#rueleigh writes

[dwobbitfromtheshire]

Eddie noticed things. Well, not always right away, but he noticed things. He noticed that Steve liked to be affectionate with the people he cared about: Robin, Dustin, Nancy, and so on. He tried not to read into it when Steve immediately started doing it with him in the Upside Down. He could still feel the tingles from when Steve had placed his hand on his lower back for the first time. The shock that shot through Eddie and the realization that it might not be just women for him nearly sent him crashing to the ground. Worst time to have a sexuality crisis. It had made him realize that he had been checking out Steve on that boat, though. They hadn't gotten together for a long time, though, with them both still healing and Eddie dealing with the aftermath of everything, still dealing with the weight of Chrissy's death. Not until after the kids had gone back to school again.

"I'm just worried, you know! Nancy, Robin, Jonathan, and Vickie graduated. Who's going to look after the kids? Plus, becoming a basketball coach is something I would definitely enjoy doing. Is that stupid?" Steve asked.

Eddie was leaning back against the counter, watching Steve restock the shelves in Family Video. It was empty except for them. He loved the way that Steve’s eyes lit up all protective-like when he talked about the kids. It made Eddie's insides all fuzzy.

"Fucking marry me," Eddie had blurted out.

"Buy me dinner first," Steve said, blushing.

"Okay," Eddie said. "It's a date."

Steve looked at him for a moment, trying to decide if he's serious or not. His face split into a grin, and he put the wrong video on the shelf. He was ridiculously goofy-looking with the way that he grinned, the way his hazel eyes got bigger, and his prince charming hair just looking even better today. Eddie couldn't help but let out a dreamy sigh. That was that. Being with Steve was an adjustment because he had to change his entire view of jocks. He could no longer look at them all as the enemy. It was just a game, just like his own game. The real assholes were the ones that hunted him down, who accused him of murder, and bullied him and his group of misfits. No, the real enemy were the people like Higgins who thought there needed to be division and hatred because they had different interests. Eddie couldn't prove it, but he was pretty sure that Higgins had encouraged their behavior and, because of that, had given Eddie a skewed view of jocks. So, it's all Higgins' fault, really.

Over the last few months of being with Steve, he had come to accept a few things: that jocks weren't all bad, that he was actually starting to like sports, and that he was absolutely in love with Steve. Though he wished Wayne would stop cackling at him. Yeah, yeah, all the shit he gave Wayne about liking sports, and Eddie had to go fall for a jock. The one thing he really loved about Steve was how much he would do for the people, but he hated that he would sacrifice taking care of himself to do it. Although, Eddie was guilty for taking the opportunity to swoop in like a brave knight to help take care of the former king of Hawkins High.

"Where do you think you're going?" Eddie asked from the doorway of Steve’s bedroom.

"Dustin needs a ride," Steve groaned as he rolled out of bed.

"How are you going to do that when you're sick?" Eddie asked.

"I'm not sick," Steve scowled. "I do not get sick."

Steve sneezed so hard that he fell back onto the bed. He groaned, a snot bubble coming out of his nose.

"Sexy," Eddie grinned.

"Fuck off," Steve groaned.

"You say such sweet things to me," Eddie said.

Steve got up off the bed, stuffed his feet into two different pairs of shoes, and tried to move past Eddie. He grabbed Steve’s shoulders.

"I got to give Dustin a ride," Steve said. "I promised."

"Hm, okay, what day of the week is it?" Eddie asked his very stubborn boyfriend.

"It's Tuesday," he scoffed.

"Yeah, try again, big boy. It's Thursday," Eddie said.

"If it's Thursday, does that mean I already gave him a ride?" Steve asked.

"I gave him a ride, and I'm here now. You don't have to be a single mom anymore, Stevie," he teased, flashing his dimples. "Daddy's here."

Eddie picked Steve up and laid him on the bed.

"You're just trying to get into my pants. I'm not sick," Steve said and coughed up phlegm.

"And what's that?" Eddie said.

"I forgot to swallow again," Steve said. "I'll do better. I just need practice."

"Right."

Eddie had stayed all week to take care of Steve and another week for Steve to take care of him when he got sick. Supposedly, he had been worse than Steve, but he was pretty sure that Steve was lying. Steve hadn't complained about it, though. Apparently, he had gotten used to it when he had to take of Eddie when he gotten bit by the bats. Eddie really didn't remember how needy he had been, but apparently, he had been. It was amazing how easy it had been to slip into the role of caring boyfriend, considering that he had never really been one. The first girl he had been with had been a dare for her, and the second had been Paige. He had epically screwed that up. He wasn't perfect, and neither was Steve. Oddly enough, he liked that about their relationship. They didn't have to try so very hard to be perfect. There's always a little give and take in every relationship, though.

"Steve, honey, what are you wearing?" Eddie asked him one day when they were hanging out at Steve's house.

He was dressed all in black. Okay, the black pants were a good fit, but there was something off about everything else. There was something missing.

"You don't like it?" Steve pouted.

"I mean, I do, and I don't," Eddie said, shaking his head. "Where the fuck is your polo?"

"I just thought a change might be good," Steve said.

"No! Nope! No way!" Eddie exclaimed. "If I wanted to date myself, I would take my hand out for a nice little dinner!"

"Robin said - "

"Robin also believes that there are little demobat eggs waiting to burst out of us like in Alien," Eddie said. "So, what she says might not be so trustworthy especially since there's the possibility that she's fucking with you."

"So, you really don't like it?" Steve asked.

"Steve, baby, I love your sweet little sexy numbers," Eddie said. "Do you know why I love seeing you in them?"

"Why?" Steve asked.

Eddie sighed and pulled Steve into his lap.

"Because you like wearing them," Eddie said. "I don't want you to be me or anyone else. I fell in love with Steve Harrington, and Steve Harrington is what I'm going to get. I love everything about you, from your pastel colors to your polos to you playing basketball. Everything. So, if you don't want to wear these clothes, you shouldn't."

"I love you, too," Steve said. "I mean, I kind of like the black pants with the polo, but other than that, I'll change back."

"Yeah, I figured," Eddie grinned. "I mean, there's nothing about me that you want to change?"

"No! I love everything about you," Steve said. "I mean, I wish you wouldn't leave the wet towels on our bathroom floor. I totally busted my ass on them the other day."

"I think I can work on that," Eddie said and caressed his butt. "Wouldn't want to do anything to damage this sweet thing. But seriously, Stevie, don't change a thing. I'd rather you butt ass naked than try to be me."

"I think I can work on that too," Steve grinned and kissed him. "Let me go change."

Eddie sighed and watched him walk out of the room. When Steve came back in, he wasn't wearing a stitch of clothing, and his hands were firmly on his hips.

"Well, I was going to put on my polo, but I got a little hot and bothered," Steve said.

"Goddamn, darlin," Eddie whistled, stood up, slapping Steve’s ass. "I guess I have to go put up those towels. It's not fair if only you make the effort."

"I love you!"

"I love you more!"

"More than Dungeons and Dragons?!"

"Don't push it!"

[dwobbitfromtheshire]

Robin: You know, as a lesbian, I've never hit on a guy before.

Steve: *squints* Where is this going?

Robin: I'm just saying, what? Because I'm a lesbian I'm not allowed to hit on a guy.

Steve: *confused* No one's stopping you?

Robin: *checks her watch* Next guy that comes in.

Steve rolls his eyes. The bell above the store rang as Eddie walked through the door. Steve froze, and Robin grinned.

Steve: Oh, no.

Eddie walked towards Steve, but then Robin pushed her way in front of him.

Robin: *winks* Hey, pretty boy, you're talking to me today.

Eddie: Okay, what is this?

Robin: Your hair looks great. . . I kind of just want to sink my fingers into it. . . Pull on it in all the right ways. . .really make you scream. . .big boy.

Eddie: *panicking* Am I in the wrong universe?! Is today opposite day? What memo did I not get? Steve, Robin, did you actually manage to switch bodies, or is that still just a joke?

Robin: Are those new pants? They look good on you.

Eddie: *shrieks*

Robin: . . . They'd look better on Steve’s floor.

Steve: Robin!

Eddie: *sighs in relief* Thank God!

Steve: She's not wrong, though. You are a pretty boy, your hair looks great, and your pants definitely would look better on my floor.

Eddie: 😳

[dwobbitfromtheshire]

After Starcourt, Steve finally managed to get a date. He actually liked her, too. She was nice, smart, and completely smitten over the fact that he was fond of the kids he babysat. Apparently, she didn't take it too well that Dustin followed him onto his date. She left before Dustin came back from the bathroom.

"Hey, where's Lydia?" Dustin asked.

"Oh, her parents called the theater. Apparently, there was a family emergency," Steve shrugged.

"Oh, that sucks. You were really looking forward to it," Dustin frowned. "More popcorn for us."

He made his way over to the concession stand. Steve didn't have the heart to tell him the real reason why she left. Dustin's had a hard time lately since the mall, and from what Claudia told him, he's been having nightmares lately. He didn't have to say anything, but Steve figured the reason why Dustin's been clinging to both him and Robin lately was because he felt guilty about them getting hurt. Robin had agreed with him on that theory. He didn't mind it much. He loved spending time with Dustin, someone he thought of like a little brother, and he knew Robin had come to think of him like that, along with Erica. It was where Robin was currently at "babysitting" for the Sinclairs while they had their own date night. As much as she complained, Erica had wormed her way into Robin's heart. Once they got their drinks and popcorn, they found a couple of seats up front.

"Excuse me, is this seat taken?" A voice asked.

"No," Steve replied with looking, and he almost did when he felt leather brush up against his arm.

"Steve?" Dustin asked.

"Yeah?"

"Your date stood you up because of me, didn't she?" Dustin asked.

"What? No!" Steve said quickly.

"You're a terrible liar, Steve," Dustin whispered. "But that's okay, Steve, I still think you're my brother."

"Well, you know, if she doesn't understand that my little brother is important to me, then she's not worth my time," Steve whispered.

"You guys are terrible whisperers," a voice from Steve’s other side said. "Also, totally adorable."

Steve turned and found that Eddie Munson was sitting on his other side.

"Do you know this guy, Steve?" Dustin asked.

"Eddie Munson," the man himself introduced. "Didn't know Steve Harrington had a nerdy little brother."

"I adopted him," Dustin replied. "Besides, Steve’s not just a jock. He's a nerd, too."

"No, I'm not," Steve scoffed.

"Please, I found the comic books under your bed," Dustin hissed.

"What the hell did I tell you about going through my stuff, you little shit?" Steve hissed back.

"You really are brothers," Eddie grinned.

"Hey, Eddie, you're a guy," Dustin said suddenly.

"That's what it says on my birth certificate," Eddie replied.

"Do you know why a guy would keep his muscle magazines with his playboys? Do you think it's a jock thing?" Dustin asked.

"Oh my god!" Steve exclaimed, mortified.

Steve could feel Eddie watching him with curious eyes, and he waited for his reaction.

"You know, it must be a jock thing," Eddie said. "I think if I were your brother, I'd give you hell for digging through his private things."

Dustin sighed and rolled his eyes, but Steve took this as a sign that he's thinking about how wrong he was. The movie was about to start. Suddenly, Eddie leaned so close to him that Steve could feel his hair tickling his cheek, his breath in his ear.

"It's not just jocks who put their muscle magazines with their playboys," Eddie whispered and paused briefly, moving in closer until his lips were brushing up light against his ear. "Big boy."

Eddie sat back in his seat, leaving Steve flushed. His heart was pounding in his ears, and suddenly, his crush on Eddie came roaring back. Steve cursed mentally as he tried to focus on the movie and not on the fact that Eddie was leaning more heavily against his arm. His pinky was brushing up against his. At some point, Eddie started running over his hand, drawing circles into his skin. His touch was setting him on edge, and it was making his brain go all fuzzy.

"Bathroom," Steve said gruffly and stood up quickly.

He was grateful that there wasn't anyone in the bathroom when he went it. It allowed him to catch his breath. It was crazy how one single moment could bring out all of the feelings that he shoved inside of him when he was just a freshman, a freshman who has seen the most beautiful boy ever. He honestly hadn't felt this way since Nancy, and honestly, it was baffling. Just one little moment, and he was crazy about him again. Suddenly, the door opened, and Steve looked through the mirror as Eddie walked into the restroom. They made eye contact, and he raised a questioning eyebrow at him as he locked the door. Suddenly, Steve was moving and pressing Eddie up against the door as he kissed him. Eddie pulled him closer by his hips as he kissed him back. Of course, it didn't last long before someone wanted in. They broke the kiss, and Eddie quickly disappeared into a stall before Steve could unlock. The man walked in and frowned at him.

"Uh, the door got stuck," Steve said.

"I heard the lock, young man," he said.

Steve slipped by him and hurried back to his seat. Eddie soon came back, a grin on his face. He pulled a pen out of his pocket and started writing his number on Steve’s hand.

"Call me when you're ready to have a date without your brother," Eddie whispered. "I really do appreciate people who collect lost sheep."

Steve grinned. Things were looking up. Suddenly, he was very grateful that Lydia stood him up.

[dwobbitfromtheshire]

Eddie: Blow on my cigarette.

Steve: *visible confusion*

Eddie: I figured that you're definitely hot enough to light my cigarette.

Steve: *blushes* Oh! . . . *giggles and blows on his cigarette* Hmm, I guess I'm not hot enough.

Eddie: I beg to differ. . .it definitely lit me on fire.

Steve: Maybe I should blow -

Robin stormed out of the break room, the door slamming against the wall, startling both of them.

Robin: What did I tell you about smoking in here, Munson?! This is FAMILY Video.

Eddie: I wasn't going to actually smoke!

Robin: Bullshit!

Eddie: *mockingly* Well, if there isn't smoking allowed in FAMILY Video, then there shouldn't be cursing allowed in FAMILY Video.

Steve smiled fondly at Eddie and Robin. He was certain that in a past life, they had actually been born as siblings.

Steve: *giggles quietly* He thinks I'm hot.

[dwobbitfromtheshire]

Eddie: I don't know why people think I'm a witch.

Suddenly, a bunch of birds land on top of his head and start pulling out hair to make a nest.

Steve: *staring* It's, uh, because your eyes - they, uh - they're bewitching.

Eddie: I fucking knew it! *a bird pecks at his face* OW! Yeah, that one doesn't like it when I curse.

Steve: What the fu - OW!

Eddie: I told you, man, she does not like cursing.

[dwobbitfromtheshire]

Steve: *has a slip of the tongue and calls Eddie 'Daddy'.

Eddie: *new kink unlocked AND has a bisexual awakening at the same time*

Dustin: *just trying to eat his lunch with his two favorite older brother figures.*

Robin: *gaydar goes off but can't find the location*

[dwobbitfromtheshire]

I love that not even Robin could resist (platonically, of course) Eddie's big brown doe eyes. Just imagine him waking up in the hospital. . .

Robin: *leaning over him* Aww! There they are!

Steve: He's not a baby, Robin! Although. . .they are pretty cute.

Robin: Look at those eyes! Clear confusion.

Steve: Yeah, he has no idea what the fuck's going on. Eddie, we won. Your name's been cleared, man.

Eddie: Where's the baby?

Steve: Uh. . .what baby?

Eddie: Our baby. . .my stomach hurts.

Robin: Oh my God! He thinks he gave birth to your baby!

Steve: Yeah, I'm literally right next to you.

Eddie: *bursts into tears* I lost the baby!

A little while later. . . In the maternity wing. . .

Robin: Excuse me, nurse, I would like one baby, please. Preferably one that's been abandoned.

Nurse: Uh. . .

Robin: Look, I'm not going back to Eddie Munson, look into his big brown doe eyes, and tell him that he's never been pregnant with my best friend's baby. I don't care how high he is!

[dwobbitfromtheshire]

I can see Eddie walking into Steve’s house with a baby like:

Eddie: I know how much you want kids, so I stole one for you. You're welcome.

Eddie's just as calm as can be as he lets Steve freak out for 30 minutes straight before telling him that his cousin on his mom's side came down from Tennessee with her baby.

[dwobbitfromtheshire]

Eddie buys a book that he thinks is a cookbook written in Italian (it wasn't Italian) and tries to cook dinner for Steve. He ignores the fact that the ingredients, written in English, are weird as fuck but he doesn't question it. When Steve comes home, he's not surprised to find that the kitchen is on fire. It just means that Eddie tried to cook him dinner again. However, he is startled by a roaring coming from the living room. He walks in to find a dragon that nearly filled the room, and Eddie wrapped around its neck.

"YOU KNOW THAT COOKBOOK I BOUGHT. . . YEAH, NOT A FUCKING COOKBOOK!" Eddie screamed.

Steve wasn't surprised by this either.

"I'll go get the broom," Steve sighed.

"AND DO WHAT WITH IT, STEVE? IT'S A FUCKING DRAGON NOT A GODDAMN RAT?! . . . STEVE?! . . . IT'S STILL GROWING!"

Steve might be disassociating. . . He eventually helps. . .just give him a moment. . .

[dwobbitfromtheshire]

Steve was pulling his sock out from underneath Eddie's bed when he saw a mysterious looking box underneath labeled: Dangerous! Curious, Steve pulled it out.

Eddie: Wait, Steve, don't!

Steve: Eddie. . .these are a box full of dinosaur toys. . .

Eddie: Yeah. . .

Steve: *eyes shining* I LOVE dinosaurs! My favorite is the triceratops. What's yours? Can we play?

A little while later. . . Wayne had gotten home early, and he knew he was in for it when he saw Steve’s car in the driveway. Eddie and his boyfriend could get a little. . .loud. He winced when he heard roaring coming from Eddie's room. He didn't expect what he heard next.

Steve: You KILLED my trike!

Eddie: And I told you it was an accident. Rexy is old and blind! He can't see where he's going!

Steve: Likely story! That's not even Rexy! That's Rexy's grandson, and he can see perfectly fine! You're just mad because my trike was prettier than your rex!

Eddie: *gasps* You take that back, Steve Harrington!

Wayne: Oh, lord.

[dwobbitfromtheshire]

Robin: Okay, I have to make this fair. I want to date your ex, but I have to make this even. . .

Steve: Okay, little scared, where are you going with this?

Robin: Eddie! Will you go on a date with me?!

Eddie: What?! No!

Robin: Why not?

Eddie: I make it a point not to date lesbians.

Robin: Hm, sounds kind of phobic of you.

Eddie: Fucking. . .how??? Lesbians don't like men??

Robin: Well, we like men. They just don't get it up for us. Look, so you won't date me. . .not even platonically?

Eddie: Well, that's different. Of course, I'll date you platonically.

Robin: So, what you're saying is that you'll be my platonic boyfriend?

Eddie: Yes? Steve, what the hell is going on here?

Steve: I gave up asking questions a long time ago.

Robin looked at her watch with an intense look on her face.

Robin: Ok! I'm sorry to have to tell you this but Eddie, I'm going to have to break up with you. I just feel like we're in two different places. Sorry.

Eddie: That's okay? I don't know what the fuck is going on here, anyway.

Robin: Longest relationship of my life. My first relationship with a man. . .I think it went well. Okay, now if you ever wanted to date my ex-boyfriend, then I'm okay with that.

Steve: What?! Is that what this was about? This was about Nancy?! Robin, you didn't have to do that! I'm a big boy!

Robin: It wasn't just about respecting your feelings. . .it was also about balance.

Steve: Balance?

Robin: Remember that day I lost my shoe and I felt uneven for the rest of the day. I don't want to be uneven, Steven. I have enough balance issues as it is.

Nancy walks in. . .

Nancy: Robin. . .you want to go on a date with me?

Robin: Yeah, I'm single now. I just broke up with Eddie.

Nancy: Aren't you a lesbian?

Robin: I don't know why people keep pointing that out.

[dwobbitfromtheshire]

Just got this image in my head. Eddie is very clingy to Steve after Steve saves his life, which he doesn't mind, especially when Eddie sits in his lap because Robin does that too. It doesn't mean anything, right? Both Eddie and Steve are clueless. And because Robin does it, the kids are unphased by it as well. . .until Eddie starts running his fingers through Steve’s hair, and Steve lets him. Rule number one of being Steve’s friend: Don't touch the hair. Not even Robin is allowed.

So, the kids are all gaping. Dustin stands up, pointing at Steve, but Steve is too busy gazing into Eddie's eyes to notice. Robin does, though, and her eyes go wide. She knew Steve wasn't out yet, not even to himself, and it was something he had to come to terms with himself. She couldn't let Dustin do it. She dove over the couch and tackled Dustin to the ground. Dustin shrieked as she took off his hat and started hitting him over the head.

"Shut up," Robin hissed.

"What the hell, Robin?" Steve asked after witnessing tackle Dustin.

"There was a spider," Robin asked, getting up and handing the hat back to Dustin. "I know how you feel about those."

"Thanks?" Steve said.

As Eddie and Steve went back to being clueless, everyone was now staring at Robin.

"What?"

[dwobbitfromtheshire]

Eddie stood on Steve’s doorstep, handing him flowers.

Eddie: Robin said that you like decapitated dead flowers. What room are you going to display these corpses in?

Steve: . . . You've ruined flowers for me.

Eddie: *thoughtfully* I suppose I didn't have to decapitate them. . .I could have put them in a pot. Robin didn't say you preferred them decapitated. . .you don't do you?

Steve: *sigh* I can't believe I still want to date you.

Eddie: Yeah, I'm the freak. How many corpses did you give to your other partners?

Steve: . . . No comment. Let's just go.

[dwobbitfromtheshire]

Eddie: Steve, I need to talk to you -

Steve: You can't leave me! I'm pregnant with your child!

Eddie: . . . We never slept together? Also, we're two men?

Steve: Right, right, right. . .so, what did you want to talk about?

Eddie: Well, I was going to ask you out, but now I'm wondering if we've actually been dating all this time, and I haven't realized.

Robin: *eating popcorn* Oh, yeah, definitely. It's hilarious.

[dwobbitfromtheshire]

Erica to Dustin: You know if you really want to get Steve and Eddie to do what you want, you have to soften them up. Sometimes, I can soften up my parents by calling them Mommy and Daddy.

Later at Steve's house. . .

Dustin: Mommy, Daddy. . .

Steve: What the hell did you just call us?

Eddie: *sarcastically* Sorry, son, Mommy's Aunt Flo came to visit, and she's feeling a little -

Steve: Excuse me, why the hell am I the Mommy?

Eddie: Well, it looks like Daddy's sleeping on the couch tonight.

Steve: You bet your ass Daddy's sleeping on the couch.

Eddie: Hah! So, you admit that you are the Mommy!

Later. . .

Dustin to Erica: It didn't work.

Erica: Dumbass, did I say to call them Mommy and Daddy?

Dustin: Ye -

Erica: NO!

[dwobbitfromtheshire]

I know the big boy scene wasn't planned, but if it had been Nancy there to overhear it. . .

Eddie: Oh, I'm not starting her up. Harrington's got her, don't ya. . .big boy?

Steve’s driving the RV and Eddie's sitting behind Steve while Nancy sits in the passenger seat. She looks at Eddie.

Nancy: So. . .big boy, huh? Well. . .you're not wrong.

Steve: *spluttering* Nancy!

Eddie's just cackling delightfully. He raises his hands up to see how far he has to go, and Nancy grins as she leans over to adjust them.

Steve: I am trying to drive a stolen RV here!