Chapter Text
“Robbie, you know I love you, but I really don’t want to go to this concert tonight.”
Robin takes a deep breath before launching into him.
“Listen Harrington, you still owe me one free favor and I’m cashing it in tonight. I couldn’t ask Vickie to a concert alone or else she would know it’s a date. You have to take the third ticket because you’re an omega and she’ll be more comfortable with you there too.”
He opens his mouth to protest and she cuts him off.
“You don’t even have to listen to the music, bring some headphones along for all I care. But you will not fuck this up for me, dingus!”
Steve sighs, realizing this is a fruitless argument, and turns away from Robin to greet the customer who just walked into Family Video with a half-assed wave. “If I’m going to a metal concert for you, you’re going to end up owing me one,” he grumbles.
Robin squeals with excitement behind him. She knows she’s already won. “I will owe you a million, Steve! Whatever you want. Thank you, thank you, thank you! You’re the best friend a girl could have!”
Steve chuckles lightly, Robin’s joy becoming infectious. There’s not much he wouldn’t do for her. “Okay, okay. I already said I’d go, you don’t need to keep buttering me up. What are friends for?”
“Third wheeling a date to a metal concert so you can convince the love of your life that you should be together?” Steve snorts at that, turning around to face her now. She looks as excited as she sounds
“You’re ridiculous, Robin. If Vickie is smart, she’ll run for the hills from your crazy ass,” he teases her.
She reaches over to smack Steve jokingly, barely stopping in time when she notices him flinch away from the action. Her face instantly melts. “Sorry, Steve. I shouldn’t have- that wasn’t funny,” she backtracks quickly, clearly feeling like a complete dick.
Steve jumps to comfort her, wishing he could control his instincts. “I- it’s fine. I know you were just kidding. I know you’re not… him, but my omega doesn’t.”
Robin nods understandingly, carefully reaching out a hand to Steve’s shoulder. She waits until he relaxes, giving her permission to squeeze him comfortingly.
“Still… I’m sorry. You’re a good friend, Steve.” He smiles hesitantly at Robin and she takes that as her cue to return to their usual dynamic. “Especially because you’re going to let me dress you for the concert tonight.”
Steve begins to protest that he is a grown adult who can dress himself, but Robin cuts him off with, “Steve, I can’t bring a preppy omega in a polo to a metal show. They’ll eat you alive… And not in a good way. Just trust me, okay? Vickie and I are dressing up for the occasion too!”
He groans, covering his face with both hands in a dramatic show of disapproval. Once again, Robin knows she’s already won the argument. “I hate you so much, it’s not even funny.”
Robin calls his bluff. “Liar. I keep your life interesting. If it weren’t for me, you’d be hiding in your room by yourself tonight. Or worse, babysitting those preteen pups while they play dragons and dungeons.”
Steve mumbles something under his breath. “Sorry, what?” She asks teasingly.
“I said, it’s Dungeons and Dragons, not dragons and dungeons.” Robin lets out a full blown laugh at his correction.
“Case in point. We need to get you out with other people our age.”
Steve looks up at the entrance to the large concert venue and feels his heart beat a little faster. “Robbie, please tell me our tickets are in the back, far away from other people,” he practically pleads with her.
Robin has the good grace to look sheepish as she says, “We’re actually up against the barrier, Steve.” She notices the way his eyes widen and squeezes his hand once in reassurance. “I’m sure it will be fine. Vickie and I will be with you the whole time, so there’s nothing to worry about.”
Vickie smiles at him from Robin’s other side. Steve notices they’re already holding hands and he forces a smile onto his face. He won’t allow his anxiety to ruin Robin’s date. “Yeah, okay. Just- just don’t lose me, please.”
The girls both agree and the three of them head into the venue. They have their tickets scanned and are shown to the front of the crowd, up by the stage just like Robin said.
Steve looks around at the very full stadium and the quickly filling up front area where they are. He mentally starts tracking the nearest exits and escape routes, already feeling himself panic at the large crowd surrounding him. Steve feels a little silly wearing clothes that aren’t his in a room full of people dressed like punks and metalheads.
His leather jacket is suffocating him and the ripped jeans Robin had begged him to wear feel too tight as people crowd Steve on all sides except for the one pressed against the barrier directly in front of him. He turns to joke with Robin about how many people showed up for a metal concert, but finds that she’s no longer next to him. Steve turns around quickly, looking around frantically for any sight of Robin or Vickie.
His search is interrupted by the lights suddenly changing from general lighting to performance lights, the crowd getting darker and the stage glowing bright in front of them. Loud music begins to pound from the speakers as someone announces the band and the sound of guitar thrumming and pounding drums cuts through the fog in Steve’s brain.
Steve forces himself to turn towards the stage and away from the masses of people surrounding him. He knows logically that Robin and Vickie have to be somewhere nearby, but he won’t be able to find them in the dark.
He makes himself try to relax and enjoy the show. He doesn’t have another choice after all, but if Steve continues on, he’s going to burst into a full on panic attack quickly.
Steve begins to assess the view in front of him during the first few songs. The band (he thinks they’re called Corroded Coffin?) consists of five members. He notes a drummer, two guitarists, a pianist, and a singer who’s also playing guitar. He distantly finds himself enjoying the music, even though it’s not his usual taste.
A few songs in, the singer begins to speak over the instrumental intro being played and Steve’s eyes are drawn to him instantly.
“Good evening, Indianapolis! I’m Eddie Munson and this is our band, Corroded Coffin. We’re so excited to be here tonight with all of you!” The charismatic man smiles wide at the crowd.
The audience’s cheering gets louder and Steve surprises himself by joining them. Steve is captivated by Eddie. He’s possibly the most handsome man Steve has ever seen and his voice is silky smooth. Steve would be willing to bet money that the man is an alpha from his mannerisms and commanding presence.
“Are you all ready to jam with us?” Another collective scream of excitement from the people in the room. “That’s what I like to hear! Now prove it, show us how metal you are!”
The next song starts, loud and frantic. It makes the omega’s heart beat faster.
The people in the front area surrounding Steve take the music change as their cue to go insane. Steve immediately becomes anxious again at the way they all begin to move, making him feel like a trapped animal. He grabs onto the barrier in front of him to try to steady himself, ignoring a glare from the security personnel nearby.
Despite his tight grip on the bar, when someone knocks against his back aggressively, Steve can’t keep his balance. He feels himself fly forward and his legs give out. His face smacks into the metal in front of him so hard that he ends up on his back laying on the floor.
Steve is distantly aware of a ringing in his ears as well as a warm liquid dripping down his face. It feels like it’s coming from his nose which may very well be broken. Steve tries to open his eyes, but the lights are too much. He might be groaning in pain at this point, but he’s too dizzy to care what he sounds like.
He does notice when the music cuts off abruptly because he can feel the vibrations in the floor beneath him calm down. A voice in a microphone cuts through his haze. “We need to stop the music for a minute everyone, I think someone is hurt.”
Steve becomes conscious of multiple sets of hands touching him all at once and his panic returns. Someone wearing gloves is wiping at his face while another person is attempting to sit him up. It’s too much touch and Steve pulls away from them, a terrified whine escaping him.
The same voice that was in a microphone a moment ago is now behind him, the person holding Steve upright with arms around his waist. Steve might’ve been even more freaked out if the person didn’t purposely emit calming alpha pheromones into the air, overpowering any nerves Steve was having.
“Hey, sweetheart.” His inner omega whines out loud at the pet name. “Shhhh, you’re okay. Let the medical staff help you, okay? It looks like you hit the barrier pretty good there.”
“I think he may have a concussion. Can you ask him to open his eyes so we can check his pupils?” Steve ignores the man’s request, the lights are too bright and his head is still pounding.
“Did you hear them, angel? They need you to open your eyes so they can make sure you’re okay.” The man behind him speaks to him gently.
Steve whimpers, but answers him, “Too bright. My head really hurts.”
“Alright, honey. Is it okay if I pick you up? We can take you somewhere backstage where it’s not as bright.” Steve blushes at the thought of a random alpha carrying him, but nods his head anyway.
He feels the man maneuver Steve so he can carry him in a bridal hold. Steve is decently impressed with the strength of this guy. He’s on the slim side, but he’s pretty tall for an omega. This alpha is carrying him like he weighs nothing.
As they make their way through the crowd, clearly being escorted by security, the ringing in Steve’s ears dissipates a bit and the restless, noisy commotion of the crowd becomes more noticeable to him.
He really hopes the band starts playing again soon so that he’s not the center of attention anymore. Steve isn’t stupid enough to think that the audience isn’t raptured by the disruptive incident, but he hates it a lot.
Steve must let out a distressed cry because the alpha carrying him makes a soothing noise in response.
The temperature gets cool suddenly and Steve guesses they’ve made it backstage. Another door opens and Steve feels the man carrying him sit down on what seems like a couch. The alpha keeps Steve on his lap, but lets the omega stretch out a bit with a pillow being placed under his head.
“We dimmed the lights in this dressing room, so they shouldn’t bother you too much. Can you try to open your eyes, pretty boy?” Steve hesitates for a moment before complying with the request.
And holy shit. Steve thinks he must have a concussion to not recognize the voice of the lead singer of Corroded Coffin as the alpha taking care of him.
But the man was right. The lights are a lot less bright in this room. Steve can’t help himself from looking up and locking eyes with Eddie.
A jolt of what feels like lighting goes through him. As if things weren’t complicated enough. He just found his mate. A famous metal singer. An alpha. Eddie fucking Munson.
Steve doesn’t need to look at his wrist to know Eddie’s name will be written there.