Chapter 10. Confessions

"Okay, spill it," Robin said the moment he picked her up from school during his break from work.

Them having the joint evening shift at Family Video meant he had no wriggle room. As ever Robin could read him like a book.

"So," he started, pausing mostly because he knew it would drive her crazy.

"Dingus," she warned.

"I may have kissed Eddie," he revealed.

"You did not!" she said, eyes going wild.

"Well, technically, he kissed me first," he added, pulling out of the parking lot.

"You didn't even tell me you were into him," Robin accused.

"I didn't want to complicate things," Steve defended himself. "Eddie's vulnerable and so I was trying to ignore how attracted I was to him. I thought saying it out loud would make it too real, only, I think it was too real anyway."

He wanted to turn and look at her, but he didn't dare take his eyes off the road for that long with all the school crowd cars around. When Robin's hand gently came to rest on his arm, he was pretty sure he was forgiven.

"Okay, I get where you're coming from," she assured him. "So, what changed?"

"He came out to me while we were making lunch," he explained, "and so I came out to him. I told him I had a friend who had explained what bisexual was, but I didn't tell him it was you. I confessed my Han Solo crush."

"That film has so much to answer for," Robin said, tapping his arm.

"Then he asked me my type," Steve went on. "I know I could have played it off, but in the end, I went for it. Made it obvious I was talking about him. He basically asked me if he could kiss me, and I said yes."

"Marks out of ten?" was Robin's next question.

"Off the scale," he replied without the slightest hesitation.

"So, our Eds is a good kisser then," Robin concluded.

"Well, yes," Steve agreed, "but, honestly, I think he could have kissed like a fish, and it would still have been the best kiss of my life because it was him. And that doesn't even include the whole blood incident."

"Blood incident?" Robin asked in a high, incredulous tone.

"Do not laugh," he said.

"Word of honour I'll try not to," she replied, which he was well aware was the best he could ask.

"These fangs are sharp, so French kissing is going to take some practice," he told her.

"Oh, oooh," Robin said as she caught on.

"You promised not to laugh," he warned.

"I'm not laughing," she said, but he could hear the amusement in her voice.

He glanced over and could see the barely controlled smile on her face.

"You're laughing, I can tell," he countered.

"I'm not, I'm smiling," Robin replied, "they are not the same."

"You're making fun of me," he pointed out.

"Only a little," she promised, "but you have to admit it's a little funny that the infamous lady's man of Hawkins High has to learn to kiss all over again. Ooh, did you get a hit of his blood like you got off mine? I'm asking for purely scientific purposes."

"Now you sound like Dustin," he said.

"Let me live vicariously through your kissing," she complained.

"Still can't believe you haven't kissed Vicky yet," he countered.

"She only just broke up with her boyfriend," Robin replied. "I am not going to swoop in like some callous vulture, and besides, finals are a thing. Now back to the blood question, don't think I forgot."

Steve sighed as he found a parking spot near Family Video.

"Yes, I got a hit off Eddie's blood," he admitted. "And wow was it a hit. If I ever need to wake up fast, forget caffeine. Everything turned up to ten. My senses, this connection me and Eddie have, everything. It was amazing, but the comedown was a bitch. After about half an hour I crashed, had to take a catnap before coming to work."

"Another tick for species synchronicity," Robin said as if that made perfect sense.

"I don't understand," Steve said, taking the keys out of the ignition.

"You get a hit off human blood," Robin explained, "where you don't from animal blood, which suggests there's something different about the way your system interacts with it. The most likely explanation is that it's something to do with how humans are genetically compatible."

"Or it might have been because it was straight from the source, not from a packet," Steve said as he thought that through.

"True," Robin agreed, "but you and Eddie is pointing more towards my theory because you and he are your own species. You're mostly human, but you've got Upside Down stuff in there as well. You're a unique pair and you react more strongly to his blood than you did to mine. Hence species synchronicity."

"Okay," he agreed and went to climb out.

Robin had made a strong case, but Steve couldn't help thinking it might not be quite that simple.

"So," Robin said as they walked towards the store, "would you rather I not come over this evening so you and your new squeeze can have some alone time?"

The way she put it made him shudder even if she was just being circumspect because someone might overhear.

"Please, never say that again," he replied. "And no, I kind of need you to keep me out of my head so I don't do or say anything stupid when I over think this. Besides which we are very much still on the just kissing part."

"Gotcha," she said and linked her arm through his, "but, just so you know, I reserve the right to tease you mercilessly."

"Funny how not unexpected that is," he responded in his bitchiest tone. "Just remember I bite back."

"Not when you're so embarrassed you can't speak you don't," Robin told him, and he just had to accept it was going to be one of those shifts.

For once he was hoping for a solid stream of customers.

~*~

"Eddie," Robin greeted as she swept into Steve's house.

"Lady Buckley," Eddie responded with a smile.

"Just one question," she said with a smile that made Steve vaguely panic, "as Steve's platonic soulmate, do I need to give you the shovel talk?"

Eddie's eyes opened in shock and Steve felt the flash of icy cold up his spine at the same time.

"You told her?" Eddie asked looking at Steve.

"He did," Robin sailed on without letting him reply, "because he tells me everything and I am the raving lesbian who helped him figure out he was bi. Now, please, answer the question."

Eddie blinked at her in shocked silence before finally smiling something of a cheeky smile.

"No," Eddie replied. "If it comes to that I will lend you the shovel myself."

Steve thought he might melt from the swell of warmth in his chest.

"Good," Robin said, "glad we got that out of the way. Now I'm hungry, I'm raiding your refrigerator, Steve."

"There's left over casserole in the dish on the first shelf," he called after her. "You can heat it in the microwave."

"Thanks."

Walking over to Eddie he reached out his hand. Eddie stepped up to him and they shared a very quick kiss.

"Missed you," he confessed.

"Me too," Eddie replied.

He was about to respond when something occurred to him.

"Just remember to take the foil off first," he yelled towards the kitchen.

"Sometimes I worry about you two," Eddie said and laughed. "You're really going to have to explain that panicked look in your eyes."

Steve bit his lip. Occasionally, Robin forgot the details when her mind was on other things, and he did not want a repeat of the Burrito Incident which they had promised to never speak of ever again. He wasn't sure Eddie would take no for an answer, however.

~*~

Since Eddie was still dead as far as the town was concerned, Hopper made the executive decision that Owens would be informed at Steve's house. Not that Steve or anyone else was complaining. These things worked better as a united front and a van full of people showing up at Hawkins Labs would look suspicious to the government and anyone from town who saw something.

Those there for the planned meeting were of course Eddie and Steve, there was no way Steve was letting Eddie be the only one scrutinised. Wayne as Eddie's emotional support, Robin as Steve's, Nancy because she was scary as hell, El as the expert, and Hopper because he could legally carry a gun in plain view just to remind Owens who was running this show.

When the doorbell went, Hopper answered it because everyone else had chosen a very particular place to wait. They were sending a message. Steve did his best to look calm where he was perched on the couch arm next to Eddie.

Owen's walked in, saw them all and promptly stopped. The man's eyes scanned each one of them, finally settling on Eddie.

"Ah, Mr Munson," Owens said, "it seems reports of your death were inaccurate."

"Just Eddie," Eddie said, doing a very good impression of unperturbed, Steve was impressed given the bubble of nerves he could feel from his boyfriend that echoed his own, "Mr Munson is my uncle Wayne."

"I am beginning to understand why we had some peculiar readings from the gates last week," Owens concluded. "Your bravery precedes you, Eddie. I'm glad you survived."

"Thanks," Eddie replied.

"We went in to get him," Hopper said in a tone that just begged the government man to argue.

"And how did you know he was alive?" Owen asked, eyes flicking to El.

"It was me," Steve spoke up and found himself the immediate focus of attention.

"Mr Harrington," Owens said, Steve didn't correct him, "and how, pray tell did you know Eddie survived?"

"Dreams," Steve said, since they were here to tell the truth.

They were going to need Owens' help to get Eddie back into his life. They had agreed lying now would likely bite them on the ass later and Owens was their best way in.

"Bat bites?" Owens asked, proving quite how perceptive he could be.

"Maybe," Eddie replied, "but we were thinking more bat blood. Also, best guess, why I didn't die."

Owens looked between Steve and Eddie, and Steve didn't like the way he was being analysed, but he refused to fidget.

"It has been several months since the incidents in March," Owens finally said. "What was the reason for the delay?"

"I didn't think the dreams were real," Steve replied, "but that changed."

"If I may be so bold, why?" was the immediate reply.

"This happened," he said and let his eyes flash red.

Owens blinked and remained completely silent for a good couple of seconds.

"Yes, I suppose that would be somewhat convincing," Owens finally said.

"There are perks too," Eddie said, finishing the sentence standing right next to the other man.

"Holy f..."

Steve was impressed with the way Owens held himself together with how fast Eddie had crossed the distance between them and the fact Eddie had red eyes, claws and a very fangy smile.

"They're not dangerous," El said with a smile of her own. "I made sure."

"Thank you, Jane," Owens said, plastering professionalism over any anxiety he might be feeling. "This is, well, quite remarkable."

"That's one way of putting it," Eddie said as he let the otherness fade.

"Made the Upside Down a lot less terrifying," Steve agreed.

"And you both have the same physical attributes?" Owen asked.

Steve nodded, holding up his hand and flexing his claws to underline the point. Owen simply nodded.

"What is it you need?" the man asked after a few moments.

"Eddie needs his life back," Nancy took over since everyone agreed she was the most professional. "We need to come up with a way to do that."

"That can be arranged," Owens said in a perfectly reasonable tone that had Steve's hackles rising.

He had come to expect a 'but' when he heard that tone from anyone associated with the mess that was Hawkins.

"Of course, Eddie and Mr Munson will be expected to sign the relevant NDAs," Owens went on after a slight pause.

"Not a problem," Eddie said, tone flat.

Owens nodded, even as his eyes flicked between Steve and Eddie.

"Is there anything else?" Owens asked.

"Not right now," Hopper said.

Steve was still waiting for the other shoe to drop.

"Quite remarkable," Owens said, not even trying to hide his fascination.

"This is a run down of what Steve and Eddie have discovered so far," Nancy said, standing and passing a piece of paper to Owens.

It was kind of a peace offering. They had left off the connection between them and been vague about the extent of their strength and speed, but Owens had no way of knowing that. The man scanned the information in short order.

"Thank you, this will be most useful for our records. With the work Jane is helping us with we hope to have the dangers of the Upside Down sealed soon, but we all know that any information can be useful as the most unexpected time," Owens said.

None of them were arguing there, not that they had ever had all the facts they needed to defeat the next evil on their doorstep.

"Would either or both of you be willing to come in for some tests?" Owens went on in the annoyingly reasonable tone again.

That was what Steve had been waiting for.

"Not yet," he said and made sure he was looking right at the man. "It's too soon. Eddie's been nothing but traumatised since March. He needs time to rest and recuperate and I am going to make sure he has the chance."

It was never a good idea to outright say no to the shady government people in Hawkins, but he was pretty sure he could put Owens off. At least that was the plan they had all decided on. After what had happened to El, going into a government lab voluntarily was not something either he or Eddie felt like chancing.

"Ah, yes, I can understand that," Owens agreed with a nod. "Would a therapist be of some help?"

Steve smiled even as he saw the trap.

"Thank you," he said, "but I don't think either of us are ready for that."

"We'll let you know," Eddie added.

Owens gave them both a smile and Steve was absolutely sure the man knew what game they were all playing, but clearly, they were winning at the moment.

"Well then, thank you for advising me of the situation," Owens said. "We will be in touch about Eddie's official resurrection."

Steve was very, very glad to get the man out of his house after that.

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