Steddie Hands, Steddie Heart

Chapter 1 - The Invite

Author's Note: Will also be posting this on Ao3 once my account goes through. I'm also writing this before Season 4 Volume 2 comes out so if things feel inconsistent with the show that's probably why. Anyways, so much SteveHarringtonxEddieMunson fluff in this. Enjoy.

Steve fixed his hair for what ought to be the billionth time. It looked the same as the first couple of times he fixed it. After the events of the past couple of years in Hawkins, Steve had kind of picked up this incessant hair-fixing as a nervous tick. For whatever reason, the repetitive motion was calming. Grounding.

"Dude. Could you stop fixing your hair and help out? I'm dying over here," Robin's voice sounded from the far side of the store, hardly being able to see over the stack of tapes she was carrying.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm coming." Steve replied, finally deciding to put Robin out of her misery.

Before Steve could make his way over to Robin, however, the familiar chime of the front door opening sounded, signaling a customer entering the store.

"Sorry Rob, looks like you're on your own," Steve yelled to Robin, who let out a exasperated groan.

Steve's smirk at Robin's dramatic reaction wavered as he noticed that the person to walk through the door was none other than the town freak: Eddie Munson himself.

Not that Steve thought of Eddie as so much of a freak. After having battled Vecna with Eddie in the Upside Down, Steve couldn't help but feel a sort of kinship towards the man. Despite his metalhead looks and druggie reputation, Eddie proved to be one of the bravest people that Steve knew. It's just that Steve couldn't help but notice the way that, after everything returned to normal, he and Eddie hardly spoke. It kind of stung, if he was being honest. It looked like fighting side by side didn't change the fact that Eddie and Steve came from two totally different social spheres.

"Hey! Do my eyes deceive me? Is that Harrington?" Eddie gasped, feigning shock.

"Still as dramatic as ever, I see, Munson." Steve retorted, putting his hand on his jean-clad hip.

"Well, you know, it's part of my personal flair. How boring would it be to greet you with a simple hello?" Eddie said as he sauntered forward before leaning onto the front counter where Steve was stationed.

With his elbows resting on the counter, Eddie's stacks of silver rings were in full view. Steve found himself looking at Eddie's hands to see if any of the rings were different than when he'd last seen them. Eddie seemed not to notice.

"I'm looking for a horror movie. Any suggestions? Or is King Steve not a fan of horror?" Eddie joked.

"Follow me," Steve sighed. The "King Steve" nickname was really getting old.

Steve directed Eddie to the horror section of the video store, Eddie's leather boots clacking on the tile floor after Steve's white Nikes. Contrary to what must have been the common assumption, Steve actually really loved horror movies. He used to take girls to see horror movies all of the time. It was a good excuse to have them cuddle up close to him in fright. But even in his recent state of having no eligible single girls to watch horror movies with, Steve still found himself enthralled the gory yet captivating scenes.

"Okay, so what have you watched?" Steve asked, scanning the tapes in front of him.

Eddie counted on his calloused fingers as he spoke, "Psycho, The Shining, The Exorcist-"

"Ever seen The Texas Chainsaw Massacre?" Steve asked.

"Hmm," Eddie mused, his dark eyes eyeing the copy of the film in Steve's hands. "I don't believe I have."

"Oh yeah have absolutely got to watch it then, it's a terrifying masterpiece" Steve replied, practically beaming at getting to recommend one of his favorite films of all time. Steve noticed that Eddie seemed to be humoring him as he rambled. Eddie repeatedly nodded once in a while as he glanced at the tape in Steve's hands, Steve's brown eyes, Steve's perfectly coiffed hair. Steve, for once, didn't feel the need to self-consciously arrange his hair. He was just happy to talk and Eddie didn't really look like he was judging him at all.

"Anyways, it's really good. You should definitely watch it. Especially if you're a horror fan," Steve finished his rant.

Eddie gave Steve a lopsided smirk. "Alright Harrington. You've got me sold."

Eddie followed Steve up to the register to pay for the film, smacking some cash on the counter. Robin must've gone to the backroom because she was nowhere to be seen anymore.

"Hey Steve."

"Hmm?" Steve looked up from where he was putting Eddie's information into the Family Video Store computer, honestly kind of shocked at Eddie's use of Steve's first name.

"Since you seem to like the movie so much, would you wanna come over and watch it with me? We could invite Robin and Nancy. Get the Upside Down gang back together, so to speak"

Steve fought the urge to drop his jaw in shock. After all this time Eddie Munson was asking him over to...hang out? Steve never thought he'd see the day since Eddie seemed to avoid him at all costs after surviving the Upside Down. Not to mention the fact that Eddie seemed nervous. It was a weird look on him. Steve wasn't used to seeing the curly haired boy without a devilish smirk and a general aura of self-assured chaos. Now he seemed to be holding his breath. Steve didn't know what to make of it.

After staying silent for just hair too long, Steve replied with a "Sure thing, man. I'd love to."

A small piece of Eddie's confidence seemed to return as he grinned. "Excellent. I'll have beer and pot, obviously, but if you want to bring some snacks be my guest. 6pm tomorrow night? My place?"

Steve nodded. "Yeah. I'll tell Robin when she comes back."

"Cool," Eddie replied. "See you later, Harrington."

Eddie spun on his heel and walked out of the store, film in his hands. Steve watched as the metalhead exited the store with just as much gusto as he had when he walked in.

"Interesting interaction." Robin mused from behind Steve, scaring the living crap out of him.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Steve asked, still bewildered by Robin's surprise appearance.

But Robin was already back to sorting through films and putting them on nearby shelves, leaving Steve confused and disoriented.