Work Text:
Corroded Coffin rehearsals follow a certain agenda, Steve has come to learn. It goes from actually practicing songs, smoking a little weed, talking about their upcoming tour, and then Eddie sitting on the floor next to Steve rambling different new song lyrics to him. Steve doesn’t try to spend all of his time with his boyfriend, but he really can’t help it. He’s dreading the upcoming tour. Eddie is going to be away, traveling around the states, for the next month and half. He’s trying to cram all the time he can.
The studio around Steve was filled with Eddie's band mates, sound boards, guitars, comfortable seating and different microphones. Steve was sitting on the floor in front of a couch watching his boyfriend's expert guitar playing. Robin was blowing up his phone with stories about her latest date with Nancy. Eddie’s voice was as mesmerizing as Steve remembers it being yesterday. It takes everything within Steve to not stop his boyfriend and kiss him right there in front of everyone, but they were still a secret to everyone in the band.
In fact the only people who knew the two were together were Robin, Nancy, and the six kids Steve had somehow acquired over the last few years. They had been together for almost a year and Steve knew that Eddie wanted to keep it secret for Steve’s safety and mental wellbeing, but Steve was getting anxious and antsy especially since he’ll be leaving Indiana in the next week. Steve’s just afraid they’ll drift apart and Eddie will meet some way better than him. Sure they had phones and Suteve could easily just text, call and facetime him, but it wasn’t the same as actually being in Eddie’s presence.
“Steve!” A voice called him and pulled him back to reality. In front of him was Eddie squatting to meet Steve’s eyes. “There you are! I have been calling for you, bud.”
Steve gave a soft simple smile seeming to fall in love with Eddie all over again. The same warm feeling arriving in his chest the same as it did over a year ago. “Hello.” Eddie gave the best smile in return. “What can I help you with?”
“Rehearsal’s done babe, let’s get out of here?” Steve looked around to see that the studio space was in fact deserted and grabbed his phone to see over 15 texts from Robin and the time reading 5:09.
“Right, of course, I think Robin’s getting antsy, anyway.” Steve lifted himself off the floor with the help of his loving boyfriend. He started to pack up his stuff and grab his keys before he was pulled into a kiss.
Steve melted into the lips of Eddie and smiled against him. “I love you, you know that, right?” Eddie said when he pulled away. Steve nodded and leaned in again with Eddie meeting him in the middle.
After a solid minute a loud ringtone broke them apart. Steve took a look at his phone, Robin’s name and picture now filling the screen. “Well, she’s done waiting, so I think we should go.” Steve sighed before answering. “Yeah, yeah we’re coming, hold your horses.”
-
Tonight was proving to be one of the worst nights of Steve’s life. It was the first night of Corroded Coffin’s tour in Indiana in a sold out venue and Steve had barely seen Eddie all day. Of course Steve and the rest of the group caught tickets for the show, like hell they were going to miss this show. But Steve has been hanging out with Dustin, Max, and the rest of the kids all day. Not that he didn’t enjoy hanging out with them (making sure they were making good decisions), but Steve was crawling out of his skin being away from Eddie today.
“Jesus man, you are acting really weird today, are you alright?” The redhead plopped herself down next to him. Max was the chillest out of all the kids, slowly trying to pass Dustin on his list of favorites. And he’s been keeping a closer eye on her ever since her step-brother died. It was the first day of summer and he took all the kids to the pool because Indiana was slowly becoming a hellhole of heat.
“I miss Eddie.” Steve said, letting his head hit the back of the pool chair he was sitting in.
“He hasn’t even left yet.”
“I know, but I’ve barely seen him today, the last day he’s going to be in Indiana for the next month and half and I wish I was with him rather than be here with you guys.” He might have regretted that statement if Max had laughed at it in response.
“Yeah I guess I can see how you feel, my friend.” Max laid back on the chair next to him and placed her red sunglasses back over her eyes. “But, you’ll see him tonight and be able to make out with him before he gets on that bus.”
“Ugh, don’t remind me that he’s leaving.”
“I feel like you keep reminding yourself, buddy.” She was right. It was the only thing on Steve’s mind at the moment and he didn’t notice nor care that Eleven was trying to submerge her brother under water and keep him there.
“Max!” Lucas’ voice rang from the pool. “Get over here and help us save Will!”
Max smiled before getting up and running into the pool. “Max! Walk!” She did not listen and jumped right into the pool. Steve sighed and looked at his phone, the time seeming to go by slower. On his notification board sat two texts from Eddie.
eds to You at 4:38
miss you. save me from gareths wrath
eds to You at 4:43
behold the fit for tonight, wanted the opinion from my love <3
Attached to the message was a mirror picture of Eddie in black baggy pants, his classic white sneakers, leather jacket paired with the jean vest, decked out in rings and jewelry, and his fingertips painted blacked to the first knuckle. Steve thinks he might have died right there.
You to eds at 4:48
You are quite literally the hottest thing in the world. I lvoe you so much it’s insane.
“Steve! Stop sexting Eddie and come hang out with us. Be on El’s side for Paranoia!” Dustin called from the pool. Steve sighed and shoved his phone under a towel and walked toward the edge of the pool before jumping in with the kids.
-
“Okay, okay what about this?” Robin showed Steve the tenth outfit combination that night.
“Robin, Nancy is not going to care what you wear, you wanna know why, because she already thinks you’re hot as fuck.” Steve encouraged his very stressed out friend.
“Okay but what if she doesn’t think that, and I wear a stupid outfit and then she’ll never want to speak to me again.”
“Oh, my god Rob, that outfit is fine wear that, cause you’ll cool as fuck and can we go, I told Eddie I’d meet him before the show started.” Steve kept his eyes on the clock begging Robin to go faster , so they could get out the door, pick up Nancy and Mike and get to the venue.
“Fine, we’ll risk my love life so yours can thrive.” Robin smirked and headed for the bathroom.
“I have been rooting for you and Nancy for five months, shut the hell up!” Steve called after her.
20 minutes later they were on their way to the venue, Robin and Nancy in the backseat of Steve’s car and Mike sitting awkwardly in the front seat. Playing from the CarPlay was Robin’s music, the faint voice of David Bowie flowing through the speaker occasionally interrupted by the giggling from the back.
They pulled into the venue, a very big one for the band that they were, and parked relatively close. Jumping out, Mike ran to meet his girlfriend and his other friends. Nancy and Robin stepped out of the car still discussing the Greatest Hits from Phoebe Bridgers.
They headed into the venue, Steve trying to find someone to get him to Eddie. His friends find their way to the general area, closest to the stage and Steve is now face to face with a random guard at the backstage door. The two were bickering back and forth, Steve trying to use his texts to Eddie that he knew the band, but the guard wasn’t budging. “I told you buddy, the band isn’t doing the whole backstage thing, go enjoy the show and stop trying to get back here.”
Suddenly the door flung open and the long haired Eddie Munson was standing there. “I have been looking everywhere for you.” He grabbed Steve, pulling him towards the door. “Don’t worry gentlemen, he’s with me.” Eddie winked and shut the door.
“They weren’t letting me in, I almost wanted to show them a picture of us making out to convince them.” Steve kept his hand in Eddie’s as he was being led to a room, most likely Eddie’s dressing room.
“Yeah well now you’re here and I can kiss you all I want when that door gets closed.” Eddie smirked and Steve was quick to slam the door and then himself to Eddie’s lips.
Kissing Eddie never got old, it was the same every time. Steve felt the same softness radiating off him every time their lips connected. It was like the flames bursting inside of him killed him and kissing Eddie was his heaven. And if this is possibly the last time he’ll be able to do it for the next month, he’s gonna go all out.
“Woah, woah, woah, calm down there Harrington. Sex in the dressing room is not something we should do right before a show, as much as I would love to.” Eddie chuckled at Steve, hands still playing with Steve’s hair.
A knock came from the door. “Mr. Munson, 5 minutes.” A voice Steve did not recognize came through.
“That’s speak for ‘you, Mr. Harrington, need to get out of here’ and speak for me to get ready.” Eddie smiled.
“Good luck kiss?” Steve suggested.
“As always, my love.” Eddie leaned in. As small as the kiss was, Steve loved everything about it. “I love you and tonight every song goes out to you.” Eddie kissed him one last time before pushing him out the door.
-
Steve had always loved watching Eddie perform. Whether it just be in his bedroom and a private show just for Steve, or here in front of thousands. He had a beautiful stage presence and the crowd absolutely adored him.
The concert was going amazing, Steve constantly taking pictures and videos of the man on stage who he was utterly in love with. Steve would usually hate to be spending his Friday night in a room full of screaming teenagers, but tonight was so surreal and he could only imagine how Eddie felt on top of that stage.
“Alright, this has been such a surreal night, thank you so much!” Eddie said into the microphone and the crowd erupted into loud roars and cheers. “I have one last song for you all tonight, dedicated to a very special friend of mine, from his second favorite band. This Paralyzed by Big Time Rush.”
It was a stupid joke that Steve made once. “Sorry, babe, Big Time Rush is far superior and Paralyzed is the best song they have ever made.” And Eddie had made fun of him for it ever since a single statement that was made in his car.
Steve was more in love with this man than he has ever been in love with everyone else. Eddie had learned and was playing a song that Steve had mentioned he loved. Eddie kept sliding his eyes in Steve’s direction giving him the most beautiful smile and a small wink at one point.
“Thank you for SUCH a wonderful night! This was a wonderful start to the tour! I will see you soon Hawkins! I love you all!” Eddie does one final jump before the final chord and the concert is over.
Now finally after shoving Dustin, Lucas, and Max into a car with Mrs. Henderson and Will, Eleven and Mike had taken off with Jonathan, Nancy and Robin were flirting while Steve was waiting for the crowd of teenagers to leave the bus. “How does it feel to be the ‘special friend’ the last song was dedicated to?” Robin teased her friend.
“ I try to speak and boy you’ve got me tongue tied,” Nancy started to jokingly sing.
“ TRY TO MOVE BUT I’M STUCK IN MY SHOE!” Robin sang louder.
“Can you two shut the fuck up, it’s a banger song.” Steve shoved his best friend’s shoulder.
After being able to see the bus take off, Eddie waved off fans and blew a small kiss to Steve. Steve was content to just text the man later and spend at least 4 hours on facetime with each other.
-
It has been a week since Eddie has taken off on tour and Steve has been trying to deny the fact that he’s feeling very lonely. He’s been spending the week with the kids and Robin and with his face stuck in his phone. He’s also been on and off Twitter seeing different videos and press interviews of Eddie and his band.
He was spending time with the kids at their local bookstore with an Iced Caramel Macchiato being passed between him and Robin. Steve’s attention was on his phone, currently texting Eddie about the inconsistencies in Glee, smiling at every single gray text bubble appeared on his phone.
“God, you are so lovesick it’s sometimes sickening to watch.” Robin looked up from the book she was currently destroying with her annotations.
“If Nancy texted you right this minute, you would be making the exact same face I’m currently making while texting my boyfriend.” Steve stole the drink from her side taking a giant sip.
“Shut up, and stop taking big sips of our five dollar drink!” Robin snarked and snatched it back from him. Steve laughed and responded to the recent text about how much Eddie hates William Shuester.
In a break between his texts with Eddie, Steve headed over to Twitter to see different pictures of Eddie to save to his phone. Eddie was trending for his recent concert so Steve strolled through the tag to see different videos and different edits. Then he suddenly sees his face in a picture.
The tweet attached read:
corrodedbaes
SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME WHO THIS GORGEOUS MAN WHO WAS AT THE CORRODED COFFIN HAWKINS SHOW IS!!!
“Robin!” He exclaimed and shoved his phone in his friend's face. Robin took the phone and looked closely at the tweet before bursting out into loud laughter. “Why is this funny for you?”
“You’re Twitter famous my friend!” Robin said between laughter. “Send this to Eddie so he can respond to the tweet saying it’s his boyfriend.”
“You know he’s not going to do that.” Steve sighed. He snatched his phone back from his friends, contemplating sending it to Eddie or not. “I wish he would, but he’s not going to until we talk about it again.”
Steve went back to scrolling but not before screenshotting the tweet just in case.
-
It has been almost a month of Eddie being on tour and Steve has been crawling for tickets to his Chicago show so he could surprise him and see him because he feels very lonely. He has spent almost an hour on TicketMaster trying to get this ticket secured.
Once the ticket was in his grasp he started packing for the road trip out of state. While shoving clothes in his former swim duffel his phone started ringing. A phone call from Eddie. Steve all but jumped for his phone, answering it with lightning fast speed. “Hello handsome.” The angelic voice of his boyfriend filled his ears.
“Hello there, my favorite person.” Steve smiled.
“When were you going to tell me you were Twitter famous?” Eddie chuckled on the other line.
“What does that mean?”
“All over my timeline all I’m seeing is your face from my Hawkins show, asking who you are.” Eddie said. Steve sighed, he knew it would blow up and Eddie would find out about it someday. “I mean I don’t mind that suddenly a bunch of teenagers want my boyfriend, I just wanted to know if you knew, and if it made you uncomfortable?”
Eddie always cared so much about Steve and Steve always cared so much about him in return, He knows that’s why Eddie doesn’t want to make their relationship public, because of how much he cares about Steve.
“I’m fine with it. I just wish they knew I was unavailable. And that I was dating the person that they’re showing up to concerts for.” Steve said into the phone wishfully. “That he’s spending most of his time missing the touch of the man playing the guitar on stage. But that’s all they should know I’m thinking.”
“Steve,” Eddie sighed on the other line.
“Eddie. I think it’s time you tell everyone. Sometimes it gets weird when you have to explain why you were in the kitchen for five minutes. And it won’t hurt me if the public knows. I want them to know that you are in a very happy and committed relationship.” Steve pushed. “I like being the rock star's boyfriend, but I don’t want that boyfriend to keep me a secret. I want to shout how much I love you every time you perform.”
Eddie was uncharacteristically quiet for a beat before rustling around and finally saying, “I have to go, I’ll talk to you later Harrington.” And the call ended. No ‘I love you’, but a simple ‘Harrington’ that sounded far from his usual endearing ‘Harrington’. He might have pushed too far on his whole spiel.
Steve forced himself off his bed, shoving more clothes in his bag and grabbing his keys. He pulled his car up to the front of Robin’s house, honking obnoxiously before she was in his front seat. “Can I help you, dingus? You are being very loud.”
“I think Eddie’s mad at me.” Steve kept his focus on the road and speaking in a small voice.
“Aw, has he not responded to you in three hours, I’m sure he’s just busy being a rock star, he’ll text you back soon.” Robin giggled.
“No, we were on the phone earlier and I think I pushed him too far when I was begging him to go public about me.” Steve sighed, finally letting the gravity of the situation settle onto his shoulders. He knew he should have taken Eddie’s opinion on the whole situation, maybe check in on his feelings like every good boyfriend should do. But he didn’t. Maybe this whole tour thing has completely changed Eddie’s mind about him. Maybe Eddie doesn’t even want to be with him anymore. And he really needs to see him more than anything.
So that brought him and Robin to the state-line about to cross into Illinois to go meet Eddie before his show. “Why am I being brought along to Illinois?” Robin who had been sleeping for the last three hours. “I have a girlfriend of my own you know.”
Steve almost slammed on his brakes in the middle of the road. “You got together and didn’t tell me ?”
“I was going to but then you brought up your whole Eddie debacle and I wanted to help my best friend through his crisis before I told him I had a girlfriend!” Robin rebutted.
“When did this happen?” Steve felt like a very bad friend alongside the whole ‘bad boyfriend’ thing.
“Two days ago.”
“We were literally at Starbucks together two days ago and you didn’t tell me then.” He grumbled watching for cars before making a turn in a gas station.
“I’m sorry you were talking about how you were listening to ABBA again and thinking about Eddie practically the whole time.” Robin smirked. “Also, I tried! You just wanted me to listen to Voulez-Vous again!”
“ABBA slaps and you cannot tell me otherwise, Buckley.”
“All you bisexuals and ABBA.”
After another 2 and half hours of driving and begging Gareth to tell them where the bus was without telling Eddie, they showed up at a local Best Western. “Hi, my name is Steve Harrington and my friend Robin Buckely, we’re here to visit Eddie, under the name Munson.” Steve had no idea why he told this hotel clerk his full name.
“Um, yeah Mr. Munson will be in room 406, enjoy your stay Mr. Harrington and Ms. Buckely.” The poor hotel clerk gestured towards the elevator. Steve smiled and pulled Robin in that direction.
Steve rapped his knuckles against the door of 406. The door flung open to reveal what looked like a very tired Eddie Munson. He seemed to wake up when he realized that Steve was standing in front of him.
“Am I dreaming, or are you in front of me Harrington?” Eddie asked, running a hand through his matted hair.
Robin winced behind him, leaning in, “I see what you mean now, that is not the normal ‘Harrington’.”
“Yes, and I think we need to talk, not over the phone, but in person.” He looked behind him at his best friend. “And alone.”
“Steven Gideon Harrington, you invited me along with you for a 6 hour long drive, just to talk to Eddie alone? ” Robin was rightfully baffled. He was making a lot of impulsive decisions on the fly.
“I’m sorry I just didn’t want to go insane with my own thoughts on the drive over here, I promise we’ll do something before we leave.” Steve smiled at her, silently begging her not be mad at him for the time being.
“She can chill with the guys.” Eddie stepped aside so she could make her way inside before closing the door. “So you wanted to talk.” Eddie’s lips were pressed into a thin line and not the usual resting smile.
“I think I messed up when we were talking earlier, I wasn’t being the best boyfriend, and now it’s making me crazy and I feel so selfish and crazy about you being mad at me. I hate thinking that I did something to hurt the greatest person in the world. I shouldn’t have pushed you like that. It made me realize that maybe you don’t want to be with me anymore or maybe you just don’t want us to be public because you aren’t ready and I totally understand both reasons and just needed you to break up with me in person and not over a text message while you’re thousands of miles away.” Steve rambled for what felt like a full year, pacing around the small hotel hallway. He must sound crazy to the other residents in the rooms next to him.
“Steve. I am not going to break up with you, I haven’t ever had that thought throughout this whole tour and our entire relationship. And two, if we're being honest with each other, I’m afraid of us being public because I’m afraid people are going to spill lies into your ears and make you break up with me . I’m afraid you won’t see me the same and for some reason I think that all the hate will corrupt you into thinking that you hate me, and I’m just scared of you leaving me.” Eddie slid down the hotel door and brought his knees up to his face.
“God, we’re both messes aren’t we?” Steve slid across from him.
“We are. My god.” Eddie gave a small chuckle and hung his head back onto the wall.
“You know you don’t have to go public about us, I was stupid for suggesting that, it must have been so selfish. Everything is always your choice.” Steve took Eddie’s hand in his, giving it a small squeeze.
“Thank you, you sometimes are too understanding and I wish we could just fight like a couple on stupid TV show.” Eddie sighed and finally let his gaze stray from his plaid pajamas and to Steve’s eyes.
“I was actually going to surprise you tomorrow at your show, but I’m glad it was tonight. You look really cute like this.” Steve slid closer to his boyfriend.
“Shut the hell up Harrington.” Eddie scoffed. There it was. It was back. The most endearing pet name Steve has come to adore even if it was just his last name. Everytime Eddie made fun of him and returned his statements with captivating words that Steve couldn’t really understand, he would fall slightly more in love with Eddie Munson.
-
The Chicago show was going great. The crowd was one of Eddie’s best since the band had left Hawkins. And maybe that was because Steve and Robin were in the front, seeming to have the time of their lives screaming their hearts out to every lyric. The energy was booming, Gareth and Jeff giving everything to their performance.
The show was coming to a close soon, they were close to finishing the last song and there were so many things on Eddie’s mind. His mind is usually going a million miles a minute but everything tonight seemed to be about Steve Harrington. All he seemed to care about tonight, the only thing catching his eyes, was the man in the front row with gorgeous 80-esque hair. Steve seemed to make everything better. The only person who was there for him when no one else was, Steve.
So he decides, fuck it. It’s time.
“Thank you! Thank you ALL for such a wonderful show! I wanna close this show out tonight with one more song to commemorate the start of the tour,” Eddie takes one look at Steve before continuing. “This is Paralyzed by Big Time Rush for my beloved boyfriend, Steve Harrington.”
-
Robin seemed to be shaking him, the crowd was deafening yet Steve could hear everything. Every lyric coming out of Eddie’s mouth, every word coming out of Robin’s mouth. He seems so frozen in love. He said. He said that Steve was his boyfriend in a room full of teenagers.
Steve didn’t expect to be pushed to the stage where a hand was reaching out at him. Eddie’s hand decked in rings Steve loved to play with. Slotting his hand in with Eddie’s, he was tugged on stage. The lights were bright and hot, but everything in front of him was consumed by Eddie.
Suddenly it was only him and Eddie on stage, or even back in Steve’s car listening to this stupid Big Time Rush song. Eddie’s singing to him and no one else. It’s always been them against the world and if everyone gets to watch that, then they’ll watch Steve Harrington be so in love with his boyfriend.
He was paralyzingly in love with Eddie Munson. His rock star boyfriend.