Chapter Text
It was a hot summer day in Hawkins and the kids had dragged them into helping with some game once again. Eddie was more than thrilled to help, Robin had managed to escape with Nancy on a "supply run" and Steve was currently taking orders from Max, the only one of them who'd remembered to say please.
Eddie wasn't really sure what the end goal was but it seemed like they were one step away from LARPing- just changed the name so Max and El would still play. He was helping Will by carving this big fuck-all stick into a cane for him when the gravel behind him crunched under someone's feet, and a second later Steve was saying "Hey, I'm borrowing this- Thanks-" Not stopping for the answer before Eddie felt a tug at his back pocket.
He instantly whipped around, spluttering, "Absolutely not-" and before Steve could even take a step he was fiercely gripping his black bandana taut between them like the world's saddest game of tug of war. Steve loosened his grip a little, making a point of not tugging on it or ripping it, just looking confused as he waited for an explanation.
Eddie blushed for a moment, realizing the position he'd put himself in, how protective he got over a little piece of fabric. He stammers for a second, "I- you can't just- I need that man,"
Steve quirks an eyebrow at him, clueless. "What do you mean you need it? It's been in your pocket every day and I've only seen you actually wear it once. C'mon just for today- the girls don't have any hair ties and I need to put my hair up, it's killing me,"
He sighs a little, fully aware there's nothing reasonable he could say to Steve here. He very much cannot tell him that he *needs* it just in case some hot guy walks by and happens to know what it means. That's ridiculous- especially when the guy he most wants to see it is the one tugging it away from him in the first place. Steve has no idea what it means and Eddie doesn't expect him to but it still drives him insane thinking that it could happen.
Alternatively, the idea of Steve putting his hair back with Eddie's bandana drives him a little insane too.
So he blushes, sighs, and lets go of it. Points at Steve firmly, "You better give that back Harrington, or I swear-"
Steve smiles and starts walking backwards with it, already rolling it up into a hairband as he cuts him off, "Yeah, I know Eds, you can hold it against me forever, promise,"
He runs off back to the other kids and Eddie shakes his head at him, flustered and annoyed, and forgetting himself until Will clears his throat behind him.
He doesn't say anything but he's smiling and making this little face as he looks away from Eddie, like he knows something.
"So uh. The stick?"
"Right- yes- stick- cane- it's a cane for a mighty wizard, let's go,"
--
He didn't think he'd notice it so much, but the empty feeling in his pocket is driving him crazy. He'd been wearing that stupid thing since he learned it was a thing people do- a stolen trip up to the city on a bus he snuck onto, a weekend as a runaway before he sucked it up and went back home.
Someone had called him queer and he turned expecting a fight only to see a group of freaks who stood out more than himself. They had smiled and asked him why he was all alone, and worried. One wanted to make sure Eddie hadn't been kicked out. Another wrapped her scarf around him, and before he knew it he was in the back of a gay bar with people he'd never met before and felt like he could tell anything to.
The idea of proudly wearing something that singled him out- but only to the right people- made his heart light up. It was like a new language, like thieves’ cant, something secret and magic.
He'd spent hours asking about colors and being confused and rightfully embarrassed by more than a few of the answers. Some sounded better than others, some made his face flush. At the end of the day he felt better than he had in ages and he had the courage to go back home to Wayne.
Before he got back on a bus he stopped into a second hand shop and grabbed the first black bandana he could find. He debated the whole ride home which side to put it on. When he walked back up to the trailer door ready to apologize, it hung proudly out of his back left.
--
Eddie had let Steve wear it home and it was killing him, but they had stayed out late and he half forgot anyways, and Steve's hair did look pretty cute pushed back like that. Steve had promised to give it back anyways, and Eddie trusted him fully.
He just also really, really, really wanted it back as soon as possible.
So for once he got up before noon (barely- just after eleven), and made his way to Family Video and hoped Steve had left it in his car or something so that he could get it back then and there.
What he wasn't expecting was to walk in and see Steve bent over behind the counter with the damn thing hanging out of his right pocket, as if he had any goddamn idea what that meant.
Eddie nearly had a heart attack and was thankful the store was empty like it always was so he could sprint over, jump the counter and yank the thing out of his pocket immediately.
"What do you think you're doing wearing it like that?!"
Steve had barely registered the jingle from the door, let alone Eddie launching himself at him, and was thoroughly surprised to say the least, nearly knocking over a display as he reacted.
"Hey! Jesus man- you can't be- what's the big deal??? That's exactly how you wear it all the time- I was just keeping it safe ‘til I saw you again,"
He stared at Eddie properly confused, a little on guard still from how suddenly he had leapt over and how worked up he seemed.
Eddie took a deep breath and sighed, folding the bandana up in his hands and just holding it for a moment, debating what to tell Steve.
After a second Steve makes this little head movement like 'well? go on?' clearly waiting for an explanation and Eddie rolls his eyes and sighs.
"It's- look, Stevie, you can't wear it like that, you're not- I mean it's. It's like- a symbol, okay?"
Steve leans on the counter and frowns, confused.
"A symbol?"
"Yes- yeah, like- like those little cross necklaces moms wear or Dustin's Star Wars shirts. They're symbols....for the same kind of people to pick up on,"
He struggles with the words, trying hard to insinuate just enough without giving it all away, still hesitant, afraid of Steve's reaction.
But Steve just looks thoughtful. Nodding a little, putting a finger to his lip as the gears turn.
"So- okay, what's it symbolizing then?"
He'd been hoping Steve wouldn't make it that far.
"It's- uh. It's really not..."
Steve stares, "Man I'm not gonna judge you- just- why's it such a big deal that I can't wear it like that too?"
Eddie can't help but laugh, "If anyone who knows what it means saw YOU with it- you would- no, you'd set yourself on fire I'm sure of it,"
He shakes his head, holding the bandana tighter in his fists.
Steve only frowns though, "Eds, what's it mean? If you don't tell me I'll just get my own and wear it until someone else does,"
Eddie looks mildly terrified by the idea but laughs at it all the same. "No- no, god do not do that Harrington-"
"Then tell me,"
"I can't, it's really-"
"Eddie, I'm gonna steal it back,"
And he does, reaches for the bandana in his hands as Eddie pulls away, the two of them starting to bicker and wrestle for it, each equally stubborn until the point that Steve actually does manage to grab it.
The tension gets to him and Eddie can't help it anymore, he just blurts, "It means I'm gay, Steve!"
It makes Steve pause and Eddie uses the moment to grab it back and quickly shove it in his back pocket again, blushing furiously and hoping Steve doesn't take it too badly.
Steve's mouth opens a little to say something in response, but the door jingles and his head snaps to it, Eddie instantly hitting the floor because he's still behind the counter where he most certainly should not be.
A man comes in and asks where the new releases are and Steve happily helps him, leaving Eddie plenty of time to crawl out from behind the counter and sneak out. He almost gets away with it too, but the door opens again, jingles and Steve twists his head.
"Eddie, wait- We're not done- I'll talk to you about this later!"
Eddie doesn't look back at him as he runs out the door past Robin who had been bringing lunch back for her and Steve. She tries to greet him but he just blurts "Gotta go, Buckley," and darts past.
If he'd looked back he might have noticed how red Steve's face was.