There's glitter in Eddie's hair and he couldn't care less. Sure it detracts slightly from his metalhead look and it's gonna be a bitch to get rid of in the next few days but he's so thrilled to be able to fully be himself that it doesn't matter at all. Even though the adrenaline, however, he can tell he needs a cigarette.

He pushes out of the warmth and noise of the club into the cold, dark, midwestern fall night and grabs his cigarettes. He's just lit one up and taken a long drag when the door swings open again. He turns to look at whoever has joined him outside and nearly drops his cigarette in shock.

It's Steve Harrington.

Steve "The Hair" Harrington, King of Hawkins High is standing there, just outside of a gay club in Indianapolis.

Eddie panics, mind desperately searching for a way to avoid getting punched. " I'm just here for a friend" he stammers out.

The lie is obvious and Steve seems to notice. He takes a couple of steps closer and suddenly his heart is beating quickly for an entirely new reason.

Eddie always noticed that Steve was hot. Of course he did he had eyes, but he had never been too badly affected because the popular boy had been such a douche.

But now something was different. It wasn't his appearance per se, his hair was slightly looser than it had been in high school but he still wore the dumb polos and the jeans that looked like they have been painted on( not that Eddie was looking). He supposed it was the other man's eyes. They were softer than Eddie had ever seen them, without a hint of arrogance or cruelty. In fact, the expression in them seemed almost soft and sympathetic.

Steve clears his throat. "I just broke up with my boyfriend."

*That makes sense,* Eddie's brain supplies *Bars were good places to unwind after breakups. Wait what? boyfriend!?*

Did Steve Harrington just say he had a boyfriend?!

Eddie is rendered speechless only managing a soft "Oh."

"Yeah oh."

Eddie studies Steve's face as he joins him against the wall to smoke his own cigarette.

"I'm not here for a friend," he admits after a moment.

" Yeah I figured as much "

There's a long pause just both of them smoking their cigarettes and staring out into the night before Steve breaks it.

"I'm sorry I was such a dick to you in high school."

It seems Steve really has changed and Eddie's not sure how to react.

"Listen man it's fine the past is the past. "

" No, I'm serious, I was awful, you didn't deserve that. I'm trying to fix my mistakes I really am "

"Are Tommy and Carol in on this little apology campaign?" Eddie responds after a moment.

"Oh no, definitely not, I haven't been friends with them in ages," Steve says, dropping the end of his cigarette into the ashtray.

Eddie finishes his own cigarette reaching past Steve to dispose of it properly "really?"

"Yeah, you know who I AM friends with?"

"Who?"

"Robin Buckley."

"From the marching band?"

"Yeah."

Eddie laughs "You are full of surprises Steve Harrington."

Steve smiles at him warmly. " Am I?"

"Yeah, you are. Listen,'' Eddie ribs the lid off of his cigarette box and scribbles down his number on it. "If you ever want to just catch up, give me a call."

He swears Steve blushes before grabbing

the number but chalks it up to the cold.

"Yeah I'd like that" the other boy responds by tucking the thin slip of cardboard into his breast pocket besides his own cigarettes.

There's another pause that Eddie breaks this time.

"I should get back to my friend's apartment now," he tells Steve

"ok talk to you later" the other man responds with a wave

"Talk to you later" Eddie parrots then turns and heads out into the windy Street hardly noticing the cold against the warm fuzzy feeling in his chest

Steve watched Eddie leave, heart still thundering in his chest.

He had heard the rumors that Eddie was gay but he still hadn't expected to run into him here.

He had come to the club to dance and find a hookup to forget about Derek seeing the subject of many a secret adolescent fantasy was not part of the plan.

Eddie was as gorgeous as he had been in high school, maybe even more so. It was on letting himself fully think that way rather than hiding behind a veil of heteronormativity and internalized homophobia.

Then again the way he was dressed his usual t-shirts and leather jacket swapped out for a band tank showing off his surprisingly well-built arms, tight-fitting black leather pants, and goddamn eyeliner be enough for even King Steve at his worst to admit that he wanted to climb the other boy like a goddamn flag pole.

He debated going back into the club, maybe finding someone with long dark curly hair to go home with but decided against it. He pulled the slip of cardboard containing Eddie's number out of his shirt pocket and looked at it. This is definitely a development Robin needed to hear about, ungodly hour be damned.

When he gets back to the hotel room he and Robin are renting for the night she's already asleep in one of the separate queen beds it took them 5 minutes to convince the lady at the front desk that they wanted. Steve had joked afterward that they should start wearing contrasting wedding rings but she pointed out that that would probably just result in people thinking they were having an affair.

He shakes her shoulder "Robin, wake up!"

His best friend made an irritated huff but looked up at him, him rubbing at her bleary eyes ," what could possibly be so important right now Steve I was sleeping" she sighs.

"I ran into somebody at the club."

"Who?"

"Guess."

" God I don't know, Derek?"

"No, Eddie Munson."

Robin sat up suddenly turning towards him.

"Eddie Munson as in Hawkins High freak Eddie Munson guy you've had a thing for since you were 15 Eddie Munson THAT Eddie Munson?!" She exclaimed probably a bit too loud for the hotel's quiet policy.

"Yup."

She scooches closer to him eyes wide "What happened? Tell me everything!"

Steve shrugged" not much to tell, we talked a bit, he gave me his number, then he had to go."

"I'm sorry Steven he GAVE YOU HIS NUMBER and you're just shrugging It off!" she admonished.

"It's not like that Rob he just wanted to catch up" Steve replied defensively.

"Yeah sure."

"I love you Robbie I do but you have no idea how to read social situations."

"I do too!"

"Chrissy had to flirt with you for 6 months before you got the message"

she gasped, opening and closing her mouth like a fish for a bit before stammering out " that's just well I'm going back to sleep" flopping back onto the bed and closing her eyes.

Steve shook his head slightly "Good night Robin."

After receiving a "good night Steve'' in response he settles into his own bed placing Eddie's number very carefully on the bedside table and falling asleep.