Shameless Lurker

He doesn't want to embarrass Eddie by calling attention to his situation in front of everyone but also like. Monsters with no faces exist in Hawkins and they can crawl through walls. He cannot handle another Barb situation so...

Steve tries to be subtle when he approaches Eddie at school.

He's being so subtle and so casual when he says without really saying that he saw Eddie in the woods and he understands Eddie's *gestures at him* whole thing and like.

If he wants to come over sometime, Steve wouldn't mind. He'd actually like it (because than he'd know Eddie wasn't demo-food) and also, ""Lots of, uh. Beds. In my house. That's more comfortable than your van, am I right?"

Steve leaves this conversation feeling pretty proud of himself for his good deed.

Steve, twirling hair kicking feet: cute boy wants to hang out with me! things are looking UP!

He probably reads to Steve from the burn book as a form of apology. “Wanna hear everything bad I know about the guys we went to high school with”

Steddie // Modern AU // Meet Ugly // 2,447k words

“Badge for security clearance, please.”

The man stops in front of Steve, his eyebrows furrowed together in confusion as he looks Steve up and down. Steve continues to chew his gum, giving the man a bored look before blowing a bubble and letting it pop.

“Um, I’m Eddie,” Eddie, apparently, places a hand on his own chest like that’s explanation enough. “Eddie Munson?” 

“Hi, Eddie,” Steve swaps the gum from one side of his mouth to the other. “Badge for security clearance, please.” 

“I don’t have a badge, dude,” Eddie chuckles awkwardly. “Badges are for assistants and technicians. I’m a performer. If I do have a badge, it’s likely in the green room. I'll tell you what, let me through and I’ll gladly hunt it down for you.”

Steve stops Eddie from moving forward by placing two finger tips on his sternum, gently pushing him back. He blows another bubble, holding back a grin as he watches Eddie’s eye twitch like he can’t believe Steve’s audacity.

“No badge for security clearance, no entrance to the venue,” Steve explains flatly as he drops his hand away. “Sorry dude, them’s the breaks.”

“But I’m a prefor-” 

“Even "performers" need badges to gain access backstage,” Steve uses his fingers to make air quotes before crossing his arms back over his chest. “Please make your way down to the front entrance and take it up with the head office if you want.”

Eddie stands there, stunned before laughing with disbelief.

“But I’m Eddie,” Eddie throws his hands up. “This is ridiculous, I’m headlining this fucking show!”  

“And I’m Steve,” Steve tilts his head to the side, widening his eyes and talking slowly like he’s speaking to someone particularly stupid. “Steve with security. Which means if you don’t have a badge for security clearance, I can’t let you in. Simple math, Eddie.”

“It’s obvious you don’t know this, and that’s fine, but I’m kind of a big deal around here,” Eddie squints at Steve, his smile sarcastic. “Like I said, I’m headlining this show and I really need to get back there so I can get ready for the performance tonight. Surely you’ve heard of the headliner for the show you’re working on since you take your job so seriously.”

“Of course,” Steve says, his face indifferent. “His name is Kas. He plays with Corroded Coffin, who are all already backstage. I swiped their badges earlier. Nice guys.” 

“I know they’re nice guys, they’re my band, and that’s my stage name,” Eddie grits out. “Which I would love to prove to you but you have to let me back there in order to do that.”

Steve doesn’t respond, continuing to chew his gum while Eddie scrubs at his face out of frustration.

“Under different circumstances, this little bitchy indifference act would really work on me but as it stands I actually need to get back stage so I can do my fucking job.”

“No badge, no-”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah, I get it, thank you so much,” Eddie interrupts him, waving him off. “You’re an immovable pillar of securital integrity, your parents must be very proud.”

Steve feels expression tighten slightly, not dignifying Eddie with a response as Eddie continues glares up at him. 

“Who even added you onto the security team? I don’t remember seeing you before tonight,” Eddie squints at Steve suspiciously. “See, I take pride in knowing everyone on my team. It’s a courtesy thing.” 

“Dustin Henderson added me tonight because someone called out sick and I owed him a favor,” Steve explains boredly, privately mourning the loss of flavor in his gum. He’d have to grab a new stick as soon as he got rid of this persistent weirdo. “He’s the head technician and an old friend of mine. Since it’s your team and you know everyone, why don’t you just give them a call and have someone grab your badge for you?”

“That-” Eddie responds hotly, pointing a finger in Steve’s face before hesitating as soon as he’s taken in what Steve’s said. “-is a great idea, actually. Why the fuck didn’t I think of that?”

Steve quirks an eyebrow, continuing to chew his hardened, dull gum as he watches Eddie fish around in his pockets for his phone. 

Eddie pats his front pockets and then the back ones, grumbling to himself as his eyebrows furrow. His expression turns frantic as he slaps his palms over the decorated vest he’s wearing. He checks the inner pockets of the vest before dropping his hands back down to his pants pockets again.

Steve swallows his gum and shifts his weight from one hip to the other, his eyebrow raising even higher as Eddie continues feeling around for a phone that’s clearly not there.

“...Okay, so the thing is, I might have left my phone on-”

“Look, man,” Steve interrupts with a tired huff. “It’s clear that you really want to get back there so this band must mean a lot to you, which I can appreciate. But this is not the way to go about this. The Corroded Coffin guys seem like good dudes, I’m sure they’ll make an appearance at the stage door tonight after the show if you wanted to get some merch signed. But my friends are working on this show and I’m not going to let some random guy back there and potentially put people I care about in danger, okay?”

Eddie’s face falls from angry to sheepishly and guilty.

“Okay,” Eddie says with a tone of defeat. “Okay, that's fair. I have to hand it to you, you’re really good at your job, Steve. Normally, I would appreciate and commend you for but right now it’s kind of fucking up my whole evening.”

“Sorry,” Steve says with a small shrug. “Dustin would never let me hear the end of it if I messed this up for him. This job means the world to him.”

“Yeah, he’s pretty good at it too. Don’t tell him I said that though, he’ll turn into such a smug little bastard,” Eddie says with a forlorn sigh before his eyes widen with realization. “Wait! Dustin! You said he’s your friend, right?”

“Right,” Steve raises an eyebrow.

“Which means you have his phone number, right?” 

“Right,” Steve says again, his expression turning guarded. “It would be weird if I didn’t. It’s not like pen pals are super in these days.”

Eddie lets out a cackle of success, leaning into Steve’s space with a wide grin.

“Let me borrow your phone. I’ll call him and prove I’m not some freak groupie,” Eddie’s eyes sparkle with glee and mischief.  “Then would you let me backstage, Mister Doorkeep?”

“No,” Steve moves subtly back, his face heating up at Eddie’s close proximity. “Because you still won’t have a badge I can scan. Maybe I would if Dustin came down here and confirmed it but-”

“That’s fine, whatever works,” Eddie interrupts, holding his open hand out in front of him expectantly. “Your mobile device, if you would be so kind?”

Steve stares down at Eddie’s open palm, glancing back up at him with a doubtful grimace. 

“Come on, big boy. I won’t run off with it, I promise,” Eddie tilts his head to the side with a teasing grin. “Besides, even if I did you could probably catch me in, like, two seconds. Your thighs are insane, by the way. Do you run track in your spare time?”

“No, I coach a swim team for middle schoolers,” Steve says with an embarrassed frown. “All the flirting in the world isn’t going to save you if you actually run off with my phone, though. I will tackle you to the ground the second I think you’re going to run for it, I’m not kidding.”

“Promise, promises,” Eddie waggles his eyebrows as he watches Steve fetch his phone from his back pocket. “Thanks, Doll. You’re a life saver.” 

Steve grumbles under his breath as he watches Eddie type in a number, taking the free moment to fetch his pack of gum out of his pocket. He’s unwrapping a new piece out of its foil when Eddie glances back over at him.

“Ew, dude, did you swallow your gum?” Eddie asks, his nose scrunched up in distaste as the phone rings. “That’s gross.”

“Well, I’m not going to spit it on the ground,” Steve shoots him a look back, stuffing the new stick in his mouth. “That’s gross. I’m not some kind of animal.” 

“That gum is going to be in your stomach until you die, you know that right?” Eddie says with a haughty little shimmy of his shoulders. “The coroner will have to pump it out of you someday.”

“What? No way, that’s totally a myth-”

“Dustin!” Eddie cheerfully interrupts Steve as someone picks up. “Hey buddy, can you do me a favor? Tall, broad, and handsome here won’t let me through the stage door without a badge. Will you come grab me?”

Steve watches as Eddie listens to whoever's on the other line. 

“I told him that and he politely told me to fuck off,” Eddie glances over at Steve with a grin. “He said he values the safety of his friends or something ridiculous like that. Yeah, he’s a real peach. How long do you think it’ll be before you’re down here? I gotta make it to sound-”

Eddie’s interrupted by the door being yanked open behind Steve.

“-check.” Eddie finishes with a grin, hanging up the phone.

Dustin wheezes breathlessly behind Steve, leaning on the door frame with both arms.

“Holy shit, dude, did you run all the way down here from the sound booth?” Eddie hands his phone back to Steve who moves to the side so they can both stare at Dustin as he tries to catch his breath.

Dustin holds one hand out in front of him in the universal sign of ‘Just one moment please’ as he pulls out an inhaler and squeezes it before breathing in deep.

“Jesus, Dustin,” Steve says, rubbing his back with a concerned frown. 

“I’ve been looking for you-” Dustin grits out between wheezes. “-for an hour.”

“Don’t look at me like that, no one told me we added security badges.” Eddie holds up his hands in mock defense.

“Yeah, because you’d lose it and that would be another issue entirely.” Dustin glares up at him before snapping his gaze over to Steve. “And you!-”

“Oh brother, here we go-”

“-What the hell is the matter with you?!” Dustin throws his hands above his head in disbelief.  “How could you not know what the lead singer of the band you’re working for looks like?” 

“Well, it’s not like I was shown pictures,” Steve huffs back, crossing his arms over his chest with a defensive glare. “They told me no one without a badge can get in so I didn’t let anyone without a badge in. Sorry for doing my job.” 

Dustin groans, scrubbing at his face before moving out of the way and jabbing his finger down the hallway.

“You, get to hair and make up-” Dustin glares at Eddie before turning to Steve. “-and you! We’re having words later, so help me god.”

Steve rolls his eyes and turns away, mocking Dustin by repeating him under his breath with a high pitched voice. Eddie stares at him with enamored disbelief.

“Has anyone ever told you you’re perfect?” Eddie leans in close again, his smile growing as Steve looks at him with an annoyed frown. “Now that I can go, I almost want to stay.”

“Lucky me,” Steve says flatly. “And yeah, people call me perfect all the time. Why, did you think you were special for saying so?”

“Steve!” Dustin stares at him with a look that could kill. “What the hell is wrong with you? Come on, Eddie, ignore him.”

Eddie bites his lower lip, staring at Steve for a long moment before holding out his palm expectantly in front of him.

“...What?” Steve shoots a look down at Eddie’s palm. “I’m not giving you any gum after you were so rude about it earlier. Go find your own.”

“I want your phone, Dove,” Eddie explains with a silky voice. “So I can put my number in and call you after the show. I wanna tell you things that’ll make you think I’m real special.” 

“Oh, you’re special, alright,” Steve scoffs but digs his phone out of his pocket to hand to Eddie anyway. “Just not the kind of special you think.”

“God, you’re such a bitch,” Eddie says with a pleased little laugh as he types in his number. “What are your thoughts on marriage? There’s a chapel down the street.” 

“That’s a synagogue,” Steve rolls his eyes as he takes his phone back. “I’m not Jewish. Are you?”

“No, but it doesn’t matter,” Eddie leans in even closer, incredibly pleased to see blush taking over Steve’s face. “I’d marry you in a gas station parking lot, if you’d let me.”

“Promises, promises,” Steve says back, a light reminder of their flirting earlier. “Don’t you have a show to get to?” 

“Well, you told me I couldn’t get in without a badge,” Eddie grips the railing behind Steve with both hands, caging him in. “Guess I’m stuck out here with you until that gets rectified, right?” 

“Mm, I did say that didn’t I?” Steve looks down at Eddie through his lashes.

“You sure did,” Eddie licks his lips and leans in closer. “Dustin, will you be a dear and go grab that for me?”

“What? No, it’ll take me, like, thirty minutes to find that stupid thing. I’m not running around backstage just so you two can schmooze-”

“Thanks, pal, you’re a real dear,” Eddie sing songs before reaching out and closing the door in Dustin’s face. “Now, what do you think we can get up to in thirty minutes before the little squirt gets back?” 

“Certainly not marriage,” Steve snorts. “That’ll take an hour, at least.” 

“How about I tell you I want to get through that door real bad-” Eddie walks his finger tips down Steve’s chest, stopping to tap lightly at his belt buckle. “-and then show you all the things I’d be willing to do to get through it.”

Steve cocks his head to the side with a look of indifference but Eddie can see how heavy his breathing has gotten.

“No badge for security clearance, no entrance to the venue,” Steve says with a low voice, reaching out to tuck a loose curl behind Eddie’s ear.

And me.

article: “I suspect that a bit of the steam has gone out of the LGBT thing,” Backman told the right-wing outlet, staying ahead of the issue. “There may be the odd protester, but if they have got armies of PR people laser-focused on that then I suspect it may be OK.”

me: no surprises there... fuck them

sandwich recipe

“What – what’re you doing?” Steve muttered, his eyes wide and his heart thundering in his ears. And he knew way down in the pit of his stomach that he’d fucked up.

“Oh shit.  Sorry. I just . . . I mean. I thought . . .” Eddie spluttered, back up a step. His expression fell into a pathetic sort of frown that Steve immediately wanted to make disappear.

“Yeah, well – you thought wrong.” Steve snapped but he instantly wanted to take the words and his condescending tone back. He grimaced miserably.

Dusk was settling in and the sky shimmered on the water’s surface, turning the lake into a wash of purple and orange. They had decided to end their day at the lake with one last quick dip to cool off.  

An uneasy silence fell between them. He could feel Eddie staring at him, anticipating something and a sick feeling swam down Steve’s gut.

“Jesus you’re a dick, you know that?” Eddie smoothed his wet curls out of his face and scowled.

“Oh, I’m a dick?” Steve gawked at him. He knew he was a dick. In fact, Eddie could use much worse words and it probably wouldn’t touch what as ass Steve was.

“Yeah man like what the fuck gives?” Eddie walked back a few more steps. Each step further away felt like a crack to Steve’s heart.

“I mean, for the better part of a month you’ve been . . .” Eddie punches out an exasperated breath. “I dunno. You’ve acted like you’re into me or something.” Even in the dull light Steve can see how hard it is for him to get those words out. Eddie takes a measured breath. Steve couldn’t meet his gaze.

“Alright. Fuck this.” Eddie spat. And with that he stalked out of the water and up onto the shore. Steve watched as he snatched up his towel from the sand, hastily tied it around his waist and walked off, side-stepping their campfire and disappearing behind their oversized tent and the dogwood bushes.

Steve hung his head. This day was supposed to be perfect. But he’d fucked it all up.

He huffed and swam toward the bluff on the opposite side of the lake. By the time he reached the shore his lungs were burning and his legs were trembling. He pulled himself up onto one of the rocks and shook the water from his hair then clambered up to the tallest peak. He sat down and watched the water lap gently against the rock’s edge.

He tried to collect himself, but his thoughts slipped back to the past couple of weeks. There was no denying he and Eddie had grown closer. At the time, it had seemed harmless to sit with Eddie on the couch during a movie, Eddie’s head in his lap while Steve stroked his hair after a rough day. Now, though, Steve wondered if that had crossed a line beyond friendship.

And when Eddie came down with a migraine a few days later Steve had held his hair as the metal head puked into his trashcan. Steve cleaned that up for him too, without complaints. And then there were the nights they went bar hopping together, in the hopes to get laid but Steve couldn’t peel himself away from Eddie, smiling and teasing him on the dance floor. Heck, Robin had even caught Steve gawking at Eddie when his friend had gotten lucky and strolled out of the bar with some random dude hanging off his arm.

“You okay over there Steve?” Robin had asked.

“Never better.” Steve had lied and waltzed up to the first cute brunette he saw, used his good ol’ Steve Harrington charm, and two hours later he was fucking her into his mattress. He’d rolled off her feeling empty and sad.

And then there was two nights ago when he declared that he and Eddie should go camping. When Eddie had asked who would be coming he told him it would just be the two of them.  Eddie had looked at him differently, his gaze lingering. But it didn’t mean anything.  

Steve had been staring into the shimmering water daydreaming for so long he hardly noticed that the sky had turned to twilight. He let out a long sigh and gazed toward the lake and the glow of the embers burning in their fire. Their tent was dark. Eddie must’ve gone to bed early.

Steve’s heart felt like it was being squeezed so hard he nearly might suffocate. His breath became shallow and tears pricked his eyes.

“Fuck.” He muttered to himself. “Goddamn it.” He swiped his wet eyes.

And it all hit him like an anvil. He liked Eddie.

What the fuck was he running away from?

***

Steve gently opened the flap of the tent. The amber glow from the campfire illuminated the interior of tent enough to see Eddie lying on his side, his arms hugging a pillow. It might seem weird and maybe even a little creepy to be standing there watching his sleep. He knew he’d think the same thing if Eddie did that to him. But it wasn’t weird. It was validation. The way just being in the same space as Eddie seemed to slow the beating of his heart said everything.

He crouched down and crawled closer, careful not to disturb Eddie. He just wanted to maneuver himself to his side of the tent. As Steve was in mid-crawl when Eddie startled awake, his deep brown eyes glinting in the pale light.

Steve froze.

Eddie blinked up at him.

“I’m sorry.” Steve whispered.

Eddie’s eyes drifted to Steve’s mouth.

Warmth spread through Steve’s middle and collided with the hammering of his heart.

For a moment, neither of them moved. The tent seemed to hold its breath around them, all canvas shadows and fading firelight, while Steve stayed frozen over Eddie like one wrong word might send him running again. He could still hear the snap of his own voice from earlier, sharp and ugly, and shame tightened around his ribs. Eddie’s hand hovered between them, uncertain, his fingers curling once against the empty air before falling back to the blanket. Steve wanted to apologize better, wanted to explain that fear had made him cruel, that wanting Eddie had scared him more than anything else ever had. But the words jammed in his throat, too big and too late.

Eddie looked at him like he was waiting for the blow to land, like he had already decided Steve would take it all back. That nearly broke him. Steve swallowed hard and let his gaze drop, not to hide this time, but because he couldn’t stand the hurt in Eddie’s face. “I didn’t mean it,” he said, barely louder than the crackle of the fire outside. “Any of it. I was scared.”

Eddie didn’t answer. He only lifted a trembling hand to the back of Steve’s neck, thumb brushing softly at his hairline, and guided him closer until their foreheads touched, their breath mingled, and the space between them finally disappeared in a kiss.

Steve’s thoughts scattered. He had been kissed before, plenty of times, but never like this—never with so much ache, heat, and relief tangled together.

Eddie gradually pulled Steve on top of him causing him to take in a sharp breath.

“This okay?” Eddie breathed.

Steve answered by dipping down and kissing him harder and Eddie smiled against his lips.

“Fuck,” Steve panted. “I’m shaking. Why am I shaking?” It was a weird thing to say but his whole body felt like it was vibrating. Maybe it was all the pent-up feelings and desires finally finding a way out.

Eddie pulled back, his eyes roving Steve’s face so tenderly it made the jock’s throat tight.

“Let’s just slow down, okay Stevie?” Eddie murmured as he wiped a strand of hair away from his face.

Steve frowned and moved his gently bucked his hips forward. He could feel the swell of Eddie under him. The metal head’s eyes widened, and he sucked in his breath.

“But I don’t wanna slow down.” Steve muttered, a sly smile spreading across his lips.

“Shit.” Eddie smirked. “Why do I get the feeling you’re going to be a pain in my ass?”

“Interesting choice of words.” Steve chuckled.

Eddie tilted his chin and kissed him sweetly. “We don’t have to rush sweetheart.”

His words made Steve’s heart palpitate.  He rocked his hips against Eddie again. “Are you going to make me beg for it?” He whispered.

Eddie gripped Steve’s hips and pulled him forward. “Maybe.” He grunted.

“Ohhh. Uh.” Steve groaned before colliding their mouths together in a bruising kiss.

Their bodies rocked together. Hands roaming, breaths coalescing.

“Steve fuck.” Eddie moaned, gazing up at Steve, who ground his hip down, lips parted, eyes heavy with desire. His breath hitched once, then twice. He tilted his head up . . .

And a cry filtered out of the tent and sailed over the silvery water and danced up into the night sky.

I'm having a disagreement with my family, and it's turning into a whole Thing, so I turn to you, the fine people of tumblr