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steve pushed the cart down the feminine hygiene aisle and sighed as he stared at all the different options that they have. robin said to get the purple tampax. there’s like, four different kinds of purple tampax and he is so confused. he heard someone walk up beside him and glanced over to see billy.
“oof,” he mumbled as he looked up at everything next to steve. “what kind did she say?”
“purple tampax,” steve grumbled, crossing his arms. then there was shit being dropped into the cart and they both turned to look at eddie. steve gave him a smile before looking back at the shelf. “should i just get every kind of purple tampax?”
“maybe?” billy asked, looking at him as he shrugged his shoulders. eddie wrapped his arms around each of their shoulders and sighed.
“she could have been more specific,” he said with a laugh, steve and billy nodding in unison. eddie started to trace a shape on steve’s shoulder and he bit his lip to try to fight back the smile when he realized it was a heart he was tracing over and over. steve subtly leaned in closed to eddie, instantly feeling so warm and content just from touching him.
“fuck it. grab all the purple tampax,” billy said as he grabbed one of each box, throwing them in the cart.
“maybe i should get a bunch of different ones to keep at my place for all the girls. right? that’s a nice thing to do. right?” he asked, not looking at them. eddie squeezed his shoulder and billy snorted.
“such a softy, babe,” billy said as he dug through the snacks eddie dropped in the cart. “oh hell yeah, doritos.”
“it is a nice thing to do, stevie,” eddie said, flicking billy on the ear. billy swatted his hand away, not even looking at him. steve sighed and turned to face them.
“next time. i can’t think that through right now,” he said with a laugh before grabbing the cart again. eddie slid his arm off of steve slowly, letting it trail down his arm as he did it and steve felt his face heat up. eddie moved away from steve to grab billy’s shoulders and give him a shake. billy smirked over his shoulder at eddie, giving a wink and making a kissing face. steve shook his head before pushing the cart to the check out. they put everything on the belt and steve paid for it all before they walked out to put everything in his car. somehow, billy stepped on the back of steve’s shoe and steve stumbled a little bit. eddie caught him before he fell and started laughing.
“billy you absolute fucking clumsy ass bitch,” steve said as he glared behind him at billy. billy just started cackling, having trouble standing up right. “how old are you? are you 10?”
“i didn’t even mean to, it’s just funny, oh my god!” he cried out as he laughed. eddie started laughing harder when he saw the tears coming out of billy’s eyes. “you just went flailing! you should have seen your fucking arms steve!” steve swung the bag with the tampons at billy and hit him with it, only making it worse. he hit him with it one more time for good measure before he slowly dissolved into laughter as well.
“see if i ever use my dad’s money on you again, william,” steve said as he popped the trunk, tossing the bags in.
“if it’s your dads money, then why does it matter?” eddie asked, tilting his head at steve and giving a teasing smile. “it’s not coming out of your pocket.”
“this is why i love eddie the most. you’re so smart, babe” billy said, clapping eddie’s shoulder before climbing into the backseat. steve sighed as he got in and started the car, eddie getting shotgun. steve looked out his windshield and low and behold, tommy was in the parking lot and had been staring at them. “oh shit, is that hagan?”
“yeah, he’s staring at us,” steve snorted. eddie looked forward at tommy and gave him a little wave. tommy’s face screwed up, making billy start laughing all over again. he rolled down his window as steve pulled out the parking spot and stuck his head out as they drove past tommy.
“too da loo tommy, baby!” billy yelled out. tommy’s face showed pure shock at that, only making billy continue his laughter. steve reached behind his seat and punched billy in the leg, trying not to laugh. tommy hasn’t really seen this side of billy so steve’s sure that it confused the hell out of him if the look was anything to go by.
“guys. are we technically bullying tommy?” eddie asked as he looked over at steve. billy snorted at the question.
“who gives a shit, ed. guy fuckin made high school hell for you,” billy sneered. eddie looked back at billy with a raised eyebrow. “uh uh, munson. i said one thing to you the entire time we were in school together that doesn’t include when i bought from you.” eddie smiled at him and reached out to lay his hand on steve’s thigh. steve immediately moved his leg a little closer to eddie at the touch.
“speaking of. i wanna smoke when we get back.” eddie said. he got a ‘fuck yeah’ from billy and steve nodded his head. he moved his hand on top of eddie’s, lacing his fingers through his on his thigh.
~
when they got to eddie’s trailer they all filed in to see robin and nancy on the couch, facing each other and talking. robin hopped up and skipped over to steve, wrapping her arms around him form behind. he looked back at her with a smile before holding the bag to her.
“you weren’t specific on which purple tampax so i got all four because i didn’t know,” he said, still smiling at her as he turned around to face her. she just looked at him before she smiled back.
“any of them would have been fine, stevie, but i really appreciate it,” she said, squeezing him in her arms again. he pressed a kiss to her forehead before she let go and went to the bathroom. nancy chuckled as the door closed behind robin.
“steve, before i knew what i know, i completely thought you guys were dating,” she giggled out.
“i did too,” billy said as he sat on the floor in front of her. “pretty sure they’re like, actually soulmates or some shit.”
“they are,” eddie agreed as he walked up to steve, running a hand through his hair and leaning in to press his lips to his. steve smiled, wrapping his arms around eddie, drawing him closer. nancy giggled at them and billy groaned, throwing his head back against the couch.
“when is it my turn to be happy?” he asked, getting a laugh out of eddie and steve. nancy just patted his shoulder and rolled her eyes. robin came back out of the bathroom and went back to sit next to nancy on the couch. steve moved away from eddie, only far enough to move around him. he grabbed his hand and dragged himself into the recliner, pulling eddie down with him.
“when you stop being a bitch,” steve said as eddie moved so that he was laying on his side, tucked into steve. “we saw tommy.”
“why is that dude everywhere that you are?” robin scoffed.
“right?” eddie asked as he picked his head up to look at her. “he has to be in love with steve. he has to be. he’s literally everywhere.”
“jealous?” steve mumbled, looking down at him.
“as if. you’re fucking hot and i’m proud. plus, he didn’t get to see you bite into a fucking demon bat and then rip it in half with your bare hands.”
“here we go again…” billy trailed, getting giggles form the girls.
“yeah! here we go again! and i will continue to bring it up for the rest of my life because i just about came in my pants when he did that and i’m not even fuckin ashamed to say it! that was the hottest shit i’ve ever seen.” eddie said, smiling proudly. steve’s face was bright red and the other three were in hysterics as he said it.
“eddie. oh my god,” steve grumbled, turning to hide his face in his hair.
“you are literally sex on legs, big boy. better fuckin get used to it,” he added, making them laugh harder.
“oh my god! i’m crying!” robin said as she wiped her eyes, still laughing. nancy had her hands over her face but you could hear and see her laughter.
“it was badass, i will admit. i probably would have almost cum in my pants too if i was eddie,” billy said with a shrug. eddie raised an arm and pointed at him.
“see, baby? he gets it. i’m pretty sure i fell in love with you right then and there. because that was like a new kink unlocked!” eddie exclaimed. steve’s face felt hotter and hotter and they just kept laughing and laughing. “and then you had the fucking gall to spit the blood out of your mouth and holy shit i almost lost it!”
“ohmygodpleasestop,” steve said so fast it came out as one word.
“eddie watched steve do that and had a fuckin chub going all while robin was fretting over steve having demon bat rabies,” billy said through his laughter. eddie started laughing with them, remembering robin’s freak out.
“steve to be completely honest, if i was into guys, that would have been so hot,” robin said as she calmed down. steve just slapped his hands over his face and let out a muffled scream as eddie snickered at him.
“i am into guys and it was,” nancy said with a shrug, getting more laughter out of them. steve shrunk back into the chair, curling into eddie and pushing his face into his chest. eddie’s arms wrapped around him as he continued to laugh.
“while we’re at it, stevie boy, what was with your reaction to the broken bottle to your neck?” billy asked in a smug tone. steve’s head shot up and he glared over at billy. nancy looked between them with confusion and robin just kept on giggling.
“billy. i swear to god, I will rip your balls from your body if you don’t shut the fuck up,” steve said through his teeth. billy just smirked at him. what an asshole.
“hey wait, what?” eddie asked, sitting up as well. “hold on- you- steve! what?!”
“oh yeah, steve’s gotta be a masochist because, eventually, he told me that you pushing him against the wall like that was when the ‘oh shit’ switch flipped,” billy said. eddie barked out a laugh before wrapping his arms back around steve and squeezing him.
“oh my god, steve. of course. being in a life or death situation would do that for you,” nancy sighed out, shaking her head in disappointment. steve tugged his shoe off his foot and threw it at billy. he got his arms up before it hit him but he was still giggling as it fell to the floor. steve glared at him for a second for repeating with the other shoe.
“oh i totally knew when i saw his face,” robin said with a smile as she looked at steve. “there was no way that was all fear. and after when he moved away from you? i took one look in your eyes and your pupils were so wide.”
“you better sleep with a fucking cup on and your eyes open, hargrove. i’m coming for you and your balls are getting popped.” he could feel eddie’s laughter more than he could hear it. steve sighed and lied back down with his head back on eddie’s chest. “baby, i need a blunt.”
“we can absolutely get you a blunt, my love,” eddie sighed as he was running his hand through steve’s hair. “bill, go get the blunts i have pre-rolled in my room.” billy shot up with a large grin on his face and went to grab them without hesitation, coming back just as fast as he left. he handed one to eddie and then took the other one back to the couch for him and the girls.
~
steve opened his eyes slowly and glanced over at the clock on eddie’s nightstand before looking to his right at the man himself. he was fast a sleep on his stomach, facing steve with his mouth slightly ajar. his pasty skin was on full display due to the lack of clothing on him and steve took a second to appreciate him. taking in how beautiful everything about him was. he looked back up at his sleeping face, taking in every inch of it. the barely noticable scar on his cheek from the bats that steve thought was just another beautiful addition to eddie’s already perfect face. he reached out and lightly ghosted his fingers over eddie’s back, feeling the goose bumps rise and eddie shiver. steve smiled at him before moving closer to wrap an arm around his torso. eddie groaned and his eyes opened, looking right back into steve’s. he smiled and easily let himself be pulled closer, snuggling his face into steve’s neck.
“morning,” he mumbled, his lips moving against steve’s neck as he said it. steve leaned closer to press a kiss to eddie’s temple, tightening his arms around him.
“morning.” he said back, tangling their legs together under the sheet. “you didn’t have a nightmare last night. you looked peaceful.”
“yeah it was because you were here,” eddie said, pulling back to look at steve. he brought his hand up and set it on steve’s cheek, running his thumb back and forth slowly. “you didn’t have one either.”
“same reason,” steve whispered as he turned to kiss eddie’s palm. “i sleep better when i’m with you.”
“i love you,” he mumbled as he leaned forward to press his forehead to steve’s.
“i love you,” steve whispered back. the thought of morning breath abandoned, eddie started to pepper steve’s face with kisses. steve laughed and his heart swelled as he ran his arm up and down eddie's back. there was a sudden knock at the front door, making them both jump. eddie just grumbled as the knocking continued. steve sighed and sat up before getting off the bed.
“jesus christ, steve,” eddie all but growled at steve. they didn't really have a reason for clothing last night and were too tired to care about putting any on before falling asleep. a flush slowly made it’s way up steve’s face as he grabbed eddie’s black sweats from the ground and slipped them on. the knocking stopped and steve said a quick 'thank you, god' in his head. “well that’s just disappointing.”
“shut up,” steve laughed, reaching for the shirt that eddie discarded last night. eddie sighed and sat up in the bed, watching steve’s every move. the knocking started up again, louder this time and steve groaned, running a hand through his hair. he slipped the shirt on over his head, covering the marks that eddie left there. the marks on his neck too high to be covered but he rather liked them anyway. he made his way to the living area and opened the trailer door, leaning against the frame with a sigh. it was andy, gareth, and jeff. they all stared at him with confusion all over their faces, not saying anything. "baby. come."
“who is it?” eddie called as he walked out, now wearing sweats. no shirt though, much to steve’s utter delight. the confusion only got more apparent as steve looked back at him. steve took a second to watch eddie, admiring the marks that he put on him last night as well. eddie smirked at him as he walked closer and steve sighed.
“your band,” he said, moving away from the door so they could come in. eddie kissed his cheek as steve walked by to get to the coffee maker.
“okay, eddie, what the fuck?” gareth asked as they piled in. steve bit back a laugh as he hopped up to sit on the counter.
“hello to you too,” he grumbled in return, grabbing mugs out of the cabinet next to where steve was sitting. “you guys want coffee?”
“coffee- dude- no- what- why is steve harrington calling you ‘baby’?” andy asked as he glared at steve. steve just smiled back at him before rolling his eyes and laying his head back against the upper cabinets. he can't blame him for being standoffish towards him but he does find it amusing. eddie handed steve a mug after pouring coffee into it and leaned back between his legs, facing the boys.
“yeah, when did this become a thing? how did it become a thing?” jeff asked, waving his hands and gesturing at them.
“because i can,” he said, making steve snort into his coffee before spitting it out. eddie giggled back at him, grabbing a towel and handing it to him. “we went through some shit together.” he shrugged his shoulders as he said it.
“and that calls for a relationship?” andy asked, reaching for more information.
“shared trauma and all that,” steve said, also shrugging. eddie breathed out a laugh and nodded his head. “plus, have you seen him? fell in love with him the moment i saw him.”
“please, you’re way better looking than me,” eddie said, playing into it.
“mmm, agree to disagree,” steve said, setting the mug down and looping his arms under eddie’s and around his abdomen right below his pecs.
“i’m so confused,” jeff muttered. gareth nodded in agreement.
"i'm pretty sure he bullied you in high school," andy said, looking at eddie like he was crazy.
"actually he didn't. he was rude the couple times we interacted but he didn't bully me," eddie said matter-of-factly. steve's arm tightened around him. he knows he was a dick in high school, at least up until second semester of junior year. he's apologized to eddie so many times and eddie just smiles and shakes his head at him, reminding him that there's no way steve was ever truly a bad guy. reminding him that he was the first person robin ever came out to because she knew he was good. how there's no way that dustin henderson would ever look up to him if he was. how max absolutely adored him. and how he was able to forgive billy for what he did to steve and actually build up such a strong bond with him, trust him. steve has never really felt like he deserved all of the amazing people in his life but he'll soak it up while he can.
“look, i don’t have to explain everything to you, you just have to understand that he makes me really happy and you can either accept that or move along because i love him and that's not going to change,” eddie said in a hard voice. jeff and gareth shrugged and andy sighed before nodding. “good.”
~
the four boys sat at the table in the kitchen talking about the band while steve sat on the counter with a dry box of cereal, eating handfuls of it at a time. they kept glancing at him but didn’t really acknowledge him more than that. steve found it funny, kept trying not to laugh. the door to eddie’s trailer flew open and steve turned to look at it.
“harrington! you’ll never believe who i-“ billy cut himself off as he looked at the people in the trailer. he looked at all of them individually, held his gaze on eddie for a second before looking at steve. eddie bit his lip to force back a laugh at billy’s face. steve snorted and held the cereal box out to billy.
“have some cap’n crunch, babe,” steve said as billy walked over to him. he ruffled eddie’s hair as he passed him and eddie slugged his arm with a smile. billy shrugged and shoved his hand into the box, pulling out a handful.
“no milk? what the fuck is wrong with you?” he asked as he shoved the handful in his mouth, ignoring the stares he was getting.
“what were you saying?” steve asked him with a laugh. billy leaned against the counter as he chewed and crossed his arms over his chest.
“i ran into tommy,” he said in a hushed voice. steve popped an eyebrow and tilted his head so subtly that it could have been missed. “total asshole. as always.”
“saying what?” steve asked with his mouthful, not even caring how gross it was.
“just asking how we all of a sudden became friends. what the deal is with eddie. trying to get into our business as if he has the right. i don’t get him. told me that he never wanted anything to do with you again. continuously talked about you at school. you have literally nothing to do with him. steve, i seriously think we night be right. he’s like, in love with you, or at least obsessed with you. nothing else makes any sense,” steve could see the gears turning in billy’s head.
“yeah i know what you mean,” steve said quietly. billy raised an eyebrow at him and steve shrugged. “he followed me around like a lost puppy. did whatever i told him to. was always touching me somehow. it’s not unlikely.” billy sighed and shook his head.
“oh, max is outside by the way, said she wanted me to make sure you and eddie were decent,” steve chuckled as he hopped off the counter. he made his way over to the door, peaking his head out at her.
“why the fuck are you outside, maxwell?” he asked. she screwed her face up at him before huffing and walking up the stairs.
“don’t be fucking rude, stephanie,” she sneered as she stepped in. “oh my god there’s so many people in here.”
“what the hell is happening?” andy asked, looking around with wide eyes. “first steve harrington, then billy hargrove? now a freshman? and why if you and steve are together did steve call billy ‘babe’? i’m so confused, eddie.”
“steve’s my lover,” billy said, wiggling his eyebrows. max gagged at him as she rolled her eyes, punching his arm.
“in your dreams, hargrove,” steve said, smirking at him. max sighed and shook her head before flopping onto the couch. steve sat next to her and she turned so that her legs were across his lap. billy sat on the other end of the couch, leaning back and digging into the box. “give me my cereal back, bitch.”
“that’s my cereal,” eddie mumbled from the table, looking at them with an amused smile.
“our cereal, baby,” steve said as he snatched it out of billy’s hand. eddie just huffed out an amused laugh at him. billy scoffed and tried to grab it back but failed before rolling his eyes. max held out her hand and steve dropped a handful in it, earning a smile from her.
“is anyone gonna explain anything?” gareth asked as he looked around. jeff just looked tired and like he didn’t care anymore.
“if you all shut the fuck up about who eddie, who is his own person and a grown adult, by the way, keeps as company, i’ll order and pay for pizza,” steve said, shrugging his shoulders. the three sighed and didn’t ask anymore questions. billy snickered at them. steve gave the box to max, much to billy’s grief who mumbled out a ‘dude, seriously?’ as max laughed at him. he then stood up and looked at the clock. it’s noon. he grabbed the phone before dialing out to the pizza place. he felt an arm around him as he did so, not paying much mind as eddie dragged him into his lap at the table. he smiled and pressed a quick kiss to his lips before bringing the phone to his ear.
~
the awkwardness kind of faded as the day went on and they had their pizza. they all eventually settled into the small living room to watch star wars. max had moved to sit between billy and steve on the couch, her head in billy’s lap and her feet tucked under steve’s leg. eddie had sat down in front of him on the floor, leaning his back against the couch in between steve’s legs. steve had been playing with eddie’s hair the whole time, running his hands through it, doing little braids and then letting them go and starting over again. the phone rang all of a sudden and max shot up with a grin to get it. eddie just smiled up at her as she picked it up.
“munson residence, what do you want?” steve threw his head back with laughter as billy sighed from next to him, shaking his head at her. eddie just lied his head back on steve’s leg with a fond eye roll. “oh hey, wayne.” that made steve laugh even harder and eddie let out a giggle. “okay I’ll let him know. okay, you too. okay, bye.” she hung up the phone and turned to face the guys. “wayne says he won’t be back tonight.”
“thanks, max,” eddie said with a snort. she smiled at him before taking her original spot on the couch again.
“robin and nancy are going over to my house tonight with the gremlins,” steve said as he looked at the clock, reading that it said 4:30. “they want to swim. they’ll be there around 6. you three are more than welcome to come with us if you want. the rest of your hellfire club will be there.” the three looked at each other and shrugged, turning to nod at steve. “great.”
~
“oh my god, that had to be so awkward,” robin said as steve recounted the day to her. he smiled and nodded his head as he leaned back against the lounger. he had changed into his trunks as soon as they all got to his place but opted for just laying out this time instead. billy sat down in the chair next to steve then, smiling behind his sunglasses and laying back in it.
“it was more amusing than anything,” he said and she laughed at him. she looked down at his chest and stomach, huffing.
“you’re getting red,” she replied as she grabbed the sunscreen and squirted some straight onto his stomach making him hiss.
“jesus, robin, that’s fucking cold,” he snapped at her. she just smirked and started to rub it in for him.
“woah! eddie, where the fuck did you get those scars?” gareth asked as he looked at eddie’s chest. god, do these guys like, not pay any attention to eddie at all? eddie glanced over at steve and robin before smiling and looking back at him.
“dog attack, during the rift,” he said with a shrug. gareth, jeff, and andy all looked over at steve and robin. billy puffed his cheeks out as he turned to face steve.
“he has matching ones,” andy said, pointing at steve. steve snorted as robin finished rubbing the sunscreen in. screw just laying out, this shit is awkward. he stood up and stretched before just walking straight into the pool. when he resurfaced, robin, billy and nancy were laughing at him and he just smiled back before grabbing the closest kid to him, which was will.
“no! steve!” will yelled through laughter as he picked him up out of the water and threw him back in. lucas laughed before he jumped onto steve’s back and shoved him under the water. steve came back up with a laugh and splashed at lucas.
“watch out!” mike yelled as he ran and jumped, doing a cannonball into the water right next to dustin who screamed as his head fell under the water. steve just snickered at him before turning to look at max and el, who were sharing a chair and talking quietly to themselves. eddie decided then that he wanted to do a backflip off the diving board and steve gave him a sly smile as he resurfaced.
“hey, sweetheart, come here often?” eddie asked as he got to steve and wrapped his arms around him.
“my house? actually. no, not really,” steve said, leaning in to kiss him. eddie hummed a laugh and tilted his head to deepen it before they were splashed by all the boys.
“jonathan!” will shouted and steve turned around to smile at the man as he saw him. jonathan smiled at will and waved at steve as he walked over to nancy. he kissed her really quick before sitting next to her at the patio table. steve looked over at robin and billy who were talking and laughing about something that he couldn’t hear. steve swears his heart couldn’t get anymore full than it is right now.
“what are you thinking about?” eddie whispered as his lips pressed to his ear. steve turned to look at him and smiled, bringing his hand up to eddie’s face. he knows they’re being watched but he doesn’t care. he loves this man more than he's ever loved anyone or anything and he’s proud to show it. he’ll get shit from billy and robin later about how he’s looking at eddie but he still won’t care because he’s so incredibly happy that nothing else matters.
“how happy i feel when everyone we care about and who cares about us is here. how much i love you and can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you. how even though all the shit we went through is like, worst case scenario i wouldn’t change any of it because i wouldn’t have all these people in my life that i love and that i know love me too,” steve said in a hushed tone that was almost a whisper. eddie’s eyes were holding nothing but love and affection towards steve as he listened to him. eddie leaned his forehead against steve’s and closed his eyes, a smile on his face.
“so. fucking. cute.” robin mumbled to billy, who just laughed at her. steve smiled and shook his head at hearing the exchange before pressing his lips to eddie’s quickly.
“i just remembered how many fucking hickies are all over me,” steve mumbled against eddie’s lips. eddie started laughing, throwing his head back. steve just smiled before pulling away and climbing out of the pool. he walked over to robin and billy as eddie swam back over to his band members, the boys already surrounding them and talking.
“those three were just staring at you guys the whole time,” billy said as steve sat in the lounger that robin was sitting at the foot of.
“let ‘em. i don’t even care,” he sighed as he leaned back in the chair. nancy made her way over with jonathan and smiled down at the three. she reached out to push steve’s hair back from his face with a laugh and he smiled up at her. “hey, jonny.”
“hey man,” he said as he sat next to billy. robin scooted closer to steve, leaning back against him so that nancy could sit down. she smiled at robin as she did so and robin moved around until she got comfy, lying her head on him and closing her eyes. “robin, i ran into vickie today.”
“oh, that’s cool,” she said, her eyes flying open, face flushed and voice strained. steve started cackling at the reaction and she just slapped his chest as the others laughed along with him.