He was a punk, she did ballet
Author's note: So, it's been a long time since I've written and posted a fanfic, but late90s/early00s skater boy Eddie and ballet dancer Steve randomly popped into my head and I had to write it into existence. I posted this on my AO3, but I wanted to share it here as well. I hope you enjoy <3
Word count: 2,153
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“Ok, Steve, your MASH is…” Robin announced, holding up her pen and reading off her notebook. “A house with Eddie Munson, 5 kids, you’re a teacher and you drive a sports car.” Robin was only there because she liked to bully Steve.
Steve sighed and rolled his eyes, still in the middle of his warm-up stretches. Nancy, who was in the process of tying her hair back, scoffed next to him. She was the only other one of the crew who was in ballet with Steve. The two of them often got the lead parts together.
“All of that sounds lovely, except for the Eddie part,” Nancy grumbled. “I was going to say 5 kids part was the worst, but since you’re gonna be marrying Eddie, it doesn’t sound so bad.”
“It’s just a game,” Steve said, a little exasperated. The idea of marrying Eddie wasn’t that bad. Sure, he was different and… out there, but Steve kind of liked the idea. Steve, the ballet dancer with good grades and who could handle his own in sports, versus Eddie the punk musician and wild skater. Nancy gave him an irritated look, like she was reading his mind.
“Eddie’s cool,” a new voice said. Steve glanced up, revealing Dustin. The kid was snacking on some milk duds and offered some to Steve with that bright smile of his. Steve shook his head.
“No sugar before dancing,” Steve said, standing up. “Gives you cramps, you know.”
“No it doesn’t,” Dustin said indignantly. “Actually, it’s proven that- “
Steve groaned and waved his hand, quieting the little weasel. “Forget I said anything, I don’t want to know whatever it is that you were gonna say.”
Dustin gave Steve a playful glare before backing down, scouting the room for Max. Steve usually brought the kids with him to practice if they didn’t have anything else to do, but today was just Dustin, Lucas and Max. Will was sick, so he stayed home. Mike and El were “studying”, but Steve was pretty sure they were just making googly eyes at each other then they thought Hopper wasn’t looking at them.
“She’s outside, if you’re looking for Max,” Steve said. Last Steve saw, Max was practicing skating tricks in the parking lot. He tried not to keep too close an eye on the kids, but he always like to know vaguely where they were.
“I wasn’t looking for her,” Dustin protested. Steve gave Dustin the raised eyebrow look. The kid blushed a little and opened his mouth to say something, but the instructor then called the class to start. Steve shooed the kid and his milk duds away so he can focus. It took a bit for the kids to not laugh at Steve wearing tights with Daisy Dukes, but sometimes Dustin couldn’t help himself. It was better to keep him away from Steve during practice.
The little twerp planted himself in the back corner of the room, reading one of his dragon books, munching on his milk duds and occasionally watching the class. Steve never saw Max, and he just told himself that she was out skating with Lucas, and that the two of them were safe. As soon as class was done, Steve couldn’t fight that stupid anxiety anymore over not seeing Max or Lucas and not knowing if they were safe. He grabbed his stuff, slammed his feet into his shoes and dragged Dustin out the door. As soon as they reached the parking lot, Steve saw Max and Lucas. Both of them were in one piece, thank god. Steve let out a breath of relief. Max was trying to do some type of flip trick with her board and Lucas was sitting on the hood of Steve’s car. Steve was about to yell at him to get off his vehicle when Max landed her trick. She shouted with joy and pumped her fists in the air. She turned to the side, talking to someone.
“Did you see that?” Max shouted. “I gotta clean it up, but it felt nice.” It was then that Steve noticed the guy with shaggy brown hair, baggy jeans and a Metallica t-shirt. Eddie. Steve froze, staring at the man.
Eddie looked good. The sun was setting, so it cast that soft golden glow on everything, including Eddie’s hair. It made the shaggy locks look soft and touchable. Eddie’s smile flashed, almost brighter than a midday sun. He was leaning against his own skateboard, a raggedy beat-up thing that looked like it had seen years of love and hundreds of tricks.
“It did,” Eddie said, nodding. He was clearly very excited and trying to contain himself. “Just make sure to flick your toes a bit more, like this.” He dropped his board on the ground, hopped on and executed, presumably, a perfect version of the trick Max just did. When he landed, Eddie flicked his hair up and smiled even wider. Something about how Eddie looked in that moment made Steve feel something.
His hair was a little messier, his smile was bright and clear, like he was without a single care in the world. Steve could have kissed him right then and there. If he wanted to, of course. Steve cleared his throat and forced his attention back to Lucas.
“Ass off my car,” Steve barked, snapping his fingers. Lucas rolled his eyes but obeyed. Max grumbled something about Steve being a mother under her breath as he approached, Dustin close behind him.
“Dustin, my man,” Eddie said cheerfully, dismounting his skateboard and kicking it aside slightly. Dustin practically ran over to the man and gave him a big hug. Eddie even picked him up and swung him around in a circle, the kid giggling the whole time. Steve rolled his eyes and tried to ignore how his heart fluttered at the sight. Eddie put Dustin down and released him from his grip before turning his attention to Steve. Eddie gave Steve a thorough onceover, almost like he was a piece of meat at a deli. Steve gulped, fighting the blush on his cheeks as he realized he was still sporting his white tank top, tights and small exercise shorts. He suddenly felt very exposed but tried to keep it cool.
“Well, hello there, Harrington,” Eddie said in a flirty tone that Steve wished he could ignore. Steve leaned on one hip and cleared his throat.
“In the car, hoodlums. Now,” Steve said in his best mom voice. The kids collectively grumbled but climbed into the car. Eddie was still eyeing Steve when he glanced back at the man.
“Didn’t know you came out here,” Steve said.
Eddie gave him an easy grin that make Steve’s stomach do twirls. “I come here often.”
Steve scoffed at the cheesy pick-up line attempt. “Skate spot?” Steve asked, gesturing to Eddie’s board. Eddie shrugged.
“You could say that,” Eddie answered, smirking. Steve’s eyes narrowed at his slightly suggestive tone but decided to ignore it. Eddie gave him another once over. “You look good, Harrington.” With the flirty comment still in the air, Eddie flipped his board with his fingers before hopping on and skating away.
“Hey, lover boy!” Lucas shouted, breaking Steve from his gaze. “Quit staring at his ass and drive us home! We’re hungry.”
Steve shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts and mumbled about his stupid kids before climbing into the car.
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Steve was at Scoops Ahoy working with Robin when the gang barged in. Steve sighed as Dustin paraded up Steve and slammed a poster on the counter.
“If this is for another lost dog,” Steve said, “I’m not helping you look. Last time we went on one of those little adventures, I nearly ended up with a broken hip.”
“Yeah, be careful, Dustin. Grandma here only wants one hip replacement at a time,” Max said, popping a bubble with her gum before giving Steve a smirk. He glared before sticking his tongue out at her.
“It’s for Corroded Coffin,” Mike said excitedly. Steve blinked at the kid before looking at the poster. It was definitely not what Steve would have designed for whatever event it was advertising. It had a big, black craggy font with “corroded coffin” on the top, followed a rock and roll style collage, with things like chains, cigarettes, devil’s horns and leather clothes. Steve raised his eyebrows.
“And do I want to know what the Corroded Coffin is?” He asked skeptically, trying to find more information on the poster. He spotted a date, time and “Hawkins High Gym”.
“It’s a concert,” Dustin piped up. “For Eddie’s band.” Steve’s eyes snapped up. He sensed Robin eye him weirdly. Steve cleared his throat.
“And why are we going to one of Eddie’s concerts?” He asked, hoping they wouldn’t notice the choked tone his voice took at the mention of the skater boy, let alone the idea of seeing him play in his band. Eddie was a very passionate person. Seeing how Eddie had lit up the other night while Max landed that skate trick at been engrained in Steve’s memory, as much as he didn’t want it to be. Eddie was most likely going to be just as passionate about his music as he was about skating, if not more so.
“Because Eddie asked us to go,” Dustin said excitedly. “Can we go? It’ll be fun.”
“Eddie did ask for you to come too,” Will added. Steve glanced at the kid. He was wearing that shy little smile of his. Steve could see the excitement in the boy’s eyes. Steve sighed and looked at the rest of the group. Max was the only one who didn’t look particularly excited, but when was she ever, honestly. At least not like the boys were. Steve groaned and rubbed his hands over his face.
“Fine,” He mumbled into his hands. The kids all cheered. Max playfully punched his arm before they all paraded out of the ice cream shop, talking about how they had to let Eddie know right away. Steve groaned and thunked his head against the counter.
“You’re done for, dingus,” Robin said with teasing sympathy, patting his back. Steve groaned again.
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Steve could not believe it. He was at the very front of the small crowd waiting for Corroded Coffin, surrounded by his kids. Dustin insisted they all wear black to “look the part”. The little twerp was even sporting some eye liner, courtesy of Eddie. Max was wearing one of Eddie’s leather jackets, but it was at least 5 sizes too big, so she was constantly adjusting the sleeves. Mike was wearing a black Iron Maiden shirt, and even Will got into the bit by wearing chunky boots. Joyce was probably just happy that Will was going out with friends, since it was something he did so rarely nowadays. Lucas was wearing a denim vest similar to the one Eddie wore all the time, complete with a cut shirt of a band Steve had never heard of attached to the back with safety pins.
Steve looked at his own outfit. He was wearing all black, but not as extreme as the others. He pulled a plain black polo out of the back of his closet, but it was a couple sizes too small, so it highlighted a bit too much of him for this environment. At this rate, Eddie was going to think Steve was revealing himself for Eddie, given how Eddie had already seen him in tights and Daisy Dukes, now this. And he most definitely was not doing that.
Soon, the lights went out, the crowd cheered and a loud guitar chord burst through the speakers. Steve jumped and covered his ears as the crowd screamed, including the kids. Steve tried to collect himself but then he saw Eddie.
Steve realized he might be done for.
Eddie was wearing black eye liner, his hair looked extra fluffy and touchable, and a leather vest. With no shirt. He also wore tight jeans and combat boots. Steve gulped, staring at the series of necklaces that laid against Eddie’s bare chest. Eddie was parading onto the stage, strumming his guitar, sapping up the crowd’s energy. Eddie stuck his tongue out and burst into a guitar solo. The crowd screamed even louder. Steve stared. Eddie flicked his hair back and soon other instruments burst from the speakers. It was then that Steve realized the rest of the band had come out and they were starting to play a song. Eddie wandered the stage with the singer, playing his absolute soul out on the guitar, and Steve couldn’t help but be mesmerized.
The way Eddie’s fingers flew over the strings, the way his forearms flexed slightly as he played, the dances and jumps he did when the crowd cheered. That bright midday smile on his face. Steve could feel himself smiling too.
Oh, yeah. He was done for.
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