Work Text:
“Robin told me she came out to you yesterday.”
“She came out to you?” Eddie asked, shocked. Steve winced. “Sorry. That’s not what I meant. I just kind of assumed I was the first person she came out to. Just because… I think the only reason she came out to me was because…” here goes nothing. “I’m pretty sure she clocked me first.” He holds his breath, even though Steve clearly knows about Robin and still remains her best friend. But he’s aware it might be different with guys. Especially if Steve’s under the impression that Eddie has a crush on him, which, yeah, he does.
“Oh.”
Eddie let out the breath in a sigh. “That all you got for me, Harrington?”
“Oh, sorry.” His demeanor completely changed as he tried to feign a sort of interest. “Yeah, so when- when did you figure that one out?” Steve closes his eyes and breathes heavily through his nose, like he knows that was the wrong way to go about this. Eddie chuckles.
“Wanna try again?”
“Yes, please.”
“Consider this conversation reset.”
“Robin said you took it well. I mean, I see why now, but… I was wondering what you’d think if someone liked both. Guys and girls, I mean. Obviously. Would you think that’s weird?”
“No. Why?” he asks, even if he thinks he knows where this might be going.
“I’ve been questioning about myself, I guess.”
“Questioning if you think it’s weird, or if you like both?”
“Uh… both?”
“Well, it’s not weird. Got your eye on someone? A guy I mean. What’s got you questioning?”
Steve takes a second to answer. “No,” he says, firmly, but unconvincingly. “I mean, Harrison Ford mostly. So, no, not really. What about you? You got your eye on someone?”
Eddie might be pushing his limits, but the conversation is going well so far. Besides, Eddie’s not sure how long this relationship would last, one way or another, if he never tells Steve. He doesn’t even want to know what would happen if he tells him well down the road, and he doesn’t take it well. So he says, “Yes.” He says, “Yeah, man. He’s great. He’s got this smile, and great hair. He’s nice, and he’s selfless. Great with kids; it’s really cute actually. And he’s smart- but in the way that matters, you know? Not all that shit everyone tells you matters.”
“Oh,” Steve says. He does the same posture change as before. “I mean, ‘Oh, yeah?’ He sounds great. Would I know him?”
Eddie laughs a bit in surprise. He understands the impulse to not count yourself when you’re thinking about people. Of course he has to tease him now. “You should. You graduated the same year.”
“Ok, uh… was it Dex Thomas?”
“Ew, no! That guy’s a dick. Smells like one too.” Steve laughs, and it’s beautiful.
“Ok, it’s not like I’ve ever spoken to the guy. He’s just the only guy I know who’s hair even compares to the wonders of mine.” He brushes his fingers through his hair in a quick swipe, the showoff. Eddie rolls his eyes playfully.
“Your hair is incredible,” Eddie admits.
“Yeah, well. It’s kind of all I’ve got going for me now that I’ve graduated.”
“What? Why would you say that?”
“When I was in school, I was the captain of both basketball and the swim team. Now I’m an adult, hopping from dead end job to dead end job because no college would accept me.”
“You have other things going for you.”
“Like what?”
“Well… You have a great smile you know. And you’re nice, and selfless. Great with kids. That’s adorable by the way.”
Steve’s looking at him almost suspiciously. Or maybe angry? Dread fills Eddie’s stomach as he realizes this might be his reaction to the puzzle he’s now pieced together. He’s grossed out, isn’t he? Steve wasn’t even sure he liked guys yet. Finally, Steve’s scrunched up face relaxes, and he sighs.
“Too bad I’m a fucking idiot, right?” Time seems to stop for Eddie and any air that was in his lungs is forced out.
“Why would you think that?”
“Did you miss the part where I said no college would accept me? That includes community colleges you know. They wouldn’t even take me knowing my athleticism would be good for their teams, or that my family has money flying out the ears.”
“That’s just… the shit everyone tells you matters, Steve. It doesn’t mean anything.”
“Obviously it does, or I’d be able to get an actual job.”
“Ok, well, I’m twenty, and still haven’t graduated. I’m absolutely dumber than you.”
“What? No. You read all those books. You can make stories from that Dungeons and Dragons game, and you know everything about it, so you don’t even need to fact check. You’re so smart, Eddie.”
“Ok, well, none of that is gonna get me a job.” Steve looks back at Eddie for the first time in a while. He doesn’t look much more believing though.
“That doesn’t mean anything. Just because you have brains that the school system doesn’t care about, doesn’t mean I do.”
“Robin told me about what happened last year, with the Russians.”
Steve’s eyes widen. “All of it?”
“Honestly, I doubt it. She seemed to be holding back.” Steve relaxes at these words. “But she mentioned feeling stupid after you figured out the broadcast was coming from the mall. Because it seemed right in front of her face, but… You have this way of thinking, Steve, and it’s incredible. You look at things from a different angle that no one else thinks to do.
“You know people. Like, really understand how they work. You work at customer service jobs mostly, sure, but you’re so good at it. Robin is constantly shoving you between her and customers, because you somehow keep them from getting outraged. Do you know how hard that is? I’ve worked a few summer jobs myself and I’ve never seen anything like it.
“You have this map in your head. You know I only found skull rock, because I wandered aimlessly to it? I found it on accident. The only reason you were the one who made skull rock a popular make out spot is because you were the only one who could find it and find your way back.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah. You’re smart Steve.” He doesn’t expect Steve to choke out a sob at that, but he does. “Whoa, hey! Are you ok?” He puts his hand on Steve’s shoulder.
“Yeah, yeah, I’m ok.” He pulls himself together, wiping at his eyes. “And you… You think any of that matters?”
“All of it does.”
“Eddie, would you want to kiss me?”
Eddie can’t keep the smile from stretching across his face, because yes, he really does. “Thought you only had eyes for Harrison Ford,” he teases.
“Please?” It’s so sincere, Eddie’s smile softens. He leans in.
Robin rants at both of them the next day for both getting their first gay kisses before hers.