Work Text
King_Freak
: Dude how do you manage your upload schedule? Your videos are
so long
and you post
so much
. Teach me your ways, Jedi Master
SHHBuilds83
: do or do not there is no try
King_Freak
: quoting Yoda he is, I see.
King_Freak
: a man after my own heart
King_Freak
: who knew a guy who builds cars could be so nerdy
SHHBuilds83
: *model cars
King_Freak
: tomato potato
SHHBuilds83
: lmao sure this mean youre gonna let me work on your car next? Could be a fun video
King_Freak
: eh I’m sure you could do better with craft glue than I could with duct tape so yeah go for it
SHHBuilds83
: think you might regret that
King_Freak
: with hands like yours, I don’t think so
SHHBuilds83
: ha ha funny
King_Freak
: I like that you think I’m joking
***
It’s raining and Steve would rather be anywhere but here. He leans against the counter and watches the trees sway behind the buildings across the street from the big windows that make up the front of the store. No one comes in on rainy days, and like their clientele, Steve would rather be at home working on his own crafts instead of being stuck here. His hands ache to build something, to put together and take apart models and create something from nothing.
He sighs and looks down at the inventory list he could be working through. Robin’s on lunch, a sad reality when they’re the only two employees at the store, so he’s stuck at the front by himself. It wouldn’t be so bad if there was anything interesting to do, but they’ve gone through all their tasks for the week
except
for inventory. Which Steve despises.
The bell above the door twinkles as it bangs open. “Steve,” Dustin calls, stretching the syllables to exaggerated proportions as he slinks down the aisles toward the registers. “You’ll never believe what I just scored!” He slams down a plastic card, hand flat against the counter as he beams up at him from beneath the brim of his hat.
Steve raises an eyebrow and slowly pushes up and away from the counter. “If it’s drugs, you’re grounded. Or at least share with me.”
“Hardy har har,” Dustin deadpans, eyes narrow and face stoic (even though Steve can see the tension in the corner of his lips as he fights back a grin). “Are you going to actually guess?”
“No, what did you get?”
Dustin lifts his hand and waggles his fingers at the card. “Ta da!”
There’s nothing ‘ta da’ about it, if you ask Steve. It’s a little bigger than a credit card, but the same material. He does recognize it’s some kind of video game advertisement or something, but what makes it so special is beyond him.
“Oh neat.”
Dustin gasps, slamming both hands back on the counter. “Steve! It’s The Curse of Vecna! Only the best video game of all time, that I’ve been talking about nonstop for
months
and it’s
finally
mine! It’s so beyond
neat
,” he scoffs. “This is life changing!” He slaps the counter again for emphasis.
The door behind Steve creaks open as Robin pokes her head out, pointing a finger in Dustin’s direction and glaring. “If you hit that counter one more time, Henderson, you’re cleaning all your greasy little fingerprints off it.”
All that gets her is a roll of his eyes.
Steve sighs and grabs the rag he keeps under the register and the spray bottle. He pushes Dustin’s hands away. “So what does this do?”
“What do you mean what does this do?” Dustin waves the card in front of Steve’s face. “This code will grant me access to the most spectacular world you could ever imagine. It’s my ticket to the quest of a lifetime, Steve!”
“Wait,” Steve says as he sprays the counter, “
that’s
the game? You spent sixty bucks on a glorified piece of plastic instead of an actual game? Like a cd or something?”
“Duh,” Dustin says. “No one does physical copies anymore.”
“That makes no sense! What happens if you get locked out of your account or, I don’t know, the cloud gets hacked and loses everything?”
Now it’s Dustin who rolls his eyes. “You sound like Eddie right now,” he huffs. “You need to have a little faith in the internet, Steve. It’s the best way to avoid losing your game entirely and so much easier than having a bunch of cartridges taking up space like you had back in the day.”
“First of all, I’m not that old,” he totally is, “and second, why do you make it seem like it’s a bad thing to sound like this Eddie guy? If he’s telling you not to get scammed by these companies, I think he may have the right idea.”
Dustin levels him with a Look™️, one Steve is very familiar with because it’s somehow one of his own. “This is the same Eddie you think is a bad influence-“
“I just think music should be more than just screams and creepy covers, okay? Can you blame me?” Steve shrugs.
“I’m telling you, Steve, if you’d give him a chance, you’d really like him,” Dustin says with only a hint of a whine. Aw, the kids growing up.
Steve runs a hand through his hair and leans back down on the now clean counter. “I’ll leave you and your little nerd friends to it, Henderson. I don’t need to bond with your adult male friend for you to hang out with us both.”
Dustin wrinkles his nose and backs away from the counter, plastic card in hand. He holds up a hand, finger pointed at Steve, and says, “Never say that again.”
***
Steve closes the door to his workroom behind him, locking it for good measure. Robin’s out for the day, and while she knows about his hobbies, it eases something inside him to know there’s a barrier between him and the outside world. The room is just as he left it, with his models and LEGO sets displayed on two of the walls, creating the background for his shots, and his computer set up in the other corner. His work table, set up in the middle of the mini-studio, is as pristine as usual, except for the camera still set up from where he paused shooting the day before.
He doesn’t know what caused him to start editing his work, or what possessed him to upload it afterwards, but this is where he’s at. Another faceless YouTuber that posts sped up versions of his builds and reviews of packs and tech. Another account with a little blue checkmark and a loyal, but small following – or at least small compared to the other accounts he gets lumped in with.
It started when he was in middle school and his grandpa bought him a new LEGO set. It’d been the Taj Mahal set, an absolute
monster
of a build and one of the few he’d been dreaming about since it was released. All it took was Steve breaking his leg to get it. Well, not quite, but Grandpa had felt guilty about the break – partially because it happened on his watch (an unfortunate accident that occurred when Steve was helping him with the yard work, and ultimately the last summer he spent with his grandparents before he was old enough to stay home alone during the summer) and partially because Steve was missing out on basketball camp because of it – that he splurged and got the set for Steve to build throughout the summer. He took apart the set and rebuilt it three times that summer, and on the last one, he’d taken the camera his mom used to film walkthroughs of her properties to film himself building. It was supposed to be a way to see how he could improve, like his coach would suggest, to see if he could get faster or understand the more technical aspects of the build.
The Taj Mahal set is still his favorite. So much so that he bought a second set from a reseller once he started earning a bit of money from his videos so he could rebuild it without damaging the set his grandpa bought him. It was too valuable now.
He sits down at his desk and cleans away the dust, wiping down the half built model in front of him. It’s not a LEGO set this time, but a model of a 1983 BMW 733i. It’s just like his first car, down to the interior details, or… it will be, once it’s more than just a frame and some wiring. Steve sets up the camera and pulls his cart closer to the table, all of his tools and supplies rattling with the movement.
It’s time to work.
***
SHHBuilds83 uploaded: RIVENDELL - Speed Build and Deconstruction
***
King_Freak
: DUDE
King_Freak
: there’s no WAY you like LOTR and you haven’t told me yet
SHHBuilds83: I hate to be the barrier of bad news
King_Freak
: don’t say it
King_Freak
: for the love of all things unholy
King_Freak
: please don’t tell me you’re a fake fan
SHHBuilds83
: worse
SHHBuilds83
: I’m not a fan at all
King_Freak
: …..
SHHBuilds83
: You ok over there?
SHHBuilds83
: Freak?
SHHBuilds83
: if it makes you feel any better, I don’t
not
like it either. I just haven’t seen the movies. And I only did that build cause I thought it looked cool and I remember my kid brother telling me about it so why not
King_Freak
: … fine
King_Freak
: what about the books?
SHHBuilds83
: there’s books?
King_Freak
: I’m blocking you
***
The son of a bitch actually blocked him. Steve looks at his discord, sees the messages grayed out as they struggle to send them bounce back. He knows they were joking, it’s what they do now, but the sting still nails him.
He swallows, a lump forming in his throat. King_Freak has been a follower of Steve’s since the beginning, just about. He wasn’t the first, wasn’t even in the first hundred, but he was in the first thousand (which is still baffling to Steve but not the point here). And since King_Freak discovered Steve’s channel of mostly quiet speed builds and a handful of process videos on his more creative endeavors (not that there were many), he’s been the most engaged user on Steve’s content.
The thing about Steve’s base of followers and loyal viewers is most don’t engage with him like other online creators’ fans will. They’ll like his videos and he’ll get comments, but very few go beyond a “this is so cool” message. King_Freak is one of the select few that tries to get to know
Steve
. He’ll ask why this build set or what paints does he use on his models, why did he stop using certain brands and does he prefer this glue or that one for small touch ups.
King_Freak’s questions are what started his process voice over videos.
One build or model gives him enough content for a week. He posts the speed builds on Mondays with an instrumental track over his videos, the voiceover process videos on Wednesdays — and sometimes those become tutorials — and on Fridays, Saturdays, and sometimes Sundays, he posts the real time builds with very little editing in chunks of a few hours. Before King_Freak, he’d only do speed builds and a handful of process or realtime clips randomly when he felt like it. Now he has questions to answer and plan his videos around, to talk to someone directly during his voiceovers rather than some ambiguous person.
Next thing he knows, it's been a few years and Steve still gets excited over seeing King_Freak’s name in his social notifications.
It wasn’t until King_Freak wanted to try his hand at videos that their relationship crossed the fan threshold. He’d started by asking for advice on equipment and how to set things up, moving on to bigger problems and more complex ideas on the online spaces they’re in. Steve’s been happy to support him, maybe a little too eager even, but King_Freak never seems too put off by Steve’s energy. The only thing King_Freak asked is that Steve not watch his content until he’s ready.
And now they’re so much more than colleagues. Sure, Steve still doesn’t know his first name and has never seen one of his gaming videos, but he knows all about King_Freak’s messy childhood and doting uncle. He knows he wants to tell stories in new and exciting ways, through all sorts of mediums, for everyone to find something they click with. He knows that King_Freak uses Steve’s videos when he’s feeling depressed and like nothing can lift him up. And he knows that King_Freak sees Steve as a good friend just like Steve.
He just didn’t realize how close they’d gotten when their primary form of communication was severed.
It’s late enough that Steve closes discord and turns off all his notifications so he can finish editing an upcoming video. He’ll get this done quickly, head to bed, and tomorrow King_Freak will send him a text joking about his hilarious stunt.
Editing hasn’t dragged on like this in so long. He loves doing it, but it’s his least favorite part of the creating process. Most of his videos are easy enough, but it's still hours of footage that he has to scrub through. He’s just gotten into the habit of having King_Freak around on his editing nights, the two messaging throughout the late hours to keep each other occupied. Now… he feels so alone in his little studio.
The loneliness aches as he calls it a night. So much so he steps out of the room and takes a left into Robin’s room rather than his own. She barely reacts as he slips under the covers and presses his back against hers.
She slips a hand out to hold his, not letting go even as she falls back asleep.
Steve looks down to his phone, dark and locked, and hopes come morning there will be a stack of notifications with King_Freak’s name on top.
***
He was right.
***
SHHBuilds83
: I knew you couldn’t stay away for too long
SHHBuilds83
: I am surprised you actually blocked me tho. Cold move, man.
King_Freak
: what can I say? I have an unhealthy obsession with you, SHH.
SHHBuilds83
: oh I’m aware
King_Freak
: you say that like it’s a bad thing!!
SHHBuilds83
: never.
SHHBuilds83
: I get worried if I don’t see your comments on every post I make on every platform.
King_Freak
: it helps that you have a predictable schedule
SHHBuilds83
: and it helps that you never seem to sleep
King_Freak
: that’s why I watch your videos in the first place SHH. You’re better than any white noise or ASMR video
SHHBuilds83
: gee thanks
King_Freak
: I’m serious!! You should do a podcast or something. Your voice is really nice man, especially when you’re talking about your projects. I have literally listened to you for hours before on my lowest of low days
SHHBuilds83
: ew quit with the emotional stuff. My cold heart can’t take it.
King_Freak
: never!!! You deserve to know you’re loved, SHHBuilds!!!!
SHHBuilds83
: so you love me now?
SHHBuilds83
: freak?
SHHBuilds83
: I know you didn’t block me again cause my messages are going through
King_Freak
: no more blocking over here
SHHBuilds83
: good, I didn’t like how weird it was without you
King_Freak
: wait really?
SHHBuilds83
: uh. Fuck you dude. This is not how I wanted this conversation to go but like yeah
SHHBuilds83
: which is so dumb cause it was only a few hours but idk it felt off idk
King_Freak
: awwwwwwwwww you missed me!
SHHBuilds83
: well yeah who else was I supposed to bitch about rendering times to?
King_Freak
: just admit it SHH, you’re a little obsessed with me too
SHHBuilds83
: guess what’s why we work so well together
***
“Do you think it’s weird?” Steve asks Robin one day. They’re on opposite aisles, restocking the puzzles and how-to books in their hobby section. It’s another rainy day and no one has bothered to come into the store, but the mall seems to have better luck.
“That you have a crush on this person and know absolutely nothing about them?” Robin pokes her head above the shelf. “Not at all.” She ducks back down and pushes her cart further down the aisle. “What’s weird is that you won’t ask them anything too personal after having a continuous conversation for years. You can ask this person their name, Steve, by now they should know you’re not going to murder them or something.” She pauses, stands on her tiptoes again to look at him from between the displays. “He does know that, right?”
Steve rolls his eyes. “Of course he does. I don’t know, Rob, it’s weird. He’s the one who’s made all the advances so fair and I don’t know where his boundaries are. It’s been over two years and I still can’t watch his streams and videos.”
“So… ask?” Robin rolls the cart onto his aisle, but leans against it rather than putting any of the merchandise up. “You’re so bold in every social situation. Why is this one any different?”
He sighs and leans against his own cart. “Because here I don’t have any body language to go off of. All I get outside of his words are how long he takes to respond and his online status. I don’t get any other clues about him that I can use to help make a decision.”
Robin gives him a soft smile. “I know how that is. That’s how I feel in
every
situation.”
Oh. He hadn’t thought of it like that.
“But that shouldn’t stop you from getting to know them.”
“I do know them,” Steve protests as he goes back to shelving. “I know he uses he/him pronouns and he loves fantasy books and is probably a bigger nerd than Henderson. And he loves metal music. Like the good stuff that isn’t pure screams all the time like Wheeler likes to listen to. He likes horror movies and enjoys being scared when he knows he’s safe. And he’s really close with his uncle, still lives with him even, because he’s worried about him living alone.” He sets the box down and sighs. “I know what matters,” he says, voice lower. “That should count for something, right?”
Robin’s hand wraps around his wrist and squeezes. “Absolutely,” she says, just as soft. “But maybe… Maybe it’s time to see if you can move forward or if… if this is all your relationship will be?”
“Why can’t this be it?”
“Because you and I both know that’s not what you want, Steve,” Robin whispers, thumb running along the thumping of his pulse point on his wrist.
He swallows, throat clicking. “But it may be all I’m allowed to have and I can live with that.”
She’s giving him her sad eyes now. Well then.
Steve pulls away and focuses on adjusting the boxes to be perfectly lined up with the shelf.
They don’t talk about King_Freak again that day.
***
He likes the mall, believe it or not. It’s dying, sure, with nearly half the stores closed or with their doors shut for extended periods of time, but it’s familiar. His mom used to bring him to this very mall at least twice a week to break up the week. They’d linger in the food court and at the big play area, and he’d get a snack on the way out if he was good while she shopped in between. There’s something comforting about walking down the halls and seeing the familiar, but fading murals on the walls as he heads to the food court.
Conan Gray plays softly in his headphones, his hands in his pockets, as he moves through the nearly empty halls. The hobby store is on the outside of the mall, which is a strange business model in his opinion but he didn’t sign the lease to the only storefront that doesn’t have access to the mall so that’s not his problem. He still has access to it through the employee halls throughout though, which means he can easily spend the occasional lunch break at the food court instead of in the tiny closet they call a break room.
It’s the only busy section of the mall, but even with the mass of people stopping by for lunch on their own breaks, Steve can still spot Dustin and the guys seated in the very center of the food court.
He’s walking over there before he can stop himself.
Lucas looks up first and gives him a wave with his goofy smile. That then gets Max to look his way and an unlikely sort of smile from her.
Steve smiles and waves back, reaching up to pull an earbud when Dustin looks up, panicked.
He jumps up, darts through the tables until he can stop in front of Steve, hands held in front of him. “Steve,” Dustin gasps, “what are you doing here?”
“Grabbing lunch?” Steve says with a laugh, glancing around the food court. “What else would I be doing?”
Dustin glances behind him at the table with the rest of the kids and a few other guys Steve doesn’t recognize. “Of course you would be,” Dustin says, voice all pitchy and face contorting into some kind of grimace.
Steve looks between Dustin and the others. Oh. “You don’t want me to hang out with you guys,” Steve says.
“No!” Dustin says quickly, shaking his head so hard his hat nearly falls off. “That’s not it, I just… The guys are… just a little wary of…”
“Me.”
The hesitation on Dustin’s face told Steve more than anything he could say.
Steve takes a step back. “Right, no worries man. You can have other friends outside of me.”
“It’s not that,” Dustin says. “We’re just doing nerdy shit and you’re like the furthest from a nerd, ya know? We don’t want you to be even more excluded– Not that we want to exclude you or–”
He reaches up to squeeze Dustin’s shoulder. “Bud, it’s fine. Go finish whatever you’re doing. I’ll see you guys later.”
Steve waves back to the table, smiling as brightly as he can despite the ache in his chest. Lucas isn’t smiling when he waves back, his brow furrowed and looking like a kicked puppy. It almost makes him want to see if Lucas will grab a bite with him, but then Steve sees how one of the other guys is trying to pull him back into what they were doing.
Before he turns away completely, Steve catches the eye of the– Well, Steve’s stomach is suddenly filled with butterflies as those brown eyes meet his. He’s leaning back in the seat, feet propped up on the table (which would be so off putting if literally anyone else was doing, but this dude has some kind of magic about him that makes it look
hot
). Steve’s kind of mesmerized by him, with his dark features and the chains dangling from his clothes. He looks like he just came back from modeling for old school Hot Topic, back when Steve was too scared to even go into the store, and yet Steve thinks he may actually be drooling over this stranger. The guy nods at Steve, not quite smiling at him but his eyes are so intense Steve doesn’t think he could take his smile adding to it.
That must be the infamous Eddie.
He nods back, then turns away before he can embarrass himself any further in front of the pipsqueaks and their really hot friend.
Instead of grabbing food like he wanted to, Steve heads back to the store and spends his lunch money on more supplies.
***
King_Freak
: Earth to SHH?
King_Freak
: You okay over there?
SHHBuilds83
: Yeah
King_Freak
: Because thats super convincing. Alright. Lay it on me big boy. What’s got you all down today?
SHHBuilds83
: You know how I babysit those kids?
King_Freak
: Yeah the ones you basically adopted? One is your brother right?
SHHBuilds83:
in everything but blood
SHHBuilds83
: well yesterday was the first day they were like embarrassed by me
King_Freak
: ah shit man
King_Freak
: that sucks
King_Freak
: but its probably not a
YOU
thing
King_Freak
: I think kids their age are just like that
SHHBuilds83
: no pretty sure this was a me thing
King_Freak
: did they give you a reason?
SHHBuilds83
: yeah
King_Freak
: do I have to play some fucked up version of a guessing game here?
King_Freak
: SHH? You don’t have to say it if you don’t want to? I promise I’ll take it seriously though. I don’t like that you’re sad.
SHHBuilds83
: they said I wasnt nerdy enough
King_Freak
: im sorry
King_Freak
: they dont think YOU arent nerdy enough?
King_Freak
: I mean sure you arent like us peasants that follow the ways of old
King_Freak
: but just cause you dont watch or read shit doesnt mean you arent nerdy. Theres literally thousands of hours of proof of your nerdom on the old Tube. How is your nerd card even in question?
SHHBuilds83
: so… they may not… know? About that stuff?
King_Freak
: wait what?
SHHBuilds83
: yeah
King_Freak
: no no, you don’t get to drop important lore and
not
go into details. Speak up SHH.
SHHBuilds83
: idk man no one really knows i do this but my best friend
SHHBuilds83
: idk if they know i like LEGO
SHHBuilds83
: pretty sure they think my interest stops at basketball and cars
King_Freak
: weren’t you like a really impressive swimmer too?
SHHBuilds83
: you remember that?
King_Freak
: why wouldn’t I? I told you, I’m obsessed SHH
King_Freak
: I like to horde away all the little nuggets of knowledge you bestow upon me about your life like a dragon, keeping them all to myself
SHHBuilds83
: you would be a little dragon gremlin, wouldnt you
King_Freak
: im taking that as a compliment cause i know you fuck with dragons
SHHBuilds83
: duh theyre dragons
SHHBuilds83
: but i was captain, yeah
SHHBuilds83
: they just see me as some douchey jock
SHHBuilds83
: which I totally was btw until Robbie snapped some sense into me
King_Freak
: is there a reason you havent told them?
SHHBuilds83
: not a good one
King_Freak
: try me anyway
SHHBuilds83
: I dont want them to make fun of it
King_Freak
: would they?
SHHBuilds83
: not in a mean way, i think but they would
King_Freak
: I’m sorry
SHHBuilds83
: what can you do
SHHBuilds83
: i think my brothers trying to impress this guy tho so its probably less about me and more about him
King_Freak
: first crush?
SHHBuilds83
: hopefully not – and if it is, it better be puppy love and one sided
SHHBuilds83
: dude looks like he’s my age and the kids are still babies
SHHBuilds83
: and idk if this guys gay or bi or what not but my brother knows i am so if hes looking for advice, idk why he wont come to me
SHHBuilds83
: think its more admiration than anything. I cant even blame him, the guy looks so cool and hes hot and really fucking cool from the stories ive heard.
King_Freak
: and you arent?
SHHBuilds83
: not to them, not when it matters
King_Freak
: well that just means more time for me to steal you away for myself
King_Freak
: >:)
***
SHHBuilds83
: my name is Steve, btw
***
King_Freak
: how do you go about making merch?
SHHBuilds83
: we’ve gone over this a hundred times man
SHHBuilds83
: i’ve got no clue
King_Freak
: i still think you should make merch
King_Freak
: think about it!! A baseball cap with your logo on it! A hoodie with ‘stealthy like a ninja’ on it with your little minifig or your tweezers!
King_Freak
: I have IDEAS Steven!!
SHHBuilds83
: yeah thats a no
King_Freak
: fine.
King_Freak
: but I need help making merch for my shit and Idk where to start
King_Freak
: i got the ideas just no idea what to do on the other side
SHHBuilds83
: well lets see if we can’t figure it out together then?
***
King_Freak
: Steve? I’m Eddie in case you were wondering
SHHBuilds83
: It’s really nice to meet you, Eddie :)
***
King_Freak
: they took down your Disneyland build :(
King_Freak
: was it copyright?
SHHBuilds83
: yeah :/ I forgot to take out the music my roommate was listening to
SHHBuilds83
: i dont want to fight with it but i’ll email the video to you
King_Freak
: oh my god you’re the best in the whole fucking world, Stevie.
SHHBuilds83
: anything for you
***
“You sure you can’t do movie night?” Steve asks, shuffling the papers around on his desk. He can’t start the closing stuff for another few minutes and definitely not while Dustin, Mike, and Will were still in the store, but it gives his idle hands something to fiddle with.
“I’m really sorry, Steve,” Will says, actually looking apologetic. “Eddie had to rearrange the club meeting–”
“Yeah, he’s got a deadline he can’t miss for work,” Dustin explains. “And he needs us to run through this campaign so he can work out the story for a video he’s doing.”
Steve nods, not looking at them. “Yeah, course. I’ll always be around, ya know. Just say when and we’ll reschedule.”
“Thanks, Steve,” Dustin says, dragging the others away before he can say goodbye.
Robin sets the broom down against the counter. “I’m so close to banning your little monsters from entering this store again if they keep leaving you all broken.” She pokes his face, then drapes across his back to hug him close.
Steve just sighs. “They’re growing up. It’s part of it.”
“Still don’t love how they’re treating you,” Robin huffs.
“I’ll live, Rob. C’mon, we can rent that indie film you wanted to watch now. It works out.”
“We were going to do that when they left anyway.”
Steve smiles. “And now we can just get right to it.”
***
King_Freak
: we’re good friends, right?
SHHBuilds83
: yeah of course
King_Freak
: and good friends are honest with one another
SHHBuilds83
: yup
SHHBuilds83
: comes with the territory
King_Freak
: so if I ask you something and it brings up a conversation you may not want to have, you’ll be honest with me?
SHHBuilds83
: oh
SHHBuilds83
: this is serious
King_Freak
: kind of yeah
SHHBuilds83
: I pinky promise I’ll be honest, Eds
King_Freak
: weve been friends for a really long time Steve and I really enjoy what we have. I was so ok with not knowing anything personal and keeping that like boundary? Cause i get it you choose not to have your name and face on here for a reason so I dont want to like make you uncomfortable. But then you shared your name and I’ve been… spiraling
SHHBuilds83
: I’m sorry
King_Freak
: no no no youre fine
King_Freak
: hang on this is gonna be long and I need to say it all in one go so you get it
King_Freak
: I know we havent met yet, but i feel like I know you better than anyone else on this planet. I’ve had this crush on you since I found your videos, which I know may be really weird for you so I’m sorry if that makes you uncomfortable and we can put more distance between us if you need. But youre like… the only thing that keeps me going some days? Which i know how that sounds and its super unhealthy, right? But I just… Your voice is the quickest way for me to get out of a panic attack and when I cant get out of bed and the world sucks and i hate everything, you send me a silly little message or a meme or just a fucking sticker on here and the world doesnt seem so bad. And I was fine with that, really. But then you told me your name. You told me your name and I just
King_Freak
: fuck I sent that too early.
King_Freak
: you told me your name and now the floodgates have opened up, Steve. I like you so fucking much it HURTS not to know more, to not know what you look like and to see you in person or just know you in a different way than I’ll ever be able to on here.
King_Freak
: I just feel really guilty that you’re needing a friend and I’m lusting after you like some kind of creep. I just want you to be happy and to have all the unconditional love you deserve and selfishly, I want to be the one to give that to you.
King_Freak
: okay thats it.
King_Freak
: please don’t block me. You can unfriend me and I’ll stop commenting and interacting with your shit, but don’t block me, please.
SHHBuilds83
: I would never ever ever block you for this Eddie
SHHBuilds83
: I’ve liked you for far longer than I’d like to admit, thats why I shared my name. Robin got in my head and I just…. I realized I needed more too.
King_Freak
: holy FUCK man you gave me a heart attack!!! You took so long to respond!!!
SHHBuilds83
: oh Im sorry for PROCESSING all of that at an unreasonable time for you
SHHBuilds83
: its not everyday the guy you like admits he likes you
SHHBuilds83
: forgive me for needing a minute
King_Freak
: yeah ok thats fair
King_Freak
: so what’s next big boy cause my check clears in two days, I can be anywhere in the world in three. Just tell me what to do
SHHBuilds83
: how about we start by giving each other our numbers yeah?
SHHBuilds83
: and you know I live in the states. I’m in Indiana man
King_Freak
: NO SHIT
King_Freak
: SO AM I
***
Steve doesn’t usually build for this long, but he’s
so close
to finishing this replica of the Delorean and he can’t stop. He can’t stop because if he does then he remembers that he’s supposed to video chat with Eddie tonight to really talk things out and figure out where they go from here. Do they go long distance? Do they try and figure out a neutral location to meet and spend time together? They may be in the same state but… that doesn’t mean anything. And just because they have feelings for one another now doesn’t mean it’ll translate in person. What if they have horrible chemistry? What if Eddie finds him ugly? What if there’s no spark? What if they can’t make it work and they just ruined a years long friendship over a silly crush?
So his body aches and his head is pounding from the fumes and bright light of his lamps, but he’s in the zone and very much ignoring the stirring in his gut about the what ifs of this new, scary step. The fans are going and the windows open so he’s not worried about getting sick or something, but it does mean he can hear the noise in the backyard at an increasing volume.
He puts down his paint brush and pulls off his magnifying glasses. Steve leans back, wincing as his muscles pull and protest the change in posture, and strains his ears for any clues. It’s mostly the kids’ talking over one another, laughing and carrying on like normal, but there’s a near constant screaming happening too.
Steve clicks off his cameras and carefully pushes away from the work table. He covers his paints, drops the brush in the water, and slips back out into the hall.
It’s louder out here, which means someone’s got the goddamn door open again. He rolls his eyes, a lecture building in his throat that sounds way too much like old man Harrington. He’s not even sure why he let them invade his space today anyway, not after they’ve been basically avoiding him all summer long. Maybe he really is a pushover like Robin says.
Steve steps into the backyard and the lecture evaporates at the sight.
“Oh my god, his
face
,” Lucas cries, rolling back into the bean bag and subsequently over Max. They’re all falling over themselves, with Dustin actually crying.
He can’t help but smile, eyes following their gazes to the big projector they’ve got set up for the evening. It’s playing a stream of a video game Steve doesn’t recognize, with a tiny window for the chat and a bigger box with—
Holy shit this guy looks
good
.
His hair is wild where it curls around his headphones and shoulders, frizzy and disheveled in a way that has Steve’s stomach swooping. His cheeks are red and his eyes are a bit watery, but Steve can’t tell if it’s from the screaming and yelling he’s doing or if that’s just how he is normally, rosy cheeks and shining eyes. Could be both for all Steve knows. There’s a sharpness to his expression, lying under the horror and panic is… amusement? Thrill? Something like that.
Whatever it is, Steve wants to know more.
It dawns on him as the guy frantically taps a button on his keyboard that this is Dustin’s Eddie, the same guy that he got all flustered about at the mall a few weeks ago. He’s even prettier close up, like so much so that Steve’s frozen in place and can’t stop watching.
“You OD over there, Steve?” Robin calls, throwing a paper napkin at him.
He shakes his head, blinking harshly as his eyes flicker across the projector and–
King_Freak.
This is King_Freak’s stream, if the tag at the base of the video is anything to go off. And since the chat is hidden, it has to be. This is his Eddie, the guy who’s stolen his heart for years and has built this little bubble with him, a safe space for Steve to really be himself. He’s the same guy that encourages Dustin to play scary video games and push himself in their board game, to never be afraid to be the nerdiest version of him possible.
They’re one in the same.
“Steve?” Robin asks, touching his arm.
Steve can’t feel his face but he must be scaring her if the concern in her eyes is anything to go by. All he can do, with his tongue all twisted and his belly flipping constantly, is point to the bottom of the screen.
Her little gasp lets him know he’s not dreaming. The grip on his arm tightens, grounding him to his own backyard as he stares up at the face of the man he’s probably thoroughly in love with by now.
“Holy fuck, Rob,” Steve whispers.
“What are you going to do?” she asks, vibrating in her skin.
Steve just shrugs. What can he do? He doesn’t know where Eddie lives and it’d be weird if he demanded Dustin hand over the address? And it’s not like he can do anything right now anyway, Eddie’s in the middle of a live stream – a charity livestream at that. He can’t mess with that.
He does the one thing he can think of. He pulls out his phone and types out a quick text.
Steve:
I saw your stream, I’m sorry. My brother was watching it and I didn’t realize until I saw it.
The ping of the alert is loud through the speakers as Eddie’s phone goes off. Steve keeps typing, fingers furiously trying to explain before Eddie can pick up the phone.
Eddie pauses the game. “Hold tight, ya hellions. Think this may be important,” he says as he leans back in his chair to grab something off screen. There’s a clattering a few seconds later and what little of Eddie’s face he can see has gone pale.
The kids have stopped laughing, all of them straightening up.
“Is he okay?” Mike asks, pulling out his own phone.
“I think so,” Lucas says.
“He doesn’t look it,” Will murmurs.
“I’m sure he’s fine,” Dustin says, waving them off. “Eddie’s a professional, he’s got this.”
Fuck, why can’t he type faster?
Steve:
your the guy dustin is obsessed with eddie youre the one hes been hanging out with all summer
Steve
: we live in the same goddamn town
Steve
: i should have said fuck it and introduced myself that day at the mall im so sorry im so sorry this is happening like this but holy fuck eddie
Eddie looks up at the camera, eyes all wide and his mouth parted so prettily Steve feels his knees get weak. Shit, he’s going to be the death of him. Eddie puts his phone down and rolls back to the camera, a nervous energy to his smile. “So… that was important,” he says, voice strained.
“Shit,” Dustin says, typing on his phone. “What if he got bad news?”
He scratches at his head and looks between his screens. “Yeah, no, everything is fine guys. More than fine. I just found out the guy I like is also the hot older brother of one of my friends so I’m fucking perfect. And since he’s watching,” Eddie pauses to look directly at the camera, “meet me at that one place in town that has the mozzarella stick nachos. You know the one? I’ll be done at seven so I’ll see you at eight, sweetheart.”
“Holy shit,” Robin squeals into his ear, jumping up and down.
Eddie unpauses the game and gets back to it, but the kids are all whispering amongst themselves. It only lasts for a few more minutes before Eddie gets jumpscared in the game and all the kids are dying laughing again.
Steve can’t help but laugh too, leaning into Robin as they share a bean bag behind the kids. Eventually, he’ll get up to get ready for his date and make sure his workspace is okay for the night, but for now, he soaks in this opportunity to watch Eddie in his element.
***
Benny’s doesn’t actually have mozzarella nachos, he’s not even sure that’s a thing. But they do have mozzarella sticks and nachos on the walls, big plastic wall decor that doesn’t make sense considering they don’t sell either product. He’ll give the fries and burgers a pass, though, even if they look out of place in the relatively simple diner.
He’s just glad he knows exactly what Eddie’s talking about, even though he’s too early and his palms are all sweaty and his hair wouldn’t cooperate since he had his headlamp on for a better part of the day and–
Steve takes a deep breath. There’s nothing to panic about. This is Eddie they’re talking about, funny, sweet, charming, beautiful Eddie. Everything will be fine.
He doesn’t get to panic much longer when a familiar van pulls into the lot, parking next to Steve’s Beemer. Eddie hops out before the car is even off, adjusting his clothes (a nice, solid black tee and non-ripped dark jeans) and his hair as he walks through the parking lot. He hasn’t noticed Steve yet, but that’s okay.
It’s all going to be okay.
“Hi,” Steve calls, pushing off the wall of the diner.
Eddie looks up and smiles, all crinkled eyes and filled with a gooey warmth that has Steve melting in his Nikes. “Hi yourself.”
“I can’t believe you’ve been here all along,” Steve says, stepping forward and reaching out to touch him. His fingers brush along Eddie’s waist as he goes in for a hug, but Eddie stops him.
“And I can’t believe I get to do this,” Eddie whispers as he cups Steve’s face gently and brings their lips together.
If he wasn’t at a melting point before, he sure is now.
Steve presses in close, wrapping his arms around Eddie’s neck and letting their lips move in a gentle push and pull as they both cherish this long awaited moment. It’s perfect, it’s everything he’d want their first kiss to be, and now… Well. Steve’s just happy he gets to do this in the first place.
“I’ve been wanting to do that for ages,” Eddie whispers when he pulls away, kissing the corner of Steve’s mouth. “I’m sorry if that was–”
“No, please don’t apologize,” Steve says, tightening his hold. “Not for that. Never for that.”
Eddie smiles and pecks his cheek, then dips his head back. “Pinky promise?”
Steve shakes his head. “I’d rather seal it with a kiss.”
“Even better.”
And when a driver honks at them for standing in the middle of a space, they both flip off the driver, giggling into one another. Oh yeah, this is going to be perfect.
***
“Are you sure about this?” Steve asks as he sits next to Eddie in front of all his equipment.
“Totally,” Eddie says, typing away to his moderators as he gets the stream ready. “We’re not even doing anything scary. Just playing a little bit of Sims so you can show off your building prowess.”
Steve squirms in his seat. “That’s not what I’m talking about.”
Eddie pauses and reaches out to grab Steve’s hand. He squeezes it before bringing it up to his lips and kissing each knuckle. “Everyone we care about knows we’re dating, Steve. My fans know I had an opportunity come up. Now it’s just time to introduce the two.”
“And share my face with the Internet for the first time in years,” Steve points out.
“We don’t have to do that,” Eddie says. “I can set the camera up to only show me and you can just be a voice and working the controls.”
Steve shakes his head. “No, I want to do this. I don’t want to deal with keeping more secrets anymore.”
Eddie smiles as he leans over to kiss Steve’s cheek. “It’s going to be great, baby.”
And honestly, it was so worth it when Steve’s phone dinged almost immediately.
Dustin
: YOU’RE SHHBUILDS83???? WHAT????
Dustin: HOW MANY TIMES HAVE I TALKED ABOUT WATCHING YOUR VIDEOS TO YOU????? Dustin: OH MY GOD YOU’RE A NERD TOO!!!
Dustin
: OH MY GOD!!!!
Dustin
: WAIT!!!
Dustin: Does this mean you’ll take us to Legoland????
Steve
: We’ll see, Henderson. Let me get through this stream and we’ll talk
Dustin
: Deal but you have to promise to show me your stuff in person
Steve
: now that I can do