Steve was fucking nervous. He couldn't stop fidgeting and tapping his foot for the rest of the day. Robin kept asking what was wrong with him, which would make him laugh and shake his head. Occasionally running a hand roughly through his hair. He looked absolutely insane. All he could think about was Eddie. But he couldn't think too long about it because then his boner would come back. So he would try to distract himself. And then he would catch a glimpse of that mess of hair in the hallway, or they would lock eyes from a distance and Eddie would smirk and wink at him, and Steve would be totally gone again. Finally, finally, the day ended and Steve practically ran to his car, fingers tapping the steering wheel as he waited for Eddie. The outcast sauntered over to Steve's car, hiding his own nerves too well. He slipped into the passenger seat and glanced around, making sure no one was nearby before sneaking a quick kiss on Steve's cheek. Steve blushed and smiled.
I'm such a sucker. It's ridiculous.
"Hey, love," Eddie said, dimple showing.
"Hi, babe." Steve relished in the flush in Eddie's face. He brought a hand up to cradle Eddie's jaw and gently rubbed his thumb along his cheek. "I love that," he said softly. Eddie's flush grew. The boys locked eyes and there was such tenderness in Eddie's expression that Steve couldn't stop the thought from popping into his mind.
I love you.
Steve's heart truly belonged to Eddie in that moment. There were so many unknowns about their lives together and what the future would hold for them, but Steve knew in that moment that Eddie Munson was made for him.
"Will you be my boyfriend?" Steve practically whispered the words, bringing his head down and looking at Eddie through his lashes. Eddie's mouth dropped open in a perfectly round "O" and his eyes seemed to shine with joy.
"Abso-fucking-lutely." Eddie was beaming. His dimple was deeper than ever. Steve returned the smile. They were both glowing, and they rode that high the whole drive to Eddie's trailer. When Steve parked outside Eddie hopped out of the car and whistled one high note.
"Sheesh. I'm part of an exclusive club. Steve Harrington is my boyfriend," he brought his arms out wide and spun in a circle. "I feel like I should be comparing notes with Nancy Wheeler or something," Eddie laughed at the expression on Steve's face.
"Please don't leave me for Jonathan Byers," Steve said, laughing with Eddie.
"No promises there," Eddie said, pointing a finger at Steve and raising his eyebrows. Steve pretended to be deeply hurt and walked up to the front door straight past Eddie without looking his way. Eddie grabbed Steve's arm and pulled so that they were facing each other again.
"I'm kidding you drama queen."
Steve stuck his tongue out in response and Eddie's face turned flirty.
"What, is this face supposed to be sexy now?" Steve asked, laughing. He stuck his tongue out again.
"You can't show me your tongue and not expect me to think about where it's going to be in a few short minutes," Eddie said, stepping closer.
Shit.
Steve bit his lip. "And that right there," Eddie added, tapping Steve's bottom lip gently, "is even fucking worse, Harrington." They were standing a few inches apart now, but Eddie's gaze flickered behind Steve into the distance. He stepped back quickly and raised a hand, obviously looking at someone behind them.
"Hey, Max!" He called. Steve whipped around. Max was getting off her bike, looking in their direction with a blank expression.
It's a wonder the whole school doesn't suspect something by now. We can't stay platonic around each other.
Steve waved too. "Hey, kid."
Max waved but didn't say anything. She definitely looked like she was suspicious of them, but she went into her trailer without a word.
"Let's go inside before we out ourselves to anyone else. Jesus," Eddie said, laughing again. Steve felt quite uneasy.
It's Max, though, Steve. If there's anyone trustworthy in that group, it's her.
Eddie could see that Steve was uncomfortable so he lightly pushed him forward on the small of his back. Once they were inside, he grabbed Steve's hand and interlocked their fingers, rubbing small circles with his thumb. Somehow Eddie had picked up that that small action brought Steve more peace than any words sometimes.
"I'm fine," Steve said. Eddie gave him a look. "Really, I promise." Steve smiled and pulled Eddie in for a sweet kiss. He pulled back and kissed Eddie's nose. "Now it's my turn to poke around your place."
Steve looked around. It was a small trailer with a lot crammed inside, but generally tidy. The front door opened into a living room with a small couch, a big squashy armchair, and television, bunny ears sticking out on either side. There was a hallway to the right that seemed to lead to a bedroom, and then a tiny table and the kitchen to the left. Another hallway led to the second bedroom beyond the kitchen. There weren't any family photos anywhere that Steve could see. There was a small shelf that held a few cookbooks and what looked like car magazines.
Is Eddie a car guy?
Steve picked up one of the car magazines and looked back at Eddie, raising his eyebrows. Eddie shrugged. "I tinker with my uncle's cars for fun. We have a little workshop setup out back."
Steve found this inexplicably hot.
"Unexpected?" Eddie asked.
"Well—yes. But I was actually just picturing you in coveralls and covered in car grease and—" Steve nodded approvingly, "I'm not mad at it, Munson. Not mad at all."
"Well in that case, I'll have to show you our setup sometime,"
"Later. Right now, I want to see your room."
Eddie went towards the kitchen, still clutching Steve's hand. They walked past the tiny kitchen and into the back hallway where Eddie's room awaited them. It was a lot smaller than Steve's room, but it was covered floor to ceiling in posters of bands, but mostly drawings. Drawings everywhere. Drawings of monsters, heroes, creatures Steve couldn't name. Drawings of guitars, of people, of Eddie himself. Steve slowly walked around, examining everything he could.
Eddie felt unusually awkward. He grabbed a rubberband from a random shelf and tied his hair back at his neck. He almost never had people at his house, never mind in his room. He opted for the usual nonchalant appearance and flopped himself onto his bed with one arm behind his head, observing Steve.
Steve was looking at an adorable drawing of Dustin, Mike, and Lucas and smiling, shaking his head.
"Babe, these are so good. You captured these dickheads perfectly." He pointed at the image. "Why didn't you tell me you're an artist?" He looked at Eddie and smiled. Eddie smiled back and shrugged.
"Art is subjective."
"Exactly."
Steve was rolling his eyes when he noticed a drawing on the small bedside table next to Eddie. It looks like the paper had been crumpled up and then re-flattened out.
"What's that one?" Steve asked, walking over to sit on the edge of Eddie's bed next to him. Eddie felt no shame in answering truthfully, as usual, so he did.
"It's you. I drew it after that day you brought the books. It's really hard for me when I feel sad or upset. So I draw."
"And you were sad and upset that day?" Steve's heart broke. He knew the answer.
"Obviously," Eddie said, poking Steve's side.
"I'm so sorry. I—that was so fucked up," Steve put his head in his hands. Eddie sat up and pried Steve's hands away from his face.
"Hey, hey. Stop! Do I look sad now? Seriously, Steve. Look at me. Do I look sad?"
Steve peeked up at Eddie through his lashes and sighed. Eddie hardly ever looked sad. Steve shook his head.
"Yes, that moment was hard, but all of the moments we've had since have made up for that a million times over, love. You should notice that the paper didn't stay crumpled. It doesn't make me sad anymore, it makes me happy. You make me happy. Now come here," Eddie finished, putting a finger under Steve's chin and leaning in to press their lips together.
The kiss was deep and it slowly built into something more intense. Steve and Eddie's hearts started pounding together as the sad moment was quickly forgotten. They had more pressing matters to attend to now.