#gardenwrites

You had just gotten back from another successful mission, with minimal bumps and bruises on everyone’s part, minus Wrecker, who, as per usual, had scraped up hands and a bruise to the shoulder. You had long since patched him up, applying bacta to everything and a few bandages to the worst of his cuts. They were not medically necessary, the bacta would do the job overnight, leaving only faint pink lines of healing skin in the morning, but you know he always feels more confident and complete in your care when he gets a small bandage. What a softie, that man. That leaves you. The worst off. You had thought you just tweaked your hip a while back, but when the pain persisted, you completed a med scan on the tender area. Much later than you should have, based on the results.

What you found was a bone malformation in your lower back, where part of your lowest vertebra extended far beyond where it should have been, creating what doctors aptly call a ‘pseudo joint’. Due to the bones rubbing together for so long, the scan showed extreme arthritis in the area. When you twisted wrong while supporting the weight of an injured civilian all those months back, you must have popped something out of place, causing the sudden flare up of pain in your hip and lower back. You had told yourself since then that it was merely soft tissue damage, that it would go away on its own if you gave it time. But it never did, and last night, after an excruciating pain flare that left you holding in sobs with the medbay door closed where no one would hear you, you chose to scan yourself. 

“What was that?” he asks, narrowing his eyes at you. You clear your throat, shifting on your feet, obviously uncomfortable. 

In the time after, you had done a bit of research on the condition, and ultimately knew you would need to go on medical leave for a procedure to remove the extra bits of bone. Then today, a mission that should have been easy for you to keep up with happened and you are struggling this evening in the aftermath. Somehow, just by running around in the field, completing orders, you’ve managed to overdo it, and your nerves are sending sharp pains down your leg, making it difficult to walk. Before this, you had never allowed yourself anything more than a basic, over the counter pain reliever, and it had never done much to calm the overactive pain signals. However, now that you know your pain is real, and caused by a serious issue, you are allowing yourself something stronger. You draw up half a dose of a heavier pain killer into a hypospray injector, double checking the dosage to your bodyweight. Your intent is not to be floaty, but to take the edge off.

You raise the injector to your inner arm, aiming for an artery for a faster delivery. As you press the tip into your skin, and click the release, the door to the medbay slides open behind you. The hiss of the injector finishes and you slam it into the waste container on the counter in front of you, whirling around to find Crosshair standing in the doorway. “Hey, I was just about to come to bed,” You smile, hoping he hadn’t seen your movements.

“That? That was uh…”

The door closes behind him. He crosses the small room halfway in one step, saying, “You’re a terrible liar, don't even try.”

You look everywhere but his gaze, the cot, the floor, your hands. Finally, “Pain meds.”

If his attention wasn’t already on you, it is now. He finishes crossing the room, stepping into your space. “Are you hurt?”

“I- well, not from today, and- and it’s not really an injury, per se.” He waits expectantly for your answer, catching your eyes with his gaze. “Yes,” you mutter.

“Where?” is all he asks, looking you up and down, searching for a sign of blood, bruising, or pain.

“It’s my back.” And before you have finished exhaling the words he is already spinning you around and lifting your shirt to look for the injury. Upon finding no broken skin, he runs a  hand down your spine, noting any reaction. 

“There’s nothing.” He says, pulling your shirt down and smoothing it before turning you back around to face him, resting his hands on your hips.

You raise your chin to look up at him. His face is stony, but his eyes betray him. There’s worry there. “I can show you.” You twist to reach the scanner from its charging port, sucking air through your teeth as a sharp pain shoots down your lower back. At the noise his hands flex slightly on your hips, but he allows you to do it yourself, watching your reactions to movement. You bring the scanner between yourselves, and log in, scrolling to find the scan you want to show him. You bring it up on the screen and turn the scanner around to show him. He takes it from your grasp in one hand, glaring at the screen as though it might show him the secrets of the universe. “There,” you point. To where the scanner shows a bone the shape of a butterfly wing jutting off of your spine. He breathes in, and out.

“What is that?” he repeats his query from just moments ago, substantially softer now.

“It’s congenital. I’ve had it since I was a baby.” You explain.

“Why is this the first I’m hearing about it?”

“I didn’t know I had it. I only scanned myself last night. I think I did something to hurt it back on that Devaron mission.” His eyes flick from the scanner up to you, calculating.

“So, you mean to tell me that you have been having pain for over two months,” he hisses. “And you didn’t think that was important enough to mention?”

You straighten. “We were busy.”

“You have been hurt, and taking care of everyone but yourself.” he argues, stepping back a bit. “How bad was it?” 

“What?”

“How bad was the pain last night, that after two months of ignoring it you finally decided to do a scan?” you shy away from the question, but he grips your chin gently, raising your gaze again. 

“Bad.” you whisper. He looks away, grinding his jaw and exhaling hard through his nose, then back to you. He pulls his hand away from your face and runs it through his hair, mussing the waves around.

“Kriff,” he swears, saying your name. “Why? Why would you keep that from the team? From me?” frustration leaking into his voice.

“I don’t know! It just got missed! We went on with the mission and then it felt too late to say anything.” You whine, trying not to tear up at being backed into a verbal corner.

“Got missed? Too late? I am your partner, you are supposed to come to me with your problems! It is never too late,” He growls. “How many nights have you snuck out of bed because you were hurting? How many times did you have the opportunity to wake me, so I could help you?”

“I don’t know.” you say, staring at the durasteel ceiling to resist the mist in your eyes. “Too many.”

He exhales harshly, then quietly says, “Let me help you.”

You blink, and the tears begin to fall. “I’m trying now, Cross.”

“C’mere.” He pulls you to him, one hand splayed between your shoulder blades, and the other in your hair, holding you below his chin.

“I’m sorry.” 

“Mm.” he grunts, not quite ready to admit forgiveness. He kisses the top of your head and just holds you as your tears dampen his shirt. Once your breath eases, the tears stop flowing, and his muscles relax a fraction, he asks, “What are we doing about it?”

You note his use of that word, an unusual softness from him, verbalized. Though, you remind yourself, everything about this situation is unusual. You sigh, defeated. “I’m not a doctor, not a specialist, but my best guess is that I’ll need a surgery to fix it. I’m just so frustrated that I can’t fix it myself.” A sarcastic ‘ha’ bubbles out of his chest. He knows you, understands your relentless need to be self-sufficient. He knows that if physically possible, you would do the damn procedure yourself. It’s one of the things about you that drives him the most crazy, but it is also one of the many reasons he fell for you. “I’ll need to tell Hunter. I can’t keep going into the field with you—not like this,” You say, pulling away from his chest to look up at him. 

“Hold on,” he says, unwrapping himself from you. 

And you wish that you could in the way he doesn't mean—staying safe in that place in his arms, where space and time doesn’t seem to reach you—for an eternity if you could. But what you do say is a small acknowledgement as he turns and walks back out of the door. 

He returns moments later, his brother in tow. He stands to the side of the room as Hunter gruffly breaks the silence. “What’s going on, Wings?” 

You glance from him to Crosshair and back again. You’re not sure what you’re looking for, but whatever it is, you don't find it in his perfected blank face. “I need to request indefinite medical leave, sir.” 

He straightens, at both the request and the title. Folding his arms over his chest, he asks, “Why?”

You explain again: the diagnosis, the pain, and when it started.

When you reach the part of your monologue about the mission on devaron, he stiffens, but lets you finish. “So you lied.” Not a question. 

You suppose it was a lie by omission, shrugging, guilty. “Yes sir.”

“Explain to me, Corporal, why you were willing to put the lives of your men in danger because of this.”

“I-” You are at a loss for words, standing tall. After all, you are the one who called upon rank, now you get to own it. That doesn’t mean you can bring yourself to look him in the eyes though.

“It was selfish, and reckless-” Hunter starts, angrily, when you don't answer.

“Enough.” Crosshair hisses, straightening from his leaned position against the wall.

“Stay out of it, Crosshair.” You and Hunter snap at the same time. He has the better sense to look mildly penitent about his interruption and leans back against the wall as before. If the conversation were a different one, you might have laughed when your and Hunter's eyes met.

“It was stupid.” Hunter finishes, turning his tone on you, and eyeing you carefully. 

“I am aware, sir. It will not happen again.”

“I expect not.” With that, what seems to be the last of his sternness melts away and his posture relaxes, and you allow yours to follow. “How are you? Really?” He asks, watching the way you shrink back into yourself, tensing as the years of militant muscle memory fade and the pain creeps back into your periphery. 

“I’ll live.”

“Ha. Right.” He shifts on his feet, looking from you to Crosshair. “Team meeting about this in 10.” He turns and stalks off, the door slides open for him, but before he passes through it, he tosses over a shoulder at you. “Oh, and Wings? You're approved.” He disappears around the corner, and the door closes.

“Well. I don't know if I’m turned on or scared.” Cross drawls from beside you, referencing your ‘medic voice’, as Wrecker calls it. It doesn't usually make an appearance outside of missions.

“Freak.”

“You love it,” he murmurs, snaking his arms around your waist from behind. He uses his position to bow his head and press his lips against your neck gently. You lean back into his warmth, leaning your head on his shoulder. 

“Mm. I suppose I do, but I love you more.” He says nothing, but presses his cheek against yours for a moment. You reach your hand up to cup his nape. It is not abnormal for him to have difficulty expressing himself through words, even just to you. He has improved with your nagging, but he will always be the person he is. You know this, and don’t hold it against him. Maker knows he loves you. And you know it too, based on the way he has allowed you to creep like a vine into his life, the way he has allowed you to take up space.

You let yourself bask in the moment for just a little while, naturally falling into a sway with him. He tightens his arms a bit, planting a firmer kiss against your temple. “We should get moving, meshbaar’ur.” 

“I know.” You turn in his arms, holding his face between your hands, caressing his cheekbones with your thumbs. Standing on tiptoes, you kiss him chastely, hardly giving him time to kiss back, but he does. And then because nothing in this maker-forsaken galaxy can be as easy as this moment, he guides you out of the medbay and to the shared space used for mission briefings. 

Wrecker is the last one to the meeting, as per usual, taking a position around the holotable, a ration bar in hand. 

“It’s late,” Echo states, covering his yawn with his hand. “What are we doing here?”

Hunter clears his throat, looking at you, and you give him a nod. His eyes jump from each member of the rest of the crew. “Wings will be going on medical leave. Indefinitely,” he adds, seriously.

“What? Are they ok? Are you ok?” Wrecker bellows, then asks softer, looking at you worriedly. Echo crosses his arms, giving you a suspicious look. 

“I assume this has to do with your recent scan?” Tech asks, not looking up from his datapad. His fingers fly across the pad, doing maker knows what.

“Well, yes, but-” You begin, when a large hologram of what you can only presume is your spine, appears above the holotable you are all circled around. “Tech…” you sigh, pinching the bridge of your nose. 

“What,” Echo intonates, pointing at the pseudojoint with his scomp. “...is that?”

“The problem.” Crosshair speaks up.

“This feels a bit personal. Everyone is staring at my bones.” You say, both joking and a little serious. 

“It is called Bertolotti’s Syndrome,” Tech explains. “And Wings seems to have developed a rather extensive case of arthritis because of it. It looks to me like it could need surgical intervention.”

“That’s why we’re here,” Hunter interrupts.

“So… you need surgery? Tha’s alright, when they fixed my face up good it only took a few days in the bacta tank. You’ll be good as new, right?” Wrecker asks you, smiling broadly.

“I am afraid it is not quite that simple. The spine, especially at the junction of the hip bones is integral for almost any type of movement. They will need several weeks of recovery to regain muscle and nerve strength before they can get back into the field. And unfortunately,” Tech looks up and meets your eyes with almost a hint of pity. He continues, “Without surgery, you will eventually lose mobility and be unable to participate in fieldwork– what is your current range of motion and pain level?”

“About a six out of ten on a regular day, unmedicated. I have lost three degrees in back extension and am experiencing muscle weakness in my right leg, presumably because of an impinged nerve.” You answer him honestly, ignoring the looks you receive from the others when you mention your pain.

He continues where he cut himself off: “Unable to participate in fieldwork within the next eighteen months, most likely sooner without proper rest and pain management.” 

Frustrated hearing it out loud, you say “I’m well aware of my timeline, Tech.” Crosshair stares at you now, pulling a toothpick out of his pocket and taking it between his lips. 

Echo is the one to break the heavy silence as they all watch you with varying shades of horror and worry. “How long have you known about this?” Hunter watches you with an expectant look and tilts his head toward them as if to say ‘well, tell them.’

“Less than twenty-four hours.”

Crosshair tuts around the toothpick, pushing it to the side of his mouth to speak around it. “They waited two months to say anything about pain though.” You give him a scathing look, and widen your stance, putting a tiny amount of space between you. 

“I think I misheard that,” Echo says, accusatory. “You’ve known about this for two months? And you never said a word—to any of us?” he asks, looking at Crosshair. Cross just shifts on his feet and raises a brow. 

“Look-” I sigh, crossing my arms defensively. “I already got the lecture from Crosshair and Hunter,”

He cuts you off, “And you're gonna get it from me now too. I know you’re strong-willed, but you’ve got to be kriffing kidding me. What if it was something more urgent? What if you couldn’t do your job?” 

You sigh again, “Yes, Echo, I know. I’m very stupid, and selfish, and-”

“You’re not!” He spits. “And that’s the worst part!”

You close your eyes, willing away the hot burn of tears that threatens to overtake you for what feels like the tenth time today. 

“Echo,” Hunter warns lowly. “That’s enough.”

“It obviously isn’t!” He retorts.

“Yes. It is.” Hunter ends. There is no arguing with his tone. Echo scoffs, shaking his head.

Tech says your name. “I’ll send the names and contact information of several specialists on Coruscant to your datapad.”

“Thank you. I think we should talk about a temporary replacement medic while I am on leave.” You can feel the room shift, and watching Cross, you see him stiffen.

“That… would not go over well,” Tech hesitates. “I will take over your duties in the meantime. However, I do think that a short reassignment to somewhere like The Resolute during your recovery would be beneficial.”

You think it over for a moment. It would allow you to recover in a more controlled environment with a full gym and under the watchful eye of a medbay full of medical staff. Plus, when you are up to it, you could be allowed to act as a medic there, building up your tolerance to working in the field again. “Actually that sounds like a good idea.” Tech ducks his head a bit, but the others speak up.

“But… You’d be gone for weeks?” Wrecker asks sadly.

Echo shrugs. “It could be helpful. This isn’t a good environment for people while healing.”

“I don’t like it, but I'll think on it, maybe reach out to Rex.” Hunter offers, rubbing his chin. You look to Crosshair, but he refuses to even look in your direction, the toothpick flicking back and forth before it snaps when he clenches his jaw. He reaches up to remove it before shoving it in his pocket. He doesn’t spare a glance at anyone before turning on his heel and walking away from the conversation. “Well, I think that’s the end of that. Get some rest, and Tech,” Hunter reminds. “You’re on first watch.” 

You all disperse, heading to various places to wind down before bed. You head to the ‘fresher to brush your teeth and change once you stop and grab all your things. Once done, you walk back to what is now your and Cross’ bunk, leaving the curtain around the second story bed open for him whenever he decides to join you. You get comfortable on the far side up against the wall and wait. And wait some more. You're worried about him, you knew as soon as Tech threw out that idea that he would hate it. By his own admission, you're turning him into a big softie, and he greatly dislikes being away from you now, most likely made worse by the fact that you’d be in pain and recovering from major surgery. You know where he is, but you also know that he needs time to come to terms with things in his own way, often being alone. A half an hour passes before you finally give up and give in to the heaviness of your eyelids.

You're roused to the edge of sleep by the blankets shifting and a warm body sliding into the bed behind you. You can hear the curtains shink along their pole as he pulls them shut around the bed. “‘M s’rry,” you mumble, hardly aware of yourself.

“For what?” his voice rumbles behind you, vibrating through the pillows, as he rolls you over to face him, tugging on your knee and shoulder.

You crack an eye open to peek at him, not seeing much in the dim light beyond a silhouette of him laying on his side, facing you. “Should’ve said I was hurting sooner,” you say. “We could have been done with this by now.”

Eddie relaxed further onto Steve’s chest and watched the rain trickled down the window, feeling more at peace. Steve wrapped his arms around Eddie and hauled his face towards him for a gentle kiss that was soft and loving. 

Eddie melted into the kiss, enjoying the gentle bliss that came with being around Steve. Eddie didn’t know a lot about what would happen later, but he knew that he loved Steve. He was scared when he first realized it because he fell so hard and was terrified that he would end up brokenhearted, but time after time, Steve showed him love that Eddie could never have imagined for himself. 

-

“I mean, I don’t really know what happened,” Steve said as he played with Eddie's hair.

They were laying in bed basking in the afterglow when Eddie asked about Steve’s songwriting. 

“I won the Indianapolis Teen Songwriting Contest. My parents were not impressed and told me to pursue something more worth my time, but I took that as a sign that I was supposed to do something important with my life when it came to music. I even still have the trophy to remind me of the dream,” Steve explained softly,  to not break the bubble they had found themselves in. 

“What happened after that?” Eddie asked

“I bidded my time in Hawkins until Robin graduated, and then we both decided that we had to get out, so we moved here to L.A. We were lucky that Joyce found us, and her mom instincts took over. She practically adopted us on the stop when we applied to work at the lounge. I tried on the side to do something with music, believing that it would happen for me because I was here in L.A. but then…nothing,” Steve answered, brushing a stray lock away from Eddie’s face. 

 “Well, you know what? I believe your music is ready,” Eddie said with a soft smile.

“The question is…are you ready?” Steve said as he began to trail his hand up Eddie's thigh. 

Eddie let out a quiet giggle before kissing Steve and allowing himself to be pulled into the moment. 

-

Eddie kissed Steve’s neck, immediately finding the twin moles on the side of it before gently sinking his teeth into the flesh there. Steve squirmed for a moment and chuckled out an “Eddie” before it morphed into a breathless moan when Eddie began sucking a new mark onto his neck. 

He continued his path further down Steve’s body, placing gentle kisses the whole way down. Eddie moved slowly, his breath ghosting over Steve’s skin as he refused to break eye contact. 

“Eddie, please,” Steve whined.

Steve’s whine went straight to Eddie’s own aching cock, he wanted nothing more than to feel Steve around him and fill the body that seemed like it was made for him but they were both still tired from their previous round and Eddie was just focused on making Steve feel good now.  

With one hand wrapped around the base of Steve’s dick, Eddie darted out his tongue to enjoy the now familiar taste of Steve’s arousal. Eddie felt high off the taste of Steve’s precum and he captured another bead of it at the tip of his tongue before he allowed the saliva to pool and dribble down Steve’s cock. Eddie watched with greedy eyes and hunger at the sweet mess he was making of Steve. 

Steve let out a gentle sigh when Eddie finally wrapped his lips around him as he took him in deeply, sinking deeper as time went by, in a slow, agonizing motion. 

“Fuuuck, baby…feels soooo good,” Steve slurred out.

One of Steve’s hands takes hold of Eddie's hair and digs into his tangled curls. Steve's grip is firm but isn’t insistent, with no pushing or pulling happening; he just holds onto Eddie while he sets the pace, keeping the movements of his head slow, steady, and agonizing. 

Eddie drags the pad of his tongue up and down the vein on the underside of Steve’s cock, knowing it drives him crazy. He laps, sucks, and indulges his longing for Steve’s desperate moans—the sounds of a man that is rapidly losing his grip on himself and his patience. 

Eddie lets his lips glide over Steve’s burning skin, collects the saliva and pre with his tongue; letting it curl against the leaking tip of Steve’s cock and down the length. He repeats this again and again until Steve’s breathless moans become more frustrated and the hand in his hair grips tighter, enough to sting and send a zap of pain down Eddie’s scalp and neck. Eddie doesn’t quicken his pace, though, and loves the tight grip in his hair; he knows Steve is close, he can feel it. 

“Eddie, baby, ah! Please, I–” Steve mutters.

Steve had become a mumbling mess of moans and heavy breathing. Eddie could only make out the occasional “Please” and “Eddie,” which made him feel good that he was able to reduce Steve to a stuttering mess. 

Steve comes a moment later, making a delicious mess as he spills down Eddie’s throat. It doesn’t matter how many times they have done this over the past couple weeks; Eddie will savor it each time. The bliss and calm of Steve’s face, the heaving of his chest, the way the light dances over Steve’s beautiful form. All of it makes it worth it to Eddie.

-

Keys jingled in the lock, and the sound of a door closing could be heard a moment later; it was soft and gentle. Steve paid no mind to it as he figured Robin was here and would leave the moment she saw the clothes strewn about the living room, only to come back later and make fun of him for it. Steve was about to roll over to Eddie and make a joke when the bedroom doors careened open. 

“I knew it!” Nancy yelled.

“Nancy?!” Steve exclaimed in surprise.

“You are a liar. A pathetic, sneaky little liar!” Nancy continued yelling. 

“What is she doing here?” Eddie asked Steve softly.

“I live here! What I want to know is why you are here!” Nancy shouted, turning on Eddie.

“I can’t believe I bought your bullshit. He’s nothing, he’s not even pretty, he’s just some guy I work with, you said,” Nancy argued. 

“Nance…” Steve said.

“Well, at least you were honest about one thing!” Nancy screamed.

“You said that?” Eddie asked gently, feeling his heart break. 

“I did not,” Steve said, looking at Eddie.

“Yes, he did,” Nancy replied smugly.

“I’m sorry, Eddie…can you just give me some time?” Steve said to Eddie with sorrow in his voice.

“You’re asking me to leave?” Eddie replied, on the verge of tears.

“No...” Steve began but was interrupted by Nancy’s yelling.

“Yes, you. I’m the fiancee.” 

“You told me that you broke it off with her,” Eddie said angrily, feeling his heart shattering into a million pieces.

“I did!” Steve exclaimed.

“You think you break up with a girl like me over the phone!?” Nancy screamed.

“You think you can barely call, extend your stay, and practically abandon me for months when you know that what I’m scared of the most…you left me, Nance,” Steve said, voice breaking and tears in his eyes.

Eddie didn’t know what was happening anymore; he just knew he had to get out of there. He made his way to the door when Steve stopped him. 

“Eddie…I’m sorry,” Steve remarked, tears streaming down his face.

“Yeah, well, so am I, Steve,” Eddie replied, gathering his things and leaving.

As he made his way down the hall, he could hear Steve and Nancy arguing and just picked up his pace.

-

Eddie knocked on Chrissy’s door, waiting anxiously for her to open. He was instead shocked to see Robin draped in a blanket. 

“Oh, sorry! Did I interrupt something? I’ll come back later—” Eddie muttered.

“I’m happy for you two!!” Eddie exclaimed as he made his way back down the stairs.

Robin stopped him, grabbing his wrist and pulling him back towards the apartment. She led him down the hall to where Chrissy was still in bed.

Robin cleared her throat, which got Chrissy’s attention, and she looked up at Eddie.

Eddie gave her a polite smile before trying to make a break for the door while Robin held onto him, getting him nowhere. 

“Hi, what are you doing here?” Chrissy asked softly, turning over in the bed.

“It’s a long story...I shouldn’t have come here. I obviously interrupted something,” Eddie replied awkwardly.

“Nonsense, nonsense. You want any coffee?” Chrissy asked with a wave of her hand.

“Um…yeah, sure. I’ll go make coffee while you and Robin get better acquainted…” Eddie said, turning away from the bedroom towards the kitchen. 

-

In the kitchen, Eddie was scooping coffee grounds into Chrissy’s French press when his phone rang.

“Hey,” Eddie said.

“Hey, gorgeous,” Henry said on the other end of the line.

Eddie huffed a sigh, he would be lying if he said he hadn’t hoped that it was Steve calling.

“Oh. Hey, Henry,” Eddie replied, trying to hide the disappointment in his voice.

“You okay? You sound down.” Henry asked.

“I’ve been better,” Eddie replied glumily.

“Well, I have just the cure,” Henry said.

Eddie could hear the smirk in his voice over the phone but figured he should ask regardless to be polite.

“What’s that?” 

“Me. Why don’t you come over for dinner?” Henry remarked.

Eddie dropped the spoon he was using against he countertop and let out a sigh. He was tired of being used by others, and his heart was already in pieces, so he decided that he would go see Henry on the condition that he would end their not-relationship for good. 

-

Nancy gathered her things from the apartment, and with a swift slam of the door, Steve was alone.

Steve thought back to the last couple of months of their relationship and how bad everything had gotten. He then thought of Eddie and the light that he had brought into his life.

“SHIT! I got to go find Eddie,” Steve exclaimed into his empty apartment. 

-

Steve pulled up to Chrissy’s house, figuring that it would be the most likely place Eddie would go. He noticed Robin saying goodbye to Chrissy and smiled to himself for a moment before remembering why he was here in the first place. 

“Is Eddie here?” Steve asked Chrissy.

“Oh, umm…Eddie left. He went with Henry,” Robin replied, descending the stairs.

“Is that true?” Steve asked Chrissy.

She gave him a nod before he turned back to Robin on the stairs. 

“Yeah, he left a couple of hours ago. I told you that opportunity wouldn’t knock forever,” Robin said, looking at him sadly.

“You're right, it doesn’t,” Steve replied, a mix of sadness and anger in his voice. 

Both Robin and Steve descended the stairs before Chrissy called back to Robin and invited her to lunch. Robin looked to Steve for a moment before he gave her a firm pat and told her to “go get her girl.”

-

“I just wasted my whole goddamn afternoon talking with the vice of loan. This asshole–No, wait, he didnt even look me in the eye. He just sat there playing with this wooden thingy on his desk,” Joyce ranted to Steve and Robin. 

Steve had come in on his day off because he needed to be distracted from Eddie. In this moment, however, he cared more about supporting Joyce however he could; she was the closest thing to a mom that he had, after all. 

“What thingy?” Steve asked

“The long wooden block thingy,” Joyce exclaimed, exacerbated. 

“The nameplate?” Robin asked gently.

“Yes, the nameplate,” Joyce said, her voice full of emotion. 

“And?” Steve asked her softly.

“And…he’s not going to me the money,” Joyce replied, voice breaking, tears welling in her eyes. 

Her dream was going to be ripped away like that. Her dancers, who had come to feel like family, would be broken up and scattered to the wind, and that wasn’t fair either. She needed this place, and it needed her, so what was she going to do now that she was losing it?

“Are you sure?” Steve asked.

“Yes, I’m sure. I’m not a good risk, apparently, and now I have two days before the bank takes the club,” Joyce murmured, tears streaming down her cheeks.

Steve and Robin looked at each other for a moment before Robin spoke up. 

“Well then, I would say the situation is pretty bleak.”

“And I would say that you two are both masters of the fucking obvious, why did you say that?” Joyce said angrily, looking between the two who stood in front of her. 

“What do you mean, why did she say that? Because it’s the fucking truth. Joyce, it’s not a judgment; it’s the truth,” Steve retorted. 

Maybe he would later blame it on the fact that his heart was in pieces and he was damn miserable, but Steve let Joyce know exactly what he thought. The phrase misery loves company would apply greatly here because more than anything, Steve was done being the optimist who told everyone that it would be fine because his life had just blown up and everything was not, in fact, fine. 

“You don't have any money, the bank won’t give you a loan, it’s the eleventh hour…hello?” Steve reacted. 

Steve thought for a moment and smiled, choosing his next words very carefully. 

“If I were you, I would take Henry’s offer now” Steve said knowing it would piss Joyce off, which is exactly the reaction he was looking for. 

He needed her riled up because then maybe she would realize that the fight wasn’t over yet. 

“No. And you don’t get to say that to me. I can take the sky is falling from everyone else but not you. I need you to be the one who says: It’s only a number, Joyce. We have killed ourselves these last couple of years to keep this place going. How can you just walk away?” Joyce asked angrily, tears drying on her cheeks. 

Robin looked at Steve wide-eyed. He looked at her and then back to Joyce, giving a gentle shake of his head to her, which only seemed to rile her up more.

“I don’t care if you walk away, I don’t care what happens. I would beat down the door of every bank in L.A. if I had to, but I will never give up on this club,” Joyce exclaimed. 

Robin and Steve stood in silence for a moment, glancing over at the room and then each other before Robin smiled and asked, “Are you sure?” 

“I will never give it up,” Joyce yelled with conviction. 

“Hmm, there she is,” Steve said with a wide grin.

Robin’s face broke out into a bigger smile, and she then pulled Steve and Joyce into a hug with her.

“You guys are such assholes. You know that?” Joyce whispered into their group hug with a chuckle. 

“Thank you,” they both replied before they broke apart and set off to do their respective jobs. 

-

Eddie climbed the stairs of Henry’s home. He glanced around for a moment, taking in the view of L.A. and the sight of the man himself out by the pool when a building model snagged his eye. 

He glanced over the building models, admiring the setup, when he noticed a familiar address. 

“Hope you’re hungry; steaks are on,” Henry said with a smile.

“What is this?” Eddie asked, motioning to the model in front of him.

“Right now, it’s model. When it grows up, it’ll be a multi-use space, residential, retail…you name it,” Henry said, continuing to smile.

“But this is the Burlesque Lounge,” Eddie said, crossing his arms over his chest. 

“Best view on the Sunset Strip with no windows. When I’m through with it, it will have a thousand” Henry said in a way that was supposed to make Eddie impressed with him.

“Does Joyce know about this?” Eddie asked firmly.

“Joyce knows I have made an offer,” Henry said nonchalantly.

“What makes you think she would sell?” Eddie spat out.

“I don’t think she has a choice; she’s going under,” Henry stated plainly. 

“It’s a win-win situation for everyone. It’s business, not personal,” Henry explained. 

“Yeah? Well, I think it’s personal for Joyce. And for Barbra and Robin and Steve and Chrissy and…and what about me?” Eddie asked, exasperated.

“There are other clubs that you can sing and dance in, better ones,” Henry said with a smirk.

“You don’t get it,” Eddie huffed out as he began to gather his things. 

“I don’t understand…I’m trying to do something that benefits everyone. How does that make me the bad guy?” Henry said, looking at Eddie like he grew a second head. 

“It doesn’t, Henry, it just makes you the wrong guy,” Eddie explained simply.

With his things in hand and armed with new information, Eddie descended the stairs out of Henry’s home. 

-

“Hi, how did it go at the bank?” Robin asked softly. 

“This good,” Joyce said with a scoff, holding up a liquor bottle.

“You want a glass for that?” Robin joked, trying to lighten the mood. 

“No, no. I am way beyond a glass,” Joyce replied dryly. 

“Joyce, I got to talk to you,” Eddie breathed out, tired from rushing over here. 

“Oh, not right now,” Robin said quickly. 

“Henry is going to tear down the club and build a skyscraper,” Eddie rushed out before Robin could stop him.

“And how do you know this?” Joyce asked, already annoyed.

“I saw the model,” Eddie explained simply. 

“I didn’t know you and Henry were close,” Joyce said.

“We’re not, but I…I rushed over here to tell you,” Eddie stuttered out. 

“Don’t you think you’re spreading yourself a bit thin? Steve, Henry, and whoever else,” Joyce scoffed.

This made Eddie mad; he was just trying to be helpful, and here Joyce was shaming him like he was a child. 

“Joyce, I’m trying to help you,” Eddie said, raising his voice. 

“Let it go, let it go, let it go,” Robin repeated, grabbing Eddie’s arm to prevent him from following Joyce. 

“She needs to listen to me,” Eddie exclaimed. 

“She can’t right now,” Robin explained calmly, but Eddie was having none of it. 

“She’s going to hear me. Watch this,” Eddie said, pulling out of Robin’s grasp and racing up the stairs to follow Joyce.

-

“Joyce, I got to talk to you,” Eddie said, once he reached Joyce’s office.

“You could knock. This is still my office for the next 48 hours,” Joyce said dryly.

“Then you really need to hear what I have to tell you,” Eddie interjected. 

“No, I don’t. I’m tired of talking, I’m talked out,” Joyce stated. 

“I don’t want to–” Joyce yelled.

“This time, you’re going to hear me out,” Eddie shouted over her. 

“I don’t want to hear you out!” Joyce exclaimed loudly over Eddie’s increasing volume.

The arguing had ramped up at this point, and it could surely be heard from outside the office, but Eddie didn’t care. He had to let Joyce know of his plan because he refused to lose the club he loved working at. 

“Do you ever listen to anything other than the sound of YOUR OWN VOICE?!” Eddie screamed. 

Joyce was stunned into silence for a moment and appeared to be mulling something over for a moment before a small smile broke out on her face. 

“Talk,” she said.

“Have you ever heard of air rights?” Eddie asked, out of breath from arguing. 

“No, I’ve never heard of air rights. What are air rights?” Joyce huffed. 

-

The next day, Joyce and Eddie made their way over to the highrises across the street from the lounge. Joyce had called ahead and made an appointment to talk with the owner of the development; she just hoped Eddie’s plan was going to work. 

Inside the office, the development owner was on the phone and chuckled for a moment to the person on the other end as he watched both Joyce and Eddie sit down.

“I’m going to have to call you back,” He said into the phone before turning to face his audience.

“By all means, have a seat. What can I do for you?” He asked.

“A few years ago, you wanted to buy my club, and I said no,” Joyce began.

“And what, you changed your mind?” He asked, simply.

“No, but bear with me for a second because I promise that this is going to have a happy ending for the both of us,” Joyce explained.

“You know, how much are you planning to sell your condos for?” She asked. 

“Well, they start at a million and go up from there, depending on the view,” He stated.

“That’s beautiful,” Joyce said, looking through the book in front of her. 

“So, what if I told you that a 20-story office building was going up where my club is?” Joyce chuckled.

The man chuckled for a moment, and Joyce looked over to Eddie.

“That would block his view,” She stated to him.

“Ten stories would block his view,” Eddie said, all chipper.

“Yeah, gone,” Joyce said with a gentle nod and wave of her hands. 

“The way I see it, your beautiful million-dollar ocean and city views are just going to vanish into thin air,” Joyce explained with a smile.

“Vanish,” Eddie parroted. 

Joyce went on to explain how she planned to sell the club to a developer who wanted to put up a 20-story building that would be way under way by the time he would like to start selling his condos.

“I’d listen to her,” Eddie said as he sat back and watched Joyce and the man talk business.

-

Lonnie was sitting at the bar, looking over documents, when Joyce made her way over to him. He looked up once she sat down, and once she was situated, he began to speak. 

“We’re going to have to auction off everything. Anything you want me to try and keep for you?” He asked softly.

“No, I just want to try and do what is best for the both of us,” Joyce explained gently. 

“You’re going to shoot me? Please,” Lonnie asked kindly.

“No. I’m going to buy you out,” Joyce said with a smile. 

“In the next 24 hours?” Lonnie asked, confused. 

“No, in the next 24 seconds,” Joyce said, the smile growing bigger.

She placed an envelope in front of Lonnie, and he cautiously took it and opened it, seeing that it was a check for 500,000 dollars, meaning that the club was out of debt. 

“Where did you get this?” He asked sincerely.

Joyce looked up to the sky for a moment before replying, “Thin air.”

Lonnie took off his glasses and looked at Joyce for a moment, stress melting away from his face when he said.

“Oh, baby, thank you.” 

-

Joyce made her way over to where Eddie was sitting at the bar and stood next to the stool he was on. Eddie slowly turned around to face the same direction Joyce was, and he admired the club for a minute before he opened his mouth. 

“What would really make me so happy…is to hear from you…a great, big, giant, fat: thank you, Eddie,” Eddie said with a smirk.

Joyce jabbed at Eddie, and they joked for a couple more minutes before Eddie turned and got up to go get ready for the performance. 

“Thank you, Eddie,” Joyce muttered the moment that Eddie was out of earshot.

-

Joyce sipped her drink for a second before Robin saddled up next to her.

“So this is what happens when you get a little money? You stop doing manual labor, I’m back there with broken zippers, ostrich feather fans that won't open or close, you have no idea what it’s like. No idea; I quit. Quit,” Robin joked as she waved broken bits of different costumes at Joyce. 

-

Eddie saw him in the mirror before he was coming up to the vanity; Steve stood there looking pitiful before he looked at Eddie and began to speak.

“I’ve been looking all over for you,” Steve joked lightly.

“Well, you found me,” Eddie joked back, sadly.

“I want to talk to you,” Steve said gently.

“Steve, I really have to get ready,” Eddie said dryly.

“I know I messed up, okay? Bigtime—” Steve began.

“When? When you lied to me about your engagement being over or when you kicked me out of the apartment?” Eddie said, cutting Steve off. 

“It really was over, okay? She’s gone. I would have never cheated on her. Our relationship was rough at the end, but I still loved and respected her. I also would have never used you like that. You don’t deserve that, which is why I’m here to apologize,” Steve explained gently, looking at Eddie with such fondness that it made him hurt. 

Eddie ducked his head and looked away from Steve, which made Steve sad. Steve lifted Eddie’s face with his hand so that he would look at him. 

“No, no. Hey, I never should have let you walk out that door. From the moment I laid eyes on you that very first night, I knew you were something special. I was with Nancy, so I pretended like you weren’t the most gorgeous person to ever walk the planet. You lit up my life in a way that I had never experienced before, and it made me realize that I didn’t like the way I was living. So I broke it off with Nancy. I wasn’t lying when I said that; she just decided that I didn’t really want to break up with her. But that doesn’t matter because I realized that I would do it all over again, have you mad at me a hundred times over if it meant I got to keep you. I would walk through hell and back a thousand times over if it meant I got to see you smile and I was the reason for it. In a thousand universes, I would find my way to you and choose you over and over again. You are the moon in the sky, my guiding star, the light in the dark; you are everything to me, and I want you to come back if you’ll have me. I love you,” Steve whispered to Eddie, looking deeply into his eyes the entire time so that Eddie knew he meant it. 

“So what’s the proposal exactly?” Eddie asked with a soft smile on his face. 

“Well, I still have that full box of cookies and an empty day bed,” Steve said with a smile.

“I want the bedroom,” Eddie blurted out quietly.

“Half, you can have half the bedroom. So are you in or out?” Steve asked with a smile. 

“Oh, Steve, you see, I’m the kind of boy that helps out when a friend's in trouble that just who—” Eddie teased.

“Shut up,” Steve said, cutting Eddie off to pull him into a passionate kiss. 

Eddie melted into the kiss, and they stayed like that for a moment before Steve pulled away and planted a gentle kiss on Eddie’s forehead and then started walking away to allow him to get ready. 

“By the way, I love you too,” Eddie said. 

Steve turned around a moment later and gave Eddie a hopeful smile. 

“I finished a song. I think it’s pretty good.” 

“Can I hear it?” Eddie asked hopefully.

“No. But you can sing it,” Steve said, handing Eddie a sheet of music with a smile.

-

Underneath the city lights

There is a world few know about

Where rules don't apply, no

And you can't keep a good girl down

The marquee that read “Burlesque” lit up on cue, revealing all the dancers on top and around the letters. 

She comes through the club looking for a good time

Gonna make that, shake that, money on a dime

Don't need a sugar daddy, she can work it just fine

Up on the table, she'll be dancing all night

At this, the spotlight found some of the dancers in the audience as they one by one got up onto the tables.

Hey, hey, yeah, hey, Babydoll, just come to life

Under the spotlight

All the girls wanna fall in line

We say

He-eh-eh-hey

Here come the ladies 'bout to give a little show

He-eh-eh-hey

Here go the boys, you gotta show a little more, more, more, more

Steve nodded along to the music, happy that the performance was going well.

Hit it up, get it up (Won't let you rest)

Hit it up, get it up (This is not a test)

Hit it up, get it up (Gotta give me your best)

So get your ass up, show me how you burlesque

Hit it up, get it up (Won't let you rest)

Hit it up, get it up (This is not a test)

Hit it up, get it up (Gotta give me your best)

So get your ass up, show me how you burlesque

Joyce smiled at Robin and pointed to Eddie as he danced and sang around the stage. 

Okay, girls, let's show them how it's done

It ain't over 'til we say

And we’ve only just begun

The number they had put together around Steve’s sound was high energy and fun, with the girls all over the place before they gathered onto the stage.

Lemme hear you say

Yeah-eah-eah-eah

Say yeah-eah-eah, yeah-eah-eah

Say yeah-eah-eah-eah, yeah!

Say yeah, yeah, yeah-eah yeah

As Eddie belted out the notes, the club erupted into applause, and he as he took it in he realized that everything he had ever wanted he had now. He had a found family of wonderful people and a job he loved, and most importantly, he had Steve, a man who loved him, and he loved back. Everything turned out alright in the end, and Eddie couldn’t have asked for more.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

And that is a wrap on this fic. I had a blast writing it, and I hope you all enjoyed it along the way. This is my first properly long fic, and it included a lot of firsts for me. I'm more of a reader of fan fiction than a writer, so hopefully, this was an enjoyable experience for my readers. I love the story of Burlesque so much and hope I did it justice when Steddiefying it. Thank you all so much for reading. <3

-

Taglist:

@irregular-child

“Well, after reviewing your chart and scans, I believe that you are a candidate for an elective revision of L5, however,” The Pantoran woman explains. “There are very few cases of this procedure on record, and all of them were performed by biological life forms, not droids.” You watch the doctor’s transparent figure hovering above your holoprojector in what must be utter shock, based on her reaction. “I know. I will have to be the one performing your procedure, as we do not have ample data to train a droid on. I am confident in my abilities to complete it though, and should you wish to continue, I will discuss the best methods with my colleagues.”

“I don’t see another option, doctor. I trust that you know what you are doing,” You find yourself saying to her. You glance towards Crosshair from the desk, where he sits on the edge of the medbay cot, appearing as though he has not moved since the call began. He holds his perfected blank mask of an expression over his features, but in his eyes is something unreadable. 

Doctor Asichi sighs and clasps her hands in front of herself professionally. “Then I suppose we should discuss the risks. I know you are a medic with knowledge of anatomy, but I need you to understand the seriousness of the possible outcomes.” You cross your arms over your chest at her words, listening. “There is a chance of nerve damage, both sensory and motor, due to where the nerve root exits the spinal canal. Should something happen to it during the procedure, you could lose both feeling and control of parts of your right foot and lower leg. To be completely honest there is a chance that I get in there and decide that we should reevaluate, and close you back up. Do you understand and consent to the risks?”

“Yes, I do.”

“Good,” she says. “Then I would like to see you in my office at oh-five-hundred standard time in two days’ time when you are back planetside. Any questions?”

“Yes actually,” you begin, clearing your throat. “What will my recovery look like? And how long will the surgery itself take?”

“Well, of course it depends on how the procedure goes, but should everything go to plan, you should be walking the same day, and back into the field within about four weeks with intense physiotherapy and treatments to retrain your muscles. As for the duration? Eh-” she thinks for a moment, looking away from you. “Probably around two and a half hours, but I will give you and your commanding officer a better time frame day-of after speaking with my colleagues.”

“Alright. Everything sounds good to me.”

“In that case I will send all of the important documents for you to sign over to you, and I will see you in a couple days. Take care.” 

“Thank you. You as well,” you say politely, before hanging up the video. You spin your stool to face the cot just as Crosshair stands up to leave. “And just where are you going?”

“Firepuncher needs cleaning,” he says shortly. 

“You have cleaned that rifle three times since our last mission.” You stand, meeting him.

“You sure had an easy time making that decision on your own.”

“Seems like you have it handled.”

“What is that supposed to mean?” you ask, incredulous.

You squint at him, racing through the conversation he sat in on, trying to follow your thoughts to where you think his might lead him. “What exactly is the issue?”

“...Nevermind.” he finally says, pushing past you.

“No, Cross. Tell me,” You stop him with a hand on his chest, stepping into his path. You think of all the times he has shut you out like this and run through them in your head. “What are you afraid of?”

He sighs, hanging his head, defeated. Then he meets your eyes and murmurs your name. “You have time now, but if something goes wrong…”

You inhale sharply, understanding flooding you. “I’ll be pulled from fieldwork and reassigned, permanently." You nod slowly as you say it and he tucks hair behind your ear from where it had fallen. You want to promise him nothing like that would happen, but empty promises won’t help him. “At the rate I am going, that will happen within the year, anyway,” you clench your hand in his blacks, focusing him, willing him to listen to you. “This surgery gives me a fighting chance to avoid that outcome. I either do nothing and fail, or do something and have a chance of succeeding.”

“I still don’t like it.” He murmurs.

“It’s the hand I’ve been dealt, and I will go down swinging if I have to.”

He cocks his head, a wry smirk just tugging his mouth. “You’d fight your own nerves for me?” He teases. But fully serious, you nod. His smirk disappears. He strokes your cheekbone with his thumb before moving his hand to the back of your neck, pulling you into him. He kisses your hairline, and wraps his other arm around you. 

“It’s going to be alright, Cross,” You say lightly, while squeezing him into you.

The door behind you opens, startling you from your thoughts, and Hunter strolls into the small kitchenette and dining area where you stand, staring at the caf maker. Your arms are crossed over your chest, almost defensively as you turn to look at him. 

“Same idea?”

“Yep,” he replies, just as blunt. You turn back to the counter where the machine is trickling dark water into the carafe.

“It’ll be another few minutes, I just put it on.”

“Ok.” Each of your guys’ shortness is not unusual for this time of morning on the Marauder. Late enough that everyone has been up for a while, but early enough still that some stragglers—you and Hunter—have not yet had your morning cup of caf. However watered down and awful the stuff the GAR provides is, it has enough of a placebo effect to make all of you into better versions of yourselves. At least, the versions that don’t injure their own teammates on purpose…

After a long pause between the two of you, you break your double staring contest with the spluttering machine. “Have you spoken to Rex yet about my med leave?”

He clears his throat and looks back at you, noting your pristine uniform. “I have. He has agreed to allow you to stay on board for the duration of your recovery. He also told me that Kix would be the medic your case is assigned to, due to your history.”

You snort, just as the caf machine beeps its little song to tell you it is done brewing. You move towards the counter, reaching up for two mugs, and filling them up while saying, “If by ‘history’ you mean me saving his shebs because he was a dumbass shiny medic who hadn’t found his attitude yet, then yeah. That tracks.” You offer one mug to Hunter, black, and he takes it gratefully, laughing. 

“I think I want to hear that story.”

“Oh I have many,” you say, grinning. “But we’ll save them for another time. More pressing, I had a meeting with a specialist this morning.”

“How’d that go?”

You sigh. “Sounds like the procedure itself will take a few hours, and I can be back to fieldwork within the month.”

“That's not bad,” he says, taking a sip of caf, his eyebrows raised in surprise.

“Yeah, I know. But, to add a bit of flair to the whole thing, she has to be the one to do it.”

His eyes flick up to you, narrowing. “As in…”

“Mhm. No droids.”

“Wow.”

“Apparently there have been so few cases of this surgery being done that they don’t have enough to train one on.”

“I mean, geez, Wings. We knew you were special, but…” He trails off, smirking.

“Whatever,” you roll your eyes at his playful jests. The silence lapses and you change the subject. “Anyway, do you know where Tech is?”

“His usual spot,” he answers, tossing his head to gesture behind him. “Thanks for the caf.”

“Anytime,” You call behind you, walking past him. You wind your way out the door and down the hall to the cockpit of the ship, where, unsurprisingly, Tech is seated in the pilot seat with his nose buried in his datapad.

“I am already working on drafting a detailed recovery plan based on your meeting with Doctor Asichi this morning,” he says, his only reaction to your presence standing next to his chair.

You pinch the bridge of your nose with your free hand, inhaling deeply before sighing. “Maker…” He has a tendency to break into datapads or place listening devices around in order to gain information. And while he only does it to get insight into future missions or pertinent details so he can stay ahead of everyone else, that makes it no less of a personal breach. “What was it this time, Tech?” you ask, exasperated.

“Well, if I told you that…” he cuts himself off as he looks up at you, seeing your stern glare. He assesses both your posture and the contents of your mug before apparently deciding you are too much of a threat to the precious mechanical bits and wires in this room. He clears his throat and goes back to watching his datapad. “I installed a small listening device into the light fixture in the medbay.”

You turn on your heel as quickly as you had come in. “Sarge!” you yell, fuming from the room. He emerges from the kitchenette as you pass the door. 

“What now?” he sighs out in a long-suffering tone.

You gesture wildly back towards the cockpit, nearly spilling your caf in the process. “Tell your perverted brother to keep his tinkered creations to himself!” 

You say this at the same time Tech calls, “It was merely for data collection!” You can hear Echo and Wrecker snicker from the bunk area.

“Argh!” You groan over your shoulder before continuing on your way to the ship’s medbay, intent upon finding and removing the device. You nearly bump into Crosshair in the hall as you careen through it. He spares you not more than a glance before he descends upon Tech. 

“How many times has she told you not to snoop on her?” Hunter asks Tech.

But it’s Crosshair’s snarled line of questioning that makes you blush as you slam the button for the medbay doors to open. “How much did you hear?”

Ignoring any possible answer you might not be able to un-know, you enter the storage room turned medbay and set your caf on the counter as the door closes behind you. Glancing between the ceiling light and the counter, you judge the distance. You're pretty sure you can reach that. You rest your hands on the counter, taking a steadying breath before pressing up and getting your knees on it. It’s a struggle as you force your dysfunctional hip to do as you want and then bear your weight, but you do it. Halfway, you tell yourself, gathering strength and balance as you reach up and grip the cupboard above the counter. You use your grip to leverage your strong left leg up, foot flat on the counter. You stand, adjusting your grip as you rise. And rise. Maybe you should have asked for help. You have to hunch over uncomfortably to fit under the ceiling. Nope. Too late. I’m committed. You turn and unlatch the light cover, finding a small bundle of parts and wires you remove it, pulling what looks to be an important wire out of its fastening. Just as you’re about to close the light cover, the door slides open and Echo enters, startled by your… elevation. You slam the cover closed.

“I came in here to see if you needed help. But it seems you have me beat.” He crosses his arms and raises an eyebrow. You can just imagine him tapping his foot like a true worried mother hen. 

“I… would take some help getting down?”

He makes a sound in the back of his throat, smiling a bit at you, and then moving towards the counter. He reaches his flesh hand out expectantly, palm up. “Give me that.” You obey, and he sets the defunct listening device beside your mug of caf. “Hop down.” You watch him worriedly from above, and he sighs out your name. “I won’t drop you, I promise.”

You point a finger at him, as a warning. “Better not.” He doesn’t respond, merely lifting his arms towards you and scrunching the fingers on his hand, as if to say ‘just come here already.’ You take the leap, arms outstretched towards his shoulders. And just as he said he would, he catches you by the waist, scomp arm surprisingly gentle. As he sets you down, though, your feet on the floor, the change from standing to weightless to standing again pisses off your nerves, sending ropes of fire down your hip and leg. You gasp and reach behind you to steady yourself on the countertop. “Fuck,” you mutter, squeezing your eyes tight.

“I’ve got ya,” he moves his hands from your waist to gripping your shoulder, steadying you. “Breathe through it, Wings.” You take several deep breaths before peering back up at him. 

“Thanks.”

“You did the same for me.” And you suppose, he’s right. You had known him since his days as a fresh ARC on the 501st, back when he and Fives got up to nothing but trouble. You had been there with Clone Force 99 at his rescue on Skako Minor, as another recognizable face. And you were there for him during his recovery and transition period as he relearned who and what he was without Fives. There were many nights he had come to you, sharing stories when the memories stole away his sleep. You are both his medic as well as his friend, and you remind yourself to remember that.

“Doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate it.”

He chuckles softly, still watching you with worried eyes. “Guess not.” He takes a long moment. “I’m sorry. About last night, I mean.”

“You weren’t wrong, Echo.”

He shrugs. “I know that, but that doesn’t make it okay. I shouldn’t have spoken to you like that. You don't deserve that.”

You’re unsure of how to respond, so you pat the hand still on your shoulder. “All’s forgiven, Ek. I’m honestly just mad at myself at this point.”

He tilts his head, squeezing your shoulder a bit before dropping his arm. “Why?”

You sigh, hanging your head in shame. “I’m a medic.” Your voice cracks on the last word, and you cough.

“Everyone makes mistakes. I’m afraid even medics aren’t immune to being fallible lifeforms.”

You laugh, looking back up at him. You sigh dramatically before saying, “How unfortunate.”

“Alright, you.” He bumps his shoulder with yours before grabbing the listening device and caf mug before handing you the latter. “I think that’s enough feelings for one morning. Drink your caf, I know you need it,” He winks and then raises his hand, the small black box still centered in his palm. “Then, when you’re done, we can give this back to Tech. Maker knows he’ll give you hell until he gets all the parts back.”

You roll your eyes, chugging the lukewarm liquid quickly. Once done, you set the mug back down on the countertop. “Hold on. I need drugs.” He snorts and takes the mug from its spot while you load up another half-dose into the hypospray, administering it into your shoulder, then tossing it into the biohazard bin. “Okay! Caffeinated, drugged, I am good!” He raises his eyebrows at you, and you purposefully ignore the look, turning to leave the room. 

You return the device to Tech—much to your chagrin, knowing that eventually the parts will be used as another gadget to annoy you with. You all go about your day as usual when in hyperspace, cleaning weapons and spaces, organizing, taking inventory. And as the lights turn lower, Hunter reminds Wrecker that he’s on first watch and to wake Crosshair up partway through the night. 

You grab yours and Crosshairs things to get ready for the night and carry them with you as you head towards the common area. You find him and Tech playing with a physical dejarik board against Hunter and Echo, seated opposite the others. Wrecker is sitting between the two groups, cheering on whoever is currently winning. You find yourself lost in watching for a long moment leaning on the wall, as Tech mutters something to Cross and then makes their move, capturing Echo and Hunter’s m’onnok. Wrecker cheers loudly, praising their strategy. Once their turn is over, Crosshair looks up to find you watching him with a soft smile and offers an inviting hand. 

You set down the pile of clothes and various other items on a small table near the doorway before moving towards him. There is nowhere to sit, so you stand beside him, a hand resting gently on his shoulder. After a moment of listening to the other team’s whispers, he sighs and grabs you by the hips to guide you around between his legs, sitting you on one of his thighs. His arms wrap naturally around you, clasping his hands at your hip as he leans towards your ear to mumble, “Much better.” Using his moment of closeness, you press a quick kiss to his cheek before resting your head on his shoulder, leaning your weight into him. He squeezes his arms a bit tighter around you, before using one to make a move on the board. This goes on for a few more turns before you yawn. “Tired?”

“Mhm,” you mumble, nodding. You strain to watch the game, but your eyes get heavier and heavier. 

“Mm. C’mon, meshbaar’ur.” he murmurs, standing you up and following suit. “Wrecker, take over for me.” Wrecker does as told, shifting over to be more on that side of the table, meanwhile Tech grumbles about changes to his teammate midgame affecting his strategy. Cross guides you towards the hall, grabbing the pile you left behind.

“Goodnight, everybody,” you call through a yawn and give a halfhearted wave. Various responses ring back as Crosshair places a hand on your lower back and gently pushes you to the refresher. The door shuts behind you both and he guides you through the motions of your usual routine, handing you your toothbrush, fixing up your hair, and getting you changed. He takes the hem of your shirt in his hands, guiding your arms up above your head and removes it. He gently kneads at your waist, watching your tired eyes. 

“How are you feeling?”

“Tired,”

“‘S not what I meant.” He lightly runs his hands up and down your torso, leaving goosebumps in their wake. You make a low sound, avoiding his question. He grips your chin between his fingers, forcing you to make eye contact. 

“I hurt. Probably about a seven.”

He nods, shifting his hand from your chin to the side of your face. “Do you want meds before bed?” You hesitate, and then nod, knowing that you might wake up in pain later. He tugs you closer by your hip, kissing you softly. It’s almost as a reward for your honesty, your openness. His lips are chapped against yours, stealing the breath from you. He rubs his thumb along your face reverently, and you loop your arms around his neck, tugging at the curls there. He sighs into your mouth at the sensation. These are your favorite moments with him. The ones with no rush of burning passion, just a gently smoldering ember as you pull each other closer out of comfort. You moan softly into him, and he pulls back a bit, making you whine. He mumbles your name against your lips. “It’s late, you need rest. And meds…” He tugs away enough to look you up and down, smirking, “And clothes.”

You laugh, then peer up at him with big doe eyes. “Help me?”

He presses a chaste kiss to your lips, teasing you. “Always.” He pulls your pajama shirt over your head, smoothing it down your sides and takes your pajama shorts with him as he kneels in front of you. He undoes your pants, tugging them down your hips and to your ankles. He guides your hands to his shoulders before having you step out of the legs. He sets them aside and gently picks up your foot by the ankle, sliding the comfortable pair over your heel before setting it back down on the floor. You stumble a bit as he does the same with the other, leaning into your hands more. He slides the pair of pants up your body, and then stands. “Go get yourself some meds, ner cyare, I’ll be right out.”

“You still haven’t paid us for last month, I need my money. Wayne’s been taking care of me come on you quite literally own us” Eddie replied angrily.

Al retorted, “You got a problem with management, put a note in the suggestion box.”

“Dad I’m serious, I’m quitting” he steeled.

“I’ll be back for the dinner shift,” Al said with a final roll of his eyes and an annoyed huff.

“Son of a bitch” Eddie exclaimed.

He continued, “He may be back but I sure as hell won’t be.”

Eddie opened the register and began counting out a chunk of cash from the register, Wayne looked on in confusion.

“Eds, what are you doing?” He asked.

Eddie finished counting the amount in his hand before turning to his uncle and answering him.

“Taking what he owes me and not a cent more.”

Wayne’s eyes widened.

“Son, you know he’ll come after you for that, your father has never been a patient man. Especially when it comes to money.”

“Yeah well, he will need to find me first” Eddie smirked.

He then proceeded to take a portion of the money that he had taken from the register and tucked it into Waynes’s pocket. Before explaining to his puzzled-looking uncle.

“This ought to cover the new radiator for the trailer” he smiled.

“Now go, you’re late for your shift at the plant” Eddie teased.

His uncle had the habit of losing track of time always so focused on making sure everyone else was squared away before himself, it was something that Eddie loved about him but also wished he would let go.

“You’re really going?” Wayne asked with a look of awe.

“I’m really going” Eddie replied before shoving at his uncle.

“Now go get out our here seriously you’re going to be late, I got it here” He chuckled.

Wayne began making his way to the door with Eddie on his heels to close the door, but he stopped at turned to face him.

“The radiator can until later, Eds. Keep what he owes you and I’ll deal with him” he stated seriously.

“Later Son, I love you” he paused for a moment before turning back around one final time.

“Hey Eds just remember, no matter what you always have a place with me.”

-

With that, he was gone leaving Eddie in his dad’s bullshit ass bar all alone. He locked the door, flipping the open sign to close before beginning to put up the chairs.

Eddie had always loved singing and playing guitar since he was little, it was one of the things his mom used to praise him about, his musical talent. Now when he needed to feel close to her, he would put on a song she used to sing to him and would sing along and it was almost like she was there with him. Today was one of those days so he grabbed one of the quarters from his pocket and slotted it into the jukebox in the bar. He then selected Something’s Got a Hold on Me by Etta James, he remembers his mama belting out the lyrics to the song while she danced with him in the kitchen. He dragged a chair to the center of the small stage before beginning as the opening chords of the song rang out.

Oh-oh, sometimes I get a good feeling, yeah (Yeah)

I get a feeling that I never, never, never, never had before, no, no (Yeah)

I just wanna tell you right now that I (Ooh)

I believe I really do believe that

Something's got a hold on me, yeah (Oh, it must be love)

Oh, something's got a hold on me right now, child (Oh, it must be love)

As he sang and danced around the stage, he imagined what his life could be like once he got out of here. All he had to do was pick up and leave and that’s exactly what he planned on doing, his dad and his shit bar be damned.

-

When he got home that night, he had one thing on his mind…he was getting the fuck out of here.

“Uncle Wayne, where do we keep the suitcases” Eddie yelled.

His uncle came toddling over into his room and replied.

 “In the closet o’er there, and son, there is no need to yell we live in a trailer that is only so big.”

Eddie replied apologetically “Sorry Uncle Wayne.”

His uncle ruffled his hair and stated.

“It’s okay kid I know you are just excited, here let me go get those for you and help you pack.”

Eddie smiled.

“Thanks, Uncle Wayne”

When Wayne returned with the suitcases, Eddie began shoving clothes into them without care, what is the point of folding stuff when they’re just going to get tossed around and shoved into a place only, he will see?

“Dammit, why do I have so much shit. When did I get this much shit?” Eddie asked frustratingly.

“I don’t know kid, it’s your stuff” Wayne replied with a shrug.

“You know what old man; you are no help” Eddie retorted flatly.

“You asked for my help; I’m just helpin,” Wayne said putting his hands up in mock defense.

 “Yeah, well I’m starting to regret it as all you’re contributing is lip” Eddie bantered.

He and Wayne began to bicker back and forth, the task at hand forgotten making the whole ordeal take way longer than it should have.

-

With all his belongings eventually thrown together into three suitcases---one of which he didn’t even know existed---Eddie loaded them along with his precious guitar, his baby, into Wayne’s back seat and waited for his uncle to come sauntering out of the trailer to take him to the station. He could have walked but Wayne insisted on taking him to say goodbye before he set out on his new adventure.

“Wayne, hurry up!” Eddie yelled after honking the horn.

“I’m Comin,’ I’m Comin,’ I forgot how impatient you can be, I was just grabbing one last thing before we go” Wayne replied.

With this, he wordlessly handed Eddie what looked like a frame wrapped in a scarf to prevent it from breaking. He slowly unwrapped the scarf from the frame and was confronted with a photo he had never seen before, one of his mama and him.

“Wayne I…” he began as he teared up.

Wayne placed one of his hands on Eddie’s knee and looked at him with a softness in his eyes that made Eddie want to cry more.

“It was her favorite picture of you two, she made me promise to keep it safe and give it to you when you were older. Now it seems like you need it, son, she’s always with ya’ so might as well carry her too” Wayne said tearing up himself.

“Thank you, Wayne, this means the world to me I…. just thank you,” Eddie replied through tears.

Wayne proceeded to shift the truck into drive and pulled out onto the road. Eddie watched as the trailer grew smaller and smaller behind them, the life he knew was over now and it was time to start over.

-

“How much to LA?” Eddie asked.

The man looked up at Eddie with disinterest, clearly bored of his job.

“One way or round trip” He asked.

“You’re kidding right?” Eddie joked.

The worker was not amused and muttered something under his breath that sounded a lot like “kids and their bullshit attitude these” to Eddie but he had no way of being certain so he couldn’t call the guy on it.

With his ticket secured for the next Greyhound, Eddie went to say his final goodbye to his uncle.

“It’s not goodbye forever, just for now” Eddie muttered holding back tears.

“I know Eds, I love you kid. You’re going to do great things, I know it” Wayne replied holding back tears of his own.

The two men embraced, and Eddie let himself fall apart in his uncle’s arms, he was excited to follow his dreams, but he was also scared shitless. He was leaving behind all he had ever known and the only thing holding together right now was his uncle’s arms around him.

“It’s m’kay son, let it out, I gotcha” Wayne muttered into his nephew’s shirt as he felt his own shirt begin to wet with tears.

“I gotcha, I gotcha,” he said as he stroked Eddie’s hair in an attempt to comfort him.

Eddie looked up at his uncle through red-rimmed, puffy eyes and knew that it was going to be okay. He had Wayne after all and at the end of the day, it’s all he needed.

-

Eddie sat with his uncle and waited for his bus to arrive, soaking in a couple more minutes with him before it was time to go. Eddie had told him he could leave 30 minutes ago but Wayne insisted he wouldn’t leave until he watched Eddie get safely on his bus. He suspected that his uncle needed this as much as he did, so he wasn’t going to argue. As the bus pulled into the station he got up and turned towards his uncle and smiled.

“I got to get going now, I’ll call you when I’m there, I love you, Old Man.”

“I love you too, Son. Now go before you chicken out and never leave” Wayne joked.

Eddie laughed before making his way towards his bus, climbing aboard, and finding a seat by the window. He watched as others piled in and said goodbye to family and friends, but most importantly he watched and waved at Wayne as the bus pulled out of the station onto the streets. Eddie’s fate was sealed, there was no going back now, and frankly, he wouldn’t have it any other way.

-

The bus ride was incredibly boring not only was it like 80 years long, but there was nothing to look at on the way. Who knew the rest of America was just as boring as Indiana was; from Missouri to Oklahoma everything looked the same and the only cue Eddie got that they were getting closer to LA was the switch from flat plains to orangey-beige desert that also stretched for miles. The bus ride took 2 days but if you asked Eddie, he would say it was more like 20 days with how much nothing there was. Finally, however---after an eternity and a half---the driver announced that they would be pulling into the LA station within the hour and Eddie would be free on the confines of his seat that became uncomfortable all the way back in Oklahoma.

-

Eddie sat in the LA station breathing in the hot dry air and looking through the brochures for a hotel to stay at, he landed on the Hotel Rosslyn and hailed a cab to take him and all his shit there. He wanted nothing more than to sleep for the next year, but he knew he needed work. It was still early enough that he could go out searching so he snagged a newspaper from the stand next to him figuring he could check out the help wanted section.

The drive to the hotel was uneventful just like the bus ride and the hotel itself was nice but also quite unassuming, which was perfect. He checked in at the front desk, happy to find a place, and was handed a key to a room on the 3rd floor.

“I guess this is my place for the next while” Eddie muttered to himself as he used the key to open his room.

The room was clean but also a bit shabby and water-stained but he didn’t mind considering he lived in a trailer for most of his life. He inspected the bathroom and closet space before heading over to the phone to call Wayne and let him know he made it. The phone rang twice before Wayne’s gruff voice could be heard through the line.

“Munson residence, this is Wayne how can I help you?”

“I forgot how boring you are when you answer the phone” Eddie huffed in fond amusement.

“Eds!! I missed you, Son, you settle in, okay?” Wayne asked.

Eddie hadn’t realized how much he had missed his uncle until his voice rang over the phone and all the stress of the last couple of days washed away replaced with the gruff sound of his uncle’s voice and a feeling of home.

“Yeah, I just got here and figured I give you a call to let you know that I’m alright,” Eddie said with a slight wobble in his voice that Wayne didn’t seem to notice or was kind enough not to mention.

“Well, it’s good to hear from you and I’m glad you are doing fine, that’s good to hear” Wayne replied.

Eddie talked about everything and nothing about his trip so far, just glad to hear his uncle’s voice. He then asked the question he had been dreading but needed to know.

“How did Dad take it? Me leaving?” he said nervously.

Wayne sighed.

“Now, I won’t lie to you kid, he all kinds of pissed off. He threatened a lot of things, but I haven’t said anything about where you are or that I know.”

“Thank you, Wayne. I’m sorry you must deal with the fallout though” Eddie muttered.

“Boy, I would do it ten times over if I knew you got to get out and be happy,” Wayne said.

“I’m going to go unpack now, I love you Wayne” Eddie's voice came out wet and wobbly.

“Love you Eds, take care now,” Wayne said and then the room went silent with a click.

Once off the phone, Eddie took his time semi-unpacking his things but most importantly, he took the money he had with him and put it in a plastic bag before sealing it and putting it in the water tank of the toilet making sure that there was a portion that would go over the side for later access.

With his money secured he took another look at the photo Wayne had given him and he smiled at it.

His mom looked so young and beautiful; it made him want to cry. He remembers so little about her since she died when he was seven. Looking at the date on the photo told him it was about 3 months before her death and Eddie wonders if she somehow knew and insisted on a photo because of it.

-

Eddie had bought a postcard in the lobby or the hotel and considered sending it to Wayne before remembering that if his dad got his hands on it, it was a one-way ticket to an ass beating and losing all his money, so he opted against it. Instead, he ripped it to pieces and threw them out the window for them to be scattered by the wind, keeping his secret.

-

Eddie had spent some time going through the help wanted section circling any possible jobs in music and had slowly worked his way through his list. He began to feel more and more frustrated with every job he was turned away from and was considering going back to the hotel for the night when he spotted it--- across from fancy high-rise apartments he could never afford--- in neon lights, a sign that read “Burlesque Lounge”. There was a woman on one of the steps landings adjusting the thigh-high socks of her costume and he was increasingly intrigued by what could be happening within those 4 walls. Before he could ponder it anymore, the woman was rushed inside by a very frazzled-looking young woman with choppy brown hair, a boxy frame, and suspenders. Now he had to go!! He had a mystery to solve, what was this place with no windows?

-

Upon entering the club Eddie found himself more puzzled by the moment, there were dancers on the stage---that much he could see--- and they were wearing revealing outfits, but it didn’t look like a strip club. He reached the end of the staircase down and was met with a balding man with big glasses, a beard, and a frankly menacing grin.

“What is this place, a strip club?” Eddie asked the man.

“Boy, I should wash your mouth out with Jägermeister, the only pole you’ll find in there is Heather, the shots girl.”

Eddie was taken aback by the passive aggression of the man, but he couldn’t seem to tear his eyes away from the dancers behind the man as they had begun their performance, he was startled from his trance when the man spoke again.

“Baby cakes, I got a club to fill here so 20 dollars or not?” the man said with a tight smile.

Eddie reluctantly handed over a 20-dollar bill and then made his way towards the bar to watch the dancers from there.

Once he sat down, he watched mesmerized as the dancers moved out of the way and revealed an elegant-looking older woman who then opened her mouth and began to sing.

Show a little more

Show a little less

Add a little smoke

Welcome to Burlesque

Everything you dream of

But never can possess

Nothing's what it seems

Welcome to Burlesque

She continued her performance as the dancers moved around her. She revealed the band and made a crude joke about knowing where she was if you had a bit of extra cash, a joke that Eddie chuckled at but was quickly pulled from his laughter when he noticed the bartender across from him.

Brown chestnut swooping hair, moles that dotted his chiseled face, and a handsome smile drew Eddie to him like a moth to a flame but what really got Eddie and made him feel like he was going to cream his pants was the eyeliner that lined the man’s hazel eyes, making them pop. In summary, he was hot, and Eddie wanted to do unspeakable dirty things to this Adonis. The man must have noticed Eddie staring and assumed he wanted a drink because he quickly approached where he was sitting.

“Can I get you something to drink?” He asked.

“If you’re buying” Eddie joked, what he didn’t expect however was the man to actually put a drink in front of him.

“Welcome to LA,” he said.

“Cute” Eddie huffed.

“Where are you from?” the hot man asked.

“Indiana” Eddie replied surprised his brain was still online, but it definitely shut down when the man grinned wide and replied.

“Same, what part?”

Eddie’s mouth felt dry, so he sipped at his drink and responded.

“Indianapolis”

Eddie felt so dumb, this man had reduced him to one-word answers to every question he asked. The bartender then pointed at himself before proceeding with his statement.

“Hawkins, a small town about half an hour south of Indy, my best friend and I used to drive up there sometimes.”

Eddie gave a polite nod to acknowledge that he was listening to what he was saying, but frankly, he was off in la la land being busy ogling this man.

“We’re practically related, huh?” the man joked.

“I thought you looked familiar” Eddie jabbed back.

“Hey, who does a boy have to flirt with to get from here, to there? Eddie asked.

The man raised an eyebrow at him before softening his face and replying.

“Is this you flirty?”

Eddie decided it was best to ignore the joke especially as he felt his face flush, he just hoped the low lights of the club hid it.

“That’s rich coming from someone wearing more eyeliner than me” Eddie jabbed because of course he had to open his big mouth about this man’s sexy eyeliner.

He was pulled from his thoughts of what may happen to that eyeliner during *ahem, activities when the man pointed to a door.

“Through that door, ask for Joyce, she’s your guy, flirt away.”

Eddie turned in the chair to get up when the bartender cleared his throat and spoke again.

“Hey, Indianapolis! Use my name.”

He then handed Eddie a card which he read before replying with a wink.

“Thanks, Steve”

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

AH, first part down second one is to come soon! I'm really excited for this fic. We have had a few characters introduced with more to come.

If you saw typos or mistakes here, no you didn't.

The younger woman she was seemingly talking to then chimes in,

“Remember you’re a goddess.”

“Thank you, Robin” the dancer replies with a smile before the older lady repeats the phrase in a mocking tone towards this Robin.

Backstage is chaos, but he loves it. It reminds him of the few times his dad allowed his band to play at the bar and there was a certain anticipation that hung in the air right before performing. He bumps into one of the dancers before she calls out to a man loitering backstage.

“Lonnie, the sink upstairs is broken again,” she said.

“I’m not calling a plumber, Barb” He replies.

He then makes his way over to the elegant older woman and Eddie can slightly make out what they are saying.

“Joyce, have you read this letter from the bank?” He asks.

“Lonnie, how many times must I tell you? No business during business hours” She huffs, annoyed.

“Come on, Henry Creel is coming to the show tomorrow night, this isn’t going away Joyce,” he says.

She rolls her eyes at him and is clearly disinterested in continuing the conversation, but he continues anyway.

“You won’t talk to me before shows, you won’t talk to me after, it’s like you are avoiding me.”

“Well, I didn’t divorce you to spend more time with you” She jokes.

“I may not be Mr. Joyce anymore but I still own half this place,” he says before walking away in a huff muttering on about how it’s not paying the bills.

Eddie then approaches Robin who is in the midst of fixing up a dancer’s hair and then asks.

“I’m looking for Joyce?”

She nods her head in the direction the older woman, Joyce, went and he wanders over to her.

“Hi, are you Joyce?” He asks.

“Yes, honey, why are you in my mirror exactly?” She replies kindly.

“Oh sorry, I’m a friend of Steve’s and I’m looking for a job.”

“Where have you danced?”

“Ummm….”

Eddie had for some reason not anticipated this question and was now left floundering.

“At home? I promise you I can move though.”

She gave him a polite smile in the mirror before speaking.

“Give your name and number to Robin and she can contact you when we have our next auditions.”

“When will that be exactly” he asked.

He never got his answer because Robin approached, and Joyce turned her attention to her.

“Where is Billy?”

“I don’t know, he’s late again,” Robin said

“Oh, I’m never late” Eddie interjected hoping it scored him some brownie points.

“That’s great buddy now leave your name and number with your friend Steve downstairs, and we will give you a call, promise,” Robin said with a gentle push towards the stairs.

 “I’ve just never seen anything like it, and I would just love...” Eddie began before bumping into yet another dancer, this time in big sunglasses

“Billy! Robin and I were just talking, and you know she said…” Joyce said and then gestured to Robin to finish the thought

“That it was so sad that Billy couldn’t join us for the opening number, and it would be so great if he joined us for the next one”

“Listen, less flab more ab, my workout took longer than expected” Billy replied to the women.

“And so is finding a new job when I fire your late ass” Joyce joked, but Eddie could tell there was a bit of truth to her statement.

Billy then turned and acknowledged Eddie for the first time since they bumped into each other.

“Hey, bring me a martini extra dry, straight up, three olives,” Billy said with an heir of entitlement.

“He doesn’t work here Billy” another dancer replied while Eddie remained speechless, staring at Billy.

“Then he isn’t busy,” he said smarmily.

Eddie continued staring at Billy for a moment. Billy then seemed to notice and spoke with a cocky grin on his face.

“Didn’t your mama ever tell you it isn’t polite to stare”

“You’re just so damn handsome” He replied

“Screw your mama, stare away” Billy exclaimed with a cheshire grin

“It’s just no one would ever know” Eddie replied

“Know what,” Billy said angrily.

Eddie took note that Billy seemingly had a short fuse and was easy to rile up… perfectly.

“That you are smooth like a Ken doll down there,” Eddie said with a wink before descending the stairs back into the busy club.

-

Once he got back down to the bar, Eddie took inventory of everything happening. He needed a job ASAP and it looked like this place needed a proper waiter. He observed the club for a moment and realized that the waitress who was supposed to be getting drinks to patrons was sitting around chatting with someone at the bar. He watched as a customer waved her over and she blatantly ignored them saying something along the lines of “In a minute”. This just wouldn’t do, and a plan began forming in Eddie’s head, if he couldn’t tell them why he deserved a job then he would just show them.

He stripped the leather jacket he was wearing draping it over a chair before picking up a tray from the bar and making his rounds from table to table based on who was in need of drinks. Once he was satisfied with gathering orders he returned to Steve at the bar.

“A shot of Patron and the tough-looking guy in the hat wants a Cosmo,” he said, Steve looked puzzled but replied

“What are you doing?”

“One night, if I’m not better than boobs-for-brains over there, you don’t have to pay me” Eddie practically begged he needed this job and he needed it bad.

-

Turns out Eddie had done something right and was told he could return the next night to begin proper work on the condition that he wore the proper club uniform. He had easily agreed as the uniform was all black and even if he hated it he would wear it because a job is a job and he needs it. He had been told to arrive 30 minutes early to his shift to be shown where everything was and get a feel for the place but other than that he was left to his own devices since he had waiting experience under his belt.

Once the club had opened and the seats were filled, Eddie began getting drinks for the tables as they waited for the opening number of the night. Eddie had no idea what to expect but was just as excited to see the performances as the attendees. After a while, the lights dimmed and the opening to Diamonds Are a Girls Best Friend by Marylin Monroe.

A kiss on the hand

May be quite continental

But diamonds are a girl's best friend

A kiss may be grand

But it won't pay the rental

On your humble flat

Or help you at the automat

Men grow cold

As girls grow old

And we all lose our charms in the end

But square-cut or pear-shaped

These rocks don't lose their shape

Diamonds are a girl's best friend

Back at the bar, Joyce and Robin could be found watching Eddie as he worked.

“Isn’t that the guy that was backstage yesterday?” Joyce asked

“I think so?” Robin replied

“Hey Steve, what’s he doing here?” Joyce called out to him.

Steve’s face flushed a bit red at this, but he replied nonetheless

“He really wanted a job and so…he’s our new waiter”

“And when did I make you the head of personnel?” Joyce joked with Steve

“He just picked up a tray and started working,” Steve said with a shrug, face still flushed

“Really?” Robin asked, her eyes bugging slightly out of her head

“Well, his name is Eddie” Steve replied sheepishly.

“Eddie” Joyce repeated before calling out to the man in question

“Hey Eddie”

Eddie waltzed over to the bar nervous as to what Joyce had to say, would she be super upset? Would she fire him on the spot? He couldn’t lose this job, he just got it and based on the look on her face, she meant business. As he got closer, however, her face softened before she spoke.

“The uniform looks nice on you but roll up your sleeves you look too formal. Also, put up your hair you got a cute face so don’t hide it”

Eddie flushed and hoped the lighting would hide his blush. He had been told he was hot before by the men he had hooked up with, but he had never been called cute, especially not by a motherly type; it was nice.

“Also, don’t ever go behind my back again,” Joyce said more stern

“Yes ma’am” Eddie replied, and he felt like saluting but figured that it would not bode well.

“And don’t ever call me ma’am again” Joyce huffed

“Yes sir, I mean ma’am, I mean…Joyce” Eddie fumbled. Damn, he was doing bad at this.

“Get on the floor” Joyce joked before patting Eddie along.

-

The performance continued and Marilyn sang:

Tiffany's

Cartier

Black Starr

Frost Gorham

Talk to me Harry Winston

Tell me all about it

As the lead dancer ripped jewels from the other dancers’ bodies. Eddie watched mesmerized, slowly picking up the steps to the dance and dancing along as he went from table to table getting drink orders. He was pulled away from watching when a man’s voice spoke.

“Excuse me, Dewar’s rocks and a bottle of your best champagne for the table…and oh, will you tell Billy that I’m here”

“Any you are…?” Eddie asked, especially since this man clearly had money and no manner when it came to introducing himself.

“A member since ’91, Henry Creel. And you are?” Henry asked

“Eddie” He replied

“Eddie" Henry parroted back

-

Meanwhile, as Eddie waited tables, Robin had made her way backstage to make sure the performance was going alright and that she could help with any malfunctions and costume changes to come. As she watched, she was made aware of a presence once he came crashing up to her.

“I’m here,” Billy said

“You’re late, you’re late for a very important date, Vickie went on for you” Robin chuckled because of course Billy expected the club to wait on him.

Billy then looked between the beaded curtains at Vickie before he spotted Eddie and turned to Robin.

“What is that waiter doing here, I want that bitch out now” Billy exclaimed angrily.

“What did he ever do to you?” She asked

“He said I have no dick” he pouted

Robin just laughed before replying

“That can’t be the first time that’s happened”

Billy just gave her an angry look before turning to look up at the lighting guy and saying:

“Get my spot”

“Billy, what are you doing!” Robin exclaimed, trying to stop Billy but it was too late, he had already stepped out onto the stage and to reel him back in would just disrupt the performance.

-

Eddie watched as the dancer from yesterday, Billy, stepped on the stage and began to fight for the spotlight over the original lead dancer.

There may come a time

When a lass needs a lawyer

But diamonds are a girl's best friend

There may come a time

When a hard-boiled employer

Thinks you're awful nice

But get that ice or else no dice

Of course, Billy was like this. Eddie had encountered people like this before who needed everything to be about them, and Billy seemed just the type to do that. He pushed and shoved his way in front of the other dancer and the poor girl did her best to adapt to the situation.

-

 As the number came to an end Eddie found himself back at the bar watching and imagining himself in the place of the lead dancer.

Diamonds

Diamonds

I don't mean rhinestones

But diamonds are a girl's best

Best friend

He would sing and the crowd would go wild, clapping, throwing flowers for him, and overall cheering his name. “Eddie! Eddie! Eddie!”

“Eddie! Eddie, what do you need?” Steve asked, snapping and pulling Eddie away from the daydream he was having

“Dewars rocks and a bottle of Dom” He began

“And keep it coming” Steve finished

“So, he’s a regular” Eddie questioned

“Henry Creel, real estate guy. Dating Billy. This week at least” Steve answered.

Good to know that Steve and seemingly the club were not homophobic because that might have become a problem at some point but Eddie was more focused on how the dancers got to soak in the applause and bask in the moment. He turned to Steve.

“I wanna be up there, I wanna do that”

“Question is, do you have the talent?” he asked

“I do” Eddie replied

“Are you sure?” Steve asked

“Yes!” Eddie replied with a grin

“Positive?” He asked with a smile of his own

“Yeah!” Eddie said, grin getting bigger

“Good because you’re on” Steve replied with a smile before pushing a tray of drinks towards Eddie.

His smile dropped pretty quickly after picking up the tray of drinks and he huffed an annoyed sigh.

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Taglist:

“Okay, Okay, all right. This is what we are going to do. You guys know the songs, right?” Joyce asked the band

The band all nodded in agreement or said something along the lines of “for sure” before quieting down and looking back to Joyce. 

“So tomorrow, we’re going to rehearse all day long,” She said to the band.

“Then tomorrow night, you're going to sing,” Joyce said looking at Eddie. 

Eddie felt himself gasp and was trying to keep his excitement at an acceptable level since Joyce was still talking. 

“We are going straight through to the live shows. So any questions?” Joyce asked

“No? Okay good” Joyce said with a smile.

Joyce then turned to Eddie explaining that it would be best to go with the band and figure out the keys in which he was most comfortable singing the songs. She then stated her plans to lock herself in the office to write an entirely new show. At this announcement, the dancers and crew erupted in cheers and applause, happy over the news.

“Thanks, Joyce” Eddie cheered.

Once Eddie was out of earshot, Joyce turned to Robin.

“I’m going to build a show around him,” She said making her way toward her office and running into a scowling Billy.

“They don’t come to hear us sing” Billy snarked

“They’ll come to hear him sing” Joyce retorted

Robin approached a clearly frazzled, energetic Eddie,

“So how do you feel?” She asked him

“Amazing” Eddie practically shouted before wincing at his own volume.

“I’ve never seen anything like that,” Robin said astonished.

“Thanks. Are you sure Joyce really liked it? She wasn’t…” Eddie said tearing up, emotion filling his voice

“I was bringing down the curtain. She stopped me. She’s the one who let you sing,” Robin stated

“Really?” Eddie asked through tears

 “She wants to build a whole show around you,” Robin said with a smile.

Robin's smile momentarily dropped when she noticed the tears in Eddie’s eyes and the telltale signs that he was about to start crying. 

“Those are tears of happiness right?” She asked

All Eddie could only nod as he sniffled trying to keep the tears from falling down his face.

“Brava” Robin said with a big smile before walking off towards the office. 

Once Robin had left, only Eddie and Billy remained staring at each other. Billy stared a moment more before opening his mouth to speak.

“Clearly, one of us has underestimated the other,” Billy said with a vaguely malicious tone. 

-

Once Eddie had exited the dressing rooms he was met with the now familiar face of a smiling and clapping Henry Creel.

“Wow, I can’t believe Joyce has you buried in a kickline,” Henry said with a wide grin.

“She didn’t know I sang” Eddie muttered.

“Well you certainly can and you are too good to be doing it at a place like this,” Henry said

“How about a drink?” He asked

“The bar’s right over there, tell Steve I sent you,” Eddie replied with a chuckle pointing toward the bar.

-

“Where the hell did that come from?” Steve asked later once the club had been cleaned up for the night and they were just sitting at the bar. 

“I mean, who knew you could do that?” Steve said with pure astonishment and admiration in his voice.

The way Steve spoke made Eddie feel seen and special but then again that’s just the effect Steve seemed to have on people. 

“Thank Steve,” Eddie said ducking his head to hide the growing flush that he could feel, as his face heated up. 

“How do you do that?” Robin asked, thankfully pulling Eddie from his thoughts of Steve

“I don’t know, it just happens, I just do it” Eddie replied with a shrug.

“I know that feeling. I have to pee…again, so…” Vickie laughed

“We’re going to go get something to eat, you wanna come?” Barbra asked looking to Carol before looking directly at Eddie

Eddie looked first to Barbra and then to Carol who was aggressively nodding at him before he formulated a simple reply.

“Yeah, I would,” Eddie said with a nod of his head. 

The group then gathered their things and headed towards the exit, chattering excitedly about the events of the night.

“Look at you,” Robin said to Steve teasingly.

“What! What?” Steve asked

“Well, no just the way you are gazing after him,” Robin replied

“I have a fiancee, remember?” Steve said breathlessly

“Yes. No, I do. I know, she’s what three thousand miles away and you talk how often?” Robin asked

“We talk every day I will have you know,” Steve said annoyed.

“You do? About what? Let me guess, don’t tell me. Ah yes, about her. Her. And I don’t know… Oh! Her?” Robin jested.

“All I’m saying is that, that one there, is a good person on the inside as well and he is not going to be available forever,” Robin said softly.

“Wow! Relationship advice from Mrs. Falls In Love After One Date herself. That is…” Steve chuckled.

Maybe Robin was a little bit on to something, he had been talking about Eddie nonstop but that’s just because the guy was living with him, and it's not like anything would ever happen between them. Especially because Steve was engaged and loved Nancy very much, this was just a passing infatuation because he was missing Nancy, nothing more. Steve was about to say as much when Eddie waltzed his way back into the bar. 

“Forgot my bag” Eddie called out

Both Robin and Steve stared at him for a second before they both looked away.

“What?” Eddie asked

“Oh nothing, I was just telling Steve here how every opportunity has a shelf life,” Robin said glaring at Steve and motioning her head toward Eddie.

Eddie had no idea what she was getting at and figured it was just another one of those SteveandRobin things he had come to learn about. Like how they would sometimes shower together in a completely platonic manner and how they had seen each other naked more times than he could count and it just didn’t phase them. Or how they would sometimes trail off in the middle of a sentence and seemingly finish it with their telepathic connection. Or even one of the many times Eddie had come home late to find Robin there with Steve cuddling and chatting like it was 2 pm rather than 2 am. Eddie thought it was all a bit strange but was also charmed to see them have such a close relationship. Eddie was only pulled from this thought when he realized that Robin was talking to him. 

“Come and look here,” She said motioning to the mirrors that lined the walls of the bar.

“Awfully pretty, but too much” She continued, pulling up some of Eddie’s hair.

“See I like that,” Robin said in the mirror, holding Eddie’s hair to make it look like he had a bob.

“No, I’m not cutting my hair,” Eddie said softly, he had spent so long growing it out after his dad had buzzed it, that the last thing he wanted to do was cut it again. 

“Who said anything about cutting your hair?” Robin asked

“You can wear a wig,” She said with a smile. 

-

That conversation with Robin is exactly how Eddie landed himself a wig a couple of nights later. It was a close match to his natural hair and he would have never suspected it was a wig had he not been the one to put it on his head. Anyhow, that is precisely how he landed himself on stage with the new do; laying on a chaise lounge and singing.

The dress is Chanel, the shoes YSL

The bag is Dior, Agent Provocateur

My address today, L.A by the way 

Above Sunset Strop, the Hills all the way

My rings are by Webster 

It makes their heads twirl 

They all say, “Darling, what did you do for those pearls?”

What? I am a good girl

As the instrumentals of the song played, Eddie pulled up the curtain and climbed the stairs behind them, dancing the whole way up and teasing the crowd. 

Steve watched in admiration from the bar, Eddie just knew how to captivate an audience and it really was an experience to watch him sing and dance. 

Once Eddie made his way to the very top of the stairs he revealed the other dancers and they all danced along with him as he continued to sing. 

B.H I adore, Rode-O L’amore

Breakfast Polo Lounge, then poolside for sire

The Château for cocktails, the Courtyard at nine

Dan Tana’s for dinner, the Helen’s diving

You know I have found, the word’s gone around

They all say my feet never do touch the ground 

What? I am a good girl

The instrumentals of this song might be Eddie’s favorite part of the new number because it allowed for a lot of fun choreography and also allowed them to utilize the spinning mirrors behind the bar, with first Eddie disappearing behind the mirrors and then reappearing at another mirror only to have the other mirrors turn a second later and reveal more dancers at the bar. It was a great time and probably his favorite from the new material Joyce had written just because he had an excuse to dance on the bar, fall back into two of the bartenders' arms, and find himself back in the chaise he began the number in. 

I am a good girl

Ah, ooh, ah, yeah, uh

-

“Hey there big boy,” Eddie said to Steve with a flirty wave.

Steve looked at Eddie with a puzzled look.

“What do you think?” Eddie asked as he gave a gentle spin and motioned at his hair.

“I think you look…I mean it looks…” Steve began as he watched the smile on Eddie’s face fall. 

“Steve, we’re friends, for Christ's sake. It’s not like we're brothers, just say it looks nice or it doesn’t no need to be weird about it” Eddie grumbled as he got up and walked away.

Steve watched Eddie walk away and sighed before muttering “No, we certainly are not” to himself and then getting back to work, a bit upset with himself for how that interaction went down. Why couldn’t he just say Eddie looked nice—it would be the truth—so why couldn’t he just say that?

-

“I don’t understand why everyone is having a conniption over him, he is just a tacky farm boy from Indiana,” Billy snarked at his vanity watching as Eddie walked by.

Eddie stopped behind Billy glancing at him in the mirror before turning to him directly.

“And we know a cow when we see one,” Eddie said taking the bottle out of Billy’s hands and setting it back on his vanity.

“Don’t underestimate us farm boys,” Eddie said, looking at Billy once again in the mirror before he calmly walked away.

Eddie could see Billy’s shocked face through the reflection of the mirror as he walked away and that felt almost as good as performing. 

-

“Lonnie!” Henry called out.

“This round is on me,” Lonnie said placing the drinks down on the table.

“I don’t normally do this but, Lonnie, I’m doubling my offer,” Henry said handing Lonnie a piece of paper.

Lonnie immediately tucked the sheet of paper into the inside of his jacket for safekeeping. 

“It's either you or the auction house,” Lonnie scoffed.

-

“No, I am not selling” Joyce huffed

“Do you know what happens when you default on a loan?” Lonnie asked exasperatedly.

“No, hum a few bars,” Joyce said with a quick glance back at Lonnie.

“I’m not screwing around! Where’s the money gonna come from?” Lonnie exclaimed at fast-walking Joyce.

“Ali’s a hit! We can charge 50 bucks a head now” Joyce stated.

“What! Raising the admission, that’s not good enough!” Lonnie said angrily

“You have been saying that the sky is falling forever, and everything always works out fine” Joyce argued with a sigh. 

“Tell that to the people who are losing everything! I don’t wanna be one of them,” Lonnie shouted.

“And, I love this place too,” Lonnie muttered.

“No, you don’t” Joyce replied.

“I do” Lonnie argued back.

“No, you don’t,” Joyce said, her voice getting louder.

“Oh, yes, I do,” Lonnie shouted back.

“Oh no, you don’t, that a load of horseshit and you know it,” Joyce argued, eerily calm.

“Look, you have many fine qualities, Lonnie” Joyce began.

“And then you have some iffy qualities” She continued with a motion of her hand from side to side.

“But you have never been a phony so don’t start now. Just tell Henry no. I said no,” Joyce finished.

-

Steve closed the door to his apartment basking in the feeling of being home before out of the corner of his eye, he saw Eddie through the curtains of the bedroom doors. He didn’t mean to creep on the man but it seems that Eddie hadn’t fixed the curtains to overlap, leaving a gap, that Steve could see right through. Eddie was in the room, standing at the vanity in nothing but his boxers allowing Steve to see the tattoos that covered him more clearly. Steve walked further into the apartment, looking in through the curtains at Eddie’s lithe form. The black ink that decorated his pale skin only made the man more striking and beautiful in Steve’s eyes and he couldn’t help but try to get a better look. While doing so, however, he forgot about the candles that sat on his table and his bag knocked them over making a loud noise and drawing Eddie’s attention away. 

“Steve?” Eddie called out.

In a panic, Steve walked back towards the front door and slammed it before replying:

“Yep, just got in” 

“Great, can you come help lace me up?” Eddie asked

As Steve made his way into the bedroom had to take a second to collect himself when he saw what Eddie was wearing. Tight leather pants with silver star embellishments hugged Eddie’s waist and a matching black and silver front-lace top clung to his chest. To say he looked good was an understatement and Steve could feel his face flushing. 

“I just really miss Nance, that’s all,” Steve thought, repeating it like a mantra in his head as he made his way over to Eddie to help. 

“Hey, where have you been?” Eddie asked gently

Steve gently inhaled worrying he had been so caught up in his thought that Eddie had caught on but then he realized that the man meant it literally.

“Writing music,” Steve said softly.

“Can I hear it?” Eddie asked

“It’s not ready,” Steve and Eddie said at the same time before smiling at each other in the mirror that they stood in front of. 

“Who’s that” Steve asked, gently nodding toward the picture frame on the vanity.

“Me and my mom on my 7th birthday, she died 3 months after that” Eddie replied faintly.

“You must miss her,” Steve said delicately.

Eddie nodded at Steve in the mirror before he began.

“Every single day something happens that I wish I could tell her about, I mean, I call and tell Wayne the big things and I love him so much but …I dunno it just doesn’t feel the same” Eddie mumbled feeling himself getting emotional. 

“What happened today?” Steve asked so gently that it made Eddie want to cry.

“Nothing yet” Eddie muttered, turning to face Steve. 

Eddie studied Steve’s face for a moment, his strong jaw, his kind eyes, the moles that spreckled his face like stars, his plush lips curved into a gentle smile—just for Eddie—he was beautiful.

“He’s engaged. He’s engaged. He’s engaged, He’s—” Eddie repeated to himself in his head because he can’t be catching feelings for an engaged man who under different circumstances wouldn’t even look his way. 

As if right on cue, Steve’s phone began to ring yet, Steve kept staring at Eddie, ignoring his ringing phone. Eddie finally broke eye contact and spoke.

“You should get that, it’s probably Nancy” 

“Probably” Steve whispered as he walked out of the room.

“Hey babe, yes I know” Eddie heard Steve say into the phone. 

-

Tonight’s performance had Eddie decked out in pearls and lying on top of the piano as the pianist played. His wig was done up in short 1920s Hollywood curls—framing his face before curling out away from it. He started the performance covered by pink feathery fans held by other dancers and it made him feel effortlessly glamorous. 

… A guy what takes his time, I'll go for any time

I'm a fast movin' gal who likes them slow

Got no use for fancy drivin',

As Eddie sings, he knocks the pianist's hat off. 

Wanna see a guy arrivin' in low

I'd be satisfied, electrified to know a guy what takes his time

Eddie walks his fingers along the pianist’s head, slowly pushing it down toward the keys.

… A hurry-up affair, I always give the air

Wouldn't give any rushin' gent a smile

Eddie sings as he pours the champagne in his hand into the glass that sits on the piano, he pours from up high and has to hide his surprised face when he misses the glass a bit and gets champagne all over the piano top. 

I would go for any singer who would condescend to linger awhile

What a lullaby would be supplied to have a guy what takes his time, oh

… A guy what takes his time, I'd go for any time

A hasty job really spoils a master's touch

Eddie dances around and flirts with the band making sure to hit his mark on time. On cue, he turns his back and Eddie’s pearl top flies off. He rushes to grab a feathered fan from a dancer to cover himself in a flirtation manner and happens to catch Steve’s eye; he sends him a wink and a little wave. 

I don't like a big commotion, I'm a demon for slow motion or such

Why should I deny that I would die to know a guy who takes his time?

Eddie’s pearled underwear also goes flying and he plays shocked before grabbing the other fan to cover his ass. He loves this number for that reason, he gets to play dramatic while still being flirty and fun. 

… There isn't any fun in getting something done

If you're rushed when you have to make the grade

I can spot an amateur, appreciate a connoisseur in trade, ooh

Who would qualify, no alibi, to be the guy who takes his time?

Eddie ends the number in front of some carefully placed instruments that cover his form while the fans he was covered with turn into wings that flutter along with the ending notes of the song. 

-

Later that night while the dancers got ready for the next number, Vickie excitedly climbed the stairs to the backstage with a smile on her face.

“Check it out, everybody,” She exclaimed showing off her hand where a large diamond engagement ring now sat. 

Everyone crowded her looking excitedly at the ring as she gushed on about how Dan proposed.

-

“I’m starved, you ready?” Eddie asked Steve

“I can’t. I’m so sorry. I have to do inventory tonight,” Steve replied with a sigh.

“Want me to call you a cab?” Steve asked apologetically

“No, that’s okay. I’ll get a ride with Barb,” Eddie said with a shrug.

“Sorry,” Steve said watching as Eddie replied with a sad smile and and another shrug.

“You ready?” Henry asked

Eddie turned abruptly, startled by the man who suddenly appeared. 

“For what?” Eddie asked, confused

“I’ll drop you off, Barbra left five minutes ago” Henry replied with a smirk.

Eddie gave him a further puzzled look because the only way he would have known that Eddie needed a ride home was if he was listening in and that made Eddie a bit nervous. Sensing his apprehension, Henry spoke.

“I was coming over to talk to you and caught the tail end of your conversation” 

“Talk to me about…?” Eddie queried

“Dinner. With me. Give me that,” Henry said as he pulled the bag Eddie was grabbing away from him. 

“If you ever expect to see this bag alive again…you’ll follow me,” Henry teased.

Eddie then watched as Henry started his way toward the exit. 

“Hold on a second. Where are you going? Hey!” Eddie called out as he raced toward Henry, hearing the man laugh as he climbed the stairs.

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I personally truly hate the thought of Henry/Eddie but for plot reasons, they need to be silly together. If you know the movie it makes sense since Henry is essentially Marcus but if you don't know the film, do not distress; this is only for plot.

-

Taglist:

@irregular-child

“Oh, and meet me upstairs in five,” she said, walking away.

That’s when Eddie heard more clapping and turned to face a smiling Steve who continued to clap. It brought an even bigger smile to Eddie’s face, and he was afraid his face might split in half if he smiled any bigger.

“Well, sorry for the short notice but… I quit!” Eddie exclaimed with a chuckle

“It is okay,” Steve said with a soft smile

“And! With my new raise I will be off your couch in no time” Eddie said

Eddie then let out a silent squeal of excitement and did a little hop, barely able to contain himself. He clenched his fists in an attempt to tamp down how he was feeling but he just couldn’t. He was so excited about this job and couldn’t believe that it was real. He let out a little squeak before running off towards the backstage area to meet with Robin.

-

Once he made it upstairs Robin just began handing him clothes, listing off what number they belonged to.

“Here we go. Black corset, first number. Second number, Wagon Wheel, that’s that. Swarovski bustier, that for the third number”

“And this is for Miss Otis Regrets,” Robin said handing Eddie a fake gun

“And remember with that, don’t…” Robin began before being hit in the face with a blast of confetti shot from the gun in Eddie’s hands

“Pull the trigger” She finished with an annoyed look as Eddie looked on at her with a sheepish grin.

-

Eddie wasn’t taking this opportunity for granted, every chance he got, he was practicing his ass off. Walking down the street, he was listening to the numbers and dancing along. Sure, people looked at him funny as he strutted down the street, but he didn’t care.

During practices at the club, you bet your ass he was working hard. Breaking a sweat and doing steps over and over again until he made sure he got it right. This was his chance at performing, he refused to blow it.

-

Tonight was his first night on stage, and Joyce decided that he was ready enough to be a part of the performances now. The number he was currently doing required him to be dressed like a go-go dancer, complete with 60’s Twiggy makeup that he tried and only slightly failed to do but it looked good enough. Regardless of how he looked, he loved every second of it, the thrill of being on the stage made him feel alive.

Joyce and Robin watched from the wings keeping an eye on Eddie’s performance.

“You like him. I know it kills you to but you have to admit it” Robin said to Joyce with a smirk.

“No. You know, he pulls focus, he doesn’t blend it” Joyce replied

“A boy that doesn’t blend in…oh my” Robin huffed sarcastically

“That is so beneath you,” Joyce said with a chuckle before walking away

The number had finished up and Eddie came running backstage, since she was still standing there, Robin greeted him.

“How are you doing?” she asked, pulling a robe around Eddie

“My stomach is pushed up to my heart, my thong’s a mile up my butt, and my eyelashes are so thick they could pick up a stiff wind” He chuckled

“Fun being a performer, isn’t it? Come on, let’s go” she said, ushering him backstage to change for the next number.

-

At the end of the night, all the dancers were cleaning up their stations and talking about going to grab pizza as that was one of the few things they could get at this time of night and many of them were starving after their night of dancing. Eddie was also pretty hungry, and pizza didn’t sound like the worst possible option anyway.

Eddie was so wrapped up in his thoughts he didn’t even notice the other dancers leaving, “I guess there goes pizza” he thought before he plopped his stuff back down at his station and stared at one of the old glam burlesque models he had a photo of. He sat there for a moment, brush in hand trying to recreate the eyeliner he saw on the model. He was in the midst of doing that when he saw Joyce round the corner towards his mirror.

“Where is everybody?” Joyce asked

“They went out for pizza, but I wasn’t hungry” Eddie replied hoping his voice didn’t betray him and that Joyce couldn’t pick up on the sadness in it.

“That brush isn’t working because it's too old,” Joyce said, watching Eddie struggle to put the makeup on.

“Well, it’s the only brush I have,” he said with a sigh

“I’ll let you use mine,” Joyce said with a gentle smile

Eddie smiled at her, and she dug around in her bag a moment before producing the brush that she was looking for.

“Here,” she said

“Thanks” Eddie replied

Eddie then struggled for a moment more with the new brush before Joyce let out a sigh.

“All right, here. Let me help you” she said

“First of all you have to wet it to get a clean line,” Joyce said before instructing Eddie to close his eyes.

“Secondly, when you are putting on makeup, it’s like you are an artist and the face is your canvas” She continued.

Joyce then launched into a story of her mom being a model, recounting how her mom and her friends would line their mirrors up side by side to put their makeup on before going on jobs. She recounted fondly of the ways that the women were fabulous. Eddie listened intently as Joyce continued to paint his face enjoying the feeling of the sweeping brushes across his face. 

“Didn’t you ever watch your mom put on her makeup?” Joyce asked softly

Eddie sucked in a deep breath, he didn’t talk about his mom often to anyone but Wayne but he knew Joyce would know nothing about that unless he told her. He steeled himself for a moment before he spoke:

“Um…my mom wasn’t a huge fan of makeup, only wearing it out for special occasions but even then…she died when I was seven so I don’t remember if I ever saw her put any on,” he said with a shrug hoping to come off as nonchalant rather than show the deep sadness he felt.  

“You know, you won’t be the new dancer forever,” Joyce said, seeing right through Eddie’s ruse from earlier. 

Eddie felt that maybe Joyce just had that mom sense and could pick up on the fact that Eddie felt a bit out of place and that it affected him more than he let on. Joyce has that warmth to her but also could have a piercing gaze that saw into your soul and it seems that tonight she gazed right through Eddie’s tough exterior and knew that he needed someone. 

Joyce had finished his makeup and gestured for him to look in the mirror, when he did, he was surprised to see the person looking back at him. He looked a lot like his mom, he always had but seeing the elegant makeup placed on his face made him really look like her, and he began to tear up a bit. 

“Oh wow” he chuckled, tears threatening to spill over

“So handsome,” Joyce told him softly and that is what got the tears to fall.

Joyce gave him a kind smile, wiped his tears, and then chuckled telling him to get his ass out of there as the club was closed. It didn’t matter though, Eddie felt closer to his mom than ever and felt like nothing could drag him down. As he made his way home for the night he thought of her and the love she showed him, he hoped she would be proud of him but more than anything he knew she loved him and that was enough. 

 -

Eddie was lying on the couch sleeping when he was awoken by the annoyed voice of Steve.

“Eddie dude, did you use my towel again? I found it sopping wet and on the floor”

Eddie rolled over ready to reply but all words died in his mouth as he saw Steve in nothing but a towel around his waist. His toned chest and stomach glistened with droplets of water that ran down the plane of his body and Eddie wanted nothing more than to lick it right up. 

Once Eddie’s brain was back online he deigned Steve with a response

“Maybe, I don’t know,” he said sleepily

“How’s that apartment hunt going?” Steve asked picking up all the local papers that Eddie had been looking through

“I’ve been looking but everything is over 1000 bucks a month and I just can’t afford that right now. My savings did kind of get stolen by my shithead father so you know can’t afford much of anything right now” Eddie told Steve bluntly.

“How can you put a price on privacy like that? Freedom? Your own bathroom? Clean towels?” Steve snarked back

“Okay, okay Steve I get it” Eddie huffed

Steve's phone rang and he swooped it up giving Eddie an upset look before saying:

“It’s Nancy” 

He then answered the phone with a “Hey babe” before shutting the doors to his bedroom muffling anything else Eddie might have been able to hear. 

-

Eddie sat at the kitchen island going over the papers he had collected, looking over all the listings within the pages. He heard the doors to Steve’s bedroom open and called out.

“Oh hey, what about Beachwood Canyon?”

“Great, if you have a car” Steve replied as he put his shirt on.

“I mean, the truth is you really should get a car first, I mean, this is L.A. after all” Steve said, picking up one of the papers scattered in front of Eddie. 

Steve sat down at one of the stools and seemed to ponder something for a moment before he looked up at Eddie and spoke.

“You know, I’ll tell you what. I’m going to suck it up and let you stay a little longer. Just throw in something for rent” 

“A second ago you wanted me out of here,” Eddie said with a look of bewilderment on his face. He truly had no idea where this was coming from.

“I don’t like my towel wet, I don’t like the lack of privacy…” Steve listed plainly

“But, you're in a jam and I’m the kind of guy that when a friend is in trouble, I help,” Steve said pointing to himself.

“It’s just who I am” he finished with a small smile and a shrug. 

“What did Nancy have to say?” Eddie said with a smirk.

“Nothing. No, she…What did she say, ‘Hi’ I think that was it” Steve said with his face beginning to flush. 

Eddie could see through Steve’s bluff. Something was up and there was a definite reason that Steve had switched up from wanting to kick Eddie out to wanting him to stay. 

“And?” Eddie pushed

“And…her assignment got extended three months, meaning she has to pay everything over there in rent so I have to cover everything here” Steve replied, face going a darker crimson.

“So if you want to stick around, chip in it would..” Steve said

“Save your ass?” Eddie interjected with a laugh

“Help,” Steve said through gritted teeth.

“Well, will you look at that? The shoes on the other foot. One minute I’m a freeloader and the next I’m the only thing standing between you and eviction,” Eddie spouted, smile growing larger by the second.

“Just yes or no?” Steve asked with a groan

“What’s the proposal exactly?” Eddie asked 

“Wonderful apartment, bathroom included” Steve began listening.g

“I’m listening” Eddie replied

“Full use of the kitchen,” Steve said

“Keep going” Eddie egged on

“Six hundred a month” Steve stated

“Closet?” Eddie asked with a smirk

“Half” Steve replied

Eddie then grabbed one of the papers in front of him before beginning to spout off information about some of the apartments he could rent. He figured his point would come across clearly.

“Fine, fine. The whole closet. What would you even need it for?” Steve said, turning to look at a wandering Eddie.

“Oh you wound me, Stevie, don’t you know my baby has just been sitting here gathering dust and being in the way? She needs a place to sleep, a soft place to land, and that closet is exactly that” Eddie said, grabbing his chest as if he were wounded. 

“You mean the guitar? That’s what this is about?” Steve asked exasperated

“No, it’s just a bonus. I’m a proper performer now sweetheart, I need the closet space for my costumes” Eddie replied with a devilish grin. 

God this was going to be a problem if Steve continued to be this easy to rile up. Eddie loved nothing more than flustering pretty boys like Steve and it seemed like if Steve was this quick to show his cards there was no way a little playful flirting wouldn’t shut down his brain. Eddie would keep it respectful of course, I mean Steve still was engaged but no one said Eddie wasn’t allowed his fun.

“I want the bedroom,” Eddie said

Steve turned quickly to face Eddie, annoyance apparent on his face before he spoke.

“No way,” he said 

“Oh look, there is enough room to technically share,” Eddie said with a wink.

Steve turned a delicious shade of red before sputtering out a response.

“That…that won’t be necessary. All right, you can have the bedroom. ” 

“Are you in?” Steve asked

“Oh, Steve. See I’m the kind of guy that when his friends are in trouble help. That’s just who I am” Eddie said, parroting Steve’s word for earlier back at his all while he backed towards the bedroom doors shutting them.

“Oh boy” Steve huffed

-

Robin was busy repairing costumes for the number tonight when she heard shouting coming from Joyce’s office.

“You’re killing me! Your dream is killing me” Lonnie yelled slamming the doors to Joyce’s office.

Robin decided it was probably wise to go check on Joyce and when she entered it looked like Joyce had been crying. 

“What was that?” she asked.

Rather than respond, Joyce just gave her a sad look and threw a paper airplane in her direction. It landed on the floor next to Robin’s foot so she bent down to pick it up and figure out what had caused the yelling. 

“And what’s this?” Robin asked 

“It’s something about two mortgages and to be perfectly honest, I haven’t got a goddamn clue as to what it means” Joyce replied 

“But if I can’t raise the amount of money on that paper by the end of this month, I’ll lose the club” Joyce muttered.

“It’s just money. It’s just a number. Steve will tell you the same thing. We came to work for you because you had a dream, one you have been pursuing almost as long as Steve and I have been alive, this won’t stop you” Robin said softly.

“I know but what if it does? What if this is it for me and the club finally goes under what then” Joyce asked

“Then we figure it out, that's all we can do” Robin replied

There was a soft knock on the as Steve peeked his head in.

“Hey…I heard some commotion and wanted to check if everything was okay” Steve said surveying the scene in front of him. 

He took one look at Joyce’s sad face and puffy eyes before looking to Robin to catch him up to speed as to what was going on. 

Once Steve was in the loop, he grabbed Robin’s hand and guided her over to where Joyce was sitting before the both of them crushed Joyce in an embrace. Joyce was so much like a mom to Steve that he sometimes forgot that she too could struggle. He wanted nothing more than to stay here forever with his best friend and soulmate, and sudo-mom but he knew they had a club to run. 

“It will be okay Joyce, no matter what we will figure it out” Steve murmured softly.

Joyce sniffled, “I love you guys, you are some of the best kids a parent could wish to have, thank you for everything”

They all sat there for a moment more, embracing, before they broke apart and started milling about to where they needed to be. The club wasn’t going to make money on its own, and it needed funds now more than ever. 

-

Backstage was the usual chaos and Joyce could tell something was up the moment she watched Billy descend the stairs. 

“Wait a minute, hey, hey! What’s in that?” Joyce asked

“Iced Tea” Billy responded innocently.

Joyce grabbed the glass and smelled it. It reeked of liquor and there was no doubt that Billy had been drinking before coming into work. 

“Ice tea my ass, Billy. Go home” Joyce said

“Yeah right! I’m about to go on” Billy chuckled.

“You bet your sorry ass you’re not going on…go home,” Joyce said more sternly.

“Relax. It’s one drink. What’s the big deal?” Billy scoffed, raising his voice. 

Eddie descended the stairs in his street clothes, he wasn’t supposed to be on for the next two numbers so he came in a bit later than usual but still early enough that he could be ready before the first number. He saw Billy and Joyce arguing but that was nothing new and didn’t suspect anything was up until Joyce called out to him.

“Eddie, you’re going to take Billy’s spot,” Joyce said

Eddie froze where he stood on the stairs, of all the things he expected to happen today, this wasn’t one of them. 

“He can’t dance my part” Billy scoffed.

Joyce leveled him with a look before speaking.

“He can and he will”

The last thing Eddie ever wanted to do was agree with Billy but he would also rather not face Billy’s wrath. 

“No, no. Sweet lord, I can’t do that. It’s Billy’s number” Eddie rushed out.

“No, no, you said you can do any number, right?! I’m asking you to do this one” Joyce proclaimed

Dammit, leave it to Joyce to make Eddie eat the very words he used to land this job. 

“You wanted a chance to prove yourself and I’m giving you one right now,” Joyce said

“ Well…I just don't want to step on any toes” Eddie stammered.

“Then don’t” Billy yelled

“I don’t ca–Listen to me, you're going to go on,” Joyce said pointing to Eddie.

“And you're going to go home,” Joyce said, pointing to Billy.

Billy raised his hands in mock defense before storming away and pushing around a few other dancers. Joyce rolled her eyes before turning to Eddie and throwing a costume at him instructing him to put it on.

“I guess I’m doing this” Eddie muttered to himself.

-

To say Billy was pissed would be an understatement of how he was feeling. First Joyce hires some bitch ass dude who can’t dance to be on stage and now that same dude was taking his spot. This is his number dammit! No one is taking it from him, which is why he decided to take matters into his own hands. 

“Gareth, Joyce wants to see you. Says it’s urgent” Billy said

“I can’t leave right now, I’m working, the number is about to begin” Gareth replied not looking up from the sound equipment. 

“Don’t say I didn’t warn you” Billy snarked

Billy took a seat at the table near the sound booth and listened as Gareth muttered a “Shit” under his breath before he made his way down the stairs. 

“Perfect,” Billy thought, the main part of his plan was complete.

He made his way over the sound equipment once he knew that Gareth was far enough away to stop him and he waited for the number to begin.

I need a tough lover, yeah yeah yeah

I need a, a tough lover, woo

I need a, a tough lover, yeah yeah yeah

Billy watched as the spotlights illuminated Barbra and then Carol and once the spotlight was on Eddie, he pulled the cable out of the sound equipment and the music stopped abruptly. 

-

On the stage, Eddie tried to look out past the lights on him to see if Gareth was fixing the issue with the sound or not but since the lights were right on him, he had no way of seeing. He began to panic as he saw the curtain was being lowered, this was supposed to be his chance to prove that he could do this and he was failing. He couldn’t let this be the end of this for him, he had to prove himself, so he did the only thing he could think of, he took a deep breath, opened his mouth, and began to sing.

Ooh, oh yeah yeah

Ooh yeah yeah

Everybody in the club froze for a moment and then dozens of eyes snapped to Eddie.

As he continued to sing, Eddie noticed that the curtain began to go back up again.

 “Yes,” he thought this was working.

I need a tough lover, yeah yeah yeah

I need a, a tough lover, woo

I need a, a tough lover, yeah yeah yeah

A tough lover, ooh yeah

At some point, the band kicked in and the sound began to fill the club, Eddie felt like he was on top of the world so he continued to sing and dance along to the number as if nothing had happened. 

The seven sisters got nothing on him

I'm talking about a lover who's fast as the wind

Everyone will talk about how he got me fixed

It ain't voodoo, it's just that twist

He will be the greatest lover that ever come to pass

Don Juan ain't got the half the chance

Barbra and Carol joined in with him on the next verse and he could hear the club clapping along to the beat as he sang. Eddie didn’t even care about proving himself anymore, he was having the time of his life on the stage. It felt like he was meant to do this and nothing could stop him anymore. He pulled the tambourinist on stage with him and just had fun with it, if this was his only chance to ever do this, he wanted to make it count.

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