Eddie was prepared to say, "No," and make a hasty exit before he was recognized.
But then Eddie does a double take.
This guy is HOT— in a very Big Brown Eyes and Big Dumb Face kind of way. Dressed like he could be opening for Eddie's band on tour- smudged eyeliner giving Bambi 2: Bambi's Revenge. He still looked a little lost and angry with the scrunched eyebrows and the searching gaze, clearly trying to place where he knew Eddie from.
Eddie can't really be faulted for what happened next, his brain short circuited when the guy looked down at his mouth waiting for an answer like he was about to try and read his lips. The hotel lobby they were standing in was fairly busy for after 12 in the morning, it was kind of loud, so Eddie couldn't be sure if the guy was just hard of hearing, but his stare was intense.
"Dustin? Yeah, I love that guy, you know Dustin?"
And Eddie didn't regret a word, because the smile that lit up this guy's face was fucking breathtaking- like Eddie literally choked on his own spit as the guy slapped his shoulder heartily and let out a relieved sort of chuckle to go along with the toothpaste commercial sparkle blinding Eddie.
"Oh, good, I'm glad I'm not the only one turning up a little late to the party! I'm Steve."
"I'm-" Eddie didn't get the chance to decide whether to go with his real name or make one up, Steve grabbed his elbow and started pulling Eddie through the lobby toward a hallway that led past the business center and toward the banquet halls and conference rooms.
Eddie only knew that because he had snuck down here to get away from his bands' room party to have a smoke (and a slight pity party as he had felt like he'd flubbed a few of the songs tonight) and the door marked 'staff only' at the end of this hallway led out to a tiny private courtyard that was blocked in on all sides by the hotel- so his likelihood of being found by a stray fan was pretty slim.
"Sorry, we'll have to walk and talk if we wanna make it before Dustin is done for, you were saying?" Steve had a nice strong grip on Eddie's arm, his hand slipping from his elbow, down Eddie's tattooed forearm and to his wrist, before deeming Eddie's pace acceptable and letting go.
Eddie followed Steve, head empty, no thoughts, as he considered how big this guy's hands were and where else Eddie would like to see them sliding along his skin. Steve started to ramble about how Dustin was such a great guy but he could be a little terror when things didn't go down according to his plan, and Steve didn't want to have to hear his bitching. Dustin was bound to already be hyped up from the concert tonight, he shouldn't have to sit through a lecture about being punctual to a "rockstar hotel after-party themed birthday party" -wouldn't be very 'metal' of him.
That one shocked a belly laugh out of Eddie, and Steve turned to him with a grin that scrunched his eyes and made him look very pleased with himself.
"The arrogance of this kid, am I right?" Steve bumped shoulders with Eddie, giving a conspiratorial wink, causing Eddie to wobble a little too far from Steve, his feet mindlessly falling in line beside this gorgeous boy who he willingly let drag him away to some unknown destination. Steve reached to grab Eddie's arm to reel him back in and steady him, and Eddie reflexively grabbed his hand and let him.
"It's the tone." Eddie nodded along sagely, hoping to keep this cutie talking to distract him from the fact Eddie didn't plan on letting his hand go anytime soon. It seemed to work just fine as Steve smiled at him and continued his rant/gushing about this kid turning 21 and he 'deserved to have the best night of his life' after the last few years of his hard work and dedication paying off with his early graduation from college looming at the end of the month as well. Steve looked somehow exasperated and proud at the same time.
"Oh, hey, I didn't catch your name did I?" Steve finally asked as he turned to face Eddie head on again, walking backwards into the door to their left and hitting the bar across it to open it as he pulled Eddie along. Steve glanced down at Eddie's mouth again, biting his own lips as if he really needed to concentrate this time so he didn't miss whatever words formed on the tip of Eddie's tongue.
"Sweetheart, you can call me yours if you keep holding onto me like that." Eddie winked, causing Steve to flush pink in the cheeks and look down to where he had gripped Eddie's hand, fingers interlocking seamlessly, as if he only just realized he was holding on so tight.
"I'm Eddie." Eddie gripped Steve's hand tighter and brought their hands up so he could kiss his knuckles. He didn't break eye contact, so the slight gasp that fell from Steve's lips drew his attention down to the pink lips that had just popped open in a perfect little circle.
They both stopped and stared at each other, neither willing to break the eye contact first as they felt something simmering and sparking between the two of them, building heat.
"STEVE! You're late! Who's your friE—OH MY GOD THAT'S EDDIE MUNSON! STEVE! HOW THE HELL DO YOU KNOW EDDIE MUNSON, YOU ACTED LIKE YOU'D NEVER HEARD OF HIM WHEN YOU TOLD ME YOU COULDN'T COME TO THE CONCERT WITH US TONIGHT!"
"You must be Dustin. Happy Birthday!" Eddie turned on the Charm™ in the face of the birthday boy- clearly a little drunk (if the red face and the inability to regulate his volume was anything to go by) and clearly a big fan.
"No wait-" Steve looked from Dustin, to Eddie shaking Dustin's hand (without loosening his grip on Steve's other hand for even a second), to Eddie's face, back to Dustin's face (which looked like it might need a hard reboot), to the group starting to gather behind Dustin at the commotion he'd caused at their entrance, then down to Eddie's hand in his.
"Oh, oops, sorry- I knew there was a link between you and Dustin..."
