Hyper Fixation Highway

But. Dustin had trapped him.

“Okay,” Steve says, rallying. “So not flowers. That’s fine. I can pivot.”

“You can’t pivot into a personality,” Lucas mutters.

“What was that?”

“Nothing.”

Dustin kicks Lucas under the table.

“Look,” Dustin says, leaning in. “The problem is Eddie thinks this is a joke.”

“Because Steve keeps acting like it is,” Lucas says.

Steve straightens. “I do not.”

“You laugh every time he flirts with you.”

“That’s because he’s…he says stuff like ‘my liege’. What am I supposed to do with that?”

Lucas opens his mouth, then closes it again.

Unfortunately Steve has a point.

Eddie flirts like he’s narrating a Shakespearean tragedy performed by a metal band.

Lucas sighs.

“Okay,” he says reluctantly.

Both of them lean forward.

Which is weird. Lucas does not like being the person with the plan.

But the thing is, now that he's paying attention, he knows the problem isn’t Eddie.

The problem is Steve.

Specifically, that Steve Harrington, former king of Hawkins High, cannot seem to believe that Eddie Munson might actually want him back.

Which, Lucas will admit privately, is kind of insane.

Eddie watches Steve like he's the last person on earth who hasn't figured out he's worth something. It's extremely embarrassing to notice and Lucas would really just like it to stop.

He clears his throat.

“You have to stop acting like he’s joking.”

Steve frowns. “But he is joking.”

“No,” Lucas says. “He’s hiding.”

Steve blinks at him like he'd just been handed a puzzle piece he didn’t know he was missing.

Dustin grins.

“Lucas,” he says proudly, “is our resident relationship translator.”

“I am not.”

“You absolutely are.”

Lucas ignores him.

“If Eddie says something weird,” Lucas continues, “you just… respond like it’s normal. Make conversation. Stop laughing."

Steve nods slowly.

“Like if he calls you, I don't know, 'my lord knight Harrington'?” Steve groans. “You say something like ‘Hi Eddie.’”

“That’s it?”

“That’s it.”

Steve considers this with the intensity of someone being given instructions to defuse a bomb. Then he nods again.

“Okay,” he says.

Lucas feels a weird flicker of satisfaction.

This might actually work.

------

It works immediately.

Which is the part Lucas finds most annoying.

Two days later they’re all in the Hellfire room again. Eddie is halfway through explaining some insane trap scenario when Steve walks in late.

Eddie doesn’t even look up.

“Ah,” he says dramatically, “the prodigal Harrington returns to grace us with—”

“Hey Eddie.”

Silence.

Lucas actually hears the moment Eddie’s brain short-circuits.

Slowly, Eddie looks up.

Steve is just standing there. Hands in his jacket pockets. Slightly nervous, maybe, but not laughing. Not brushing it off.

Just looking at Eddie. Eddie stares back.

Lucas feels Dustin vibrate with excitement beside him.

“Okay,” Eddie says finally, voice a little thinner than usual. “Well.”

He clears his throat.

“Take a seat, Harrington.”

Steve does. The campaign continues.

But Eddie keeps getting distracted. His eyes keep drifting back to Steve like he’s trying to solve a problem. Lucas pretends not to notice.

Across the table, Dustin scribbles something on a piece of paper and slides it over. PHASE ONE SUCCESSFUL. Lucas shoves it back.

He is not part of this operation. He is simply…adjacent to it.

Which is why, when Eddie corners him by the lockers looking suspiciously rattled, Lucas absolutely refuses to feel responsible.

“Your jock is acting weird,” Eddie says.

Lucas sighs.

“He’s not my jock.”

“Well, he’s not my jock.”

“Give it time,” Lucas mutters.

Eddie squints at him.

“Out with it, Sinclair. What's he doing?"

Lucas shrugs. Says nothing. Eddie studies him for a long moment. Then, unexpectedly, his shoulders slump.

“He’s gonna change his mind,” Eddie says quietly.

And there it is.

Lucas exhales.

“No,” he says.

Eddie snorts. “You don't know that.”

Lucas thinks about the way Steve’s been hovering around Hellfire for weeks. The way he listens to Eddie, like every word matters. The way he sought out Dustin, pretended he wasn't embarrassed, asked for help.

Lucas meets Eddie’s eyes.

“Yeah,” he says. “I kinda do.”

Eddie goes very still.

Lucas immediately regrets everything.

“Anyway,” he adds quickly. “If you blow this because you can’t stop doing medieval flirting, that’s on you.”

Eddie barks out a laugh.

But he looks a little less scared. He's smiling. It's...kind of nice. He's sad so often. It's nice to see Eddie genuinely enjoying some curiosity.

Lucas walks away before anyone else can ask him for help. He is absolutely not gonna keep running point on Steve Harrington’s love life.

But.

If Steve happens to ask him tomorrow what kind of music Eddie likes…

Lucas might have some thoughts.

Reluctantly.

Jeff and Brian stared at him in open-mouthed shock.

“The fuck you say?” Brian said, puffing himself up.

Gareth picked up the folder and flipped through it again. They had all been given a chance to go through it. “Most of this stuff is about story telling anyway. You two trying to tell me Eddie doesn’t have the chops?” he murmured, not even bothering to look up from the folder.

Eddie raised his eyebrows. He wasn’t sure why Gareth was backing him up on this shit, but he wasn’t about to look a gift horse in the mouth.

Jeff and Brian looked at each other, sputtering and making excuses, but Eddie knew Gareth had caught them by their short and curlies and the other two would fall in line.

“As enthralling as this all is,” Eddie said, lacing his fingers together, putting his elbows on the table and bringing his hands up to his face, “this was a courtesy, no more, no less. I don’t know all what those kids have been through, but can you look me in the face and tell me that you put your enjoyment over their comfort and risk destroying their love of D&D?”

All three of them stared at Eddie in open-mouthed shock.

“That’s a low fucking blow,” Jeff growled, “and you know it, man.”

Eddie said nothing, resting his chin on intertwined fingers, waiting them out. He batted his eyelashes at them expectedly.

“I’m with him on this one,” Gareth said with a shrug. “I don’t love the idea that there is shit we can’t do, but most of this stuff is lame anyway.”

Jeff and Brian shared another glance and then they both sighed.

“Yeah, whatever,” Jeff muttered, crossing his arms and looking away.

Brian threw up in his hands up. “It’s your club, your game, your rules, dude. But don’t come crying to us when you run out of ideas because that god damn folder has you around the twist.”

Eddie just grinned. He had an ace up his sleeve and that ace was Steve Harrington and his surprisingly vast collection of D&D material. But they didn’t need to know that.

“We shall see, gentlemen,” he said smugly. “We shall see.”

~

Come Monday morning the lunch table was far more subdued then normal. But that was okay in Eddie’s book. They were allowed to feel like shit after that last session. It would only be a problem if it continued too long.

Will picked listlessly at his sandwich. Mike looked over at him and bumped him with his shoulder.

Will glanced back and then sighed. “I wanted to apologize for Friday. I didn’t know I was that afraid of spiders until that moment. I’ve never been so embarrassed in my life.”

“You don’t have to apologize for anything, Will,” Mike defended hotly. “You didn’t know, and now you do. We’ll just make sure Eddie gives us a heads up in the future and you can decide if you want to come or not.”

“Mike is right and wrong,” Eddie said with a smile. “He’s right that you didn’t have to apologize, but I know what to avoid now and this goes to everyone of you. If you don’t want a monster, plot line, NPC as long as the request is reasonable, I’ll be sure to avoid it.”

Dustin tilted his head. “Steve actually gave you our list huh?”

The rest of the table grew quiet while Dustin’s friends hissed at him to shut up.

“No, no,” Eddie said waving his hand. “It’s fine. Yes, I got a list of things that might traumatize the freshmen, but I am still DM and control the narrative, regardless of what that looks like going forward.”

There was some uneasy stirring from the rest of the club, but wisely they decided to keep their mouths shut in front of said freshmen.

“I have a lot of fun things planned,” he continued brightly. “And I think everyone is going to enjoy it!”

The grumbling stopped as Eddie was bombarded with questions from the club.

Jeff sat back and licked his lips. He didn’t like that the freshman named dropped a ‘Steve’. There were certainly a few Steves around town, but the one that stuck in his mind was Steve Harrington, former king of Hawkins High and jock extraordinaire.

He looked over a Brian, who jutted his chin up. Yep, Brian had caught the name too.

But before Jeff could voice his concerns, the lunch bell rang and everyone scattered.

~

They had band practice after school so Jeff decided to confront Eddie about this ‘Steve’ fella before things got out of hand.

Jeff pulled up on time and was shocked to see Gareth and Eddie with their heads bent over some chicken scratch that looked more like Gareth’s writing than it did Eddie’s.

He got out of his car and then grabbed his own guitar out of the backseat. “Hey guys,” he said walking up the driveway to the garage. “What’s up?”

Gareth looked up at him and grinned. “I asked Eddie to come early and help me work out this drum section I’ve been working on.”

Jeff nodded and sat down across from them, planting his elbows on his knees and clasping his hands in front of him and waited.

After a moment or two, Eddie let out a pained sigh. “All right, what’s up, Jeff? You might as well get it out before you blow the whole practice to hell.”

Gareth reared his head back, looking back and forth between his two friends in confusion. “What now?”

Eddie looked up into Jeff’s eyes. “Something about the trauma binder, perhaps? You gonna bring it up again?”

Jeff looked behind him, but there was no sign of Brian even close to showing up and saving him from doing this. He let out a pained sigh.

“You want to tell me why you’re taking orders from fucking Steve Harrington about D&D of all things?” he bit out.

Gareth burst out laughing. “If the dude is involved at all he’s merely the ghost writer for the freshman and why do you care who they’re friendly with?”

Jeff’s jaw dropped and Eddie’s eyes bulged out of his head.

“What the fuck?” Jeff asked, picking his jaw up off the floor. “Because he’s a jock and a bully!”

Gareth just stared him in the eye. “Since when?”

Jeff reared back his head. “What do you mean since when? Since always!”

“I don’t remember him being a bully,” Gareth replied with a half shrug. “Like I was freshman when he threw off his asshole friends and started keeping a low profile. He actually went out of his way curb some of Hagan’s worst tendencies. So I’m asking Jeff, since when?”

Eddie eyed his best friend waiting for answer, but when Jeff didn’t have one he calmly said, “I have a lot more context for that whole shitshow and let me tell you, it’s a fucking mess. But let’s just say that our little freshmen are do-gooders with zero self-preservation skills and Steve’s been there every step of the way getting them out of trouble. But especially the mall fire where he was working at the time.”

Jeff’s head snapped his direction. “Harrington was in the mall fire?”

Eddie pursed his lips and nodded.

Jeff turned back to Gareth. “Did you know? Is that why you’ve been sticking up for him?”

“No,” Gareth said looking him dead in the eye. “I don’t have to know that to know he’s had a traumatic experience, I can tell he’s been through some shit just by looking at the guy.”

Eddie tilted his head to the side. “What do you mean, Gare?”

Gareth ran his hands over his face and let out a pained sigh. “Look, both my parents work. So sometimes Geth and I had to wait in the waiting room for my dad to get done with a patient so he could take us home. Harrington’s got that dead-eyed, thousand mile stare of the people who have seen some pretty heavy stuff. And if you fuckers had been paying attention, you’d know that those freshmen get the same god damned looks on their faces when they don’t think people are watching.”

He got his feet and stalked over to Jeff, towering above him. He poked his chest. “I don’t like having to dance around their issues either, but I’m not going to be an asshole about it because everyone should be given a bit of grace when shit like that comes up. It’s like insisting on a peanut butter sandwiches when you know Brian is allergic, but you don’t even fucking like peanut butter in the first place. You just want it because you’re being told you can’t have it. Well fucking tough.”

“Oh shit,” Brian said from behind Jeff.

He had been dropped off by his sister while they were arguing and they didn’t hear him come up.

“If you put it like that,” he continued as all three of them stared at him. “I guess it would make us jackasses if we protested, wouldn’t it?”

Eddie ran his tongue along his top lip and huffed out a laugh. “Yeah, man. You really fucking would.”

Gareth looked around at his friends. “Anyone else going to bring up stupid dog shit or can we fucking practice?”

Jeff and Brian rushed to get their instruments out of their cases and got into place.

It took everything Eddie had not to let the smile slip through as he adjusted the strap to go from sitting down to standing up.

Gareth sat down behind his drum kit and tapped his sticks together. “And one, two, three...”

~

Friday came again and this time the game went so smoothly, Eddie was sure it was the universe trying to make up for fucking him over last week.

It went off to rave reviews from the players with Will happily chatting with Gareth about their two magic users and how they should get together to play out how to complement each other’s load out.

Steve was waiting for them as they all spilled out of the doors.

Coming up behind them, Eddie gave Steve a thumbs up, which prompted a smile from the former king of Hawkins High.

Eddie let out a breath he didn’t even know he had been holding, sighing in relief. That was good. He had gotten a gold star in DM’ing which was totally a thing you could get.

Eddie trotted up to him as the kids piled into the BMW. “Hey, things went whole lot smoother this week, thanks to your little folder.”

“I’m glad it worked out,” Steve replied. “Now you should be able to master your dungeon to your heart’s content.”

“Oh my heart is very content,” Eddie teased, leaning in close.

Steve pushed him out of his space with his elbow. “Go on, you big dork. Don’t you have next week’s game to plan?”

“It’s called a session,” Eddie said with a smirk. “Something I’m pretty sure you knew. I’m on to you, pretty boy. You only play the big dumb bunny, but you’re one smart cookie.”

Steve was grateful that it was dark out so Eddie couldn’t see how hot his cheeks burned. “Yeah, I’ll see you next week.” And then ducked into the car to escape Eddie’s gleeful cackling.

Eddie moved to the side and tapped the top of car to indicate he was far enough out of the way for Steve drive off. Eddie licked his upper lip and grinned. Oh yeah, this was going to be his year.

~

Tag List: CLOSED

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Sunday evenings Ty ‘helped’ gather their bountiful offerings for the week and bring the bins to the end of the driveway with Steve. Moving back to Hawkins had been something he didn’t know would help settle him so much, he was a longshot from the nicer neighborhood he had grown up in but he’d been able to rent a small ranch close to the town center, it was walking distance to the library and a few local parks. Everything he really needed for the chapter of life he was in.

He and Ty were becoming familiar faces. Waving at neighbors and making small talk at the grocery. It was nice, even keeled, Steve was trying his best to set some foundations for his little family.

This particular Monday morning didn’t start off any different. Ty was up and (im)patiently awaiting the loud rumble from outside to alert him that the garbage truck was on their block, coming to their house, Steve couldn’t help but indulge him. Who knew if by this time next year Ty no longer garnered this excitement for such a mundane weekly happening.

The spring morning still held a chill but Steve didn’t mind holding onto his warm coffee mug as he and Ty made their way to the end of the driveway, ready to greet Martin to kick start their week—

But today, it wasn’t Martin.

This man was much younger. He wore the same uniform and workman’s gloves, but he had long wavy hair underneath his Waste Management baseball hat. He hopped out of the truck to rearrange their bins as Ty went hurdling towards him.

Steve close behind in his cozy slippers, still wearing his gold wire framed glasses as he reached out with the hand not holding his coffee mug to grab onto his kid.

The man froze looking at them, wide-eyed and playful expression, “Whoa! Is this Ty’s house?! Marty let me know there’s a very important truck inspector on this route.”

He had a rich voice and a hint of tattoos peeking out from anywhere skin was visible. He crouched down to Tyler’s level after pulling off his gloves to reach out and shake Steve’s son’s little grubby hand, “I’m Ty! I love your truck! Where’s Martin?”

The garbage man glanced up at Steve as he held back his laughter, the effort making dimples start to take form in his cheeks. Steve felt speechless at this non-Martin Monday revelation. The man was good looking, and being kind to his kid.

Shit, the combination felt deadly.

“I’m Eddie, I’ll be filling in for Marty for a couple’a weeks on his route, that okay with you, boss?”

Ty giggled and shook Eddie’s hand enthusiastically before letting go, “Yeah,” He looked back to Steve, “That’s okay, right daddy?”

The man, Eddie, looked up at Steve too, still crouched on Ty’s level. A smirk danced over his features, “This okay, daddy?” The man asked impishly.

Steve almost choked on his saliva. He caught himself and cleared his throat, “Any friend of Martin’s is a friend of ours.”

Ty cheered happily as Eddie stood back up to his full height, a bit taller than Steve as he tugged his gloves back on, “Well, you boys ready to see her in action?”

“Her?” Ty piped up.

“Yeah, my lovely lady.” Eddie held his hands up as if presenting a gold trophy and not just the garbage truck.

“Does she have a name?” Ty asked.

Eddie tilted his head inquisitively, “Hmm, you know what, you should help me name her.”

“ROBIN!” Ty exclaimed.

Eddie pretended to be blown back by the force of his words.

Steve barked out a laugh, “Ah, yes, Auntie Robs will love having a garbage truck with her namesake.”

“Robin it is, now wanna watch me put her to work, big boy?” Eddie said, locking eyes with Steve with a hint of flirtation.

Was that flirtation? Steve was so far out of the game he wasn’t totally sure. It felt like it.

“Yes! The front load dumpster!” Ty cheered.

Steve sipped his coffee and kept his gaze steady with the other man.

Eddie broke the eye contact and looked back to Ty, “And the boss knows the right names for the truck parts, Marty wasn’t joking around!”

Eddie tipped his hat to Ty and shot a wink at Steve causing a slow heat to creep up to his cheeks before making his way back to the truck, “Prepare to be awed!”

Ty clapped as he watched their trash empty out into the large bin compartment and Eddie give a big wave before heading to the next house.

Steve finally ushered the small boy back inside all while thinking about deep brown eyes and flirty glances. His coffee must not have kicked in yet, because he felt a little insane, even moreso he hoped to get a glimpse of Eddie next week.