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“And now, my beloved audience,” Eddie croons into the microphone. The audience, to Steve’s surprise, goes absolutely nuts, like the one dream each individual in the room has is to watch some random small-town band play loudly at this crummy bar. “You have been the most patient, and you will be heavily rewarded for your patience, but first, I have an announcement.”
This time the audience stays dead silent, and Steve feels a growing sense of dread at Eddie’s next words.
“Somewhere amongst you”, Eddie holds his hands out, as though gesturing to the grand plains of the audience, which is, in reality, a crammed and darkened room, “there is a rock show virgin.”
The audience plays along, gasping and laughing at Eddie’s exaggerated face of horror.
“Here with me tonight, my friend, Steve Harrington, is going to experience his very first rock show. Be kind. It might blow his little mind.” Steve snorts at that. Eddie pulls the microphone from the stand, clearly not done. He walks to one end of the stage, crouches and leans in, like he’s talking one on one with them.
“Ladies!” The audience obliges and the ladies of the audience cheer. “My friend is a single and available man! But, girlies? Be careful! He is a Wham! fan.”
The audience erupts into a chorus of lighthearted ‘boos’, and Steve feels himself shift uncomfortably. Eddie stands and walks to the other end of the stage, his guitar swinging gently on the strap. He leans in to the other side.
“And gentlemen?” Eddie’s voice takes a different tone, one deeper and more melodic than the playful tone from earlier. Steve stands up a little straighter and leans in a little closer as the audience responds.
“I’d encourage you to consider your-,” at this Eddie suddenly falls to his knees, parallel to the crowd, and arches his back. He allows his leather jacket to slip off his shoulders, exposing his bare shoulders and loose tank-top straps. Eddie throws his head back, his eyes closed and mouth open, hair flying from his face. Then Eddie turns to look at the audience with half-lidded eyes “- other options.”
Steve feels goosebumps up and down his arms. He couldn’t look away even if he wanted to (does he want to? Should he want to?). The audience laughs again, and Steve feels almost disappointed at their reaction, that they didn’t seem to have the same serious reaction he did. (Why did he? Is it wrong of him?)
Eddie springs back up with a grace he usually lacks, walking back to center stage. He gestures vaguely to the bassist- someone Eddie calls Beefer and only speaks in grunts- and the bassist begins to play. The drummer, an angry looking girl with short hair and two lip piercings, starts playing a matching intro.
“Now my little lovelies!” Eddie’s voice regains the playful tone it lost and he reattaches the microphone to its stand. “Are you ready to pop that little virgin’s cherry?”
The audience cheers as Eddie steps back and starts playing his own instrument. As soon as he does, Beefer and the angry drummer jump in at full pace.
And Steve? Steve gets his little mind blown.