Work Text:
December 31
Steve shucked off his tuxedo jacket and slid into the driver's seat with a bone deep sigh of relief, only too glad to leave the party and its noise behind. He had to at least make an appearance at the company party, being that his father was the CEO, but that didn't mean he had to like it. Most other years, Steve had managed to fake it pretty well, the way he did every day at the office, but this year had been different.
This year, his plus one hadn't been Nancy, because she was across town at her own party with her new boyfriend. He had attended sans plus one, plus zero in fact, because he hadn't been able to bring himself to date since the breakup. Steve knew Tammy in marketing was still carrying a torch for him, but he didn't think he could make it through even an hour with her nasal laughter at his side.
His father hadn't been pleased to see him alone, as it “didn't present a good image, Steven,” and had even suggested he hire an escort, who could doubtless navigate the social intricacies of the corporate hierarchy with ease. Steve had blanched at the thought of having to attend his least favorite social event of the year with a stranger, no matter how pleasant her company. It would be fake, bought and paid for, and there was more than enough of that in his life.
Loosening his bow tie by tugging on it, Steve realized he had probably made the front too tight and ensured he'd have a hell of a time getting it off later. Oh well, he thought, this was now, and that was a problem for future Steve, when he would be home alone in his apartment, determinedly not watching the ball drop on his television. The tie felt like a noose around his neck, and he'd be damned if he left it in place for the entire drive back to Hawkins.
His father always rented them rooms at the Conrad so they could drink, but Steve had nursed a single flute of champagne all evening, not even pretending to change it out for a full one. He hadn't exactly been planning his escape until the crowded ballroom became too much, the lights too bright, the noise too loud. He was almost thankful it proved to be the buildup to a panic attack instead of an impending migraine, as he never would have made it home with the latter.
Making his excuses to his mother, Steve had slipped out a side door without bothering to confront his father. It wouldn't have ended well, and he just didn't think he could handle his father's stony-faced disappointment, or worse, suffer the consequences of causing a scene. He did have some sense of propriety left, no matter what his father thought.
Pulling out of the parking deck, Steve braced himself for the challenge of negotiating Indianapolis traffic while avoiding the drunks. It wasn't even close to midnight, but he knew they would be out in force. Two separate cars honked as he merged, doing nothing to soothe his anxious nerves, and Steve couldn't wait until he was out of the city.
Before long the bright lights of Indianapolis were only a glow in his rear view mirror, eclipsing the starry skies overhead. It was a crisp, cold night, the moon shining down on drifts of snow to either side of the road, and a smattering of flurries stuck to his windshield as he drove. It was a good night for a drive really, all things considered. Fueled by that thought, Steve took an exit from the highway that he knew would take him through the countryside and a few small towns, eventually winding its way back to Hawkins. After all, he didn't have anywhere to be.
Nancy had politely suggested that he could attend her party instead, knowing how much he hated the corporate bullshit, but Steve knew he couldn't handle seeing her with someone else. Some part of him still loved her, even after everything, despite knowing he shouldn't. Unfortunately, that just wasn't how love worked.
The back roads proved soothing to his nerves, meeting very few other cars on his way. The snow piled up in the fields was beautiful, gilding the trees in a heavy winter coat. The towns he drove through all still had their Christmas decorations up, green wreaths on every street lamp, candy canes and snowflakes outlined in lights that stretched across main street, brightening up the night. It was just past one of these, string lights fading in the mirror, when the figure first came into view.
Walking on the side of the road, just to the left of the snow piled up by the progress of plow after plow, a hunched figure made their way through the night. Something about them seemed subtly off, a result of posture maybe, or bunched up layers of clothing, Steve couldn't be sure. For a moment he thought their legs were…wrong, all bent backward like a dog, until he blinked and the image resolved.
Once caught in Steve's headlights, he could see a long coat flapping in the sudden breeze, thin boots, and no hat to cover the traveler’s long dark hair. Their hands were jammed in their pockets, and they hunched over slightly against the cold. Making a split second decision Steve hoped he didn't come to regret, he slowed as he passed the figure, pulling alongside and rolling down his window.
“Can I give you a ride somewhere?” he asked.
The figure stopped, slowly turning their head toward the car. Steve could see masculine features now, surrounded by a wild mane of wavy brown hair. Both surprise and suspicion were evident on the man's face as he opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out for a moment.
When he did find his voice, it was deep and scratchy, as though it didn't see much use. “You want to give me a ride.”
“It's pretty cold out here,” Steve said with a shrug. “Since you're not really dressed for it, I thought I'd see if I could help.”
The man seemed strangely amused by his answer. “I suppose I could do with some…assistance,” he said at last.
Steve unlocked the doors with a click, and the man opened the passenger side, sliding into the seat. “I'm Steve, by the way,” he greeted him.
“Eddie,” the man said after a lengthy pause. “You can call me Eddie.”
“All right Eddie,” Steve agreed. “Where are you headed?”
“Nowhere in particular,” Eddie said with a shrug. “Just…somewhere else.”
“Well,” Steve said. “I'm headed to Hawkins, but there's really nothing exciting about it.”
“It does, however, fit the definition of somewhere else,” Eddie said.
“True,” Steve admitted. He wanted to ask where Eddie was leaving and why, but he kept silent, figuring it would be rude. Besides, he knew exactly what it was like to just want to be somewhere, anywhere else. “If you're down for a trip to Hawkins, then let's go.”
“By all means, good charioteer,” Eddie answered.
“Well, she's not exactly a chariot,” Steve said, patting the Beemer’s dash. “But she's never let me down.”
They drove in relative silence for a while, Steve asking vague questions to be polite and pass the time. Eddie gave concise, one word answers with the occasional hmm, so Steve simply left off – until Eddie reached for the radio.
“What do you have against Coldplay?” Steve asked.
Eddie shot him a sideways glance. “So much,” he said. “If…that's what this is called.”
Steve's brow furrowed. “How do you not know any of their music?”
Eddie paused for a moment. “I don't really listen to the radio very much,” he said eventually.
Pressing the fourth button, he settled back. “This is better.”
“Oh, Zeppelin,” Steve said. “Yeah, I've got a friend that plays them.”
“Your friend has good taste,” Eddie said, seeming satisfied.
“Which station is that?” Steve asked. All he had programmed were pop and top 40, as far as he knew.
“Whichever one is playing Led Zeppelin,” Eddie answered evasively.
Steve let the station play, a bit less pleased when it shifted from a classic rock songs to ones he would consider more like metal. Dustin was rarely allowed to control the radio for a reason. Maybe he programmed it in, just to be annoying. Eddie bobbed his head, hair falling a bit in his eyes, and Steve tamped down the desire to brush it away. Where had that come from?
Sure, Eddie was kind of attractive, he supposed, if not really his usual type. When it came to men, Steve usually ended up fucking around with fellow gym bros instead of having actual relationships, as cliche as that was. Maybe if he tried something different for a change, he'd end up with someone who didn't put his pants back on after a hot fuck and leave.
Eventually Steve had to admit that the music wasn't so bad, knowing that Dustin and Max would never let him down for thinking it. As they pulled into the outskirts of Hawkins, Steve felt a pit beginning to grow in his stomach at the thought of dropping Eddie off. Sure, he hadn't been much of a conversationalist, but no one wanted to spend all of New Year's Eve alone, including him. Making an executive decision, Steve pulled into Benny's diner and threw the car in park.
At Eddie's questioning glance, Steve explained, trying not to imply anything about Eddie's financial situation. “I'm hungry, and I thought, well…you might be too. And hey, it's New Year's.”
“Is the New Year celebrated in…small silver buildings?” Eddie asked.
Steve laughed. “Better than the party I'm coming from. Pretentious assholes,” he muttered, opening the car door and stepping out.
“Thus the tuxedo?” Eddie asked, coming around to Steve's side where he was fiddling with his tie.
Steve nodded. “Yep. My dad throws one every year for the company and select clients. It's an investment firm,” he clarified as Eddie stepped closer, decidedly into his personal space.
“Here,” Eddie said, removing Steve's hands from the fabric. “Easier from this perspective,” he murmured, deftly unlacing the knot.
He was so close Steve could feel his breath, steaming in the frigid night air. It would be so easy to just lean in —
Steve shook his head slightly. What the hell was he thinking? If he had been in Eddie's shoes, would he want the guy who picked him up to be creeping on him? Have some decency, christ.
When Eddie glanced up, he looked as though he knew exactly what Steve had been thinking. His eyes were dark, and when he tilted his head ever so slightly, Steve could swear he looked as though he might not be opposed to the idea. Get it together, Steve told himself. You're just being nice and buying a hitchhiker some dinner because you're lonely.
Eddie placed the tie in Steve's hands, a spark of static electricity making Steve jump when their fingers touched. “Sorry,” he said, sounding not like it in the least.
“No worries,” Steve said a bit nervously as he tossed the tie on the car seat to deal with later. He couldn't quite explain the sudden case of nerves, only knowing that he wanted Eddie to touch him again.
Locking the car with a soft beep, Steve led the way toward the diner, a small silver rectangle with the word Benny's in red neon. Reaching the door, Steve held it open automatically, saying “After you,” without even thinking. Eddie gave him an amused look and went through, Steve following behind.
“Steve-o!” Benny greeted from behind the counter, staff probably in short supply on a holiday. “Sit anywhere guys, I'll send Chrissy over for your orders.”
Steve tried not to chuckle, knowing Robin would wish she was here to see her crush. Eddie found them a booth in the corner away from the few other customers, and Steve slid onto the red vinyl seat. Giving Eddie a once-over he hoped was subtle as he took off his long coat, Steve wondered at his outfit. He had on tight dark jeans with a t-shirt bearing a logo for what Steve guessed was a band he'd never heard of, and a long-sleeved shirt beneath it in an out of date style, the cuffs fraying at the ends. The colors didn't really match, and neither did his earrings, three in each ear with a couple higher up in the cartilage.
Steve glanced away, embarrassed once Eddie seemed to notice his scrutiny. Then Chrissy was stopping by with menus and water, greeting Steve like an old friend. He supposed they were here fairly often, after all.
“No Robin tonight?” she asked, sounding disappointed. Steve couldn't wait to tease Robin with that the next time he saw her.
“Nah,” Steve said. “She's got a thing.”
“Yeah, most people do,” Chrissy said, still looking a little bummed as she left them to decide on their orders.
“Do you know everyone in town?” Eddie asked, sounding a bit…jealous?
Steve told himself it was just his imagination. “Nah, I've just known Chrissy since high school, and Benny since forever. We used to come here after games, especially if we won.”
“Oh?” Eddie asked. “You played…sportsball?”
Steve barked out a laugh, and Eddie looked a bit disgruntled. “Basketball,” Steve explained. “I was pretty good, back in the day.”
“I bet you were,” Eddie said with the hint of a sly smile, again looking not the least bit sorry.
Steve felt his face heat, knowing his embarrassment over the reaction would make it even worse. Burying his face in the menu, he pretended to not know what he wanted.
“What are you getting?” Steve asked after the moment stretched out too long.
“Oh, um,” Eddie said. “Nothing, I fear I don't have any…currency with me.”
“Oh no, it's on me,” Steve said. “Get whatever you want.” He'd thought the offer was obvious, but maybe not. Also, who said currency?
Eddie looked at him curiously. “If you say so,” he said slowly. “What, um, what's good here?”
“Oh, man,” Steve said. “Everything. I usually get a double with cheese, ketchup, and pickles, Robin always gets a grilled cheese and a strawberry shake. And cheese fries are a must, I'm gonna get us some.”
“Ah, the missing Robin?” Eddie asked, pretending to look at the menu while his eyes flicked up to Steve.
“Yeah, my best friend,” Steve said. “We had this horrible summer job once at a nautical-themed ice cream shop. Had to wear sailor suits and everything. Came out of it best friends.”
Eddie gave him the same amused smile. “I bet you were cute,” he said, toying with a piece of his hair.
Steve flushed even deeper, he just knew it. “I very much was not cute,” he groused.
Chrissy saved him from further embarrassment by appearing at Steve's side. “Your usual?” she asked, pen and pad in hand.
“Absolutely,” Steve said. “And cheese fries.”
“Obviously cheese fries,” Chrissy agreed.
Eddie smiled down at the menu. “I think…eggs, scrambled. Oh, and bacon.”
Chrissy nodded. “Late night breakfast, always a solid choice.”
As she collected their menus and disappeared behind the counter, Steve realized he no longer had anything to hide behind and fiddled with his sleeves, unbuttoning them at the wrists and rolling them halfway up his forearms, glad he hadn't bothered with cuff links. He blinked at Eddie's shirt when he glanced back, wondering if the logo had changed, or if he was just seeing things. Of course it didn't change, you moron, Steve told himself, then realized he was staring and looked away.
“So,” Eddie said, elongated the vowel. “Since we're discussing your fashion choices, that party must have been pretty dull for you to leave before midnight.”
“It was loud,” Steve said. “And full of people I can't stand.” Eddie nodded. “And my dad wants me to be just like them, it's ridiculous. They're all so fake.”
“Sounds…intolerable,” Eddie said, leaning his head on his hand.
Steve guessed at the meaning of the word. “It really is. And the past two years I had a date to make it better, but uh, not this year,” he said, suddenly embarrassed.
“A guy like you?” Eddie asked, sounding sincere. “No date?”
“She's throwing her own party with her new boyfriend,” Steve said a bit acidly. “She can kiss him at midnight, I guess.”
“Fan of the ol’ New Year's smooch?” Eddie asked with a smirk.
Steve shrugged, having thoroughly embarrassed himself. “Yeah, I mean – it just sets a nice tone for the year, y'know?”
Eddie nodded. “I can see how it might.”
“Not your tradition?” Steve asked, genuinely curious. Eddie shook his head. “What about mistletoe?”
Eddie looked down at his plate, and Steve took it as his cue to change the subject. As it happened, Eddie beat him to it.
“If you hate your job so much, why not do something else?” he asked.
The gears in Steve's head ground to a halt. Why didn't he just do something else?
“It's complicated,” he said finally. “I don't know how to do anything else, really. I didn't go to college, couldn't get in anywhere with my grades, so I just started working for my dad like he’d wanted me to do all along.”
“You know how to serve ice cream,” Eddie said with a smirk.
“Yeah, cause that will really pay my rent,” Steve said with a scoff. “I'm sorry, you don't want to hear about all this.”
“I asked,” Eddie reminded him. “If you could do anything for a living, what would you do?”
“I think…” Steve said, trailing off as he toyed with his napkin. “I'd like to be a teacher. Middle school, maybe.”
Eddie smiled. “I bet you'd be a good one,” he said, looking at Steve a bit strangely.
“What about you?” Steve ventured. “If you could do anything…?”
“I'd be a rock star,” Eddie answered confidently. “Can you imagine the rush, being up on stage, hearing people chant your name?”
“That sounds terrifying,” Steve answered with a smile. He couldn't even imagine it without feeling the metallic twinge of an impending migraine.
“I think it sounds amazing,” Eddie said, a bit wistfully. “But it would never work out.”
“Why is that?” Steve asked without thinking.
Eddie looked a bit cagey as he answered. “I don't really like staying in any one place for too long.”
“Touring would be perfect for you then,” Steve said. “Always on the move.”
Eddie hummed. “Maybe.”
Any further discussion was interrupted by Chrissy's return with a tray, setting their meals before them. Eddie's plate was piled high with eggs, and Steve could tell Benny gave him extra bacon. Perks of being a regular, Steve supposed.
Steve's burger was large enough that it arrived cut in half, and while normally he would have tucked into it with gusto, he found himself strangely self-conscious. Eddie didn't seem affected with anything of the sort, after cautiously tasting the bacon with a pleased sound. He tasted the eggs, reacting similarly, as though he'd never tried anything like them before.
“They not have diners where you're from?” Steve joked.
Eddie froze, a forkful of eggs halfway to his mouth. “Um,” he answered, looking somehow caught out. “No, we ah – of course we do, it's just – these are really good, that's all.”
“Benny fries the eggs up in bacon grease,” Steve said as if imparting a trade secret.
“That must be it,” Eddie said, looking strangely relieved.
Steve decided to leave it alone, returning to a safer point in the conversation when his mouth wasn't full of burger. “So what instrument do you play?” he asked.
“Oh, a —” he paused, as if finding the right word. “Guitar! Yeah, acoustic and electric, love it. You play anything?”
Steve rubbed the back of his neck self-consciously. “A little piano,” he said. “Took lessons for a while, until my dad decided it wasn't masculine enough.”
“What?” Eddie asked, setting his fork down with a clink of metal on the vintage ceramic plates. “That's such bullshit!”
Two patrons a few tables away glanced in their direction, but Eddie seemed not to notice. Steve just nodded, deciding the others weren't worth his time.
“Yeah, I agree,” he said. “Kept it up for a little while using the music room at school, but eventually I just got too busy, you know with the sportsball.”
Eddie smiled, looking down at his plate. “Sure, make fun of me for not being a jock like you,” he said, his tone teasing.
“Nah,” Steve said, smiling back. “Music is way cooler. Don't get me wrong, I loved basketball, and baseball, and swimming, too, but I always wished I hadn't had to give up piano.”
“What's stopping you from going back to it?” Eddie asked, swallowing a mouthful of eggs.
Steve paused, burger halfway to his mouth. “You know, I hadn't thought about it. I guess just…looking stupid.”
“In front of whomst, exactly?” Eddie asked. “Just find somewhere with a piano and go for it, or take lessons again.”
Steve smiled at his use of the word whomst, one of his favorites for bothering Robin because it isn't even a real word, Steve. He didn't care; he liked it.
“I might do that,” Steve said.
They talked as they finished their meals, about everything from Steve's job to his friends, including the kids, who certainly weren't kids anymore, having all gone off to college. He still had Robin, who came home with a degree in linguistics to teach French at the community college. Still, he felt lonely most of the time. Eddie seemed to pick up on it, expressing a curious empathy. Steve supposed if he was hitchhiking on New Year's Eve, he probably was pretty lonely.
“God, I'm sorry,” Steve said. “I've just been talking about me this whole time.”
“I don't mind if you monopolize the conversation,” Eddie said, making Steve's brow furrow. “I'm not all that interesting, anyway.”
“Oh, I bet you are,” Steve said with a smile, then cleared his throat as he realized he could have been reading everything wrong, that Eddie might not appreciate random flirting, especially from a guy. It was always a risk, even these days, and especially in Hawkins.
Eddie, though – Eddie returned the smile, looking suddenly shy. Steve's mind raced ahead of him, wondering if Eddie's lips were soft, and what he might taste like. He glanced away, feeling his face heat yet again. Eddie's foot brushed his beneath the table, and suddenly Steve was sixteen again, sitting in a booth with his crush on a first date.
“You’re not eating the fries you wanted,” Eddie said, drawing Steve’s attention back to where he held one out, melted cheese dripping down onto the table. Steve reached for it, their fingers brushing with another electric shock that made Steve’s hand contract. “Not like that,” Eddie gently chastised. “Open up.”
Steve leaned forward without even thinking, opening his mouth obediently. Eddie placed the fry on his tongue, then pressed below his chin to close his jaw. It might have been the best thing Steve had ever eaten, he thought as he chewed and swallowed. He wondered if Eddie would feed him another one, if he asked very nicely.
“You want to get out of here?” Eddie asked instead. Steve’s mind blanked at the shift, wanting to say yes but unable to find a single word in his head. The silence stretched out too long, and he knew he had to look like a deer caught in a pair of headlights from Eddie's fumbling response as his face shut down. “I – I mean, it's late, y’know, and I'm kinda tired. You don't have to worry about driving me anywhere else, it's fine.”
“I'm not just leaving you here,” Steve said, offended enough to remember his words.
“No?” Eddie said, and Steve wondered if he imagined the hopeful tone.
“Of course not,” Steve said. “It's cold, you're not dressed for the weather, and besides – you, um, you really made my night a whole lot better. It's the least I can do to get you a room somewhere.”
“Oh,” Eddie said, clearly surprised. “I mean, if you want to, but you certainly don't have to —”
“I want to,” Steve said firmly.
“As you wish, valiant knight,” Eddie said, the amused smile back from earlier.
Steve had to laugh at that. “Don't think I fit the compliment, but I'll take it.”
“Good,” Eddie said quietly.
Chrissy chose that moment to interrupt, taking their plates and leaning in with a secret smile. “Can I bring you two some dessert?” she questioned. “On the house.”
Eddie's eyebrows shot up. “Oh really?” he asked.
Chrissy just grinned. “Happy new year,” she said with a conspiratorial wink.
“Dude, their chocolate meringue is the best,” Steve suggested, hoping to linger in their strange, shared space.
“Then chocolate meringue it is,” Eddie said decisively. “You think we could split a piece?”
“Sure,” Steve said, surprised.
Then again, he was almost too full for dessert. Almost. The conversation flowed easily back and forth over favorite sweet treats until the pie arrived, Eddie’s choices all things that Steve had never had or never even heard of. Looking at the chocolate meringue perfection before them, Eddie's eyes grew wide.
“Y’know,” Eddie said over the frankly huge slice. “I think you'd make a great teacher.”
“Really?” Steve asked, secretly pleased. “Why's that?”
“You just have the personality for it,” Eddie explained. “And your relationship with your kids speaks volumes. Though I've gotta admit, when you first said your kids, I thought —”
“Yeah, I get that a lot until people meet them,” Steve said with a short laugh. “They're smarter than me, for starters.”
Eddie raised an eyebrow. “You've really got to stop putting yourself down so much,” he said. “You don't deserve it.”
“I don't know about that,” Steve said, rubbing the back of his neck.
“I do,” Eddie said firmly. “And I've only just met you.”
Give me time, Steve thought. I'll disappoint you, too. The negative thoughts didn’t keep him from scooping up the last bite on his spoon and holding it out to Eddie, a searching look on his face. Eddie covered Steve’s hand on the spoon with his own, drawing it closer to his mouth before his tongue flicked out to take the chocolate into his mouth. For a fraction of a second, Steve could have sworn it was forked.
Telling himself that was ridiculous, he focused on the way Eddie let the chocolate pass his lips, a few specks remaining as he swallowed, eyes sliding shut, a blissful expression on his face. Steve wanted to reach out and brush the crumbs from his mouth, wanted to lick them off, but when Eddie let go of his hand, the spoon fell to land on the empty plate with a clatter. Eddie jumped, startled, his eyes going wide as he sat back against the booth.
Then Chrissy was bringing them the check before Steve could even apologize, and Eddie hastily rose from his seat, as if afraid to overstay his welcome. Steve wanted to take his hand, order some coffee, tell Eddie not to worry. He'd spent hours at a table here before, and besides, he was definitely enjoying the company. Probably a little too much.
It seemed like only minutes until Steve was parking at the motel down the street. He knew the owner, because of course he did, it was Hawkins, and Doris kept the place spotless. She had a strange flair for decoration, but the beds were comfortable and the sheets were nice. Steve pushed away thoughts of high school trysts when his parents had actually been home but Steve still wanted to get some. Renting a room from a bored teenager at the small office, Steve was back at the car all too quickly, opening the door for Eddie. He figured the least he could do was be a gentleman before they said goodbye.
“Well,” Steve said, feeling awkward as he handed Eddie the key at #105. “I hope you have a good night, and ah – that you find somewhere that makes you happy.”
“Thanks,” Eddie said, scuffing one shoe on the concrete walk. “I'm glad I met you,” he added, his voice sincere.
“I'm glad I met you, too,” Steve said, stepping back before he could do anything stupid. “G'night, Eddie.” Turning around, Steve made it halfway to the car when Eddie's voice stopped him in his tracks.
“Steve,” he called out. “It's midnight.”
Briefly confused, Steve glanced over his shoulder. Eddie leaned against the door frame, looking small and alone.
“You said – in the diner, you said you wanted someone to kiss at midnight.”
“I did,” Steve acknowledged, a pit of butterflies opening in his stomach.
“I'm right here,” Eddie said. “That is, I mean, if you —”
Steve made it back to the doorway before he could even finish, reaching out a hand to cup Eddie's cheek. Eddie's eyes scanned his face, full of the same yearning that had been eating Steve alive all night. Leaning in, he gently pressed his lips to Eddie's, careful, as though afraid to scare him away. Steve supposed he probably was; Eddie almost didn't seem real.
Eddie let out a breath with a quiet sound when Steve pulled away, just a fraction, immediately wanting to dive back in. Pressing a quick kiss to Eddie's lips, then another, he gave Eddie space to back away, in case that was all he wanted. It wasn't.
Fisting a hand in Steve's shirt, Eddie pulled him in closer, deepening the kiss. Steve tilted his head to find a better angle, swallowing down Eddie's quiet moan. Eddie's tongue flicked out to lick at his lips, and Steve opened to him easily. His mouth tasted fresh, like mints, and Steve wondered if he had taken one from the bowl at the diner, wondered if he had been planning this. Either way, Steve was glad it was happening.
Eddie's hand found the doorknob behind them and twisted, opening the door just a crack. “Stay?” he whispered against Steve's lips.
Steve nodded, his eyes half shut. “Yeah,” he agreed.
They stumbled through the door, Eddie still clutching at him, his other hand tangled in Steve's hair. Steve closed it behind them, locking it with a click. Then Eddie's mouth was on him again, hot and wet and perfect. It felt like everything he needed, everything he had been needing for so long he couldn't even say. Things with Nancy had deteriorated enough before the end that they were barely even kissing one another, and Steve was very much aware of how much he had missed it.
Eddie was making perfect, needy sounds, pulling Steve farther into the room, and he went easily. His hands found the buttons at Steve's shirt, smoothly opening them up, and stroking the skin beneath. Steve knew he was hairy, usually considered it a plus, but now he wondered if Eddie liked it, wondered if it was a turn off. Then he wondered something else as a decidedly unpleasant thought took root.
“Wait,” Steve said, reluctantly pulling back, making his chest ache. “Wait a second.”
Eddie blinked his eyes open, licking the taste of Steve from his lips. “What is it?” he asked, shaking his head slightly.
“You're not just, um,” Steve fumbled. “You're not just doing this because I got you a room, right?”
“Wow,” Eddie said, stepping back. “Really, Steve?”
“I just needed —”
“Maybe I should just grab a shower and go to bed,” Eddie said, clearly offended. “Since you're not interested.”
“Eddie,” Steve said in exasperation. “I just needed to know, all right? If you thought you were…somehow obligated, it would kill me.”
“Did that feel like gratitude to you?” Eddie asked, nearly a growl, his eyes flashing. For a second, they looked like an animal’s, almost glowing, and Steve blinked to clear his vision.
“No,” he said quietly. “It didn't.”
“Is it so hard to believe that I want you?” Eddie asked.
“Honestly?” Steve asked. “Someone like you wanting, well, someone like me, yeah, that's pretty unbelievable.”
“Someone like me,” Eddie said flatly.
“Eddie, you're gorgeous,” Steve explained. “You're smart and funny and I'm just – I'm nobody.”
“Are you kidding me with this?” Eddie asked in disbelief, taking a step forward. “Steve, you're so beautiful, and you're kind. Do you understand what a rarity it is to find a truly good person in the world these days?”
Steve shook his head. “All I know is that I've wanted you since you got in the car. So if you're done being offended —”
Eddie closed the distance, shrugging out of his coat and tossing it on the chair. “Very done,” he said, taking Steve's face in his hand and kissing him soundly.
It was just as amazing as the first time, electric in a way that shot through Steve's nerves like he'd put a finger to a light socket. Finding the right angle again, Steve directed the kiss, Eddie giving way easily to Steve's control. That in itself lit a fire below Steve's belt, and he nipped at Eddie's lips. Eddie made a pleased sound, and Steve used the opportunity to slip his tongue inside Eddie's mouth, tasting and exploring.
Eddie's hands were back at his shirt, finishing with the buttons and sliding it off his shoulders. His fingers combed through the hair at Steve’s chest again, and he decided maybe Eddie liked it after all. Then he circled one nipple with his thumb, brushing up from beneath it to rub across the top and Steve stopped wondering anything.
Lifting Eddie's shirts at his hip, Steve slid his hands beneath them, running up Eddie's sides. He shivered, and Steve apologized, thinking they were still cold. Eddie made a noise in the negative.
“Feels good,” he said, so Steve kept it up for a few moments before urging Eddie's arms up to get rid of the material.
Now he was sure of it; not even the logo but the color of the tee shirt had changed. Eddie swiftly drew his attention back, and Steve tossed the shirts aside, deciding he could accept a little magic for tonight. Dragging his fingertips down Eddie's chest, Steve leaned down to lick at one nipple, sucking it into his mouth.
Eddie made an amazing sound, and Steve toyed with the other between his thumb and forefinger. Hearing his name fall from Eddie's lips with such abandon was an intense turn on, and Steve was suddenly aware of just how hard he was in his slacks. Kissing his way back up to Eddie's neck, he left a hot trail up to his ear, then along his jaw. Recapturing Eddie's lips, Steve moved his hands to Eddie's waist, unbuttoning his jeans and sliding down the zipper.
Eddie thrust against his hand when Steve cupped his cock through the fabric of his briefs, and Steve was gratified to feel Eddie's rock hard interest. For a moment it felt strange, almost ridged or bumpy in his hand, but Steve quickly dismissed the sensation as ridiculous - particularly since Eddie chose that moment to pull back, dragging his teeth along Steve's lower lip. It was hard to pay attention to anything but the way he felt his entire world narrowing to that single point of contact between them as Eddie moved back in, deepening the kiss. Fumbling at Eddie's waist, Steve shoved his pants down to his thighs before realizing his shoes were going to be in the way and dropping to his knees.
He didn't miss Eddie's quick intake of breath as he went, untying the laces of his sneakers and tugging them off. Figuring he should make the most of the position, Steve leaned in to mouth at Eddie's cock through his briefs, bright red when only a moment ago he had been certain they were black. Something in the back of his mind struggled to signal an alarm, but Steve ignored it. He didn't have to know exactly what was going on. Steve knew what he wanted; he wanted Eddie, and that was enough.
His tongue laved at Eddie's length through the fabric, quickly growing damp. What started as smooth quickly became textured again, pebbled bumps at the base giving way to chevron-like ridges as Steve made his way up, taking his time. The alarm bells rang louder now, and again Steve ignored them, his own cock painfully stiff with arousal. Eddie's fingers tangled in his hair, tugging lightly, and Steve couldn't help the small moan that slipped free.
Licking a long, slow stripe from root to tip, Steve sucked gently at the head, dragging the wet fabric back and forth across it with his tongue. Eddie made a beautiful, helpless sound, and Steve couldn't help but look up. Glowing yellow eyes stared down at him, the pupils stretched out to thin rectangles, as his lips parted to reveal small, sharp-looking fangs. Steve silenced the alarm bells once and for all.
“Pretty,” he whispered, a wondering smile on his face.
Eddie blinked, and his eyes returned to normal. Steve felt as though he could fall forever into their beautiful, chocolate-brown depths. “Glad you think so,” he said, all but purring the words.
Steve returned to his task with a smile, nuzzling at Eddie's cock through the fabric as his fingers dipped below the waistband of the briefs. Pulling them gently down, Steve was almost disappointed to see a perfectly normal cock, hard and straining, flushed dark at the tip. Steve couldn't help but give it another good, slow lick along the shaft before rising to his feet. Eddie's hands were at his belt immediately, unfastening the buckle and working to find the button beneath the narrow cloth flap that covered it. Steve worked his oxfords off his feet while Eddie yanked the zipper down, eagerness on full display.
Steve's hips twitched forward as Eddie stroked Steve's cock through the fabric, and then he was shoving Steve's pants down with surprising force. Stepping out of them, Steve couldn't be sure the seams hadn't ripped. Eddie gave his boxers the same treatment, and Steve kicked them to one side before Eddie was on him, grabbing his hips and pressing his body to Steve's. With a searing kiss, Eddie pushed him toward the bed until his thighs hit the mattress and he sat down hard. Eddie's hand on his chest urged him back, and Steve went easily, scooting back up toward the headboard.
Eddie crawled onto the bed, stalking forward on his hands and knees. He looked every bit a predator, but Steve knew he was safe. Leaning down, Eddie gave him another kiss, licking at his lips before reaching over him to dig in the bedside table drawer. Returning with a small bottle of lube that Steve knew couldn't possibly have been there even a moment before, Eddie tied his hair back with an elastic that absolutely hadn't been on his wrist.
Steve almost laughed at the impossibility of it all, but kept himself contained, letting the magic wash over him instead. He might not have known what was happening with the finer details, but he knew that he was about to get railed into next week and that was really all that mattered in the moment. Steve reached down, toying with Eddie's balls, drawn up high and tight, followed by a long, slow stroke. The odd texture was back, and Steve couldn't resist a glance down. What he saw stopped him in his tracks.
Eddie's cock was even bigger than it had been a moment ago, and it had already been substantial. It was a darker color than the rest of him, and Steve could see that the bumps at the base were actually scales, shining a beautiful iridescent black in the lamp light. Raised lines pointed upward along the shaft like arrows toward the head, emerging from two firm and separate sheaths to flare out almost like a barb. Steve was fascinated. Rubbing his thumb along the ridges, he drew a gasp from Eddie's lips. Looking back up, Steve caught the moment his eyes blinked back open, beautiful and strange.
“Who are you really?” Steve couldn't help but ask as his hand stilled on Eddie's cock without meaning to.
“You don't need to know,” Eddie said, his tone oddly soothing.
Steve pouted, but he nodded. Bending his knees, he bit his lip and waited for Eddie's next move. It was swift, Eddie grabbing his hips and positioning Steve exactly as he wanted. Slipping two fingers between Steve's cheeks, he rubbed at the tight furl of muscle, urging it to relax. He teased, circling around it, then pressing firmly down and rubbing across it again. It felt amazing already, and Steve heard a sound leave his mouth that might have been embarrassing, if he wasn't quite so intent on getting fucked.
“Spread your cheeks for me,” Eddie commanded, and Steve did as he was told, only too happy not to be the one in control for once.
Steve heard Eddie uncap the bottle, and the slick sound of lube on his fingers. When they returned to his entrance, they slid easily around, pressing just barely inside. Steve groaned, rocking his hips forward in the hopes of pushing them deeper. Eddie responded by taking them away entirely.
“Now, now,” he said, his voice canting lower. “Be a good boy and take what I give you.”
Steve actually whimpered at his words, definitely feeling embarrassed this time. Was that what he wanted? To be a good boy for Eddie? He found that the answer was unquestionably yes, and so he did as he was told.
Eddie smiled, his expression a bit wicked. “There you go,” he said, stroking Steve's thigh.
Pressing his fingers back to Steve's hole, he penetrated just barely deeper than before, pulling back and sliding in again. He kept it up until he was three knuckles deep, driving Steve half out of his mind already. Steve kept his hips as still as he could, the feeling intense as Eddie spread his fingers and held them there before adding another. The stretch was a hot sting that melted into pleasure as Eddie twisted his wrist, rotating his fingers inside.
“Please,” Steve begged. “Please, Eddie, need you —”
Eddie responded by crooking his fingers just right, the slow burn of sensation bursting into flame as he found that perfect bundle of nerves and stroked across it. Steve gasped, his head arching back against the pillow, all words forgotten. Then Eddie's lips wrapped around the head of Steve's cock, hard and aching, and gently sucked, his tongue dragging along the taut line of muscle below.
“Ah —” Steve cried out, surprised and overwhelmed as Eddie kept up the pressure on his prostate, his fingers circling around and sliding across.
Eddie took more of him into his mouth, stroking the shaft with his free hand as saliva mixed with precome to ease the way. Steve felt his cock twitch as Eddie sucked, bobbing his head. He was a genius at it, swirling his tongue in just the right way, exactly how Steve liked it. His hands never stopped, working him over outside and in and it wasn't long before Steve was close.
“Fuck, Eddie,” he managed, fingers tangling in Eddie's hair the way he'd wanted to for hours. “So good. Gonna come,” he added with urgency, unable to hold back as the fire raced through him. Eddie took him down to the root, his cock hitting the back of Eddie's throat, and swallowed.
That was it; Steve came like a collision of stars, the pleasure exploding through him out into every limb, every hair on his head electric with it. Eddie stroked and sucked him through it, swallowing down every drop and licking at the shaft for any he had missed. Steve hissed when the overstimulation became too much, and Eddie backed off, dragging his fingers along just the right spot to make Steve shiver and jump as he pulled out.
“Fuck me,” he begged. “Please, Eddie, need you inside me.”
“Are you sure?” Eddie said, glancing down, then back up.
“God, yes,” Steve said. “I want it. Want you.”
Eddie reached for a condom packet Steve hadn't noticed before and tore it open. Steve reached for it with a grin, wanting to do the job himself. Eddie relinquished it with some amusement, and Steve pulled the lubed rubber from the foil square.
“So thoughtful of them to have all of this just waiting for us,” Steve said with a sly smile.
The same wariness overtook Eddie's face that Steve had seen when he first rolled down his window, and Steve reached up with his free hand, brushing his fingers down Eddie's cheek. Steve felt as though he was caught up in a spell, like something out of one of the kids’ nerdy games. No matter how strange things got from here on out, Steve knew Eddie would never do anything to hurt him, his trust somehow implicit.
Reaching down, he attempted to roll the condom over Eddie's strangely gorgeous cock. It stretched well enough over the flares and ridges, but didn't cover the entire length. Steve impatiently called it good.
Eddie leaned down to leave a kiss on Steve's lips before lining himself up and pressing slowly inside. Steve welcomed the stretch, taking Eddie's cock a thoroughly new experience. The unusual shape felt amazing, ridged and textured, the tip firm but not painful as he had briefly feared. Eddie pushed a bit farther inside with every thrust, his eyes squeezed shut as soft sounds of pleasure fell from his lips.
“Feel so good, Stevie,” he murmured, beads of sweat breaking out on his forehead. “Such a good boy for me, taking me so well.”
Steve couldn't help but preen a little at the praise. He didn't quite understand why he enjoyed it, only that he did, and that was enough for him. Then the sheaths on Eddie's cock rubbed against that perfect place inside, again and again, and soon Steve wasn't thinking very much at all. Hooking his legs around Eddie's hips, Steve changed the angle just a fraction, and Eddie bottomed out with a grunt.
Steve let out a moan as Eddie cursed with a decidedly positive tone. “Fuck, baby,” he groaned out. “Could stay inside you forever.”
The pet name made Steve blush, and hope Eddie said it again. Reaching up to brush back a few wayward strands of hair that had escaped Eddie's ponytail, he stopped, marveling at the spiraling horns now poking out. They didn't even seem strange in the moment, nor did the scales he had felt on Eddie's back and could see scattered across his shoulders, beautiful and dark. As he traced the curve of one horn, Eddie froze, his eyes gone wide.
“Fuck,” he said, the inflection entirely different this time.
Steve let out an embarrassing whine, thrusting up against him. As he watched, Eddie’s skin seemed to shimmer in places, more scales sliding into view along the length of his arms. They were gorgeous, and Steve said so aloud without forethought.
“You – you think so?” Eddie asked, unable to resist a solid thrust as Steve continued to squirm on his cock.
“Eddie, you're beautiful,” Steve said. “Your eyes, the scales, these cute little horns —”
“First time for everything, I guess,” Eddie mumbled without meeting Steve's gaze.
Steve turned his head with a light grip on his chin, forcing eye contact. “You. Are. Gorgeous,” he said firmly. “I've never seen anyth– anyone like you.”
“Count yourself lucky,” Eddie said with a near-feral grin, his fangs back before he dove in for another kiss, silencing Steve for now.
Thrusting harder, faster, the sound of flesh striking flesh echoed loud in the room as Eddie slammed his hips against Steve's ass. Steve realized he was hard again as Eddie reached up to pin Steve's arms over his head, keeping him from stroking himself as if he had read Steve's mind. Maybe he had, Steve thought deliriously.
The change in position caused his legs to slide farther down, feeling something soft and silky along Eddie's thighs. Fur, Steve thought. Had to be. He wanted to look, but couldn't see anything from this angle except Eddie's face, and honestly that was enough. He was beautiful, brow wrinkled, eyes squeezed shut as he chased his pleasure. Steve thrust back against him, loving every moment as his cock slapped against his abdomen. He clenched down, hoping to make it even better for Eddie, and succeeding if the noises he made were any indication.
Steve felt a light touch snaking up his side and shivered, leaning into it. Something thin and fleshy wrapped itself around the base of his neck, spiralling up to press a pointed tip just below his chin. It wasn’t sharp, more spongy and firm, but coupled with the gentle squeeze around his throat, Steve realized what it was. Eddie had a tail. The restriction felt far better than he’d ever thought it might, having never had a partner suggest it. Somehow, the lack of suggestion, or even permission, made it that much hotter.
Eddie seemed to agree, if the way the tip of the tail flexed to stroke his throat was any indication, the length of it tightening and releasing in time with his thrusts. Steve saw specks of gold in his vision and swallowed hard, even loving the difficulty of the simple act. Before long, Eddie’s hips lost their driving rhythm and he pounded into Steve once, twice before freezing, his mouth open on a silent shout. Steve could feel his cock kick, and wished the condom wasn't there, wished he could feel Eddie's hot spend as he shot inside him.
Then Eddie switched up his grip on Steve's wrists, holding both in one hand as he reached down to give Steve's cock a long, slow stroke. It twitched in his hand, eager for the stimulation. Eddie stayed inside Steve as he worked him over, letting Steve thrust against him to better feel that gorgeous cock right where it counted. Steve was absolutely a fan of it, every amazing inch.
Eddie twisted his hand as he slid up the shaft, letting the head pop up through his fist a few times before moving back down. It was a move Steve loved, and one he used on himself. Once again he briefly wondered if Eddie could read his mind, then decided he didn't care if it led him to keep doing that. He was close far too soon, wanting it to last longer, but Eddie - and his tail - were relentless. A few more thrusts of his hips, another squeeze around his throat, and with the release of the pressure Steve was gone.
The orgasm roared through him, his hips bucking up, unable to keep still any longer. Eddie allowed it, stroking just that much faster, that much harder to work him through it. Steve’s back arched and he groaned as he shot hard, come splattering up to reach his chin.
“Jesus Christ,” he said, falling back down to earth, his back hitting the mattress.
“Good?” Eddie said with a little smirk, only then letting go of Steve's wrists.
“So good, oh my god,” Steve said. “Holy shit, Eddie.”
Looking down, Eddie semed to notice the tail for the first time and Steve felt it hastily unwind from about his neck. “Sorry!” he said. “Fuck, I’m sorry, that thing has a mind of its own, I swear.”
“Don’t you dare apologize,” Steve said poking a finger at Eddie’s chest. “That was incredibly hot.”
Looking mollified, Eddie slowly pulled out, tying off the condom and tossing it at least close to the wastebasket. Collapsing down beside Steve, he rolled over onto his back, giving Steve the best view he'd had so far of the changes in his body. He'd been right, the moment he first spotted Eddie in his headlights – his legs did bend back, looking more like a deer as they ended in dark hooves. Fur the color of his hair covered Eddie from his waist to just over his knees, giving way again to scales below. Something twitched up between them on the bed, and Steve realized it was the tail.
Capturing it just below the dark, flared tip, Steve gently rubbed along it, making Eddie shiver. “You like that?” he asked slyly, watching Eddie’s eyes cut to the side to meet his own.
“Yeah, that’s - you can play with it all you want to,” Eddie said quickly, looking suddenly shy as he tugged some of his hair in front of his mouth. When next he spoke, his words were slower, colored by disbelief. “You really mean it, don't you?”
“That I think you're beautiful?” Steve said, reading between the lines. “Absolutely. Every part of you,” he added, with a significant once-over, head to hooves.
“You asked me who I really was,” Eddie said hesitantly.
Steve lifted up on one elbow, watching different emotions warring on Eddie's face. “If you want to tell me,” Steve said carefully.
“I do,” Eddie said. “I'm just not sure how. I'm – I'm old. People used to know my name, used to leave things out for me —”
“What, like milk and cookies?” Steve said with a sly grin.
“I'm not fucking Santa,” Eddie said, reaching out a hand to lightly smack Steve's middle.
“Well I hope not,” Steve said. “That would make things a little crowded.”
“Okay, just forget it —”
“No, tell me!” Steve said, breaking out the puppy dog eyes. “I want to know.”
“You're lucky you're cute,” Eddie said. “They left things out for me like…sacrifices.”
“What, like animals?” Steve said, wrinkling his nose.
“No, like…people,” Eddie said, glancing at Steve warily. “Now before you go getting any ideas, I didn't eat them or anything, well – not literally.”
“Not literally?” Steve asked, eyebrows nearly up to his hairline.
“Before tonight, I hadn't eaten any actual food in…probably decades, I don't know. I don't need to. I feed on thoughts and emotions, so after a while I just made sure I looked as scary as possible and fed on their fear.”
“After a while?” Steve asked, poking him in the side.
“Okay, so I did eat a few, back in the beginning,” Eddie said, rolling his eyes. “I was still trying to figure the whole thing out, all right?”
“Figure what out?” Steve asked.
“I don't know, why I exist, I guess,” Eddie said contemplatively. “People used to stay inside on the Longest Night. The light was coming, but it certainly wasn't there yet, and things like me – spirits, nightmares maybe – were able to coalesce, to roam the earth. I used to only really be awake for that one night, sunset to sunrise, but I gradually got stronger. I was able to walk for a few nights, and then a few more, and now I generally stay through the advent of the new year.
“I don't know,” Eddie continued with a shrug. “I just like your world. I like being awake to experience it, especially the music. Oh, and fireworks. I really like those.”
“But no one leaves sacrifices out for you anymore…do they?” Steve asked.
“Oh, heck no,” Eddie said. “That started to slack off when more and more of the people I knew moved to this side of the world. They brought me with them, in a way. I'm sure plenty of my brethren still walk the old world, but I wanted to see the new one. Anyway, it's not hard to find people to give a little scare, people who have had too much holiday cheer and will write me off as a dream or a drunken delusion.”
“Does it have to be fear?” Steve asked, something sparking in his mind.
“No,” Eddie said cautiously. “Though for a long time I thought it did. Let's just say that positive emotions are a lot more…fulfilling.”
“Good,” Steve said. “I wanted to get a good meal in you, I just thought the diner was the best idea at the time.”
Eddie laughed. “Don't get me wrong, the food was great. Sitting across from you though, watching and feeling your…well, your…”
“Attraction?” Steve filled in.
“Yeah, that,” Eddie said, blushing a bit. “Getting a glimpse into your mind, your heart, getting to know you that way – well, it tasted pretty great, too.”
“So you can read my mind,” Steve said, feeling oddly validated.
“Not exactly?” Eddie said, his face scrunched up in concentration. “I couldn’t tell you what you’re thinking right now, but I know that your favorite breakfast is chocolate chip waffles, I can see what Robin looks like when she laughs, and I might even know a thing or two about sportsball.”
“Huh,” Steve said, intrigued. His next question was one he didn’t want to ask, but needed the answer to, nonetheless. The words were slow on his tongue as he strung them together, bracing for something he didn’t want to hear. “Were you just hungry tonight?”
“Oh, I was plenty hungry,” Eddie said slyly, turning his head to look at Steve. “Just not like you mean.”
It was Steve's turn to blush. “I just – I guess I just needed to know. Maybe that's silly.”
“No,” Eddie said, reaching out to stroke his fingertips down Steve's face. “Not at all. I feel like we just connected, in a way I never get to experience. Maybe that's silly, I don't know.”
“Not at all,” Steve echoed. An unpleasant thought wormed its way through his brain, one he couldn't help but voice once it existed. “You said you only ever stay through New Year's Eve. Does that mean you can't stay?”
“I think I probably could,” Eddie said, brow furrowed. “Never really thought about it before. Never had much of a reason.”
“Would you?” Steve asked, his heart in his throat. “Stay?”
Eddie looked surprised. “You'd – actually want me to stick around?”
Steve nodded shyly. “Yeah,” he said quietly. “I really would.”
“Then I'll stay,” Eddie said, his tone serious as he cupped Steve's cheek in his hand. “For you.”
Steve leaned into the touch. “Thank you,” he said, the words floating out on a breath of relief.
“Oh, don't thank me yet,” Eddie said with a grin. “I already told you - you're absolutely delicious.”