Work Text:
A new beginnin'
A reason for livin'
A deeper meaning, yeah
Wednesday, January 26, 2000
“Stevie, baby, you didn’t have to get me anything,” Eddie says with a huge grin overtaking his face as he starts making grabby hands at the envelope.
Steve chuckles, handing it over and biting his lip in anticipation.
It’s probably too much, right?
They’ve only been dating for a few weeks, only known each other for a couple of months. Steve loves giving gifts though, especially to people he cares about. And he really cares about Eddie.
Eddie opens up his birthday card and gasps as concert tickets fall out into his waiting hand. “Metallica?”
“It’s too much, right? I know it’s too much… I just… you said you’ve never seen them before and I found out they’re touring and it’s not until July and that’s so far away, so it’s a bit much for me to get you tickets and… I mean you don’t have to take me! Both of the tickets are for you! Maybe you’ll want to go with someone who’s actually a fan, who won’t stick out like a sore thumb at a metal show…” Steve babbles away, wondering if perhaps Robin has rubbed off on him too much, but he can’t read Eddie’s expression and it’s making him nervous.
Eddie looks up at Steve, his big brown eyes welling up with tears as he runs a thumb over the tickets. “Sweetheart, this is the most thoughtful, amazing , wonderful gift,” Eddie sniffs. “I can’t believe you went and got me Metallica tickets! I didn’t even know they were on sale yet!”
“Well, I was in that record store you like, thinking I could pick you up some CDs for your birthday or something, and I was talking to the woman who owns the place, and she told me they were getting in some advance tickets for super fans. So I went last Saturday and stood in line for hours to get them. I almost got into a fight—some asshole kept calling me a poser,” Steve rolls his eyes, he could have taken the guy, sure, but he was an adult, he didn’t need to get in fights anymore.
Eddie swoons dramatically. “Oh baby, you stood in line? For little ol’ me?” He puts on a southern accent and bats his eyes, hand to his chest.
Steve chuckles. “Anythang for you, my darlin’,” he responds with a much worse accent.
“Wait, why was some guy calling you a poser?” Eddie asks, brow furrowed. “Oh my god, baby, don’t tell me you lined up for exclusive Metallica tickets in one of your preppy fucking polos!”
Steve flushes. “I didn’t… not do that…”
Eddie groans. “You’re lucky you didn’t get murdered.”
“Hey! I’ll have you know I can be perfectly pleasant to anyone I meet,” Steve says, faking offense, “and besides, only that one guy was a dick, everyone else was super nice! I chatted most of the wait with the couple standing behind me.”
“Of course you made friends, even us metalheads are weak for the patented Harrington charm!” Eddie laughs affectionately. “Why would you think that I’d want to go with anyone else? Of course I’m bringing you… oh, unless you don’t actually want to come? I know you’re not really into Metallica.”
“I’m into it if you’re there,” Steve says honestly, wrapping his hands around Eddie’s hips and pressing soft kisses to Eddie’s jaw working his way toward his lips.
“You’re so cheesy, Stevie,” Eddie says before melting into the kiss. “Wait,” he pulls back to look at Steve incredulously, “last Saturday? You said you had to work!”
Steve chuckles. “Well, yeah, I needed a good alibi.”
“I gave a twenty-minute impassioned speech about capitalism and corporate greed!” Eddie says, offended. “I can’t believe you let me go on and on about how unfair it was for them to have you come in on a weekend, and you weren’t even working!”
“Sweetheart, you do have a tendency towards monologuing. Plus, I enjoyed some of the points you made,” Steve says with a smile, pressing another kiss to Eddie’s lips.
Eddie grumbles, pulling back to look at the tickets in his hand again. “Stevie, this was so thoughtful of you, thank you.”
Steve blushes, happy that Eddie likes the gift, suddenly willing to waste any future Saturdays standing with a bunch of grumpy metalheads if it means making Eddie happy.
Monday, January 31, 2000
It’s two weeks before Valentine’s Day, and Eddie is panicking just a little bit. Sure, he and Steve have said they’ll keep the gifts to a minimum, but that doesn’t mean that Eddie wants to do something lame like buy Steve a box of chocolates.
Normally, Eddie detests Valentine’s Day as an example of how the world is becoming a consumerist hellscape, but after Steve had gone and been the sweetest guy of all time by buying those Metallica tickets for Eddie’s birthday, he’s determined to shower Steve with the affection he deserves. Besides, Robin let it slip that Steve secretly loves Valentine’s Day, so the last thing Eddie wants to do is drop the ball and let Steve think that he doesn’t care about him just because he doesn’t like the stupid heart-infested day.
So, that’s why he’s sitting at his desk at the tattoo shop working on a drawing of Steve, Eddie, Robin, and Nancy at the bar where Steve and Robin work. He’s drawn himself and Nancy sitting on barstools while Robin and Steve mix drinks behind the bar. It’s a silly little thing, but these three dinguses— what is the plural of dingus? —have become very special to Eddie in such a short time. He’s so grateful to have Robin back in his life, and Nancy is a great friend, almost like a sister to him already. And Steve, oh my god Steve, how did Eddie get so lucky? To have this random guy who helped him with his Christmas tree become so much more.
Throughout December, they had become close, talking on the phone almost every day, and hanging out often. Eddie was attracted to Steve from day one—how could he not be?—but he was initially hesitant about letting their flirtations blossom into anything more. Of course, Steve surprised him again and again, just by being his sweet, thoughtful, and caring self. Eddie fell for him so quickly, so easily, it was hard not to second guess at times, but whenever he was around Steve, all of his worries faded and were replaced with a feeling of pure contentment.
After they shared their first kiss at Robin and Nancy’s New Year’s Eve party, Steve and Eddie spent the whole night talking and kissing until they finally passed out in each other’s arms in the plush guest bed. They slept in so late the following morning that Robin finally came into the room with her hands over her eyes saying that brunch was ready, and they were expected to get their asses out of bed and help clean up the party mess.
They started dating in earnest after that, becoming inseparable with every day—every night—they spent together. Eddie flushes at the thought, Steve had Eddie feeling like he’d just discovered his dick for the first time. Robin was constantly gagging at them when they got a little too affectionate with one another around her. Eddie had thought that sex was good before, but sex with Steve was on a whole other level.
He’s always so enthusiastic and responsive, and they can’t seem to get enough of each other. Steve’s prowess in the bedroom leaves little to be desired, and Eddie finds himself trying a ton of new things that he never even considered before. Even when they’re apart the sweet aches in Eddie’s body are a constant reminder of all of the naughty things he gets up to with Steve on a regular basis.
Eddie finds himself daydreaming about what he and Steve had gotten up to the night before, making his cock twitch with interest. Steve said he has always fantasized about fucking in his office, and now that he’s leaving the company he wanted to act out some of those fantasies he’d cooked up before he gets his keys taken away. So, they’d snuck into the building, late at night, with Steve all dressed up in a sexy blue suit that was tailor-made for him, and Steve had gotten on his fucking knees and done some of the dirtiest role play Eddie has ever had the pleasure of participating in.
He shakes his head, clearing his horny thoughts. His client is due to arrive shortly and having a boner when she shows up would be incredibly creepy and unprofessional. He takes another look at the drawing, cleaning up some of the messy lines with an eraser. He hopes Steve will appreciate the sentiment behind it at least, but maybe he’ll get a traditionally cheesy Valentine’s gift as a backup just in case. Either way, Eddie figures if he throws it in a frame, it can jazz up Steve’s place a little. Robin and Nancy look for any excuse to give Steve things to breathe more personality into his place, since Robin’s of the opinion that Steve’s apartment is “aggressively beige”—Eddie has to agree with her there. Apparently, Steve let his mother loose in the apartment with a Pottery Barn catalog and never thought to decorate it for his own tastes.
Eddie can’t fathom allowing someone else to decorate or living in a place as bland as Steve’s, but then again Eddie’s never really had someone to smother him the way Steve’s mother seems to. Steve’s father is a whole other kettle of fish, a different brand of lousy father figure from Eddie’s own, but lousy nonetheless.
Based on the things that Steve has told him about his father, Eddie’s amazed that Steve has managed to stay relatively sane working with him. Steve has been talking about leaving the company for a while now, but his father keeps going out of town for business and putting off some big meeting that he’s supposed to have with Steve. So Steve has been dragging his feet on resigning, figuring he can hold out a little bit more and continue padding his bank account with corporate cash until the timing is right.
He knows Steve was a bit scared of facing his father and the fallout that will come from abandoning the ‘family legacy’. Eddie is so proud of Steve, though, for taking that leap in the first place, even when he knows how hard it’s going to be. Steve just keeps telling himself it will be worth it in the long run, and Eddie agrees.
Eddie looks up at the Kit-Kat clock above his desk; Steve is going out for lunch with his father for their meeting today to some ridiculously fancy restaurant with cloth napkins, and Eddie has one more appointment before he can go back to Steve’s place to check in with him and make sure he’s doing okay—he has Robin and Nancy on speed dial if reinforcements are needed. He calls Steve’s home number and leaves a quick message, thinking it will be nice for him to at least have something nice to come home to before Eddie gets there.
He stands, stretching out his arms and cracking his knuckles. Eddie’s station is already set up and ready for his client—she’s a peppy little thing, but a total nerd. She came to him with an idea for a tattoo of somehow combining different imagery from Lord of The Rings, and he’d run with it. Well, he’d gotten so excited that he’d gone straight home and pulled out all of his Tolkien books and ended up sketching out multiple different designs, and he might end up putting one or two of them on himself honestly. He just hopes that Dawn likes one of them.
Shannon, the shop’s resident apprentice—aka the person who took over all the bitch work from Eddie when he moved up as a full-time tattoo artist—knocks on his open door with a smile. “Hey Eddie, your 1 o’clock is here.”
“Thanks, Shan, you can send her in!”
“Hey, Dawn, how are ya?” Eddie says to his client as she enters his station. She's practically bouncing.
“Hey, Eddie!” she says cheerfully. “Show me the art, I’m dying over here!”
Eddie chuckles, pulling out the sketches to show her. “So, I took your ideas and got a little overexcited,” he says, only somewhat shy. “There’s a few different options for you.”
Even after years of working his way up and finally now having a decent space in this shop with a steady client base who all love his custom designs and unique style, he still has a lot of self-doubts, but he’s working on trusting himself more.
“Oh my god, they’re all so gorgeous!” Dawn says excitedly as she flips through the pages. “Holy fuck! This is it! This is the one! Put it on my body right now!” she exclaims, making Eddie laugh again. She’s holding up the drawing he’d done of the Tree of Gondor, its trunk twisting into the hilt of Narsil, the Sword that was Broken and encircled by the inscription of the One Ring that he’d painstakingly copied from Fellowship.
“Okay, hold your horses champ, we have some prep to do first,” Eddie says, tucking away the other sketches.
He’s pretty proud of them actually, and he thinks he might clean them up and add them to his portfolio for other clients to choose from since he tends to be getting a lot of nerds coming in asking him for ink.
Eddie and Dawn spend some time deciding on size and placement for the piece, eventually concluding that it’ll look best up the side of her thigh. He’s done some smaller pieces for her before but this will definitely be the biggest one, he still can’t believe his luck that people trust him enough to let him permanently ink his art on their bodies.
Dawn’s a great client; she stays fairly still, laying sideways on the table while Eddie works on her leg. They pause every so often so she can adjust or take sips of water, but mostly they just talk away while he works. An hour into the session, it’s looking pretty spectacular, and Dawn says as much, trying to look down at it while he goes over the black ink again, building up the color.
He’s focused on perfecting the gray shading in the sword while Dawn somberly tells him that she has to take a leave from work and go home to take care of her mother since she was recently diagnosed with lung cancer. Eddie’s heart goes out to her—he’d had a scare with Wayne a few years back which had resulted in his old man’s move south. Eddie had gone and stayed with him for a month, helping him move and getting him settled in his new place.
“And don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind at all , I want to be there for her through her chemo, but I was really looking forward to seeing the Backstreet Boys next month and now I’m going to have to sell my tickets,” she pouts. “Hey, you don’t like them do you?”
“Dawn, darling, do I look like I would sully these gorgeous ears with the musical stylings of a boy band?” Eddie snorts.
Dawn laughs. “Yeah, of course not, but you’re gay, right? You sure you don’t want to go see them in their little outfits?”
Eddie blinks, his mouth agape, “how did you…” he trails off, still surprised that she caught on to him, most people don’t clock him so easily.
“Eddie, babe, I’m lying here in my underwear and you haven’t looked at anything once, either you’re gay or a saint,” she giggles.
“Or maybe I’m just not a creep,” he grumbles, feeling awkward.
“Hey, don’t worry, my cousin’s gay, it’s all good!” she says with a genuine smile that quickly turns salacious, “actually, he’s single. If you’re looking to be set up,” she continues with a wiggle of her brows.
Eddie cracks a smile at her ridiculous expression. “I’m actually seeing someone,” he says softly.
Come to think of it, Steve likes the Backstreet Boys, sweet Steve who waited in line for hours to get Eddie Metallica tickets and is planning on going to the concert with him even though he’s not into metal music. Eddie’s working on broadening his musical horizons and hopes to have him at least able to recognize a decent double-bass beat by the summer.
“How much did you say those tickets were?” Eddie asks curiously.
Dawn squeals. “You must be really soft on this guy if you’re considering—what did you say? ‘ sullying your ears’ for him!”
Eddie flushes, ducking his head. “I was just thinking it could be a nice surprise for him if I can swing it… tell you what, I’ll trade you. The tattoo for the tickets?”
“That's perfect! Ugh, I could kiss you. I was dreading having to try to sell them, but I guess your man probably wouldn’t like that, hey?” she winks, giggling again.
***
After Dawn leaves, Shannon offers to break down Eddie’s station, but he finds that he likes doing it himself, so she keeps him company by wiping down his table while he takes apart the machine and begins sanitizing it. She’s relatively new to the shop but seems to be fitting in well enough. Eddie’s not super close with any of his coworkers since he’d been a bit of a recluse when he started working at the shop, heading straight home after his shifts rather than going out to the bar or joining in on karaoke nights with them. He’s trying to get off on the right foot with Shannon though, to branch out and make more friends. All of the other artists say he takes it too easy on her, one of them going so far as to suggest that Eddie has a crush on her. He’d just rolled his eyes at that. He doesn’t necessarily hide that he’s gay, he just doesn’t talk about it loudly with people until he knows they’re safe.
“So, I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but I heard you telling your client about your boyfriend…” Shannon says, making Eddie freeze.
Her back is turned to him, and he doesn’t know her all that well yet. He didn’t think she would be the homophobic type, but it’s subtle in some people, so he braces himself for whatever she’s going to say next.
When she doesn’t continue Eddie fills in, unable to deal with any lingering silence. “Uh, yeah, Steve is his name.”
“He sounds great,” she says, turning to him with a smile on her face. “He’s lucky you’re such a sweetheart, I was about to storm in and say I’d buy the concert tickets off of her if you didn’t take them.”
Eddie laughs, looking her up and down. “I never thought you’d be the type for the Backstreet Boys either.”
Shannon’s style leans towards grunge. She always wears heavy eyeliner and is usually adorned in plaid, like him. She wouldn’t really fit with the teeny bopper crowd that’s likely to be at the concert. Today, she’s wearing battered black chucks, baggy camo cargo pants, studded wrist cuffs, and a Nirvana T-shirt over a red and black striped long sleeve.
She grins at him. “Yeah, well, I’m like you and managed to fall for someone that likes boy bands, she’d lose her mind if I got us tickets to that show.”
Eddie smiles back at her, heart feeling full at finding another queer person right under his nose.
“Sorry I snagged them then! I’ll let you know if I hear about any more turning up,” he says genuinely.
They finish cleaning up the shop for the end of the day, talking about their respective partners. It’s nice to talk to someone new about Steve and how happy he is, even if they haven’t put the official label on their relationship. He feels like he and Steve are fairly committed to each other already. Besides, they talked about going to the Metallica concert together, and that was months away. If that doesn’t scream ‘semi-serious relationship’, Eddie doesn’t know what would. Amazingly, he feels none of his old insecurities when it comes to his relationship with Steve, no desperate need to ask him “where is this going?”. He’s content to just live in the now with Steve and enjoy every moment.
Shannon’s telling him all about this great gay bar downtown with drink specials and karaoke nights while they’re locking up, and she suggests that the four of them go together sometime. Eddie agrees, thinking that Steve would get along well with Shannon’s girlfriend, or at the very least, they can sing some pop songs together.
He waves goodbye to her and heads to the coffee shop next door, hoping they still have some of their delicious brownies that he can bring home as a treat for himself and Steve. He hopes that Steve’s meeting with his father went okay, but figures that the sweet snacks will help ease any woes. If the situation is dire enough, Eddie figures that he can always whip out the Backstreet Boys tickets as a surprise, Valentine’s Day be damned.
Steve checks his watch as he hands over his keys to the valet. Typical for his father to choose a new and pretentious restaurant that’s well out of Steve’s way, but at least there’s valet. He supposes he’ll have to get used to not going to restaurants with valet anymore, big whoop .
He enters the restaurant, taking in the white tablecloths and the low lighting before he gives his last name to the maître d' and follows him past the host stand and into the restaurant where his father is waiting.
Robert Harrington is looking at the menu with a scowl on his handsome face, years of that expression have carved lines into his forehead, making him look perpetually annoyed. Steve gives his father a once over as he walks over, he’s wearing a new black suit—surely the latest in fashion picked out by his mother or a personal shopper—complete with metallic pinstripes. Steve wouldn’t be surprised if it was made with real silver thread, which seems needlessly opulent, but Robert Harrington isn’t one for necessities, he’s one for designer clothes that come with a designer price tag. Who cares about personal style when you can have something that ninety-nine percent of the population can’t afford?
“Good afternoon, Steven,” his father says, standing to shake his hand, formal as ever.
“Good afternoon,” Steve returns, shaking his father's hand firmly. Giving a proper handshake was on the long list of ‘Things That Every Man Should Know’ that Steve had learned throughout his life.
They exchange stilted small talk before placing their order; duck breast and leg confit over braised cabbage and green lentils for Steve and an “outstanding” cider-glazed lamb shank with parsnip-turnip gratin, for his father, complete with wine pairings recommended by the manager.
Steve picks at the admittedly delicious bread on the table while his father prattles on about some upcoming merger that Steve couldn’t care less about. He’s steeling himself to work up the courage for the inevitable—he has to do this today.
“…And besides, once you buckle down and really start applying yourself you’ll be taking over those arrangements—Steven? Are you even listening to me? Christ, you’d think that you would learn to pay attention for once in your life, we’re discussing your future. You really need to stop living with your head in the clouds. For God’s sake, you need to get serious about your life, look at finding a nice girl and settling down, stop wasting time hanging about with those dykes—”
It’s not even the fact that Robert Harrington can’t bother to remember Robin and Nancy’s names despite having met both of them on multiple occasions over the years, it’s not even that he calls them “those dykes” as he has countless times in the past, it’s the pinched look of disgust, the way he lowers his voice as if it’s an embarrassment that Steve is associating with two women who he loves more than anything, that’s what finally makes Steve snap.
“Their names are Robin and Nancy, Dad , and they’re my family, so I’ll thank you to shut the fuck up about them,” Steve spits.
If he wasn’t so terrified of the fall out, he’d laugh at the speed at which his father’s face goes from pink to red to full-on puce, his mustache practically quivering off his face in his simmering rage.
“What did you just say to me?” Robert snaps back, his voice louder than polite before he remembers that they’re in public, and lowers his tone. “I am your family, you ungrateful brat, and I’ll thank you to take the legacy that this family represents seriously.”
“Yeah, well, screw your legacy, and your promotion. I quit,” Steve says firmly. He’s sweating buckets, and for once he’s thankful for his stupid suit jacket for covering up what are sure to be massive pit stains.
Out of the corner of his eye, Steve sees their waiter walking towards them with a smile, which drops immediately when he sees the tension at their table. Thankfully, the man seems to have an ounce of self-preservation and doubles back to the kitchen quickly.
“Steven Robert Harrington, what has gotten into you? You’ve always been a disappointment, but this is a new low. I’ve given you everything in life, set you up with a good career, and this is the thanks I get? What are you going to do with yourself now? Work at your pathetic little bar like some uneducated lout? No, you’re going to—” Robert raises his finger to point threateningly at Steve, about to continue his lecture before Steve cuts him off by standing abruptly.
“Save it, father, I’ve made up my mind. I’m not interested in our supposed ‘family legacy’, and I’m certainly not interested in working for your soul-sucking company anymore. I’ll submit a formal letter of resignation tomorrow. Goodbye,” Steve says, adrenaline pumping as he stalks away from the table, not turning back to his father's hissed threats to “get back here this instant”.
Steve exits the restaurant, waiting for the valet to bring his car around and smiling at the feeling of the winter sun shining on his face. He knows he’s just kicked up a veritable shitstorm that he’s going to have to deal with the fallout of for years to come, but he can’t help but chuckle quietly at the thought of the look on his fathers face when he finally stood up to him after so many years of just keeping his head down and doing what he was told, regardless that nothing he ever did was good enough.
As he drives home, doubts creep into his head about whether he’s made the right choice. If he continued at the company, he’d be set for life, and he feels sick to his stomach.
What have I done?
His words play over and over again in his head. Thankfully, a voice that sounds suspiciously like Robin interrupts, reminding him how miserable he’s been working there, how he feels like he’s wasted his life trying to live up to his parent's expectations. He’s only 33, but he feels trapped—he’s only qualified to slog through life as a corporate stooge or work at a bar. Even though he loves his job and working with Robin, he knows he won’t be satisfied working there forever. Luckily, Benny has already agreed to give him more shifts, so at the very least he can work there for the time being, and keep a steady—though substantially reduced—income, until he decides what to do with his life.
Nancy and Robin have encouraged him to go back to school for something that he’s actually interested in and passionate about this time, but his problem is he doesn’t know what that is. Plus, the idea of going back to college in his 30s is enough to give him hives; he’ll feel so fucking ancient, like the Crypt Keeper going to class with a bunch of infants.
Regardless of how he ends up restarting his life, he knows that he simply cannot continue to go on as he has been. Especially not when his mom keeps trying to set him up with “eligible young ladies”. He’s never bothered to come out as bisexual to his parents, and maybe it’s cowardly of him, but he figured they wouldn’t get it , particularly when he’s never even dated a guy long enough for the relationship to reach the ‘meet the parents’ stage.
But now he’s with Eddie, and things are going well. So well that Steve knows he’s falling in love even though it’s far too soon to say those words out loud. He hopes that his mother would be happy for him, but he knows his father would blow his lid. No, he was better off taking a knife to his tangled relationship with his father now, putting some much-needed distance between them before he brings Eddie into the equation.
Steve’s finally ready to live his life for himself, to let himself be happy and free to make his own decisions.
He enters his building, saying a quick hello to the doorman, Ralph, before heading up to his apartment. He hopes that Eddie will be over soon. His tattoo appointment was at the same time as Steve’s lunch, but since Steve is home a lot sooner than he anticipated, he’s not sure when Eddie’s going to be by. Eddie had shown Steve the different options he’d agonized over for the tattoo, but the length of time it would take was dependent on what his client would pick.
Steve unlocks his door, wishing as usual that he had some kind of pet to greet him when he got home. He’s never had a pet before because his parents never let him get the puppy he so desperately wanted as a kid. Now that he lives in an apartment building in a busy city, he thinks that a cat would be more his speed. He wonders if Eddie likes cats, trying not to get ahead of himself with thoughts of the two of them cuddled up with a little bundle of fur on the couch.
Steve’s answering machine flashes with a new message, and he hits the button as he kicks off his shoes and loosens his tie, eager to get into his sweats while he waits for Eddie to come over.
“Hey, sweetheart, sorry I’m not there yet, or who knows maybe I am, I can’t see the future,” Eddie’s voice plays out over the machine with a chuckle, “anyways, I just wanted to give you something nice to come home to, at least until I can be there and help you take your mind off things properly, if you know what I mean,” his tone drops seductively before he clears his throat sounding a little embarrassed. “I’ll be there as soon as I can, lo-later baby!”
Steve grins at the machine, wondering as he often has of late, how he got lucky enough to bag Eddie Munson. It's probably too soon for the “what are we?” talk. He knows from past experiences that he tends to give too much of himself too soon in a relationship, and with the way that Eddie’s hinted about his last relationship ending, the last thing Steve wants to do is come on too strong. Besides, they’ve gotten very close in a short period of time, and he’s ridiculously happy with the way things are going. No need to push for more so soon and have it backfire in his face like it has in the past.
He grabs the phone, dialing Robin and Nancy’s number as he pads towards his bedroom in search of comfier clothes.
“Go for Robin,” Robin answers the phone with a chirp, making Steve crack up.
“Hey ace, you working on a big scoop?”
“It’s the middle of the day, gotta keep the telephone solicitors on the edge of their seats,” she responds laughing back, before catching herself. “Hey, how did the lunch go?”
“It went… I’m home now though, I told him I’d submit my letter of resignation tomorrow. Hopefully, I can get into the office first thing and clear it out with minimal fuss.” He sighs. He’s not really close with anyone at work, and the last thing he wants to do is make a big scene and have them all watching him as he packs up and leaves.
“I’m proud of you, you know,” Robin says softly. “Do you want Nance and me to come by later? I know Eddie said he was coming over after his appointment, but we could bring dinner, the four of us could hang out?”
“Yeah, thanks Rob, that sounds nice. Can you get pizza? Oh and maybe those garlic knots I like?” Steve asks, his stomach grumbles loudly, reminding him that he walked out before his lunch was even served. Whatever, he doesn’t even really like duck.
“Anything for you, dingus my darling. We’ll pick it up and come over after Nance gets home, say… 7ish? Please make sure you and Eddie are fully clothed.”
Steve laughs. “We’re not going at it like rabbits, you know. We do actually spend time together not naked.”
“Yeah sure, sure, tell that to my eyes,” Robin says in exaggerated disgust.
“Geez, I answer the door in a towel one time, and you act like I murdered your whole family,” Steve giggles, remembering how Robin had covered her face and walked into his doorframe. It wasn’t his fault that she was early and that he and Eddie had just gotten out of the shower.
“You may as well have!” she laughs back.
“Okay, love you bye, bring me pizza!” he says before hanging up on her.
***
Eddie ends up being very effective at distracting Steve when he arrives, getting on his knees in front of Steve before he can even think of making a move. They end up passing the time before Nancy and Robin arrive so quickly that Steve almost falls over in a rush to pull his pants on and answer the door.
Robin takes one look at his untucked shirt and messy hair and gags. “You two are repulsive,” she says, pushing past Steve and carrying the pizza over to the coffee table.
Eddie is sitting on the couch, arms splayed across the back in an attempt to look casual, but his hair is a mess, and his neck has a fresh hickey that’s beginning to darken.
“You could at least try to not look so smug, Munson. I’d like to be able to keep my dinner down,” she says to him, nudging his leg with her foot as she sits down beside him.
Eddie just points his doe eyes at her innocently. “Whatever do you mean, Buck?”
“Don’t point those at me, they’re like hypnotic laser beams, no wonder you have Steve so whipped!” she says dramatically, throwing her arms in front of her face and falling backwards on the couch.
“Hey!” Steve chimes in from the kitchen where he’s grabbing them plates and napkins while Nancy pours them some wine.
“She’s right you know,” Nancy says softly, “but whipped looks good on you, I’m glad you’re happy.” She gives his arm a squeeze before carrying the wine and the glasses into the living room and shoving Robin over so she can sit on the couch too.
They dig into the pizza as a Golden Girls rerun plays in the background, killing time until the new episode of Freaks and Geeks comes on. Eventually, they end up discussing who’s who of the four of them, Robin of course demands that she’s Sophia, while Nancy most identifies with Dorothy. Then they all laugh at the fact that that makes the couple mother and daughter.
Steve and Eddie get into a quarrel over who’s Blanche and who’s Rose, with Robin helpfully chiming in that they’re both slutty enough to be Blanche. Steve doesn’t want to be compared to Rose because he’s self-conscious about being called airheaded in the past, but Eddie wins him over by saying that she’s the sweet one so he has to be her. When Steve finally concedes, Eddie stands triumphantly on the couch, brandishing his pizza crust like a sword and declaring himself king of the sluts.
“The slut is dead!” Robin and Nancy chorus, pointing at Steve, before turning and bowing to Eddie, “long live the slut!”
The girls fall over themselves cackling as Steve jumps up to scoop Eddie into his arms, bridal style, planting a kiss on his greasy lips.
Steve falls back on the couch with Eddie in his lap, pulling him in close to whisper in his ear, “you’re my slut, sugar.”
“We have ears you know, could you two wait until we leave to be all gross together?” Robin glares at them, but Nancy shushes her by shoving another garlic knot in her mouth.
Steve hums contentedly, burrowing his face into Eddie’s neck, happy to be spending an evening with his best friends and the guy he’s crazy about.
Friday, February 4, 2000
Eddie’s the last one in the tattoo shop. He let Shannon go home, saying that he’d sweep and close up himself since he’s the one with an appointment at the end of the day on a Friday. Besides, now that they’re pals, he feels a lot shittier about sitting her with all the grunt work like the other artists tend to do. He’s got Metallica’s latest live album playing as he headbangs and spins the broom around in the back.
Ding!
He halts his sweeping at the sound of the bell at the front desk, must be a walk in or his client is half an hour early, according to his watch. He props the broom up against the wall and reaches for the volume knob on the stereo when the bell rings again.
Ding!
Jesus, impatient much?
“Be with you in just a minute!” Eddie calls out as he turns down the stereo.
Eddie walks down the hall, half hoping his client is early because the sooner they start, the sooner he can get over to Steve’s place for dinner.
He starts talking as he walks down the hall and rounds the corner. “Sorry about that, how can I he—”
He freezes on the spot at the sight of his ex, Henry, standing at the front desk. Eddie’s brain comes to a crashing halt at the sudden appearance of the man who spent the better part of last year making him miserable until he finally gained the self-respect and confidence to end their tumultuous five-year relationship. Eddie knows he looks like an idiot—standing there with his mouth agape—from the smug look on Henry’s face.
The thing is, he can’t help but note how good Henry looks. The stupid bastard was always way too handsome for his own good, and the worst part was that he knew it. The downfall of narcissists becoming models was it really went to their heads. His blonde hair is perfectly coifed, and he’s wearing dark blue jeans and a cream turtleneck sweater with an olive green peacoat over top. Eddie can guess that his outfit costs more than what he makes in a month, maybe two, and Henry had the nasty habit of bragging about his fashion choices to everyone who would listen. What they didn’t know was that Henry was usually gifted designer clothes from the shoots he booked, rather than forking out the cash himself. He just wanted everyone to know how much better than them he was, for being able to afford such fine clothing. He’d always hated Eddie’s preference for ripped jeans, band tees, and shopping at thrift stores. He wears them with pride now; they’re his clothes, and Steve has never made a comment about how he dresses.
“Henry, to what do I owe the pleasure of your presence?” Eddie finally asks, voice dripping with disdain.
“Now, now, Edward, you think you’d be more excited to see me after all this time,” Henry replies, a smarmy smile crossing his face. “I remember when you used to complain about not getting to see me for a whole day.”
“Yeah, well… times change. What do you want? I have a client coming soon,” Eddie says harshly.
Henry raises his brows, giving him that look Eddie used to hate that says ‘I know something you don't’.
“I don’t have your new number, so I could hardly call to catch up ,” Henry says, voice smooth as silk.
Yeah, and for good reason.
“Is that what you want? To ‘catch up?’” Eddie scoffs. “If you really needed something, you could have just called here, rather than just paying me a surprise visit at work,” he argues.
“Well, that’s why I booked an appointment. Figured it was the only way to guarantee I’d get to see you,” Henry responds, ridiculously proud of himself.
“W-what? You booked an appointment?” Eddie asks incredulously, stalking over to the desk and looking at the book, his last appointment of the day is for someone named Victor.
“Hardly counts as booking an appointment when you don’t use your real name, you ass,” Eddie spits.
He’s so annoyed at himself for not realizing sooner that Henry booked something under his middle name. He thought the phone number looked familiar, it must be Henry’s cell number, the one he got just before they broke up, and Eddie never had to try to remember.
“Ah well, you caught me,” Henry says, his smile sharp, arms raised in mock surrender. “Am I so horrible for wanting to see you in person?”
That doesn’t make Eddie feel anything, it doesn’t. But the ghost of who he was with Henry—a shallow husk of the person he wants to be—flips in his belly. There was a time when he would do, and did do, anything for Henry’s attention, anything to earn Henry’s love and approval. The thought makes him sick now.
“Look Henry, I thought I made myself clear when we ended things. I’m not interested in being your friend, I’m not interested in staying in touch, I ne—want space, I want space from you. You can’t just come by here whenever you—” Eddie cuts himself off as Henry steps closer.
“I see you’re growing out your bird’s nest again,” he says with an edge to his voice, clearly annoyed at the reminder that Eddie was the one to cut off all contact. He reaches out and gives one of Eddie’s curls a tug, Eddie quickly smacks his hand away and steps back, trying to give himself room to breathe.
“Fuck off, I’m still pissed at you for making me cut it in the first place,” Eddie spits, he desperately doesn’t want to lose his cool, knowing that it’ll just spurn Henry on if he gets emotional.
Henry chuckles, that sick, dark laugh that he always had for when he knew he had the upper hand on Eddie, the same one he’d let out when he caught Eddie crying in the bathroom after he cut his hair off, and said “it’s only hair, Eddie, and you look so much mature with it short. Well, you would, if you’d stop crying like a baby and grow up.”
Eddie just crosses his arms and glares at him, silently daring Henry to make another comment about his hair.
Henry just grins, his white teeth glinting as he reaches into the pocket of his peacoat to pull out a bundle of envelopes.
“Here then, a peace offering,” Henry says. “I figured if I was going to see you I might as well bring your mail, you’re welcome by the way. You know how out of the way this place is.”
Eddie scoffs, typical for Henry to think he’s doing a favor by showing up uninvited. Eddie petulantly shoves the mail in the desk drawer. He won’t give Henry the satisfaction of looking at it now and encourage any further visits.
“Well, now you’ve done what you came to do,” Eddie says firmly, the implication of ‘ get the fuck out’, hanging heavy in the air.
He’s determined to hold himself together until Henry leaves because he hates how affected he is by being around him again and hates himself for being curious about how Henry is doing. It doesn’t matter, not when it took Eddie so long to put himself back together after he finally got the courage to leave. He hates that some part of him still craves Henry’s approval. Hates himself for noticing the stubble on Henry’s cheeks, the slight tan of his skin, as if he spent the holidays somewhere sunny, because of course he would, he always hated the Chicago winters. Always wanted to go on trips that he would pay for and then spend the whole time making Eddie feel bad that he couldn’t afford to contribute, dragging Eddie along to all the sights that Henry wanted to see, because shouldn’t he get to pick if he was the one who was paying? No, he owes the man in front of him nothing, especially not after years of his life being spent obsessing over Henry’s opinion on every little thing. Eddie’s resolve strengthens, and he stands tall, maintaining eye contact. He’s not going to give Henry an inch.
“You’re really not even going to ask how I’m doing? What about our appointment? Don’t you want to draw up one of your silly little designs and permanently etch it on my body?” Henry says. And jeez, good to know that his thoughts on Eddie’s profession haven’t changed. Even though Henry has a couple of tattoos, he was never encouraging of Eddie’s job, always expecting him to strive for bigger and better things. But Henry had taken away his connection to his band and convinced him that he’d never make it as a rockstar, so Eddie had clung firm to his other dream of becoming a tattoo artist.
Eddie rolls his eyes. “Something tells me you wouldn’t like anything I have to design for you.”
Henry opens his mouth to argue back, but the phone starts ringing, so he snaps his mouth shut and looks at it pointedly. Eddie stares him down, willing him to leave. With Shannon gone, there’s no one else to answer the phone.
“Aren’t you going to get that?” Henry asks after the phone has rung three times.
Eddie huffs, petulantly grabbing the phone. “Yeah, hello, Painted Lotus, how can I help?” he asks brusquely.
“Hey baby, sorry, is your client there already? I thought your last appointment wasn’t until 5?” Steve says on the other end of the line.
Eddie feels himself panic. He doesn’t want to get into explaining things to Steve while Henry’s still there, so he takes a few steps away as if that’ll allow him any privacy and speaks quietly into the phone.
“Hey… yeah, he just got here, I better go—”
“Everything okay? You sound funny,” Steve asks with concern, and fuck if that doesn’t make his heart clench. Steve is always so kind and caring, so in tune with Eddie’s emotions.
“Yeah, honey I’m fine, just, having a weird day. We’ll talk about it when I get home. I mean, when I get to your place. Do you want me to pick something up on the way?” Eddie asks, resisting the urge to smack himself on the head for referring to Steve’s place as home, it’s way too fucking soon for them to even hint at living together. Especially not while he can feel Henry’s eyes boring into the back of his head.
Steve just chuckles in response to Eddie’s fumbling. “It’s okay sweetheart, I’ll just pick up from Mr. Wang’s, sound good?”
“Yeah, make sure you get me—”
“The ginger beef, yeah babe, I know what you like,” Steve says sweetly.
“Thanks, baby, I’ll see you later, okay?”
“Bye, honey, hope your appointment goes well!”
Eddie hangs up the phone and steels himself before he turns back to Henry. He’s made himself comfortable sitting on the couch, flipping through Eddie’s portfolio with an air of nonchalance that Eddie knows is put on. He returns the phone to its base and stalks over to Henry, who starts talking before Eddie can even open his mouth.
“Y’know, I heard you were seeing someone, but I thought it was just a one-off. I didn’t think you’d let yourself get tied down again so quickly, not after you were so desperate to be free of me,” Henry says, his voice quiet and harsh.
Eddie’s surprised that he detects a small amount of hurt in Henry’s eyes. Maybe he did mean something to the man in front of him once, in Henry’s own weird way of caring for people, regardless of how it benefitted him. Eddie briefly wonders how Henry would have heard that Eddie was seeing someone, but he and Steve go out for dinner a lot, anyone could have seen them at a restaurant. Come to think of it, they’d gone to an opening at an art gallery a couple of weeks ago with Nancy and Robin—a photography exhibit of one of Nancy’s exes—and Eddie had thought he’d seen one of Henry’s friends in the crowd while he was walking around hand in hand with Steve.
“If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were jealous,” Eddie lets out a derisive chuckle, “but then again, you did always see me as your property.”
“Don’t be ridiculous, Eddie, you’re not worth enough to be someone’s property. You’re still in this dead-end job, going nowhere with your life. Couldn’t cut it as the rockstar you so desperately wanted to be, especially not after your pathetic band dumped you. Honestly, you’re lucky I put up with you for so long,” Henry says, his words cutting like a knife.
The thing is, Eddie has worked so hard at moving beyond the need for Henry’s approval, at doing things for himself that he wants to do. And now that he’s not held back by Henry, he’s been doing really well at work, finally has confidence in his creativity, and is getting referrals left, right, and center from other clients. He’s busy and happy with work, and incredibly satisfied with his love life with Steve, but despite all that, he still feels himself cave in a little bit at Henry’s words.
No, he doesn’t get to make me feel like shit about myself anymore.
“Is that why you’re here, Henry? Checking in because you heard that I was seeing someone else, and you couldn’t possibly let me be happy without you?” Eddie manages to say, drawing from his days as a Dungeon Master to infuse his voice with more confidence than he’s feeling.
Henry simply rolls his eyes as he stands, tossing Eddie’s portfolio down on the coffee table with a smack. “Whatever, Eddie. I was just trying to be nice and bring you your mail, but if this is the way you’re going to behave, I guess I won’t bother in the future.”
“Yeah, some favor that is. Bringing me my mail, what, five months after we ended things? Gee thanks,” Eddie says sarcastically.
Damn, I hope there aren’t any overdue bills in there.
Henry stalks towards the door, shouldering it open roughly before he spins back around. “Have fun with your little boyfriend , I’m sure he’s just dying to hear about your exciting day at work. I hope he doesn’t get bored of your bullshit any time soon. He’ll have his fun with you for a while and then realize that you’re never going to grow up. Always wanting to play your stupid little games, writing lame songs even though you never perform them. Going to concerts and thrashing around in the mosh pit like a teenager. Hey, maybe he’ll humor you for a while, you can drag him along to your silly little midnight release events for those childish fantasy books you like, thank God you only made me suffer through one of those. But eventually, this guy of yours will realize that’s all you are Eddie, just a little kid in a man’s body who never learned how to do your own goddamn taxes like a functioning adult.”
The door slams behind Henry before Eddie can get a word out, anger and embarrassment warring through him. It’s better that Henry stormed off, even if he is effectively getting the last word, because Eddie was ready to argue tooth and nail about how shitty Henry had been at every single event that Eddie brought him to, grumpily complaining about every little thing until Eddie eventually stopped bringing him. Then, after years of Henry belittling his interests, Eddie ultimately decided to stop going himself.
Eddie had beat himself up enough over the years about everything he liked, wondering if he really was as childish as Henry would have him believe. It was exceedingly difficult when Henry had pulled him away from all of his friends who shared his favorite pastimes, effectively cutting him off from like-minded people, and Henry got insanely jealous if he made any friends at any of the events he went to. After a while, it hadn’t seemed worth the trouble to do things he liked to do, instead going along with whatever Henry wanted.
Eddie scrubs his hands down his face and takes a deep breath, wishing he had a pillow to scream into. He walks over to the door and locks it, not in the mood to deal with anyone else today. He throws himself into the chair behind the front desk, making it creak and tip back far enough that he almost flips over. He rights himself and leans forward on the desk, groaning into his arms as he stares listlessly at the wall for a few moments. Henry’s words echo around in his brain so much that he gives his head a rough shake, trying to clear it like a messy etch-a-sketch. When that doesn’t work he decides he might as well head to Steve’s early, so he reaches into the drawer to pull out his bundle of mail. He’s sure that it’s mostly junk, but on the top of the pile, there’s a postcard from his dentist with a big set of teeth on it, reminding him to book a cleaning appointment.
Oops, definitely forgot about that.
He sighs, not wanting to deal with anything else he might have forgotten, and tucks the stack into his messenger bag before gathering up the rest of his things. He turns off the lights and locks the door, not realizing with his mind a million miles away that he never finished sweeping up and left his station set up for his fake appointment—machine still hooked up and ink in pots that will be dried out in the morning.
Steve figures Eddie won’t be over for a while, so he hops in the shower, and as he’s washing his hair, he worries about Eddie. He sounded far off on the phone, distracted, and Steve hopes that he’ll be able to make Eddie feel better with a cozy night in, the same way Eddie did for him after the meeting with his father.
Amazingly, he’d gotten into the office and cleared out his desk without having to deal with any issues. Steve’s waiting for the other shoe to drop, but he hasn’t heard anything from his father since Steve walked out on their lunch. He scoffs to himself.
Asshole probably thinks he can give me the silent treatment, and I’ll come to my senses.
Fat chance.
Steve forces his thoughts away from his father, wondering instead if he should head to the Blockbuster down the street and grab a movie for them to watch tonight while he’s out grabbing dinner. He figures he has enough time until Eddie comes over. At least Ralph knows to let Eddie up to his place now, but he hates to keep Eddie waiting in the hallway; he should really just get him his own key made.
Now isn’t that a thought. Would that freak Eddie out? Is it too soon to give him a key? Maybe he should actually have the boyfriend talk with Eddie first before he jumps a few steps and gives him a key. Steve hates how he’s always second-guessing himself in new relationships, but he’s been burned in the past for coming on too strong, so he’s always stuck wondering if the other person is on the same page as him. He thinks Eddie’s on the same page, he hopes he is…
Steve sighs. He’ll have to talk to Robin about it and get her advice before he jumps into a serious conversation with Eddie that could potentially backfire on him.
As Steve turns the shower off, he hears the phone ringing, so he wraps a towel around his waist and walks quickly down the hall to try and grab the phone before it goes to the machine. He slips on his way and almost falls over, yelping as he nearly does the splits and falls into the wall. The answering machine goes off with his ‘boring’ message that Robin always teases him for, to which he responds “what’s wrong with ‘Hey, this is Steve. Leave a message after the beep.’?”
“Steven, honey, it’s your mother…”
Steve halts, his hand reaching for the phone pausing midair. Does he want to talk to his mom right now? Will she also be pissed at him? His mom certainly isn’t a saint, but he’s always gotten along well enough with her, and despite their more formal relationship, he does love her and enjoys spending time with her a hell of a lot more than he likes being around his father.
“I just want you to know that I love you, and I hope that we can get together soon—”
“Hi mom, sorry I was in the shower,” Steve says, picking up the phone and abruptly cutting off the answering machine.
“Hello darling, how are you doing?” she asks him softly, cautiously.
“I’m good, mom, really good. Look, I’m not sure what dad told you, but I just… I can’t work there any more, mom. I hate it. I feel like I’ve spent the last ten years just watching my life pass me by, and I want more from my life, more from my career. I hope you can try to understand.”
“You sound like your mind’s made up, Steve… I just wish you had talked to me first. Maybe I could have smoothed the way with your father, he’s quite… perturbed about the whole situation,” she says gently.
Steve suppresses a laugh.
Perturbed, that’s sure one way to put it.
“I’m sorry, mom, for putting you in an awkward position, but I’m done with letting dad walk all over me. I’m an adult, I can make my own decisions, and I’m deciding to put myself first for once.”
“Well, that sounds lovely dear, I’m proud of you. Now we just need to find you a nice girl and—”
“Actually, mom, I’m seeing someone, and it’s going really well,” Steve says, quickly cutting off any more of his mother’s matchmaking tendencies.
“Oh really! Well, how did you meet her? When did you meet her? Really, sweetie, you never tell me anything! Don’t you know your poor mother loves a good romance?” she titters.
“Why don’t I take you to brunch next week, and we’ll talk all about it, okay?” Steve says, wondering what the fuck he’s doing.
He’s really backed himself into a corner. He can’t imagine getting through a whole lunch pretending he’s dating a woman without messing up and letting Eddie’s name slip. Oh well, in for a penny, in for a pound. He might as well come out to his mom and see if it’s worth trying to maintain his relationship with her.
“Oh, that’s lovely Steve darling, I’m looking forward to it,” she responds.
“Okay great, mom. I’ll call you in a couple days, and we’ll set a date. I better finish getting dried off now,” his hair is dripping down his back in the worst way, and he wants to style it before he goes out.
“Alright, talk to you later, love you,” she says sweetly.
“Love you too, mom, bye,” Steve says, hanging up the phone.
Hope blooms in Steve’s chest. Even though through the years his mom has gone along with everything his dad said, he hasn’t wanted to cut ties with her entirely. He wants to believe that when he tells her about Eddie she won’t look at him with the same disgust that warps his fathers face when he talks about Nancy and Robin, but he won’t hold his breath.
Steve heads back to the bathroom to dry his hair, styling it with a round brush and spritzing with Elnett Satin. It’s not his beloved Farah Faucet hairspray, but it works well enough.
He pulls on a pair of his tight Calvin Klein briefs that always seem to make Eddie get extra handsy, slips into his favorite jeans and grabs a cozy sweater. He’s just pulling on his coat and a lumpy scarf that Robin made him for Christmas when there’s a knock at the door.
Steve’s brow furrows as he looks at the clock on the wall, it’s way too early for Eddie to be done with his appointment, but he checks the peephole and there Eddie is, hands in his pockets standing outside of Steve’s door.
He opens up the door with a smile. “Hey, honey, you're early! I was just about to head to Blockbuster to get us a movie and then grab dinner. It’s a good thing you’re here, now I won’t have to agonize over what you’d like to watch.”
Steve’s smile falters at Eddie’s far-off expression as he speaks, and he’s surprised after weeks of easy affection between them that Eddie hasn’t leaned forward into his space for a kiss yet.
“Eddie?” Steve asks, tilting his head to try to catch Eddie’s eyes.
“Oh—yeah, hi babe, sorry…” Eddie says, rocking back on his heels. “Just got a lot on my mind. A movie sounds good.”
Steve quirks his brow at Eddie before reaching back into his apartment to grab his keys and locking the door. They fall into step next to one another as they walk towards the elevators, but Eddie keeps his hands in his pockets instead of reaching for Steve’s outstretched palm.
He awkwardly knocks his fist against his thigh; he’s never seen Eddie like this before, and it’s worrying him a little bit, but he tries to reason with himself that everyone has off days.
Steve presses the button for the elevator and turns towards Eddie. “Do you want to talk about it?”
Eddie looks at Steve suddenly, almost as if he forgot that he was there. “Talk about what?”
“When we were on the phone earlier you said you were having a weird day—do you want to talk about it?” Steve asks gently.
“Uh, well… it was just, y’know… a weird day,” Eddie says lamely, finally removing his hands from his pockets to run his fingers through his hair and scratch the back of his neck.
“Okay… well you know you can talk to me about anything, right? If you want to,” Steve says as they step into the elevator. “I mean, you don’t have to tell me anything, I just want to make sure you’re okay.”
Eddie looks at him then, eyes big and soft, a sweet pout on his lips. “That’s sweet of you, Steve, really… I’m fine, it’ll just take me a minute to shake off the bad vibes.”
Steve tries to ignore the stab he feels at Eddie calling him by his name instead of one of the many pet names that he favors.
You’re being silly, just be supportive.
He takes Eddie’s hand as they exit the elevator and tries not to let it bother him on the walk to Blockbuster that Eddie is barely joining in as Steve tries to fill the silence between them with a story from his and Robin’s shift at the bar last night.
Steve really wants to talk to Eddie about the conversation he had with his mom, and tell him that he wants to tell her about their relationship, but again the doubts creep in. Maybe it’s too soon to tell his mother about his relationship and his newly discovered bisexuality, and he certainly feels like it’s too soon to tell Eddie that he wants to tell his mother about their relationship.
He really needs to just talk it all out with Robin at this point. He’d wanted to discuss his relationship with her the night before at work, but Thursday was ladies night, and they’d been slammed all night. He has a rare weekend off, but Robin’s working at the bar, so he’s not sure when he’ll be able to talk to her, especially if Eddie stays over like he normally does.
Both Steve and Eddie are lost in their own thoughts as they wander through Blockbuster. Steve’s not even looking at the movies, eyes skipping over the covers but not reading the titles.
Finally, Eddie grabs something off the shelf, holding it out, “this looks interesting”
“Yeah, sure,” Steve agrees, barely looking at the cover.
They walk up to the counter and Steve pays for the rental, and only the rental. Normally Eddie tries to sneak candy on to the register without Steve noticing and it always makes Steve laugh, like Eddie’s a little kid that needs to be scolded for trying to sneak sweets before dinner. Or at least Eddie will talk to him, be all up in Steve’s space, his attention fixed on Steve, orbiting around him like the moon. Not today. Today, Eddie is looking anywhere but Steve, far off expression on his face as his gaze roves slowly around the store.
Steve tries not to feel bereft when Eddie ignores his offered hand again when they step outside and walk towards Mr. Wang’s. He tries to tell himself it’s fine, that they don’t always hold hands in public in case it isn’t safe, but there’s no one around and in the past Eddie has pulled Steve into the nearby alley for a kiss because he said he couldn’t wait until they got back to Steve’s apartment.
When they reach Mr. Wang’s Steve turns to ask Eddie what he wants but Eddie’s already turned and to sit down at one of the rickety little tables. So Steve orders their usual before plunking down next to Eddie.
“Got you ginger beef,” Steve says, trying and failing to catch Eddie’s eye.
Eddie’s mouth pulls up in a smile that doesn’t reach his eyes, “thanks Steve,” he says, staring vacantly over Steve’s shoulder.
The thing is, it wouldn’t be so noticeable if Eddie wasn’t normally so attentive. The man has a way of making Steve feel like he’s the only person on the planet, always looking at and touching Steve, even in the smallest ways. So today, the difference is stark and makes Steve feel untethered, adrift, as if he’s about to float away from Eddie if he can’t pull them back together.
Now that Steve’s in his own head feeling dejected at Eddie’s distance, he’s having a hard time pretending like everything’s fine. Especially since he’s left questioning his relationship with Eddie and if he’s ready to come out to his mother when he sees her. Would it be pointless to tell her only for his relationship with Eddie to fizzle out? Then he could be left without a relationship with both of his parents, and without a boyfriend—lover—friend with benefits—whatever he and Eddie are.
He opens his mouth to try to start a conversation, but closes it again when he sees that Eddie is fixated on his hands, spinning one of his rings around his finger, seemingly unaware of Steve’s inner turmoil.
Things have never felt this awkward between him and Eddie before. Their conversations usually flow so easily. That’s one thing he instantly liked about Eddie, how he could talk about anything and make it interesting. But Eddie doesn’t say anything, so neither does Steve.
When they get back to Steve’s place, he carries the takeout into the kitchen to dish it up while Eddie pops the DVD in his combo player, alleviating the need for them to talk. Eddie hits play on the DVD menu as Steve passes him his plate, and they settle in to watch the movie that Eddie picked out, Run Lola Run. Steve has to suppress a groan when he realizes that it’s a foreign film. Any other time, he’d accuse Eddie of being in cahoots with Robin to try to get him to expand his horizons, but he’s not even sure if Eddie is aware that the characters are speaking a different language.
The movie isn’t half bad even though Steve keeps getting distracted reading the subtitles and missing the actual action. He wonders if Robin’s seen it, maybe he should watch it again with her; she probably wouldn’t even need the subtitles, she’s such a whiz with languages.
He and Eddie have barely talked at this point, so Steve clears their plates and puts away the leftovers. He tells himself that he’s giving Eddie space to talk when he’s ready, but that’s only half of the truth. Now, Steve is lost in his own head and trying not to panic that Eddie wants to end things for some unknown reason.
As if sensing his turmoil, Eddie enters the kitchen and puts his hand gently on Steve’s back. He breathes a sigh of relief at the simple touch and turns around to wrap his arms around Eddie. They hold each other softly for a moment, and Steve breathes him in greedily. He loves the spicy cologne that Eddie wears, the way it mixes with the smell of Eddie’s skin and hair in such a way that’s completely unique to him. Steve loves the way Eddie’s smell clings to his pillows, so much so that he cuddles up to them on nights that Eddie doesn’t stay over.
“I’m going to head home,” Eddie quietly says in Steve’s ear, making him freeze.
They pull apart, and Eddie steps back, not so far that he’s putting space between them, but far though for their arms to drop so that they’re no longer touching. Steve really thought that the hug was an indication that Eddie was ready to talk.
I guess not.
“Oh… okay, um, I guess I’ll see you…” Steve trails off. He and Eddie didn’t have concrete plans over the weekend, he’d just assumed that they’d be spending time together since he’s off work.
“Yeah I gotta, uh, gotta work tomorrow,” Eddie says, not meeting Steve’s eyes.
Steve doesn’t remember Eddie saying he had to work when they’d originally talked about Eddie coming over after work tonight, but he could be mistaken. He doesn’t want to assume the worst or think that Eddie’s lying to him. Maybe he does have to work, and maybe that’s why his day was weird. Steve’s honestly surprised that Eddie hasn’t told him all about it yet. Usually Eddie loves talking about his job and his clients, and Steve enjoys listening to him talk about it and swapping stories about interacting with the crazy people of Chicago that come into both of their workplaces.
They exchange stilted goodbyes and Steve slumps against the wall next to his door.
What the fuck was that?
He desperately needs to talk to Robin, but she’s working tonight. He grabs the phone and dials their home number anyways, hoping Nancy’s there at least.
Wednesday, February 9, 2000
Eddie groans as he wakes up, the sunlight streaming through the gap in his curtains hitting him right in the face. He feels listless, a lifeless husk, decaying slowly in his bed. He hates himself a little bit more for being such a miserable, melancholy asshole, but he can’t bring himself to call Steve until he pulls himself out of this funk. It’s been five days since he saw Henry, and his wallowing has just made him feel worse .
He knows he’s blown things with Steve. He’s way too sweet of a guy to break up with Eddie over the phone, but based on the message he’d left on Eddie’s answering machine the day before, Eddie is suspicious that Steve’s patience with him has worn out.
Eddie gets out of bed and pads into his kitchen, starting his coffee pot and punishing himself by pressing play on his answering machine and listening to Steve’s message again.
“Hey ba-Eddie, it’s… um… well, it’s been a few days since I’ve heard from you and I’d just like to talk at some point so… give me a call… it’s Steve, if you um, couldn’t tell. You have my number… so, just… call me okay? I miss you.”
It’s his least favorite message from Steve—and Eddie would know, he’s been saving all the other messages that Steve has left on his machine like a lovesick teenager. His tape is almost filled up at this point, and he should really just tuck it away before his embarrassing habit of saving Steve’s messages gets exposed.
He hates that he’s the one who’s made Steve sound so unsure and upset. He hates himself for pulling away and not being able to communicate how he’s feeling, but mostly he hates how after all this time Henry’s words have still cut him deep, burrowing under his skin and spreading roots of doubt into the core of his being. Everything that he thought he had with Steve a week ago is now under a microscope, and he’s overanalyzing their relationship to the point of obsession. He keeps thinking that Henry’s right, and that Steve will get sick of him soon enough, so it’s better for Eddie to hit the self-destruct button on their relationship now and preserve some sort of dignity. But then he thinks about how well he was doing before he even met Steve, about how he was finally finding his own footing after relying on Henry for far too much, and how different he feels now in his relationship with Steve, whether it’s as serious as he wants it to be or not.
“Stupid, stupid, stupid, you’re being so stupid, Munson, just talk to him! Just talk to him and tell him how you feel and what’s going on and hope that he still wants to spend time with your sorry ass after you’ve been such an idiot!” Eddie mumbles to himself, once again thinking that he should really get a cat so he has someone to talk to and doesn’t sound like a crazy person talking to himself.
Is talking to a cat really that much better than talking to yourself, though?
Eddie looks at the pile of mail that Henry gave him. It’s sitting on the little table with his phone and answering machine, ignored for the past few days because Eddie couldn’t bring himself to give in to the idea that Henry could have actually done something helpful. He picks up the pile, just for something to do while his coffee brews, and flips through the stack, pausing at the bottom of the pile at a red envelope. It’s clearly a Christmas card based on the shape and color, and Eddie feels his heart kick in his chest at the sight of a familiar scrawl. One he recognizes from old notebooks filled with song lyrics, intertwined with his own messy cursive, from character sheets filled with notes during countless nights playing Dungeons & Dragons in high school, from past Christmas and birthday cards that he still has in an old shoebox in his bedroom closet. Eddie strokes his finger over the return address; it’s in Chicago—he can hardly believe it. He opens the envelope delicately, not wanting to rip the address in case he needs it later.
Eddie pulls out the card. It’s one of those custom-made ones that you can get printed, and it’s so cheesy that Eddie grins, wondering who on earth got Jeff to agree to something so sappy. Then again, if he’s somehow still with Steve by next Christmas, he’d totally be whipped enough to pose for a corny Christmas card if Steve asked him to.
His eyes well up at the sight of one of his oldest friends, smiling and happy, sitting in a red sleigh with a beautiful strawberry blonde woman wearing fluffy ear muffs and a matching grin. Eddie opens up the card and another photo falls out, one of Jeff kissing his girl’s cheek while she holds up her left hand, complete with a sparkling diamond on her ring finger.
Jesus H. Christ, is that Chrissy Cunningham?
Eddie can hardly believe his eyes. He wonders how on earth they reconnected, but he remembers Jeff had a hopeless crush on her in high school. His heart aches with the fact that something so major happened in Jeff’s life, and he wasn’t a part of it, wasn’t there to egg Jeff into making a move on the girl who he spent an alarming amount of time staring at googly-eyed in the cafeteria until Eddie or one of their other friends threw food at his face to get him to snap out of it.
Eddie sniffs, finally tearing his eyes away from the photos to read what Jeff’s written in the card.
Hey Eddie,
Long time, no talk. I wonder if this card will even find you and if you’re living in the same place with Henry still. I hope you’re doing well, man. I know things kind of went to shit at the end there, and I’m sorry for not pushing harder to keep the band together. Who knows, maybe Corroded Coffin would be famous by now if we’d stuck with it. I was still jamming with Gareth and Grant in Indy for a while there after you left, but it wasn’t the same without you, dude.
As you can see from the photos, I managed to convince Chrissy to marry me, and it just didn’t feel right not to send you the announcement even though we haven’t talked in a long time. We’re living in Chicago now. We moved here a few months back, and I tried calling your number and leaving a message, but I never heard back, so I guess this is my last-ditch effort at reconnecting with you. If you’re still in Chicago, give us a call, I’d love to see you again.
Miss you, man,
Love Jeff
XXX-XXXX
Eddie sniffs and wipes his eyes with the back of his hand. He can’t believe that after all this time, Jeff is still such a sweet guy. He really doesn’t deserve it, not after he left them in the lurch, quitting the band right before a big show and moving away with Henry. Gareth had been furious, resulting in a screaming match between the two of them in which Gareth gave his full, unadulterated opinion of Henry that Eddie was nowhere near ready to hear. Really, it was the icing on the cake, the final wedge that Henry forced between Eddie and his oldest friends. The move had only made things worse, and Eddie had quickly given up on trying to repair their friendships, particularly with Henry whispering in his ear that high school friends all grew apart eventually anyway.
He feels anger boiling up inside him at Henry. He’s sure that Henry would have gotten the message that Jeff left and erased it without bothering to pass it on. Despite Eddie cutting off contact, Henry has more than proved that he was capable of getting a hold of Eddie if needed. As his aggravation with Henry grows, he realizes that he’s been allowing that snake of a man to slither his way into his life and fuck up his relationships again .
Eddie takes a deep breath to calm himself, resolving to smarten up and just talk to Steve, apologize, beg for forgiveness, whatever it takes. Jeff’s been waiting longer, though, and extended an olive branch when he didn’t have to; the last thing Eddie wants is for Jeff to spend another minute thinking that Eddie doesn’t want to be a part of his life. He grabs the phone, dials the number quickly, and double-checks it on the little green display window as it starts to ring.
He panics for a moment—what if it’s been too much time, it’s February now, what if Jeff is pissed that he still hasn’t heard from Eddie and—
“Hello, Coleman-Cunningham residence, this is Chrissy speaking,” a perky voice answers the phone.
“Uh, h-hi, Chrissy, this is Eddie, Eddie Munson, from high school? Not sure if you remember me but—” Eddie stumbles over his words. He hadn’t really thought about what he was going to say, and he definitely wasn’t prepared for Chrissy answering the phone.
“Oh my god, Eddie! Hi! Oh my god! Jeff is going to be so excited that you called!” Chrissy’s enthusiastic response makes Eddie grin and relax a fraction.
“You think so? I mean, I didn’t get your card until just now, so I’m sorry it’s late but congratulations.”
“Oh, thank you! I’m glad you got it, Jeff was worried you might have moved. He even tried your uncle’s old number, but it’s been disconnected, though I’m sure you know that,” Chrissy says.
Eddie feels a stab of guilt at the fact that Jeff had apparently tried to get a hold of him quite a bit more than he’d let on in the card.
“Yeah, he’s moved out of Hawkins finally, down south to where some of our other family is from,” Eddie explains. “Anyways, I’m glad I was finally able to connect with you. I’m not at that address or phone number anymore actually.”
“Oh, did you and your boyfriend move?” Chrissy asks delicately, and Eddie cringes. He can tell from her tone that she knows all about what an asshole Henry was—is.
“Nope, uh, I finally ended things with him, but the jackass neglected to pass on Jeff’s messages. He only just dropped off my mail, so, uh… that’s why I’m finally calling. I’m really sorry, I would have gotten in touch sooner if I had known.”
“Oh, Eddie, well… breakups are hard, but I hope you’re doing better now, I know Jeff will just be happy to hear from you. I’m sorry he’s not home right now, but give me your new number, and I’ll get him to call you back!” Chrissy says, being far too nice about his break up. Eddie’s sure that Jeff will want to pop some champagne in celebration of Eddie finally banishing the evil demon that is Henry Creel.
Eddie gives Chrissy his number, and after she confirms it twice, they fill up the rest of the call with some idle chit-chat. She tells him how her and Jeff reconnected at their Hawkins High 10 Year Reunion, one of the three that Eddie could have attended but resolutely ignored the invitations to. When he asks how they ended up in Chicago she tells him that she was offered a position at a new school as a kindergarten teacher, a perfect career for her, he thinks. She asks him what he does for work and he tells her all about his job at the tattoo shop. He asks if her or Jeff have any ink yet and she gets all excited saying that she’s always wanted to get a rose on her hip, so he promises her that he can do that for her anytime, much to her delighted squeals.
When they hang up, Eddie feels a little lighter now that he’s spoken to Chrissy and resolves to make things right with Steve today too. He stalks into his bedroom, intending to find some clothes to throw on so he can go over to Steve’s and get on his knees to beg for forgiveness, and do other things on his knees if Steve will let him. He catches sight of himself in his mirror though, his curls hang lank and greasy, and there are bags under his eyes from the shitty sleeps he’s been getting.
Yeah, uh, you look like death, maybe shower first.
Eddie showers quickly, trying not to get too wrapped up in the delicious feeling of the hot water beating against his back. Normally, his mind tends to wander when he gets in the shower and finds himself wasting a lot of time under the stream. He begins planning out what he’s going to say to Steve, and how he’s going to explain himself. He’s avoided telling Steve too much about Henry in the past, but Steve knows that they didn’t have the best relationship. It’s a bit of a faux pas to talk about your exes when entering into a new relationship, but if he wants to have anything real with Steve, he needs to open up a bit more about how things with Henry kind of fucked him up for a while.
He feels a lot better once he gets out of the shower, refreshed and ready to face his problems. He slaps on some moisturizer, something that Henry always insisted that he needed, and Eddie was loath to admit that he was right. He certainly didn’t go through as extensive of a routine as Henry, or even Steve, but he figured that as a 30-something adult man, there’s nothing wrong with taking care of himself, despite how un-metal his younger self would think he is.
Eddie pulls on some wooly socks since it’s still cold as balls out and Chicago winters last forever, before grabbing a pair of well-worn jeans and one of his old Hellfire shirts from high school. He briefly wonders if Jeff still has any of his Hellfire or Corroded Coffin shirts, if he saved them and still wears them the way Eddie does. He fishes out one of Steve’s sweaters from his clean laundry and pulls it on, a little more colorful than Eddie tends to wear, but he knows how he feels when he sees Steve in his clothes so he hopes it’ll have the same effect on Steve.
He walks back out to the kitchen, slipping slightly on the hardwood in his thick socks, and grabs a mug of the coffee he put on earlier, he should head over to Steve’s soon if he wants to catch him before he has to go to work. Maybe he should just call instead of showing up unannounced, because what if Steve’s out? Or doesn’t want to see him? Eddie sighs and cups the mug in his hands, walking over to the window to look out onto the street. He’s second-guessing himself again, letting doubts creep in and delay his impulsive decision to go over and make things right with Steve. Steve who—who’s running past his building right now.
What the fuck?
Eddie grins to himself, watching Steve run by across the street, he knows from their first meeting that his street is on Steve’s running route but it’s way too much of a coincidence for Steve to just be running by. Steve’s probably here to see him, he hopes that Steve’s here to see him.
Steve pauses on the street corner, glancing over at the building and pulling his cell phone out of his pocket. Eddie’s heart starts thumping, he looks over at his phone and wonders if Steve can see him in the window, watching. Steve turns and jogs back down the block, passing Eddie’s building again and sneaking glances over as he talks on the phone.
Who the fuck are you talking to, Harrington?
Eddie’s face starts to hurt from how hard he’s smiling, seeing Steve pace while on the phone, fuck, he’s missed him so much. Steve’s right across the street now, and Eddie just stands in the window, watching him run his hand through his hair before he gestures over at Eddie’s building and stops suddenly—he’s spotted him.
Eddie smiles, waving at Steve, getting a wave in return as Steve ends his call and darts across the street, barely checking for oncoming traffic as he sprints towards Eddie’s building. Eddie’s stomach swoops, and the dark, skeptical part of himself whispers that Steve’s here to end things, but Eddie pushes those thoughts aside roughly. The affection he feels for Steve takes over, bubbling up inside of him as he giggles at Steve’s determined expression, as if he can’t bear to be apart from Eddie any longer. Maybe he can’t, because Eddie certainly feels that way. He has to tear himself away from the window, putting his mug down roughly on the kitchen counter and stalking towards his front door, flinging it open just as Steve enters the building.
His face is flushed from his run, a small patch of sweat soaking through the chest of his hoodie. Steve’s breath comes out in pants as he strides towards Eddie, his face breaking out in the sweetest, dopiest smile as he comes to a halt in the doorway.
“Fancy seeing you here,” Eddie says slyly.
“I know—” Steve starts.
“I was just—” Eddie says at the same time.
They both laugh awkwardly, hands at their sides and Eddie’s not sure if he’s allowed to touch, not before he clears up the weird distance he put between them.
“Why don’t you come in and we’ll talk,” Eddie steps back, raising his hand to guide Steve into the apartment. “Do you want some coffee? It’s kind of fresh…”
“I’m good, if I have any more today I’ll vibrate out of my skin,” Steve jokes.
Eddie chuckles softly and wanders over to the couch, grabbing a blanket and spreading it over his lap to keep his hands busy. He’s not sure how to start, despite spending his shower trying to think of what to say.
Steve takes Eddie’s silence as his cue to begin the conversation. “I’m sorry for just showing up, and I just want to say, I totally respect if you want or need space… I don’t want to smother you… I know I can be a lot sometimes, but I just… if I did something wrong, I need you to tell me, okay? I mean… I feel like things have been going really well with us, and I… Eddie I feel like I’ve been going crazy worrying what went wrong these past few days. I’ve been over it again and again with Robin and Nance and I—”
Eddie grabs Steve’s flailing hand as he rambles, feeling terrible. “Steve—baby, no. You did nothing wrong, you’re not too much, you’re perfect,” he says quickly, hoping to quell Steve’s worries. He pulls Steve’s hand towards his mouth for a quick kiss, pressing his next words into Steve’s skin. “I’m sorry I disappeared on you, you deserve so much better than that.”
It feels unearned, the way Steve is looking at him with so much softness and affection, so Eddie presses on, determined to earn it.
“We haven’t talked much about it, but my last relationship wasn’t great, my ex was… well, he is a narcissist, he made everything about him, my whole life revolved around him for years, and it was like my head was buried in the sandbox of our relationship and when I finally pulled myself out, I didn’t recognize who I was or anyone around me. He replaced all of my friends with his friends and I just felt like I had no one, so I clung on to him and stayed longer than I should have,” Eddie pauses, taking a deep breath. “So, when I saw him the other day, it kind of fucked me up.”
Steve looks up sharply, his eyes scanning over Eddie’s face as if looking for some visual evidence of the hurt that Henry caused him. Steve gives Eddie’s hand a squeeze, keeping quiet and encouraging him to continue.
“He came into the shop. My appointment at the end of the day, that was him, smarmy bastard,” Eddie grunts under his breath. “He came under the pretense of bringing my mail, but really I think he just wanted to fuck with me. It was like he heard I was happy, and he wanted to come ruin it.”
Steve runs his thumb over the back of Eddie’s hand. “Well, I might be biased, but he sounds like a jackass. I don’t like him just showing up like that. Does he make you feel unsafe? Did he ever hurt you?”
“No, he’s not… he never hurt me physically,” Eddie interlaces his fingers with Steve’s, “he just got in my head is all, and I’m so sorry that I didn’t just talk to you about it.”
“Eddie, I—” Steve pauses and takes a deep breath, “I know we haven’t been seeing each other long, but I really care about you, and I want you to be able to talk to me about things. It’s totally okay if you need space, just, if you feel like this again, I hope you’ll feel comfortable enough to talk to me about it, or tell me if you need some time, okay?” Steve watches Eddie tentatively, as if he’s scared that Eddie will tell him off or push him away.
“Baby,” Eddie says softly, reaching forward with his free hand to caress Steve’s cheek. “I care about you too, and maybe it’s too soon, but you’re so special to me. I’m sorry that I pulled away and hurt you. I really like spending time with you—I missed you.”
Steve rubs his face into Eddie’s hand like an eager cat. “I missed you too, so fucking much…” He nips at Eddie’s palm. “Come here, sweetheart, you’re making me crazy wearing my sweater.”
“Oh, you noticed,” Eddie says, looking down at his chest and playing coy, proud that his ploy worked. “You like seeing me in your clothes, then?”
“Get over here, and I’ll show you how much I like it,” Steve growls, pulling Eddie towards him.
Eddie climbs over to straddle Steve’s hips and grins wickedly down at him before leaning closer and capturing his lips in a heated kiss.
“You show up wearing these pants,” Eddie says huskily, grinding his ass down into Steve’s lap and making them both moan. “And you think you’re the one going crazy?”
Steve’s work out clothes should really be illegal, Eddie thinks as he pulls at the neck of Steve’s oversized sweater, giving himself access to nibble on Steve’s shoulder. The sweater barely covers Steve’s crotch, which is encased in the sinfully tight pants Steve goes running in, his bulge leaving little to the imagination.
Eddie presses kisses up Steve’s neck, before biting at his plush bottom lip and working his tongue into Steve’s mouth. They’ve got more to talk about, but somehow this feels more important after a few days apart.
“ Fuck, I missed you so much baby, goddamnit,” Steve grumbles into Eddie’s mouth, wrapping his arms tightly around Eddie’s torso and pulling him impossibly close, practically squeezing the air out of Eddie’s lungs in his intensity.
“I missed you too, I’m—ah, shit—sorry,” Eddie pants, gasping when Steve bites at his neck. He should really invest in some turtleneck sweaters if Steve’s going to mark him up regularly.
“Don’t apologize, just don’t do it again,” Steve says, his hands slipping down into Eddie’s back pockets and pulling him forward roughly to grind their hips together.
Eddie feels a thrill at Steve’s tone. “Bossy,” he chuckles.
“I think you like being told what to do, Eddie,” Steve replies, working one hand up under Eddie’s shirt and sweater to cup the back of his neck possessively, holding Eddie still as he thrusts up against his ass.
“Ah, fuck , Steeeeeeve,” Eddie keens, his cock twitching in his jeans, demanding attention. “Take me to the bedroom right the fuck now.”
Steve stands abruptly, making Eddie yelp and cling to him like a koala, laughing, “now who’s bossy?”
Eddie locks his ankles behind Steve’s back as Steve’s big hands cup under Eddie’s ass, digging into the flesh and rocking Eddie against him. He walks them toward Eddie’s bedroom. Eddie busies himself biting and sucking on Steve’s neck while rotating his hips against Steve’s flexing stomach, desperately searching for some friction to alleviate the ache in his untouched dick.
In a show of his stupidly attractive jock strength, Steve easily carries Eddie into the bedroom and climbs onto the bed with Eddie still wrapped around him, and he flops forward, depositing Eddie on top of the duvet and grinding into him all at once. Eddie whines at the feeling of Steve’s hard-on pressing incessantly into his ass through their clothes and roughly grabs at the back of Steve’s hoodie to pull it over his head.
Steve rucks up Eddie’s shirt and sweater, curling down to mouth at Eddie’s stomach, nipping at the softness of his belly and licking up through the trail of hair there. Eddie rips his own shirt off, desperate to feel Steve’s skin against his, and grunting as Steve mouths at his cock through his jeans.
Thankfully, Steve is just as desperate as he is, and he makes quick work of pulling down Eddie's boxers and jeans. They both laugh when everything gets tangled together with Eddie’s thick wooly socks, and Steve slips out of his own pants gracefully while Eddie roughly kicks his feet to dislodge the bundle of clothing gathered around his ankles. Steve settles himself above Eddie again, looking down at him hungrily as Eddie pants from his previous exertion. Steve lowers himself against Eddie slowly, the soft skin of his hard dick gently caressing against Eddie’s weeping cock and making them both moan at the teasing friction.
“Grab me the lube, baby. I want to work you open with my mouth,” Steve says lowly, eyes fixed hungrily on their dicks as he continues to rub them together softly.
Eddie twists towards the nightstand, taking the opportunity to hook his leg around Steve’s and press them flush together. Steve’s forearms shake with the effort to hold himself upright, and he groans, dropping his head down to Eddie’s chest and nipping at his pec.
“Ugh, Eddieeee, that’s not fair,” Steve grunts into his chest.
“Who says we’re playing fair, sweetheart,” Eddie says, thrusting up against Steve once more before setting down the lube and condoms next to them on the bed.
“Oh, you want to play like that, huh, Munson?” Steve says, looking up at Eddie, with a mischievous grin on his face, his pupils blown with dark desire.
Eddie feels a bolt of lust go down his spine as Steve slips down, mouthing at Eddie’s chest and stomach until he reaches his cock, desperate for attention as it leaks and strains against his belly. Steve bypasses it entirely, mouthing at Eddie’s hips, his thighs, shouldering his legs open farther and nosing at his balls. Eddie tenses up at the tickle of Steve’s breath against his sensitive skin, a near squeal exiting his mouth without permission at the first swipe of Steve’s tongue against the underside of his sac.
“Fuck yes, sweetheart, put that naughty mouth to good use,” Eddie babbles as Steve begins enthusiastically licking at his hole.
Eddie thinks he might cry when Steve finally, finally takes his aching dick in his hand and gives it a firm stroke, teasing between just the right amount of pressure and not enough as he works the tip of his tongue into Eddie.
He feels drunk with lust as Steve lavishes his entrance with attention, alternating between licking and sucking, slowly thumbing at his hole gently until Eddie is a begging mess. Steve ultimately relents and works a lubed up finger into his tight hole, immediately crooking it in search of his prostate, biting at Eddie’s thighs when he finds it. Eddie screams out a plethora of curses and distantly wonders if someone might think he’s being murdered, but he’s way too far gone to care.
“Please baby, please, please, Steve I’m ready, I’m fucking ready, ” Eddie babbles after Steve has worked three fingers into him. He feels like he’s been floating in an endless ocean of pleasure for hours while Steve’s been toying with him, but he’s vaguely aware that it can’t have been more than a few minutes.
“Look at you, baby, you’re just a mess,” Steve coos, as he rolls the condom over his length. “So desperate for my cock, aren’t you?”
Eddie tries to muster the energy to glare at Steve while he feels positively boneless, barely managing to furrow his brows. “Will you stop torturing me and fuck me already?”
Steve chuckles. “As you wish, my darling.” He slips the head of his dick into Eddie’s entrance, and they moan in tandem at the feeling. Steve pauses to give them a moment to adjust before working his length slowly into Eddie.
Eddie pulls Steve down on top of him, desperate for a kiss, groaning as Steve plunges into him fully and rotates his hips, his cock caressing deep within as Eddie licks into his mouth. Steve eventually pulls out, thrusting back in quickly and setting a pace that Eddie knows will make him come undone in minutes. He holds on to Steve’s hips, pulling him impossibly close, their stomachs providing Eddie’s leaking dick with some much needed friction as it messily glides between them. Eddie shifts his hips to meet Steve’s thrusts, trying to help Steve’s cock rub more firmly against his prostate. Once it hits the mark, Eddie moans loudly with each thrust, almost drowning out Steve’s dirty talk.
“Eddie, baby, you feel so good, you’re always so good for me, so fucking tight. I love your perfect little hole, so pretty and pink for me, I could eat it all day if you’d let me, fuck, fuck, baby, I’m close, tell me you’re close,” Steve pants, words tumbling out of his mouth and into Eddie’s ears.
“Yes, yes, Steve, fuck, I’m close,” Eddie moans back, biting at Steve’s chin.
He lifts his hips and presses his dick harder into Steve’s stomach, reaching his peak and coming undone as Steve drills into him messily. He tenses up, muscles freezing as waves of pleasure crash over him. He’s distantly aware of Steve shouting out his own release, his thrusts stuttering as he comes, his hands tangled in Eddie’s hair, pulling at the strands.
Eddie feels like his body has turned into a puddle of liquid pleasure as he lies with Steve draped over him, their bodies sticky with cooling sweat and come. Eddie’s so completely satisfied that he’s almost asleep when he feels Steve start to pepper his face with soft kisses. His softening cock slowly slides out of Eddie as he pulls away to take off the condom and throw it away. Eddie grumbles, wanting to pull Steve in again, to keep him close and never let him go. Steve stands over him, looking down at Eddie fondly before pulling at his splayed limbs.
“C’mon, baby, let’s get you into the shower and clean up,” Steve says gently.
“Carry me again,” Eddie demands, giggling when Steve obediently scoops him up.
“Okay, brat, but only cause I like you so damn much,” Steve whispers sweetly in his ear as he walks them toward the bathroom.
Thursday, February 10, 2000
Steve wakes up to long hair tickling his nose and opens his eyes with a squint. Eddie’s wrapped in his arms, still fast asleep and so warm that Steve can’t help but burrow into him, tightening his around Eddie’s middle. He groans at the feeling of his muscles aching in the best way after their night together. He really needs to hit the gym more if Eddie is going to demand that he be carried around all the time. He’d challenged Steve to hold on to him for the better part of their shower, shrieking every time Steve pressed his back up against the cold tile and teasing him mercilessly when Steve had finally deposited Eddie on the floor after his arms protested. They took turns tenderly washing each other and exchanging kisses until the water started to run cold.
They’d spent the rest of their night wrapped up in each other, and Steve’s heart is bubbling over with happiness at finally waking up with Eddie again after their few days apart. He really should get himself in check and try not to be so damn clingy, but he can’t seem to help it with Eddie.
They just click in a way that Steve never has with anyone else before, and it’s an addictive feeling.
Speaking of addictive feelings, Eddie grumbles in his sleep, arching his back and pressing his ass into Steve’s morning wood. Steve smiles into Eddie’s hair, shifting his hips forward and waiting for Eddie to wake up.
“Mmmmmmpfh,” Eddie grunts, “good morning to you too, big boy.”
“Good morning, honey,” Steve says sweetly, nuzzling Eddie’s hair and kissing the back of his head.
“Wasn’t talking to you,” Eddie says slyly, and Steve pinches his stomach in retaliation.
“That’s it then? You only want me for my dick?” Steve pouts, but thrusts said dick against Eddie’s firm butt anyways.
Eddie chuckles. “Well, not only your dick, but it’s in my top… three favorite things about you.”
Steve pushes himself up so he can look down at Eddie. “Top three, hey?” he teases before leaning down to give Eddie a sweet kiss.
They trade lazy kisses for a while longer until Steve pulls back, full of fondness for the man underneath him.
“Eddie, you know I care about you a lot, right?” he says seriously, perhaps too seriously since Eddie is looking up at him with concern.
“Yeah? I care about you too, Steve,” Eddie replies, brow furrowed.
“So… um… I mean… look, you can totally say no, but, like… I’m not seeing anyone else, and I don’t think you are either… and I—fuck, why is this so hard to say, I feel like I’m in high school again—” Steve says, stumbling over what he wants to say and making an ass out of himself.
“Jeez, baby, don’t hurt yourself,” Eddie says with a laugh.
“Willyoubemyboyfriend?” Steve spits out all in one go.
Eddie smiles shyly up at him. “Sorry, will you repeat that in English this time?”
Steve rolls his eyes. “Edward Munson, will you be my boyfriend?”
“Steve Harrington, I’d be delighted to court you posthaste,” Eddie replies, putting on a weird little accent that’s just so Eddie it makes Steve snort.
“Now who’s not speaking English,” he jokes.
“How dare you, good sir! I thought a man of your upbringing would speak with more refinement,” Eddie sniffs, haughty as can be.
Steve pinches his sides, making Eddie yelp and giggle before he begins retaliating, and they roll around on the bed tickling each other, snorting. Eddie gets him pinned, holding down Steve’s wrists as he pants above him from the exertion, and Steve looks up at his bright eyes and flushed face, struck once again by how damn beautiful Eddie is. How beautiful his boyfriend is.
When they finally get out of bed, Steve makes them pancakes for breakfast while Eddie plays a selection of his favorite metal songs. It’s adorable how excited Eddie is to introduce Steve to his music, even if Steve thinks privately that it’s a bit too damn early in the morning for something so loud.
They’re feeding each other bites of breakfast when the phone rings.
“Let the machine get it,” Eddie says flippantly, opening his mouth to capture the forkful in Steve’s outstretched hand.
“Greetings, earthlings, you’ve reached Eddie, you know what to do… beeeep. ”
There’s a chuckle on the line, followed by a kind sounding voice.
“Hey Eddie, it’s Jeff,” Eddie freezes, eyes going wide as he stares at the machine, and for a split second, Steve panics and wonders if this Jeff is another ex of Eddie’s come back to haunt them.
Eddie jumps up, running to the phone, and Steve’s heart constricts.
So much for letting the machine get it.
Eddie scoops up the phone, a massive smile on his face. “Jeff my main man!”
Eddie’s answering machine is an older model, and it doesn’t cut off when Jeff answers. Steve feels a bit like he’s eavesdropping, but he can’t bring himself to get up and give Eddie privacy, not when he’s desperate to know who the heck this Jeff guy is and why Eddie’s got such a big smile for him.
Stop being ridiculous, Steve. He literally agreed to be your boyfriend an hour ago, there’s no need to be jealous.
It turns out there really, really isn’t any need to be jealous. From what Steve can gather, Jeff is an old friend from high school that Eddie lost touch with. Jeff’s recently become engaged to a woman named Chrissy and is asking about when they can get together to catch up. Steve smirks as Eddie blushes and looks over at him while he tells Jeff about his “new boyfriend Steve”.
Eddie shoots a questioning look over at Steve as he invites Jeff and Chrissy over for a game night on Sunday, and Steve gives Eddie a big grin and a double thumbs up, excited to meet old friends of Eddie’s. He wonders if Robin remembers the guy and thinks that it might be nice to get them all together sometime, blending together his friends and Eddie’s.
Steve watches fondly as Eddie bounces around with excitement while he talks to Jeff, finally ending the call and bounding over to plunk down on top of Steve and handing him a card.
“I meant to tell you yesterday! Jeff sent this card to my old address, I just didn’t get it… because, well you know,” Eddie rolls his eyes and mutters, “Henry,” under his breath before he brightens up again. “I can’t wait for you to meet him and Chrissy, he’s such a good guy, and she’s a total sweetheart.”
Steve looks at the card, vaguely recognizing the woman in the photos. “I take it they both went to Hawkins High too?”
“Yeah, Jeff and I played D&D together, and he had a massive crush on Chrissy, but she was a Cheerleader, and he was not on her radar. Damn! I meant to ask how they got together, but I guess we’ll get the whole story when they come over.” Eddie wraps his arms around Steve, pressing a kiss into his cheek.
“That’s okay, right?” Eddie continues. “You don’t mind them coming over?”
Steve frowns at Eddie. “Yeah, baby, it sounds fun, I’m excited to meet them.”
Why would he mind?
“Okay, great, cause I mean we’ve played cards with the girls, but we haven’t really played any tabletop games together, so I wasn’t sure,” Eddie says in a rush, like he’s nervous to show the nerdy side of himself that likes to play boardgames with his friends. “I went to a games store the other day and got this game I’ve been dying to play. I was going to bully Robin and Nancy into playing with us, but it’ll be fun to reconnect with Jeff over a table.”
Steve grins, giving Eddie a kiss on his chin. “You’re cute when you’re all excited about your dorky games. I’m sure it’ll be fun, babe.”
Eddie smiles shyly, wrapping a lock of hair around his fingers. “It’s okay if you don’t end up liking it… I just want us to have things we can enjoy together, you know?”
“Honey, if you’re having a good time, I’ll be having a good time, I promise… and if I really don’t like it, you can always just play again without me, it’s no biggie.”
But Steve can tell it is a big deal for Eddie, and he knows he’ll do anything to make sure that their game night goes well.
***
Friday, February 11, 2000
Steve braces himself for another uncomfortable meal, this time with his mother.
He’d talked it over with Eddie the night before and told him that he was ready to tell his mom that he’s dating a man. Eddie was incredibly supportive, telling Steve that if he ended up feeling like he wasn’t ready to tell her about them that was okay, but Steve feels ready. His mother reaching out after he quit his father’s company was the first step in them forging their own relationship, and Steve didn’t want to fool himself into thinking he could rely on his mother to continue to be there for him if she didn’t know about this new and exciting part of Steve’s life.
Amazingly, his mother had decided on a popular brunch spot in downtown Chicago. It was a lot more casual than any other place they’d dined together as a family, and Steve figured that was because his father always chose where they would eat.
He follows the hostess to their table, and his mother stands with a smile, opening her arms for a hug. He almost doesn’t recognize her in her pink velour tracksuit—she looks so hip.
“Hi, mom,” he says into her hair as she squeezes him. It’s a much more enthusiastic hug than he’s used to from her.
When he pulls back, he takes in her appearance; she’s got a glow to her skin that cannot be natural unless she went somewhere tropical without telling him, and her blonde hair is perfectly highlighted and coiffed. She looks… well, she looks better than he’s ever seen her, more relaxed, happier.
“Steve, darling, you look good, so handsome,” she says, pinching his cheek like he’s five years old again.
“You look good too, mom, very… tanned,” he says, gesturing to her whole appearance, wondering what brought on all the changes.
“Ah yes, well, I joined a new gym, and they have those beds, you know? That you can tan in? All the girls are doing it, so I thought I’d give it a try!” she tells him, waving her manicured hand around.
Their waitress comes to the table to ask if they’d like to order drinks and tells them about their brunch specials.
“Oooh, mimosas sound fun? Don’t they, Stevie? We’ll get a pitcher, please dear.”
Steve has to actively stop his mouth from dropping open. Who is this woman, and what’s happened to his stiff, upper crust mother?
Eddie would say she’s been abducted and replaced by aliens.
He nearly snorts, but at this point he wouldn’t be surprised. Some episodes of The X-Files can be very convincing, “ the truth is out there”, and all that.
Once the waitress has walked off with their drink order, his mother turns to him, resting her chin in her hand.
“So, sweetheart, you promised to tell me all about this girl you’re seeing! I’ve been dying to hear all about it, although there will be a couple of ladies at the gym that will be disappointed you’re off the market. I was showing your picture around to them,” she says proudly, as if that’s not the most embarrassing thing that Steve has ever heard.
Steve represses a groan and the urge to say “mooooommmmm,” like a petulant teenager, it would probably only encourage her at this point.
He sips his water, buying himself time to gather his thoughts.
“Well, uh… we met back in December and started spending some time together. And then… we kissed at Robin and Nancy’s New Years party, and I suppose we’ve been together ever since.”
“Oh, that sounds so romantic! What’s her name?” she asks.
Now or never, I guess.
“Uh… well, here’s the thing mom… she’s not… she’s not a she. I’m dating a man, his name is Eddie.”
It’s his mother’s turn to look shocked while Steve holds his breath, waiting for the inevitable fallout.
“Oh,” she says, brow furrowing. “Steve, honey, I didn’t realize… I mean, you’ve dated so many girls…”
“I, um… I still like girls too, just right now I like Eddie. I like him a lot, mom. I hope you can accept that,” Steve says, looking down at his plate, scared to look at her face and see that awful expression of disgust that always mars his father’s face when he talks about anyone queer.
His mother reaches out, covering his hand with her own. “Darling, I love you no matter what, and if this boy makes you happy, then I’m happy for you.”
Steve looks up, so surprised by the open affection on her face. Where the fuck was this version of her when he was a lonely teenager?
“Oh, thanks mom, that—that means a lot,” he says with a sniff, rubbing at his eyes.
“And if things don’t work out with this boy, one of the spin instructors at my gym is gay and he’s very delicious. I swear you could bounce a quarter off his pert, little bottom,” she grins at him mischievously and winks.
“Mom!” Steve gasps, utterly shocked. He’s never heard her make any kind of dirty remark in his life, he’s half tempted to ask to borrow her grandmother’s pearls just so he can put them on and clutch them.
She giggles indulgently at him, delighted at the way that she’s scandalized her son before she continues on, telling him all about the new gym that she’s been going to. Steve smiles and laughs at her stories about all the new friends she’s made, and the classes she’s taking. He can hardly believe that the fun woman across the table from him is his mother.
She asks more about Eddie, Robin, and Nancy, and he shares his own stories that have her shrieking with laughter. It ends up being the best meal he can ever remember sharing with her, and they leave the restaurant arm in arm, making plans to go out again soon. For once, he’s really looking forward to it.
That is until he gives her a hug goodbye, watching as she walks back towards her car, and he realizes that “JUICY” is printed across the back of her tracksuit bottoms. He might just keel over from embarrassment.
***
Sunday, February 13, 2000
Steve’s not sure who’s more nervous for their game night, him or Eddie.
He’s chopping up vegetables for a little snack plate—“veggies? Bleh, baby you are such a grown up!”—while Eddie fusses with his CD collection, going back and forth between what he wants playing on the stereo for the best background music to their evening.
“Black Sabbath’s Master of Reality ? That was always Jeff’s favourite… or maybe Metallica’s Master of Puppets ? We went crazy and locked ourselves in Gareth’s garage the whole spring break after it came out learning the title track. I played so hard I made my fingers bleed,” Eddie says fondly, half talking to himself, lost in memories of his high school days while he pulls CDs from the shelves above the stereo.
“Honey, whatever you pick will be fine, you can always change it later if you need to,” Steve soothes, carrying his veggie plate to the dining table and munching on a carrot with some hummus.
“I just want us to get off on the right foot,” Eddie whines, pouting so pathetically with his big brown eyes.
“Okay, quit it with the cow eyes, you know they make me weak in the knees,” Steve teases, walking over to Eddie and taking the CDs from his hands gently.
Steve flicks through the cases, putting aside all the metal options that Eddie is contemplating—privately thinking that he doesn’t want to try to have a conversation over the loud music—and slides Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon into the player, adjusting the volume to a respectable level.
“Pink Floyd? You think? I mean, that really pairs better with weed… damn, should I have gotten some weed?” Eddie says, twisting one of his rings around his finger nervously.
“I think we’ll be fine without weed, babe,” Steve laughs, grabbing Eddie’s hand and pulling him to sit on the couch. He presses a beer into his boyfriend's hands, hoping it’ll calm some of Eddie’s nervous energy, but Eddie just begins picking at the label and making a mess.
Eddie leaps off of the couch at the sound of a knock on the door, stalking over to it and taking a deep breath before he opens it. Steve follows, standing off to the side to greet their guests.
It’s a whirlwind of enthusiastic greetings, hugs, and misty eyes. Eddie and Jeff attempt to rub their eyes inconspicuously, but Chrissy laughs, a tear streaming down her cheek while she asks Steve for a tissue.
They all sit at the dining table, talking and feasting on the snacks that Steve put out—they’ll order a pizza later. For now, Steve’s content to sit and listen to Eddie and Jeff reminisce. Normally, Eddie’s personality is larger than life, but he’s practically glowing tonight. Steve watches him affectionately, smile almost hurting his face as Eddie and Jeff recall fond memories of high school and their old band. Steve shares a look with Chrissy, both of them content to bask in the joy of their partners.
Steve likes them both instantly, Chrissy’s bubbly and sweet, but she trades sassy remarks with Eddie that have them all in stitches. Jeff is caring and kind, attentive in the same way Eddie is, he’s the sort of person who actually listens when you talk, rather than waiting for his turn to speak. Steve can see how much Jeff and Chrissy love each other in the way that Jeff is always reaching for her, resting his hand on her leg, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear, and pressing sweet kisses into her cheek. Chrissy looks at Jeff adoringly when he speaks, and thanks him sweetly every time he gets her a drink or a snack.
Eventually, they call in their pizza order, and Eddie pulls out the box for Settlers of Catan. Steve had snuck a peek at the rules beforehand just so he wouldn’t totally be in the dark, but Jeff has played the game before and explains the rules in a clear and concise way that helps Steve quickly grasp the general gameplay.
They’re midway through the game when the pizza arrives, and Chrissy helps Steve carry the boxes into the kitchen and get plates out from the cabinets as Eddie and Jeff carry on their discussion about a band called Corn’s latest album.
“It’s so good to see them reconnecting,” Chrissy says fondly as she watches them talk.
“Eddie was so nervous before you guys got here,” Steve confides in her with a smile. “He wasn’t sure if they were going to get along still”
Both Jeff and Eddie have made their way over to the stereo and are deep in conversation.
“Clearly, he was worried about nothing,” Steve finishes.
Jeff starts laughing at one of the Backstreet Boys CDs that Steve snuck over, and Eddie snatches it back.
“It’s Steve’s, okay, dude? And don’t give me shit, I saw your cheesy ass Christmas card.”
“Hey!” Chrissy says, sounding almost offended but wearing a sweet smile on her face. “I happen to think our Christmas cards were cute!”
“They’re very cute, babe,” Jeff says, blowing Chrissy a kiss. “I bagged the prettiest girl in Hawkins, of course I’m going to advertise our engagement as much as possible,” he finishes, sticking his tongue out at Eddie.
Before Eddie can retaliate, Jeff turns to Steve, “so, how did you get this old grump to listen to the Backstreet Boys? We’re going back to Indy for their concert next month, Chrissy’s a big fan.”
“Excuse me?” Eddie sputters indignantly. “You’re trying to give me shit, but you’re going to the same damn concert I am?”
Jeff barks out a laugh. “What? You’re going to the concert too? Steve, now you’ve got to tell me how you talked him into that one? Wait, maybe I don’t want to know the answer to that.”
Did Eddie just say he was going to see the Backstreet Boys? That can’t be right.
Steve furrows his brow, “uhhhhh… honey, what are you talking about? Those tickets sold out months ago.”
“Shit. Fuck,” Eddie says, eyes widening as he slaps his palm over his mouth. “Fuck me and my big mouth. Fuck you for making me slip up!” He points to Jeff, who’s watching the situation unfold with delight. “It was supposed to be a surprise!”
Steve’s face breaks out into a massive grin as he stalks towards Eddie.
“Did you get me Backstreet Boys tickets? Baby… ”
Eddie barely has time to smile back before Steve launches himself into Eddie’s arms and plants an enthusiastic kiss on his open mouth. He could care less about their audience, but suddenly he worries that Eddie might not be comfortable with this level of affection in front of his friends. Steve starts to pull back but Eddie surprises him by reaching down and giving his ass a squeeze through his jeans.
“Jesus, get a room would you?” Jeff jokes, and Eddie flips him the bird over Steve’s shoulder, making Jeff laugh again.
Eddie turns back to Steve with a bright smile on his face. “Sorry for ruining your Valentine’s Day surprise, sweetheart.”
“I love it, thank you, babe. That’s so sweet of you,” Steve says and gives him another soft kiss before stepping back. If he doesn’t, he’ll definitely do something to make their guests uncomfortable.
“Aren’t they adorable?” Chrissy says to Jeff, wrapping her arm around his waist.
Steve half expects Jeff to crack a joke, but his face goes soft as he looks down at Chrissy and kisses the top of her head, “yeah, they’re pretty darn cute”
Eddie pulls a lock of hair in front of his red face, grinning at Steve from behind his hand. Steve returns the smile, giving Eddie’s arm a squeeze before heading back towards the pizza.
“Okay, let’s eat!” Steve says, loading up his plate with a couple slices of pepperoni and some garlic knots.
They enjoy their pizza and a few more beers as they finish the game, and Steve is having way more fun than he thought he would, laughing as Eddie and Jeff fight over resources. Chrissy surprises them all by stealing the longest road out from under Eddie and taking the win.
Jeff pulls Steve into a hug as they’re all saying goodbye.
“You’re good for him, you know?” he says into Steve’s ear as they pull back, Jeff’s hand still resting on his shoulder, giving him a firm squeeze. “It’s nice to see him so happy.”
Steve blushes at the kind words and simply says. “He makes me happy too.”
“Oh, Steve, we’ll have to drive to Indy together for the concert! It’s going to be so much fun!” Chrissy squeals as she bounces over to wrap Steve up in a hug.
“Yeah, of course! We’ll make them practice the songs on the drive so we can all sing along at the show,” Steve answers her with a grin as Jeff and Eddie groan good-naturedly.
***
Monday, February 14, 2000
Steve wakes up with his arms full of Eddie for the fifth morning in a row and thinks that he could really get used to this, the feeling of Eddie in his arms, cheek pressed against Steve’s chest just over his heart. He looks fondly down at him, brushing some curls out of his boyfriend's face as he continues to snore into Steve’s chest hair.
He keeps gently touching Eddie, fingers lightly tracing the tattoos on his arms, waiting for Eddie to wake up so they can spend the morning together before Eddie has to go to work.
It’s Valentine's Day, and as much as Steve wants to spend the whole day in bed with his boyfriend, he’s also excited to get home and set up his surprise for Eddie. Steve knows that Eddie’s not really the mushy-gushy hearts and candy type, but he hasn’t had someone to spoil on Valentine's Day for a very long time, so he’s going all out.
“That feels nice,” Eddie groans, rubbing sleep from his eyes and looking up at Steve with a tired smile. “Good morning, baby.”
“Morning, honey,” Steve responds, giving Eddie a soft kiss. “I love waking up with you.”
“Yeah?” Eddie says, his expression turning mischievous. “Like me being right here when you wake up so you can have your wicked way with me?”
“Well, now that you mention it,” Steve says, raising his fist to his chin and pretending to contemplate the possibilities before he suddenly pounces on Eddie and flips them over.
Eddie’s surprised yelp quickly turns into a moan when Steve presses his hips down to rub against his morning wood.
“Didn’t know we’d be having a sword fight first thing,” Eddie says, giving Steve a teasing grin before pulling him down to lay flush against his chest.
Steve grunts, trying not to laugh. “Don’t call it that, you dork.”
“I’ll call it whatever I want, sweetheart, and you’ll let me if you want to stab me with that big weapon of yours,” Eddie noses at Steve’s neck, working his mouth over the tender skin and nipping at his earlobe.
Steve sighs. This really shouldn’t be doing it for him, but it totally does; he loves when Eddie is silly and playful in bed. He doesn’t think he’s ever had so much fun while having sex before.
“I’ve got plenty of stabbing planned for later. You get in the shower and get that sword a… what was it called? A wet stone?” Steve says, trying to remember that line from those books Eddie kept talking about.
Eddie laughs. “Sounds like you’re telling me to sharpen my own weapon, baby.”
Steve scowls at him. “No sharpening either. Be good or you won’t get to enjoy the treats I have planned for you tonight.”
“Anything for you, my king,” Eddie says sarcastically, getting out of bed and doing an exaggerated bow as he walks backwards towards the bathroom.
Steve gets out of bed and heads for the kitchen to make them both breakfast before they have to go their separate ways. He smiles at the sound of Eddie singing in the shower as he starts frying up some bacon, wishing that he could spend every morning of the foreseeable future with Eddie.
He knows eventually he’ll figure out what he wants to do with his life and will probably end up with a job that has a nine-to-five schedule again, but for now, he’s really enjoying how his shifts and the bar and Eddie’s tattoo appointments have let them have their fair share of lazy mornings over the past two weeks.
For now, he’s going to bask in the glow of his new relationship and just let himself relax and enjoy his life.
***
Steve sprinkles some more spices on the chicken he’s baking for dinner and slides it into the oven, setting a timer before he heads to his bedroom to pull out the bag he’d tucked in the back of his closet away from Eddie’s prying eyes. He’d stumbled across the store downtown last year, and it had piqued his interest in a way he wasn’t quite ready to acknowledge at the time, but now that he was in his first queer relationship, and he’s seen the way that metal musicians dress. He figures it’ll be a nice surprise for Eddie to see him all decked out in leather pants that sinfully hug his ass and thighs, a studded leather vest, and a leather harness that crisscrosses his chest instead of a shirt.
He only feels a little silly as he pulls everything on, clipping chains to his belt loops and sliding a cuff onto his ear. Turning from side to side he inspects his look. It’s not bad but it definitely needs more. He backcombs his hair, making it stand up all over the place, and spritzes a generous amount of hairspray on it, despite knowing that it’ll be ruined the moment Eddie gets his hands in it.
Steve grabs the eyeliner pencil he bought the other day, hoping he doesn’t poke his eye out and have to go to the ER on Valentine’s Day. Robin and Nancy had put some makeup on him in the past when they went out to gay clubs, but he’s never done it himself, and now he’s regretting not asking for a lesson beforehand. It ends up a little smudged, but he figures that just adds to the overall look he’s going for.
Fuck, I don’t look half bad .
His eyes keep darting to the cuff in his ear, wondering if it would be crazy to get it pierced. He knows there’s a guy at Eddie’s shop that does piercings, and it wouldn’t be too crazy to just get a little something in his ear, would it?
Steve jumps at the sound of a knock on the door. He’s half giddy, half nervous to see Eddie so he takes a breath and does another cursory check of his outfit in the mirror, fluffing up his hair more before heading towards the front door.
“Hey, stud,” Steve says, opening the door with a flourish.
It’s almost cartoonish the way that Eddie’s jaw drops and his eyes bulge, raking over Steve’s appearance.
“Uhhhhhhh,” Eddie garbles, clearly unable to form a coherent thought. He looks like he might start drooling.
Steve feels a zing of self-satisfaction that his surprise is working the way he planned and pulls Eddie—nearly tripping over his feet—into his apartment by the collar of his jacket.
“Don’t hurt yourself there, big boy,” Steve laughs, closing the door behind Eddie, thankful that none of his neighbors were lurking in the hall to see his new get-up.
While Steve’s back is turned locking the door, Eddie seems to regain control over his limbs and grabs at Steve’s hips.
“How did you fit this perfect peach into these pants, baby? Wow, is this all for me?” Eddie says, voice tinged with awe.
“No, I was just about to go down and pay Ralph a visit—of course it’s for you, silly,” Steve laughs, spinning around in Eddie’s arms.
“Fuck, sweetheart, I’m having trouble over here, all the blood seems to have left my brain and gone on vacation elsewhere,” Eddie chuckles, eyes focused on Steve’s chest.
“Hey, my eyes are up here, you caveman,” Steve grins, ducking his face to catch Eddie’s eyes.
“Yeah, well, your tits are out on display, I can’t help myself. I am but a simple man,” Eddie snarks back, caressing over the straps of the harness caging in Steve’s pecs before giving his nipple a tweak.
Steve groans, already so keyed up with anticipation, he’s ready to scoop Eddie up and charge into the bedroom, but the timer starts going off in the kitchen.
“Oh, I made us dinner,” Steve says, pulling away from Eddie to pull their food out of the oven.
Eddie drops his bag and follows after, waiting until Steve takes off the oven mitts and turns off the oven to wrap his arms around and continue his assault on Steve’s nipples, Eddie’s other hand dropping to cup over Steve’s leather clad bulge.
“Fuck dinner, I want my dessert first,” Eddie demands as he mouths at the back of Steve’s neck.
“Mmmmm, that can be arranged,” Steve responds, pressing his ass back into Eddie’s crotch and feeling his firm length already straining in his jeans.
They stumble their way to Steve’s bedroom, discarding Eddie’s clothes and Steve’s vest along the way.
“Keep this on,” Eddie says hungrily, grabbing at the straps of the harness again and using them as leverage to throw Steve onto the bed.
“We can lose these, though,” Eddie continues, reaching for the button of Steve’s leather pants and flicking it open, pulling down the zipper before roughly flipping Steve over by his hips, lifting him up to rest on his knees, face pressed into the mattress.
Steve squawks in surprise—he’s never seen Eddie like this before. He’s clawing at Steve like a barely restrained animal, and it’s making his blood boil.
Eddie whips the leather pants down over Steve’s ass and makes a noise between a whine and a growl that sounds more beastly than human. Steve grins into his duvet; he’d put on an old jock strap, figuring that any underwear he owned would get bunched under the leather pants, and Eddie seemed to be enjoying the view from the feeling of Eddie’s fingers digging into his hips.
“What the fuck is this?” Eddie demands, sliding a finger under one of the straps cupping Steve’s butt, and pulling it back to snap against his asscheek.
Steve twists to catch the look on Eddie’s face, dick throbbing at the untamed desire flaming in Eddie’s eyes.
“Oh, do you like it?” Steve says coyly, biting his lip.
Eddie swats his ass, making Steve whine, and okay didn’t know I was into that.
“You know I do, you cocky bastard,” Eddie grits out. “It’s a perfect treat, all wrapped up for me.”
That’s all the warning Steve gets before Eddie thumbs apart his cheeks and dives in, licking incessantly at Steve’s hole with so much fervor that Steve is left gasping and clinging to the duvet like a lifeline.
All-in-all, a successful Valentine’s Day Surprise.
Digital collage ft The Backstreet Boys "I Want It That Way" created by me on the Shuffles app
