#smells fruity

Steve Harrington knew nothing more that being a popular kid. If he was going to get his parents attention it was going to be this way. He was going to be great at sports, or catching all the girls attention.

Things his parents could brag about.

The he met Eddie Munson. Eddie fucking Munson.

He was jealous. How could he not be? Dustin made a new friend. A friend that was apparently so much cooler than him. Steve couldn't blame him.

To himself, he was nothing more than a 2D piece of cardboard. He shared basically nothing with these kids when it came to interests.

Then Eddie showed up. With his perfect long hair, and large brown eyes. Suddenly, all Steve could think about was Eddie.

Eddie Fucking Munson.

And the way he shifted his voice when called for. The way he left the kids laughing with tears. And the way all his kids would go to him for advice, or for their nerd things.

Steve hated it. He would wish Eddie never came into their life, but he also knew that Eddie was making it easier for everyone there.

The day Mike found out Eddie was gay, he left and talked to Will. The tension that was building between the group vanished in the matter of days.

After Steve spent months trying to get everyone to be okay with each other. After Steve spent nights awake, and stressing over it all. Eddie showed up, and within days, it was fixed.

Don't even get Steve started on how well Eddie connected with Max.

Max who fought him every time he showed concern. Max who yelled, and got defensive when he tried to show any interest in her life.

Steve hated Eddie.

But he also loved him.

Loved him for showing up and being there for the kids. Helping them in ways Steve could only dreamed to do. He wanted to always hate Eddie, but every time the nerd opened his mouth-it changed.

Every time Steve saw the way the kids stared up at him like he was a god. It shifted. The hate and jealousy Steve felt at first turned into something else.

Something Steve couldn't name.

Not that he'd tell the kids. He will take this to his grave. He won't tell a soul about the way he tried hard not to flush when he's called 'big boy'. Or the way he felt a warmth grow in him like a rising sun, every time the kids' face lit up seeing Eddie.

Eddie was his internal secret he won't tell anyone about.

Except Robin.

How could he not gush to her, and she took all his annoying rants in strides. Hell, most of the time he's sure she knew about his man-crush before he did.

He had to tell her, after the day she helped him realize he was bisexual, how could he hide this from her.

Ignoring his internal turmoil, Steve was there every time Eddie needed a safe place to stay. Every time Eddie needed to vent about how he was trying to start living with his uncle.

Every time Eddie needed to feel safe enough to cry.

It was never at the Munson household. Eddie hated his parents. Hate was a strong word... Eddie feared them, in a way Steve would never understand. Regardless, Steve was always there.

He stamped out his heart, so he could be the safe space for Eddie. Just like he was for everyone else.

Until that night.

It was pouring rain, you could barely see five feet in front of yourself. So, Steve opted to stay in. He kept himself busy with records, and the occasional call to Robin before phone lines went down.

He saw how his day was going, and resigned himself to a lonely night in with his music.

Until the knock.

The bone-soaked Eddie that stood in his porch was jarring enough. What made it so much worse, was the horribly done buzz-cut the man was sporting.

Steve ushered him in, offering a fresh jacket from the coat closet that was never touched. Eddie refused it, not to Steve's surprised.

Once entering, Eddie immediately asked for anything. Alcohol, weed, drugs. Anything to help him forget about why he's hair was gone, why he showed up to Steve's place in the middle of a storm.

Steve should have backed off. He should have indulged Eddie in his need for mindless distractions, and not push for why.

Then the argument happened. It started so quickly, and dissolved into something worse.

"It's no big surprise you turned out this way!"

Steve regretted it the moment it left his mind. But Eddie was being defensive, and pushing Steve away. Even when Steve was trying his hardest to comfort the man. All he got in return were aggressive jabs, and anger.

So Steve snapped. He was getting fed up. Maybe it was between holding in his feels for the other man, or it was just the tiredness after a long day with his parents, and watching the kids.

"Fuck you!"

Steve wasn't surprised by the reaction. Although, he expected Eddie to turn around and leave, afterwards. For once, he didn't.

For as long as Steve has known Eddie, the man has only stood up for one reason. Always. To protect the one's he loved. Never himself.

Steve should have stopped. He should have apologized, and actually given the shorter man comfort. He didn't.

"They shaved off your hair, and you ran away! You figured I'd be the best comfort?!"

The way Eddie's face crumbled at his words almost stopped Steve in his track. Almost. Instead he kept going. Yelling in a way he knew he'd be hoarse by morning.

It was ugly. No other way to explain it.

But so much was put out into the open. Only on Eddie's end of things. The disgusting way his dad treated him. The way his mom cried slurs at him on the daily since they found out he was gay.

The way Eddie never felt safe. The way Eddie yelled about the bruises he's endured in silence. Why he was so connected to Max.

In those moments, the fight was slowly slipping from Steve. All he could think about was protecting him. Just like he did the others.

Lies. Not like the others. Eddie was the only one he ever dreamed about waking up on a lazy Sunday with. Half-heartedly debating about getting up, even if they knew they had nothing to do.

A domesticated life.

By the end of Eddie's rant, Steve had tears in his eyes. He was trying to hard to stop himself from pulling the metal-head in close. Holding him tight, and attempting to kiss the pain away.

Instead he tried to pick the best words to say. The best way to fix an already fucked up situation.

"Please just stay here. Until you can live with Wayne at least."

The harsh laugh that left Eddie was like a stab to the gut. Steve already felt his heart drop passed his gut, all the way to the floor. When Eddie spoke, it was like someone twisting the knife.

"Hey man, I love you, but no fucking way."

Then he was gone.

Eddie finally ran away.

Steve tried to hold it together. As Dustin questioned him about Eddie, as everyone apart of the club came to him. For some fucking reason.

Steve didn't break.

He told them he had no clue where Eddie was. That the man must have given up on trying to graduate before leaving Hawkins. He must have finally left.

He held it in as best he could.

Until one drunken night with Robin, and he told her everything. Told her about how Eddie told him he loved him before he left. How he blamed himself for why Eddie left. Worse of all, he told Robin how much he wished he had kissed him.

Wish he told Eddie how he felt. Wished he told the man that there was someone in Hawkins that loved him.

He sobbed late into the night. While Robin held him, trying to console him. But no matter what anyone told him. There was one thing Steve believed.