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Steve didn't know why he agreed to drive all the way to Indianapolis on his Friday night to take Robin to the only gay club they knew of, but he suspected it had something to do with his inability to say no to his best friend.
"Don't worry, Steve, it's going to be fine." She squeezed his hand. "Thank you for doing this."
Steve pulled her under his arm. "It's all good, Robs. Hey at least you helped dress me, maybe I won't stand out so much." She insisted on it in fact. He wore a pair of skinny black jeans with an orange turtleneck he outgrew a couple years ago but forgot to donate.
"I still say the crop top would have been perfect," she teased.
"It's not fair. You get to put on layers, and I have to take them off." He tugged on the grey vest she wore over her white button up and grey tie. "This is sexist really."
Robin snorted. "Seriously?" She elbowed him gently. "God you're such a dork."
"Hey some people think I'm hilarious." Steve pulled out his wallet as the approached the entrance to the club. It didn't scream "gay night club", but that made sense.
Just inside the door a very tall, broad man took their entrance fee. "Have fun." He caught Steve's eye and winked.
Steve flushed and stammered. Robin tugged him away.
"Let's get a drink, Romeo," she said.
Steve shook his head. "What's that supposed to mean?" He leaned in close to be heard over the girl butchering a Madonna song at karaoke. "I'm straight you know. I like boobies."
Robin sat at the bar. "Yes, I know, I'm just saying you'll probably get plenty of free drinks. Some people, not me, might consider you attractive."
"I'm so flattered." Steve waved the bartender over. "You think other people think I'm attractive. How kind."
His first drink was the manliest he could think of, which was an old fashion. Which he barely choked down. His second drink was a long island ice tea at Robin's insistence, and he decided he didn't care how frilly it looked, he loved the damn thing.
"I wanna sing a song," he yelled to Robin over the electronic horns and drums of Keep Feeling Fascination.
"I don't, but I'll totally support you." She gave him a thumbs up.
He made his way through the crowd, a little looser and more comfortable after the alcohol. He stumbled when someone bumped into him from behind, and crashed into a woman's back.
"I'm so sorry, I swear I-" his eyes widened. "Nancy?"
Nancy looked vaguely like she wanted to bolt, but she stood her ground. "Hey Steve."
Steve looked around for Jonathan, who he knew just flew to California the week prior. "Why- I mean I didn't expect to see you here."
She laughed, a sound that was lost to the bustle of the club. "Can't say I expected to see you either."
"Are you here with someone?" He thought of Robin, and shifted his body away from the bar.
"Kinda? There's a guy I met here, we come together now. What about you?"
Steve looked involuntary at the bar where Robin awkwardly flirted with a woman in painted on leather pants.
"Yeah, I have a- a date." He knew he'd have to ask Robin how to go about talking to Nancy, but for the moment he decided to protect her secret.
"Cool. We should sit together," she offered, clearly to be polite.
Steve nodded. "Yeah, absolutely. I'm just," he pointed toward the karaoke line, "signing up to sing."
"Cool. Um, we have a table over there," she gestured stage left. "Just look for us I guess."
Steve gave her a thumbs up. He walked to the karaoke sign up table, suppressing his desire to run back to Robin. He barely got his name down before he hightailed it back to the bar. Robin nearly jumped on him when he walked up to her.
"Steve! My Steve, I mean my friend Steve. Steve the is Sierra." She clung to his arm. "Sierra it was so cool talking to you about... stuff. We're gonna dance." She dragged him onto the dance floor.
Steve leaned down to whisper in her ear. "What was that about?"
"Oh my god I can't repeat it." She pulled him further from the bar. "Let's just say she was enthusiastic about tying knots."
Steve considered the implications. It kinda sounded hot to him, but he wouldn't admit to that. "Heads up, Nancy is here."
Robin slouched and ducked her head. "Seriously? How can someone we know be here?" she hissed.
"Apparently she comes here a lot. She offered to let us sit at her table. She here with some guy. And before you freak out I didn't say a word about who I came with."
Robin relaxed in his arms. "Okay. Okay so is she here as a straight girl trying to escape crappy straight guys, or...?"
"No clue, but I said I had a date with me. We can play it cool, right? Just two friends on a date, no one has to be gay, right? She doesn't have to know."
Robin hugged him. "You're a good friend."
The karaoke announcer, a man dressed like the biker from the Village People, announced the next act. "Eddie M. is up next with Beat It!"
Steve hummed. "Dude I love this song."
Eddie walked onto the stage, a Motorhead crop top and ripped jeans. He took the microphone and winked at the crowd. "Not my usual faire, but come on, Eddie Van Halen on guitar? Cannot resist."
The crowd whistled and jeered as the music started.
"They told him, 'Don't you ever come around here. Don't wanna see your face, you better disappear'." He strutted across the stage like he owned it.
Steve couldn't look away. He felt a familiar tug at his stomach. A flood of butterflies.
"You wanna be tough, better do what you can. So beat it, but you wanna be bad. Just beat it, beat it." He spun and stutter stepped forward before bringing his leg up.
"Holy shit he dances like Michael Jackson," Steve told Robin. He was pretty, Steve realized. Much prettier than any man had the right to be. Prettier than a lot of women.
"Just beat it, beat it. No one wants to be defeated. Showin' how funky and strong is your fight. It doesn't matter who's wrong or right." He snapped his fingers as he walked forward. Suddenly he transitioned gracefully into the routine at the end of the song, shifting one arm up, then dropping it as the other quickly rose, and repeated the motion perfectly. He shifted and slid backwards pumping his arms towards himself as he went.
"Oh god," Steve looked at Robin, his eyes wide in horror.
"What?" She glanced between him and the stage. "What?"
"He's hot, Robin." Steve spent plenty of his time chasing the sensation of attraction. The lack of it ended many of his budding romances. He knew exactly what the excited, almost nauseating feeling meant. "Robin he's really fucking hot," he panicked.
Robin opened and closed her mouth several time before she managed to say, "I'll have to take your word on that."
Steve looked back to the stage where Eddie spun and gyrated and fuck he was so hot.
"Robin you don't get it. He's like... I wanna try and kiss him hot." Steve said as quietly as he could while still being heard. "He doesn't have boobies Robin." He gestured wildly at the stage. "Why am I feeling this way?"
Robin slipped her hand into his and squeezed. "Have you ever wanted to kiss a guy before?"
"I don't... I guess I've wondered about it, but not-" he waved his hand, "like this. This is like a crush, Robs. What the hell?"
"Maybe you like both? Like... maybe you're bisexual?"
"Like Bowie?" Steve shook his head. "I'm no Bowie. I'm just Steve Harrington. Boring Steve Harrington who likes girls."
"Well maybe you should think about it? You don't have to figure anything out right away," she soothed.
"Yeah. Yeah that's a good idea. I just need to not think about him. It's a big club, right? What're the chances I run into one small guy?"
"See? That's the spirit," Robin said. "Personally I'm feeling that about Sierra. She's... kinda terrifying."
"Did you want to sit with Nancy? Safety in numbers?" Steve craned his head to see Nancy's table. "She's somewhere over there."
"Aw what the hell. She's cool, right? I mean she's here so she can't not be cool." Robin followed his lead through the crowd. "I may need another drink though."
Nancy waved when she saw them. "Hey, guys."
Steve and Robin sat. Robin took the seat between them, leaning over to talk to Nancy.
"Having fun?" she asked.
Nancy shrugged. "Yeah, I usually do. What about you? I haven't seen you guys here before?"
Robin glanced at Steve, who decided to wave. "This is our first time here. Steve took me because... because I wanted to go to a place like this." She stumbled over her explanation.
"That's cool. Jonathan took me the first time." She looked over Steve's shoulder. "Oh hey guys this is my friend Eddie."
Eddie dropped into the chair beside Steve. "You picked up some strays," he teased.
"This is Robin and Steve. There friends," Nancy introduced.
"Friends," Steve agreed. "All the of us. Just friends. Like me and Robin? Just friends. Me and Nancy? Well we dated, but now we're just friends. Good friends." Steve kicked at Robin's foot, begging for help with his eyes.
"Oh yeah, totally just friends. Platonic friends," she chimed in. "The idea of dating him? Gag worthy."
"Hey!" Steve yelled, offended. "I think that's enough, Robin."
Eddie picked up his glass, eyes swimming with mirth as he watched them. "Good to hear. I actually know you two. Well know of you. I go to Hawkins."
Steve deflated a little. "I wasn't a dick to you, was I?"
Eddie snorted, sipping his drink. "Actually no. You mostly ignored me. I think we talked one time behind the school. You needed a lighter."
Steve squinted and studied his face. "You had shorter hair," he said slowly. "Right?"
"Shit you remember? Yeah, I went through a buzzed stage." He ran his fingers through his hair. "Kinda like the long hair better. Great for head banging."
"It looks good," Steve confirmed. "I mean nice. It's nice. Your hair... hey you were great on stage."
He laughed. "Beat It? I usually karaoke rock or metal, but I wanted to dance tonight."
"It was great. The dancing, the singing, all of it." Steve caught Robin staring at him. He felt himself flush. "I- yeah. I was a fan."
Eddie propped his elbows on the table and rested his chin on his interlaced fingers. "Please, tell me more. This is great for my ego."
"Oh, haha, yeah. Guess I'm talking a little much. Robin made me get a long island ice tea? Have you had one? They're crazy strong, and when I'm tipsy I talk a too much. Right Nancy? Nancy knows, she's been to a lot of parties with me."
"Steve definitely talks too much." She shared a look with Robin. "In certain situations."
The announcer called out Steve's name and song.
"Steve." Robin poked him. "That's you."
"What? Oh me!" He hopped off his chair. "I'll be right back." He made his way to the stage. Relief flooded his veins as he made his way further from Eddie, and the brain damaging confusion he caused.
The announcer handed of the microphone, and Steve let himself loosen up. The song was a favorite, and he knew he sang it well. He just needed to tap into the stage presence he created for sporting events.
He looked into the crowd, holding the microphone stand close as the music started. "Well, I'm hot-blooded, check it and see. I got a fever of a hundred and three. Come, baby, do you do more than dance? I'm hot-blooded, I'm hot-blooded!" He couldn't quite see far enough into the club to find Eddie, but his body flushed at the idea of singing the song to him.
"You don't have to read my mind, to know what I have in mind." He danced backwards, microphone stand in hand and pranced around working the stage like Lou Gramm. "Honey, you oughta know. Now you move so fine, let me lay it on the line, I wanna know what you're doin' after the show."
The more adrenaline flushed his system the freer his movements became. "Now it's up to you, we can make a secret rendezvous. Just me and you, I'll show you lovin' like you never knew." If asked about the hip thrust later he would blame the alcohol.
"That's why, I'm hot-blooded, check it and see. Feel the fever burning inside of me. Come, baby, do you do more than dance? I'm hot-blooded, hot-blooded!" Steve liked positive attention. He really did. And years of sports and prep rallies managed to make his already outgoing personality larger. He threw himself into the song whole heartedly, channeling his inner rock star as he danced.
"I'm hot-blooded, I'm hot-blooded. I'm a little bit high. Hot-blooded, you're a little bit shy. Hot-blooded, you're making me sing. Hot-blooded for your sweet, sweet thing. Hot-blooded do you hear what I say? Hot-blooded!"
He grinned and waved at the crowd when they cheered for him. The announcer came up and whistled.
"You sure are hot blooded, stud." He winked at Steve, who flushed further.
"Don't you know it." Steve laughed as he left the stage. The high of preforming made his body buzz pleasantly as he made his way back to the table.
Robin pointed at him. "You've been holding out on me!"
Nancy smiled, her eyes crinkle at the corners. "Still a ham, I see."
Eddie just stared, mouth working wordlessly. He finally managed to say, "That was a rock song."
Steve slumped into his chair. "Yeah, I know." He stole Nancy's drink and took a sip. "I like rock music. I like most music."
"But- but you were good," Eddie insisted. "At a rock song. And the dancing. Holy shit the dancing."
Steve leaned against the back of his chair and turned to face Eddie. Those damn butterflies were back. "I'm a physical man, Eddie. I'm good with my body."
Eddie flustered, and stammered out, "Wh- what?"
"Let's dance," Nancy said, grabbing Robin by her elbow. "We're going to dance."
Robin's head bounced left and right, as though there was another person Nancy wanted to dance with. "We are?"
"Yup." She gave Steve an encouraging nudge with her hand as she took Robin to the dance floor.
"I'm pretty sure they left us alone on purpose," Steve pointed out.
Eddie rolled his empty glass between his hands. "I don't think she was trying to be sly about it."
"You know it's kinda hot in here." Steve leaned over and spoke close to Eddie's ear. "I need a little fresh air, want a cigarette?"
Eddie's breath stuttered. "Uh yeah. Okay."
Steve's brain and gut argued as Eddie led him out back. He was pretty sure he was straight- no, he used to be pretty sure he was straight- but the things he wanted to do with Eddie pointed to another conclusion. The longer he thought on it the more men he had to add to the "I wanna kiss them" list he compiled in his head.
Steve leaned against the brick wall of the alley and lit a cigarette. "Hope you don't mind reds." He passed the lit cigarette to Eddie and lit his own.
Eddie watched him closely, his features carefully neutral. "This doesn't seem like it would be your kind of place."
"It's not. My friend Robin wanted to come, and I'm basically incapable of saying no to her." He dragged on his cigarette. "But it ended up being a lot of fun. And I met you and Nancy here."
"Strictly speaking you met us at school." Eddie flicked the ash from his cigarette. "What are you doing?"
"Smoking?"
"Flirting with me." Eddie stared at the wall opposite of them. "You're flirting with me."
"I am," Steve confirmed.
"Why?" He met Steve's eyes.
Steve shifted closer. "I'm beginning to realize things about myself." His gaze drifted to Eddie's mouth. "And as thick as I can be I try not to lie to myself."
"You're drunk." Eddie started to step back but Steve caught his elbow.
"Not hardly. I hold my liquor pretty well. I just... I want to kiss you." He cupped Eddie's cheek. "I wanted to kiss you three years ago when we smoked behind the school."
"Like hell you did. You never talked to me again." Eddie didn't lean into his hand, but he didn't pull back either.
"Yeah, because I wanted to kiss you." Steve brushed his thumb over Eddie's lips. "You're just so damn pretty. It scared me."
"You don't seem scared now," Eddie breathed.
"I've been through scarier revelations than my crush on you." He leaned down, stopping just shy of a kiss. "I was supposed to avoid you tonight so I could process this."
Eddie tilted his head slightly. "What changed?"
"I'm really bad at impulse control." He closed the gap, pressing his mouth to Eddie's. The rumble of butterflies became a storm of birds, the vibrations throwing his world off kilter as he pressed closer to Eddie.
The back door flew open and Robin stumbled out. "Nancy kissed me," she blurtered, stopping short when Steve stared over Eddie's shoulder. "Holy shit you kissed Eddie. Holy shit there's four of us in Hawkins."
Eddie dropped his forehead on Steve's chest, laughing hard enough that Steve felt his breath through his shirt. "What a night for revelations," he managed between giggles.
"Isn't Nance with Jonathan?" Steve gave into the urge to run his fingers through Eddie's hair.
"They broke up. And she kissed me. On the dance floor. And she wants to go get coffee. With me, Steve! Beautiful, smart, funny Nancy Wheeler likes me!" She started to pace. "But she's your ex, and I shouldn't do this, right?"
"She is my ex, Rob, and my friend. Go for it." Steve stroked his thumb against the back of Eddie's neck.
"Also Eddie came with Nancy so..."
Steve hummed. "Well I think I can handle that. You mind driving back with me, Eddie?"
Eddie finalized stood, straightening himself out. "I guess I don't mind. You can regale me with how pretty you think I am."
Steve gave Robin the thumbs-up. "See? Now go woo your woman."
Robin made a sound halfway between excitement and terror. "She smells so nice."
"And has absolutely no interest in knots." Steve wrapped his arm around Eddie's shoulders. "I'll see you at work tomorrow."
"Unless I spontaneously combust." She waved before rushing back in with a, "Goodnight, Eddie," tossed over her shoulder.
"How do you feel about duets?" Steve asked.
"In general they suck, but they're fun." Eddie fluttered his eyelashes exaggeratedly. "Are you asking me to sing with you?"
"Absofuckinglutely."