Chapters: 14/?
Fandom: Stranger Things (TV 2016)
Rating: Explicit
Warnings: Major Character Death
Relationships: Steve Harrington/Eddie Munson
Characters: Eddie Munson, Steve Harrington, Dustin Henderson, Nancy Wheeler, Robin Buckley, Wayne Munson
Additional Tags: Steve Harrington Has a Crush on Eddie Munson, Canonical Character Death, Grief/Mourning, Bisexual Steve Harrington, Bisexual Eddie Munson
Summary:
Decided to do a Steddie one shot. Might do more, requests are open if you'd like me to make one for you
Soulmate
Steve stared at the spattering of black ink on his arm. His soulmate tattoo. Everybody had heard the stories of a soulmate tattoo. A tattoo that appeared when you were ready for it, when something had happened in your life that opened you up to the possibility and idea of having a soulmate. But soulmate tattoos had died out. They'd been around for centuries, but in the past 50 years, they'd died out.
But there Steve's was. On the inside of his right forearm, which meant no way of hiding it unless he wore long sleeves. The date of birth of his soulmate, inked into his skin forever. July 31st, 1965. He didn't know many people's birthdays, so he wasn't sure who his soulmate was. What he did know was that his soulmate was at least a year older than him, almost 21.
And conveniently, his soulmate tattoo had appeared right after he'd come to the realization that he was bisexual. That had to mean his soulmate was a boy, right? That had to be the significant event in his life that had opened him up to the idea of his soulmate.
Steve sucked in a breath before pulling himself off his bed to get ready. There was a pep rally at Hawkins High today and Robin had begged him to go with her. He couldn't say no to her, she was his best friend and he knew she was nervous about being around Vicky. He pulled on some jeans and a striped polo shirt, before deciding to switch it for a soft yellow sweater.
He fussed over his hair for an hour before darting out the door to pick up Robin. On the drive to school Robin was rambling like usual. And normally Steve didn't mind but his own thoughts were swirling and eventually he needed to get it out, needed to talk to her about it.
"I have a soulmate tattoo."
Robin snapped her mouth shut in the middle of her sentence, eyes wide as she whipped her head around to face him.
"Seriously?"
Steve nodded. Robin knew Steve was not the type to go and get a tattoo.
"Show me."
Steve sighed before rolling up his sleeve. The black ink was vibrant against his skin, glaringly obvious that it was there.
"July 31st, 1965."
"Yeah."
Steve rolled down his sleeve.
"But how? I mean soulmate tattoos have literally died out."
"I don't know. But it's there. And it. It showed up right after I. Right after I um."
"Right after you what Steve?"
"Right after I figured out I'm bisexual."
Robin drew in a sharp breath.
"So that means your soulmate is a boy. If your soulmate is a boy, that is definitely a significant event that would open you up to the idea of having a soulmate."
"So we both agree that my soulmate is a boy."
"Definitely. But I don't know anybody with that birthday. They'd have to be graduated by now, I mean they'd almost be 21."
Steve just shrugged.
"How am I supposed to figure that out? I can't just go around to every guy and say hey, when's your birthday?"
"I mean you could."
Steve fixed her with a glare.
"Or you could not. What you could do is show off the tattoo, let the person find you."
"Yeah, and then my parents would freak if they found that I not only had a soulmate tattoo but that my soulmate is a boy."
"Steve, when have your parents ever given a shit?"
"I mean fair, but I don't think they want a queer for a son."
"You can't exactly change who you are."
Steve sighs.
"I know. It's just. Another way to disappointment them."
"I think it's a big fuck you to them. Like hey, you were shitty parents, so shitty that God gave you a queer for a kid."
Steve couldn't help the laugh that bubbled out of him.
"That does sound nice."
Robin smiles.
"Just be you. Show off that tattoo. Find your soulmate."
"I'll try."
Once they arrived at the school they barreled into the gym for the pep rally. Robin had to go and change to join her band, so Steve found a seat in the crowded bleachers. For the most part the pep rally was quite boring and annoying, but he gave Robin a thumbs up every time she looked his way.
When it was over they ended up going to the cafeteria for lunch. He'd rolled up his sleeves now, showing off his soulmate tattoo. He was knee deep in a conversation with Robin when a sound caught his attention. Eddie Munson was on top of a table, doing ome of his non conforming speeches, yet again.
"But as long as you're into baaaand or. Scieeence or. Paaaarties," he says sarcastically. Then he cupped his hands around his mouth to amplify his voice.
"Or a gaaaaaaame where you toss baaaaaalls into laundry baskets!" He shouts at the basketball team. Jason Carver, the captain of the team stood up.
"You want something Freak?"
Eddie just grinned at him, put his fingers on his head like horns, stuck his tongue out and made a demon sound. Jason muttered something before sitting back down. Eddie had turned around and was walking across the table again.
"It's forced conforming. That's what's killiiiing the kiiiids!" He shouts, jumping down in front of a teacher who jumped and placed her hand over her heart before walking away. Then Eddie took a step back and swept his arm out, bowing for the two cheerleaders to walk past him. Then he was sitting down with his friends again.
It hit Steve then. Eddie Munson was 20 years old. He wasn't exactly sure what Eddie's birthday was, but he fit the age. And then Steve shook his head. That wasn't right. There was no way Eddie Munson of all people would be Steve's soulmate.
The man didn't hide his queerness but Steve and Eddie were complete opposites. Eddie was the metalhead, the nerd the town Freak. And Steve, although he'd changed and become a better person, was nothing like Eddie. He was a jock, something Eddie clearly didn't like.
He was a little more boyish, a little more softer, while Eddie was wild, chaotic, dramatic. Always theatrical. They had next to nothing in common and Steve had never actually spoken to the other boy before. Eddie was up again, walking around the table and talking to his friends. And then their eyes connected.
It was only a brief moment and Steve was the first to look away. But he didn't miss the way Eddie's eyes dropped to Steve's soulmate tattoo. He was too far away to see what birthday was written, but he could almost feel the curiosity coming off of him, even though he was halfway across the cafeteria.
Steve didn't see Eddie again until later that evening. He was working an evening shift at Family Video. This time he was working alone since it was a fairly slow Thursday. He was so bored that he was leaning against the counter reading a sports magazine when the bell above the door rang, signaling a customer.
"Welcome to Family Video," Steve says without looking up from the magazine.
"Is that how a King greets his subjects?"
The voice had Steve's head snapping up, eyes locking with a pair of beautiful vibrant chocolate brown eyes. Eddie's eyes. Eddie's lips curled into a smirk, and were they always that soft and full? Steve wasn't sure why he was thinking that. He'd never been this close to Eddie before, not even when they had a few classes together before Steve graduated. A snort escaped from Steve.
"I'm not the king anymore Munson," he says shaking his head and setting aside the magazine. The movement drew Eddie's eyes to Steve's soulmate tattoo that was now in view. And then his eyes widened, mouth dropping open in shock. Steve raised an eyebrow.
"Cat got your tongue?"
Eddie's eyes snapped back to Steve's, mouth shutting and jaw clenching. And dammit, Eddie had a perfectly sharp jawline.
"What is that?" He says jabbing a ringed finger to Steve's soulmate tattoo. Steve shifted uncomfortably.
"My soulmate tattoo."
"You're kidding right?"
Steve frowned.
"Why would I be kidding?"
Eddie licked his thumb and rubbed it across Steve's tattoo.
"Dude what are you doing?"
He pulled his arm away, and he could see more shock registering on Eddie's face when the tattoo didn't smudge or rub off.
"Gee Harrington, I didn't think you were the type to get a tattoo."
"I'm not. I didn't get this done, it just. Appeared. It's a soulmate tattoo, why does that bother you so much?"
Eddie's lips pressed into a thin line, leaning forward to rest his elbows on the counter.
"Because Stevie. That's my birthday."
Steve blinked a few times, the words barely registering. When they did, Steve sucked in a breath.
"Well I'm sure lots of people have the same birthday."
"Do lots of people have this birthday?" Eddie says pulling down the collar of his shirt. There, etched onto his collarbone was a birthday. A soulmate tattoo. Steve's birthday. February 10th, 1966. Steve sucked in his own breath.
"That's my birthday."
His voice was soft and quiet when he spoke and Eddie let go of his shirt, covering up the tattoo again.
"I thought you were straight."
Eddie was blunt, straight forward.
"I'm bisexual. Sort of just figured that out. And when I did. Well that appeared," he says waving his hand to his soulmate tattoo. Eddie rocked forward, leaning closer.
"You know this makes us the first people to have soulmate tattoos in like 50 years?"
"That's what you're taking away from this?"
"I mean think about it. It's 1986, people hate queers. What better way to make society accept queers than by binding two queers together?"
Steve blinked.
"I hate that that makes sense."
Eddie snorted, a manic laugh escaping him.
"How are we even soulmates man? We're so opposite."
Eddie patted Steve's shoulder.
"Oh trust me big boy. I've had my eye on you for quite some time."
Steve's cheeks flushed a shade of red. Because he'd be lying if he said being called big boy didn't do something to him. Especially in Eddie's voice.
"When did your soulmate tattoo appear?"
Eddie tilted his head, a thoughtful look crossing his features.
"84. When I saw you in your Scoops Ahoy uniform the first time. Well after obviously. Kind of dumb that I didn't figure it out then. That was when I figured out I had a hardcore crush on you."
Eddie's cheeks were flushed pink now, and he looked smaller, shy as he pulled a piece of hair in front of his face. He looked adorable. Cute.
"So that was your significant event then."
"Guess so."
"So. What now?"
Eddie was grinning again, eyes dancing with excitement, and he reached over, patting Steve's cheek.
"We get to know each other Stevie boy. There's a reason we're soulmates."
Steve's cheeks flushed again. He wasn't used to all the physical touching.
"Right. Yeah, right."
Eddie laughed, a bright and beautiful sound, before sweeping his arm out in front of him, heading for the door.
"I'll see you around pretty boy."
And with that he was gone, bounding out the door, while Steve watched, with his mouth hanging open and looking like a deer caught in headlights.
(Let me know if I should make this a two parter. I'm thinking I will probably)
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