#Steve Byers whump

[kennahjune]

Steddie

I’m joining the s3 steddie train :D

…

Steve was late. He was so late and so dead. Robin was going to kill him— he’d never make it out of Scoops Ahoy alive.

This was his thought process after dropping Will Lucas and Max off at Mikes. This was also his thought process the entirety of the way to Scoops while he shoved his way through the mall.

The moment he entered the small shop Robins eyes locked on him in a glare. Steve barely gave her a second before he was going to the back room to get ready for his shift.

He heard the back room door open behind him.

“You’re—“

“24 minutes late I know,” he said as calmly as he could while trying to relax his breathing.

“Yeah and—“

“And you get an extra 25 minutes for your break, yes Robin I know!”

Steve finally closed his employee cubby and turned to look at Robin. “Look. Im sorry I was so late today but Will, Lucas and Max are assholes when they’re being petty and they needed a ride to Mikes cause all the others were busy! I’ll take closing shift today to if you’re really that mad.”

Robin stared at him angrily from the doorway. “Fine.” She uncrossed her arms. “And yes, you will be taking the closing shift tonight. I have a study date with a friend that I can’t miss.”

“It’s summer vacation?”

“Shut up!”

Steve shrugged when the door closed.

He closed the door to his employee locker with a little more force than necessary. He had a migraine building and the bright, florescent lights of the mall weren’t helping in the slightest.

He walked out and began his shift.

…

Eddie wanted to enjoy his day off. Preferably by himself. But Gareth and Jeff decided that his personal life was their personal life. So here they were.

He had wanted to spend the day away from the mall, considering that that was where everyone seemed to be nowadays. But the guys were insistent.

So they were walking around. It wasn’t too bad, considering Eddie had gotten himself a new record and tape with his newest paycheck. They were sitting at the fountain when Gareth shouted right in Eddie’s ear:

“HOLY SHIT!”

Eddie just about punched him with how hard he jumped. Jeff spit out his Pepsi all over Eddie.

While Eddie was worrying about getting the sticky drink off of his skin, Gareth continued with; “is that HARRINGTON in Scoops?”

Well. Now he has Eddie’s attention.

Sure enough, just in Eddie’s line of sight, was Steve Harrington in a sailors uniform and a dorky hat.

A dorky hat that was soon snatched up by his current customer, Billy Hargrove.

Jeff clapped him on the shoulder and leaned over him to get a better view. “Is that Hargrove?”

“Yep.” Eddie popped the P.

“It looks like he’s messing with Harrington.”

“Yep.” Another pop on the P.

“And Harrington looks like he’s gonna fucking explode.”

Eddie agreed. Harrington was red in the face and not in the cute blushy-way he usually gets (don’t ask why Eddie knows that). He was talking back to Hargrove, probably something bitchy and sarcastic in typical Harrington-fashion based on the way Hargrove seemed to recoil for a moment before jumping back.

“Should we do something?” Gareth asked skeptically. Jeff shrugged where he was pressed against Eddie’s back.

“I’m going in.” Eddie stood and nearly knocked Jeff down in the process.

“Hang on—“

“Nope! Wish me luck, boys!” Eddie yelled over his shoulder while he dashed over. He heard them both get up and follow him.

…

Steve wanted to cry.

His head hurt so fucking bad and his back was killing him and he had ran into a shelf earlier and had a killer bruise on his arm and leg from it and everything was too fucking much.

Then, in all his asshole and dick glory, in came Billy Hargrove.

At this point, Steve would rather take another plate to the head then have to deal with his annoyingly aggravating voice. Hargrove came in, probably expecting Robin to be there, but got Steve instead. And honestly Steve would rather deal with him then leave Robin with him.

So he’s been enduring it, giving his own comments and comebacks but overall hating his life and just wanting to curl up and die.

Then his savior showed up. In all his black leather and chains, Eddie fucking Munson.

Hallelujah.

Hargrove seemed to back down the moment Munson showed up. Which wasn’t too strange considering that Munson supplied over half of Hawkins’ weed supply. Including Steve’s own for a while. He hasn’t bought in a while cause of the brat brigade.

But not the point.

Hargrove nodded to Munson. “Munson.”

Wow. Real cool, Billy. Steve held back a snicker.

“Heeyyy, Hargrove!” Munson cheerily greeted. But there was something about his smile that was off, to Steve. It seemed tighter than usual, his eyes not crinkling with the motion like normal. Don’t ask why Steve knows this.

Munson’s eyes seemed darker, too. Like he was angry. Maybe Hargrove didn’t pay him? Steve couldn’t bother to care with how bad his head started to pound.

He shouldn’t be at work with this migraine. He knows that. His doctor’s told him this multiple times. But he owes it to Robin for being late so much and he needs to prove to his dad that he can take care of himself.

“So what brings you here, Billy?” Munson asks casually, stepping farther into the shop. Steve seems to finally be forgotten about, and he places his head down on the counter. The cooled surface definitely helps with the spinning room.

He hears Hargrove say something back, but he isn’t paying attention anymore. His eyes are stating to go blurry and he really needs to sit down. But then Munson says something that catches his attention:

“Just leave Harrington alone, man. Last I checked he did nothing to you.”

What the hell? Steve wished he could lift his head and see what Munson was doing. What he looked like when he said that. If he looked as mean as he sounded.

Steve only lifts his head a few moments later when he feels a hand on his back. He shoots up quicker than he intends, and nearly falls back down if not for the hands still holding him up.

“Shit,” he grumbles quietly to himself, whining even quieter at the sudden rush of pain and the black dots in his vision.

“Easy there, your highness.” Munson.

Steve blinks slowly, letting Munson set him down in a booth. He doesn’t remember walking over but he’ll take it. He puts his head back down and intertwines his fingers behind his head. He groans quietly again, the pounding slowly receding.

“Hey man, is there something we could do? Do you need anything?” He heard Munson ask.

We? Steve wants to ask, but finds himself not caring. “Water, and my bag from the back please,” he rasps out. Talking makes the pounding worse.

He hears someone rush off to the back and a moment later a hands on his back again and is helping him sit up.

“Here ya go sweetheart.” Munson slides the glass of water and bag over to him.

Steve silently reaches into his bag and pulls out his small “to-go” med-kit. He carries it around mainly for the kids. Mike tends to be clumsier than he comes off as and Max is always trying out some new skateboarding tricks. From inside the kit he pulls out a pill bottle and swallows 2 with the water and goes for another 2 before a hand stops him.

“I’m pretty sure you’re not supposed to take more than 2.” This voice is new but familiar. Steve squints past the blurriness and makes out someone he recognizes from school; Gareth Emerson.

“4,” Steve manages past the lump in his throat. Munson, Emerson, and someone else Steve doesn’t quite know look at him. Munson continues to hold Steve’s hand on the table, rubbing his thumb over his knuckles. It weirdly intimate but the comfort is very welcome.

“4 what?” The other guy asks.

“4 pills. I usually take 4.”

Munson and Emerson both wince. The third guy looks at him like he’s insane. Steve finally recognizes him as Jeff,… something. He actually never got his last name.

“Dude— are you trying to overdose!?”

Steve winced at the sudden loudness, whining quietly. Munson shushed Jeff and Steve heard him rush out an apology.

The bell over the door dinged at that moment, and Steve found himself face to face with Max, Mike, Will, Lucas, and— for some reason— Jonathan.

“Uh— hi?” Steve attempted for a greeting.

“‘Hi!?’” Mike yelled. “Hi yourself man! We called your walkie at least 4 times!! What the hell?”

“Are you ok? Why didn’t you answer?” Will asked in a much quieter tone.

Lucas and Max wasted no time before slotting themselves in the booth with Steve. Munson remained across from Steve, and Emerson and Jeff now hovered farther away, but Lucas slid right in next to Munson and Max next to Steve.

“What the fuck, Harrington?” Max demanded. But she clung to his shirt tightly.

“Language, Mayfield,” he reprimanded quietly.

Mike paused where he stood. “Why are you talking so quietly? Shit— do you have a migraine?”

Suddenly 4 pairs of little eyes were gazing at him with unmasked concern. Holy shit was this overwhelming.

“Guys—“

“Why didn’t you say that, Steve?” Lucas asked.

“Are you ok? How long has it been going on for? Asked Will.

“Why are even here if you’re not able to function properly?” Mike reprimanded in his own caring-ness.

Max clutched to him tighter. “Why aren’t you at home? You could’ve called in sick or something!”

“Shhh!” Mike shushed her.

“Don’t shush me—“

“Shut up!” He whisper shouted. “You have to be quiet and try to control your temperature while resting in a dark, quiet room to try and help with migraines. Pain killers help to but no more than 3.”

Everyone stared at him. He went a little pink under the sudden attention.

“Nancy gets migraines a lot from reading in the dark.”

Jonathan came over right then. Steve was suddenly overwhelmed by all the people surrounding him.

“Uhm—“

“Hey,” Munson called. Steve forgot about him for a good moment. “This is cute and all, but maybe we should not surround him? Poor boy looks like he’s gonna cry.”

Everyone turned to look at him. Tears had— in fact— sprung to his eyes.

“Sorry!” All the kids rushed out quietly at the same time. Max climbed out of the booth and Munson and Jonathan both assisted with helping Steve to the break room. Jeff and Emerson stayed with the kids, but Mike came with them since he seemed to know what he was doing better than the 3 of them.

On their way back to the room though, Steve’s legs nearly gave out from under him. Shit. It’s one of those days. Munson just barely managed to catch him under the armpits while Jonathan got him by the waist.

“Woah there, sweetheart.” Munson grunted.

“Careful, Steve,” Jonathan said quietly.

“Sorry. Spinning.” Steve exhaled shakily.

Mike came rushing back after realized they weren’t with him. “Damn. Spinning? Are you able to walk? Or are they gonna have to carry you?”

Jonathan looked up at the mention of having to carry Steve. “Yeah— I’m not able to carry him. I am so not strong enough for that.” He had the decency to look apologetic.

Munson chuckled quietly and the sound reverberated through his chest where Steve’s head was. It was soothing.

“Don’t worry Big Byers. I’ve got him no problem.”

Steve was given no warning before he was being picked up in a bridal carry. He winced sharply and laid his head on Munson’s shoulder. Jonathan whistled lowly from somewhere beside them and Steve blindly kicked his leg in his direction, scoring in kicking him in the arm. Jonathan snickered.

…

When Munson chased off Hargrove he didn’t expect for Harrington to all but collapse in on himself and try to fucking overdose on like 5 pain killers. He also hadn’t expected to be bombarded by 4 kids and 1 Jonathan Byers. Least of all did he expect to be carrying Harrington bridal style to the break room of Scoops Ahoy.

Somewhere behind him, Gareth turned the sign on the door to closed. Eddie silently thanked him.

The kid— who he vaguely remembers as Nancy Wheeler’s younger brother— opens the door and startles a half asleep Robin Buckley.

“Hello,” Jonathan throws her way before pulling a chair out for Eddie to sit on.

“Uh— hi? What the hell—“

Eddie takes the seat with Harrington in his lap. Robin looks dumbfounded.

“Migraine,” Jonathan helpfully supplies.

“Really, really bad migraine. Vertigo included. Full package tonight, folks.” Mike adds.

“Ok— um, is he ok? He doesn’t look ok. If it was so bad why didn’t he just call in sick?”

“That’s a good question,” Mike retorts quietly while rooting around in a freezer.

“What are you looking for”, Robin asks.

“Ice pack. The dumbass has everything in that first aid kit of his except a damn ice pack.”

“Language,” Harrington reprimanded quietly from where his cheek was against Eddie’s chest. Eddie chuckled quietly when Mike retorted with a half-assed “sorry”.

Eddie couldn’t help but admire the now sleeping Harrington in his lap. He bent in half like a shrimp, his knees just about to his chest, and his hands gripping tightly onto Eddie’s still-Pepsi-soaked t-shirt. But he looked so at peace while asleep. Like he hadn’t just had the worst migraine Eddie’s ever seen and wasn’t just about to pass out on his feet. Eddie smiled.

Mike comes over silently, managing to sneak up on Eddie and make him jump slightly and causing Harrington to whine. He’d been whining a lot today. And under “different circumstances” Eddie would’ve found it hot as fuck.

“Sorry,” Mike whispered. He seemed to be able mellow out a lot when he actually tried. He seemed like such an asshole out at the booth but now he seems quieter. These kids really cared about Harrington, huh?

“Here.” Jonathan helped him out and gently picked up Harrington’s head. Eddie caught Harrington actually kind of leaning into his touch. A strange but endearing friendship. Mike placed the ice pack— now wrapped in a cloth— on Eddie’s chest where Harrington’s head lays.

Harrington lays back down and is out like a light soon enough.

Eddie zoned out until there’s a very, very soft knock on the door. When he looks up, Jonathan is letting the other 3 kids in while Jeff and Gareth stand in the doorway.

“Is he ok?” Asks Jonathan’s little brother.

Jonathan nods and pats his head. “He’s ok, Will.”

The redhead walks over and takes a silent seat next to Eddie so she’s next to Harrington. She takes Harrington’s hand in hers and proceeds to just sit there and hold it.

“He’s ok, Max. Just a migraine,” the third kid, Lucas he thinks, reassures with a hand on Max’s shoulder.

“That’s what he said before. And then he was in the hospital.”

Woah, what?

“Hm?” Lucas looks at him.

Oh. He said that aloud.

“Wait what?” Robin asked quietly.

Jonathan’s whistled lowly. It seems to be a bit of a tic for him. “Yeah uh— funny story. Hargrove broke a plate over Steve’s head last year and nobody realized how bad it actually was until he passed out after claiming it was only a migraine.”

“He ended up in the hospital for like 2 weeks,” added Lucas.

“He needed several stitches on the side of his head.” Max unhappily supplied. Lucas squeezed her shoulder.

“It was a stage 4 concussion,” muttered Will and Mike put his head on his shoulder.

Eddie caught Gareth and Jeff’s eyes across the break room. Huh.

The Will kid came up to Eddie suddenly. “Thank you. For uh— helping with Steve. It means a lot to us. He means a lot to us.”

Mike, Max, and Lucas all nodded.

“Hang on,” Lucas piped up. “Who are you?”

…

So uh— set myself up for a part 2 there :’D

Part 2

#stranger things #steve harrington #dustin henderson #mike wheeler #eddie munson #robin buckley #will byers #max mayfield #lucas sinclair #jonathan byers #nancy wheeler #corroded coffin #steve harrington x eddie munson #steddie hcs #steddie fics #steddie #steve harrington whump #steve harrington gets killer migraines #the boy has 3 and counting concussions

[audhd-nightwing]

the duffers have to HATE steve because they genuinely do not address any of the trauma he goes through, most of it is either never mentioned again or is framed as a joke, other characters consistently talk down to him and call him stupid, his opinions and plans are never valued or even listened to. and he is literally the only reason a good portion of the other characters are still alive (nancy and jonathan were absolutely about to die at the end of s1 before steve came back, billy would’ve definitely hurt lucas and probably the others a lot more if he wasn’t there in s2, and in s3 steve literally taunts the russians so they hurt him instead of robin and serves as a distraction for dustin and erica to escape)

yet we are never shown him being comforted or even just worried about? no one ever expresses concern for him, even medically/physically. a lot of the injuries he gets are probably very serious yet he continues to fight monsters immediately after being hurt and no one cares. steve should’ve immediately gone to the hospital once they got back from the upside down after lover’s lake but he just continues preparing to fight vecna. it’s honestly a miracle he isn’t dead, he absolutely has to have physical trauma somewhere (most likely his head/ears/eyes and torso)

steve is also the only character that is consistently badly hurt every single season, because he’s always protecting everyone else. steve is under appreciated by MARGINS and is actively made fun of and belittled. in order to add to the plot, the duffers continue to play with his feelings and not let him be happy, either with his romantic life or his friendships (being jealous of eddie, his only non-14 y/o friend being robin). he is such an important character and i fully believe almost every character would be dead w/o him.

he has no one to take care of him or worry about him, basically lives alone in an empty house with bad memories, is either stuck on his ex-girlfriend or just unable to find love, constantly ridiculed and made the brunt of the joke, probably very physically injured- not to mention the BOATLOADS of mental and emotional trauma he has that goes unaddressed, and yet people wonder why he’s a fan favorite?

#stranger things #stranger things 1 #stranger things 2 #stranger things 3 #stranger things 4 #stranger things 4 vol 2 #steve harrington #steve harrington whump #nancy wheeler #jonathan byers #robin buckley #dustin henderson #erica sinclair #king steve #steve the hair harrington #duffers sleep with one eye open #give steve harrington the love he deserves #and some therapy #steve harrington angst #steve harrington has anxiety bc fuck you i say so

[igotthejob]

Mike jumped off the cliff and Steve fought demon dogs and bats and Russians and Eddie died all to protect Dustin and I just-

That’s gotta fuck up your perception of relationships, right? Can someone check on him?

#stranger things #eddie munson #steve harrington #dustin henderson #lucas sinclair #max mayfield #mike wheeler #will byers #whump #angst #maybe I’ll write a full fic about this who knows

[thaliaisalesbian]

i get myself twisted in threads

Chapter 5: sitting as usual

Chapters: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15

She doesn’t know how Steve manages to stay awake all the way to the Byers’ house. It takes them at least an hour and a half to get there.

It feels so much longer. Maybe it was; even if she had a watch on, Nancy wouldn’t be checking it now. Because they keep stopping to make sure he’s not going to bleed out. They have to. Jonathan uses one of their stops to wrap his jacket around Steve’s torso, pulling it as tight as he can. He ties the sleeves in a knot right above the wound.

Nancy thinks she would have screamed, if someone had done that to her. But Steve is either out of enough that he doesn’t feel the pain, or he doesn’t have the energy to do more than mumble.

Which he’s doing an awful lot of.

The rambling mumble he keeps up is actually calming, in a way. It makes it easier to know he’s still alive, for one, and he’s talking about the kids, everything he knows they like and don’t like.

At least, she’s pretty sure he’s talking about the kids. It’s hard to tell. Half of it is too quiet to hear properly, and slurred on top of that. She’s too terrified, too worried, to pay much attention to what he’s actually saying.

Dustin, Lucas, and Mike are waiting in the yard with the first aid kit when they get there. Joyce and Hopper are just getting out of their cars, parked haphazardly in the yard. Nancy wants to collapse when she sees them; she barely registers that Will, El, and Max are joining the huddle with the others. She does collapse when Hopper lifts Steve up and carries him the rest of the way into the house.

“We’ll come get you when you’re allowed inside. If your parents start calling and asking where you are, you’re going home. I don’t care if you’ve seen him or not.”  Joyce takes the first aid kit from Mike and gets the door for Hopper while he addresses the kids.

“Is he dead?” Dustin asks, staring after them, and, god, she’s too tired for this right now. She can’t handle the kids’ questions and fears when she hasn’t even started to handle her own.

“No, he’s not dead.” She says. “He was still talking to us.” Not coherently by the time they’d gotten here, but he’d been talking.

“Hopper said we shouldn’t be inside for this part.”

“Hopper’s right.” Jonathan sits on the ground, ignoring the blood on his clothes. She’s covered in it, too.

It doesn’t look good.

What if they were too late?

"But we want to see him!"

"Not now." Jonathan glares. "Mom and Hopper have to clean him up first."

"That's a lot of blood." Will points out quietly.

"He'll be fine." Nancy comes far too close to snapping for her comfort; she doesn’t want the kids to catch on just yet that she's not sure Steve will make it this time.

"Nancy, Jonathan? If we could get a little help in here? I'm not exactly big enough to help move Steve." Joyce's voice comes through the door, and they’re both reaching for it before she finishes her sentence.

Jonathan has proof on his clothes, all over his body, of how much blood Steve has lost.

Of how bad the injuries are.

It doesn’t prepare him for how pale Steve is, or the amount of used gauze and bandages on the floor.

How much blood can a person have in their body?

Jonathan tries to remember, but he can’t. But Mom and Hopper’s faces aren’t grim enough for this to be… they’re not going to tell them he’s dead. He’s not dead.

“What do you need?” He asks. The kids are trying to get in, but Nancy is already locking the door behind them.

They don’t need to see Steve like this. Jonathan’s not sure he wants to see Steve like this; bloody and barely-alive. Not when he’s always thought of how he looked on that night, bursting back through the door to save them, swinging the bat like he was planning to hit a grand slam.

Steve’s hand had been warm when Jonathan had grabbed him to pull him away. Since then, he’s had the on-and-off thought that he wants to know if Steve’s hands are always that warm, or if it was just because of the adrenaline rush.

Nancy brushes her hand against his when she turns away from the door. He wants to hold onto her, but they’re both tacky with drying blood.

Of course, a lock won't stop El if she really wants to test it, but something makes Jonathan think that she won't. At least not right away. 

“We really do need help moving him, and I thought you’d both like to change.” Mom manages a half-smile.

“How bad is it?” Nancy’s voice is as steady as she holds her pistols, like she’s prepared to be told Steve will die tomorrow.

(He doesn’t know how she manages it. Right now, his heart is in his throat and he can't get any words out past it.)

“He’s not going to be doing anything for a few weeks.” Hopper says. “If it gets infected, we'll have to take him to a hospital, but Joyce and I did our best. He’s not actively bleeding out anymore. Once we get him into bed, I'm calling Owens.”

A non-answer.

continue reading or finish on ao3

“How bad?” He has to swallow three times before he can repeat Nancy’s question. What if he doesn’t wake up again? “We’re not the kids, Hopper, you can tell us.”

“Honey,” His mom says, softly. “I think he’s lucky to have any flesh left on his right side at all. I don’t know how you got him here alive while walking.”

“He was awake.” Nancy whispers. “The whole time. He kept mumbling, something about the kids. And—Jonathan, you didn’t see the wounds, but he was bitten in the Upside Down too. On his legs. He walked on those for days.”

“He climbed trees, too.” Jonathan adds. “He was sleeping in them.”

“We can rehash that later.” Hopper says. “For now, let’s put him in one of the bedrooms.”

“Mine.” He says immediately. “My bed is big enough.” When he’d outgrown his mom, she’d given him the bigger bed. “And it's the closest.”

His mom—she has the least amount on her of all four of them—goes to change the sheets and clear a path first, while he, Hopper, and Nancy try to figure out how they’re going to carry Steve without bumping him into walls, or waking him up, or dropping him.

Somehow it’s harder than him and Nancy carrying Steve from the lab all the way here.

It takes a few minutes, but they work it out.

“Go shower up, you two.” Hopper says. “Joyce and I will handle the living room mess and the kids.”

“Just don’t take too long, okay?” Mom winks at him, and he knows he’s bright red when they leave the room. He knows she trusts them, and of course they’d never even think about anything like that while Steve is maybe dying on his bed.

“I know she’s joking, but I honestly can’t even think about that right now.” Nancy leans her head on his shoulder. “We have blood everywhere.”

Jonathan feels like scrubbing his skin raw until he doesn’t see Steve’s blood on his hands ever again, but he thinks that’s going to take a while, so he settles for washing Nancy’s back clean for her before she does his.

“Do you think Steve would fit in your clothes?” She asks, pulling on one of his shirts and a pair of pajama pants that she keeps here. “I have a few here, but he certainly doesn’t, and he’s going to need something to wear.”

“It might.” Most of his stuff is a little big on him, it would probably fit Steve. His pants might be a little short, but that will just make checking his ankles easier. “I don’t think putting a shirt on him is a good idea right now though.”

“The kids are going to want to see him.” Nancy takes his desk chair, watching Steve’s chest as he breathes.

They’ll break down his door if they don’t get to, probably. Especially after they locked the door, kept them out.

“Yeah, but what if he starts bleeding again?”

“Just put a blanket over him.” His mom’s in the doorway, holding a trash bag. “We’re not going to be able to save your clothes.”

He tosses their ruined clothes into the bag, trying not to think about how much blood is on them.

��Do we need to take him to a hospital now?” Jonathan’s not sure they can, honestly, because of the nature of the wounds. They don’t have bears around here, and even if they did he doesn’t think this looks like an animal attack.

They also might not be allowed to see him if he's in the hospital. His parents will have to be notified, and then they’ll be in charge, they’ll be free to move him somewhere far away if they want to.

“If things get really bad, we will.” His mom answers. “You know I went to nursing school for a couple of years, and Jim has done field medicine before. He’s trying to get in contact with Owens right now.”

“How much worse is ‘really bad’?” Nancy’s got her arms wrapped around herself. He’d hug her if he thought she’d accept the touch right now.

“I don’t know, honey.”

He looks at Steve, almost as pale as his sheets, torso wrapped in bandages with drying blood still visible on his upper chest.

“What about his ankles?” He can't let himself think about what will happen if Steve dies. He doesn’t think he’d ever be able to sleep in his bed again, knowing his friend had died there. In this room, probably. He’ll have to move in with Will or take the couch. Seal it off, only to come in when he wants to regret everything he never said all over again.

“We took a look at that too; cleaned them up a little and rewrapped them.”

“Why can’t we see him?” He can hear Dustin from here. The kid’s always been the loudest of the bunch, but he’s not sure he’s heard him this distressed in a while.

He doesn’t catch Hopper’s response, too busy staring at the blood and thinking about how close they came to really losing Steve this time.

Because he was willing to sacrifice himself for them. Again.

He'd hardly talked to them, but he’d still been ready to die if it meant they escaped. 

Jonathan had had to practically shove Steve behind him to keep him from using himself as a human shield.

He thinks about Steve’s face, the way he’d pulled that cocky mask back up so quickly when he’d overheard the conversation he and Nancy were having that day.

There’s none of that now, wasn’t any of it in the Upside Down, just a certainty and a protective edge that made the kids feel safe, that made him feel like everything was going to be okay, even if he didn’t know how or when.

It’s not something he’s felt often when dealing with the Upside Down. 

He slides past his mom to the bathroom, soaks a washcloth until it’s dripping, squeezing all the water out multiple times to give himself an extra minute. 

He probably uses too much force to get the blood off. He wishes Steve would complain. He’d be awake, at least. 

When he’s done, Nancy covers Steve with a blanket and sits on the edge of the bed carefully instead of going back to the chair.

“Jon,” she’s staring at Steve still, making sure he’s still alive. “We need to tell him. I can’t—We can’t lose him. Not like this.”

“I know.” He sits opposite her, finds Steve’s wrist under the covers, feeling for his pulse.

It’s there. A little slow, maybe, but it’s there.

“I can’t stop thinking about it.” She admits, “He looked like he was going to cry, and then it was just— gone. He was back to being an asshole and it was like nothing ever changed.”

“He heard the wrong part of that talk,” Jonathan agrees. It’s on a loop in his mind, everything they could have—should have—done differently. He could have caught Steve’s hand again, pulled him in to tell him the truth.

Right now, Steve’s colder than he was the last time Jonathan held his hand.

“Steve?” El’s peeking around the door, eyes wide, and suddenly all he can hear is the way she screamed for him before Nancy had gotten her through the gate.

“Come here, El.” Nancy might be thinking the same thing, because she tucks El into her side. “He’s going to be okay, see? Joyce and Hopper know what they’re doing.”

“I know.” She says. “It is still scary.”

“You’re right, it is.” He knows it’s only a matter of time before the rest of the kids figure out El’s slipped away from them, before they come in demanding to be allowed to sit around him and wait for him to wake up.

For now, they’ll keep this odd, almost grief-like, quiet for just the four three of them.

<- 4 6 ->

#stranger things #st fic #i get myself twisted in threads #steve harrington #nancy wheeler #jonathan byers #el hopper #dustin henderson #the party #stranger things fic #joyce byers #jim hopper #nix writes #ao3 #whump #whump fic #hurt steve harrington #blood tw #steve harrington whump #stoncy #stoncy fic #this chapter is pretty #hurt/no comfort #which is so weird for me yall #whump writing #my work #my fic #stonathan #as in jonathan thinks about steve a lot #and his hands

[flowercrowngods]

snippet from the time travel au, seriously someone stop me from hurting steve please

Even in her stress, though, Joyce pulls her son into a hug, brushing a kiss to his forehead and talking in that quiet, caring way she has that not even the end of the world could take from her. Steve knows. 

Something inside him aches as he watches them; Will doesn’t even try to push his mother away because he knows that nobody is watching and he can bask in her affection, in her love. He gets to feel safe, and Steve’s stomach churns when he remembers what’s about to happen tonight. It won’t happen. It won’t. But for his version of Will it did, and even after two and a half years it still breaks something inside Steve just thinking about it. 

Joyce leaves, heading for her car, and Steve can hear Will calling out to her once more. “Remember I’ll be at Mike’s tonight.” 

“Be home at nine,” she calls back, one foot in her car already, her hair looking wild, her eyes wide, stressed but still pausing to look at her son and smile. “And tell Mrs. Wheeler I say hi.” 

“Will do,  mom.” 

And then Joyce speeds off. Steve ducks behind the bush again so she won’t spot him, though chances are entirely too slim to really be worried. When Joyce Byers is in action mode, no force of nature can stop her, and nothing can distract her. 

Steve tries to ignore the heaviness in his chest when he realises that he misses her. If Joyce knew what happened to him, if she knew he’s supposed to be in 1986 but then they fought an evil monster wizard maniac and this girl with superpowers sent him back in time for some reason he still has to figure out, Joyce would not hesitate to pull him in and apologise for the cruelty of the world before telling him they could figure this out.

His Joyce would. This one doesn’t even know him. And he misses her. 

#steve harrington whump #stranger things #steve harrington #steve CARES SO MUCH OKAY aaah but he already dissociated in the bathroom I am a nice person you see #it's not all pain. sometimes it's nothingness #this is fine :) #time travel au #dio words #so far it's 5k words of Steve being confused and lonely okay #joyce byers #will byers

[shesinchargeareyoukidding]

Stir Crazy Chapter 3

Hopper was thankful for his flashlight as they made their way through the dim forest. El was taking purposeful steps and barely looked at her surroundings. Hopper was on high alert however and scanned the area. Thanks to his vigilance, he saw the three men coming far before they themselves were spotted.

“Just act normal.” He told Joyce and Eleven. “We’re just on a hike.”

The men were now within earshot and Hopper raised his hand to wave at them. They waved back and approached them.

“Good evening. Are you guys lost?” One of them asked.

“No, we’ve just been on a hike, lost track of time, but we’re fine.” Hopper said in his best ‘I’m just an all-American, super normal dad’ voice.

“Good. Just keep an eye out.” One of the men looked around suspiciously before leaning in closer.  “We saw blood on the ground right over there and we’re checking the area. After all them murders, you can’t be too careful. They never found that Munson kid after all. Everybody’s sayin’ he’s probably dead, but if ya ask me, that freak’s like a rat. Very difficult to kill.”

Joyce gasped at the harshness of the words, the man mistook it for fear.

“Don’t worry ma’am, we’ll keep an eye out, and if we see him.” The man gestured to his rifle. “We’ll take care of it.” That’s exactly what Joyce was afraid of, but she managed to give the man a polite smile and nod, after which they quickly moved on.

“Jesus, Hop.” Joyce breathed when they were out of earshot. “What happened to this town while we were gone?”

“Nothing happened Joyce, they’ve always been like that. All they need is an excuse.”

“Bad men.” Eleven pitched in.

“Yeah.” Hopper dreaded to think how people like that must have been treating Eddie all his life. He began to understand the kids outburst more and more. You can only take so much before you explode, Hopper knew that from experience.

“We’re close.” Eleven whispered. She walked over to an area that was dense with undergrowth and was quickly lost in the greenery.

“El! Wait a second.” Joyce whisper-shouted as she too walked into the bushes. Hopper could only roll his eyes as he tried to somewhat elegantly follow their lead. His body was a lot larger and it made it difficult for him to squeeze around the branches that came from everywhere at once. After swallowing so many leaves and twigs that he felt a little sick, he bumped into Joyce.

“What’s-”

“-Ssssh.”

“I found him.”

Clumsily Hopper manoeuvred himself so that he was looking over Joyce’s shoulder, he aimed his flashlight to where Eleven was pointing and there he was. Curled up on his side, with his eyes closed and hair partially covering his face, was Eddie Munson. He was very pale and his hands were loosely covering his abdomen where blood was seeping through the gaps between his fingers. He seemed unconscious and the only sign of life Hopper could see was the tremor that shook the boy’s entire body. It send a rush of fear through Hopper’s chest because the kid did not look good. At all.

“Munson? Kid?”

Hopper tentatively reached over and brushed Eddies arm. The metalhead started and flung himself away from the touch and attempting to get his legs under him, only to immediately crumple back down with a pained whine. Terrified eyes stared at him from underneath dark bangs. Recognition was quickly replaced by mistrust and hurt and Hopper could feel the ball of guilt that was already present in his stomach grow even bigger.

“Sssh sssh. Honey, it’s okay.” Joyce soothed, drawing Eddies attention to her. His eyes widened in disbelief upon seeing her. He licked his lips, clearly preparing to form words but finding it difficult to do so.

“mrs- mrs b-byers?” He managed. Joyce nodded with a kind smile on her face.

“Yeah sweety, it’s me.” He looked so lost and confused. Joyce really wanted to reach out to him, but decided that probably wasn’t a good idea yet.

“W-Why- How?” He panted.

“I found you with the radio.” Eleven helpfully provided. Eddies gaze snapped to her and his eyes went even bigger. How can his eyes get even bigger?

“S-supergirl?” He asked in a small voice. Eleven smiled at him and carefully took his hand in hers, not caring that it was smeared with blood. She seemed to be really happy the kid recognized her and Eddie had let her take his hand without a trace of fear. Hopper wondered if they had spent a lot of time together before he had whisked Eddie away. He wouldn’t know, because he never asked.

“Y-you can find people with radios?” Eddie asked, brows pinched with confusion. He had started shaking again.

“Yes.” She nodded, not providing him with any more information.

“You’re so cool, supergirl.” Eddie sighed nonetheless, his eyes were slipping closed and his head lowered back down to settle between the leaves. They couldn’t have that.

“Eddie?” Joyce asked, making Eddies head snap back up. “We’ve come to bring you home.”

“home?” Eddie had that lost look in his eyes again and Joyce gave him a sympathetic look before carefully reaching out and brushing his bangs out of his eyes. He relaxed a little into her touch.

“Yes honey, back to the cabin.” She didn’t miss the way Eddies gaze immediately went to Hopper and the plain fear and dread his eyes held in that moment. Hopper sighed and lowered himself some more, trying to look less threatening.

“Listen, Munson,” And that wasn’t a good start, because he could see Eddie trying to shrink away from him at the sound of his gruff voice. Joyce noticed it too and hit his shin.

“Ow! I mean, look kid,” He softened his voice significantly and Eddies eyes cautiously found his again. “I realised that I had no right to judge you when I didn’t even take the time to get to know you and I’m sorry.”

So many emotions passed over Eddies face, it was impossible to keep track. His final expression however, was almost unreadable as he observed Hopper silently.

“B-but you wouldn’t want me back a-after I yelled at you.”

“Kid, you had every right to snap at me.”

“I caused so much trouble…”

“I caused so much trouble. Not you.”

“Y-you’re all in danger.” Eddies eyes widened at the memory. “There’s three men. With guns. Out there. If they see you with me they’ll- they’ll.” He gasped painfully, grasping at his stomach.

“Woah, woah, woah, kid breathe. We saw them and we’ll make sure we won’t run into them again, okay?”

“O-okay.” Eddie choked out, fighting to regain control of his body.

“Eddie, can I see?” Joyce cautiously reached out to touch Eddies hands. They twitched and shook as she brushed her own fingers over them, but he didn’t resist as she gently moved them away from his torso. She curled her fingers around the hem of Eddies shirt and carefully lifted it to reveal the blood soaked bandages underneath. They covered his entire torso, right up to his collarbones.

“Oh honey.” She gasped. Eddie looked down too and felt kind of detached.

“I don’ think ‘s as bad ‘s it looks.” He mumbled.

“Why didn’t you tell me you were hurt?” Hopper tried to keep his tone free of accusation, but he didn’t quite succeed. Eddies dark eyes narrowed.

“Why would I?” Came the surprisingly clipped reply.

“Because you were my responsibility when I took you in.” Hopper grumbled, leaning forward. Eddie scooted back a little bit and looked away.

“ ’m not a child. Didn’t ask to be your responsibility.”

“You’re sure acting like a goddamn child, Munson.” He was raising his voice again and Eddie had started to drag his torn up body even further back. Eleven’s hand quickly reached out to grab his arm to stop him and Joyce send Hopper a dangerous glare that told him to shut up or regret it forever.

“Okay.” He yielded. “Okay, I’m sorry. We’ll talk about it later, when you’re safe and rested and patched up. How’s that sound?”

Eddie threw a questioning look to Joyce, who had started to softly run her hand up and down his calf. She smiled at him and nodded encouragingly.

“Alright.” he conceded. Hopper nodded.

“Think you can walk, kid?” He asked, eyeing him with a tilted head.

“think so…” Eddie trailer off, an insecure tremor in his voice.

“It’s going to be quite a long walk in your condition, kid.”

“I can make it.” Eddies exhausted face took on an edge of determination. “Help me up?” He asked Hopper.

“Of course.” Hopper reached his hand halfway. “C’mon.”

Eddie eyed the former chief’s hand for a beat before reaching out his own and joining them. Hopper locked eyes with Eddie for a moment, taking in his expression. Eddie was trying to put on a brave face, but Hopper could plainly see the pain and exhaustion and badly concealed panic swirling around in his eyes.

“I don’t think I need to say this kid, but just in case. It’s very important that we’re as quiet as possible.” Eddie nodded, locking his jaw and taking in a deep breath to steel himself. Hopper then ducked underneath the kid’s right arm and pulled him into a half-standing position. Eddie let out a strangled gasp and bit his left hand. For a moment, Hopper was afraid Eddie would pass out. His shaking knees were threatening to give out and his head lolled forward as the kid used everything he had to shove any noise that desperately tried to claw its way out of his throat back down. Hopper provided a steady support next to him and just kept Eddie upright for as long as he needed.

“I’ve got you. We’re doing this together, alright? Every step of the way.” Eddie nodded bravely and locked his knees. Hopper squeezed his wrist and steadily guided him out of the thick undergrowth and back to more open ground. Joyce and Eleven soon joined them, both providing a comforting presence at Eddies left side. Every time his breath hitched, every time he stumbled, every time an involuntary whimper was ripped from him, they were there. Touching his back, whispering encouragements, brushing his hair behind his ear.

“You’re doing so well, Eddie, you’re being so strong.” Joyce muttered in his ear on the third time his legs almost gave out.

“ ‘m l-leaving a t-trail…” Eddie slurred, looking down at the ground. Joyce looked down too. Sure enough, the bleeding had become so bad that it had started to form a trail behind them.

“Damnit.” Hopper cursed.

“ ‘s bad, right?”

“Yeah…” Hopper trailed off, looking around. “Okay, let’s take a break, alright kid?” Not waiting for an answer, he walked Eddie over to the nearest tree and carefully made him lean against it. He shucked off his jacket and started tying the whole thing around Eddies middle. Eddie arched against his touch, but had also resorted to biting his hand again and made no noise. When Hopper finished tying the jacket off and let go, Eddie started sliding down the tree, his legs giving up on him. Hopper quickly caught Eddie under the armpits to keep him upright. This pulled horribly on his wounds and Eddie couldn’t help the whine that left him. He immediately started apologizing.

“sor-sorry, ‘m s-sorry.”

“Hey, hey. Munson, look at me.” Hopper leaned Eddie against the tree again, this time keeping a hold on his upper arms and lowered his head to look Eddie in his eyes. “You’re doing an amazing job, alright? Amazing.” He softly squeezed Eddies arms to emphasize his point. “I’m really proud of you, kid.” To his shock Eddies eyes started to fill with tears. But the kid nodded at him, blinking the tears away. He leaned his head back against the tree bark and took a few steadying breaths. Hopper was amazed at Eddies control.

“Can you make it the rest of the way?” he asked Eddie. Big brown eyes blinked at him.

“i t-told you i would. ‘n ‘m g-gonna.” And Hopper believed him.

Eddie did make it. As soon as they opened the door to the cabin they were swarmed by worried kids. Hopper could tell that Dustin had told them everything as many a glare was send his way. The worst one came from Harrington, who immediately stepped forward to shoulder Hopper out of the way and take Eddies weight himself. Eddie looked at everyone with disbelief. Like he couldn’t believe what he was seeing, but as soon as Steve reached out to him, he choked out the other boy’s name and let his weight fall against him, clinging to his shirt as if his life depended on it. Steve returned the embrace, one hand around Eddies waist to support him and the other slid into Eddies hair, tugging Eddies face against his shoulder protectively. He let himself stand like that for a moment, glaring at Hopper over Eddies mop of curls.

A pained noise from Eddie brought Steve back into ‘fixing mode’. He led Eddie over to the couch where he sat him down, knelt in front of Eddie and started to carefully remove the layers of fabric between them and the wounds underneath. Everyone hovered around Eddie and Hopper quickly realised that they were forming a barrier between him and the kid. That was fair enough, he supposed, but he would’ve liked to do more to help. He watched as Steve uncovered all the wounds on Eddies torso and saw the full extent of the injuries there. Collective gasps were heard throughout the room. Chunks of flesh and skin were missing, presumably chewed away by those bats Dustin told him about. The bigger wounds had been sewn closed, but many of them had ripped back open. Hopper could also see similar wounds on his arms. The kid was shaking like a leaf in the wind and looked like he could fade away any moment. Hopper was horrified. Why didn’t he know about this? How could he not have noticed that the kid was injured? Injured badly! Dustin was right. They had trusted him to take care of one of their own, but he hadn’t even once looked Eddies way. He had treated him like an outsider and barely acknowledged him all this time. This kid, who despite everything was still trying to be accommodating to everybody while he was in excruciating pain, had needed him and he had failed.

“awh, n-nance, I ruined your w-work.” Eddie said regretfully as he looked at all the ripped stitches.

“I’ll just do them again.” Nancy said, stepping forward. She carried a small first aid kit and crouched down next to Steve and Eddie.

Eddie looked at her and tried to seem impassive, but everyone could see the plain fear and dread that was reflected in his eyes. Stitches sucked. They felt horrible. And they wouldn’t have any way to numb the pain.

“Alright. Everyone, give us some privacy. This might take a while.” Nancy said. Grumbling amongst themselves, the kids dispersed. There weren’t many places to go, so most of them piled into El’s room. Nancy, Joyce and Steve stayed with Eddie, Max and Lucas went to go outside. As Max walked past Hopper she looked him dead in the eye with fire in her gaze. “A word.” She said.

Next chapter

Chapter 1

#eddie munson #eddie munson whump #eddie munson fanfiction #dustin henderson #steddie #steve harrington #joyce byers #stranger things #Stir crazy st fanfiction

[n0connections]

[Vid] I'm Just a Kid - Simple Plan - Stranger Things

See below for CW

Or watch on ao3

This is the saddest video I ever made. I'm sorry for so much angst, but I had to get it out of my system. CW - This video is canon compliant, and includes both canon typical violence and character deaths.

#stranger things #fanvid #steve harrington #whump #eddie munson #nancy wheeler #robin buckley #mike wheeler #will byers #lucas and max #eleven #simple plan #music video #stranger things fanvid #i'm just a kid #music #jonathan byers #dead dove do not eat #Youtube

[weirdspaceowl]

Stir crazy chapter 3

Hopper was thankful for his flashlight as they made their way through the dim forest. El was taking purposeful steps and barely looked at her surroundings. Hopper was on high alert however and scanned the area. Thanks to his vigilance, he saw the three men coming far before they themselves were spotted.

“Just act normal.” He told Joyce and Eleven. “We’re just on a hike.”

The men were now within earshot and Hopper raised his hand to wave at them. They waved back and approached them.

“Good evening. Are you guys lost?” One of them asked.

“No, we’ve just been on a hike, lost track of time, but we’re fine.” Hopper said in his best ‘I’m just an all-American, super normal dad’ voice.

“Good. Just keep an eye out.” One of the men looked around suspiciously before leaning in closer.  “We saw blood on the ground right over there and we’re checking the area. After all them murders, you can’t be too careful. They never found that Munson kid after all. Everybody’s sayin’ he’s probably dead, but if ya ask me, that freak’s like a rat. Very difficult to kill.”

Joyce gasped at the harshness of the words, the man mistook it for fear.

“Don’t worry ma’am, we’ll keep an eye out, and if we see him.” The man gestured to his rifle. “We’ll take care of it.” That’s exactly what Joyce was afraid of, but she managed to give the man a polite smile and nod, after which they quickly moved on.

“Jesus, Hop.” Joyce breathed when they were out of earshot. “What happened to this town while we were gone?”

“Nothing happened Joyce, they’ve always been like that. All they need is an excuse.”

“Bad men.” Eleven pitched in.

“Yeah.” Hopper dreaded to think how people like that must have been treating Eddie all his life. He began to understand the kids outburst more and more. You can only take so much before you explode, Hopper knew that from experience.

“We’re close.” Eleven whispered. She walked over to an area that was dense with undergrowth and was quickly lost in the greenery.

“El! Wait a second.” Joyce whisper-shouted as she too walked into the bushes. Hopper could only roll his eyes as he tried to somewhat elegantly follow their lead. His body was a lot larger and it made it difficult for him to squeeze around the branches that came from everywhere at once. After swallowing so many leaves and twigs that he felt a little sick, he bumped into Joyce.

“What’s-”

“-Ssssh.”

“I found him.”

Clumsily Hopper manoeuvred himself so that he was looking over Joyce’s shoulder, he aimed his flashlight to where Eleven was pointing and there he was. Curled up on his side, with his eyes closed and hair partially covering his face, was Eddie Munson. He was very pale and his hands were loosely covering his abdomen where blood was seeping through the gaps between his fingers. He seemed unconscious and the only sign of life Hopper could see was the tremor that shook the boy’s entire body. It send a rush of fear through Hopper’s chest because the kid did not look good. At all.

“Munson? Kid?”

Hopper tentatively reached over and brushed Eddies arm. The metalhead started and flung himself away from the touch and attempting to get his legs under him, only to immediately crumple back down with a pained whine. Terrified eyes stared at him from underneath dark bangs. Recognition was quickly replaced by mistrust and hurt and Hopper could feel the ball of guilt that was already present in his stomach grow even bigger.

“Sssh sssh. Honey, it’s okay.” Joyce soothed, drawing Eddies attention to her. His eyes widened in disbelief upon seeing her. He licked his lips, clearly preparing to form words but finding it difficult to do so.

“mrs- mrs b-byers?” He managed. Joyce nodded with a kind smile on her face.

“Yeah sweety, it’s me.” He looked so lost and confused. Joyce really wanted to reach out to him, but decided that probably wasn’t a good idea yet.

“W-Why- How?” He panted.

“I found you with the radio.” Eleven helpfully provided. Eddies gaze snapped to her and his eyes went even bigger. How can his eyes get even bigger?

“S-supergirl?” He asked in a small voice. Eleven smiled at him and carefully took his hand in hers, not caring that it was smeared with blood. She seemed to be really happy the kid recognized her and Eddie had let her take his hand without a trace of fear. Hopper wondered if they had spent a lot of time together before he had whisked Eddie away. He wouldn’t know, because he never asked.

“Y-you can find people with radios?” Eddie asked, brows pinched with confusion. He had started shaking again.

“Yes.” She nodded, not providing him with any more information.

“You’re so cool, supergirl.” Eddie sighed nonetheless, his eyes were slipping closed and his head lowered back down to settle between the leaves. They couldn’t have that.

“Eddie?” Joyce asked, making Eddies head snap back up. “We’ve come to bring you home.”

“home?” Eddie had that lost look in his eyes again and Joyce gave him a sympathetic look before carefully reaching out and brushing his bangs out of his eyes. He relaxed a little into her touch.

“Yes honey, back to the cabin.” She didn’t miss the way Eddies gaze immediately went to Hopper and the plain fear and dread his eyes held in that moment. Hopper sighed and lowered himself some more, trying to look less threatening.

“Listen, Munson,” And that wasn’t a good start, because he could see Eddie trying to shrink away from him at the sound of his gruff voice. Joyce noticed it too and hit his shin.

“Ow! I mean, look kid,” He softened his voice significantly and Eddies eyes cautiously found his again. “I realised that I had no right to judge you when I didn’t even take the time to get to know you and I’m sorry.”

So many emotions passed over Eddies face, it was impossible to keep track. His final expression however, was almost unreadable as he observed Hopper silently.

“B-but you wouldn’t want me back a-after I yelled at you.”

“Kid, you had every right to snap at me.”

“I caused so much trouble…”

“I caused so much trouble. Not you.”

“Y-you’re all in danger.” Eddies eyes widened at the memory. “There’s three men. With guns. Out there. If they see you with me they’ll- they’ll.” He gasped painfully, grasping at his stomach.

“Woah, woah, woah, kid breathe. We saw them and we’ll make sure we won’t run into them again, okay?”

“O-okay.” Eddie choked out, fighting to regain control of his body.

“Eddie, can I see?” Joyce cautiously reached out to touch Eddies hands. They twitched and shook as she brushed her own fingers over them, but he didn’t resist as she gently moved them away from his torso. She curled her fingers around the hem of Eddies shirt and carefully lifted it to reveal the blood soaked bandages underneath. They covered his entire torso, right up to his collarbones.

“Oh honey.” She gasped. Eddie looked down too and felt kind of detached.

“I don’ think ‘s as bad ‘s it looks.” He mumbled.

“Why didn’t you tell me you were hurt?” Hopper tried to keep his tone free of accusation, but he didn’t quite succeed. Eddies dark eyes narrowed.

“Why would I?” Came the surprisingly clipped reply.

“Because you were my responsibility when I took you in.” Hopper grumbled, leaning forward. Eddie scooted back a little bit and looked away.

“ ’m not a child. Didn’t ask to be your responsibility.”

“You’re sure acting like a goddamn child, Munson.” He was raising his voice again and Eddie had started to drag his torn up body even further back. Eleven’s hand quickly reached out to grab his arm to stop him and Joyce send Hopper a dangerous glare that told him to shut up or regret it forever.

“Okay.” He yielded. “Okay, I’m sorry. We’ll talk about it later, when you’re safe and rested and patched up. How’s that sound?”

Eddie threw a questioning look to Joyce, who had started to softly run her hand up and down his calf. She smiled at him and nodded encouragingly.

“Alright.” he conceded. Hopper nodded.

“Think you can walk, kid?” He asked, eyeing him with a tilted head.

“think so…” Eddie trailer off, an insecure tremor in his voice.

“It’s going to be quite a long walk in your condition, kid.”

“I can make it.” Eddies exhausted face took on an edge of determination. “Help me up?” He asked Hopper.

“Of course.” Hopper reached his hand halfway. “C’mon.”

Eddie eyed the former chief’s hand for a beat before reaching out his own and joining them. Hopper locked eyes with Eddie for a moment, taking in his expression. Eddie was trying to put on a brave face, but Hopper could plainly see the pain and exhaustion and badly concealed panic swirling around in his eyes.

“I don’t think I need to say this kid, but just in case. It’s very important that we’re as quiet as possible.” Eddie nodded, locking his jaw and taking in a deep breath to steel himself. Hopper then ducked underneath the kid’s right arm and pulled him into a half-standing position. Eddie let out a strangled gasp and bit his left hand. For a moment, Hopper was afraid Eddie would pass out. His shaking knees were threatening to give out and his head lolled forward as the kid used everything he had to shove any noise that desperately tried to claw its way out of his throat back down. Hopper provided a steady support next to him and just kept Eddie upright for as long as he needed.

“I’ve got you. We’re doing this together, alright? Every step of the way.” Eddie nodded bravely and locked his knees. Hopper squeezed his wrist and steadily guided him out of the thick undergrowth and back to more open ground. Joyce and Eleven soon joined them, both providing a comforting presence at Eddies left side. Every time his breath hitched, every time he stumbled, every time an involuntary whimper was ripped from him, they were there. Touching his back, whispering encouragements, brushing his hair behind his ear.

“You’re doing so well, Eddie, you’re being so strong.” Joyce muttered in his ear on the third time his legs almost gave out.

“ ‘m l-leaving a t-trail…” Eddie slurred, looking down at the ground. Joyce looked down too. Sure enough, the bleeding had become so bad that it had started to form a trail behind them.

“Damnit.” Hopper cursed.

“ ‘s bad, right?”

“Yeah…” Hopper trailed off, looking around. “Okay, let’s take a break, alright kid?” Not waiting for an answer, he walked Eddie over to the nearest tree and carefully made him lean against it. He shucked off his jacket and started tying the whole thing around Eddies middle. Eddie arched against his touch, but had also resorted to biting his hand again and made no noise. When Hopper finished tying the jacket off and let go, Eddie started sliding down the tree, his legs giving up on him. Hopper quickly caught Eddie under the armpits to keep him upright. This pulled horribly on his wounds and Eddie couldn’t help the whine that left him. He immediately started apologizing.

“sor-sorry, ‘m s-sorry.”

“Hey, hey. Munson, look at me.” Hopper leaned Eddie against the tree again, this time keeping a hold on his upper arms and lowered his head to look Eddie in his eyes. “You’re doing an amazing job, alright? Amazing.” He softly squeezed Eddies arms to emphasize his point. “I’m really proud of you, kid.” To his shock Eddies eyes started to fill with tears. But the kid nodded at him, blinking the tears away. He leaned his head back against the tree bark and took a few steadying breaths. Hopper was amazed at Eddies control.

“Can you make it the rest of the way?” he asked Eddie. Big brown eyes blinked at him.

“i t-told you i would. ‘n ‘m g-gonna.” And Hopper believed him.

Eddie did make it. As soon as they opened the door to the cabin they were swarmed by worried kids. Hopper could tell that Dustin had told them everything as many a glare was send his way. The worst one came from Harrington, who immediately stepped forward to shoulder Hopper out of the way and take Eddies weight himself. Eddie looked at everyone with disbelief. Like he couldn’t believe what he was seeing, but as soon as Steve reached out to him, he choked out the other boy’s name and let his weight fall against him, clinging to his shirt as if his life depended on it. Steve returned the embrace, one hand around Eddies waist to support him and the other slid into Eddies hair, tugging Eddies face against his shoulder protectively. He let himself stand like that for a moment, glaring at Hopper over Eddies mop of curls.

A pained noise from Eddie brought Steve back into ‘fixing mode’. He led Eddie over to the couch where he sat him down, knelt in front of Eddie and started to carefully remove the layers of fabric between them and the wounds underneath. Everyone hovered around Eddie and Hopper quickly realised that they were forming a barrier between him and the kid. That was fair enough, he supposed, but he would’ve liked to do more to help. He watched as Steve uncovered all the wounds on Eddies torso and saw the full extent of the injuries there. Collective gasps were heard throughout the room. Chunks of flesh and skin were missing, presumably chewed away by those bats Dustin told him about. The bigger wounds had been sewn closed, but many of them had ripped back open. Hopper could also see similar wounds on his arms. The kid was shaking like a leaf in the wind and looked like he could fade away any moment. Hopper was horrified. Why didn’t he know about this? How could he not have noticed that the kid was injured? Injured badly! Dustin was right. They had trusted him to take care of one of their own, but he hadn’t even once looked Eddies way. He had treated him like an outsider and barely acknowledged him all this time. This kid, who despite everything was still trying to be accommodating to everybody while he was in excruciating pain, had needed him and he had failed.

“awh, n-nance, I ruined your w-work.” Eddie said regretfully as he looked at all the ripped stitches.

“I’ll just do them again.” Nancy said, stepping forward. She carried a small first aid kit and crouched down next to Steve and Eddie.

Eddie looked at her and tried to seem impassive, but everyone could see the plain fear and dread that was reflected in his eyes. Stitches sucked. They felt horrible. And they wouldn’t have any way to numb the pain.

“Alright. Everyone, give us some privacy. This might take a while.” Nancy said. Grumbling amongst themselves, the kids dispersed. There weren’t many places to go, so most of them piled into El’s room. Nancy, Joyce and Steve stayed with Eddie, Max and Lucas went to go outside. As Max walked past Hopper she looked him dead in the eye with fire in her gaze. “A word.” She said.

Read my fic on AO3!

#steddie #eddie munson #eddie munson whump #steve harrington #jim hopper #joyce byers #stranger things fanfiction #stranger things

[salamandergoo]

Chapters: 1/2 Fandom: Stranger Things (TV 2016) Rating: Explicit Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence Relationships: Jonathan Byers/Steve Harrington/Nancy Wheeler, Robin Buckley & Steve Harrington Characters: Steve Harrington, Nancy Wheeler, Jonathan Byers, Argyle (Stranger Things), Robin Buckley Additional Tags: Threesome - F/M/M, Blood and Injury, Steve Harrington's Demobat Injuries, Miscommunication, Polyamory is NOT the solution they think it is, Hurt Steve Harrington, Bisexual Steve Harrington, Steve Harrington-centric, Drug Use, Steve Harrington is Connected to the Upside Down Summary:

It meant more to Steve than it did to Jonathan and Nancy. He thought it was going to mean something, anything after. But maybe they were just trying to fix their relationship by using him.

And why is he hearing and seeing things? Why isn't he healing?

#stranger things #stoncy #steve harrington #steve Harrington whump #nancy wheeler #jonathan byers

[songforeddiemunson]

Haunting in Blackwood Hollow

An Eddie Munson x F!Reader Miniseries

Series Summary: It’s the year 1991. Eddie and reader check into a rented house in the Appalachian woods, joined by Nancy, Jonathan, Steve, and Robin. Unfortunately for our gang, things in Blackwood Hollow are never as they appear.

Tropes: established relationship, Jonathan x Nancy, no mention of the events from ST, smut, comedy, fluff, scares, bit of whump (but nothing too crazy)

Series Warnings: Swearing, drinking and weed use, sexual and scary situations, minors please DNI.

Chapter One: Steve's Big Mistake

Chapter warnings: naughty language, mentions of drinking, weed use. This is largely setting the scene babes. Author's Note: Submission for @stcreators Event 5: Dynamics Submission for @somnambulic-thing, @allthingsjoeq, and @bettyfrommars event: strangerprompts (#14) {Okay so I took a bit of liberty with the prompt, but that's just how my brain wanted to do it! You know how that goes. ;) }

Word Count: ~2K

You swore under your breath as the taxi pulled away, leaving you staring at the monstrosity you were meant to be staying in for the weekend.

“This is the last time I leave that jackass in charge of anything,” you muttered, prompting a snort from Eddie, who stood beside you.

You liked Steve. Loved him even, in the way that friends that have known each other for years did, who’d seen each other at their worst, thick as thieves, none of that ‘will they or won’t they’ shit, especially after you started seeing Eddie. But in that moment, you could strangle him.

Most of your group of friends had scattered to the four corners of the country, so when you all received your invitations to Joyce Byers’ and Jim Hopper’s wedding in the Smoky Mountains, you decided to rent a whole house instead of getting hotel rooms. Correction: Steve came up with the idea to rent a house, and admittedly it was a good plan. It would likely be cheaper to pool your resources, and you could all hang out in the common areas and catch up.

And then you saw the house.

It was a stereotype in peeling paint and dilapidated wood. The porch was creaky and appeared to be on the verge of collapse. Gnarled old vines and weeds encroached from every direction; you thought maybe it had been landscaped last sometime in the 1960s. A broken old fountain sat on the front lawn, with a scummy green puddle of rainwater gathered at the bottom, and there was a broken gate that hung loose on its hinges near the drive.

Eddie tilted his head in a manner reminiscent of a terrier as he surveyed the old structure. “I think it looks kinda cool, like that house in IT. The house on Neibolt Street, remember?”

You blinked at your paramour. “Yeah, but that doesn’t mean I want to spend the weekend in a house like that. It’s one thing to read about it in a spooky story, it’s another thing to actually sleep there.” He had the good grace to laugh at that sentiment.

“Fair enough,” he conceded.

Of all the houses in Asheville, Tennessee, THIS is the one he chooses? You thought bitterly as you made your way up the walkway toward the porch, stepping carefully on the worn wood and looking for nails that could be lying in wait to impale your foot.

You had no idea if anyone else had already arrived, and whether you were supposed to knock or just walk in. You had decided to try the former, but your knuckles hadn’t had a chance to make contact with the wood before the door was whipped open, revealing a clearly exasperated Robin.

“Omigosh you’re here!” she cried joyfully as she threw her arms around you. You let your weekend bag drop to the porch as you reciprocated the hug.

“Robin! I’m so glad to see you!” you cooed as you gave her a good squeeze then released her. “But what the hell is this house?”

“Right?! I feel like it’s right out of a Scoobie Doo episode or something. Talk about creepy. Eddie! Hi!”

“I’ve seen worse,” a deeper voice intoned from out of eyesight, shortly before Steve stepped into the foyer.

“Steve! It’s lovely to see you, but what the fuck?” you scolded.

Steve’s expression was so sheepish that you couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

“I know, I know,” he moaned, before putting his face in his hands.

“Come here and hug me, loser. I haven’t seen you in almost two years and you’re gonna make me sleep in the house from Amityville Horror?”

“Hey now,” Robin countered, “The Amityville Horror house was waaay nicer than this.”

“True. Eddie said it looked like the house from IT.”

“Oooh yes! That fits,” Robin said.

“What’s that? It?” Steve asked, never one to embrace pop culture.

You hugged Steve despite wanting to hurt him a little bit. “Nevermind. So what were you thinking with this house?”

“Okay so in my defense the pictures were much nicer in the Want Ad, and in black and white. I didn’t realize it was going to be so…”

“Shabby?” you offered while Robin said “terrifying” at the same time.

“Yeah,” Steve said with a shrug.

Eddie chuckled as he hugged his friends by way of greeting.  “Alright well, as long as the bed is clean, I don't really care,” he said. “This one is scared of spiders,” he said, gesturing toward you. 

“I am not, you are!” you yelled.

“I am NOT afraid of spiders,” Eddie replied defensively. “It’s those fucking centipede things with all the legs. I hate those things.”

You rolled your eyes. “I’m sure there are plenty of things in this house to trigger all our phobias.”

The interior was a little less gloomy than its exterior, but that wasn’t saying much. The common room in which you were standing was decorated in 50 year-old wallpaper that was peeling and yellowing. The floors were hard wood but hadn’t been refinished since the wallpaper was installed, and the dusty old upholstery was flat and worn around the edges. 

“Where are we sleeping, anyway?”

“There’s three bedrooms, one with a queen and two with a pair of singles. I figured we could draw straws or someth–”

“Dibs on the queen!” Eddie shouted.

“Eddie, we have to–” you began.

“Nah babe. We’re a couple, and we got here first. You snooze, you lose.”

“I think that’s fair,” Robin said with a shrug.

“Nancy and Jonathan won’t love that,” Steve said. “But you can fight it out amongst yourselves. I’m staying out of it. Looks like you’re bunking with me, Robin.”

“I don’t care, as long as you don’t snore.”

Nancy and Jonathan arrived about an hour later, and while they weren’t thrilled to be relegated to a pair of twin beds, they conceded that Eddie did in fact call dibs.

“I feel like we’re eighteen again,” Nancy laughed as she explored the kitchen for a clean glass for water. “Calling dibs and bunking up together. Feels like old times.”

“It does,” you agreed from where you were leaning against the counter. “I don’t know if I would use any of the dishes in this house though.”

“I might just make a store run, get some solo cups and paper plates,” she said as she put one grimy glass back in the cupboard with a look of distaste. “Any requests?”

“Oooh, cheez-its, snapple peach tea, pizza pretzel combos…”

“PBR,” Eddie contributed as he sidled up next to you and bent to give you a quick peck on the lips.

“Well of course,” Nancy said with a smile. “Can’t forget the beer.”

Robin poked her head into the room. “Grab a couple of pizzas! I’ll give you cash.”

You all pitched in for the snacks and sent Nancy on her way as the sun began its descent behind the trees. The rest of you gathered in the living room to figure out what to do for the night.

“Care for a toke?” Eddie asked, as he held up a joint he pulled from his jacket and set it alight.

“Yessss,” Jonathan replied with enthusiasm, leaning forward to pinch the little joint between his fingers.

“That didn’t take long,” Steve said with a roll of his eyes.

“Lighten up, Harrington,” Jonathan said in a fragrant plume of exhalation, stifling a cough. “You could probably use this more than the rest of us. You’re too wound up.” 

“It’s true Steve, why are you always so stressed out?” you asked, taking a pull from the joint.

“I don’t know, I just feel like I’m the responsible one–” he began, but was cut off by a chorus of jeers and naysaying.

“You think you’re the responsible one, but everyone knows it’s Nancy,” Robin said, laughing.

“Yeah man, like…the King Steve days are over, you can stop trying so hard,” Eddie added with a grin.

“Okay, okay, I get it…” Steve said, accepting his ribbing with a modicum of grace. His voice trailed off, however, as his attention was pulled in another direction. “Hey what’s that?”

“What?” you and Jonathan asked at the same time, following his gaze. 

“It’s on top of that bookshelf…” he began, already getting up and walking toward it. He had to stand on the tips of his toes to reach it, and pulled it down, unleashing a cloud of dust and grime.

“What is it?” Eddie asked.

Steve brushed the dust off the cover before looking up at you with wide eyes. 

“It’s a ouija board,” he said.

“Oh shit,” Eddie said, laughing. "You can't be serious."

“What! No, no thank you!” Robin yelled.

“I dunno man, you might want to put that back and pretend you never saw it,” Jonathan added with a smirk.

“What, nah, that stuff isn’t real,” you said.

“No, it’s not,” Steve agreed. “It’s just a silly game.”

“If it’s just a silly game,” Eddie taunted, "why don’t we take it for a spin?”

“Oh man, no, don’t give him any ideas,” Robin piped in with her trademarked ‘mile-a-minute’ cadence. “Did you see the movie Witchboard? Well I did, and I didn’t sleep for a week afterward. Too scary for me. And it’s kinda weird that that thing just shows up in the spookiest house I’ve ever seen, and we’re in the middle of nowhere and…”

“What’s Witchboard?” Steve asked.

“Dude, watch a movie…” Eddie moaned while Jonathan doubled-over laughing.

Steve laid the box down on the coffee table. “Well, just because there was a movie about these things doesn’t make them real. The Princess Bride isn’t exactly real either.”

Eddie gasped with mock incredulity. “It’s NOT?”

“Have fun NOT storming the castle I guess,” Jonathan tried to say without laughing, which came out as a choked squeal.

“Inconceivable!” you yelled, making the entire room erupt in hearty laughter and dispelling some of the unease that had grown since the discovery of the ouija board.

“Jesus guys, are you that stoned already?” Steve asked with a smile.

“Eddie only buys the good stuff,” you said.

“Zero to zooted within three hits, or your money back,” Eddie said before taking another pull from the joint.

“Good to know,” Steve said sarcastically. “So are you guys gonna play with this thing or not?”

“Fine fine,” you said. “Eddie, let’s do this.”

He agreed, and you sat on the floor on either side of the coffee table. You opened the box, took out its contents, and each placed the index finger of your right hand gently on the planchette. You sat silent for a moment, not doing or saying anything, unsure of where to begin.

“Uhhhh,” Eddie said before dissolving into giggles.

“Ask it something!” Robin whispered, leaning forward in her excitement.

“Okay, uh…” you began, pausing to think. “Is there anybody here with us right now?”

It seemed like the entire room held its breath with anticipation.

“Is there anyone here in this house?” you repeated.

The silence ticked onward.

“Well this is thrilling,” Jonathan said with a snort.

“Give it a minute,” Steve said.

“Thought you didn’t believe in this stuff, Stevarino,” Eddie teased.

“I don’t, but–”

You thought you felt the planchette move ever so slightly. 

“Wait!” you gasped. “Did you feel that?”

“No, wait. Maybe?” Eddie whispered.

You sat motionless for a beat, but nothing happened. You began to think that it was your imagination when…

….suddenly the front door banged open with a loud smash, and every single person in the room screamed like a banshee.

“Jesus, guys!” Nancy said as she struggled to hold several brown paper grocery bags. “A little help here?”

“Oh fuck, sorry babe,” Jonathan said, and the rest of you sheepishly got up to help, leaving the ouija board on the table. You bustled into the kitchen to put things away and pop open cans of beer, laughing about the silly jump scare you’d all just shared.

What none of you saw, however, was the planchette on the ouija board slide over to ‘hello.’

To Be Continued...

Sorry this one is short, but I needed to get it out. More is coming! As always, comments and reblogs are the lifeblood of every fic writer!

PART TWO MASTERLIST

#eddie munson #eddie munson fic #eddie munson x reader #eddie munson series #spooky story #stranger things fanfic #strangerprompts

[afewproblems]

Season Two Halloween AU Part Eight

Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four, Part Five, Part Six Part Seven

Synopsis: What if Eddie had been at Tina's Halloween Party in Season Two? Featuring Steve!Whump, Stancy Breakup, and Eddie just trying to keep up with all these new revelations about who King-Steve actually is...

As always, thank you thank you to the lovely Jess @strangersteddierthings for letting me brainstorm and send spoilers!

***

Eddie pulls gently on the strap of Dustin's safety goggles, trying as much as he can not to snag his curls in the process.

Almost everyone is decked out in their make-shift protective gear, with bandanas over their mouths, swim goggles --hell, even an old diving mask that Lucas found in the Byers basement. Mike won the painters mask, even though it's slightly too big on his little face.

When Eddie asks if all of this is really necessary, Dustin, Lucas, and Mike all glare ferociously at him before shouting over top of one another about how the Upside Down is toxic and that Will had been lucky last year, and to stop being an idiot. 

Eddie looks to Max who shrugs and pulls down her own swimming goggles over her eyes.

"Don't look at me, I'm new here remember?" She mutters, walking towards the pile of various items the kids brought with them. She grabs a pair of rubber gloves and tosses them at Eddie who manages to catch one while the other falls limply into the dirt.

"They went in full body suits last year, on oxygen, to save Will," Dustin adds, his voice slightly muffled by the floral scarf wrapped around his face, "as little exposed skin as you can, it isn't safe".

Eddie can't help but picture the last Sci-Fi pulp story he read in a zine with government conspiracies and men in yellow suits investigating supposed 'crash sites' in the desert. 

He shivers and pulls his own black bandana from his back pocket to put on.

Steve hasn't moved since they parked and hauled everything out of the van for their descent.

He sits in the sliding side door of the van with his head between his knees and the bat between his hands. Steve had insisted on coming with them, despite the fact that he'd only just managed to stop vomiting about five minutes ago and the nausea is still kicking his ass.

Stubborn idiot.

Eddie shakes his head as he turns back to Dustin to find the kid has wandered closer, standing right beside him now.

"He's dating Nancy," Dustin says quietly, tipping his head towards Steve as surreptitiously as he can.

Eddie freezes at the words and tries to keep his face blank in the way he's seen Steve do, he's not sure he's managed it but the way Dustin rolls his eyes. 

Eddie opens his mouth to respond, with what he isn't sure of given the chorus of shitshitshitshitshit playing on a loop in his head. 

Dustin beats him to it.

"But Mike told me they've been fighting lately, if it helps?" 

Eddie just stares, his mind running a mile a minute, his eyes search Dustin's face for any hint of malice or disgust. But there's nothing.

"You don't…care?" Eddie says slowly, softly, he looks around to the other kids to see if anyone else is listening.

They all continue to argue and bicker over the equipment  except for Max who has walked over to Steve to hand him a pair of rubber gloves. She leans down and tilts her head to look at Steve who still hasn't moved from his position in the van door. 

Dustin shrugs, "why should I? I know what people say about it, but you protected us, you stayed," he looks at Eddie with fierce blue eyes, "bullies talk a lot of shit about other people for what they like".

"And you're not bad Eddie, you're good, just like everyone here". 

Eddie blinks trying to ignore the tightness in his chest at the words and the sting behind his eyes. 

'You're a good kid Ed, that's all that matters,' Wayne had told him the day he came out. 'And I'll love you no matter what'.

So that was at least two people who didn't think he was the town 'freak' -- but a stubborn image of Steve's expression that night by the pool comes to mind as he vehemently argued against being scared of Eddie during the now infamous Halloween party.

Three people then.

"If it helps, he wouldn't shut up about Dallas after he and Nance watched the Outsiders last year so," Dustin shrugs again, this time with the slightest teasing grin. 

Eddie is overcome with such a strong feeling of fondness for the kid that he reaches out and pulls Dustin into a one armed hug that's really more of a headlock than anything else. Eddie takes off Dustin's hat to ruffle his hair before putting it back on and tugging it down over the kids eyes, he snorts at the squawk that Dustin makes in response.

"Dallas huh?" he says with a grin before clearing his throat, "I've always been more partial to a pretty boy myself". 

He laughs as Dustin pushes him off muttering under his breath, "everyone's obsessed with relationships," which only makes Eddie laugh harder. 

Maybe it's the hysteria of the situation, maybe it's the exhaustion loosely wrapping itself around his hands, but in this moment Eddie lets himself push away why they are standing in the middle of this field in the pitch dark, and lets himself reach out for what was previously impossible.

He claps Dustin on the back and tips his head towards the rest of the party getting ready. 

"How distracting can you be?" Eddie asks in a low conspiratorial voice.

Dustin frowns, his eyes dart from where Max is struggling to pull on a second blue rubber glove after getting the first one on to where Steve is finally managing to sit up in the van, pulling on the gloves Max left him with, and rolls his eyes again.

"Yeah, yeah, you get five minutes," Dustin drops his voice slightly, and if it's an imitation of Eddie barking orders at the kids earlier, it's pretty good actually. 

Eddie huffs and sends Dustin a wink before turning on his heel and making his way to the van.

Steve has managed to finally sit up properly and in the moonlight it appears that the green caste to his face is also gone. He looks up as Eddie approaches, and sends him a wane smile. 

"How you feeling?" Eddie says softly. He crouches down on the balls of his feet so he and Steve are at eye level and reaches out for his shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze. It's as though a dam has burst ever since he was able to gather Steve in his arms in the van, he can't stop reaching out for him. 

"Like my head has a pulse," Steve answers after a moment, "kinda how it felt after Jon cleaned my clock last year, but worse". 

He shrugs and gives Eddie a small smile that stretches his split lip until a small bead of red appears, Steve winces and swipes his hand over the cut, "I'm kinda hoping it doesn't become a yearly thing, you only get so many concussions ya know?" 

No Eddie doesn’t know, but he was also never a jock, dodging elbows, or balls, or apparently monsters in the woods on the regular.

He looks back at the kids, only to see Dustin pointing at the watch on his wrist; even in the dark Eddie can read Dustin's expression.

Hurry up.

Eddie swallows roughly and turns back to Steve, who doesn't move his gaze quickly enough to hide his own stare.

The wistful pinch of Steve's brow is still there, plain as day, and it cements Eddie's decision.

He leans closer, close enough that his nose is nearly touching Steve's own.

"I need to tell you something, and I need you to let me get through it because we don't have a lot of time, okay?" 

Steve blinks once, his wide hazel eyes search Eddie's face as he slowly nods, his mouth opens but Eddie reaches up and presses his palm to gently cover it.

"You caught me off guard before," he whispers quickly, before Steve can move the hand on his mouth, "when you told me about your Nonna". 

He sees Steve's eyes go even wider and feels him freeze under his hand, but he has to keep going. 

"And I thought, you couldn't possibly be saying what I thought you'd were saying, I couldn't--"

Eddie forces himself to meet Steve's gaze this time, as though he could simply transfer his thoughts directly, save himself the embarrassment of trying to make the words come.

He takes a deep breath in, releasing it slowly through his nose.

"I couldn't let myself hope, not then".

"But when I thought you were dead on the floor, that Billy had broken you into a million pieces and we would never be able to put you back together again and I realized," Eddie moves his hand now, letting it travel along Steve's jaw, to the back of his head. He swipes his thumb along the crest of Steve's cheekbone and tries not to let the way the other man holds his breath deter him.

"That I might not get another chance to be that person your Nonna told you about, if I didn't tell you how I felt". 

Steve blinks again and Eddie halts, letting go of Steve completely as he watches the wide hazel eyes grow shiny in the moonlight. 

Oh fuck.

Steve's nose flares slightly with how rapidly he's breathing and his mouth opens and closes in quick succession as he seems to struggle to find the words to respond.

"I--"

"Steve! Eddie!" Mike calls out from behind them, "we are running out of time! Let's go!" 

Eddie curses under his breath and whirls around; Mike stands at the edge of the cavern, his hands on his hips in a similar position to one Steve held earlier, the painter's mask pulled up to reveal the irritated frown on his face.

Dustin has his own face in his hand but looks up soon enough to offer Eddie a resigned shrug.

He catches Max watching the exchange with curious eyes, her face tilting between Eddie, Dustin, Mike, and Steve, but he can't think about that now. 

Not with Steve pushing himself up from the van on unsteady legs, he brushes past Eddie, reaching up with a shaking hand to pinch his nose. 

Eddie darts a hand out to catch Steve's elbow, halting his path.

Steve lets him.

Eddie takes a step closer, wracking his brain, trying to figure out what he could have said to make Steve so upset, had he read him wrong after all, had he overstepped somehow?

"Steve," he says softly, his grip on Steve's elbow is loose but steady as he pulls him closer.

Steve doesn't turn to look at Eddie but he doesn't move away either.

"What the hell is the hold up assholes!" Mike barks out again and Eddie lets himself throw a dirty glare at the kid, which Mike merely rolls his eyes at. 

The attitude on these kids.

Mike does eventually turn, pulled by Dustin, back to the rope that Lucas is securing to the nearby fencepost, hopefully distracted for long enough to let Eddie figure this out. 

But before he can say anything, Steve is pulling himself away from the grip on his elbow, “Eddie--”

"Please,” the word falls out of his mouth, desperate, louder than he wants, “please Steve, just, promise me we'll talk”.

Steve turns his face slightly, just enough that Eddie knows he sees him. 

His eyes are no longer wet, but still red rimmed, his nose slightly pink, the same way he looked that night at the halloween party sitting on that rock in the dark. 

“Okay,” Steve whispers into the night air, quickly and quietly before he presses forward. 

Eddie lets him go, his empty hand drops limply at his side as he watches Steve make his way back to the kids. He snatches an unused pair of goggles from the nearly empty pile on the ground and checks the post where Lucas had secured the rope. 

Eddie watches from the sidelines as Steve seamlessly moves back into Babysitter mode, and while some part of Eddie is relieved at this, he can’t help but miss the way it felt to hold Steve, to put him back together again. 

Even if it was just for a moment.

Part Nine Now Up!

Tag List:

@eriquin @luvinthefreaks @cinnamon-mushroomabomination @goodolefashionedloverboi @ellietheasexylibrarian @bambibiest @sadboislovebeans @howincrediblysapphicofyou @coleys-a-nerd @whycantiuseunderscore @airconditioning123 @xxfiction-is-my-realityxx @corrodedbisexual @starman-jpg @ilovecupcakesandtea @yoriposts @clumsiluni @pelinelin @phantomcat94 @lololol-1234 @anaibis @steveshairspray @hellfireone @eddielives1986 @sunswathe  @tentativeghost @robin-not-batman @estrellami-1 @manda-panda-monium @tinyplanet95 @perseus-notjackson @queenie-ofthe-void @rainbowsaw @sp0o0kylights @littlebluejane @hi-im-eff  @phantypurple @just-ladyme @thoroughlycollected @justrandomfandomstm @swimmingbirdrunningrock @finntheehumaneater @dynamic-powerm@nightmareglitter @genderless-spoon @zaddipax @thebiblesays @pyrohonk @emly03 @geekymagicalpotato @sidebarre @lemon-astra @cipounette @discreetapple @starlitlakes @saphhicwitchbitch @marvel-ous-m @lingeringmirth @honorarybrit81 @bookbinderbitch @finntheehumaneater  @lololol-1234 @eddie-munsons-missing-nipple @monsterloverforhire @gaydrieeen @starlight-archer @homosexual-having-tea @devondespresso @rennnnon @my-hyperfixations-hell-blog

And a few people I think may be intersted!

@steddierthings @steddie-there @stevesbipanic @henderdads

#season two halloween au #stranger things #stranger things season 2 au #steve harrington #eddie munson #the party #steve and nancy breakup #eddie is having all sorts of complicated feelings about steve here #i will never get tired of halloween party aus #you can pry them from my cold dead fingers #dustin meets eddie early #mike wheeler #lucas sinclair #max mayfield #afewproblems writes #concussions are no joke #eddie is a tired single dad in this outnumbered by these ridiculous children #dustin is as observant as nancy is #pining Eddie #uh oh more problems #poor eddie #poor steve #where is robin when you need her #but seriously I find myself wishing I wrote a later season just so she could be there for steve #please let me know if the tags worked this time I hate that the list is only working for some people :(

[kennahjune]

Trauma bond? No. Bro bond.

Was having Steve and Lucas bro bond thoughts that accidentally turned into Steve whump.

…

Steve and Lucas bonding over sports more than anyone realized they ever would.

Like yeah, everyone knew Steve played basketball and was on the swim team in high school; that was practically his entire personality for a bit. But they never realized how much he actually /liked/ the sports.

Until he was geeking out with Lucas over a new play they’d thought of.

It was odd for them all to see Steve so excited. They watched on from their seats on the front porch steps. Eddie and Jonathan each had a beer, the both of them sharing a blunt with Argyle. Nancy and Robin sat on the steps below them, watching on while Steve and Lucas payed them no mind from the driveway.

It was almost comical— how the moment Lucas showed up on his bike Steve was up in an instant. After confirming it was indeed not a code red, Steve was quick to join Lucas. Especially after being told it was basketball related.

Steve had kicked his own beer over in his haste to get up.

Now Steve and Lucas were in the driveway, the garage door down (to prevent damage to the cars) and the Harrington’s basketball hoop out. Both were blissfully unaware of the eyes following them. Well, the eyes following /Steve/, it was more like.

Circling back the earlier thought; they’d never seen him to engaging in something. So excited. So…happy.

Which was really sad to think about.

“I’ve never seen him so excited over something,” Nancy said, speaking everyone’s thoughts.

Well. Except Argyle’s, it seems. “Nah, man. He gets like this anytime he starts talking about sports. We were watching a soccer game on TV last night and he was like— totally freaking out! Waving his hands around and talking a mile a minute.”

He took a puff of the blunt and passed it to Eddie, unaware of how he just tilted everyone’s worlds.

“Wait—“ Eddie took a drag and his voice was strained while he kept in the smoke “—he actually talks to you about that shit?”

Argyle hummed and looked at Eddie oddly. Eddie blew the smoke out and held Argyle’s eye.

“Yeah dude. All the time. Might help that I played volleyball back in Cali but— really, I just like hearing him talk. And I think he likes talking. He talks a lot.”

Argyle was getting extra talkative now, his sentences becoming shorter and more frequent. That’s how you knew he was high enough to not care.

“He’s never really been that talkative,” mumbled Robin, a sudden kind of dread settling uncomfortably in her chest.

Argyle shrugged. “Maybe you don’t talk about what he likes to talk about. He likes talking about sports. And romance books. He reads a lot of romance books.”

Well isn’t that something, Eddie thought. Steve Harrington likes to read.

(It brought up a distant memory from high school, from Steve’s sophomore year and Eddie’s junior year. Back before “King Steve” meant “jackass”.

“Well well, looky here, fellas! King Steve is gracing us peasants with his presence.” Eddie called mockingly to the young man sitting at the table in the library.

Steve— only 15 at the time, not 16 for another couple of months— looked up from his book with furrowed brows and a pout on his pretty pink lips. A pout that 21 year old Eddie would come to love.

Steve hadn’t done to much in the interaction. He more or less sat in silence while Eddie went on and on about something he couldn’t remember now.

When Steve had gotten up from the table, he doggy-eared his page (like a monster) and tucked the book under his arm. Eddie saw the title only briefly, “Forever Amber”.)

“Do we really never talk about his interests?” asked Jonathan to the sky, his head tilted up while he blew the smoke away.

They all startled when a series of shouts and laughs came from Lucas and Steve in the driveway. Eddie looked over in time to watch Steve pull Lucas in for a hug where they both patted each others backs aggressively. Eddie’s seen the guys do that at games. Some kind of weird bro-hug.

Eddie continued to watch when Steve bent down to pick up the rolling basketball. Eddie’s mind went other places quick enough when Steve pulled his shorts up a little higher. Robin smacked his calf.

“Seriously, you guys never talk to him about sports?” Argyle asked, flabbergasted. And I suppose he had every right to be. These were some of Steve’s closest friends. His boyfriend and his best friend! And they never got to listen to Steve rant about a particular basketball game from high school? About some specific swimming stroke and how it helped him win swim competitions?

They were seriously missing out.

Robin hung her head in shame and thought about it, her eyes misting over the more she realized that— yeah, she never talked to Steve about sports. Let alone his other interests. (Did he have other interests? That fact that she had to ask this question made her want to cry and hug Steve.)

Robin picked her head up and propped it in her hands. She looked on with everyone else as Steve and Lucas cheered about something or other.

.

Steve tossed Lucas the ball in the driveway. He bent himself at the knees and placed his hands on his thighs, breathing heavily.

“Alright, Sinclair. Hit me.” he smirked.

He and Lucas had been tossing the ball back and forth for close to an hour now, both excited to get this play right. Lucas dribbled the ball three times on the ground quickly before he set into motion.

Steve cut him off to the left, but Lucas swerved to the right so fast he nearly toppled himself over. Steve turned and jumped in front of him just in time to body slam him slightly. Not nearly as rough as he could’ve been, holding back because they were outside on concrete and Steve wasn’t going to be responsible for a concussion.

The ball rolled away into the grass, unnoticed while Steve gave Lucas a hand and pulled him up.

Lucas was taking heaving breaths, and for a scary moment Steve was worried he’d slammed him too hard and knocked his lungs around. It’s possible. That’s why Steve himself had an inhaler in the drawer closest to his bed.

But then Lucas was laughing, and soon Steve was to.

“Dude! How’d you do that? I’ve never seen anyone move like that man!” Lucas praised over his heavy breathing. Steve chuckled and took his own deep breaths.

He clapped Lucas on the shoulder, grabbed the ball, and steered him towards the porch. “Plant your feet next time.” He felt a ping of anger and sadness at the words, but tramped it down.

It was only when he’d reached the porch with Lucas that Steve realized they were alone outside. Had everyone gone inside? Did sports seriously bore them so much that they just up and left? The thought made something bitter churn in Steve’s gut.

Whatever.

He led Lucas through the door and dropped the basketball on the porch by the door. It was muddy and his floors were going to remain white for as long as possible thank you very much.

They both left their shoes by the door and traveled to the kitchen, Lucas talking about how fast he’d ducked and wanting to know what Steve meant by planting his feet. Steve agreed to another playing session the next day with a grin. It was nice to have someone who enjoyed what he did.

He tossed Lucas a bottle of water from the fridge and made sure the kid drank it all. They sat with each other at the counter for a minute, Steve idly sipping his water and listening to Lucas’ still heavy breaths.

“Damn, I still can’t catch my breath man.” Lucas laughed lightly.

Steve smiled and set his water down.

“Wait here, don’t do anything stupid.”

Lucas gave him a two finger salute as he walked off upstairs. Steve was sure to avoid the living room and was quick to grab the aforementioned inhaler from his drawer. He jogged back into the kitchen and sat next to Lucas one more.

“Ok, so I’m assuming you know what an inhaler is.”

Lucas nodded, staring at the inhaler in Steve’s hand oddly.

“I don’t have asthma,” Lucas said matter-of-factly.

Steve chuckled. “And neither do I. But there are times where you get knocked around too much or too hard, and it can rattle your lungs. I found that out the hard way when I was 14 and had my first asthma attack. My lungs had rattled so much they got trapped between my ribs and my mom had to take me to the hospital.”

Lucas winced. “Seriously? How the hell did you manage that?”

My dad got a little too rough, Steve thought. But decided against saying that, obviously. He smiled and shook his head. “Not important.”

Steve uncapped the inhaler and gave it a good shake. “Ok, I’m assuming you know at least a little about using one of these but one things for sure, you’ve gotta fix your posture.”

Lucas immediately straightened his back.

Steve went on explaining about how curling into yourself like that basically compressed your lungs and made breathing harder.

He held the inhaler to Lucas’ mouth and instructed him to breathe in and hold it for as long as he felt he could before releasing slowly.

Lucas did as instructed, and after no more than two puffs Steve instructed him to simply keep his back straight and take deep breaths through his nose and to release slowly through his mouth.

Lucas left on his bike a few minutes later with a few snacks and an extra bottle of water in his bag. Steve told him to talk to his parents about getting him a medical inhaler if he planned to stick out basketball for all of high school. Steve knew how aggressive those kids could be, and while it wasn’t always necessary it was helpful.

When he closed the door behind Lucas he went straight to the living room.

Where apparently everyone had relocated.

“Uh.. hey?” Steve waved pathetically. He had really no idea what to do with the 5 pairs of eyes on him.

“Ok? Um— seriously why are you all looking at me like that? It’s fucking freaky.” Steve curled in on himself a little, folding his arms and hunching his shoulders.

Robin was the first to shoot out of her seat on the couch. Steve was given no warning before he was engulfed in a hug.

“Oh? Ok—“ He wrapped his arms around her tightly. “What happened, Robs? You alright?” he asked from where his face was tucked into her neck.

She nodded, but it was obvious something was wrong.

When Robin let go she dragged Steve by the wrist to the couch and sat with him. He looked at everyone else settled in the living room and raised an eyebrow.

“This isn’t like— an intervention or something, right?” he tried to joke. Argyle seemed to find it funny at least. Steve smiled at him where he sat on the floor by the coffee table.

Then there was an arm wrapping around his waist from the side Robin wasn’t pressed against and Steve wasted no time leaning his head on his boyfriend’s shoulder.

“What’s up with you guys, huh? You’re quiet and it’s scary. I don’t like it.” Steve muttered the last part under his breath and more to himself. But Eddie squeezed his hip reassuringly.

“Nothing’s up, baby. How was everything with Lucas?” Eddie asked. Steve barely gave himself time to pause before he answered, “Good. He’s been moving a lot faster lately.”

He bit his tongue against the slew of words he wanted to spill about everything they’d done in that hour they’d been outside. Instead he said,

“Sorry. Totally ditched you guys for the ball.” He chuckled, trying to take the weight of the words off some. Eddie tutted.

“Don’t apologize, Steve. You looked like you having fun.” Came Nancy’s unexpected reply. Steve’s head shot up to look at her before traveling back to Argyle, who gave him a vague “go on” gesture with his hand.

“Uh..” He pulled his eyes back to Nancy. “Yeah, had a lot of fun. Um— you guys alright?”

Jonathan groaned and Steve watched Nancy hit him on the arm. They had a whole argument with their eyes before Nancy deflated. What the hell?

“Steve.” Jonathan started. Steve flinched slightly and didn’t relax when Eddie squeezed his hip.

He braced himself for the laughs, the jeers. Them telling him they didn’t care that he had fun and that they had to go.

“We’re sorry.”

Steve blinked. You’d think an apology that sounded so heartfelt would lower his inner walls a bit, but it only served to raise them higher. Because—

“What the fuck? Why?”

Jonathan rubbed the back of his head and let Nancy take the lead this time.

“For brushing you off.”

Steve blinked, his inner walls no longer rising but not lowering either.

“For not showing that we cared whenever you started talking about your sports and things.” Was Robin’s add-on from beside him.

Steve flinched and made to get up but remembered he was kind of held down by both Robin and Eddie.

“So this is an intervention? Guys it’s fine, seriously—“

“No. It’s not. Stop talking for a second and let us be sorry, sweetheart.” Eddie’s grip tightened again and Steve tried to find comfort in it like he normally did, but he was so uncomfortable right now it was unbelievable.

He doesn’t think he’s ever been apologized to. Not like this. Not with such sincerity.

It scared him, honestly.

“We’re sorry we didn’t bother trying to show interest in anything you did even though you always made sure to show interest in ours,” was how Eddie finished.

“Even with all the teasing you add in.” Chuckled Jonathan.

Steve found a bit of the comfort he was searching for.

He cleared his throat. “Um ok— so—“

“Not done.” Demanded Nancy.

Steve shut up.

“We’re sorry that we made fun of your interests and maybe made you feel like you couldn’t share your thoughts and feelings with us in fear of getting ridiculed.”

And good God if that wasn’t right on the money.

Steve swallowed against the tears that threatened to mist over his vision.

He laughed quietly instead. And maybe he looked like he was going insane but Jesus Christ— he couldn’t take this right now. He was not expecting a fucking apology after an hour of playing basketball.

What the fuck has his life turned into?

“Ok— done now?” he asked. And when nobody spoke up against him he continued.

“So um— thanks? For the apology? I guess— I guess I just don’t understand. Why are you guys apologizing when you didn’t do anything wrong?”

That got him a chorus of groans that made him curl into himself more. He hung his head and pinched his bottom lip between his thumb and pointer, a nervous habit he’d developed in middle school.

“Steve.” Robin gently said. “We have every reason to apologize and fucking grovel.”

Steve wasn’t given a single moment to protest.

“Sweetheart, what did you do yesterday when I was talking about my campaign?”

Steve looked at Eddie funny. “Dude I don’t know— I think you started talking about it while I was cooking?”

Eddie nodded. “And then you told me to hold on while you put the lasagna in the oven so you could give me your full attention.”

Steve blinked dumbly, not quite getting it.

“That’s the bare minimum, Ed. You were talking about something you really liked so I made sure you knew I was listening.”

And oh wow. It just dawned on him.

“Exactly, honey. None of us— except Argyle, apparently— have been giving you the attention you deserve even though you give us yours no matter what.”

“Steve you listened to me drone about types of cameras and film last week for three hours and didn’t complain once. I know for a fact that shit was boring to listen to because I’ve been told so by both Will and El numerous times.”

Steve stared at Jonathan.

“Ok, sure. But I don’t see— I don’t get— I don’t care that you guys don’t listen to me. Sports are complicated and yeah sure it kind of hurts when you scoff as if it doesn’t mean shit—“

Eddie’s grip tightened considerably.

“—but it— I get it. You guys aren’t obligated to listen to my shit. I listen to you guys because I want to. Because I like hearing you talk about things you’re passionate about. Like Nancy and that new article for the school paper about the different recipe for the meatloaf that makes it taste like dirt, apparently. Or how Polaroid cameras actually date all the way back to like— 1948. Or—“

“But that’s the thing, Steve.” Nancy cut him off. “You listen to these things and remember them because you want to. Because you’re a good friend and good friends listen. We—“ he waved her hand around to all of them “—have not been good friends.”

Steve swallowed around the lump in his throat while Nancy continued.

“The fact that you remember my exact words of calling the meatloaf dirt just proves that. Because we had that conversation, what? A month ago?”

“Three weeks ago.” Me mumbled uselessly.

Nancy sighed.

Robin sat up and took Steve’s face in her hands. “Stevie. We love you. So let us.”

And just like that, Steve was engulfed in a giant group hug.

He didn’t realize how much it’d affected him before now. How being scoffed at and made fun of— even if it was playful— hurt him so much that he’d just stopped talking about things.

When they pulled away Eddie kissed his forehead and Robin kissed his cheek. Steve giggled at the sudden affection.

…

Bonus:

The very next day, Steve saw the change.

Saw the change in how Eddie made sure to ask him about what he was cooking and then let Steve explain the process of a breakfast casserole. How Eddie simply smiled and even engaged with questions as if he was really interested. And maybe Steve didn’t completely believe he was interested, but that was ok. He’d come to his senses eventually.

Then at work Robin made a point to let him choose what they put on the TV for the day and didn’t even complain when he chose the Breakfast Club.

He was scared that they change would last no more than a week. That after some time they’d all go right back to how it was before.

But then a week passed. And two. And three. And then months we’re going by where Steve was allowed to rant and talk and argue about things like cooking and baking and basketball and soccer and volleyball and so much more because they would listen.

And then a year passed and it was April and it was his birthday and when he was surrounded by everyone— the kids, the older teens, even the adults— he opened a present and looked down at the book in his lap.

“Forever Amber”.

Steve will never admit to the tears that he cried that day.

…

Probably gonna do something like this with Lucas and the kids cause I love Lucas ❤️

Here’s that lol:

#stranger things #steve harrington #eddie munson #robin buckley #nancy wheeler #jonathan byers #argyle #lucas sinclair #steve gets his appreciation #steve harrington whump #steve has his own interests #his world doesn’t revolve around everyone else #let him be happy #and silly #steddie #hurt/comfort #but not really #cause I’m shit at angst #lucas and steve having a bro bond over sports and doing the weird side hug things #bro bond #cause I’m kind of obsessed

[theshippirate22]

I have a theory

listen up bitches (gender neutral) (affectionate) i’ve been cooking this for an incredibly long time and i’m very very excited to share it but it is gonna be long so i’m putting it under a cut

my theory is that there has been a new set of archetypes created by popular m/m media either in canon or coding and i would love if it was more widely recognized by a distinct name so here we go:

I present to you: The Mirrorball x Running Up That Hill Boyfriends™️ Theory

i need to preface this by saying that i am absolutely not an english major or expert but i have done so much analysis that i’m 98% positive i’m on to something here

so usually mlm ships- at least in my experience- get boiled down into typical Grumpy x Sunshine, Golden Retriever x Black Cat, or like. Babygirl x Badass. and i hate that because those are like really watered down hetero romance stereotypes and i think queer people deserve to get our own archetypes instead of trying to force queer characters into prepaid boxes but that’s a story for another day so:

basically, all content with widely accepted mlm ships (even if they are more in coding than in canon) has this pattern with the ship that fits into Mirrorball x Running Up That Hill

(name pending- open to suggestions)

Boyfriend No.1 of course is the epitome of Mirrorball by Taylor Swift (i know, i know. bear with me here). He’s constantly trying to prove himself and his worth and usually he’s driven to hide or overcome 1-3 specific and intense insecurities/character flaws. He often has innate loyalty to a system or person who has repeatedly abused/neglected/abandoned him and thinks that this treatment is a result of his own character rather than a reflection of the abuser. In relation to the plot and audience, this is the “more dangerous” of the two because he’s so desperate to hold onto the status quo that he’ll often act in a way that makes things more difficult for himself, often by leaving Boyfriend No. 2, sacrificing himself, or doing “the wrong thing.” He also commonly has an older male figure that is breathing down his neck constantly, haunting his perceived inadequacies, and fueling his self-loathing. He’s constantly mischaracterized because he’s either boiled down to “the silly one” or a visage of his trauma and the people that relate to love these characters are usually extremely sad people. Usually this character is also the “mean girl” of the couple.

Examples of the Mirrorball boyfriend: Dean Winchester, Aziraphale, Stede Bonnet, Lucius Spriggs, Sherlock Holmes, Eddie Munson, Mike Wheeler, Prince Rupert, etc.

Boyfriend No. 2 then, is the Running Up That Hill Boyfriend, based of course, on the song by the same name by the perfect Kate Bush. He’s the one that’s seen The Horrors™️ and gained a layer of cynicism that Mirrorball doesn’t have. He was once loyal to something that used/hurt him but he rejected it and used his newfound freedom to restructure his entire personality and reach his much higher potential. Usually, he has passed so far from having a few insecurities to perceiving himself as utterly worthless and unlovable but he’s so convinced that it doesn’t even haunt him, he just goes with it and usually comes off looking overly-confident or cocky. This is The Bitch (affectionate)™️. There’s probably a scene of him covered in blood. This is The Girls’ favorite blorbo and ultimate whump. He tends to be really good with kids and he’s the kind of character that would and often has to CLAW a life out for himself by his fingernails.

Examples of the Running Up That Hill Boyfriend: Castiel, Crowley, Ed Teach, Black Pete, John Watson, Steve Harrington, Will Byers, Prince Amir, etc.

unfortunately i haven’t seen a lot of popular queer stuff so if you can think of other mlm or mlm shaped characters that fit into these archetypes please please please tell me

i’m specifically curious about:

-Hannigram (Hannibal)

-Buddy (911) (@criminally-obsessed if you would mind weighing in but obviously no pressure)

-Lokius (Loki) (@henderdads same thing)

-Any of the marauders but specifically WolfStar

-Stucky (MCU)

-RWRB (i’m so sorry i don’t remember the guys’ names)

-Nick and Charlie (Heartstopper)

-What We Do In the Shadows has one I think?

-literally anyone else please and thank you 🙏🙏 love you all

if you want like explicit examples of each piece for a character lmk for sure because i could talk about this all day long

#shut up jay #mlm thoughts #mlm #mxruth theory #steddie #ineffable husbands #lupete #gentlebeard #destiel #johnlock #byler #hannigram #lokius #wolfstar #red white and royal blue #heartstopper #what we do in the shadows #911 #buddy #stucky

[steddie-fanfic-recs]

The Pretty Ugly

by writersagainstwritersblock

Rating: Mature Archive Warning: Rape/Non-Con Relationship: Steve Harrington/Eddie Munson, Steve Harrington/Other(s) Character: Steve Harrington, Eddie Munson, Robin Buckley, Nancy Wheeler, Jonathan Byers, Argyle (Stranger Things), Chrissy Cunningham, Maxine "Max" Mayfield, Dustin Henderson, Eleven | Jane Hopper, Will Byers, Lucas Sinclair, Mike Wheeler, Jim "Chief" Hopper, Joyce Byers Additional Tags: Hurt Steve Harrington, Protective Eddie Munson, Steve Harrington Whump, Steve Harrington Needs a Hug, Steve Harrington Needs Love, Eddie Munson Loves Steve Harrington, Steve Harrington Needs Therapy, Non-Graphic Rape/Non-Con, (rape/non-con elements are mostly off screen), Hurt/Comfort, Angst with a Happy Ending, Steve Harrington Has Absent Parents, Steve Harrington Has PTSD, Eddie Munson Calls Steve Harrington Pet Names, Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Rockstar!Eddie Munson, Prostitute!Steve Harrington, Minor Character Death, Alternate Universe - No Powers, Eventual Happy Ending Words: 182,356 Chapters: 44/44

Summary

Rockstar Eddie Munson needs a fake boyfriend after a scandal; enter high end escort Steve Harrington. Unfortunately Eddie's heart didn't get the memo on the 'fake' part of the deal, while the more time he spends with Steve the deeper he falls, the closer he gets to something that looks a whole lot darker than a college student just trying to pay off his student loans. “For you, your highness.” Eddie bent at the waist as he offered the cheap stuffed animal. Steve’s eyes went wide, but he accepted the little stuffed animal, holding it up for inspection. Some of the stitches were visible and his eyes were lopsided, but it didn’t change the way Eddie’s heart stuttered as Steve very gently touched its nose against his own, holding it like it were an actual small creature and not cotton and thread. “What’s his name?” “Bernard,” Steve said with such confidence that Eddie couldn’t help laughing. “What?” Steve said, looking mildly affronted. Eddie grinned. “No, it’s a great name, Bernard the Bat. Berry for short even.” Steve crossed his arms, but with the stuffed animal it looked more like he was hugging it to his chest. “Slushies?” Eddie said before he could do anything stupid.

#steddie #steddie fic rec #multi-chaptered #100-200k #hurt/comfort #angst with a happy ending #au modern #rockstar eddie #sex worker steve #au no upside down

[thaliaisalesbian]

i get myself twisted in threads

Chapter 22: how many times will i do this

Chapters: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 23

“I can’t believe you. ABBA? You like ABBA enough to dance to it like this?” Jonathan knows, of course, that Steve—Nancy, too, but Steve’s a little more intense about than she is—likes ABBA, but somehow, dancing to it on the regular hadn’t crossed his mind as an event he might have to take part in.

“I can’t believe you don’t.” Steve spins Nancy like they’re dancing in a ballroom, not his too-big, too-empty kitchen, like they’ve got slow music playing instead of… ABBA.

“Jon, come on, you have to know by now that Steve and I have got you beat on this one.” Nancy grins, holding out a hand to him. “Just give in already.”

“I don’t know, Nance.” Steve tugs her a little closer. He’s been less cautious lately, about what he does, what he says.

Jonathan hopes it means that he’s starting to realize that they’re not going anywhere.

“Maybe I want to keep you all to myself.”

“Are you sure it wouldn’t be me keeping you?” Nancy leans up to kiss him lightly. “You wouldn’t be able to, you’d miss Jonathan too much.”

“Yeah, I would.” Now it’s Steve holding out his hand. “She’s right, Jon. You should join us.”

“Someone has to make dinner.”

“Nah, let’s order pizza instead. Come on, Jonathan. I think you can stand dancing to ABBA once in your life.”

“If you both insist…” He rolls his eyes. Dancing with three people who refuse to let go of each other is difficult, but they’ve been figuring this out for a few weeks now. They’ve got this figured out.

Or they’re trying, at least.

“Steve!” Nancy’s trying for stern, but she’s laughing too much. “Steve, you’re not supposed to end up on the floor!”

“The floor is a perfectly fine place to end up, Nance, I don’t know what you mean.” There’s a slight catch to Steve’s voice—a couple of months ago, Jonathan wouldn’t have even noticed it.

“Ankles or side?”

“Ankles. Side’s fine.”

Mom had thought this would happen—they couldn’t take Steve to an actual doctor even now.

Well, maybe now they could. But the scars are thick and obvious, and he knows Steve doesn’t want to explain them. 

Jonathan can’t blame him for that.

“Why didn’t you say anything?” Nancy’s got that little frown on her face; when it’s not directed at him it’s kind of cute.

“It’s not bad, guys, really. I didn’t even notice until I was on the floor.”

Steve’s so good at pretending nothing was ever wrong that it’s easy to believe.

Mom thinks there’s probably permanent muscle damage. Nerve damage, maybe. They don’t have a good way of knowing.

“Let’s order the pizza.” He helps Steve up. “We can start our movie night a little early.”

Steve leans on him a little, less than Jonathan had thought he would need to.

Steve doesn’t usually let them fuss over him—he certainly hadn’t when the wounds were still fresh, not when he was coherent enough to avoid it. He lets them set him up on the couch, Nancy’s fingers massaging his ankles gently. Jonathan already knows they’re not actually going to pay attention to the movies they’ve picked—they always pick ones they’ve seen before on purpose—but they’re not going to be too busy making out and teasing each other this time. Still, it’s nice to have the background noise, and Steve’s said before that having something else to focus on helps.

“Ghostbusters? Really, Steve?”

“Dustin wants to watch it like, four times a week, I figured it’d just be better if I owned it at that point.”

“Well, I guess that’s what we’re watching then.”

Nancy groans. “Really, Jon? You don’t get enough of that with Will? Mike’s not as bad as Dustin about it, but he’s had his obsession with it, too.”

“I haven’t actually seen it.” He admits. “Will usually watches it with the others. It’s not something we’ve watched together.”

“Really? Dustin’s yelled at me for not paying attention before.” Steve props himself up on his elbow. “Will’s probably the least intense of the shitheads, though, so I guess that makes sense.”

“That’s why Dustin’s my favorite.”

“Shut up, Nance.” Steve laughs. “See if I kiss you at all tonight, huh?”

finish on ao3 or continue reading

“You won’t be able to help yourself.” Nancy says primly. “I know you, Steve Harrington, and even you’re not fool enough to think you could follow through on that.”

“You’re right, I’m not. But I can do it for now. Jonathan, come here, please.” Sometimes it’s easy to feel left out, with them, but they always manage to draw him right back in.

He’s working on it.

“I hope you know I’m not going to stop kissing Nancy for you.” He says, sitting on the arm of the couch.

“I wouldn’t expect you to. She’s a good kisser, isn’t she?” Steve winks over at her, and she just slaps his thigh.

“If you’re going to kiss Jonathan, just do it already.”

“Don’t act like you don’t know he likes watching us banter.” He doesn’t get a chance to put the movie down before Steve grabs his shirt, kissing the corner of his mouth before pulling Jonathan on top of him.

“Well then.” He hears Nancy mutter, and he knows if he looked back at her, she’d have that look on her face.

Maybe they’ll do more making out tonight than Jonathan thought.

Steve kisses like it’s a contest he’s got to win, at least at first. As soon as Jonathan pins his wrists, or puts a hand on his chest, or does… pretty much anything, actually, Steve relaxes into it. It’s more than a little hot, and Jonathan’s never had a bad kiss with either Nancy or Steve, but there’s something about that—winning the ‘contest’, as it were—that just makes it so much better.

He’s the first one up the next morning—not a surprise, Steve is still recovering and Nancy has never been a morning person anyway.

Untangling himself from them to sneak away and make breakfast is one of the hardest things he’s done recently, and he’s been in the Upside Down and Mrs. Click’s class recently.

He’s tried to avoid thinking about Steve’s room and how ‘showroomy’ it is. Nancy had told him not to ask before his first visit, saying that Steve’s not allowed to decorate at his dad’s orders.

The kitchen is much the same: All-white coffee mugs and plates, fancy but impersonal glassware, and a silverware set that might be made out of actual silver but is free of dings and imperfections.

At home, he has his mug, something Will painted for him the other year, and Mom has one from each of them. Their silverware is dinged up from use, and they have a variety of novelty plates and glasses.

It’s like no one lives here, because it doesn’t feel lived in. No worn spots on the couches or chairs, the decor is tasteful but there’s no family photos anywhere. 

If Mom and Hopper got their way, it would actually be true. Steve would stay with them all the time. Having his boyfriend over all the time? It would be fantastic.

Or a deal breaker.

Steve’s good at masks, and Jonathan can tell that sometimes he’s more uncomfortable than he lets on.

He might still think this is temporary. That once he’s fully recovered, they’ll leave him again.

They’ll need to have a conversation about it, at some point. There’s no amount of kissing that will convince Steve otherwise, especially when sometimes kissing seems to make things worse.

He’s gotten very good at pulling himself and Nancy back when that’s happening. He’s not going to let Steve’s apparent avoidance of saying ‘no’—or maybe he thinks he can’t, which is another conversation they need to have—ruin them.

The Harringtons’ fridge and pantry  is stocked full. Steve had insisted on doing his own grocery runs, but most of it looks like the kids’ favorites, not Steve’s (dark chocolate, sparkling water, and strawberries), and there’s not much actual food. It’s protein shakes and protein bars.

“Jonathan?”

“Hey, Steve. Thought you would sleep longer.”

“You were gone.” Steve rests his head on Jonathan’s back, as if he were the shorter of them. “You’re warm.” So is Steve. His forehead is radiating heat.

He doesn’t need to be sick again.

Fuck, what if he’s gotten another infection? He’s been healing up so well, he doesn’t even have any stitches anymore.

“Nance is up too, but she wanted to clean up first.” Normally that’s something Steve would do with her. He likes to help them both dress for bed, completely non-sexually, it just seems to settle something in him. “What are you making?”

“Eggs and toast.” It’s about the only non-kid or protein-based thing Steve’s got. “Do you wanna come over for dinner this week?”

“Mmm.” Whatever he’s trying to say is muffled by Jonathan’s shirt. “I go back to school this week.”

“Yeah, you do.” There’s no way Steve is catching up, and they all know it. He might pass one or two of his classes, but he’s missed too much to pass them all. He’s been working hard on his make-up assignments, but there are a lot of them, and without instruction, only so much he can do. “All the more reason to come over.”

“I don’t want—” Steve inhales sharply, and must rock back on his heels, because he pulls Jonathan off-balance a little. “I don’t want Will to see me like that.”

“Like what?” Will’s seen him doing his make-up work before. Will’s even read some of them out loud to him. So what is Steve talking about?

“It’s one thing for the kids to know I’m stupid, it’s another for them to see it.”

“Steve, you’re not stupid.” Jonathan turns the burner off so he can turn around. “You’ve had a few concussions, and those can make things more difficult. But you’re not stupid.”

“I can’t even read right, Jon.” Steve whispers. “I can’t—I don’t know how to read, of course I’m stupid. And the concussions shouldn’t matter. I should be able to focus in class and understand things, and I can’t. I’m only good for sports and making sure the kids are safe.”

“Steve, no.” Jonathan pulls him to the couch. “That’s… that’s not true. Nancy and I love you, my mom and Hopper love you, and the kids, of course. Dustin looks up to you so much, and Will based one of his characters on you. El thinks you’re the best person in the world, maybe after Hopper.”

‘“But if I stopped giving them rides and bringing them food, would they?”

“You haven’t been able to give them rides lately, Steve.”

“I know. And I don’t see them! None of them come to visit, not even Will or Mike when you and Nancy come over.”

Shit. Hopper and Mom had limited visitors for a while, but now they’re not and while the kids have asked about Steve plenty, they’ve never actually asked to come see him.

They demanded it, at the beginning, but it’s been a while since they’ve done that.

This weekend is probably the first time he’s seen most of the kids in a while. Mike had been over the other day, sure, but it’s not like he was there to talk to Steve. Dustin, Max, and Lucas—Jonathan can’t even remember when he’d seen them before Friday night, when they’d all been over to move Steve back in.

The kids had seemed fine with each other, but maybe they had a fight or something.

That probably wouldn’t stop them from seeing Steve, though.

“Doesn’t Dustin call you every day?”

“Yeah, but I’ve told him I can come see him, or take him to a movie or something, and he always says no.”

“You’re not supposed to be driving much, Steve. I’m getting you for school tomorrow, remember?”

“Yeah.” There’s something on Steve’s face that said he hadn’t remembered, but with two concussions—that Jonathan knows about—that’s not a surprise. That, and they’ve spent this weekend, the first weekend Steve’s been back in his house, just spending time together and getting things set up. He probably hasn’t been thinking about school at all.

“Good. You’re not only good for sports and rides, Steve, I promise. The kids might just not know what they can do with you, now. Aren’t they usually all over you?” If Nancy were down here, she might know what to say. But he knows Steve is still nursing hurt over how their relationship ended, that it crushed him, so maybe not.

“Good morning, my boys!” Nancy hasn’t seen them yet, and Steve tries to straighten up and put on a smile. 

It doesn’t work.

“What’s wrong? Steve, did you pull something? Are you hurt?”

“It’s nothing big, Nance, I don’t want to bug you with it.” Steve tells her, like it’s easy. Like he wasn’t nearly crying a few minutes ago because he thinks he’s stupid.

“Steve, I’m not letting you downplay this, okay?” Steve watches his face for a minute, then nods before curling into Jonathan’s shoulder and staying there.

“Is it school? Steve, if you don’t want to go back yet, I’m sure we can get you more time. Maybe you could just skip the end of the year entirely.”

‘You’re not going to pass anyway.’ goes unsaid, and he realizes that unintentionally, Nancy is part of the problem. She thinks she’s helping; maybe even thinks all of the solutions she’s posed to get Steve passing grades for this year are kind. But has she asked Steve if that’s what he wants? Have any of them?

They’ve asked if he wants to go back to school, and he said yes. But they haven’t asked if he thinks he’s going to pass any of his classes, or if he even really wants to try passing them, after all this time.

He probably is, too. Without trying, they’ve been hurting Steve, and it’s finally all coming to a head.

Of course it’s when Steve’s sick, because this is probably the only time his guard is down enough for him to tell them this. He’d never want them to know otherwise.

And Steve is the most emotionally competent of the three of them. At least when it comes to their feelings, and the kids’, and apparently anyone but himself.

“You can tell me, Steve.” Nancy is too proper to slide down the banister (Jonathan’s not—it’s fun), or to outright run down the stairs when no one is actively bleeding, but she settles onto the arm of the couch  as fast as she possibly can. She tilts Steve’s face toward her. “Oh, you’re burning up, babe. Does your side hurt? Your ankles?” Steve shakes his head.

“Just sick?” She meets Jonathan’s eyes for a minute. Steve’s warm, but he’s warm all over, not the concentrated heat that would signal an infection in one specific spot.

Unless it’s sepsis. It can’t be sepsis, though, right? They would have caught that before. Steve hasn’t been infected for a while, there’s no way it’s sepsis.

Jonathan almost doesn’t want Nancy to ask what they’d been talking about that had gotten him this upset. They can focus on Steve being sick instead.

A door slams outside, and they all jump. None of them are expecting anyone, and it’s not like Mom or Hopper would slam the door.

Steve’s scrambling off of him and shoving them toward the back door. Jonathan had parked on a little side road; there had been construction on one of the houses when they’d gotten here.

“Go, go, go!” Steve pushes a little harder.  “My parents are home—they weren’t supposed to be back yet—go, get out of here. They’ll be pissed if you’re still here, I don’t know what they’ll say to you.”

“Come with us!”

“My car is in the driveway, if I’m not here I’ll just get into more trouble later. Go. I’ll see you at school.”

Jonathan hears the door lock behind them.

He wants to go back in, but the key Nancy has is for the front door.

The only thing he can do is let her pull him away, hoping that tomorrow morning, they’ll be gone again.

<- 21 23->

#stranger things #steve harrington #nancy wheeler #jonathan byers #stoncy #stranger things fic #nix writes #i get myself twisted in threads #hurt steve harrington #stoncy fic #whump #whump fic #fluff #fic update #ao3 fanfic #my fic #ao3 #st fic #stranger things fanfic #wip wednesday #wip update #angst

[sunnflow3rshowers]

Rp Search

In this year of Our Lord 2023, Omegle has fallen. (RIP) So here I am, laying all of this out, desperate to find more rp partners. I am 27, so I am only really interested in rping with people that are 21+. I am interested in both fandom and OC rps, depending on the mood and all of that. I will list the fandoms I'm looking for, as well as who I play, and general themes. I am a third person, literate roleplay, I stick to 1-2 paragraphs, but the length can always fluctuate depending on the roleplay and my roleplay partners. When it comes to RPs, I like them light and soft. I also like them dark and heavy, with lots of Whump, Angst, and Hurt/Comfort, as well as some darker themes that would require trigger warnings, all of which will be discussed privately, of course.

I prefer MxM for fandom rps, although there are some small exceptions for specific ships. I"m more open to MxF and FxF, and other pairings with more OC rps. With most Fandom Rps, I am looking for Shipping Rps, aka a Merthur rp, Kylux Rp, etc

Fandoms!

Fandom: Who I play

Teen wolf: Stiles Stilinski The Old Guard: Nicky Star Wars: Luke Skywalker, Armitage Hux Umbrella Academy: Klaus Stranger Things: Jonathan Byers, Steve Harrington The Hobbit: Bilbo Baggins The Witcher: Jaskier Kingsman: Eggsy Unwin ATLA: Sokka Our Flag Means Death: Lucius Spriggs Gotham: Oswald Cobblepot Merlin: Merlin Criminal Minds: Spencer Reid Hannibal: Will Graham Arcane: Viktor Spider-Man: Peter Parker (NOT MCU) GOT: Sansa (only paired with Sandor Clegane) The Eternals: Makkari (only paired with Druig) Detroit Become Human: Connor Good Omens: Aziraphale Agents of Shield: Fitz (as gay and not paired with Simmons) FAHC: Jack (fem) Yugioh: Joey Wheeler Person of Interest: Harold Finch Haikyuu: Suga, kenma X-men: Charles Xavier The Boys: Hughie White Collar: Neal The Goldfinch: Theo Hunter X Hunter: Kurapika, Shalnark Barry: No-ho Hank IT: Eddie Hawaii 5-0: Danny Daredevil (netflix): Foggy, James Wesley Fantastic Beasts: Credence Vikings: Athelstan OC Fandoms! Hit me up if you want to talk about rps in any of these. In these sorts of rps I am 110% down to double up if you play canon against my oc, all of which can be talked and discussed privately! Marvel Xmen GOT Star Wars Barry General Rps! I am a huge fan of brainstorming rps with general themes! Fantasy Horror Drama Sci-fi Cyberpunk Etc! Please please just reach out and I'm always going to be happy to brainstorm! If you made it this far, thank you so much! If you are interested, like this, leave a comment, send me a dm, or add me on discord @ sunnflow3rshowers !

#fandom rp #roleplay finder #roleplay search #geraskier #kaysanova #kylux #steter #sterek #joe/nicky #fiskley #athelnar #gravebone #gredence #gradence #mcdanno #butchie #Reddie #violetshipping #uvoshal #leopika #skysolo #Stonathan #harringrove #bygrove #kliego #Hartwin #Thilbo #zukka #ofmd #gobblepot