Steve will take that as a win.

Eddie’s door closing echoes around them, the familiar darkness of car freshener, cigarette smoke, weed, and popcorn, and fuck has it always smelled this good in here?

“Have you done stuff with guys before?” Steve whips around to stare at Eddie, who looks horrified having blurted that out. Steve cracks up with helpless laughter, so genuine and ridiculous that Eddie shoves at him. “Shut up! I’m nervous you dick!” but he’s laughing too, snorting into his goddamn hand and Steve is so enamored he reaches forward to pull the other man’s head to his, bumping their foreheads together a few times.

“Yeah man. I’ve ‘done stuff’ with other guys.” Eddie sighs, nods enough that their hair rubs together and this isn’t a kiss but it’s so close Steve’s afraid he’s going to forget himself, so he pulls back.

“Want me to drive you home?” Eddie is looking at him so intently, eyes flickering all over his face so that Steve can’t get a read on what he’s thinking.

Finally, he nods. “I would be delighted if you took me home in your fancy car, after this unexpectantly pleasant date.” Looks away to click in his seatbelt. “In fact, you’ve converted me Mr. Harrington. Dating? All for it.” The smile that is thrown his way is so happy, so heartfelt, that Steve blinks against eyes that are too full, grabbing Eddie’s hand in a more successful hold, raising it up to his lips to just barely brush against the dry rasp of knuckles.

He hears Eddie’s breath catch on a sharp inhale and is helpless to press a deeper kiss, wishing it was darker outside, wishing they had walls around them, wishing people could mind their own fucking business.

“Steve. Stevie, take me home.”

-

Steve doesn’t mean to kiss Eddie out in the open.

The trailer park isn’t well-lit, but enough that if someone looked out of their window they’d see Steve Harrington opening the passenger door of his bimmer. They’d see Eddie Munson stepping out, smiling all shy with his dimples and heated cheeks.

They’d see Steve go very still for a few moments before cupping his hands around Eddie’s face and tilting it enough to press their lips together once, twice, before the car door slams shut and the two boys practically race each other to the trailer door, Steve’s body flush against Eddie’s as he works the lock open.

They finally tumble inside, hands frantically pulling at clothes, at each other, tangling and making a mess of getting undressed. Somehow Eddie manages to pull away and rips both of Steve’s shirts over his head, nearly strangling him. Then it’s Eddie’s turn to look strangled as he takes in the naked length of Steve’s upper body.

The other man has definitely seen Steve shirtless, but now he wonders if Eddie had ever allowed himself to really look. Maybe he’d been too afraid of being caught out. Finally, Eddie swallows deeply before moving to take off his own shirt and Steve is reaching out without thinking, stopping it at his armpits.

“Wait wait, it looks so good baby, leave it on a little?” Pushes his hands over Eddie’s holding the edge of the shirt, then they slip helplessly down onto the skin over Eddie’s heaving ribs, hands nearly going numb from the hot electric currents running through his fingers.

Eddie is wide eyed, shudders out quiet laughter. “Whatever you want sweetheart.”

And then they’re kissing again, lost in the way their bare stomachs writhe against each other, rough scar ridges catching on sensitive skin. One of Eddie’s hands pushes into Steve’s chest hair, gets a grip and tugs. Steve breaks away to groan, whines a little when a nipple is grasped and pinched.

“Yes, fuck!”

Eddie practically tries to climb him, forcing Steve to stumble back onto the couch. Eddie scrambles into his lap and into the dirtiest grind Steve has ever experienced. He shouts in horny surprise, grabbing Eddie’s bony hips to pull forward and hold them tight against him, pushing his cock up so hard it’s painful and so fucking satisfying. His hips feel as good in his hands as he’d imagined they would.

Eddie shudders into a moan and Steve laughs in delight, licking a thick wet stripe up the pale neck so beautifully on display for him. He hums his way back down, then can’t resist anymore. The skin is so giving beneath the tight clench of his teeth that he grips a little harder. Eddie barely makes a sound this time, but the wet grunt is so aching and he goes so pliant that Steve doesn’t think he’s ever wanted someone more.

They’re gonna fuck.

Maybe not tonight, and he doesn’t even care which way it works. They’re gonna fuck and it’s going to be so good.

His hand moves to the button of Eddie’s jeans without conscious thought and Eddie freezes a little. Steve moves back enough to breathe out, “This ok? ‘S ok if it’s not- just want to rub against you.” The visual that comes along with those words is so all-encompassing he can barely wait for a response.

“Yes.” Eddie hisses in his ear, his hand crowding the space where Steve’s are, their fingers tangling as they try to kiss and wrestle each other’s jeans out of the way. Eddie finally just scrambles back, doesn’t even take off his boots before shoving jeans and underwear down in one go.

Steve is staring so hard he can only lift his hips helplessly when Eddie hooks fingers into his pants and boxers and practically rips them down his thighs.

Clothes stuck around his ankles, Eddie plops back down, spreading his thighs wide over Steve’s lap, no hesitation in the way he ruts his cock up against where Steve is throbbing. He grips Eddie’s hips hard, grinding up and into him at a terrible angle but it’s so good he can’t stop. He clenches with the need to cum.

Eddie pushes back, spits in his own palm and reaches down to pull Steve into a better position, then wraps his big hand around them both. It’s so good Steve’s head falls back against the couch.

“Eddie. Eddie, fuck that’s so good, how are you so good?” That incredible grin is so close, so smug. Steve bites into a kiss, fucking his tongue in till spit is slipping down their chins. It’s messier, harder than he’s ever been with anyone, ever thought to be with anyone. Steve wants this forever.

The hand that had been gripping at Steve’s shoulder slides up into his hair, the sharp sudden tug getting a moan to burst out so loud and sudden he immediately gets embarrassed. But Eddie is grinning, incredibly delighted. His hand starts stripping their cocks even faster.

“Fuck Steve, you sound so good honey, this feels incredible, how are you fucking real?” Steve tries to swallow up the words that make him want to curl up in shame and cum his brains out.

“I can’t, I can’t-” He can barely get words out through his heaving breaths. Eddie just pushes closer, bites gently at his lips and jaw and cheek and- fuck, Steve’s head is falling back again, hands helplessly clutching Eddie’s hips to try and grind them into one beast. He’s gonna cum and he can’t even get the words out, but he pries open his eyes to try and convey something of his desperation. Instead, he’s immediately, helpless undone by the awed look on Eddie’s face.

Steve is cuming before he even realizes it, jizz beginning to pulse out of his cock before pleasure smashes in like a sonic boom. He writhes endlessly as Eddie’s hand squeezes, working him through it till his body is a twitching, moaning mess. He peels open his eyes, enjoying Eddie’s flushed, adorably surprised face. His eyes flicker quickly to the cock still pressed against him, deep red and throbbing, like Eddie is seconds away from his own orgasm.

Steve tilts his mouth up in that way he’d perfected in the mirror sophomore year. “Need help with that?”

Eddie huffs out a disbelieving laugh. “Don’t – fucking – be cute with me right now when I’m about to blow my load.” Steve reaches down, rubbing his fingers against the soft fuzzy hair of Eddie’s balls, rolling them through in fingers in a way Eddie must like because he moans, finally letting go of Steve to start jerking himself off with his cum covered hand.

“Hate to break it to you, but I’m always cute.” Eddie huffs an incredulous laugh, falling back into grunts and whiny moans. Steve wants him to cum so badly he’s getting horny from it. He’s never felt like this before.

“Want you to cum all over me.” Eddie’s eyes shoot up away from where he’d been staring at Steve’s messy belly. “Want to feel how hot it is.” Eddie is moaning endlessly now, his hand tugging quickly. He looks desperate, and Steve brought him there. He feels powerful and connected in a way he never has with sex, like this is a completely new level of pleasure being discovering. His cock throbs.

“Fuck, you make me feel so good Eddie.” Something clicks in Eddie’s eyes and his balls are tugging up out of Steve’s hand and he moves to follow them, knowing the other man is right on the edge. Steve watches Eddie's hand slow to a stop as ropes and drips of cum squirt all over Steve’s belly, making such a fucking mess Steve wants to laugh till he’s aching with it. He’s too tired for it though and just gives a self-satisfied hum.

Eddie starts to collapse sideways and Steve finds a reserve of energy to pull him in to the cradle of his arms, their belly’s pressing together and sliding in a way that’s gross and also makes a throb of lust shoot through him. They sit in silence for a while, hands gently exploring each other’s plans of skin, running fingers carefully through hair.

“You know-” Eddie clears his voice. “That’s all I wanted to do, uh, for a long time now.” Steve tilts his head back a little.

“Get off together?” Eddie breathes out a laugh, sitting up a bit. The movement peels their skin apart and Steve lets out a giggle. Eddie makes an exaggerated ‘sorry’ face and Steve loses it a little more. When he’s finally calmed down to mild euphoria Eddie cups his jaw in his messy hands and it stills Steve in a way he’s never experienced. Eddie’s grip is so big and firm, Steve goes even more boneless than he had been, not caring about the mess.

“I very much enjoyed getting off with you honey, but I meant about making you feel good. I’ve wanted to make you feel good for an embarrassingly long time, not just uh.” He rolls his hips and Steve’s cock jumps like it’s stupid enough to try and go again, Eddie looks delighted. “Yeah um, that was definitely incredible, one for the ages, but I mean uh-” Eddie mind suddenly seems to go blank, blinking down at Steve. He runs his hand comfortingly up and down Eddie’s thighs.

“You can say it babe, I want to know.” That softens something in Eddie’s shoulders, and suddenly he’s leaning back, contorting his at a weird angle to get at his pants. Steve anchors Eddie’s thighs to help keep him stable, feeling his fingers bite in probably too hard. But Eddie’s hips thrust up a little and he moans. Steve’s body glistens with arousal.

Eddie finally flips back up, his cock coming back to nestle against Steve’s and he reels at how much better it feels to be pressed together again. He wraps his hands around those tight hips agsin, pulling him even closer. Eddie shivers with a kind of manic excitement.

“I was thinking, if it was something you might be into-” He puts his fist into the spall space between their chests, like he’s holding something and Steve, very confused, automatically moves to take it. A pastel, chalky heart lands in his palm upside down. Steve stares at it for a second, mind blanking on why Eddie would be giving him this.

“Read it.” It’s said gently, coaxingly, like Eddie is being very careful with his excitement. Steve turns it over.

“Be mine.” It takes his brain a second to catch up to the words, but when it does sink in his heart leaps around in his chest like it transmogrified from a tadpole into a frog. He looks at Eddie’s joyful, grinning face and wonders what he possibly did so right to get this utter dork's affections.

“Why Steve, I would be delighted.”