Archive of Our Own ^beta

Steve had been only three and half years on Hawkins High School, and still, he managed to be the favourite by far of almost all teens and tweens.
He was the P.E teacher and somehow he accomplished to make the lessons decent for everyone, from the most sporty kids to the ones that barely touched a ball in their lifes.
He was young, 23 years old in fact, he was the youngest teacher until a new one, that incorporated more or less three months ago, came.
His name was Eddie Munson, 22 years old and the music teacher.
He wasn't as loved as Steve, he had the fame to be eccentric, maybe even a little crazy, but still, he gained the love of several teens that found in him a friend more than a teacher.
He made his lessons fun, protected kids from any kind of bullying he saw and talked with them if they seemed down or had any problem, he also gave them advice in any matter and encouraged them to be themselves even if other people didn't like that.

Steve was curious, he usually didn't cared that much about other teachers but this one was different, and to be honest, he was getting a bit jealous.
He started hearing some kids (actually, not any kid, but the ones he liked the most, a group that was usually alone and at the same time they took care of each other in any possible way) talking about this "great Eddie, the freak, the best teacher" during his classes.
He also heard other kids (the more popular ones) saying mean things about thing, making fun, for example, about his hobbies or about the way he dressed, apparently, according to them, it wasn't appropriate for a teacher to wear vests or boots.

After the day ended, he ordered the kids to go to their class with their tutor in order to grab their backpacks and go home, it was 1:30 p.m., which meant the end of the day for them.
He went to the music schoolroom, he had to ask some other teachers the place because he wasn't usually inside the high school facilities, just on the gym and the yard.
When he got there, he couldn't hear any kids or music, he thought that maybe he was gone and he would have to came back the next day, but the lights were on, so he decided to wait.
The hallways started to get empty of people and things could be heard a little more clearly, it seemed like Eddie was giving a kid, more specifically, Will Byers, some uplifting, he couldn't hear everything, just space words, but he had to admit they were pretty sweet; "Plenty of fish in the sea" "It happens to the best ones" "On my young years I also fell in love with someone that wasn't interested in me" "You have to think about other things" "The other day you showed me a drawing that was amazing, try to put your feelings into that to let it go"...
When the kid went out, he had his eyes a little red but he wasn't crying anymore, he had a little smile.

Steve got into the room without knocking (a bad habit of his), and saw Eddie packing away his stuff and ordering the class.
He had long, curly hair and was wearing a black shirt and ripped jeans, as well as some decorative chains and pins. He didn't seem, indeed, like a regular teacher.

When Eddie realized Steve was there, he was surprised to see him, he heard so much about him from other kids! He was just as he imagined, nice hair and blue sporty tracksuit.
Ed: Hey! Isn't that king Steve?! The greatest teacher in Hawkings!
Tweens loved him so much they used to call him like that, Steve was used to it but when another adult called him the same way, it made him feel weird.
St: Uh... Yeah! Eddie Munson? Music teacher, right?
Ed: Mhm!
Eddie nodded.
There was a weird silence in which Eddie kept on ordering the class stuff for the next day, not sure about why the other men was there, he was about to ask when the other interrupted.
St: Is everything ok with Buyers?
Eddie laughed.
Ed: Worried about your students! That's sweet!
He mocked, then he gained a more serious tone.
Ed: Don't worry, teen problems, he'll get over it eventually.
Steve nodded, another weird silence...

St: I just wanted to say hello, welcome you to the high school and everything.
Eddie didn't quite get it, if he wanted to do so it would have been better do do it al least two months ago, still, he didn't want to be mean.
Ed: Thanks you!
The silences started to make both of them feel extremely uncomfortable, Eddie finished packing everything and sat on the teaching table, Steve let out a tiny laugh, it wasn't an expected position for an adult, however he couldn't deny that it was adorable in a weird way.
St: I'll be honest, I've heard a lot about you lately! Kids love you!
Eddie was surprised by that comment, he received it with a smile.
Ed: Damm, that's a big compliment when it comes from you! Everyone loves you! I have to admit I'm a little jealous even!
Steve blushed a little, he received lots of praise, but always from his pupils, from another teacher (or adult I'm general), it was quite an experience.
St: Thanks!
Eddie was now the one to talk first, he was aware that what he was about to say could seem a bit agressive, but it wasn't his intentions, and it wasn't like he cares much about his reputation either.
Ed: When people talked about you, I thought you'd be an asshole, but hey, you seem like a chill dude!
Steve almost choked, what I'm earth was that? He was going to answer badly, tell him that was completely disrespectful, but when he saw the smile on the other one's face, how bright it seemed, he just couldn't.
St: I don't know how to answer, but thanks I guess.
Eddie laughed and got up, walking to him and giving him a palm in his shoulder.
Ed: Relax! There's no youth around! We can say "bad words", big guy.
Steve tried not to, but he laughed, when he was in the high school he was usually tense, he just realized that he didn't have to, maybe they complemented each other a little.
Steve thought that if Steve was relaxed enough to say anything, he could do it to.
St: I've heard you say bad words even with youth around tho!
Eddie laughed.
Ed: The trick is not letting other teachers or superiors hear you, but the brats? They don't really care!
He joked, making Steve laugh to.

"What's going on!?"
There was the supervisor, who was kind of annoying actually.
Ed: Nothing, I've just met teacher Steve, we were getting to know each other.
Steve stood still.
"Well, the class schedule is over, get to know each other in another place!"
He said before going out, Eddie gave him a salute like in the military, Steve laughed a little more saliently.

Eddie wasn't too sure about asking, but he could try.
Ed: Maybe Mr.Borness is right tho, we should get to know each other somewhere else, preferably somewhere with no annoying mummies.
Steve laughed, being the only young teachers wasn't easy, most of the other one's had a very close and boring mindset indeed.
His first response was negative, he preferred not to mix his job and his personal life, but for some reason he felt a weird connection with the other man, he was fun, confident, a bit weird to but also intriguing, he was sweet and caring with kids to and he couldn't deny it, he was extremely beautiful to.
He wasn't attracted to men, or at least that was what he thought until that moment, but hey, he wasn't homophobic at all! There was no harm in trying, he was really attracted to Eddie, and if flirting with men was similar to flirting with women, he had it done already!
St: Enzo's, the restaurant, seems like a good place then! No kiddos around! There might be some mummies tho!
Eddie laughed by the joke and Steve celebrated silently.
He wasn't expecting tho, the comeback Eddie would have.
Ed: I have a personal motor, never going on dates with job-mates, but I can make an exception for king Steve, I'm curious, I want to know if everything people say is true huh.
He whispered it right to Steve's ear in quite a seductive tone, it made Steve's hair tingle in a way he couldn't explain.ñ and his face was left red, even more red than Eddies one.
Eddie then grabbed his backpack and guitar and walked to the door with a smile, coming back to his usual tone of voice.
Ed: Gotta go now, see you around Steve! And ill meet you at Enzo's this Friday at...
He thought about when he was free.
Ed: 8:00 p.m. ?
The only thing Steve could do was nod, this made Eddie laugh and wave his hand goodbye.

Steve could barely concentrate on his classes for the rest of the week and every time he heard Eddie's name, he acted weird, he was also seen inside the high school facilities, which was weird, and when Eddie started saying hello with his hands at Steve every time they saw each other, kids started singing things like "Steve and Eddie sat on a tree...", Both teachers always ordered them to be respectful and shush, but deep inside, they both hoped for it, flustered with every little rhythm.

The date was great, and just the first one of a lot more.