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"Do you think they'll ever figure their shit out?" Hopper grumbles and takes another sip from his beer.
"Oh, I'm sure they will."
"Wish I had your patience. I'm always like, seconds away from bumping their heads together to make them stop their stupid dancing around each other."
Wayne smirks, turning his head to Hopper where the two men are seated on the porch overlooking the backyard. Jim, with a frown on his face, looks at Steve who's sitting on the grass, watching Eddie and Dustin run around like the maniacs they are. Steve’s eyes are drawn to the older boy, following his every move with a soft and longing gaze. The smile and light blush painting his face do nothing to hide the obvious.
Wayne and Jim been waiting for ages now, for the boys to come forward. To accept and admit to the undeniable fact. They've been talking a lot about it, bonding over the mutual wish for their boys' happiness.
It's been weeks and they could barely keep themselves from turning their late-night scheming into action.
They've gotta do it in their own terms, Wayne always told Jim in the end. And no matter how frustrating it was to watch the painful pining and not to interfere - it was the right thing to do after all.
Because what Hopper doesn't know, is that when Wayne came back from his night shift this morning, he found Eddie and Steve sitting in the kitchen, holding hands over the table top. When they noticed Wayne, they didn't shy away, didn't let go, just kept looking at each other with literal stars in their eyes. And Wayne just sat down next to them, giving them an approving nod and a small smile before reaching for the pile of pancakes in the middle of the table, joining their conversation about anything and nothing at all.
Which, he has to admit to himself, is kind of a big deal.
He hadn’t been brought up to be open-minded like that, hadn’t been taught to be accepting of this kind of ungodly behaviour. And when he first found out that Eddie was – What’s the word again? Bisexual? – he sure struggled to come to terms with that. But soon enough he realised, that this could never change the way he cares for Eddie. That nothing in the world could ever get him to stop loving the boy that might not be his son biologically but certainly feels like his own. That it is easy to accept two boys being in love when all Wayne ever wanted was for Eddie to be happy and - there's no doubt about that - Steve is the one that makes him so.
Steve Harrington, the boy that wouldn't leave his son's side after the world had almost ended. Who cared for him. Who looks at him like he's the most precious thing on earth. Steve, who, despite his family’s name and all the baggage that comes with it, is one of the nicest young men Wayne’s ever got to meet. He is a good guy, someone who cares deeply for the wellbeing of his people.
Wayne likes him a lot.
Almost as much as that fierce little redhead from across the street. The one that just appeared in his life with the rest of ‘em. A whole bunch of people Wayne dares to call family now, too. The younger kids that helped save his son. The older ones, that would do anything to fight for what’s right. The parents that came along with the mob of teens. Like Jim, who’s become his best friend over time. Or Joyce, Hop’s lady, who always insists on having them all over for dinner at least once a week. The Sinclairs, Claudia Henderson, Karen Wheeler and even Ted in his weird, grumpy way... he has them all to thank for keeping his spirits up during what had been the hardest time of his life. And for keeping his son alive, in more ways than one.
Eddie has never been more content, never seemed happier in his life. And sure, everyone involved in their weirdly mixed and matched family pack plays a part in that. But Wayne knows that it is Steve who makes Eddie wake up each day with a smile on his face. That he’s the reason Eddie pushed through physical therapy like a champ. Steve is the one reason for his son not to give up if the nightmares are getting worse again, chasing him from his sleep into the daylight. When the walls feel too close, his chest feels too tight, and the world spins too fast.
Steve is Eddie’s light in the darkness.
Wayne has never seen love like that, the kind that's sickening sweet. The one that makes their eyes light up with desire and devotion. The one that, even hidden behind a friendly bump of shoulders or hushed words spoken, is obvious for everyone who cares enough to see.
Their boys are in love and it's everything him and Hopper could ever want for them. And to see their bond forming quite literally under their roofs fills Wayne with pride and warmth. To be able to provide a safe space for love like that to bloom is a gift he won’t ever take for granted.
Hopper’s voice abruptly takes him out of his thoughts.
"Do you see how they look at each other?! I swear, if they haven't kissed by the end of the evening, I'm going to lose it."
Wayne brings his own bottle back to his lips, has to force himself not to laugh.
"I'm gonna remind you of that when they actually do and you're freaking out about it."
Jim acts offended, mumbles something under his moustache and empties his bottle.
Wayne stands up, turns, wants to grab Hop and himself another beer when Jim's eyes suddenly grow impossibly wide and he nearly drops the empty bottle handed to Wayne.
Wayne doesn't really need to look over his shoulder to know why Hopper's eyes look like they're about to fall out of his head but he does it anyway.
He sees Eddie, standing opposite Steve. His boy's arms tightly wrapped around the other's waist, Steve’s arms slung around Eddie’s neck, their faces mere inches apart. They are a little out of breath and laughing at something funny that must’ve occurred while he wasn’t looking.
And then it happens.
Time seems to stop when their giggling suddenly dies down and they just stare at each other for a moment. Wayne thinks he can hear electricity crackling in the air, can feel a warm summer breeze twirling around them. It's a beautiful evening, the setting summer sun painting the sky in dark orange and red. There's a bird singing its song somewhere in the distance.
The moment is perfect. Like, picture book perfect.
Wayne feels like an intruder when his boy finally leans in, connecting his lips with Steve's but he's too caught in the moment to look away.
They kiss and Wayne smiles, thanks a god he doesn’t really believe in anymore for this blessing.
Dustin squeals out a loud and distracting 'Hell yeah!'.
Hopper gasps, slaps a hand to his knee, and Wayne thinks he can hear him punch out a relieved 'Finally!' under his breath.
The back door creaks and when Wayne turns to Joyce standing in the frame he thinks he can see a tear glistening in her eye, knows it’s a happy one because she looks fondly at the sight in front of her.
Behind her, Jane and Will push their way through the door, curious as to what’s going on and Will-
Wayne can see it in his eyes. Can see it in the way he looks at the two older boys kissing, the way his whole face lights up and his shoulders drop; the way it seems like the weight of the world has just been taken off his body.
And again it makes his chest swell with pride to be part of a family like this. Where the people are kind and accepting. Where a boy like Will can grow up to become whatever he damn well pleases, without fear. With people to lean on and to look up to.
Where there is so much love to be found in the simplest things – a gentle hand on the shoulder, an affirmative smile, two gruff men spending their evenings plotting how to intervene in their kids’ affairs, a homemade apple pie delivered to your front door just because, a warm hug, shared memories of summer evenings spent together...
Two boys kissing. Unashamed. Unafraid. Alive.
Wayne takes a deep breath as the tranquil moment passes and when Steve and Eddie part everything goes back to normal like nothing has happened.
He looks at Eddie, sees him smiling back at him, mouthing a silent ‘Thank you’ in his direction.
‘No, thank YOU.’, Wayne mouths back, tapping his chest twice with his hand right above where his heart is overflowing with gratitude and love.
“Okay, old man. Guess it’s time to have the talk.” Jim’s hand lands heavy on his shoulder and when Wayne turns to look at him, he sees a familiar, mischievous glimmer in the other man’s eyes.
He’s been looking forward to the moment he could finally give Eddie his speech about not even daring to think about hurting Steve because ‘I know people. You know the kind of people I know. Better not fuck this up, Munson.’
Wayne already feels a little sorry for Eddie. But they all know that Hop is just a big ol’ teddy bear. Loves to make a lot of fuzz and noise but has actually a heart of gold.
And maybe Wayne will return the favour and remind Steve that he knows how to handle a gun. Just in case. Not that he has any doubt that Steve would rather cut off his own leg than to hurt Eddie in any way but-
If Hopper’s allowed some fun, then so is he.
For now though, he’ll just let the boys be happy.