Chapter Text
"See, there's Uncle Steve!"
Steve glanced up from setting out water bottles on the foldout table beside the field to watch a familiar round face light up in a grin. "There's my little tiger!" he cheered, throwing his arms out to let the eleven-year-old run into them. "Well, my little Cub, now, huh, Hamish?"
A gummy smile beamed up at him as Hamish nodded, his curls bouncing wildly. "Yes, coach!"
With a snort, Steve shook his head. "You're gonna run me into the ground, aren't you?" he sighed fondly, reaching behind him to grab a cap from the table and tugging it down on Hamish's head. "There you go; now you're a Cub."
Hamish gasped, whirling in Steve's arms and pointing at his hat with both hands. "Mama, look!"
"I see it," Jane chuckled, sticking close to Dustin's side as they made their way over. Steve watched her free hand hover briefly near her stomach before dropping to her side again, something pinching in his heart.
"Now you look like your dad when he was little," Steve told Hamish, smirking slightly at Dustin. "Well, littler."
"Hey," Dustin scowled playfully, tugging the bill of Hamish's hat to make sure he could see. "C'mon, let's go see if Peter and Mabel are here."
Wriggling free of Steve's arms, Hamish rushed to follow Dustin towards the stands packed with nervous pups and chattering parents.
"How does it feel?" Jane murmured, moving to Steve's side as they watched Hamish grab Peter and Mabel in a hug at the same time as Dustin did the same to Lucas and Max. "You took care of us as pups, now you are coaching our children."
Breathing a sigh through his nose, Steve hummed, "Kinda bittersweet. But it's also incredible to be watching your little ones grow so fast."
Jane nodded absently, her eyes on her pup.
"Congratulations, by the way," Steve added softly, giving Jane a gentle nudge with his elbow. When she turned a curious look his way, Steve glanced down at her stomach briefly. "I know you both wanted another one."
A little stunned, Jane lowered her eyes with an undeniably happy blush. "Yes," she whispered. "Hamish doesn't know yet... No one does, it's too early."
"I've got a sense for these things," Steve chuckled, wrapping an arm around her shoulders.
"Yes..." Jane chewed her lip, then told him, "You still have time."
An all too familiar ache throbbed in Steve's chest, blinking to keep his tears from welling. "No, I don't." He offered her a wobbly smile. "I'm nearly forty, J. It's too late."
"Steve..."
"But it's fine," Steve told himself more than Jane, shaking his head to maintain his composure. "I get you guys, and your pups, and all of them." He nodded to the gathering of Hawkins Middle's latest pack of Cubs. "I'm fine." Giving her a squeeze, he dropped his arm, then clapped his hands together as he made his way over to the stands. "Okay, who's ready for the first practise of the season?"
Practise and dinner with his pack left Steve with the warm buzz of being loved through and through, but stepping through the door of his trailer sapped it all away. He set his keys on the kitchen counter, standing in the dark of his home of seventeen years.
Silent.
No loving alpha to hold him, no pups around his feet. His teenage dreams of a family had slowly faded to a painful little wish that got stuck in his ribs with every passing heat. Each one alone, each one leaving him wondering if it would be his last.
Slowly, his hand came to rest on his belly. His empty womb, never once seen a pup. He'd wanted six. Fate had dictated none.
Shoulder leaning against the fridge, he slid to the floor, knees to his chest and his hand cradling his childless body. He would never know the joy of his own pup in his arms. Never brush his hand over their newborn hair or hold their tiny feet. Never watch their whole hand wrap around his finger.
The sob that jolted his chest shook loose a keening whine, mourning the family he never had the chance to rear, the life he would never have. His trailer stunk of heartbroken omega, sour and woeful, so deeply alone in his little self-inflicted prison. His home had wheels, but where would he go? He had no one to go with.
One hand on his belly and the other over his mouth, Steve curled up on his side and wailed until sleep dragged him under.
Knocking on his trailer door woke Steve the next morning, climbing up off the floor with a groan and trying to stretch out his shoulder. When he pulled the door open, his eyes widened a little. "Morning, Wayne."
"Morning," Wayne nodded, one hand in his pocket and the other straightening his hat. "Got a game today?" He nodded to the Cubs jacket Steve had slept in.
"Oh... Uh, no, games don't start for another couple weeks." With a half-hearted laugh, Steve admitted, "I guess I fell asleep in it."
"Right." Wayne rubbed a hand across his mouth, then sighed. "Just wanted to check in. We, uh... You sounded pretty upset last night."
Steve stomach dropped.
"And I know you hate all that unmated omega bullcrap, but this ain't about that. You're a good neighbour and we got worried about you."
Heart pounding, Steve checked, "We?"
Wayne stepped aside to reveal someone standing at the bottom of the steps. His hair was tamer than it was in school, though just as long, and his jaw carried some scruff, but the years seemed to have largely ignored Eddie Munson. Creases a little deeper around his eyes, maybe, but still the same dark clothes and band t-shirt style as he had when they were teenagers. Somehow it suited him better now.
Steve, on the other hand, was now particularly aware of the added roundness to his own hips and belly, running a shaky hand through his hair, now streaked with sneaky silver strands. "Um... Yeah, I... Sorry for disturbing you."
Brows furrowed, Wayne insisted, "Not worried about our evening, Steve; worried about you. Sounded... hard."
"I'm fine," Steve insisted quietly.
But Wayne wouldn't budge. "You sure there's nothing we can do?"
A short, pitiful laugh barked from Steve's mouth, shaking his head quickly. "No, it's... It's too late." He sniffed to control the tears fighting to fill his eyes. "Thank you, but..." Eyes landing on Eddie, Steve forced an unconvincing smile. "I um... I can't, right now." He managed a croaky, "S'good to see you, Eddie," before shoving the door shut, slapping a hand over his mouth to bury a sob that the Munsons no doubt heard through the paper thin wall.
Holding his breath to control himself, Steve pushed away from the door and shuffled to collapse on his couch, his joints protesting after their night on the floor. He scrubbed his face with his palms, then grabbed the remote and switched to a rerun of the basketball from the night before, sinking into his couch.
But Steve's mind wandered back to Eddie. When had he come back? Steve was sure he'd run for the hills the second he'd finally graduated high school. Something about dreams of becoming a rockstar.
Had Eddie achieved his dreams where Steve couldn't?
Had Eddie achieved Steve's dreams?
Allowing silent tears to crawl onto his couch cushions, Steve tried to focus on the way the Celtics were wiping the floor with the Pacers on his screen.
A short drive and a long walk found Steve wandering back to his old stomping ground. His shoes crunched through the leaves scattered around Skull Rock, nostalgia a gentle longing in his chest. Once, he ruled this place, along with the high school and every party he attended, and now...
Now it was just a rock formation with the memories of rampant teenage hormones.
He'd believed he had a future, back in the days of rolling around under those rocks. Kiss-swollen lips and messy hand jobs were supposed to be the precursor to a mate and a family.
Not that he didn't have a family. The pups he had adopted as pack now had a gaggle of pups of their own, and his pack loved him. But it wasn't the same as his own flesh and blood.
And he certainly didn't have a mate.
"Didn't expect to find you out here."
Steve's eyes darted to the voice, watching Eddie pick his way around the formation to plop down on one of the rocks.
Mouth in a slanted smile, Eddie prompted, "Reliving the glory days?"
A scoff left Steve's mouth, his eyes wandering the rocks. "Not much glory in it."
Eddie hummed. "Well, it was all last millenium," he supposed, patting the rock he was sitting on. "Times change."
"Yeah." Hands tucked into the pockets of his jacket - his own bomber, having switched out his Cubs one - Steve rocked back on one foot. "What're you doing here?"
A shrug. "Seeing you this morning reminded me of times long past," Eddie chuckled ruefully. "This was your spot. I realised I'd never really been here before, wanted to see what The King used to treat his special subjects to."
Steve winced, shuffling back a few steps. "Don't, man."
"C'mon," Eddie pressed, waving a hand around them. "This doesn't bring back memories."
"Yeah, I fucking wish it didn't."
Eddie paused, then blinked. "Right. Sorry."
Hunching his shoulders, Steve swallowed his churning emotions. "I actually meant what you were doing in Hawkins. You were outta here so fast it took people a minute to realise you were gone."
With a snort, Eddie pointed out, "They couldn't be rid of me fast enough." Shaking his head slowly, he leaned back to prop himself against the rocks. "Ran off to seek my fortune," he sighed, waving a dramatic hand. "Bummed around in LA for a while, recorded a few riffs, helped score a couple films... Spent most of my time busking, if I'm honest." He shrugged. "But the films paid well, and I always wanted to come back and give my Uncle Wayne a proper home, y'know? He's been living in that trailer my whole life, but he's getting old. I just wanna pay him back for doing what my useless old man never could."
Steve nodded once, slowly wandering up to lean against the rocks on the other side of the formation. "So, you've come to take my neighbour away?" he half-laughed, but none of the humour he tried to inject into the conversation landed.
"He doesn't wanna go," Eddie snorted with another shake of his head. "Stubborn old prick." He paused, fiddling with his rings for a moment, then commented, "He doesn't wanna leave you by yourself."
Brow furrowing, Steve scoffed, "Why?"
"Well, you've been neighbours for seventeen years, he said. He feels kinda paternal towards you..." Chewing his lip as he considered his next words, Eddie added quietly, "Said it'd be like leaving you without an alpha."
Steve's throat squeezed.
"And then we heard..." Eddie waved his hand. "Last night. He just doesn't want you on your own."
Dropping his gaze, Steve just nodded, afraid his voice would crack if he tried to speak.
"He told me a lot about you, actually," Eddie continued, filling the silence. "You're a teacher now?"
Steve nodded.
"And you coach the little league team... You've got so many pups, dude, it's insane."
The way Steve's heart clenched pushed out a miserable little whine, covering his face with one hand.
"Oh..."
"Jane," Steve whispered, unable to move. "One of the pups I took care of in high school... She's pregnant again, and I..." He choked on a sob as his free hand clutched his childless belly.
"Oh, shit, Steve..." Some scrambling, then Eddie was by his side, hands hovering around him for a moment before wrapping him in a firm hug. "It never happened for you," he realised quietly.
An anguished whine pushed from Steve's throat. "I thought it was okay," he sniffled. "I thought I was over it, but Jane..." Another sob shook his body. "It's too late. I'm too old, I can't... I don't get to carry p-pups..."
"Fuck..." Eddie tugged him in close, hooking his chin over Steve's head as he caved and cried all over again. "Jesus, I'm so sorry, Steve."
For this first time in far too long, Steve let himself get swallowed up in the scent of an alpha, letting Eddie's warmth seep into all the cracks in his heart and his arms hold him together. The last time an alpha saw him cry, it was Dustin telling him over and over how good of an uncle he'd be as he cradled newborn Hamish for the first time.
Eddie didn't push, just held him and let him cry it out. The comfort of his scent settled in Steve's bones, fitting right alongside the realisation that he'd never felt so close to another person at Skull Rock. Hands in pants and tongues in mouths couldn't hold a candle to the alpha patiently holding him through his first out-loud confession of his deepest pain.
"I'm gonna walk you back to your truck, okay?" Eddie murmured when Steve's tears finally dried up and his breathing settled. "I don't think being here's helping you at all."
"Yeah," Steve whispered, nodding against Eddie's shoulder. "I'm sorry."
"Don't be." Stroking Steve's hair, Eddie carefully rearranged them so he had an arm around Steve's waist and Steve's face still tucked into his shoulder. "C'mon, Keg Stand King, let's get you home."
Choking on a pathetic laugh, Steve muttered, "I couldn't do a keg stand now if you held me up."
"Well, I couldn't do one at sixteen," Eddie chuckled, gently squeezing Steve's hip as they began the walk back.
Steve sniffed, closing his eyes, trusting Eddie to lead him. "You were never really an upper body strength kinda guy."
"I was never a strength kinda guy," Eddie laughed.
"You were strong." One hand grasping at Eddie's leather jacket, Steve pointed out, "Your whole 'fuck conformity' thing took strength to stick to. And you always stuck up for your Hellfire kids, no matter what that meant for yourself." Breathing a sigh, he admitted, "High school's tough, but you made it better for the people who needed it most."
A few moments of silent walking, then Eddie commented, "Didn't realise you took any notice of me."
"You were hard to ignore," Steve smirked, the tension in his chest alleviating a little.
"Well, maybe I'm surprised you appreciated what I did, then."
Shaking his head, Steve sighed, "I didn't, at the time. But now I teach, and I see just how much a force like you can change people."
Eddie hummed thoughtfully. "You must be a pretty good teacher."
With a snort, Steve supposed, "Wayne didn't tell you what I teach, did he?"
"No...?"
"I'm across the middle and high schools. Sex Ed."
Eddie threw his head back with a cackle, Steve grinning as he pressed closer. "Jesus Christ, of course you do."
"To be fair, it was the coaching job I actually wanted," Steve clarified, tucking his head more comfortably into Eddie's shoulder. "But teaching Sex Ed is part of the deal, so..."
"So, now the former ladies man is teaching kids how to avoid STDs and not get each other pregnant," Eddie snickered.
Steve hummed, but that final word hung heavy in his heart. Eddie seemed to notice, too, because his fingers tightened on Steve's hip again, guiding him quietly through the trees.
"Here we are," Eddie announced eventually, his voice carrying far more gravitas than any part of Hawkins deserved. "Your chariot, my liege."
Snorting, Steve finally peeled himself away from Eddie's side, immediately cold where Eddie's arm and body had been. "I forgot you talk like that."
"What, all respectable, like?" Eddie sniffed, tugging dramatically on his lapels.
"Like a dork," Steve corrected with a laugh. "Kinda makes me feel like a teenager again, listening to your spiels."
Eddie shrugged a little, though a smile stayed firmly on his face. "Seeing you kinda makes me feel like a teenager again, too." With a deep breath through his nose, he took a step closer to Steve. "But I'm not in high school anymore. None of those bullshit rules matter now." His hands carefully settled on Steve's neck and jaw, eyes scanning Steve face for any sign to stop before leaning in and pressing a warm kiss to his mouth.
Steve's heart leapt, grabbing Eddie by his lapels to keep him close as he fell into the kiss. It had been years since Steve's last kiss, and he'd never bared his soul to someone like he had at Skull Rock, but somehow, Eddie Munson had come home and knocked all his walls down. He would have let Eddie's cigarette tainted lips swallow him whole if he asked.
Instead, Eddie withdrew just enough to see Steve's eyes, a proud little grin on his face when Steve mindlessly chased his lips for another kiss. "Whoa, there, cowboy." His eyes turned serious. "I know I should've waited a bit before doing that... I promise, I'm not tryna take advantage of you while you're upset, I just-"
"Did exactly what I wanted," Steve finished for him, praying his eyes conveyed exactly how he felt. "Thank you."
His thumb tracing Steve's jaw, Eddie checked, "This is okay?"
"More than okay." Smirking slightly, Steve pointed out, "You're s'posed to do this at the rock, though, not in the parking lot."
Eddie's grin warmed Steve's insides. "Maybe kissing in the parking lot is the forty-year-old version of making out at Skull Rock."
"Well, you've been very gentlemanly by keeping you hands out of my pants," Steve smirked.
Shaking his head, Eddie chuckled, "I don't think I wanna get you off in the middle of the woods. If you'd offered in high school, I prob'ly would've jumped at it, but now..." With a sweet kiss to Steve's lips, Eddie murmured, "I'd rather take you home. My knees wouldn't take me kneeling in the dirt too long."
"No?" Steve snickered, a little twinge in his neck reminding him of his night on the kitchen floor.
"Nah... Last time I got on my knees for someone was on concrete, and he had to help me up after five minutes. Was deeply not-sexy." Lips pressed to Steve cheek, Eddie whispered, "Did you mean it this morning? When you said it was good to see me?"
Winding his arms around Eddie's middle, Steve nodded. "And even after all this time, you look good."
Eddie scoffed, dipping his head to kiss Steve's jaw. "Shut up, Hair."
With an uncertain hum, Steve pointed out, "There's a few greys in there now."
"You're still hot."
"Still?"
Lifting his head, Eddie sighed, "I never would've admitted it back then, but there's a good reason why you were the most sought after omega in the school - by alphas, betas, and omegas alike."
As Steve was scrambling for something to say, he was startled by a branch snapping. Whipping his head around, he blinked twice at two of his students from the high school frozen awkwardly by the treeline, hand in hand and clearly headed into the woods. He fought the urge to smirk.
"Uh... Hi, coach..."
"Be safe," Steve suggested, unwrapping himself from Eddie to lean against the side of his truck.
Two pairs of cheeks flushed as their owners tried to stammer excuses.
"Don't worry, kids," Eddie smirked, folding his arms as he propped himself by Steve's side against the truck. "Good ol' Coach Harrington made this place famous back in the day."
"Eddie," Steve hissed, jabbing him with his elbow.
"He's a great choice for your Sex Ed teacher," Eddie continued as the teenagers shuffled further away. "Never had a single pregnancy scare, eh?"
Steve's chest squeezed, and he watched horror fill Eddie's eyes as the two teenagers mumbled farewells and scampered off for their fun.
"Shit, that was such a fucking stupid thing to say," Eddie blurted out, grabbing Steve's hand and kissing his knuckles. "God, fucking kill me now, I'm so sorry-"
"Stop." Dropping his head back against the truck, Steve blew out a long sigh. "You didn't mean it like that." He glanced to Eddie's hand clutching his, drawing them close to kiss Eddie's fingers. "I should go home."
"Yeah..." Eddie let Steve take his hand back, watching him climb into the driver's seat. "Steve." He stepped up to stand in the open car door, cradling Steve face in his hands and stretching to give him one last soft kiss. "If I could, I'd give you what you want," he whispered, thumbs petting Steve's cheeks. "In a heartbeat, sweetheart."
Emotion balled in Steve's throat, turning his head to kiss Eddie's palm and nuzzling against the calloused safety of it. "Thank you." He gave himself a moment longer, then lifted his head, waiting for Eddie to step back enough to close his door. With a quick little wave to Eddie through the window, he pulled out of the lot and started home.
Maybe Eddie could be the alpha he had always wanted. Even if pups of his own were an impossibility, maybe he could have a mate. Someone to hold him and scent him and fill some of the space in his achingly empty little home.
The next morning, Steve ventured out to Melvad's for a quick restock on snacks and coffee, once again lamenting the discontinuation of Peanut Butter Boppers. They were always his favourite heat snack, and their absence had made an already miserable time that much worse.
He grabbed a couple of kingsize Reese's cups on his way to the checkout.
The whole ride home, Steve found himself sniffing at his jacket sleeve, catching little whiffs of Eddie in the fabric. Eddie would be a good mate. He came back to give his uncle a proper home, taking care of his pack like a good alpha should. He had strong hands. He smelled good. He said nice things about Steve, even after seeing the ugly contents of his chest.
Steve had to jam the breaks on outside his trailer, his head fuzzy when he realised he was home already. Taking a moment to breathe, he tried to shake the haze away, climbing out and opening the passenger door to grab his grocery bag from the back, only to stop and fold his arms against the top of the doorframe. "Okay," he breathed out, leaning his head against his folded arms as his knees wobbled.
"Steve!"
Having Eddie beside him again sent a warm wave up Steve's body. "I'm okay," he mumbled, flexing his hands against the doorframe but not lifting his head.
"Stevie, you shouldn't be outside right now," Eddie said slowly, one hand resting in the small of Steve's back.
"I know, just gimme a minute." Breathing deep, Steve managed half a laugh. "Didn't think I had any of these left in me."
"Well, clearly you do," Eddie chuckled.
"Yeah, but... my last heat was nearly four months ago." Slowly pushing himself upright, Steve reached for his groceries.
"I'll get that, sweetheart, you get inside," Eddie insisted. "C'mon, before someone decides you smell available."
Steve suppressed a manic giggle, stepping back from his truck. "Never made a difference before," he sighed, walking carefully up the steps to his trailer. Fumbling with his keys, he eventually wrangled his door open, shuffling inside as wet heat spread between his legs. He planted a hand on the kitchen counter, breathing slow.
"Stevie?" The trailer door clicked shut, followed by the russle of a plastic bag being set on the counter. "Hey..."
"I think this was you," Steve laughed breathlessly, shrugging off his bomber and tossing it across the back of the couch. "Jesus." Bracing both his forearms on the counter, he hung his head, taking a few more deep breaths. "I was sure the last one was gonna be it, but then you show up smelling so good and being all supportive, and it's like my body wants to pretend I'm sixteen again."
"I'm... not sure that's how it works."
Steve huffed a laugh. "Shut up, you're not feeling it."
Slowly, Eddie curled a hand over one of Steve's. Low and quiet, he asked, "Do you want me to go?"
Tears pricked Steve's eyes. "No," he whispered, covering Eddie's hand with his free one. With a sniff, he admitted, "I've never had someone with me for a heat."
"Steve..." Eddie wrapped his free arm around Steve's waist and kissed his temple when he sobbed. "I don't wanna get your hopes up, Stevie... but I meant it yesterday. If I can give you what you want, I will."
Steve's tears hit the counter, sucking in a horribly shaky breath. "Guess it's my last shot, right?" he chuckled half-heartedly, glancing to Eddie by his side and earning himself a tender kiss on the cheek. "Will you?" he whispered.
"I can try," Eddie murmured.
Smothering his next sob, Steve wrapped both arms around Eddie's neck and kissed him until he couldn't breathe. "It's been a long time," he sniffled as Eddie cradled him close. "And I'm nearly forty; I'm not as flexible as I used to be."
Eddie snorted, pressing a kiss to the corner of Steve's mouth. "Sweetheart, I am forty, and I've never been flexible." He glanced to the bedroom, then tipped his head towards it. "You wanna...?"
"Yeah," Steve breathed, letting Eddie slowly lead him.
"And sweetheart," Eddie hummed, stealing another kiss as they shuffled into the bedroom. "We're not that old. I bet you're more flexible than you realise."
The toothy grin Eddie gave him made Steve's head spin, lurching forward heart-first to claim Eddie's lips with his own.
Three days wrapped up in Eddie, and Steve's body ached. The strain in his thighs would be burning for days after, and his abs were sore in a way he never thought they could be.
But those three days had been bliss. His chest was covered in bruises from Eddie's mouth, Eddie's arms and back were painted with scratches, and Steve had learned that his favourite way to fall asleep was stuffed full of Eddie's knot after having been shaken apart by it.
"Will you stay?" Steve asked softly, his fingers tracing shapes on Eddie's cheek on the pillow beside him. "Even if I'm not..."
Eddie's hand curled warm and protective over Steve's belly, pressing a warm kiss to his shoulder. "Don't think I could leave you if I tried," he chuckled, brushing the tip of his nose against Steve's. "Also, I think Wayne might kill me."
Nudging Eddie with his nose, Steve murmured, "I'm pretty sure he'll be relieved I've found an alpha."
The corner of Eddie's mouth curled up. "Oh, have you now?"
Ignoring the blush creeping into his cheeks, Steve gently prodded the tip of Eddie's nose. "Found one."
Eddie snorted, shuffling in close to press an open-mouthed kiss to Steve's mating gland. "So you have." Breathing a long sigh, he rolled onto his back and stretched. "I don't think I've had a workout like that since... well, ever."
"Well, you never went to Gym class," Steve pointed out, trailing his fingertips down Eddie's ribs to watch him squirm.
"Fitzpatrick had students having sex in Gym?" Eddie spluttered, eyes wide but full of humour, a smirk dancing around his mouth when Steve laughed. "And no one thought to tell me? Is that what they call Sex Ed?"
"Shut up," Steve grinned, pressing his lips against Eddie's bicep. "For the record; I don't have kids fucking in my classes. And neither did Fitzpatrick."
"It would be a very thorough education," Eddie snickered. He huffed a dramatic, "Oof!" when Steve swatted his stomach.
Settling himself, Steve threaded his fingers between Eddie's. "Kinda disappointed that's prob'ly my last heat," he murmured. "That was actually fun."
Eddie hummed. "Don't worry, sweetheart, you can ride my knot whenever you want," he assured him with a cheeky grin.
"Maybe not whenever I want," Steve chuckled, hooking his ankle around Eddie's calf. "Think my hip would cramp pretty quick."
"S'okay, it doesn't take me long." Stroking his free hand along Steve's arm, Eddie added tenderly, "Not with this gorgeous man in my lap."
"Shut up." Hiding his face in Eddie's arm, Steve mumbled, "I'm not anymore."
Rolling onto his side, Eddie tipped Steve's head up with a finger under his chin. "You're just as pretty as you've always been, Stevie."
Steve shook his head, but pressed closer all the same. "Thank you for being here with me. Even if it didn't... work..."
His hand finding its place over Steve's belly again, Eddie murmured, "I'm not going anywhere either way. If it worked, I'll be here, and if it didn't..." With a soft kiss to Steve's mouth, he whispered, "Kinda shitty consolation prize, but I'll be here to hold you together."
Sniffing against a wave of tears, Steve mumbled, "Don't think over ever cried so much in my life."
"You're a pretty crier, if it helps."
Steve closed his eyes, a few tears making their escape towards the pillow. "It's just... It's been this hole in me for so long... Like I'm broken."
"You're not broken, baby." Drawing Steve in to tuck him under his chin, Eddie sighed, "This tiny town isn't good enough for you. No one here could give you what you needed."
With a sniffle, Steve traced his fingers around the spider tattooed on Eddie's chest. "You could."
"I wasn't here." Eddie kissed the top of Steve's head, his palm rubbing soothing circles over Steve's tummy. "I'm a bit late, but I'm here now."
"Yeah." Breathing Eddie's scent, Steve hummed, "Thank you, alpha." He held a laugh when Eddie shivered. "You like that?" he chuckled.
"Might do."
Settling, Steve allowed himself to purr, nuzzling closer when Eddie's hold tightened. "Thank you for letting me feel like an omega should."
"For the rest of our lives, if you'll let me."
"Please."
Steve's eyes almost popped out of his head when Eddie wandered into the staffroom a week later. The proud grin Eddie gave him sent butterflies through his stomach, glad he hadn't yet grabbed his coffee from the counter of the kitchenette. "Ed?"
"Coach Harrington," Eddie acknowledged politely, sliding right up beside Steve. "You'll be pleased to know Hawkins now has a full-time music teacher. Turns out some washed-up wannabe-rockstar came crawling home with some film credits on his resume and offered his services for the sake of teenage music education."
"You didn't..." The flips Steve's heart did were reminiscent of his teenage years. "Eddie..."
"Yeah, seems like there's someone here he couldn't go a whole day without seeing," Eddie continued, eyes surveying the crowded staffroom before landing on Steve again. "Couldn't say who," he smirked.
Steve's stomach joined in with his heart's acrobatics, cheeks warm as he fought a smile.
"You better not be getting your flirt on the second you see a single omega."
Steve's gaze darted to Erica, who stood with her arms folded and a judgmental glare aimed at Eddie. "Erica-"
"We don't let just any old alpha walk up and start putting moves on our beloved coach," Erica continued, eyes narrowing. "I don't care who you are, you show him some respect."
"Erica, it's fine," Steve tried.
"I promise it's respectful flirting," Eddie assured her, raising both hands. With a look to Steve, he half-laughed, "Didn't realise I was risking my new job by trying to talk to you."
"No, no, not your job; your life," Erica corrected with a scowl.
Eddie nodded. "Understood." He took a step back from Steve, then slowly reached into the bag hanging from his shoulder and produced a blue plastic lunchbox, holding it out to Steve. "You left this on the counter this morning."
"Oh..." Narrowing his eyes playfully at Eddie's smug smirk, Steve huffed, "Maybe I wouldn't have if someone hadn't been distracting me."
With an innocent shrug, Eddie poked Steve's nose and headed for the door. "Gotta check out this classroom," he called over his shoulder, throwing Steve a wink before disappearing.
For a moment, the staffroom was dead silent.
"Are you for real?" Erica gawped.
Face burning, Steve stashed his lunchbox in the fridge, the joy of Eddie's surprise keeping a smile on his face despite the discomfort of Erica's stare. "It's new, but... yeah."
Erica's eyes went wide, then she threw herself at him, arms squeezing him in a tight hug. "Oh my god! Steve... I'm so happy for you."
Hooking his chin over Erica's shoulder, Steve murmured, "Thanks."
"If he hurts you, I'm cutting his balls off with a spoon."
Steve snorted, accepting one last squeeze before pulling away to grab his coffee. "I'll let him know."
With a cocked eyebrow, Erica stated, "No, I'll let him know. And I'll be telling him about all the lovely tools of torture I've got stored in my science classroom."
"Speaking of; you know you teach at the middle school, right?" Steve smirked, sipping his coffee.
Erica waved a dismissive hand. "I had to make sure the little shits who tried picking on my niece knew about the tools in my classroom, too."
Brow creasing, Steve asked, "Other freshman?"
"Seniors."
"Hm." Back straight, Steve nodded, "I'll keep an eye out." With a gentle shove to Erica's shoulder, he laughed, "Now, go to work, Miss Sinclair."
With a roll of her eyes, Erica flipped him off and strode out of the staffroom.
"So," Steve smirked from the door to the music room, arms folded as he leaned against the doorframe. "How's wrangling teenagers treating you?"
Eddie, sitting at the piano and messing with the keys, threw him a toothy smile. "Good, so far. But I am still a novelty."
Wandering into the room, Steve stopped beside the piano, watching Eddie's fingers. "I didn't know you could play."
"Eh..." With a shrug, Eddie patted the space beside him on the piano stool. "Guitar is still my instrument," he explained as Steve sat beside him. "But knowing the basics of piano got me more work out in the big bad world."
Steve hummed, resting his head on Eddie's shoulder. "So I won't hear you shredding from the gym?"
"Disappointing, I know," Eddie snickered, kissing the top of Steve's head. "Maybe I can talk that dusty old fossil Higgins into letting me start a school rock band or something."
A laugh burst from Steve's mouth. "Good luck, babe. I couldn't even convince him we needed to upgrade the gymnastics equipment until a girl almost broke her wrist when one of the hanging rings snapped off its rope a couple years ago. They were the same ones from when we were here."
Eddie hummed, then tipped his head towards Steve's. "Babe?"
Cheeks flushing, Steve mumbled, "Shut up."
"Oh, never," Eddie chuckled, fingers still moving across the keys in a easy tune. "Also, I'm amazed Higgins is still here. Shouldn't he be retired by now? Or dead?"
"I think they'll be wheeling him out of that office in his coffin," Steve sighed.
"Yikes."
Resting a hand on Eddie's thigh, Steve commented, "I'm surprised he hired you. 'Specially after that stunt you pulled at graduation."
"Yeah, there was something really satisfying watching him realise I was the only option for replacing Mr Clarke's bumbling attempts at subbing the music classes," Eddie snickered. He rubbed his cheek against Steve's hair, then checked, "You okay?"
With a hum, Steve assured him, "A week later and my muscles finally seem to have recovered."
"So... That means I can pin you to the bed tonight?" Eddie whispered hopefully.
"Insatiable," Steve scolded, fighting a smile. "If you behave, maybe."
Yelling sounded outside the classroom, growing louder as what sounded like a fight brewed in the corridor.
"Welcome back to Hawkins High," Steve sighed, climbing to his feet and heading for the door with Eddie close behind. Just around the corner from the music room, two boys were shoving at each other, glaring and posturing with brand new alpha growls. "Enough!" Steve ordered, his voice ringing out over the crowd.
One of the boys turned his glare on Steve, his growl rising aggressively and freezing Steve's inner omega.
A deeper, more lived-in growl sounded from Steve's side as Eddie stared the baby alpha down. "Don't you growl at him, pup," Eddie snarled.
The boy fell silent, holding Eddie's gaze for as long as he could before dropping it with a huff.
"You don't use that anywhere in this school, y'hear me?" Eddie continued, visibly restraining himself from charging at a teenager. "A proper alpha only uses their growl to protect, not threaten."
"He's talking shit," the boy protested.
"That's not a reason to growl with omegas present," Eddie scowled.
Casting his eyes around the gathered students, Steve spotted a number of omegas frozen around the edge. Finally able to find his voice, he instructed, "Break it up. Get outta here." As the group dispersed, the two arguing alphas stalking off in separate directions, Steve wandered around the half-dozen omegas and gave each of them a gentle pat on the shoulder, the scent of panic strong in the air. "Breathe," he murmured.
A synchronised deep breath.
When she emptied her lungs again, one of the girls muttered, "That's not fair."
"That's why there's a rule of no growling," Eddie pointed out, checking that the two boys had definitely gone. "At least, there was when we were students."
Nodding, Steve sighed, "It's still a rule. Haven't had to enforce it in a while, though." He exhaled long and slow, shaking his hands out. "Okay..."
"I'm gonna tell my mom," grumbled one of the girls, pulling her hot pink phone from her pocket and flipping it open.
"We'll be informing Principal Higgins, Miranda," Steve assured her, watching her thumbs pressing away at the number pad.
Rolling her eyes, Miranda huffed, "Whatever. Higgins never does anything unless it makes the school look good."
Steve flicked his eyes to Eddie, who was doing a poor job of containing his smirk. "C'mon, you guys get going," Steve suggested, gesturing down the hall. "Come find me if you're still a bit shaky, okay?"
A round of nods, then the remaining students shuffled away.
"And you." Steve grabbed Eddie's wrist and dragged him back to the music room, shoving him up against the wall out of view of the door. "You getting all protective alpha was very hot."
The sudden worry painted across Eddie's face immediately washed away, replaced by a smug little smirk. "Oh really?"
Leaning right in close, Steve murmured, "Absolutely," and caught Eddie's lips in a kiss.
Eddie hummed, one arm wrapping snug around Steve's waist as his other hand made a home in his hair.
The bell for classes rang sharply.
"No..." Eddie whined as Steve peeled himself back.
"You've signed up for your days being ruled by that sound again," Steve snickered, straightening his jacket. Pressing a quick peck to Eddie's cheek, he whispered, "See you after school," and hurried off to find his own classroom, keenly aware of Eddie's gaze on his ass.
Working with Eddie took hardly any adjustment. Beyond the occasional prying question from a student or an absent-minded scenting as they ate lunch together, the only real difference Steve had noticed was a lingering sense of security.
At home, however, Steve was giddy with the changes. Eddie had unofficially moved in, having spent only a few nights next door with Wayne, and his scent had crept into every corner of Steve's trailer. He had half expected to find Eddie's sudden and constant presence suffocating, but instead it just fuelled that sense of security. Eddie fit so easily into his home, seeming to fill spaces that were already open, as if they had been waiting for him.
Maybe they had.
"You look really happy."
As he watched his Cubs piling into cars after practise, Steve glanced to his left to find Dustin standing at his side. "Do I?"
Dustin rolled his eyes fondly. "Dude, you look actually relaxed for the first time in years." He knocked Steve with his shoulder. "How's Eddie?"
Butterflies erupted in Steve's stomach. "He's good," he murmured, tucking his hands into his jacket pockets.
A snort from Dustin.
"Shut up, man," Steve huffed, fighting a smile as he shoved Dustin's arm.
"I didn't say anything!" Dustin laughed, both hands raised in surrender.
"Dad!" Hamish came running up to grab Dustin's arm. "Dad, Mama said to tell you it's time to go now."
Steve turned his gaze to Jane waiting on the other side of the parking lot, her bump just beginning to show. Barely noticeable to the uninformed, but Steve knew better. "You're whipped, dude," he smirked as Dustin ushered Hamish back to his mother with promises of following shortly.
"Yeah, well, you've seen her, right?" Dustin gestured to Jane. "How could I not be? Especially..." He glanced up at Steve and lowered his voice. "She said you know."
The butterflies in Steve's stomach swirled more aggressively. "Yeah. Congratulations."
Dustin nodded. "Thanks." Watching Steve a moment longer, he checked, "You okay?"
With an affirmative hum, Steve stilled as his skin washed cold and butterflies turned to nausea.
Squeezing Steve's arm, Dustin started towards his family. "See you for dinner?" he called over his shoulder.
"No, I..." Shaking his head, Steve lied, "Got plans."
Dustin offered him a half-hearted smile, then nodded and headed to Jane.
Wandering to the bench, Steve leaned back against the shelter and exhaled slowly. His gut clenched, tears threatening to well.
"You good?"
With a sniff, Steve looked to Jeremy Tudor, his face every inch his father's, which Steve supposed made sense given how similar they were; he'd even stepped in to take his dad's place as assistant coach of the Cubs when he retired. "Yeah," he said quietly, stomach still churning.
Jeremy nodded once, then suggested, "You go on home. I got this."
Biting his tongue, Steve gave a nod back. "Thanks, Tudor."
"You got it."
Steve grabbed his bag and headed back towards the parking lot, sinking into the driver's seat of his truck. "Jesus," he whispered, folding his arms on the steering wheel and dropping his head against them.
The feeling in his gut worsened.
An awful, stinging hope panged in his heart. "No," he whispered to himself, swallowing his nausea.
He stopped at Melvad's on the way home.
Amelia behind the counter was a nineteen-year-old lamenting her life choices, who certainly remembered Steve as her teacher. She was polite as she rang up his purchases. Purchases that were perfectly incongruous from a Sex Ed teacher.
The moment he was home, Steve shut himself in the bathroom.
"Stevie?"
Silently, hands trembling, Steve followed the tiny print on the creased instructions, single-minded in his focus. Once he was done, he sat himself on the floor, knees to his chest, then set a timer on his watch, staring at the countdown.
A gentle knock on the door. "Steve?"
Exhaling slow, Steve reached out and pulled the bathroom door open a crack.
"Stevie?" Eddie carefully pushed the door open, and crawled down to Steve's side. "Hey..." Kissing the side of Steve's head, he murmured, "Glad I didn't find you in tears, but are you okay?"
Steve just kept his eyes on his watch, the numbers slowly ticking down until it bleeped at him. Dismissing the alert, he reached up to the sink behind him and brought the plastic stick down in front of him, staring at the display.
Eddie's breath audibly caught, one arm wrapping securely around Steve's back. "Sweetheart, that's positive..."
Steve sobbed.
"Oh, baby..." Pulling Steve in close to his chest, Eddie hushed him gently, wiping Steve's tears as they spilled down his face. "You're okay, Stevie, you're okay..."
"I c-can't..." Though a hiccuping breath, Steve whispered, "I can't hope. It's so early, I can't, I can't hope..."
Nodding into Steve's hair, Eddie murmured, "One step at a time." He breathed a short laugh. "I'm so happy for you, Stevie."
Steve unfurled himself from his protective hunch and wrapped around Eddie, catching him in a tearful kiss. "Thank you, thank you, thank you..." Burying his face in Eddie's neck, he let go, falling into a mess of tears and sobs that Eddie held him through, cooing kindness and support against his temple.