Thinking about King Steve who is never violent, never rough because be knows that gossip and information hold far more power than brute strength. If you piss him off he will start a rumor that will ruin your life. Like that Brenda C pissed herself on the school bus last week or that Grant on the lacrosse team does not only have a micro penis but it also not even a minute but a thirty second man.
Some of these rumours are just rumours but Steve is spinning nothingness into verbal gold and the people are eating it up. They love to hear what the King has to say and spread news like wildfire.
Sometimes though, sometimes Steve knows actual secrets. Things he doesn't spread, things he knows are delicate and dangerous and best kept close to his chest until he really needs them. Like that Tommy cheated on Carol with Sally from the cheer squad and she made him try on her panties. He only uses that one to keep Tommy in check, when Tommy smells blood in the halls of Hawkins High and his fingers itch to be closed into a fist and smashed into someone's face. No, the secrets Steve keeps are his real power.
How perfect that one Eddie Munson doesn't just deal drugs but dabbles in secrets as well. He might be loud and ever-present on the cafeteria tables but he knows how to make himself invisible too, knows hiding spaces and little nooks where you can catch all kinds of shenanigans. So he delivers the secrets to Steve and in turn, Steve keeps his jocks in check and away from Eddie's little sheep. It's a good deal, a perfect one even.
But just for insurance Eddie also has dirt on Steve that could put him on the high school guillotine quicker than he can say Marie Antoinette and Steve knows one of Eddie's secrets that could end up in everyone getting out their torches and pitchforks. It happens to be same secret: that they kiss every time they do their little exchange, that they fuck when Steve's parents aren't home or Wayne is at work, that if they were anyone else this might be considered dating.
Just that Eddie is in love with Steve and Steve is in love with Eddie is something they swear the other one can and will never know.
