After completing the campaign, everyone stayed for pizza to celebrate their success. Eddie offered to pay for it. Steve declined. Slowly, everyone said their goodbyes and promised to meet up again soon. Given their hectic schedules, it seemed the most likely time they would all reunite was Dustin's wedding, and that was several months away. Still, a few months was better than six years in Steve's book.

Dustin slung his backpack over his shoulder and headed for the front door. "Next time we'll get Alberta to play with us. Wait 'til I tell her you killed a dragon with a wheel of cheese! She'll regret picking dress shopping over this."

"Somehow I doubt that," said Steve.

He gave Dustin a firm hug before waving him off and closing the front door. The only person that remained was Eddie, who was packing up the last of his things into the cardboard box.

"Alone again," said Eddie with a smile.

"Yeah." Steve didn't know what to do with his hands. He crossed his arms but that felt awkward, so he stuffed them in his pockets. "I think today was the first time we've ever properly hung out. You know, not including traveling to alternate dimensions and killing monsters."

"I don't think that counts," Eddie argued.

"Yeah, me neither."

"I much prefer killing imaginary monsters from the comfort of my own home," he joked.

"Me too. It's less messy."

Steve grimaced at how stilted the conversation was. Talking was always something that had come easily to him, especially with girls, but with Eddie, he felt uncharacteristically self-conscious. Eddie put the lid on the cardboard box and rose to his feet, wiping the palms of his hands on the front of his jeans.

"You did good today," said Eddie. "For a noob."

"Wow, that was almost a compliment."

"Almost," he joked. "Seriously though, you really stepped up today. It was just the distraction that Dustin needed after last night."

Steve frowned. "What do you mean?"

"I guess you left the party early, so you wouldn't have heard," said Eddie. "Well, you know what his dad is like."

"Unfortunately," Steve replied stiffly.

Walter Henderson was your classic absentee father and, in Steve's opinion, a total deadbeat. Dustin didn't talk much about his dad, but the guys had helped fill in the gaps for Steve. Will dubbed him a 'semi-functioning alcoholic'. When he wasn't working, he was home drinking, and his drinking had caused a lot of arguments with Mrs. Henderson. Mike confided that Dustin spent many a night in his basement just to get away from his parents fighting. Thankfully, Mr. Henderson traveled a lot for work, often for weeks at a time. But one day he left for a work trip and never came back. While most people were glad to see the back of him, it meant Dustin and his mom had to fend for themselves. Dustin had seen his dad only a handful of times since middle school, but despite his father's mistreatment, he always extended an olive branch to the man, only to be let down time and time again. If Steve had his way, he'd take said olive branch and whooped Mr. Henderson's ass with it.

"What's he done this time?" he asked.

"Nothing new," Eddie shrugged. "Dustin invited him to the party but he was a no-show."

"What a surprise," Steve muttered.

"I talked to Alberta about it. She said Dustin was convinced that he was going to turn up this time," said Eddie sadly. "I've never met the guy, but he sounds like an asshole."

"Finally, something you and I can agree on." Steve shook his head in disgust. "It's better that he didn't show. He probably would have turned up drunk and ruined the whole night."

"A part of me wishes he had turned up just so that I get the chance to kick his ass," Eddie admitted.

"Not if I get to him first," said Steve darkly. "I shouldn't have bailed on the party. I should have been there for Henderson."

"Don't worry about it, man. I was there."

"But I'm his best friend," Steve argued.

"So am I," Eddie reminded him. He sighed and slipped his hands into his back pockets. "Look, I think it's high time we address the elephant in the room."

"Which one?" Steve muttered before he could stop himself.

Eddie frowned. "I'm talking about you and me being joint best man. What're you talking about?"

Well, there was that charged moment they'd shared on the sofa earlier that day. And there was the fact that Steve had stumbled across Eddie kissing one of Alberta's big burly cousins the previous evening. But Steve wasn't inclined to talk about either of those things.

"Nothing," he lied. "I mean, yeah, when Henderson told me we'd be sharing the role, I wasn't exactly jumping for joy."

Eddie nodded. "I get that you don't like me—"

"I don't have a problem with you," Steve argued. Eddie drew him a withering look and Steve relented, "I don't! You're just…sometimes you're annoying."

Eddie laughed. "Guilty as charged."

"It's just that…" Steve sighed and loathed to admit the next words he was about to say, "I wake up every morning hoping that I'm anywhere but Hawkins. But then I realise that I'm still stuck in this shitty little town while you and everyone else managed to get out. I hate my job. I barely make enough money to pay my bills. I'm a colossal disappointment to my parents. I have nothing going for me, not a goddam thing. And then Dustin asks me to be his best man and finally, I've got something that's mine. Something that says I'm not the total screw-up that everyone thinks I am. But even that isn't mine because I need to share it with you!"

Eddie raised his eyebrows in surprise when Steve began to shout. He knew that he should stop while he was ahead but all of the frustration and jealousy and feelings of inadequacy he'd been holding onto came pouring out of him.

"You're rich and famous and good-looking, and everybody loves you. You already have everything!" he cried. "Why do you need this too? It's not fair."

Eddie stared at him for a long moment before asking, "You think I'm good-looking?"

Steve pinched the brow of his nose and sighed. "Of course, that's the only part you bothered to hear."

"Listen man, I might not know you very well, but I know Henderson better than anyone. Do you think he'd waste time on you if you were a loser, let alone ask you to be his best man?"

"I guess not," Steve conceded.

"It's not just Henderson singing your praises: all the guys have told me how you've saved their skins at some time or another. And not only are you a certified badass, you're also a good friend. You've got the whole package and honestly, it's infuriating; I couldn't even hate you if I tried, and good lord, have I tried. So you've got a shitty job. I worked for years in The Hideout, you don't get shittier than that," he commiserated. "But it's not a job or a zipcode that makes a man. It's about having a good heart and shit like that. And from what I can see, you've got it in spades."

Steve gave Eddie a small smile. "Thanks. I know that must all have been painful for you to admit."

"So painful," Eddie joked. "I appreciate from Henderson's point of view why it's hard to pick between us. We're his closest male friends, he looks up to us both."

"And there our similarities begin and end," said Steve.

"It's not the only thing we have in common. We both have great hair," he quipped. Eddie took a tentative step towards Steve, "I know you and I aren't exactly friends, but we fought on the same side against Vecna, right? And we did just defeat a dragon together."

"I guess."

"More importantly, we looked like a pair of dicks last night during the speeches," Eddie added. "I really don't want a repeat of that, particularly at the wedding. I don't think Henderson would forgive us."

Steve sighed and bowed his head. "Yeah, me neither. And that was only the second most embarrassing thing that happened to me last night."

"So, we'll plan the bachelor party together," Eddie suggested. "Hopefully without killing each other in the process."

"Or injuring any of our friends in the process," said Steve. "And we'll grin and bear it when he asks us to go tuxedo shopping."

Eddie grimaced. "I'm dreading that part. The last time I wore a suit was at my mom's funeral."

Steve felt a lead weight rest in the pit of his stomach. "I didn't realize your mom had passed."

Eddie shrugged. "It was a long time ago."

"I'm sorry. Is your dad still around?"

"He's alive, if that's what you mean. He makes Henderson's dad look like Mr. Rogers by comparison."

It occurred to Steve that there was a lot he didn't know about Eddie. He wasn't particularly close to his own parents, but he couldn't imagine what his life would have been like without them in it.

"Henderson will probably want our advice on wedding rings, too," said Eddie, steering the conversation away from himself. "It means we're gonna be spending a lot more time with each other in the next few months. Think you can handle it?"

Steve knew that they'd disagree with each other every step of the way, but it wasn't about them. At the end of the day, they both wanted Dustin to be happy. And if that meant that they'd have to suffer each other's company a little longer, then it would be worth it.

"Yeah, I'm game," said Steve. "So long as we don't play Dungeons and Dragons ever again."

Eddie laughed. "Don't pretend you didn't enjoy yourself a little bit."

Steve smiled. "Maybe a little."

"You wouldn't consider playing again?" he asked. "Mike can be the DM and I'll be in the party for a change."

Steve shook his head. "Thanks but that was enough Dungeons and Dragons to last me a lifetime."

Eddie chuckled and bowed his head. "Yeah, it's not really your thing, is it?"

"Not really," he admitted. "Don't get me wrong, I'm glad I tried it. But I'd rather go to the movies or—"

"Watch paint dry?" Eddie quipped.

"I was gonna say listen to music, but yeah."

"I'm gonna hazard a guess that you don't have any good music in your collection."

"Duran Duran is good music," Steve argued.

"Hmm, we'll have to agree to disagree on that."

"What's wrong with Duran Duran?" asked Steve defensively.

"There's nothing wrong with it," said Eddie. "Simon Le Bon is a lovely guy and all, but his music is a little…vapid."

"Vapid?" Steve retorted.

"Compared to Metallica or Iron Maiden, I mean."

"Having big hair and screaming into a microphone doesn't make it music," he shot back.

Eddie twirled one of his long curls around his index finger and winked at Steve. "I beg to differ."

"Well, I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree on that."

"Ooh, touché," Eddie took a big step towards Steve, eyeing him up and down. "I bet I can guess, let's say… five albums you have in your collection."

Steve tutted. "I seriously doubt it."

"I bet I can. And if I do, you have to come to one of my shows."

Steve frowned. "What?"

"Come to one of my shows," repeated Eddie. "Listen to some real music for a change."

Steve considered the challenge. He didn't see the point of the game, but he was nothing if not competitive. He gave Eddie a curt nod. "Alright, you're on. But you're not allowed to guess any Duran Duran albums."

"That would be too easy." Eddie thought for a moment. "Let's see… my first guess is Nevermind by Nirvana."

"Oh, come on," Steve groaned. "Everyone has that album."

"So, I was right," said Eddie happily. He took another step towards Steve. "One point to me. My second guess is… Queen's Greatest Hits."

Steve crossed his arms. "Lucky guess."

Eddie took another step towards Steve. "That's two points. My third guess is…First Offense by Corey Hart."

Steve gaped at him. "How the hell did you know that?"

Eddie waved at Steve as though it were obvious. Steve crossed his arms, a little embarrassed at how transparent the inspiration for his stylistic choices was. Eddie took yet another step forward. They were within arms' reach of each other now.

"Three points and counting. My fourth guess…" Eddie was making no effort to hide the glee in his voice now. "... is Michael Jackson's seminal nineteen eighty-four classic, Bad."

Steve rolled his eyes but said nothing. Eddie took one final step towards Steve. They were practically nose to nose. Steve held his breath, trying not to breathe in the heady sandalwood scent from Eddie's cologne.

"My fifth and guess," said Eddie in a low voice. "For the win, is… Mariah Carey's Emotions."

Steve hated to admit that he was impressed with Eddie's powers of deduction. But even if he was curious to see what one of Corroded Coffin's shows was like, his competitive nature got the better of him.

Steve sucked his teeth and shook his head. "I'm sorry, but that is incorrect. Four out of five ain't bad though. You should give yourself a pat on the back."

"You're lying," said Eddie in a sing-song voice.

"Am not!"

"So if I were to go into your room, I wouldn't find that sepia-toned beauty tucked between your Duran Duran albums?"

"No," Steve lied.

"Well, let's see, shall we?"

Before Steve could even open his mouth to reply, Eddie spun on his heel and dashed towards Steve's bedroom.

"Oh no, you don't!" he cried, chasing after him.

Steve hurried into the room and found Eddie already rummaging through the piles of cassettes that he kept on top of a tall dresser. Steve marched forward and grabbed Eddie's arm, but Eddie shook him off.

"Get out of my room!" Steve yelled.

"There's no shame in being a Mariah fan," Eddie laughed and turned to face Steve, waving the Mariah Carey cassette tape in his face. "Why can't you just admit that beneath that big, tough, manly exterior, you have a softer side?"

Steve snatched the tape from Eddie's hand and tossed it onto his bed. "Get out of my room, Eddie. I won't ask you again."

"Alright, keep your hair on. I was only kidding." Eddie cast a cursory glance at the tapes and did a double-take. "What's this?"

He pulled a cassette from the pile and turned to face Steve with a triumphant grin. "I thought you weren't a fan?"

Steve grimaced. It was a copy of Corroded Coffin's album.

"That's not mine," he lied.

He tried to snatch it from Eddie's hand but he quickly pulled it out of reach. "A likely story. What's your favorite song?"

Steve lunged for the cassette, forcing Eddie's back against the dresser. It wobbled violently, knocking over a pile of cassette tapes. Eddie held the tape above his head, just out of reach.

"Give it back!" Steve demanded.

"Not on your life," said Eddie gleefully.

The scuffle continued. Steve grabbed Eddie by both wrists and pinned him against the drawers with the weight of his own body. He tried forcing Eddie to lower his arm, but he was deceptively strong. They were both panting heavily from the exertion, neither man willing to submit to the other.

Steve cursed and glared at Eddie. "You're the most annoying person I've ever met, you know that?"

"Considering we know Henderson, that's really saying something," Eddie joked.

Despite himself, Steve laughed. He flopped his head against Eddie's shoulder to catch his breath and his senses. "If you wanted me to go to your show, you only needed to ask."

"I could've," said Eddie. "But would you have come?"

"Maybe. Guess we'll never know."

"It's like I said earlier," said Eddie in a low voice. "Don't knock it 'til you try it. You never know, you might actually enjoy yourself."

Eddie slowly lowered his hands to his sides. Steve kept ahold of Eddie's wrists. He had loosened his grip considerably, but Eddie didn't shake him off. Steve felt conflicted. Part of him still wanted to best Eddie in every way. The other part wondered what it would be like to kiss him.

Steve looked up into Eddie's eyes; his irises were like liquid amber in the soft evening light. God, they were pretty. How had Steve never noticed before? Because he'd never thought to give Eddie Munson the time of day before, that's why. Steve suddenly became very aware of how good Eddie's firm body felt pressed against his own. The scent of Eddie's cologne filled his nostrils and made him lightheaded. He swayed slightly on the spot, his gaze drifting from Eddie's eyes to his lips, pink and plump like rose petals. Eddie ran the tip of his tongue over his lips, making them shiny with spit.

That's when he heard the front door slam shut.

"Hey," cried Robin. "Sorry I'm late, you wouldn't believe the day I've had. Have you had dinner yet? I brought home tacos!"

Steve and Eddie froze. Steve had the mad idea that if he stayed completely still and silent, Robin would assume he wasn't in. But then he remembered that he'd left the front door unlocked. She already knew he was in the apartment.

"H-hey," he replied, his voice cracking. "Yeah, tacos sound great."

Realizing he still had Eddie pinned against the drawers, Steve quickly let go of his wrists and stepped back. Eddie, uncharacteristically sheepish, was looking anywhere but at Steve.

"I think someone spiked the punch last night, I woke up feeling like my head had been split in two with an axe," said Robin, her voice moving closer. She entered Steve's room without knocking and stopped abruptly when she saw Eddie. "Oh. Hey there. I'm sorry, I didn't realize we had company."

Eddie quickly fixed a smile on his face and gave her a half-wave. "Hey, Robin. Long time no see."

"Yeah, it's been what… twelve hours?" she joked. She glanced between Steve and Eddie. "Am I interrupting something?"

"No," Eddie and Steve replied quickly.

Robin's gaze fell on the cassette tapes scattered across the floor. "Was there an earthquake?"

"I was just showing Eddie some of my tapes," Steve lied.

"Really? Did Steve show you his copy of Corroded Coffin?" Robin smirked. "He's a huge fan—"

"Please, shut up," Steve hissed, his face burning with embarrassment.

An amused smile graced Eddie's lips and he raised his left hand, the offending tape still firmly in his grasp. "He did! How about it, Steve? Would you like me to sign it for you?"

Steve groaned and marched out of his room into the living area. Gone was the wild impulse to kiss Eddie Munson. Right now it was taking all of his willpower not to punch him in the face.

"Are you hungry?" Robin asked Eddie. "I don't know if you heard but I bought tacos for dinner."

Eddie and Robin chatted animatedly to one another while Steve stared fixedly at his plate, chewing the food but not really tasting it. Try as he might to think of anything else, his mind was entirely preoccupied with how he had pinned Eddie against the dresser in a wholly non-platonic manner. He was glad that El wasn't here to read his thoughts because she'd be having a field day. Steve wanted to protest when Robin invited Eddie to stay for dessert, but thankfully, Eddie declined and said he had to leave.

"I'm flying back to L.A. in the morning," he explained, picking up the cardboard box and heading for the door. "We're playing a show there tomorrow night, so I should probably get back and get my shit together."

"Good luck with the tour," said Robin. "Not that you need it, you guys are always awesome."

Eddie paused and turned to Robin. "We're actually going to be performing in Indianapolis in a couple of weeks. You should come along."

Robin's eyes lit up. "Hell yes! I mean, if I can get time off work, definitely count me in."

"Great. I'll get a couple of tickets sent to you." Eddie looked at Steve with a neutral expression and nodded. "See you later, Harrington."

Steve watched Eddie walk down the staircase and vanish from sight before closing the door. He knew that he had no right to be annoyed, but the curtness of Eddie's goodbye left him feeling a little put out. Steve didn't have the opportunity to probe these confusing feelings any further because Robin pounced on him with about a hundred questions: What was Eddie doing in their apartment? Why was he in Steve's bedroom? Was there anything going on between them? Was Steve finally ready to admit that he liked Eddie? Oh my god, did Eddie like Steve? What was she going to wear to the concert?

Steve flopped down onto the sofa and switched on the TV. He hoped that Murphy Brown would distract Robin from asking more questions, but no such luck. Robin sat next to Steve, her knees tucked under her chin.

"So, are you going to tell me what I just walked in on?" she asked.

"There's nothing to tell."

"Really? Because both of you looked like you'd been caught with your pants around your ankles." Robin made a face. "If that's what happened, I'm glad you both managed to pull them up in time. That's a mental image that I can do without."

"Nothing happened," Steve insisted. "He and the guys came over to play Dungeons and Dragons. It took all day, you just missed Henderson and the others leaving. Eddie was packing his things and getting ready to leave."

"How was he leaving? Through your bedroom window?" she joked. "Come on, Steve. I tell you everything that goes on with me and Vickie."

"Everything I learn about your relationship with Vickie is against my will."

"You find my relationship with her endlessly fascinating," she argued. "Come on, you know that you can trust me. I won't say anything to anyone. Scouts honor."

Steve worried his lip. He knew that if he could trust anyone with this kind of thing, it was Robin. But it was still uncharted territory for Steve, he didn't want to sound like an idiot.

"Fine," he relented. "But let me be clear: nothing happened."

"Okay, nothing happened," Robin nodded. "I still sense a 'but' coming."

"But there was this… moment."

Robin's eyes widened. "What kind of moment?"

"Well, first he asked about my girlfriend."

"You don't have a girlfriend."

"I know that," he replied irritably. "I told him that Lizzie was just my date for the night."

"And he seemed interested in that, did he?"

"I guess. We talked a bit about my dating history and he asked if I'd ever considered widening my dating pool to include guys."

"Really?" said Robin interestedly. "And what did you say?"

"I told him that I wasn't gay."

"You don't have to be gay to date guys, Steve."

"That's what he said. And then I asked him if he'd dated a guy before."

"And?" asked Robin, struggling to contain her excitement. "What did he say?"

"He was pretty evasive about it," Steve admitted. "But he did say 'don't knock it 'til you try it'. And then… well, I thought he was going to kiss me."

"But he didn't kiss you?"

"Well, no. Erica and Lucas showed up and we made a start on the game."

"Hold up," Robin raised her hand to silence Steve. "Did you play Dungeons and Dragons?"

"Yeah."

"Who are you and what have you done with Steve Harrington?"

Steve rolled his eyes. "I feel stupid even talking about this. Why would Eddie Munson want to kiss me, of all people?"

"Oh for the love of god," Robin groaned. "He wanted to kiss you because he likes you!"

Steve blinked. "What do you mean he likes me? Since when?"

"Since forever!" she cried. "God, Steve, I love you, but you are so dense sometimes."

Steve thought for a moment. "Since I saved him from The Upside Down? But that was years ago."

"That's the enduring power of Steve 'The Hair' Harrington, isn't it?" she teased. "Men and women alike fawn at your heroic and altruistic deeds. It helps that you're easy on the eyes, too."

"But he hates me."

Robin shook her head. "He doesn't hate you, Steve. You don't try to kiss someone that you hate."

"I guess not," he said quietly. "But he didn't kiss me."

"That's because you were interrupted. The real question is, did you want to kiss him?" she asked. "Tell me the truth, Steve. I'll know if you're lying."

Steve shifted in his seat. "I mean…yeah, the thought crossed my mind."

"I knew it!" Robin yelled, bouncing up and down in her seat with delight. "I've been saying it for weeks! I want the world to know that I, Robin Buckley, called it."

"But we didn't kiss!" Steve cried. "Honestly, Robin, the whole thing is freaking me out. I've never even thought about kissing another guy before, let alone actually considered doing it."

"Never?" asked Robin skeptically. "You've never, in your whole life, looked at Simon Le Bon and entertained the thought for the briefest of moments, how those perfectly pouty pink lips would feel like pressed against your own?"

"No," he said quickly. "I dunno. Maybe?"

"Have you ever, um…" Robin cleared her throat. "You know… while thinking about a guy?"

"No. I don't know if I could."

"Well, there's only one way to find out," she said, wiggling her eyebrows. "And if you're lacking in imagination, there's certain materials out there that can help you out in that department."

It took Steve a moment to figure out what she was hinting at before crying, "I'm not going to buy gay porn, Robin!"

"Why not? It's a surefire way of testing the theory," she argued. "Is Steve Harrington straight, gay, or somewhere in between?"

"I still like women," he insisted.

"But you might like guys, too," she shot back. "And that's okay! Listen, I know what it's like. These feelings are new and scary and a big part of you is afraid of what other people will say if they find out about them. Maybe you just have a crush on Eddie that will pass in time. Maybe you're just a teeny, tiny bit gay for him."

Steve groaned and pressed the palms of his hands into his eyes. "This whole conversation is stressing me out. Forget I said anything."

Robin gave him a hard look. "You know what you are? You're a victim of toxic masculinity."

Steve lowered his hands and stared at her. "I'm a victim of what now?"

"Toxic masculinity," she repeated. "You feel pressured to adhere to traditional male gender roles, which stigmatizes men who like other men and makes them feel uncomfortable about expressing any emotions apart from anger. You are afraid to feel feelings, Steve Harrington."

Steve sighed. "I suppose you read that in one of your feminist magazines?"

"I did, as a matter of fact," she confirmed. "It's called Hag Rag and they have some pretty interesting articles about abolishing gender role stereotypes and expanding feminism to include women with diverse racial and cultural identities. Second-wave feminism is out and third-wave feminism is in, baby."

Steve massaged his temples, trying to stave off the impending headache. "Okay, as a third-wave feminist, what do you think I should do?"

"First, you've got to realize that having feelings for a guy doesn't make you any less of a man. And being in touch with your emotions is healthy!" She gave his shoulder a tight squeeze. "Never be ashamed of your feelings, Steve."

"Uh huh. Do you have any actual practical advice for me?"

"Honestly? Go buy some gay porn, try to jerk off and see what happens," she shrugged.

"That is terrible advice."

"Or, you could kiss Eddie."

"I don't know if that's a good idea, either," said Steve uncertainly. "What if I kiss him and I don't feel anything?"

"Well, it's the easiest way to figure out whether you're really into him or not," she argued. "However, it would make any wedding arrangements you plan together super awkward."

Steve groaned. "I hadn't even thought of that. I don't want to make things any more awkward between us than they already are."

"You want my advice? Wait until after the wedding before you do decide to do anything," she suggested. "If you kiss him and feel nothing, no harm, no foul. You won't ever have to see him again. Well, you'll probably cross paths at weddings and funerals but that's manageable."

"And if I kiss him and I do feel something?" he asked.

Robin grinned at him. "Then welcome to the Rainbow Club, my friend."