HELLF1RE L1VES🦇

“come on! pretty please? you never go!”

“because it’s stupid. hell no, i’m not going.”

but all it took was a pout of your lips before eddie sighed and gave in.

“fine. alright, i’m going.”

you squealed and bounced up and down, eddie’s eyes flickering down to your chest through your low-cut long sleeve. you wrapped your arms around him in a tight hug, his hands immediately going to your waist to steady you through your excitement.

“thank you! don’t forget to get a ticket.” you said with a wide smile, effortlessly charming. you were already leaving, but that didn’t stop his gaze from following your figure and the sway of your hips.

he shook his head and turned his attention back to his locker, putting his wired earplugs into his ear. he raised the volume of his ipod, slipknot violently playing at loud volume.

you cornered him at his locker when you begged him to come to the pep rally. you were cheering—one of the cheerleaders had come down with mono, and they needed a last-minute replacement: someone who could do the routines and dance well enough to get the crowd going. you fit the bill, even if it was just one performance before the original girl came back.

still, you were excited. eddie never got to see you dance, unless it was in his trailer when you danced to some pop punk group he only tolerated when you were around.

in the gym, the energy was loud and disruptive. loud music was playing—some song you liked, but eddie didn’t. “im not gonna teach him how to dance with you” by black kids. after your routine, your eyes scanned the bleachers for eddie, until you eventually found him sitting with steve and a couple of his other friends.

you smiled excitedly, waving a pompom at him. he waved back with a softer smile, mouthing, “this song sucks.”

you are the girl that i’ve been dreaming of ever since i was a little girl.

you flashed a charming smile at the crowd, waving your pom-pom—completely oblivious to how spellbound eddie was as you soaked up the attention.

1! i’m biting my tongue!

you never once noticed how eddie would freeze mid-motion, utterly lost in you.

2! he’s kissing on you!

“you’re totally in love with her.”

3! oh why can’t you see?

steve’s comment made eddie whip his head around quickly, his curls flying. “what? she’s my best friend.”

steve mocked him with the wave he did earlier, making eddie roll his eyes and turn back to look at her.

the pep rally crowd was still buzzing when you slipped away to find eddie, the tinny screech of some metal band leaking from his earbuds. you ignored the stares that followed you, your fingers tracing the heart-shaped pendant he'd given you for your birthday last summer. but when your eyes caught a few of the guys watching, you let your gaze linger—just long enough to flash something flirtatious.

“hey, vamp.”

“what’s up, slayer?” he shot back, meeting your eyes with a playful grin.

“you and me are going out tonight.” you said teasingly as you leaned against the locker beside him, leaving no room for questions.

“yeah? why tonight?”

“because twisted vixen is playing at the hideout,” you replied. “they’re this new glam metal band from the city. i saw their myspace page, and the lead singer is extra salty.”

you moved closer to his locker to fix your hair in the small mirror he hung up inside. “plus, there’ll be some salty chicks out there for you too.”

he stared at you, not convinced. he wasn’t interested in anybody else. and he didn’t want to spend his friday night watching some poser slip his tongue down your throat.

you met his gaze after realizing how quiet he was. you pouted slightly, leaning back against the locker again. “come on, eddie.”

“i promised my uncle i’d watch a movie with him tonight. he’s not getting any younger, y’know—“ total lie.

you rolled your eyes with a soft groan, clearly not caring in the slightest. “boo, cross out eddie.” you said as you x’d him out with your finger.

you squinted at him, watching his reaction as if challenging him to say no. he sighed with a small smile, knowing he couldn’t refuse.

“what time is the show?”

you smiled victoriously. “pick me up at 8:30. i’ll send you their myspace page when i get home.”

he hummed in response, clearly not thrilled.

your eyes dragged over him slow, from the fall of his long hair past his shoulders to the scuffed toes of his boots. his leather jacket, his hellfire shirt soft and faded, his baggy jeans that slung low. and every inch of him—the skull belt, the spike bracelets, the worn-in smirk—made you want to look longer. you found him attractive. you’d never said it, but you'd never been subtle about it either.

and he noticed. it got him off more than he wanted to admit, knowing that you found him more attractive than most men that hit on you.

“wear something hot, okay?”

“okay.”

and with that, he watched you go. he swallowed hard, trying to ignore the way your flirtatious gaze made him feel. why did you have to tease him like that?

when he got home, he greeted wayne before heading off to his room. he immediately got on his computer, opening myspace so he could see what you sent him. and there it was. the page of the glam metal band you wanted to see that night. the leader singer was definitely attractive. he thought the guy on the drums might’ve been more your type, but girls like you don’t go out with drummers.

a notification popped up.

vicious_vamp: r u jerking off to it? <3

he rolled his eyes, clicking it before his fingers moved to type on the keyboard.

x_gargoylegrim_x: i’m good. js disappointed ur wasting ur time on that

vicious_vamp: omfg wtv h8r!!! >:( what r u gonna wear?

x_gargoylegrim_x: idk… maybe my dio shirt

vicious_vamp: ew no!!! that’s so 80s

x_gargoylegrim_x: :(

x_gargoylegrim_x: it’s literally a glam metal show tho :( ppl might look 80s

vicious_vamp: still??? ur not bagging anything with that.

vicious_vamp: wear the black tank or smth. it looks hxc!!!

x_gargoylegrim_x: u js like it cuz it shows off my arms

vicious_vamp: yup!!! <3 gtg xoxo

he chuckled as he watched you go offline. he got up from his desk and went over to the closet, picking out the blank tank you wanted him to wear. you were right—it did make his arms look good, thanks to the late hours at the mechanic shop.

when he picked you up, you were wearing a strapless mini dress in a bold leopard print. over the dress, you layered an oversized black leather aviator jacket, heavily lined and trimmed with a thick, plush beige faux fur along the collar, lapels, and cuffs.

around your neck, you wore a layered combination of a thick black leather choker adorned with silver metal studs and the longer, delicate silver chain heart pendant. your legs were styled with a black leather thigh garter featuring metal o-rings and buckles, worn over sheer, distressed black thigh-high stockings that had horizontal rips and a faded, textured pattern.

he let out a low whistle as you got in the passenger seat.

“all that for the singer?”

“it won’t be on too long, don’t worry.” you added cheekily.

that made his heart clench, but he ignored it. he pulled out your driveway and started heading towards the dive bar.

the hideout was a remote bar, located between an abandoned steelworks and a fallow cornfield. surprisingly, the inconvenient location became an advantage. it attracted a handful of regular alcoholics (such as drunk sam who frequently hit on you despite your age) and it became profitable to high schoolers engaging in lurking activities.

beverly, a five-foot tall woman with maroon-dyed hair, owned the bar. her “fifty-cent beer nights” were always a hit at attracting new customers. but she didn’t really pay attention to who the alcohol got served to, meaning you and eddie—along with other juniors and seniors that frequented the place—got to drink without getting in trouble.

when you and eddie entered the bar, the bouncer wrote x’s on your hands in black sharpie. you scanned the place, noticing it was more packed than usual. definitely louder too.

there had been a lot of fights inside the bar, so a lot of the windows were bricked up. it was also pretty dark, but the neon lighting helped. the wooden stage they had was also in poor condition. you had seen eddie perform there with his band, corroded coffin, on tuesdays. he tripped on stage once, and you never let it go.

“maybe andy will trip too.” you teased, making eddie groan.

“it was a one time thing. and andy? seriously? you’re on first name basis with this guy now?”

“i did a little digging,” you admitted with a shrug. “found no girlfriend, too. it’s always been a dream of mine to date a rockstar.” you added playfully, shooting him a wink.

it felt like an arrow to the heart. “wow, okay. you’re looking at one right now and yet you’re wasting your time on this asshole.” he murmured.

“they’re bigger.”

the double meaning wasn’t lost on him. “i doubt that.”

you hummed, your eyes briefly raking over him again before you looked at the stage. he noticed, looking at your face a little longer before following your gaze. the band was setting up, and he saw the guy you were looking for.

andy. he almost scoffed. his voluminously long, blonde hair was spiked up and he was wearing large, dark sunglasses even though it was dark inside. there was no reason to look “cool” if there was a risk of tripping on stage. he was wearing a sleeveless black leather top and a heavily studded leather belt, along with multiple silver studded bracelets and wristbands. his left arm was also extensively covered with large, detailed, colorful tattoo sleeves.

eddie was jealous. extremely jealous. he knew the guy was attractive, and he knew you could have anybody that you wanted. plus, it was a fucking glam metal band. of course some band members are gonna look to sleep around.

“i think they need a groupie.”

he sighed, already feeling overwhelmed. “sweetheart—“

“come on! come with me. it’s just a guy, eds.”

“i’m a guy.”

you rolled your eyes. “i know, but you and i both know that guys are very easy to manipulate. morsels. girls have all the power, y’know.”

before he could say anything, you proved your point by cupping your boobs through your dress.

“these are like smartbombs. you point them in the right direction and shit gets real!”

you walked away and headed for the stage, his jaw dropping momentarily before he followed after you.

he could already see the bassist’s eyes on you, his eyes widening slightly. he mentally cursed at himself for coming. he was just going to torture himself.

you got their attention pretty quickly when you introduced yourself. “hi.”

the lead singer looked up from his amp, setting his guitar down. he gave you a charming smile—one that made eddie’s blood boil, because he knew it was fake.

“hey. i’m andy. these are the guys. daniel, beck, and karl. we’re—“

“twisted vixen,” you finished for him with a smile. andy looked back at the guys in slight surprise that you recognized them. his ego looked like it inflated a little. “yeah, i’ve heard about you guys. you play your instruments really… super good.” you said, looking up at him with that practiced doe-eyed expression eddie had seen you use countless of times.

and andy was falling for it. “thank you. we are professionals.” he said proudly, his tongue darting out to lick his bottom lip. you caught that and you couldn’t help but bite your lip.

meanwhile, eddie felt like he wanted to vomit.

“yeah, we just wanted to meet you. i’m eddie munson. my girlfriend here is a big fan.”

you looked back at him with a glare. andy raised an eyebrow.

“girlfriend?”

“he meant girl that’s a friend,” you murmured, turning back to him. “we’re platonic with a capital p, trust me.”

eddie nodded, his jaw tight as he stuck his hands in his pockets. andy looked relieved, and that made him want to punch him.

desperate to lighten the mood up again, you spoke. “can i, um… can i buy you a drink?” you asked coyly, batting your lashes.

andy smirked. “sure, what are we having?”

“um, they have coors, pabst blue ribbon, bud light, jack and coke, off-brand pop, and some vodka. i wouldn’t recommend the pbr, though.” you admitted with a chuckle.

“thanks for the tip, doll. i’ll have what you usually get.” he said, his voice dripping with smooth charm.

“i’m boring,” you said sheepishly. “i get a jack and coke.”

andy remained unfazed. “a jack and coke then.”

you smiled, nodding. “i’ll be right back.”

andy went back to his bandmates as you turned to leave. eddie got in your way before you could head to the open bar.

“woah, hey. how are you gonna get alcohol?” he asked, a little concerned.

“get real. you know bev doesn’t give a shit on who’s buying.”

“i’m well aware. but i’ve never seen you buy.”

your eyes weren’t even on him when he called out your lie. they were just at the open bar, looking at the bartender with the glint in your eye that sparkled when you were already planning something. “uh… i don’t know, i’ll just play hello titty with the bartender.”

you moved passed him. eddie sighed, wanting to kick himself. you were clearly focused on getting with andy, and eddie knew he had no chance of talking you out of it. to busy himself, he went over to the pinball machine.

while he was there, he ended up hearing some of the band’s conversations.

“not a lot of lookers out there, honestly.”

“yeah, there is. that girl in the faux coat was the hottest one though.”

eddie’s jaw tightened.

“relax. that one is andy’s girl. you know how he gets when you try sharing.”

“pfft, right. she’s only gonna be his girl for one night. you know he can’t get over his old lady, darla.”

eddie’s hand paused on the machine. andy had a wife.

“divorced. it was some thing that happened after they graduated highschool. now he’s 24 and lookin’ to score!”

“kinda sick though. the girl looked young.”

“well, you know he likes virgins.”

eddie heard enough. he felt sick to his stomach.

he left the machine and walked up to the stage again.

“hey. where the hell is andy?”

the band looked taken aback by eddie’s hostility.

the bassist, daniel, spoke up. “he went out back to smoke in his van before he performed. why—“

“okay,” eddie cut him off sharply. “so then give him a message for me when he gets back. that’s my best friend you guys were talking about, and it doesn’t matter whether she’s a virgin or not. she’s not gonna sleep with a creep like him regardless. got it?”

they all nodded immediately and eddie walked away, determined to find you.

he met you halfway when you were coming back from the open bar, holding a tray of two jack and coke drinks.

you lit up when you saw him. “hey! i ran into drunk sam back there. started hitting on me again. but he ended up buying me the drinks so i guess—“

“those guys are rank, sweetheart. just forget about it.” he informed with a sigh, clearly annoyed.

your brows furrowed in confusion. “what? i think the lead singer totally wants me.”

“only because he thinks you were a virgin. i heard them talking.”

now you were offended. “what?! i’m not even a backdoor virgin.”

he didn’t know whether to groan or laugh.

“and by the way, that hurts! i couldn’t even go see your band play here the next day. i had to stay home and sit on a bag of frozen peas.” you mumbled sadly.

“oh my god,” he exhaled, his patience wearing thin. still, he chuckled at how blunt you were with him. you were always pretty comfortable sharing your sex life or bad date experiences with him. “i definitely remember.”

you huffed. “well, what am i supposed to do with these now?” you looked down at the tray.

eddie shrugged. “more for me and you, i guess.”

still, your eyes trailed over to the stage when andy came back. the other members were talking to him, glancing their way at the table you and eddie were at. andy met your eyes, and you waved. he waved back, but it was almost hesitant.

“well, maybe it’s fine. he’s not gonna know the difference, right?”

eddie stared at you. “sweetheart—“

“don’t lecture me, eds.”

“i’m not lecturing you. i’m just saying he has a wife.”

now your eyes snapped back to him. “what?!”

“well, sort of. he’s divorced.”

you groaned softly. “oh my god, you’re terrible at telling me things. why don’t you just start off with that?”

“because it’s common sense to not sleep with a 24 year old. and now i just told you he has an ex-wife,” eddie snapped. “you’re better than that, honey. you just demean yourself to that level ‘cause you’ve become rather comfortable with it.”

you paused, knowing he was right. it didn’t soften the harsh impact of his words, though.

his eyes softened as he read your hurt expression.

“look, i’m sorry—“

“no, it’s fine.“ you murmured, setting the drinks down on the table beside you. “watch the drinks. i’m gonna go to the bathroom.”

his mouth opened to speak but you were already gone.

he sighed, deciding to grab one of the drinks and take a sip as he waited for you. the band was gonna start soon. he didn’t care if they were bad or good. he just wanted to take you home and make sure you were away from those misogynistic pricks. they had no right to be in the metal scene when they were targeting young girls like that, no matter how common it was.

you came back after a couple of minutes, your makeup touched up a little more than before. eddie got off the table he was leaning on.

“hey, i’m sorry. i didn’t mean to be hard on you,” he said immediately, his tone gentle and sincere.

you looked a little surprised but you shook your head. “it’s fine, eds, really—“

“no, i’m gonna settle this right now, okay? i didn’t mean to hurt you or anything. that’s the last thing i want to do. i just… don’t like seeing you object yourself like that,” he admitted. “you’re so much more than your body, sweetheart.”

you paused, genuinely moved by his words. nobody had ever said anything like that to you before, especially in such a sincere way like eddie just did.

“thanks, eddie. that really meant a lot.” you admitted.

he smiled, but before he could speak, andy came up to your table.

“hey, i was wondering where my drink was.” his tone was provocative, deliberately alluring.

“oh, here.” you said with a smile, handing him the drink eddie didn’t touch.

andy took a long sip, his eyes locked on yours in almost a predatory manner. when he was done, he sighed. “i needed that.”

eddie watched the interaction between you two, focusing on your face. you were clearly hooked again, completely forgetting everything he told you.

“we’re gonna start in a bit. it’s mostly covers, but we were planning on sharing a few originals afterwards.”

“that’s amazing.” you said almost dreamily.

“uh huh. you can come to the front, if you want. invite your friend too.” andy met eddie’s eyes with a smirk. eddie glared at him.

“yeah! for sure!” you jumped at the opportunity. andy got ahold of your hand, leading you to the front. you looked back at eddie and mouthed, “sorry!”

he rolled his eyes. he was so done, but he needed to stay in order to make sure you didn’t do anything stupid. he followed you both with his drink still in hand until andy reached the front. he brought your hand to his lips and kissed it before he got on stage, making you giggle softly. it pissed eddie off.

eddie stood next to you as the band started playing—loud and energetic. they were getting the crowd going with their cover of “girls, girls, girls” by mötley crüe. you bobbed your head to the beat, occasionally glancing at eddie to playfully mouth the lyrics. he cracked a slight smile, finding the sight endearing.

since i was born, they couldn’t hold me down.

when that song finished, they began playing “youth gone wild” by skid row. you held his hand tightly. you knew that was one of eddie’s favorites. you squealed softly, and he couldn’t help but laugh.

another misfit kid, another burned out town.

you winked at him as you mouthed the words to eddie.

“this song reminds me of you, y’know!” you said loudly over the music.

“really?!” he shot back.

you nodded. “you just kinda have that charisma to you!” you explained. “it’s hot! i’m surprised you haven’t used it on anybody yet!”

you turned your attention back on the band but eddie’s eyes stayed on you. he swallowed, your words affecting him more than he wanted to admit.

“i guess i’m too busy using all of it on you.”

you heard him as your eyes met his for a brief moment.

“yeah?”

“mhm.”

the energy between you two shifted into something tense. it made you feel a little uneasy, but in a thrilling way. even the room seemed to dim around the edges. you could see it in the way his jaw tightened, the way his eyes didn't leave yours. for a moment, everything else fell away. there was only the two of you, and the sharp, electric thread that now ran between your bodies—crackling with everything unsaid.

but the moment was cut short when andy spoke into the microphone.

“this one goes out to a very special lady that distracted me tonight. she’s in the crowd right now, actually.”

andy met your gaze, shooting you a wink.

a couple of whistles erupted from the crowd.

“this is cherry pie by warrant.”

you looked starstruck as the opening riff ripped through the speakers. eddie had enough. he dropped your hand like it burned him and disappeared into the crowd. you watched him go, confused, then glanced back at the stage. the band was still playing, but there was obviously something wrong. you turned and followed him to the bathroom.

there, you saw him leaning against the wall as he lit up a cigarette.

“eds? are you okay—“

“don’t give me that shit,” he muttered through the cigarette in his mouth, his eyes not even looking your way. “not tonight.”

you blinked. “excuse me?”

"we do the same thing every time.” he let the smoke drift from his lips, slow and deliberate—his eyes meeting yours. the cigarette dangled between his fingers as he pointed it at you. "you flirt with me. then you disappear with some asshole for a couple hours. then you come back and tell me all about it, like i’m supposed to enjoy the show."

the words hit you somewhere unexpected. you’d never seen him like this—that sharp edge in his voice, the way his jaw tightened around the words. he wasn't teasing. he wasn't deflecting with a joke like he always did.

the realization settled over you slowly, like heat creeping up your neck.

"are you jealous?"

he went still. so still that the only movement was the smoke still escaping his lips. the silence stretched long enough that you thought he'd laugh it off, make some crack, change the subject. that’s what eddie always did.

but he didn't.

"yeah." he nodded, once, almost like the admission cost him something. "i am."

your breath caught.

you’d always figured eddie found you attractive—every guy did, and you'd learned to read that look early. but this wasn't that. this was something raw and unguarded, the kind of honesty that only came out when someone was tired of pretending. every late-night phone call, every time he'd drove you home, every joke that landed a little too soft—it all reframed itself in your mind, each memory clicking into a new shape.

you stepped closer. the space between you collapsed until you could feel the heat coming off his skin, smell the mingled traces of smoke and leather. your hands came up to fix the collar of his jacket, straightening the lapels just to have something to do with them.

“why didn't you tell me?" your voice came out softer than you intended. silkier.

you saw the way his throat moved when he swallowedz

"dunno. i didn't think you were interested." his eyes dropped to your lips, just for a fraction of a second, before snapping back up.

you let out a quiet hum, low in your throat. "well." you tilted your head, letting him see the way your gaze traced the shape of his mouth, the sharp line of his jaw. "you were wrong."

his breath hitched. you felt it—the way his chest stopped mid-rise, the way his fingers twitched like he was restraining himself from reaching for you.

“yeah?" the word came out rough, barely above a whisper.

"yeah." you let your fingers trail down from his collar, grazing the edge of his collarbone before resting flat against his chest. You could feel his heartbeat under your palm—fast, uneven, nothing like the cocky confidence he wore like armor. "you ever think that maybe i tell you about those guys because i’m trying to make you jealous?"

his eyes widened. just slightly. just enough.

"that’s a dangerous game to play, sweetheart." but the old playfulness was gone from his voice. what replaced it was something tender and uncertain, like he was holding the words carefully, afraid they'd break.

"is there a risk that comes with it?”

for a long moment, neither of you moved. the bathroom was silent except for the muffled music coming from outside. the smoke from his forgotten cigarette dissolved into nothing between you.

then, eddie put his cigarette out on the sink beside him before turning his attention back to you. the tension was intensifying with each passing moment the two of you didn’t speak.

then he broke.

his mouth crashed into yours—not gentle, not tentative, but deep and claiming, like he'd been holding this back for so long the dam had finally shattered. there was hunger in the way his lips moved against yours, a desperation that made your knees go weak. you gasped against his mouth and your hands flew up, fingers threading into his hair, pulling him closer like you couldn't get enough.

he walked you backward, step by stumbling step, until your spine hit the edge of a stall door. his hand found the lock, twisted it, and then you were inside, the door swinging shut behind you. he pressed you against the wall—harder than expected—and a sharp moan slipped out as the cold metal dug into your back.

"shit—sorry," he breathed against your lips, his hand sliding to the small of your back to cushion you. "got carried away."

“‘s okay,” you panted. “i’ve had rougher.”

he groaned against your mouth in between kisses. “that’s not what i want to hear right now.”

“yeah? you scared you’ll disappoint?”

you were just egging him on at this point, trying to see how far you could push him. It was your favorite game with eddie—toeing the line, watching that flash of something dark flicker behind his eyes before he laughed it off and changed the subject. uou'd been doing it for years, ever since you realized how easy it was to get under his skin.

but tonight, he didn't laugh it off.

his hand slid from your back to your hip, fingers curling into the fabric hard enough to pull a sharp inhale from your lungs. he pulled back just far enough to look at you—really look at you—and the heat in his gaze made your stomach flip.

"disappoint you?" his voice dropped, low and rough, scraping against something raw in your chest. he tilted his head, a slow smirk spreading across his lips, but there was nothing playful in his eyes. "sweetheart, i’ve listened to you complain about guys who couldn't find a clit with a map and a flashlight. you think i haven't been taking notes?"

your breath caught. "eddie—"

“i’ve sat through," he continued, leaning in until his mouth brushed the shell of your ear, his breath hot against your skin, "every single story. the way you like it their hands roam, the way you like kissing during it. especially tonight with that asshole you were drooling over tonight, andy." he said the name like it tasted bitter. "you think i don't know exactly what you like by now?"

then his mouth was on yours again, but slower this time, deliberate. his hand slid down your side, over the curve of your hip, gripping your thigh and hitching it up around his waist. you gasped into his mouth as he pressed closer, and he used the opening to deepen the kiss, tongue sweeping against yours with a confidence that made your head spin.

he pulled back just enough to speak, his lips still brushing yours. "when i’m done with you," he murmured, voice rough as gravel, "you're gonna forget andy’s name entirely. you’re gonna forget every single one of them." his hand squeezed your thigh, firm and possessive. "and when you walk out of this bathroom, everyone's gonna know exactly who put that look on your face."

you arched into him, fingers twisting in his hair as his hand slid from your thigh, tracing the edge of your dress. his palm flattened against your hip, then drifted lower, fingers splaying over the fabric, pressing into the warmth between your legs.

he groaned against your throat. "jesus christ."

you knew exactly what he'd found. or rather, what he hadn't found.

"you’re not wearing any underwear?" his voice was strained, like he was holding onto the last thread of his composure by the tips of his fingers. he pulled back just enough to look at you, eyes dark and wild. "you came to a show, dressed like this, and you didn't even bother with panties?"

you bit your lip, trying to look innocent. "it’s more comfortable."

"comfortable." he let out a breathy laugh, shaking his head. "you’re trying to kill me."

"am i succeeding?"

instead of answering, he pressed his palm harder against you, a firm, deliberate pressure through the thin fabric of your dress. your breath hitched, hips bucking instinctively into his hand.

"yeah," he murmured, "you're succeeding."

his fingers curled, finding the hem of your dress, and he dragged it up, inch by agonizing inch, until the fabric bunched around your waist. the cold air hit your bare skin, and you shivered, but the heat of his gaze was enough to set you on fire. he looked at you—spread open for him, nothing between you and his touch—and his jaw went slack.

"holy shit," he breathed. "you really meant it."

“did you think I was lying?"

"i didn't know what to think." his thumb traced a slow, featherlight line up your inner thigh, stopping just short of where you ached for him. "i’ve been trying not to imagine this for years. failing, obviously. but still trying."

you bucked your hips instinctively, chasing his touch, and he clicked his tongue.

"uh-uh. patience."

"eddie, i swear to god—"

"swear all you want." he leaned in, pressing a kiss to the corner of your mouth. "I’ve waited a long time for this. i’m gonna take my time."

you let out a frustrated sound, grabbing his wrist and trying to guide him, but he was stronger than you, holding steady, that infuriating smirk back on his lips.

"please touch me," you finally gritted out.

"where?"

"eddie."

"say it," he said, his voice dropping to something almost reverent. "i want to hear you say it."

you swallowed, your pride warring with the ache that was building low in your stomach. but the way he was looking at you—like you were the only thing in the world that mattered—made it easy to let go.

"i want you to touch my pussy," you whispered, continuing. "right there. please."

he didn't make you wait any longer.

his fingers slid through your slick folds, slow and deliberate, a low groan escaping his lips at the feel of you. "fuckkk," he breathed. "you’re so wet. is this all for me?"

you could only nod, your head falling back against the wall as his middle finger found your entrance, circling once before pressing inside. the stretch was perfect—just enough to make you gasp, your nails digging into his shoulders.

"yeah?" his voice was rough, strained. "that good?"

"d-don’t stop."

he didn't. he pushed deeper, curling his finger just right, and your vision went white at the edges. he added a second finger, stretching you slowly, giving you time to adjust, and the sound you made was embarrassingly desperate.

"look at you," he murmured, watching your face, your parted lips, the way your eyes fluttered shut. "taking my fingers so well. and i haven't even gotten to the good part yet."

his thumb found your clit, pressing in tight circles, and you gasped, your hips bucking against his hand. he matched your rhythm, fingers pumping in and out, thumb working you relentlessly, and the pleasure built like a wave, coiling tight in your stomach.

"that’s it," he said, voice low and filthy. "i can feel you clenching around me. you close?"

"yes—eddie, i’m—"

"look at me."

you forced your eyes open, meeting his gaze. his pupils were blown wide, his cheeks flushed, his lips parted and wet. he looked wrecked, and he'd barely even touched himself.

"i want to see your face when you come," he demanded. “i want to feel you pussy clench around my fingers before it takes my cock.”

that was all it took.

your orgasm crashed through you, a sharp, electric wave that made your whole body tremble. you cried out—his name, a broken sound—and he kept working you through it, fingers slowing, thumb gentling, until you were left gasping and boneless against the wall.

he pulled his fingers out slowly, bringing them to his lips, and his eyes never left yours as he licked them clean.

"shit," he said, voice rough and satisfied. "you taste even better than i imagined."

your body was still trembling slightly. before you could speak, he pulled his hand back entirely and brought it down against your cunt in a light, sharp smack.

you jolted, a broken whimper spilling from your lips at the sudden sting, the overwhelming sensitivity radiating outward from where he'd struck.

"fuck—eddie—"

he soothed the spot with his palm, pressing firm and warm, before pulling back to look at you. his eyes were dark, but there was something soft flickering underneath, breaking through the teasing haze.

“hey," he said, his voice dropping, losing some of that rough edge. his free hand came up to cup your face, thumb brushing across your cheek, gentle and grounding. "this doesn't change the fact that i still care about you, alright? if it ever gets too much, or if you want to stop, tell me. i’m not just some random guy that gets lucky with you."

the sincerity in his voice hit you square in the chest. you reached up, covering his hand with yours, and nodded.

“i know," you said quietly. "i trust you."

he smiled—that real smile, the one that crinkled the corners of his eyes—and pressed his forehead to yours. "okay. good."

then he kissed you, soft and deep, before pulling back with a familiar glint of mischief.

"now, where was i?”

his hands found your hips, gripping tight as he guided you to turn around. your palms hit the stall wall, cold metal biting into your skin, and you heard the jingle of his belt buckle, the rasp of his zipper. the sound of denim and boxers pooling at his ankles.

you looked over your shoulder, and there he was—flushed, half-undone, looking at you like you were something precious and filthy all at once.

"you ready, sweetheart?"

"you asking or bragging?"

he laughed, and it was warm and real and full of affection, even as he stepped closer, even as the head of his cock pressed against you, teasing, threatening.

"both," he muttered against your ear, one hand bracing against the wall beside your head, the other gripping your hip. "

and then he pushed in, slow and steady, letting you feel every inch, and your eyes rolled back as a deep, broken moan tore from your throat. he buried his face in your hair, groaning low and long, his grip on your hip tightening almost painfully.

“fuckkk," he breathed, voice wrecked. "you feel—fuck."

he stayed there for a moment, letting you adjust, pressing soft, open-mouthed kisses to your shoulder, your neck, the curve of your ear. then he started to move—slow at first, deep and grinding, finding a rhythm that made your knees weak.

but it didn't stay slow for long.

soon the stall was filled with the sound of skin against skin, heavy breathing, broken moans, and eddie’s voice—teasing, praising, whispering promises against your skin that made your heart clench even as your body burned.

“oh fuck—god, you feel so fucking good, baby. i’m—i’m gonna make you feel so good, i promise. i fucking promise you.”

with each deepening thrust, a small, helpless whimper escaped your throat. your eyes squeezed shut against the dizzying pleasure, your brows furrowed in concentration, and your lips parted like a gasp for air. you fought to keep the noise contained in the cramped bathroom stall, but eddie’s relentless rhythm made it impossible.

“eddie, please don't stop— oh my god—"

he leaned in close, his breath hot against your ear, letting out a ragged sound that was half-groan, half-promise. "never, baby. I’ve got you."

his hand gripped your hips, anchoring you while his body hammered into yours. the soundscape of the stall was intoxicating: the rhythmic, wet slap as he filled you completely, punctuated by his own strained groans and your unrestrained cries. every slick, glorious squelch echoed off the tiles, cementing the fact that the small space was now entirely occupied by the heat and friction between you two.

as eddie continued to pound into you from behind, his grip on your hips tightened possessively. between labored breaths, he growled against your ear, "still thinking about andy, huh?" his voice was rough with jealousy and arousal. "with my cock buried deep inside you? can he make you feel this good?"

you whimpered, unable to form coherent words. your fingers clawed at the bathroom stall wall, leaving marks in the cheap paint.

eddie sensed your inability to speak and smirked wickedly. "that’s what I thought." he shifted his angle, hitting a spot that made your entire body jerk. "but you know who's really making you feel good right now, don't you?"

when you still couldn't answer through your gasps and moans, he pulled back slightly, then brought his palm down sharply on your ass. the sharp sting made you cry out, your inner walls clenching around him reflexively.

"who, baby?" he demanded, punctuating each word with a hard thrust. "say my name."

"e-eddie!" you finally managed, your voice breaking.

"that's right," he groaned, his pace becoming erratic as he felt himself getting close. "fuck, you look so good like this... all mine."

your whole body was trembling now, coiled tight with the promise of release. "please, eddie," you begged, your voice thin and desperate. "i’m so close, inneed to—"

"no," he said firmly, slowing his pace just enough to pull you back from the edge. his hands moved from your hips to spread your cheeks wider, giving himself deeper access. "not yet, sweetheart. not until you're begging for it."

"i am begging!" you cried out, pushing back against him desperately. "please, i’ll do anything—"

"you will, won't you?" eddie chuckled darkly, his thumb finding your clit and circling it with maddeningly light touches. "such a good girl when you want something. but i want to hear how much you need this. how much you need me."

he established a new rhythm—slow, deliberate strokes that dragged his length through your soaked folds without giving you the friction you craved. each movement sent sparks of pleasure through you, but never quite enough to tip you over.

"eddie, please, i can't take it anymore!" you sobbed, your legs shaking violently.

"oh, but you can," he murmured, leaning over your back to whisper directly in your ear. "you’re going to take everything i give you, aren't you? every inch, every drop..."

his free hand slid beneath you, pressing firmly against your lower belly. "i can feel you clenching around me already. so fucking needy. you want to come on my cock, baby?"

"y-yeah!" the word almost became a chant as he resumed a faster pace, though still not fast enough to push you over that final precipice.

"that’s it, beg for it. tell me exactly what you want." his voice was thick with arousal as he watched his cock disappear into you again and again.

"i want you to fuck me harder! i want to come! please, eds, let me come!" your nails scraped against the bathroom tile.

eddie’s restraint finally snapped at your desperate pleas. "fuck yes, here it comes—" he drove into you with renewed force, his hands gripping your hips hard enough to bruise. "come for me, beautiful. come on my cock.”

the permission, combined with the increased intensity, sent you spiraling. your orgasm ripped through you with such force that your vision went white.

he followed right after, holding you tight, pressing his forehead to the back of your neck as he murmured something so soft you almost missed it.

he kissed your shoulder before he carefully withdrew from you, both of you wincing at the sudden emptiness and sensitivity. he reached down to steady you as your legs threatened to buckle, his expression softening with concern.

“hey," he whispered, his voice rough but soft, stripped of the earlier dominance. "you okay?"

you tried to speak, to form a coherent sentence, but your throat was too dry, your body too spent. all you could manage was a weak nod, your eyes still squeezed shut as you fought to regain control of your breathing. a faint, amused smile tugged at the corner of his mouth as he watched your futile attempt to answer. he didn't press you; instead, he reached for the roll of toilet paper hanging on the dispenser. with careful, almost tender movements, he tore off several squares and began to clean you up. his touch was gentle, contrasting sharply with the fierce pounding from moments before, wiping away the mess they’d made in the confined space.

as he finished, tossing the used paper into the bin, the silence between you stretched, thick with unspoken things. the noise of the band outside had faded into a distant hum, replaced by the dripping of a faucet somewhere down the hall. eddie stepped back slightly, leaning against the wall as he looked at you.

"so..." eddie started, “that was... yeah." he laughed softly, shaking his head as if he couldn't quite believe what had just happened. "are you sure you’re alright? like, really alright?"

you managed a breathy laugh, your body still trembling with aftershocks. "yeah, i’m—" you paused, searching for words. "that was intense."

"i told you," he replied, breathless and warm. "i would make you forget every single one of them."

you let out a shaky breath, forcing yourself to stand up straighter, though your knees still knocked together. you looked up at him, a playful glint returning to your eyes, masked by exhaustion. "well," you drawled, trying to summon some of your usual bravado. "it definitely worked. you fucked me so good, eddie... i almost said it."

he froze. the playful atmosphere shattered instantly. his eyes widened slightly, darkening with a sudden intensity that pinned you in place. "said what?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

he didn't wait for you to answer. he knew exactly what you meant.

his expression shifted from shocked to vulnerable in an instant. his defenses—the bravado, the confidence, the protective shell he'd built around himself since you'd known him—all of it cracked. raw emotion flickered across his face: hope, fear, longing.

"don’t say it unless you mean it," he warned softly, but there was a tremor in his voice that betrayed him. he stepped closer, closing the distance between you. "because if you say it, i need you to actually mean it."

the air in the tiny stall grew heavy with unspoken feelings. outside, the music pulsed, reality continued—but in this moment, it was just the two of you suspended in time.

you swallowed hard, suddenly very aware of the gravity of the moment. your usual confidence faltered as you stared up at him, seeing the raw emotion written across his features—the fear, the hope, the longing you’d somehow missed or deliberately ignored for so long.

"i almost said..." you started, hesitating. "i almost said i love you."

the confession hung between them like a prayer. eddie’s expression transformed completely—his jaw dropped slightly, color flooding into his cheeks. for a moment, he was speechless, simply staring at you as if you’d said something profound and impossible.

then, slowly, a brilliant smile broke across his face. it was different from any smile you’d seen from him before—not the cocky grin from earlier, but something pure and genuine that made her heart skip several beats.

"you do?" he breathed, his voice hoarse with emotion. "really?"

unable to speak past the sudden lump in you throat, you nodded. tears pricked at the corners of your eyes as realization crashed over you—this wasn't just sex in a bathroom. this was eddie. your best friend. the boy who'd always been there, who'd known you better than anyone, who'd seen every version of yourself and still wanted you.

“jesus, you have no idea," eddie said softly as he pressed his forehead against yours. "i’ve been in love with you since... god, i don't even remember when anymore. maybe forever. i just thought—" he cut himself off, laughing shakily as nerves got the best of him.

"i thought tonight would just be... i don't know. one night. something to finally tell you how i feel, even if you didn't feel the same."

"you idiot," you whispered with a soft chuckle, wrapping you arms around his neck. "of course i feel the same. of course i do. i just... i didn't want to ruin what we have. i guess i just didn't want to lose you."

"hey," eddie murmured, pulling back slightly to meet your gaze. his thumbs traced gentle circles on your shoulders, keeping you close. "you’re not going to lose me. ever. no matter what happens, okay? you’re stuck with me whether you like it or not."

you let out a watery laugh at that, pressing your face into his chest. he smelled like sweat and cologne, and it made your heart ache in the best possible way.

"i like it," you mumbled against his shirt. "being stuck with you."

he held you tighter, his chin resting atop your head as they stood there in the dingy bathroom, wrapped around each other in a cocoon of newfound vulnerability and relief. outside, the music continued its relentless thrum, but it felt distant now, unimportant.

after several minutes of silence, filled only by their steady breathing and the occasional drip from a leaky faucet, you pulled back slightly. your fingers played idly with the fabric of his blank tank as you asked, "so... what now?"

eddie’s eyes crinkled with amusement as he looked down at you. "well," he said, his voice taking on that familiar teasing tone even as emotion still roughened the edges. "i was thinking we could establish some ground rules for this relationship. first: no more flirting with lead singers of shitty glam metal bands." his tone was playful, but there was an underlying seriousness to it—the kind that came from someone who'd genuinely been hurt.

you giggled softly, the sound muffled against him. "deal. i’m now well aware of how jealous you get."

“oh, i was definitely jealous," he admitted, his voice dropping to a more serious pitch. "but that's not the point. the point is..." he paused, choosing his words carefully. "the point is that you're mine now. not just for tonight, but... i hope, for real. and I'm yours. so if you ever start talking to some guy at a bar or something, i’m going to lose my mind."

“deal,” you said with another giggle. “i promise i won't be seeking out other guys. i’ve got everything i need right here."

you sealed your promise by giving him a gentle kiss on the lips, to which he returned gratefully. he brushed a strand of hair from your face, his smile soft and adoring.

“good. now come on, let’s get out of here.”

the two of you slipped out of the bathroom together, fingers still intertwined, the door swinging shut behind you. a quiet, breathless laugh escaped your lips as you hurried across the sticky floor of the bar, weaving between tables and the few scattered patrons who hadn't yet migrated to the stage. eddie matched your pace, his grip warm and steady, his eyes bright with that particular kind of reckless joy he only ever seemed to get when he was high or simply just being in your presence.

the plan was simple—head back to his trailer, collapse onto that worn-out couch that smelled faintly of cigarettes and stale air, and throw on some movie neither of you would make it through before falling asleep tangled together. your parents wouldn't mind. they never did when it was eddie. they’d long since stopped asking questions, trusting you despite the way he looked—the leather jacket, the rings, the hair.

or maybe they trusted him, too. hard not to, once you got to know him.

on stage, the band was grinding through a couple of their originals, and they were fine, technically, but they lacked the swagger of the covers they'd opened with. the rhythm was a little off, the vocals straining where they should have soared. andy, standing at the mic with his guitar slung low, caught movement near the exit. his eyes found you first, then eddie, and his brow furrowed in puzzled confusion—a silent where the hell are you going? across the hazy, beer-stained room.

eddie paused at the door, the cold night air already creeping in through the crack. he looked back over his shoulder, caught andy’s gaze, and flashed him a grin that was all mischief and no apology. then he raised his free hand, middle finger extended as if to say: you know exactly where i’m going, asshole.

the door swung shut behind you, cutting off the sound of the band and the bar's low hum, and suddenly it was just the two of you under the parking lot's flickering light, your breath fogging in the cool air, his hand still wrapped around yours, the night stretching wide and open ahead.

you climbed into the van and turned up the radio the moment one of your favorite pop-punk songs came on. eddie groaned from the driver's seat, but you knew he secretly liked it. as metal as he was, he had a few guilty pleasures—pop punk was definitely one of them. he glanced over to you as the song hit the best part.

it was his favorite part, because it reminded him of you.

stop there and let me correct it

i wanna live a life from a new perspective

you come along because i love your face

and i’ll admire your expensive taste

you felt his eyes on you before you saw them. when you turned, your smile hit him square in the chest—soft, knowing, the kind that made his ribs feel too tight for everything inside them.

he still couldn't quite believe you were real, that this was real. that after so many years of wanting, of watching, of loving you from the careful distance of best friend, you were finally his.