Chapter Text
The first time Steve saw Eddie, he was 14 and it was raining. He was crying, and the sky wept with him, harsh drops like needles falling in sheets from the angry grey clouds that carpeted the sky above Hawkins. Water poured through the trees and hit his freshly buzzed scalp as he ran through the darkening woods. When Steve finally reached his spot, he was so taken by his emotions that he didn’t even take cover under the rock behind him. Instead, Steve just screwed his eyes shut and tilted his head up, letting the rain wash out his thoughts.
“Uhh, Harrington?”
Steve opened his eyes and jerked his head toward the voice. It was a boy, around his age, with long hair and wide eyes. He wore a patch-covered denim vest over a leather jacket, and several chains hung from his black jeans. “Who are you?” Steve spat, cheeks burning as he wiped his face with his sleeve. “How do you know who I am?”
The boy frowned. “I'm Eddie. Eddie Munson. And everyone knows who Steve Harrington is.”
“Whatever.” Steve frowned. “What are you doing here anyway?”
Eddie smiled a little guiltily. “I come here sometimes just to chill and be alone.” Steve noticed for the first time that he was holding a joint.
“Oh, so you come here to get high,” he said.
Eddie looked at his hand and shrugged. “I guess. Are you just gonna stay in the rain then?”
“Maybe,” Steve snapped, “what's it to you?”
“Nothing, Jesus.” Eddie took a drag from his joint. “I see why they say you're a jerk now.”
Steve just scoffed, but it stung a little anyway; he didn't know why. He stood there for a moment in the rain, looking out towards the dark woods as he steadied his breaths to hide the fact that he’d just been sobbing like a little kid.
“So…” Eddie said after a moment, “who broke your heart?”
“What?” Steve spun around glaring at the other boy.
Eddie just smiled, unfazed. “The haircut for one, though I gotta say I liked it better before. Plus you’re crying.”
“Shut up.” Steve crossed his arms over his suddenly lurching stomach. Had he made himself sick now too? “No one broke my heart.”
Eddie shrugged, and took another drag from his joint. He exhaled, long and slow, smoke escaping into the cold air through his parted lips. They stayed silent for a few minutes, until Steve couldn’t help feeling awkward. He sat down next to Eddie before he could think too hard, shivering like a wet dog under the rock. Without a word, Eddie shrugged off his vest, took off his leather jacket and handed it to Steve. Steve looked at it, about to say something, but instead just took it, grateful for the heavy warmth on his back.
“Thanks,” Steve said a few moments later, unsure of what to do.
“Don’t worry about it.” Eddie grinned. He held his joint towards Steve, an offering.
“Nah.” Steve shook his head. “I never…” He trailed off, embarrassed.
“Oh, okay. Cool,” Eddie said. He lay his vest behind him and lay down with a sigh. His long curls framed his head like a dark halo, and Steve had to look away, he didn’t know why. They looked nice, silky. “You come here often? Cuz I've never seen you here before.”
“Yeah, sometimes.” Steve admitted. “To… clear my head and stuff.”
Eddie nodded, pensive. “Is that why you’re here now? To clear your head?”
“Maybe.” Steve shrugged. “I can’t always…breathe well at home y’know, if that makes sense.” He regretted it immediately - spilling his heart to some random dude like a sappy girl. That wasn’t him. That wasn’t Steve Harrington. But Eddie just nodded thoughtfully.
“I get it.” He didn’t ask anything else, and neither did Steve. Soon the silence shifted from awkward to comfortable, with the pouring rain and Eddie’s soft exhales of smoke to fill the moment.
Looking back, Steve thought, though he didn’t know it yet at the time, that it was during that awkward, rainy moment - a breath of sweet fresh air framed by bad memories - that he had fallen in love with Eddie.