Chapter Text
Eddie tries not to slam his sweetheart into her case even though he’s pretty fucking pissed. He had just played a gig to what was supposed to be more than a couple of drunks because Brian had promised he was coming to his set tonight with a few friends. But his boyfriend had forgotten again.
The rest of the band gives Eddie his space, thank god, as he heaves an amp into Gareth’s truck and stalks off to his van - having done his part in packing up. He’ll make his round of apologizes later, but right now he wants to go to his apartment and sleep this night off.
Every traffic light in town seems to turn red as soon as he approaches it. He gets cut off by three people. And he swears the crack in his windshield is getting larger. And really this night can’t get worse.
He storms up the two flights of stairs to his apartment and sighs in relief when he gets outside of his door. He unlocks it quickly and goes inside, ready to get in bed as soon as possible.
Then, he hears it.
A moan.
Eddie rolls his eyes and huffs, really not in the fucking mood to deal with Brian’s bullshit horny mood right after missing his set.
He stalks to the door and flings it open, ready to chew him out. But then he takes in what’s happening.
Brian is on top of another man who is half naked in his own bed.
“So, this is why you missed my set tonight, huh?” Is the first thing that comes out of Eddie’s mouth.
Brian’s head snaps towards him, and he quickly climbs off the bed. “This isn’t what it seems, babe… and I thought you said your set would run late tonight.”
Eddie laughs humorlessly. He doesn’t know what else to do. He can’t process any of it. “And I thought you said you were coming tonight. Clearly, I mixed up your definition of the word.”
“Eddie…” Brian reaches out to grab his arm.
“Get out,” Eddie growls out.
Brian laughs. “You don’t mean that.”
Eddie has a good few inches over Brian that he uses to loom over him, slowly whispering, “Get the fuck out.”
Brian stares at him for a moment in disbelief then quickly runs out of the room. The sound of the front door slamming shut punctuates his departure.
Eddie sits on his chair and puts his head in his hands. It’s really been the worst night.
There’s a huff of breath to his right.
Eddie head snaps up towards the stranger still in his bed. “What the fuck are you still doing here, man?”
The other man blushes and slowly lifts his left hand. There’s a scrape of metal against his headboard and a flash of silver around the stranger’s wrist. The fucker used his handcuffs.
Eddie groans and opens his drawer to grab the key. He stares at the empty spot that the key usually occupies then he frantically digs around.
An unfamiliar voice says, “I don’t mean to make this worse for you, but I’m pretty sure he still has the key in his pocket.”
“Are you kidding me?” Eddie automatically replies.
“Man, I wish I was,” the stranger says, right hand rubbing sorely at his wrist.
Eddie huffs, “They’re supposed to be for decoration only.” He stands up and makes his way to his tiny closet, digging out an extra wire hanger and beginning to bend it. He sits on his bed – uncomfortably close to the man his boyfriend was probably going to fuck – and goes through the tedious task of trying to pick the lock.
“You know how to pick a lock?” The man asks.
“No,” Eddie answers truthfully. “But I know how to hot wire a car.”
This gets the stranger to chuckle softly. Eddie looks up and really sees him for the first time. He has light brown eyes, long lashes, full lips, and really glorious hair. Eddie doesn’t know how Brian got him to go “home” with him.
“I’m Steve,” the stranger introduces himself, “Figured I should tell you my name if we’ll be here for a while.”
“I’m Eddie,” he automatically replies although he’s sure Steve caught onto that before. He looks back at the handcuffs, tongue resting on his top lip in concentration.
“I’m really sorry, man,” Steve rambles out suddenly, breaking Eddie’s focus. “I- I didn’t know that he was taken, you know. Especially with the way he approached me tonight all… Never mind. But really man. I had no idea. And I feel like absolute shit. I mean, the handcuffs weren’t even supposed to happen. He had gotten the key out and joked about it. But then they were suddenly on, and then you came in and… I’m so sorry.”
Eddie had stopped trying to pick the lock mid rant because Steve apparently has the habit of using his hands while he’s talking. Instead, he takes the time to look the guy in the eyes again, having the absurd thought that he wishes they had met in a different way.
Eddie shakes his head and continues picking the lock. After a few moments, Eddie sincerely replies, “Thank you. I appreciate it.”
The stranger runs his right hand through his hair and relaxes a bit more into Eddie’s bed. A minute goes by before Eddie notices that he’s shaking a bit. He sees the chills down his arms and quickly grabs at his blanket and pulls it around the man.
Steve takes it and whispers a quick thank you, pulling the blanket up his naked torso and around his neck. He stares off for a few moments and asks, “Is that a D&D dice set?”
Eddie’s head snaps up. He smiles widely. “You know what they are?”
“My friend, who’s kind of like a little, annoying brother, plays. I was actually thinking of buying him a new set for his birthday. Do you know where I could get them custom made? He’s been telling me about this new campaign…” Steve rambles on for a few minutes about all the things his friend - Dustin - has told him about. Steve seems terribly clueless about D&D, but it’s so obvious that he cares so much about this Dustin kid. And after a long night, this actually warms Eddie’s heart.
He continues listening to the campaign, impressed by whoever this other Will kid is because he seems to have excellent dungeon master skills.
Eddie shares what type of design he thinks Dustin would like based on his character and offers to draw up a few concepts for Steve to use. Then, he rattles off a shop in town that he got his dice at which launches into Eddie explaining the reason for his set which was a gift from his uncle.
Eddie starts describing a few moments from his latest campaign and where he thinks it’s going, and he’s surprised when Steve gives him a few great ideas for the plot. As he’s going on about his most evil character created - Vecna - a clicking noise rings out.
Eddie stops mid rant, and both he and Steve look down at the cuffs. Steve slowly, almost reluctantly, pulls his wrist out and stares at the red ring around it.
Eddie grimaces and goes towards the kitchen, pulling an ice pack out of the freezer. When he comes back into the room, Steve is standing up, pulling a yellow sweater over his head.
It’s oddly endearing.
As Eddie gets closer, he realizes they’re around the same height which is surprisingly comforting being able to easily look him in the eyes.
Steve takes the ice pack and thanks Eddie again, pressing it into the slight bruise forming. He glances at the clock behind Eddie. “Shit, I have to get going or Robin’s going to kill me,” Steve says, rushing past Eddie and into the kitchen.
Eddie’s heart drops at the mention of the name. He prays Steve isn’t like Brian, so Eddie can’t help but follow and ask, “Robin?”
“My roommate,” Steve clarifies, grabbing his keys and wallet off the counter and stuffing them into his jeans.
Eddie lightly sighs, oddly relieved that the stranger isn’t also cheating.
Steve stares at him for a few moments, eyes flickering between Eddie and what seems to be the fridge strangely enough. He puts the ice pack on the counter and rushes behind Eddie, grabbing a dry erase marker attached to his magnetic whiteboard which he begins to scribble on.
Eddie stares in slight shock when Steve pulls away. “It’s my number,” Steve explains. “It’s just… I’ve also been cheated on, and it sucks. And if you needed to talk to someone about it… you can always talk to me.”
Eddie stares at Steve speechless.
“That’s weird, isn’t it?” Steve asks, eyebrows furrowed. He continues, “Yeah, that’s weird.” He doesn’t erase his number though.
He makes his way awkwardly to Eddie's front door.
“Wait!” Eddie calls out, grabbing the ice pack and rushing towards Steve. He shoves it into his hand. “Take that with you and give it back to me later. I have to draw that design for you, after all.”
Steve stares at Eddie for a moment then softly smiles. “Yeah, that’s right. You do.”
The two hesitate at the door for a few seconds, staring at each other. Steve shakes his head and opens the front door. “It was good meeting you, Eddie. I wish it could’ve been under better circumstances,” he says with a grimace.
“Yeah,” Eddie says laughing awkwardly. “Thank you for everything. I’ll call you.”
Steve smiles brightly and gently closes the door behind him.
Eddie huffs out a laugh and shakes his head. He glances at the fridge, takes in the number, and begins laughing again. When he eventually makes his way back to his bedroom, he sees the other end of the handcuffs still attached to his headboard and laughs again.
What a fucking night.