“Holy sh*t, Steve, are you gay?”
As far as statements go, it is not one Steve ever expects to get. It also has the ability to complete silence the otherwise boisterous room.
A few weeks ago, Dustin had begged, pleaded and bribed his way into letting him allow Hellfire at his house. He’d mostly agreed because Dustin had admitted nowhere else would let Eddie run it. Steve had been both pissed on Eddie’s behalf, and sympathetic. Because even with the murder charges cleared, very few people were willing to fully accept Eddie’s innocence and so, Steve had grumbled but agreed.
Eddie had, of course, shown up an hour early and taken over the dining room. He’d planned to leave the metalhead to it, but Eddie had dragged him into the preparations, explaining everything and pouting and teasing in a bid to have him stay and watch.
He’d agreed to ten minutes, but had ended up managing a half hour before wandering off. The group had stopped for a break and he’d been leaning against the wall talking to Eddie, asking him what half the sh*t he was saying even meant—and making Eddie laugh at him but smile and explain.
But their conversation had halted and he’d swivelled his head toward Dustin at the teenager’s statement.
“What?” Steve asks blankly.
“He dates a lot of girls,” Lucas comments, frowning. “Doesn’t that mean he’s not?”
Dustin waves something in his hand, and Steve takes a few seconds to realise what it is, and when he does he goes rigid.
“But he has this! It’s not even from Family Video. It’s owned.”
f*ck, Steve thinks. f*ck, f*ck, f*ck.
“It’s just a movie,” Mike grumbles.
“No, it’s not!” Dustin argues back. “I hear things. I know that this is only for like,” he shrugs, “queer people.” Dustin steps forward then, the worn, over-watched copy of Rocky Horror clutched in his hands. “This is your copy, right, Steve?”
All the kids abruptly look at him, peering at him like he’s some strange specimen of Upside Down and Steve’s mouth opens and closes because, sh*t, sh*t, sh*t.
What the f*ck is he supposed to say? Because it’s not his copy, it’s Robin’s, and she’s been keeping it here so her parents wouldn’t find it and think exactly what Dustin has—and sh*t, he can’t tell them that, because then they’ll think it’s Robin who’s queer.
“Well, it’s not Steve’s—” Mike begins, all arrogant and dickish.
And Steve has to cut this off, has to get in the middle before anyone even mentions Robin.
“No,” he forces out, “It’s, uh, mine.”
The silence, the awkwardness in the room is so f*cking thick and Steve knows he’s so tense, one wrong word and he will f*cking snap—he just doesn’t know how.
But then, the utterly unexpected happens.
“And that, little gremlins,” Eddie says, “is the end of Hellfire.”
There’s an uproar from the kids and Steve whips around to face Eddie—but Eddie hasn’t moved away from him like he’s a queer pariah, if anything he’s moved closer. He’s staring the kids down like he’s about to go into battle, and his hand, Christ his hand has gone to the centre of Steve’s back in something that feels like comfort.
And just like before, it’s Dustin’s voice that cuts through it all.
“Why?” He asks, glaring at Eddie. “Do you have a thing against gay people?”
If possible, Eddie’s expression hardens further.
“Do you?”
Dustin rears back as if he’s been slapped.
“What? No! Why would I have a problem with that?”
“Oh, gee,” Eddie replies. “Maybe because half this f*cking town—half the god damn world does. So much so that people hide it, and don’t expect to get called on it in front of a group of f*cking people.”
Dustin seems to realise the mistake, he looks chastised, so do all of them. Eddie’s hand goes to Steve’s shoulder, squeezing gently.
“So, no,” Eddie continues, “you kids don’t deserve Hellfire right now.” Eddie finally glances at him, his expression softening. “And Steve deserves to have his house to himself right now.”
It’s kind of Eddie. So f*cking kind and supportive. Steve isn’t queer, but sh*t, if he was, it would be enough to make him collapse in relief—as it is, he’s just grateful no one is looking too closely, is doubting his claims and thinking about Robin.
It’s also really heartwarming when all the kids mumble apologises and assurances. Dustin, the little sh*t, even hugs him tight and mumbles, “Don’t care if you like boys or girls. You’re just Steve.”
Which, f*cking hell, actually makes him a little choked up to know that all these kids—his kids would support anyone, support Robin if they knew.
And then there’s Eddie, who packs up his things without any complaint, who barks at the kids to make them speed up and shoves them out the door towards his van. Steve ends up lingering in the doorway, looking at the other boy—so kind-hearted and good, and it makes him burn even more to know that the people in Hawkins can’t see this. That the people in Hawkins would condemn him for being gay as easily as they’d condemn Eddie for being himself.
“You going to be okay?” Eddie asks quietly, leaning in close and keeping his voice low.
Steve huffs a faint laugh and rubs the back of his neck. “Yeah, man. Sorry about Hellfire, but, um, thanks.”
“Yeah,” Eddie agrees, “any time.” He also chews his bottom lip, uncharacteristically nervous before: “And um, me too.”
Steve blinks and frowns in confusion. Eddie shuffles his feet a little and gives a small, shy smile.
“I’m, uh, queer too. So, you know, solidarity, right, man?” He very gently reaches out, punches Steve’s shoulder, only to extend his fingers a moment later, squeezing in a there-and-gone again touch before his hand is back on his D&D box and he’s mumbling, “So, um, call me if you need anything, okay?” He shuffles his feet again before: “Bye, Stevie.”
It's all the warning Steve gets before Eddie’s spinning on his heel and heading to his van and the awaiting kids. He starts shouting orders at them and yanking out his keys to unlock doors and dump all his things inside. Steve finds himself frozen, unable to look away from the metalhead.
All he can hear in his head is “I’m queer too” like a secret he wasn’t meant to learn—didn’t deserve to know, all because he’d been outed from a closet he wasn’t even in.
But when Eddie pauses and gives a little wave, Steve automatically lifts his own hand. A few moments later, Eddie’s in his van and pulling out of the driveway. Steve is left standing, reeling and wondering how the f*ck a simple night of Hellfire had possibly turned into that?
In the aftermath, when he thinks it over, he’s really, really grateful none of Eddie’s friends were part of this campaign for Hellfire. He’s not bothered by them, but he isn’t sure he wants nerds from high school who probably still hate him believing they know a secret about his sexuality.
Steve understands for the first time, exactly why Robin is so afraid of people knowing.
He’s not even queer and it prickles the back of his neck when he leaves the house the next day to go to Family Video.
He trusts the kids to keep their mouths shut, especially after what Eddie had said, and Christ, but then there is Eddie.
Eddie “the Freak” Munson, who thinks he isn’t brave, but confessed to him on his doorstep to make him feel… what? Less alone? Safe? Which only further proves how goddamn nice the other boy is, and he really hopes it means Eddie will understand when he learns the truth, that he was protecting Robin rather than lying about his own queer leanings.
And it’s why, the minute Robin arrives for their shared shift at Family Video, Steve is grabbing her mid-greeting and pulling her to the door of the staff room. He props it open with one foot, keeping an eye and an ear on any customers who might approach, but getting them as private as possible.
“Uh oh, dingus. What’s with the look?”
“I had Hellfire at my house last night.”
“And you’ve developed a nerdy love for their little game?” she teases.
“Rob,” Steve says softly, reaching out and taking her hand.
Because, he thought about this conversation a lot after Eddie left. What he was going to say, if he could mention what Eddie had told him (but knowing he can’t, that he couldn’t ever betray that secret), and how to assure her it’s okay.
“Steve,” Robin replies, her expression turning serious as she squeezes his hand back.
“The kids found your video.”
“My…” her eyes widen and she goes stiff as a board. “Rocky Horror?”
“Yeah,” Steve says, keeping his voice calm and soothing. “Dustin apparently knows what it means for, uh, people who own it.” Robin’s breathing has picked up, panic blatant on her face, and Steve tugs her, pulling Robin into the circle of his arms. “They thought it was mine.”
Robin gives a laughing, high-pitched scoff. “As if it would be yours.”
“Well, I convinced them it was.”
Robin goes still in his arms only to abruptly push off of him, her eyes wide with shock.
“You told them it was yours?”
“Yeah. What else could I do?”
She swallows hard. “You could have lied… told them they were wrong… you…” her eyes start to fill with tears. “Steve. You told them… that…”
“Well, I didn’t say I was queer,” he says, only to shrug. “But, yeah, the kids and Eddie kind of think I am now.”
“Dingus,” Robin whispers, and now the tears actually fall.
She buries her face in his shirt, hugging him tightly, and dampening the material as he gently rubs her back. She sniffles against him for a couple of minutes. He keeps an eye on any customers, but they’re mercifully free of people.
Eventually she pulls back, wiping her reddened, tear-streaked face.
“You okay, Rob?” He asks gently.
She gives a watery smile. “You’re so dumb, dingus. You need to stop jumping in front of things like a big ol’ idiot.”
“Hey,” he says, smiling, “I’ll always take the hit for you.”
She throws herself at him again, almost making him fall over with the force of it. He hugs her back tightly.
Because, no matter what happens, and whatever she says, he’ll keep this secret for the rest of his life if he has to—he will do anything to protect the people he cares about.
This time, it doesn’t take quite as long for her to pull back. When she does, she starts fiddling with her vest and chewing on her bottom lip.
“How… how were they about it?” She mumbles.
“Good,” Steve answers, feeling immensely proud of them. “Accepting.” He chuckles. “Eddie cancelled Hellfire because of it.”
“What?!” She shrieks, eyes wide. “Why would he—? Did he have a problem—?”
“Opposite. Wanted to give me time alone. He really… really had my back, Rob. Like, if it was, you know, true, it would have been so f*cking supportive. It was nice, Rob. He—all of them—were good.”
He doesn’t say ‘you would be okay with them’, but he thinks it. He hopes it gets through, not because he wants his so-called gayness taken back, but because he wants her to feel safe to come out. He wants Eddie to feel safe too. Like, maybe if he’s done it, it will be okay for both of them to tell the Party.
Robin gives a nervous, still slightly terrified smile, and he gets it. Like, not fully, but he knows how much being out still sends discomfort through him, let alone the fear clearly racing down her spine.
So, he bundles her in another hug, only letting go when a customer finally enters the store.
And it’s not… they don’t forget about it. He can tell it’s still on Robin’s mind from her lack of babble and pensive frowns, but he lets her have her moment. Makes sure to fill the silence for both of them.
And the day goes good, overall. Robin’s shift ends before his, and she heads home with a hug and another whispered thank you. He’d been bored ever since, going through the closing routine numbly and counting down the minutes, when the door opens. He lifts his head, customer-service smile in place until he registers the person.
Eddie smiles, small and almost shy. He lifts his hand in a small finger wave. Steve’s hand raises automatically, a mirror of last night, before he blinks, realises Eddie is right there and says, “Hey, man.”
“Hey, Stevie,” he greets, finally crossing the store to reach the counter. He taps his fingers against it almost nervously. “Thought I’d swing by and check on our favourite King.”
“Oh, yeah I’m f—” he stumbles over the word, as he remembers why he’s being asked, “—fine.”
“Yeah?” Eddie asks, looking at him carefully.
“Yeah… I, yeah.” He nods at Eddie, feeling his own concern form. “What about you?”
“Me?” Eddie shrugs. “I’m okay.” He cracks a small smile. “Only told one person last night, not a whole room.”
“Yeah, those little sh*ts.” He hesitates and swallows, because even though he was there, Steve wants to assure Eddie the same way he did Robin. “They were really great, you know?”
“Yeah,” Eddie breathes. He stares down at his hands, fiddling with a ring, only to add, “Delivery could use a hell of a lot of work.”
Steve startles into a laugh. “Yeah. Dustin needs to learn to think before he speaks.”
Eddie glances up and flashes him another small smile. It’s a little odd, actually, Steve isn’t used to Eddie being so quiet and… contained. He doesn’t look uncomfortable, just softer somehow.
It, combined with the knowledge that Eddie came here specially to check on him, makes Steve feel warm. Makes him want to hug the guy—and really, why shouldn’t he?
He comes around the counter and Eddie straightens but Steve doesn’t stop, just wraps the metalhead in a tight hug. Eddie’s breath catches with surprise before he hugs back.
“Thanks, man,” Steve says quietly. “Last night and coming to check on me. You’re a really great dude, you know?”
“Awh, such flattery, Stevie,” Eddie teases, but Steve can almost picture the familiar pinking to the guy’s cheeks.
When he pulls back, despite letting go, Eddie doesn’t step away. They end up standing toe-to-toe. Eddie grabs one ring and turns it. He shuffles a little on his feet.
“Eds?”
“I um, thought you might wanna hang out tonight?” Eddie says. “That maybe you’d like a couple of beers, you know? After everything.”
It’s a surprise, but not a bad one.
“Yeah, man. sh*t that’d actually be really good. Just give me.” He checks his watch. “Forty to close up?”
Eddie immediately brightens, flashing a beaming grin.
“You got it, Stevie.”
He does finger guns and Steve laughs.
“You dork,” he says, but he’s still smiling. “You wanna hang until I close?”
“Oh, I’m always happy to spend time with you, sweetheart.”
Steve feels warm again. It’s something that he’s used to getting whenever Eddie Munson says something like that to him. It’s not that… he knows people like him, okay? He knows the kids do and that they’ll come to him for help. He knows Robin does, wholly and completely. But when Eddie says it? It feels just… it makes him feel like he’s enough, as he is.
He doesn’t need to be a protector, a source of dating knowledge, someone to lean on, or someone to mooch a ride or food off—with Eddie, it’s like he genuinely is happy to spend time with him. Steve. Not King Steve. Just Steve. It’s one of the reasons he feels so relaxed when they’re together, why he feels comfortable asking questions about D&D or other nerd topics that he wouldn’t dare around the kids.
Eddie doesn’t make him feel stupid, and combined with how supportive he’d been at his not-actual-coming-out, Steve doesn’t think he’s ever felt… safer with Eddie. And that’s not something he’s used to being; protected.
And, he just…
Steve takes another step closer and hugs the metalhead again. Eddie gives a little surprised giggle, but wraps around him in return.
“What’s with all the hugs, Stevie? Not complaining, but usually I’m the one dragging them out of you.”
And maybe, at another time, he would have brushed it off and said nothing, but Eddie had given him a secret he didn’t deserve last night, so Steve wants to offer one back.
“You’re just… safe, man,” he admits.
“Oh,” Eddie says, voice quiet. “Yeah,” he adds, like he gets it. He squeezes him gently. “Can be hard, right? Getting touchy with a guy when he’s probably straight. Like, sh*t, before I knew about you, I was always worried I was gonna cross a line. Thought for sure you’d punch me the first time I called you sweetheart.”
Steve jerks back, eyes wide. “I wouldn’t have—”
“Obviously,” Eddie replies, rolling his eyes and grinning. He lets Steve go and pokes him in the chest. “I know that now.”
Steve’s breath feels caught and his swallow is hard because… because Eddie trusts him now because he thinks he’s queer, that even… even yesterday he still thought he was going to cross a line. Steve doesn’t know what to say, but he wants to assure him, ‘I don’t care you’re queer. I’m straight but it’s fine’ but he’s just… he’s f*cking stuck.
And before he can try and figure out what to say, the bell on the door rings and Eddie’s spinning out of his space and cackling like they’ve been caught in a joke—like they weren’t two supposedly queer guys standing too close together.
And that… that makes Steve wonder something else, because if Eddie likes guys, has always liked guys does that mean something? Or is Eddie just relieved to be able to stand next to a guy and not have it mean something?
Christ. It’s f*cking confusing.
So, he just does his best to shelve it, to turn and smile at the late-night customer while Eddie wanders off to the horror section. But even as he’s answering the customer’s questions about the new releases, his gaze and thoughts keep travelling to Eddie.
But the metalhead seems oblivious and uninterested in him, already deep in reading VHS covers. So, he must have just been reading into things that aren’t there, right?
Steve manages to forget about it when a mini-rush descends out of nowhere. He then has to hurry through close because Keith is on tomorrow morning and he doesn’t want to be told off for doing something wrong. Eddie helpfully organises the candy that a kid had disrupted and Steve flashes him a warm smile which Eddie offers back.
When he’s finally done, they end up walking out together, Steve complaining about the customers and Eddie agreeing in between teasing him. Eddie walks him to his car, but Steve can spot the metalhead’s van a few spaces down.
“Want me to follow back to the trailer?” he asks.
“Sure,” he says, “You can follow me, but how about we go somewhere else, yeah?”
“Oh? Like where?”
“Quarry?” Eddie suggests.
Steve raises an eyebrow in surprise because they’ve always stayed to Eddie’s trailer or his house when they hang out alone, but in the end, he shrugs.
“Yeah, sure, man.”
Eddie brightens. He grasps Steve’s shoulder and gently squeezes. He doesn’t say anything more as he bounds over to his van. Steve watches him until he opens the driver’s door which prompts him to shake off any lingering confusion and climb into his own car. He waits for Eddie to pull out before following after him. He doesn’t go to the quarry often, but he knows the way even without being led.
He taps his fingers absently on the wheel as he drives, trying to figure out why Eddie’s decided to take him here of all places. Maybe his uncle’s home? He doesn’t know Wayne’s schedule, but that would make sense why Eddie wants to take him somewhere else especially if he wants to talk about queer stuff.
Which, sh*t, if Eddie wants to do that it’s going to be a f*cking minefield. He doesn’t want to lie to Eddie but he also can’t tell him the truth without outing Robin. She hasn’t given him permission to do that. So, he’ll have to get… creative, and try to avoid the f*ck out of the conversation.
Despite his plan, Steve’s nervous when they arrive. His palms feel a little clammy as he pulls up. The space is dark, but Eddie keeps the lights on in his van. He opens the side door and gestures him over. Steve locks up and walks over. He climbs inside to find Eddie actually has his music playing softly.
He shuts the door and remarks, “Holy sh*t. Munson has his music low.”
“f*ck off,” Eddie grumbles, but he’s all smiles.
He also twists, distorting his body and making his shirt ride up as he reaches into the back to pull out some beers. He hands one over, and even though they’re warm, Steve cracks one and enjoys the taste. He also shoves out of his vest, tossing it on the dashboard.
“So,” Steve says, gesturing out the windshield. “Why the quarry?”
Eddie shrugs, looking down at his beer. “Dunno. Kind of thought it’d be better? My uncle’s at home, and like, he’s great. He knows about me and,” he shrugs. “he’s chill. But, I don’t want you to have someone else find out that you didn’t want to tell.”
“Oh,” Steve breathes, feeling a swell of guilt at the lie mix with gratitude for Eddie’s consideration. He shelves that to ask. “Wayne knows?”
“Yeah.” Eddie fiddles with the can. “Kind of told him a few years ago. It was an attempt to make him throw me out.”
“What the hell?” Steve exclaims.
He hasn’t spent much time with the man, but after everything with the murder accusations and Wayne’s stalwart faith in Eddie, he can’t imagine him ever raising his voice, let alone kicking Eddie out.
Eddie shoots him a wry grin. “I hadn’t been here long. Was like, pushing to see if I could make him snap? Didn’t realise he was always gonna have my back, no matter what.”
“sh*t,” he says, able to clearly picture it. But also. “f*ck, that was brave.”
Eddie snorts. “Not really. I wasn’t really thinking it through at all. I’m so damn lucky he didn’t care. Or well, he did care, but not in a bad way.”
Steve nods, understanding what Eddie means without him having to say it.
“Anyway,” Eddie continues. “I just meant, you know, free space.” He gestures around the van. “No judgement. And um, no reminders of the brats like your house might have done.”
“So, the quarry,” Steve surmises.
“So, the quarry,” Eddie repeats.
He also glances over with a smile only to hold out his beer. Steve taps his with the metalhead’s. They fall into a comfortable quiet, each sipping their beers as the music plays. Steve isn’t surprised when Eddie is the one to break it—hardly one to sit still or silent for long.
“You really doing okay?” he asks, voice soft with concern.
Steve feels a burst of panic, and he uses the excuse of having another sip to come up with his answer. Because, how does he feel? He’s not queer, yeah, but if he had of been? He’d be riding a cloud of relief and still-lingering terror. He still feels those emotions just more muted; relief for Robin and Eddie, discomfort bordering on nerves at having that confession out in the world, even if it isn’t actually true.
“It’s not something I expected,” Steve answers, quiet but honest. “But I’m really glad so many people are supportive about it.”
“They were,” Eddie says firmly. “In the car too. They complained that it was stupid that people couldn’t accept gay people. I think Henderson is going to be on the warpath if he even sniffs hom*ophobia taking place anywhere near you.”
Steve snorts. “Christ. I’ll have to reign him in. Time and a God damn place, especially in Hawkins.”
“Yeah,” Eddie murmurs quietly.
Steve feels a different burst of worry this time; that Eddie might talk about the experiences he’s had—because Steve isn’t dumb. Someone like Eddie? He would have got his fair share of slurs hurled his way, and Steve can guarantee there would have been queer ones too, even if the people hurling them didn’t even know he was into dudes.
“But,” Eddie says, voice and tone turning mischievous, “speaking of queer boys in Hawkins. I have had the fortune of learning you are a Rocky Horror repeat watcher.”
Steve stiffens, because sh*t. He’s seen it like, once all the way through, and bits and pieces of it a few more times. Is he going to be quizzed? He did not prepare to be quizzed on that movie.
Eddie is abruptly leaning across the console, grin wide and eyes glittering.
“Therefore, the question must be asked; which of the lovely men holds your eye, Stevie boy?”
He follows it with a wink and Steve feels a mixture of relief that he doesn’t have to fumble his way through knowing Rocky Horror and concern about what he does have to answer. Because what the f*ck is he meant to say? He mentally runs over the cast. There are some gorgeous ladies in there but he can’t say that, and Eddie is looking at him expectantly—because, sh*t, this must be the first chance Eddie has had to talk about dudes with another dude. He can’t bail on this.
He makes himself think. Brad is kind of meh, and objectively Rocky is fit but that’s not really his thing. No, if there is anyone in the whole movie—any guy he couldn’t look away from, always lingered to see his musical number it was…
“I mean, like,” he forces out, “Frank is really confident and like, cool?” He clears his throat. “And I mean, the leather corset is like.” He swallows. “Hot.”
Eddie for no conceivable reason brightens, and it’s hard to tell in the dim light, but Steve is sure that the other boy flushes too.
“Yeah?” he says, sounding strangely excited—only, a split second later, he looks at his beer and murmurs. “I’m, um, more of a Rocky guy myself.”
Steve blinks, thrown off because. “What? Really?”
Eddie shrugs and fiddles more with his beer. “Yeah, man. He’s just… tanned and like… muscled…”
“Huh,” Steve murmurs after Eddie trails off. “I wouldn’t have thought that would work for you.”
Eddie chuckles, sounding almost nervous and he takes a sip of his beer. Steve can’t help trying to picture it. Metalhead nerd Eddie Munson with some beefy weight-lifting blond? He just… can’t see it. But, hey, if that’s Eddie’s type, he really hopes he finds that kind of guy. Eddie deserves someone who likes him, who’ll treat him good. Eddie’s got such a big heart, such genuine goodness in him, and after everything Hawkins and the f*cking Upside Down has put him through, Steve really wants Eddie to be happy.
He also really wants Eddie to be able to do this—talk about guys with a guy, with someone who is queer. He kind of hates that he’s in that role, getting given secrets he doesn’t deserve all because of what he’s doing to protect Robin.
It sours some of his mood.
And it’s why, when Eddie says, “Are there other guys or—”
“Eds,” he interjects, and Eddie stills, the absent fidgeting stopping and even his breathing seeming to catch. And he just… he doesn’t want to make Eddie retreat, but he also doesn’t want Eddie to regret this later. “Um, look, the guy thing, I just. Um. Well. It’s, I mean—”
He stops when Eddie’s hand covers his own, squeezing it gently. He glances over and Eddie’s face is soft and understanding.
“Hey,” he says gently. “It’s okay. I think I get it.” His thumb begins to gently stroke the skin. “Not ready to talk about it, right? God. This has gotta be, what, really new, yeah? Not just the guy thing but the talking about it thing.” Eddie shakes his head and he suddenly looks apologetic. “And f*ck man, here I am making a deal of it a day after the kids forced you out.”
“It’s not—” Steve hurries to begin, not sure what he wants to say only that he wants to ease Eddie’s guilt.
“No man, stop. This is on me, okay? It’s scary. I get that, I so get that.” He squeezes. “So, you bring it up when you’re ready.” He leans forward, across the console and the hand in Steve’s switches to an arm around his shoulders, pulling him into what must be an uncomfortable hug for Eddie. “But you’ve got me, okay?” he says quietly, pressing their heads together. “Whenever for whatever. Talking or not talking. Alright, Stevie?”
And once again, Steve is struck by just how… how good Eddie is. How supportive. He shuts his eyes and feels, once again, the utter safety that comes with Eddie Munson’s presence.
“Thanks, man,” he forces out, rough and wholly inadequate.
But Eddie just squeezes him tighter and hums something under his breath. He stays in his awkward lean across their seats. And even though a part of Steve wants to push him back, make sure he’s not going to pull a muscle or something… the rest doesn’t want to pull away from the other boy’s comfort or the scent of his cigarettes and cologne.
It just feels… nice like this, and even though it still doesn’t feel entirely his to have, Steve lets his head lean back against Eddie’s as he stares at his vest on the dashboard and soaks up the other boy’s warmth.
Thankfully, the rest of their time at the quarry is a bit more like normal. They each have a couple of beers and just sit in the van… talking. A little bit about music, mostly about the revenge Eddie is going to unleash on the kids at the next Hellfire session.
Steve really tries not to encourage him, but he’s too busy laughing and fighting down that same feeling of being protected and as silly as it is, avenged. It means he doesn’t put up too much of an argument and just smiles, listens and asks the occasional question as Eddie lays out his proposed traps.
And, Steve knows that’s a big deal, another layer, another secret, because Eddie is notoriously tight-lipped about his D&D sh*t, but he’s spilling it all to him, teeth flashing as he beams and gestures with his hands, rings catching in the light.
When it ends, Steve’s honestly disappointed to climb out of the van and head back to his own car. Eddie seems to be the same as he reaches out, touching his arm and hesitating like there’s something else he wants to say or do—but even though Steve waits, in the end, Eddie lets him go and gives another dorky finger-wave.
And things remain easy and simple like that.
Eddie pops around more at Family Video, phones him up when he’s got nights off, offering to hang out. Steve isn’t sure if Eddie is trying to further provide his support or that, now, believing he’s queer, Eddie’s shaken off the last of his reserves about spending time with him. (The guilt eats away at him every time he thinks about the latter option.)
But as the days pass and Eddie hangs around him more, Steve can’t help… wondering.
He really f*cking tries not to do it. When he catches himself thinking about Eddie touching him more, leaning into his space and saying sweetheart, he shuts those thoughts right f*cking down. He is not going to be a f*cking asshole and be suspicious of his friend just because he knows the guy is queer.
But… well…
Steve knows when people flirt with him, okay? He’s always been good with chicks. He knows how to tell when they like him and when a flirtation will have a good chance of scoring him a date.
And Eddie just… f*ck. If someone told him what Eddie was doing to some girl or guy, he’d smirk and say, ‘he’s putting the moves on them’, but because it’s him, he’s just, frozen. Because, Eddie will touch his arm or his hand, smile at him softly and say, ‘Looking good, sweetheart. You know how to dress to impress.’
And it’s so like normal, but so not like normal.
If Steve didn’t know any better, he’d say he’s being f*cking woo-ed, like he’s some virgin girl who has never been out with a guy.
(And, he would be, in theory, some virgin guy who’s never been out with another dude. Which Eddie knows, which Eddie would take into account because he’s such a nice f*cking guy who wouldn’t want to force him into a pace he wasn’t ready for.)
Steve literally picks up the phone and goes to call Robin about it three times, because is he reading this right or is this how gay dudes act around each other? But he can’t tell Robin Eddie’s secret and Robin would hardly know how queer guys act around each other.
He feels so f*cking torn, all the way up to the next Hellfire session. It has been a goddamn week since his forced outing, and the kids have been extra nice to him. They’ve each assured him that they absolutely support gay people, and that he can have a boyfriend and none of them would mind.
(Steve is a little concerned with the way Will had almost cried as he’d expressed his own assurances. In fact, if he’s honest, he feels like he might have taken the brunt for someone else when it comes to being queer, but Will never says and he never asks.)
He’s still trying to figure out how to tackle all of them in his house again—back at the scene of the goddamn crime—when the doorbell rings. Steve has the day off work and he’s been using it to clean the place and try and convince himself that his ability to read girls is different to his ability to read guys. He’s making some decent headway in talking himself out of thinking Eddie likes him, when said metalhead turns up.
He finds him shuffling from foot-to-foot on the front doorstep. He flashes a grin and says, “Hey there, Stevie.”
“Eddie, hey,” Steve replies. He then frowns. “Is Hellfire cancelled?”
“Nope. Still planning to thoroughly torture the brats in your fine abode.”
He smiles despite himself. “Yeah? Avenging my honour?”
“Damn right, sweetheart.” Eddie shuffles again, offering a now-familiar shy smile. “I, uh, just had something to give you before tonight.”
“Yeah?” Steve asks, part nerves and part interest.
Eddie reaches into his back pocket, pulling something out and palming it for a moment before holding out the cassette. Steve takes it automatically. Written in bold black sharpie where there would have been a track list are the words ‘Stevie’s playlist’.
“Give it a full go, yeah?” Eddie says, flashing a quick smile. “Know you don’t really like metal, but play it through? For me?”
“You made me a mixtape?” Steve asks, feeling a mix of emotions he’s not sure how to name, but the cassette suddenly feels heavy in his hands.
Eddie just grins, his gaze soft and Christ, like he’s completely smitten—and Steve’s heart, Jesus, it actually skips. Which, what the actual f*ck?
“‘Course I did, Stevie,” Eddie murmurs. “Wanted to make you one for… for a real long time.”
Steve swallows hard, but his heart is pounding and his palms feel clammy. And what, what? Since when did… when did he have that reaction to another boy?
“Listen to it, yeah?” Eddie says. He covers Steve’s hand with his own, pushing it back until he’s forced to curl the cassette against his chest. “I hope you, um,” he bites his bottom lip, “hope you like it.” He steps back, hands shoved in his pockets and walking backwards. “Ain’t no ‘sweet transvestite’,” he says, “but maybe you’ll be into it anyway?”
Steve blinks, taking far too f*cking long, to get the reference, and by then, Eddie is hopping into his van. But when the penny drops, a few other things slot into place. Because he said Frank-N-Further was the best-looking guy in the show and Eddie, Jesus, picked the guy with a muscled tan. The most jock guy in the whole production.
Stumbling back inside, Steve shuts the door only to lean up against it. He looks down at the mixtape in his hand and feels his stomach swoop.
It makes him realise two things: he was very right about Eddie liking him, and, much to his f*cking shock, he might not have been as straight as he’d thought.
And that means, he might actually have been flung out of a closet he had been partial hidden inside.
They’re love songs.
Jesus Christ.
Eddie has made him a playlist of metal love songs. Steve didn’t even know there were metal love songs, but apparently there are, because Eddie’s found and compiled them for him.
Steve listens to the cassette all the way through—twice. He just… he doesn’t know what to do. Eddie likes him. Eddie has made a move on him, and he’s not… against it. f*ck, but he’s actually kind of into it?
Because Eddie is sweet and funny, he’s great company and he’s safe. He’s also, as startling as it is to admit it, pretty. Eddie has those soft curls he’s always kind of been envious of and wants to touch. He’s got big doe eyes and a gorgeous smile. He’s always so eye-catching and Steve had thought it was his clothes and energy, and maybe it is, but maybe it’s something else too.
It’s the thing that makes it impossible to look away when Eddie plays guitar, how he leans in when Eddie talks about his nerd stuff, gaze catching on his glinting rings, cheeky smirk and dancing eyes. And he’s had that urge to touch his tattoos, and that time he wanted to fall asleep on Eddie’s shoulder and f*ck—maybe he’s queerer than he thought?
Maybe, if Eddie leaned in to kiss him, he’d be right there kissing him back.
After that realisation, Steve walks through the rest of the day in a daze.
He’s into dudes. He likes Eddie. Eddie likes him back. Eddie made him a mixtape. He likes Eddie.
It’s a lot to f*cking process and he almost forgets that Eddie is coming over, that Hellfire is in fact, happening at his house again tonight. But he’s forcefully reminded when, instead of a knock on his door or the ringing of a doorbell, Dustin burst into the house with all the force of a tornado.
He’s followed by the rest of the kids, Eddie, and surprisingly enough, Robin. Steve catches Eddie’s gaze for all of a second, gaining a shy smile before Eddie is glancing away and striding in to the dining room to set up.
It’s immediate and utter chaos with the kids all vying for his intention: bitching about a lack of snacks, the drive, how much they’re looking forward to the session (extended apparently because of last week’s hastily shortened session) and the explanation that Eddie invited Robin so Steve would have ‘someone to keep him from boredom’.
Steve is beyond relieved for Robin’s presence, and he’s already itching to get some time alone so he can blurt out his feelings to her in the relative safety of the kitchen—or maybe his room. Somewhere as long as he’s telling her exactly how much of a growing gay crush he has on Eddie Munson.
But before he can make good on his plan of grabbing her and blurting out his realisations, the kids have to be settled, drinks and food dispersed and his nerves alighted by Eddie brushing his hand as he passes over a soda.
He’s just… he’s on f*cking edge, a goddamn livewire as he tries to keep himself together with every glance that Eddie shoots from under his eyelashes. So he's maybe a little distracted, a little focused on himself because, just as everyone is getting settled, Robin clears her throat.
It’s loud and pointed and draws everyone’s attention—and Steve knows his best friend, knows what Robin is about to do before she even says a word. And he’s excited for her, nervous too (even though he knows the reaction will be positive) as he holds his breath.
“Steve told me what happened last week,” she begins, voice shaky and eyes wide. He immediately walks towards her, but she holds up her hand, halting him in place. She smiles tightly. “And he’s my best friend. He’s taken so many hits for me, and I love him so much.” She swallows hard and her gaze darts over everyone before swinging back to him. She smiles, terrified but determined. “But it’s not his copy of Rocky Horror, it’s always been mine.”
There’s complete silence before, as one, the kids are all clamouring with confusion, Mike shouting ‘I knew it!’, Dustin going ‘so that’s why you won’t date, Steve!’ as well as loud and insistent assurances that being gay is absolutely okay. Robin is flushed and smiling with giddy relief and Steve wants to reach out and hug her, but despite the loud voices of the kids, Steve is still able to hear a chair scrape the ground.
He's also able to turn around just in time to catch the back of Eddie as he speedwalks out of the room and toward the kitchen. Steve’s heart drops and he manages one quick glance with Robin, seeing her frown but nod—understanding his need to follow Eddie even if she’s confused by it. And he feels a little bad for leaving his best friend after her coming out, but she’s preoccupied with the curious questions from the kids. She can handle herself. Eddie needs him right now.
Steve gets out of the room undetected and follows after the metalhead. He finds Eddie with his hands gripping the sink, his head bent over and back to Steve.
“Eds.”
Eddie jumps like a startled cat, spinning around and looking pained even as he forces out a smile that is more of a grimace. Steve guilt only grows.
“Eds—”
“Christ, Harrington,” Eddie says. “Should of known you’d be Robin’s knight.” He shuts his eyes. “And, sorry. sh*t. I just… I thought you were queer, that you… maybe… sh*t. Nevermind.” He turns back around, this time arms wrapped around his waist. “Guess that mixtape never was going to be to your taste, huh?”
He sounds so f*cking sad about it and Steve is moving forward before he can really think it through—but Jesus, just because it’s even newer than everyone thought, it doesn’t make it less true. He reaches Eddie and hesitates before placing a hand on his back. Eddie startles and turns, eyes widening at how close they are.
“I liked the mixtape,” Steve admits. “I, um, I like you, actually.” Eddie frowns, so Steve elaborates. “It, um, wasn’t my copy, but that doesn’t mean it’s not… true.”
Eddie’s eyes widen and his arms slacken from around his waist. “You mean… you are queer?”
“Apparently,” Steve replies, wry smile pulling at his lips. “Only, uh, not a Frank guy. An Eddie guy.”
Eddie’s eyes widen even further. “Wait… wait. A Rocky Horror Eddie guy or a—”
“For f*ck’s sake, man,” Steve mutters. “It’s a you thing, okay? You and your f*cking smiles, and nerd sh*t, and stupid doe eyes and romantic metal mixtapes and—”
Eddie cups his face and Steve stutters to a stop, staring at Eddie’s face so close to his own. Eddie’s thumbs stroke his cheeks, and he smiles so f*cking sweetly that Steve is the one to close the gap. He shuts his eyes and brushes his mouth against Eddie’s in a chaste little kiss. Eddie sighs against him and Steve better hooks his arm around the metalhead’s waist.
They don’t kiss for long, and they don’t deepen it either, breaking apart gently only to smile at each other.
“Jeez, Steve,” Eddie whispers. “I thought you were a baby gay before, didn’t realise you weren’t even out of the crib yet.”
Steve’s nose wrinkles. “Dude, that sounds weird.”
Eddie laughs. “Steve. I am weird. Freak with a capital F, remember?”
“Yeah,” Steve says, hearing the fondness in his voice, “I know.”
Eddie just beams, all bright and giddy and Steve could honestly stay in the kitchen and in this moment forever but, well, Robin has just outed herself and the kids will be chasing them down any second now. So, he forcibly untangles himself from Eddie, but instead of going all the way, he hesitates for a moment before holding his hand out in the air between them. Eddie glances at first his hand then his face.
“Feel like joining Robin’s coming out, Eds?” Steve asks.
“You asking me to tell the kids I’m gay while holding onto a guy’s hand?”
“Well, I was hoping it would be holding onto a boyfriend’s hand or don’t queer guys—”
He’s interrupted by Eddie tackling him in a hug. Steve stumbles but manages to catch himself and keep them upright. Eddie is squeezing him so hard it almost hurts, but he whispers giddy and beautiful in his ear.
“I do, I so do, Stevie. Boyfriend. Holy f*ck.”
Steve can’t bite down on his own grin. He squeezes Eddie back before letting the metalhead go. Eddie doesn’t fight him, but he makes quick and insistent grabby hands until they can link their hands and tangle their fingers. After that, it’s the two of them walking back out of the kitchen and into the room where all the kids and Robin are waiting.
Robin spots them first, her eyes going wide and mouth dropping as she looks at their linked hands. Steve gives an absent shrug and small smile and her eyes flare with both delight and indignation (and he knows he will be receiving multiple slaps to his shoulder for not immediately confiding his queer leanings to her).
Next up, fittingly, is Dustin, who opens his mouth to say something only for Eddie to pointedly, purposefully move their joined hands and then Dustin stares in stupefied shock before— “Holy sh*t, Steve. You are still gay? And you’re gay with Eddie?”
The attention of every kid swings to them only for Mike to complain, “What the f*ck? Eddie why do you like Steve?”
To which Dustin immediately defends him, Lucas asks how many more of them are gay, Will blushes and stays quiet and no one gives a flying f*ck that he’s holding hands with a boy. Steve feels the warmth of his love for everyone in this room fill his chest.
He looks over at Eddie, seeing the metalhead’s flushed cheeks and small smile. Steve closes the distance and brushes a kiss to Eddie’s cheek, watching as his smile grows. When Steve pulls back, Eddie turns to look at him.
“Stay after Hellfire?” Steve asks. “We can listen to your mixtape and have a couple of beers.”
“Sweetheart,” Eddie says, eyes dancing and features flushed with happiness, “you couldn’t keep me away.”
And when Eddie leans in, Steve doesn’t care who might be watching or how queer it makes him, all he cares about is meeting Eddie in the middle and kissing the guy who makes him happy, who keeps him safe, and who showed him that this closet was his to come out of too.
