Chapter Text
“Buckley and Harrington residence, this is Steve”
“….”
“Hello?”
“….”
Steve would just hang up, sounds like there’s no one there. However, he hears heavy breathing on the other end of the phone. Heavy and panicked breathing he’s more than familiar with because he’s helped soothe that panic.
“Eddie, you okay?”
A few shaky exhales are all that Steve can hear from Eddie. They’re in relief, because thank god Steve knows his breathing by now.
“Talk when you’re ready, Eds.”
“I… The… um,”
“Breathe, Eddie, it’s okay. One big inhale,” Eddie follows the order. “And now let it go.”
“Thanks, Stevie,” Eddie whispers, his words are shaky, but his breathing is more stable.
“Um, I just got some news. And it’s actually really fucking good news, and I should be ecstatic but in reality I am so fucking nervous. It’s an absolute dream come true, but I’m more nervous than anything because I don’t want to fuck up and I called you as soon as I got the news because of course you’re the first person who popped into my head to tell.” Eddie says, and while Steve is relieved that he’s ready to say what’s going on, Eddie didn’t take a single breath.
“Okay, Eddie, take a breath again. Get your breathing to a normal pace and then we can unpack all of that,” Steve says gently, and Eddie just lets out a soft chuckle. Steve smiles at the noise, leaning his hip against the counter, finally able to relax since he picked up the phone and heard Eddies erratic breathing.
Eddie takes his breaths, and Steve wishes he was there to comfort Eddie in person. Take him in his arms, feel the way he relaxes against Steve, let him know that Steve has him. Steve will always have him, and he hopes Eddie knows that.
“Alright, I’m okay,” Eddie finally says, his breathing exercises having worked.
“Good. Now, tell me from the beginning,” Steve says softly.
“After the show, Peter Mensch, one of the head dudes from Q Prime, he approaches us in the green room. Mind you, the boys and I literally just finished our meet and greets with the fans, but I literally recognized Mensch in a damn instant.”
Steve has absolutely no idea who that is, but he doesn’t interrupt.
“So he walks up to us, and introduces himself like “I’m Peter Mensch with Q Prime, blah blah blah, all the technical jargon. And then, Steve, AND THEN, he goes “One of the bands I manage said they would love to have you open for them” and, you know, naturally Gareth asks which band that is.”
Steve is right there with him. So far, all he knows is that Peter Mensch is (possibly) a manager. He also knows that he has never in his life heard that name before because he listens to everything Eddie says. And Peter Mensch has never been mentioned.
“And I’m going through the list in my head, right, and I see Jeff do the exact same damn thing. Stevie, this man, Peter fucking Mensch opens his mouth and says… “Metallica””
“Holy shit!” Steve doesn’t let him utter a single other word, he interrupts his best friend right there. “Wait, are you serious?! Metallica?! Oh my god, what did you say?!?”
“I’m getting there Stevie, hold your horses!” Eddie exclaims, chucking as he speaks. “Naturally we started yelling and crying, cause what the fuck, Metallica wants us to open for them. We made such a commotion that our manager Dave had to come over and see what was going on. He thought someone had died we were yelling and crying so much.”
“That’s a pretty valid response, to all of a sudden hear the guys you manage just screaming and crying,” Steve says, laughing at the thought of four grown ass men just sobbing their eyes out.
“Anyways, Mensch explains the situation to Dave, and the poor bastard looks like he’s about to lose it as well. And I don’t blame him, fucking Metallica asked us to open for them!”
Steve is silent for a second, waiting for Eddie to continue. But his friend clearly isn’t going to say anything else, and Steve needs to know what he said. Although, based on the start of this phone call, he can gather what was said.
“So, what did you guys say?” Steve asks, running a hand through his hair.
“Well, we said “Yes” of course. But, now that we’re all calmed down, it hit me that we’re going to open for Metallica.”
“And you’re scared that you’re going to fuck up?” Steve asks, and based on the ruffling sound on the other end, Eddie is nodding his head.
“I am scared out of my fucking mind, Stevie. I have dreamt of this my entire life. When I would dream of Corroded Coffin getting famous, when we hit it big, i dreamt that we would open for Metallica, Iron Maiden, etc. All of the bands that influenced us to be musicians and start a band. And now… we’re getting that chance. And I am so fucking scared on how it’s going to go.”
“Eddie, you’ve already opened for KISS and Skid Row! It’s nothing you haven’t done before, man.”
“Oh Stevie, Steve, sweetheart, this is much much bigger than KISS and Skid fucking Row. This is METALLICA we’re talking about! This is one of the biggest bands in the name of metal music. And my band gets to open for them. So I think I’m allowed to freak out and panic just a little bit!”
Steve doesn’t say anything, let’s the quiet wash over the both of them.
“Well,” Steve starts, “Just know, that I think you’re going to do an awesome job. And I know that the guys from Metallica will see how great of a band you guys are. How awesome you are, Eddie,” Steve says softly, finding the right words that Eddie needs to hear.
“Thanks Stevie,” Eddie whispers, and Steve smiles.
“Of course,” Steve whispers back. “So, when are you coming home?”
Eddie lets out a nervous chuckle, and Steve has half a second before the rockstar just hangs up the call. Steve furrows his eyebrows and looks down at the phone in his hand. Right then, there’s a knock at the door, and Steve breaks out into a grin, jogging to go open it.
“Hi sweetheart,” Eddie greets, and of course Steve’s heart rate doubles at the normal pet name. Steve doesn’t respond, he just throws his arms around Eddie, happy that he’s finally home.
Eddie chuckles, letting go of his suitcase handle to hug his best friend.
“Yeah, I missed you too, Stevie,” Eddie mumbles, wanting to bury his face in Steve’s neck, wanting to inhale Steve’s scent that will always be home. But he refrains from doing so.
Steve pulls away, hoping that his face isn’t as red as it feels. He picks up the handle of Eddies suitcase, and gestures for the rockstar to go inside.
“Ugh, home sweet home,” Eddie murmurs as he looks around the cozy apartment Steve and Robin share.
“Where’s Robbie?” Eddie asks as Steve sets the suitcase in his bedroom.
“She and Vickie had an event tonight. One of Vickie’s pieces is being shown at an art gallery tonight,” Steve says as he settles into his previous spot he was in before going to pick up the phone.
Eddie comes and joins him on the couch, sitting right next to him so their legs brush, even though there’s more room on the sofa.
They sit in comfortable silence for a moment, just existing together. Steve leans back, and rests his head on Eddie’s shoulder. The rockstar smiles and sets his head on Steve’s, happy to have these moments again.
Don’t get him wrong, he absolutely loves touring and playing shows. But these moments with Steve, where it’s just them, where he can forget that they’re just friends, these are the moments he lives for.
“Will you come to the show?” Eddie asks softly. And Steve nods his head without hesitation.
“Of course,” Steve replies, just as softly. “One of the biggest concerts of your life, of course I’m going to be there.”
And that, well, that just squeezes Eddie’s heart. How did he land with Steve as his best friend? This wonderful, sweet, self-less man who would do anything for anyone. This is the man who is Eddie’s best friend. He supposes he’s lucky that Steve is his friend, cause Lord knows that Eddie would never get him as anything more.
“You’re too sweet for me, Stevie,” Eddie mumbles, chuckling. Steve lets out a quiet laugh in response.
“Yeah, maybe,” Steve murmurs, nuzzling his head on Eddie’s shoulder.