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worth-the-chaos · 3 months

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Adventures in Babysitting - Steve Harrington x female!reader - Chapter 13

Chapter Summary: As you all attempt to connect the dots of the gruesome murders occurring around your small but sinister town, secrets start to spill when Steve realizes you’ve been keeping things from him.

Content Warning: violence, descriptive details of Chrissy’s murder, scary upside down shit, swearing (maybe that should have preceded the previous warning), arguing, guilt and trauma

Word Count: 7.2k

Author’s Note: Ahhh! I’m so excited to be getting this chapter out! Again, sorry it took longer than usual…college is kicking my ass and syllabus week is not syllabus week-ing (kind of bullshit if you ask me). Anyway, I hope you all enjoy this chapter and I can’t wait to see what y’all think!

Message me if you want to be added to the taglist to get updates when the next chapter is posted…I’d highly recommend it if you want to follow the story since I don’t have a definite posting schedule :)

Series Masterlist | Chapter 12 | Next Part

***

Once you had caught up to the police cars, to your horror, you were met with the sight of a body covered in a white sheet in the middle of the road. Nancy was there talking to a police officer and when she had noticed the five of you there, she quickly finished her conversation with the officer.

Now, you were all sitting at a picnic table in the trailer park, debriefing over everything you knew thus far. Your head was spinning hearing it all over again. Even though you didn’t feel quite ready to handle it, you knew that you had to. You looked around at your friends sitting beside you at the table and thought about how you were all just victims of circumstance.

“It doesn’t make sense,” Nancy finally spoke up after Dustin’s explanation.

“It’s just a theory,” Dustin replied.

“No, Fred and Chrissy don’t make sense. I mean, why them?” She shook her head as she said it. You wondered how Nancy was feeling. Knowing how much she had struggled with Barb’s death, you wondered if Fred’s was impacting her similarly.

“Maybe they were just in the wrong place?” You suggested. “I mean, they were both at the game…and near the trailer park,” you added, trying to find any and all connections you could possibly make. I just want it to make sense, you thought, if it made sense that means we could fix it.

“We’re at the trailer park,” Steve spoke up hesitantly, looking at you with worry in his eyes as he grabbed for your hand under the table. “Uhh…should we maybe not…be here?”

“There is something about this place,” Nancy began, “Fred started acting weird the second we got here.”

“Weird as in…?” Robin pushed the question.

“Scared….upset,” Nancy looked you all in the eyes. You felt a chill go down your spine as you considered the fact that these kids—your peers—likely died in terror.

“Max said Chrissy was upset too,” Dustin reminded you all.

“Yeah, but not here. She was crying in the bathroom at school.”

“Serial killers stalk their prey before they strike, right? So maybe Fred and Chrissy saw this Vecna before?” Robin suggested. You were all grasping at straws at this point. There wasn’t anything to even go off of.

“I don’t know about you guys, but if I saw some freaky wizard monster, I would mention it to someone,” Steve spoke up. You felt a pang in your chest as you remembered all that you hadn’t been telling him.

“Maybe they did,” you added hesitantly. “I saw Chrissy leaving Ms. Kelley’s office. If you saw a monster, you…you wouldn’t go to the police. They’d never believe you.”

“But you might tell your shrink,” Robin finished your thought, sharing a knowing look with you. She had been keeping secrets for you. What Steve didn’t know was that when he had picked you up in the middle of the assembly, the two of you had run into Ms. Kelley before you could make it to the nurse’s office.

You were still crying after you and Robin had gone back inside after hanging up with Steve. You were no longer inconsolable, but tears were still streaming down your face. Robin tried to quickly rush you to the nurse’s office, her mind going a million miles a minute trying to think of a good excuse. Suddenly, you turned the corner and you jumped as you were met face to face with Ms. Kelley.

“Y/n? Is everything okay?” She asked you. Her eyes searched your face looking for an answer and you felt your heart leap to your throat. You were choked up, unable to speak, so she continued, attempting to be quiet to maintain confidentiality. “Is this about the mall fire again? Do you need to schedule another appointment with me?”

You avoided eye contact with Ms. Kelley, instead more focused on looking over her shoulder at Robin as her face twisted into a look of confusion and concern. You felt guilt pull at your chest from the look on her face and you redirected your gaze to the floor, suddenly way more concerned with the dirty laces of your tennis shoes.

“I don’t think that’ll be necessary, Ms. Kelley. Thank you though for all your help this semester. I think I’m just having one of those days and-and with Jason talking about it at the assembly…it just caught me off guard is all,” your voice was small as you responded, trying to swallow the lump in your throat.

“What can I do to support you right now?” She further inquired. All you could think of was the panic that had settled in your ribcage and how you desperately needed to leave.

“I guess…I just don’t think I’m in a good frame of mind to be in class right now. I have a quiz in O’Donell’s and I don’t want my grade to tank because of all of this,” you choked out. Ms. Kelley nodded as she rubbed circles on your back to help calm you down.

“How about I go to the front office and get you all signed out and Robin can wait with you outside for your ride?” You nodded and she turned to Robin, “you can call her folks on the payphone for her, yeah?”

Robin stood dumbfounded for a second before shaking her head to clear her thoughts. “Yeah, yeah, yeah, of course!” She quickly replied, nodding aggressively, still a bit shocked by the whole encounter. Ms. Kelley thanked Robin and headed towards the main office, and your eyes were still fixed on the floor when Robin spoke up again.

“Look, you don’t have to tell me anything if you don’t want to, but I just want you to know that I’m here for you, okay?” She grabbed your shoulders and forced you to look her in the eye. “I’m not going to say I understand what you’re going through specifically, but I was there too, so if you ever need to talk to someone about it without shrouding it in lies about a fire, please just come to me.”

You stood there in silence for a little bit before you nodded. “You can’t tell Steve,” you warned, your voice serious. “Seriously, Robin. He can’t know about any of this.”

Robin looked like she wanted to protest but sighed before finally agreeing. “Fine. Let’s go wait for your dingus.”

Your breath caught in your throat as she had said it. You shot her a look that said “don’t even go there” as everyone was getting up to go. She rolled her eyes but dropped the subject. Suddenly you noticed Nancy was heading in a different direction as Steve started to follow after her.

“Woah, woah, Nance. Nance! Where are you going?” Steve called after her, concern lacing his voice. Your heart dropped a little at the nickname, knowing that was what he started calling her after they had started dating. You knew that he loved you, but you couldn’t help but feel less than when you remembered Steve had spent nearly a year dating the most perfect girl in Hawkins.

“Oh, there’s just something I wanna check on first.” She responded, though something in her voice made it clear that there was more than she was letting on.

“Something you maybe wanna share with the rest of us?” Dustin asked, exasperated, and you couldn’t help but agree with the sentiment. We’re all in this together and it doesn’t make sense to be keeping things from each other, you thought, but it was followed by an immediate pang in your chest as you thought about the things you’d been keeping from your own boyfriend.

“I just don’t wanna waste anyone’s time.”

“Uh, are you serious? Flying solo with this Vecna guy on the loose? No, it’s too dangerous. You need someone to go with you. In fact, I’ll go,” you started heading towards her, but Steve caught you by your elbow and pulled you back, the change in momentum causing you to stumble.

“Oh, absolutely not! No way in fucking hell!” Steve yelled, and your jaw set at the anger in his voice. You opened your mouth to argue, but Robin spoke up before you could get a word out.

“This is stupid. I’ll go with Nancy and we’ll sort out whatever it is we need to sort out,” Robin started heading towards Nancy’s car and Nancy quickly followed.

“Be careful!” You yelled out after them and they didn’t really respond because who could honestly be careful with any of this shit anyway? None of you really knew what the hell was going on.

Steve rolled his eyes as you all got in the car. “Wipe your feet,” he warned Dustin, who, in true dumbass fashion, began wiping his dirty tennis shoes off on the floor mats in Steve’s BMW. “Not on the inside! On the outside idiot!” You couldn’t help but chuckle as Steve aggressively started the car. “Always the babysitter. Always the goddamn babysitter!”

“Hey, it could be worse…the kids behave sometimes,” you reminded Steve and he looked at you like you had three heads.

“Yeah, sure, if sometimes means on the corner of never and not at all, then sure. They’re perfectly behaved,” he grumbled and you couldn’t help but laugh. The laughter, however, didn’t last long as the reality of the situation started to settle in. You were going to have to talk to Ms. Kelley.

“Hey, so I think I’ll go talk to Ms. Kelley by myself, you know. I just…I’ve been talking to her recently because she’s been helping with some college application stuff, so I’ve got a good rapport with her and whatever,” you attempted to remain nonchalant, but you stumbled over your words a bit and Steve looked at you funny. You just stared pointedly at him and he shrugged, making his way to her house. Luckily with it being such a small town, it wasn’t too hard to figure out where she lived. He parked on the street and turned the car off, beginning to unbuckle.

“What are you doing?” You asked quickly.

“What does it look like I’m doing? I’m going with you,” he responded, his brows furrowed in confusion and annoyance.

“No!” you put a hand on his shoulder, and he stopped in his tracks, his confusion significantly multiplying.

“This shit is fucked, y/n. I’m not letting you go by yourself, no way.”

“Well, then Max can go with me,” you offered, looking at the girl in the backseat who was equally confused. “I just think it’s a good idea for you to keep the car running…you know, in case something happens and we have to leave quickly.”

It was a dumb ass excuse, but Steve let it slide as he rolled his eyes and started the car again. Max opened up her mouth to ask you what the hell was going on as you made your way to the front door but you just gave a small shake of your head to shut down her potential questioning. You knocked on the door and Ms. Kelley finally answered, a look of confusion and concern painted across her features.

“Hey…I-I’m sorry to bother you over break but do you have a minute to talk?” You asked, trying to keep your voice even despite the anxiety settling in your chest.

“Um, yeah, of course. Of course,” she replied, stepping to the side to let the both of you in. You both sat down in her family room as she took a seat across from the two of you.

“So, what’s going on? What would you like to talk about?”

“I just brought Max here because with all of the murders going on…we’re just…I guess we’re just feeling a bit uneasy. It’s just making it difficult, especially since Max lives in the trailer park too where the body was discovered. It’s just hitting a little too close to home.” Max nodded, following your lead, though neither of you were being dishonest. You were both scared shitless.

“You both have experienced trauma and I know both of you don’t like to talk about it or deal with your emotions,” Ms. Kelley spoke up and you looked over to Max. She must have been seeing Ms. Kelley too. “But when you keep your feelings bottled up like that, it is very easy for something to set them off. So now, when it rains, it storms.”

“Yeah, I know,” Max replied, and your heart ached for the poor girl. You felt the ever present guilt tear at your chest as you tried to swallow the lump in your throat as she went on. “It’s just, I live right next door to where it happened. The police asked me a bunch of questions…and I guess I was just wondering if they talked to you? I know you were seeing Chrissy—“

Ms. Kelley cut her off, “you know I can’t talk to you about Chrissy.”

“I know but what if there was a serial killer loose in her neighborhood?” You chimed in. “Did Chrissy mention anything? Anything at all about who might have done this?”

“Girls, I really can’t discuss this, I’m sorry. You both wouldn’t want me talking about you to other students, right?”

“If I were dead and it would help catch the killer, then yeah, I most definitely would,” you shot back, beginning to get heated about the way this was getting you nowhere.

“Well, let’s leave that to the police then, okay?” Ms. Kelley responded, staying calm per usual despite your outburst.

“Yeah, you’re right,” you conceded, but another plan was already taking root in your mind. “Can we use the restroom on our way out?”

“Sure. Up the stairs to the left.” You grabbed Max’s wrist and gently but quickly guided her up into the kitchen, ignoring Ms. Kelley’s directions she had given you and grabbing keys labeled “office” out of a bowl on her counter.

“Come on,” you whispered, dragging her behind you as you both swiftly and silently made your way out of the house. You quickly got in the car before looking at Steve who was staring at you expectantly. “Drive.”

“What? Y/n, what did she say?”

“Nothing, just drive!” You emphasized and Steve abided as he took off. You would have to wait for the sun to go down, but as soon as it did, it was go time.

You were breaking in to Hawkins High.

***

You fumbled with the keys as you tried to unlock the doors of the school. You weren’t the type of student that did this shit. Sure, you weren’t exactly a goody-two-shoes, but breaking into the school? That was a bit too much, even for the likes of you guys.

You finally got the door opened, pushing into the dark hallway, flashlight illuminating the dark corridor as you made your way into the building. After making sure there was no one in sight, you waved the rest of the gang to follow you.

“This is dumb as hell,” Steve reminded you, “like I don’t know in what world you see this going okay…and—and if we get caught, you might as well kiss your chance of scholarships goodbye.”

“Well, some things are more important than college,” you grumbled, annoyed with your boyfriend. You guessed it was cute that he cared so much about your long term plans and aspirations—but still.

He scoffed and you rolled your eyes as you continued to make your way down the hall. Suddenly Dustin’s walkie talkie came to life, Robin’s voice echoing out into the empty hall. “Dustin, do you copy?”

“Yeah, I copy.”

“So, Nancy’s a genius. Vecna’s first victims date all the way back to 1959; her shot in the dark was a bullseye,” Robin sounded excited. Dustin was about to speak again when you took the walkie out of his hands, pressing down the button to speak.

“That is totally bonkers, but we can’t really talk right now,” you relayed quickly into the radio.

“Wait, what are you guys doing right now?”

“You know, just…breaking and entering in the school to retrieve confidential and extremely personal files,” you replied a bit sheepishly. Robin asked you to repeat yourself, but Steve grabbed the walkie talkie from you.

“Just get your asses over here, stat. We’ll explain everything,” Steve sounded irritated. He wasn’t super thrilled to be bringing two of his other senior friends into this who were likely to be expelled if the school found out about their actions.

You swiftly unlocked the door to Ms. Kelley’s office, immediately moving to unlock the file cabinet that contained all of her student files.

“It’s like a mini Watergate or something,” Dustin mumbled as you yanked the drawer open, flipping through the files. “Hawkinsgate!” Dustin emphasized, though you weren’t entirely paying attention, attempting to find Chrissy’s file.

“Didn’t those guys get caught?” Steve reminded the boy, his anxiety rising by the minute the longer you all were in the building.

“Holy shit,” you whispered, stopping at another hauntingly familiar name on a file.

“Did you find it?” Max asked, everyone’s attention now on you.

“Yeah, and not just Chrissy’s file…Fred was seeing Ms. Kelley too.”

You all looked between each other, the room becoming increasingly more tense as elements of what you knew were beginning to connect. You sat down as you flipped Chrissy’s file open. You were thumbing through the pages when you found a handwritten note with a list of symptoms. You felt your heart drop when you read them. “Um, can I see Fred’s file,” you whispered, not drawing your eyes away from the words on the page.

“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” Steve replied, setting Fred’s file in front of you. You frantically flipped through the pages until you found a very similar handwritten note, detailing all the same ailments. You sat there, staring wide eyed at the page in front of you, hoping desperately that if you stared at it long enough that the words would change. They didn’t.

Dustin spoke up from behind you, “hey, y/n…you have a file in here too?” It was more of a question than a statement, and you broke out of your trance as Steve looked at you confused. When you didn’t say anything, he turned his attention to Dustin, his confusion turning to anger.

“Hey, that’s not funny. Stop bullshitting, man,” Steve warned, but he stopped in his tracks when Dustin held up the file folder, your name printed clear as day across the top. Why in the hell were you seeing Ms. Kelley? His mind raced as he tried not to think about all the other things you might not be telling him.

“Y/n? What is this? Y/n…y/n!” Steve began to interrogate you, holding up the file folder in front of you in a white knuckled grip. He was mad…that much you could tell, but his voice continued to sound farther and farther away. Instead, a different voice rang out, your name echoing into the room in a low and gravelly register that made your skin crawl. Even though you didn’t want to, you felt compelled to follow it.

You turned, getting up from your chair and exiting into the hallway. You heard a slight, rhythmic ticking before a chime rang out. A chill went down your spine as the noise caused your heart to sink in your chest. If anxiety had a sound, this was it.

You tried to swallow the lump in your throat as you pushed on through the hallway. You were surprised no one else had followed you, but you pushed the thought aside as you turned the corner, you flashlight slightly shaking in your unsteady hands. The light caught the wall at the end of the tunnel, and you felt nauseous looking at the ornate grandfather clock sat nestled into the wall, fissures spreading outwards as the plaster cracked around its wooden frame.

The pendulum swung back and forth ominously…hypnotically as you continued towards it. Your mind screamed at you to stop, but your legs wouldn’t listen as they continued forward, bringing you closer and closer to the clock. It continued to tick evenly, which was almost more unsettling as you wondered what it was counting down to.

“Y/n,” the voice growled out again. It was all too much to bear, so you squeezed your eyes shut tight as you willed it all to be over. Instead, you were met with bright blue, yet sinister looking eyes staring back at you.

Suddenly, Steve’s voice filled your ears again and you felt someone shaking at your shoulders. “Y/n! Y/n, please wake up! Y/n!”

Your eyes shot open as you stared wide eyed into the familiar brown ones you would daydream about. Except, instead of having the familiar flecks of light as they twinkled when he talked to you, they were dark and full of worry, his brow furrowed as he stared deep into your eyes.

You gasped and leaned forward in your chair, collapsing into his arms. He immediately reacted to your movements, pulling you in close as his hands frantically moved across your back, as if trying to make sure you were still all there. You were breathing heavily and fighting back tears as you gripped Steve’s shirt in your hands.

The door suddenly burst open, causing you to shriek, and Steve swiftly pulled you up out of your chair, yanking you behind him as he gripped your hand in his. Your heart rate began to slow as you realized it was only Nancy and Robin…not whatever that thing was that you saw.

“What’s going on?” Robin asked hesitantly. You looked between Dustin, Max, and Steve as you tried to figure out what you could possibly say. After a moment, you finally settled on something, reluctantly opening your mouth to speak.

“I…I saw something.”

“What do you mean you saw something?” Dustin asked hesitantly. He had been scared out of his mind when he saw you go catatonic in the chair, unresponsive to Steve’s shouting. He had thought back to Eddie’s account of what happened to Chrissy as he sat frozen watching Steve try to wake you.

Your lips parted to try and explain, but you shook your head, moving around Steve and darting towards the door. He tried to stop you, but Robin put a hand on his shoulder, holding him back as everyone followed you out into the hall.

“It was right there….a grandfather clock. And—and it was so…real. When I got closer, suddenly I-I just…I woke up,” you explained, staring blankly at the wall in front of you. It sat there plain and empty, and it almost was more frightening that the clock you had seen was gone now.

“It was like she was in a trance or something. Exactly like what Eddie said happened to Chrissy,” Dustin elaborated. Steve’s stomach dropped and he suddenly felt nauseous. That couldn’t be it. He couldn’t live with himself if you…

He pushed the thought aside.

“That’s not even the bad part,” you interjected, turning to face your group of friends.

“What the fuck do you mean, y/n?” Steve asked, his voice dead serious. You didn’t answer him as you quickly made your way back to Ms. Kelley’s office, opening the files that had sent a shudder down your spine as you read them earlier.

“Fred and Chrissy, they both came to Ms. Kelley for help. Uh, they both were having headaches, nosebleeds…nightmares, trouble sleeping. And—and then they started seeing things. Bad things,” you started explaining. Steve thought back to all the times you had woken up gasping in the middle of the night, burying your head into his chest as he soothed you back to sleep. He thought about the tissues he had started keeping in his car and the jokes he made about your suddenly frequent nosebleeds. He thought about the headache you had just the night before. He felt more sick to his stomach than he had ever felt in his life as he followed the dots you had connected.

“These visions, they kept on getting worse and worse, until eventually…everything ended,” you whispered the last part, your voice beginning to fail you.

“Vecna’s curse,” Robin looked at you, fear in her eyes.

“Chrissy’s headache started a week ago. Fred’s six days ago,” you continued, “I’ve been having them for five days. I don’t know how long I have. All I know is that Fred and Chrissy both died within 24 hours of their first vision, and I just saw that goddamn clock, so…looks like I’m gonna die tomorrow.” A tear rolled down your cheek as you stumbled through your words, not ready for the inevitability that you were staring in the face.

“No, that’s not going to happen,” Steve spoke up, shaking his head aggressively. “I mean, it’s all just a coincidence, right? It has to be. It-it just has to be.” His voice began to falter as he looked between all of you, none of you sharing his optimism. No one responded, and he kicked the metallic front of the desk, muttering curse words under his breath. You went to stop him, but Robin held you back. He needed this. He needed the catharsis.

Each clang that rang out was like a knife to your chest, feeling the reverberation in your body as he kicked with all his might. He finally calmed down a bit, leaning over and panting as he placed two hands on the desk and stared as his feet while fuming.

Suddenly another clang rang out; however, this one couldn’t be attributed to Steve’s outburst. This one came from somewhere else in the building. You all jumped and Steve when saw the fear in your eyes, his jaw set and he spoke up.

“You guys stay here,” he muttered as he grabbed a floor lamp, yanking it aggressively to unplug it before heading out of the room. You all obviously didn’t listen, following close behind as you hesitantly made your way down the hall. Another clang sounded, this time closer, and you jumped, Robin grabbing your shoulders to steady you. Suddenly, you heard the distinctive sound of footsteps. Someone was coming for you.

The pace of them quickened as whatever was headed your direction began to break out into a clear and definite sprint. A figure suddenly turned the corner, and everyone broke out into a chorus of shrieks and screams as Steve geared up to swing the metal lamp.

“It’s me!” The figure screamed out and you realized it was only Lucas.

“What is wrong with you Sinclair?!” Steve shouted, his paternal side kicking in as he turned this instance into a lecture.

“I’m sorry,” Lucas panted, doubled over from running.

“I could’ve taken you out with this lamp!” Steve once again emphasized, shaking the lamp for effect.

“I’m sorry guys…I-I…just give me a second…I was biking…for eight miles. And-and…we’ve got…a code red,” he panted in response. You all looked at him expectantly before he continued. “Dustin, I’ve been with Jason, Patrick, and Andy and they’ve totally gone off the rails. They’re trying to capture Eddie and they think you know where he is. You’re in terrible danger!”

Your heart stopped in your chest, as you went to stand in front of Dustin wanting to further question Lucas. You needed to know every last damn detail if you were going to keep Dustin safe, and that was all you cared about right now. Dustin pushed back in front of you, glaring at you a bit before speaking up again. “That really sucks, but we have bigger problems than Jason right now,” he relayed to Lucas, looking back at you.

***

You had split up for the night…well kind of. Everyone else was spending the night at Nancy’s but Steve decided that the two of you needed time to talk so there you were, back in his BMW as you made your way to his house. You didn’t know what to say to him, and you both rode in silence, the air tense between you.

About halfway through the ride, he had removed one hand from the steering wheel, reaching blindly to grasp your hand in his. He needed reassurance that you were still here. He needed to find a way to believe that they would figure this out and you would still be here.

You went up to his room, quietly sitting on the bed as your eyes filled with tears again now that you were in an environment in which you could be more vulnerable. Steve stood at his dresser, getting a pair of pajama pants out as he broke the silence.

“How could you keep this from me, y/n?” He sounded hurt and you really couldn’t blame him. If the tables were turned you would have felt the same way, and you felt the need to justify your actions.

“I didn’t want to worry you,” you whispered. You were looking down at your hands, though you couldn’t see them that well as your vision blurred from the unshed tears.

“That’s bullshit, and I think you know it,” Steve replied, his voice still small. “I…I just can’t believe you don’t trust me.”

“Of course I trust you Steve!” You cried out, your head snapping up to look at him.

“You sure have a funny way of showing it,” he scoffed. He knew he shouldn’t be angry with you. That he shouldn’t be taking it out on you. But he felt betrayed, feeling as though the relationship you’d built was shattering before his eyes as he contemplated the secrets you’d kept.

“You knew I was struggling. Don’t even try and act like you didn’t; this shouldn’t be a complete shock,” you defended yourself, anger leaking into your tone as well.

“Yeah, I knew you were struggling, but not like this! This is kind of a bit more than just struggling, y/n. Why didn’t you fucking tell me you were seeing Ms. Kelley?”

“Steve, that doesn’t even matter, I don’t get why you’re so caught up on that one little detail! It’s nothing compared to all the other shit going on right now!” You yelled, exasperated that, despite everything, he couldn’t just let it go.

“‘It doesn’t matter’? Are you fucking serious, y/n? Of course it fucking matters! You didn’t come to me! You never tell me things! We don’t really fucking talk about it anymore—all the shit we went through, I mean,” he sighed, running his hands through his hair as you stared up at him from your spot on his bed. He still stood by his dressed, and the distance between you suddenly felt uncrossable. In this moment, it felt like you were strangers to one another. He took a deep breath and continued, “I-I…we used to talk about it; work through it together. It seems like ever since last summer, we don’t even fucking acknowledge it.”

You stared up at him from across the room, and he thought he could break at the look in your eyes. You were hurting. You had been hurting, and all he wanted to do was try and make it better, but you wouldn’t let him.

“I don’t know what you want me to tell you, Steve,” your voice was even as you said it.

“Why didn’t you tell me about seeing Ms. Kelley?”

“Steve—“

“No, cut the bullshit, y/n. Why didn’t you tell me you were seeing Ms. Kelley? It’s a simple question; answer it,” he crossed his arms, refusing to move on until he got an adequate response. You were reaching your breaking point, and you didn’t think about the words before they exited your lips.

“Because you would have tried to help, and I don’t want your fucking help!” You blurted out. As soon as you saw the way that Steve’s face fell as you said it, you wished you could take it back. He took a deep breath and hung his head as he turned to leave the room. “Steve, wait….I-I didn’t mean it like that! Steve!”

You ran to him, grabbing at his wrist to try and get him to stay. He shook your hand away, turning around to look back at you. You saw the way tears were beginning to pool in his pretty brown eyes.

“Y/n…just….I just need you to leave me alone right now, okay?” He choked the words out. You were expecting him to be mad, to yell, to be angry. Instead his voice was small and sad, and you felt your heart jump to your throat. You didn’t listen, grabbing his wrist again as tears began to stream down your face. You decided that listening to him shout was easier to take than watching him cry knowing you caused it.

“Just yell at me! Steve, please. Just yell at me! Don’t leave, please baby!” You begged, pulling on his arm with each word that left your mouth. You were choking back sobs and slowly, he turned back towards you.

Something about him set off alarm bells in your head as you felt a shiver run down your spine.

“Why would I stay for you?” The words felt like a knife to your heart as your brows furrowed, confused at his words.

“What?” You whispered, your hands dropping his wrist as a lump formed in your throat.

“I said, why would I stay for you? You’re a dirty fucking liar and the most self-centered person I fucking know. It doesn’t matter what I need, or what anyone else needs. I mean, you put the kids in danger all the fucking time! When are you going to learn that this Upside Down bullshit isn’t what’s scary. You are,” he spat, taking a step towards you. Your heart was racing and you took a step back. He had never acted like this before. He had never told you that he thought these things about you.

“I-I…I don’t understand,” you cried, continuing to scramble backwards as he approached you. You’d never been afraid of him before either, but you couldn’t help the fear clawing at your chest as he continued forward, slowly yet with an aggression that had you trembling as you quickened your steps backwards to evade his reach. His room was only so small, and you were running out of room.

“Y/n,” Steve laughed. It sounded foreign to your ears; it wasn’t the melodic tone you’d come to love and seek out. Instead it was sinister, laced in condescension and anger. “Did you really think I care whether or not I’m with you or some other bitch? Do you really think anyone cares about you? You’re just some misfit freak, and nothing is ever going to change that.”

You took a step back, jumping in fright as your back hit the wall. You had run out of room, and suddenly Steve grabbed your wrists and pinned them to your sides. You squeezed your eyes shut tight and turned your head to the side, hoping that it would all just go away.

“Look at me,” Steve’s voice rang out again, but this time it was distorted, your eyes fluttered open as you cried out, being met with the same piercing blue eyes that you had seen flash across your vision before you woke up from your trance in the school earlier. You heard a chime ring out; the same chime that echoed from the clock, and you remembered the way the pendulum had swung menacingly from side to side.

“Let go of me!” You gasped out. You wished you hadn’t opened your eyes, as you took in the sight of the figure in front of you. His skin was decrepit, a slightly translucent sheen apparent as the dim moonlight filtering through the window reflected off its surface.

“You think you can atone for everything that you destroyed?” The figure asked you. Your heart was racing, feeling his clawed hands grip your wrists tighter as you tried to wriggle free. “All you’ve ever done is hurt people, put people in danger, ruin lives.”

You thought back over the past two and a half years, feeling the guilt rise in your throat as you thought about Dustin. You were supposed to protect him. You were supposed to make sure he was staying out of danger.

Instead, time and time again you led him right to it.

“Just let me go!” You shrieked. You couldn’t budge from his grasp, small cries escaping your lips in defeat as you continued your desperate and futile attempts to break free.

“Your time is almost up, y/n,” his voice was a low growl as he leaned in, saying it quietly into your ear. Goosebumps erupted over your whole body as you squeezed your eyes shut again.

“Y/n! Please! Y/n!” Another voice suddenly filled your ears. It sounded far away at first, but it became clearer and you felt someone shaking your shoulders as your eyes snapped open to meet the familiar brown ones you knew and loved. Tears were streaming down Steve’s face and when he realized you finally come to, he pulled you in, crushing you in the tightest hug you’d ever received.

You began to break down, sobs racking your frame as you grabbed onto your boyfriend. “I don’t know what’s real anymore,” you choked out between sobs, your tears forming a wet spot on his shirt as you cried into his shoulder.

“Shhhhh, it’s okay. I’m here, baby, I’m real,” he tried to console you, but he was still a mess himself. He thought back over what he just witnessed and he felt guilt settle in his chest.

He had just told you that he needed a second to be alone. He needed time to clear his thoughts because he didn’t want to say anything in the heat of the moment that he would regret later. You had clung to his arm, protesting and trying to get him to stay when all of the sudden you retreated into yourself, going catatonic as your eyes rolled in the back of your head. He felt his heart sink halfway to hell when you wouldn’t respond. Your eyes were moving rapidly back and forth underneath your eyelids and regardless of what he did, you wouldn’t wake up. All he could think about was what Eddie had said about Chrissy…the way she levitated and her bones began to snap and how her eyes got pulled back into her skull.

He couldn’t watch that happen to you.

“I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you,” he whispered into your ear as he swayed with you from side to side. You could feel him still trembling and you thought back to what the figure—what Vecna, had said. All you ever brought on was hurt and destruction and chaos.

“I’m sorry!” You cried out, continuing to sob. At this, Steve immediately pulled away, looking at you quizzically.

“Why are you apologizing? Please don’t apologize, baby,” he begged.

“It’s just…I-I-I should’ve told you I was going to see Ms. Kelley! I was just afraid be-because I didn’t want you…to-to try and fix it because I knew that-that you would worry, and…and I didn’t want to put you through that stress,” you began, hiccuping through your words as you continued to cry. “Steve, I-I…I don’t think I have much time. I don’t want to waste what little we might have left being angry at each other, so can you please forgive me?”

Steve ignored your plea for forgiveness, instead focusing on the other aspect of your statement. “What do you mean you don’t have much time?” He asked hesitantly, afraid of what your answer would be.

“I saw Vecna,” you whispered, “he told me my time is almost up.”

“I’m not going to let him take you from me, y/n. I’m just not,” he shook his head aggressively as he stared at you wide eyed.

“Steve, this is exactly why I didn’t tell you—“ you began but he cut you off.

“Y/n, I don’t care that you don’t want me to worry about you; I’m going to regardless of whether you tell me to or not, and if you think that I’m going to let some Upside Down, inter dimensional, creepy ass motherfucker take you away from us, you are dead wrong,” he started, getting more and more emphatic and angry as he spoke. When he continued, his voice was softer. “I’m not letting anyone hurt my girl again, okay? We’re all going to figure this out and everything is going to be okay. We’re going to find Vecna and kill his ass, and everything is going to be okay…you are going to be okay.”

It sounded like he was trying to convince himself just as much as he was trying to convince you. You put your hands on the side of his face, trying to get him to settle, your heart hurting at his frantic speaking, a stark contrast to his usual more calm demeanor.

“Steve, but what if it’s not?” You asked, your voice a whisper.

“It has to be,” he whispered back. You could see the tears beginning to well in his eyes again, and you placed a soft kiss to his lips. He reciprocated, deepening the kiss as his hand went to the nape of your neck. He kissed you like his life depended on it; like he would never get to kiss you again as he pushed you towards his bed, laying you down gently.

His lips moved across your jawline as he kissed your soft skin, placing gentle but fervent kisses on the spot just below your ear. His lips trailed down your neck as he listened to you breathe. You were whispering his name and he took a second to take it all in.

Here he was, with the love of his life, who was presumably about to die at any given moment. Yet you were still sitting like a masterpiece on his sheets, his name dripping from your lips like honey. You were everything he had ever wanted and he cursed himself for not doing a better job at protecting you.

“Steve?” You whispered breathily, putting a hand on his chest to stop him. He propped himself up better, looking down at you, and he felt his heart skip as he looked into your lust filled eyes.

“What is it baby?”

“I’m ready,” you whispered. Understanding what you meant, he leaned down and placed the sweetest and most gentle kiss to your lips.

Tomorrow wasn’t certain, so tonight, Steve was going to love you as if there was no tomorrow, making sure you knew exactly just how much you meant to him.

While you spent the night tangled up in Steve’s bedsheets as he placed hot kisses across every inch of your body, for the first time in a while, you felt at ease. You allowed yourself to revel in the bliss of that moment because, come tomorrow morning, you were going to have to start facing the reality of the situation.

And the reality of a sudden and gruesome death was a hard pill to swallow.

***

a/n: anyway, so shit’s gettin’ real. Reblog if you want to give me a free dose of serotonin while I’m muddling through the dumpster fire that is college :)

taglist:

@season4steve @sassyheroneckgiant @tangledinthegreatxscape @maeve-wileyy @palachannie @chaerfull @usaguisenpaisblog @emilieluckwood @sabrinadelreyy @mochminnie @xprloki @kitdjarin1 @kissmxcheek @daemonskitty @bethsvrse @aheadfullofsteverogers @quinnsadilla @chervbs

#stranger things #steve harrington #joe keery #steve harrington fanfic #netflix #friends to lovers #steve harrington friends to lovers #steve harrington imagine #steve harrington stranger things #steve harrington fanfiction #steve harrington x reader #steve harrington fluff #stranger things x reader #stranger things fanfiction #steve harrington x reader fanfic #steve harrington angst #steve harrington x you

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ladykailitha · 9 days

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Everything I Ever Wanted Part 1/4

The much anticipated sequel for "Not All That Glitters is Gold" the omegaverse epic that I recently wrapped up. The first chapter is here as I highly recommend you read it first.

Each chapter is based on something Steve wanted from the first story. Being a top omega escort and retiring at the top of his game. Having alpha health be brought to the forefront and actually studied. Being married and bonded. And finally having children of his own.

Just a few notes here: This not to say that surrogacy or adopt is lesser or not as important as biological birth. Because it absolutely isn't. This is about Steve being told he was only good for one thing and to learn his worth was far greater than anyone imagined.

This story is mature. There are sex scenes in here as well as full nudity, but also the first chapter has some awful pretty non-binary and sex worker prejudices that if you feel like you can't handle, don't read.

Each chapter is however long it took me to fill out that part. So some chapters are shorter than others, some times by almost 1000 words.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy this as much as you enjoyed the first one!

****

Steve had finished packing up the last of his stuff. Chrissy would be moving in next week and fill the suite with everything that made her unique.

But as sad as Steve was to be leaving, he knew it was time. Twelve years as one of the best escorts Starcourt had ever seen was long enough, he thought.

A warm pair of arms wrapped around his waist and a wet kiss was placed on his bonding gland.

“Hey, honey,” Eddie cooed. “You ready to go?”

Steve wrapped his arms around Eddie’s arms and sighed happily. “Yeah, love, I am.”

“You going to miss this?” he murmured, squeezing Steve tightly.

Steve hummed, thinking about it. “To some extent, but doing this well into my fifties and sixties was never in the cards for me.”

“No?”

He shook his head. “I was always too much of a romantic for that. When I first learned I was infertile it was a relief that I didn’t have to live to my parents’ high expectations for me. I had looked up to Roxie because they were living the life young me always wanted, freedom as an omega.”

“I’m glad you got that freedom, sweetheart,” Eddie said softly. “You really grew into your own. If you want to keep working for another couple of years, you’ve got it. I won’t stop you.”

Steve turned in his grasped and kissed him soundly. “No, Eds. This is what I want. I want a life with you. I want to bond and mate you. I want to carry your pups. As many as you want. Because if I was given the choice as a sixteen year old to have that freedom I always craved and the chance to marry and bare children? I would have taken it in a heartbeat. But when they thought I was infertile, the glamour of being an escort was the only choice for me.”

Eddie nuzzled Steve’s scent gland. “Okay, Stevie.” He nipped under Steve’s jaw. “Fuck, you are so hot when you get all passionate about shit. I could have you right here, right now on this floor if you’d let me.”

Steve slipped out of his embrace with a giggle. “As tempting as that would be, darling, the movers will be here in ten minutes and the cleaners in thirty. And I’m not as fast as I used to be.”

Eddie huffed impatiently.

Suddenly there was a knock on the door. Eddie and Steve shared a confused glance.

Steve walked to the door and opened it.

He stood there in shock for a moment. There on the side of the door frame was Roxie. Steve’s idol.

“Holy shit,” he breathed. “Come on in. You’ll pardon the mess, I’m moving out today.”

Roxie stepped in.

They were as beautiful in person as they had been on the poster on Steve’s wall as a teenager.

They were tall and thin, with long black hair and piercing blue eyes. No one was sure what race Roxie was because they had an exotic look no matter where they go.

Roxie was also the first non-binary omega escort the world had ever seen.

In short Steve was enamored.

Eddie gave his shoulder a squeeze. “I’m going to meet the movers.”

He kissed Steve’s cheek and slipped out of the door that Roxie had just walked through.

“He’s cute,” Roxie said with a smile.

Steve blushed. “I like him.”

Roxie threw back their head and laughed. “I would hope so considering you’re bonding next month.”

Steve cocked his head and grinned. “Yeah...”

Roxie held up their prizes, two champagne flutes and a bottle of champagne. “I’ve come to celebrate!”

Steve took the glasses and wandered over to the sofa. It hadn’t been moved yet, so they at least had a place to sit.

Roxie produced a bottle opener from the confines of their coat pocket and opened the champagne. Steve held out the two glasses and Roxie poured the bubbling liquid.

“Come, come,” they said. “Sit. Tell me all about the hottie that just left.”

So Steve did.

“I’m happy for you,” Roxie said. “It took me years to find my soulmate.”

Steve blinked. “Are you–no...really?”

“A golden omega? Oh yes. Really,” Roxie said with a laugh. “I just didn’t meet my bondmate until I was much older, and we never wanted children so we bonded and just never share my heats.”

“Doesn’t that get lonely?” Steve asked. “Spending your heats without your bondmate?”

Roxie shook their head. “No. We still share his ruts and we use as much protection as we can. But, no. I’ve gotten used to having my heats alone, adding another person would just be complicating things at this point.”

“I guess that makes sense,” Steve said with a nod. “I guess I’m young enough to miss the connection that he and I share during his ruts when I have my heats.”

Roxie smiled. “I hear you had to jump through a few hoops to bond.”

Steve sighed heavily and took a long drink, nearly draining the glass. “It was a mess. I would be the first official golden omega to retire from active escorting and that was something they wanted to carefully curate. They didn’t want a scandal like what the church had last year when Chrissy broke open the illegal nature of the amount of omegas they took in.”

“That was a nightmare,” Roxie agreed. “I was shocked by it all.”

“I’m just grateful that I’ll have a few months to prepare for the fallout before the shit hits the fan,” Steve said. “After all it won’t come out until Eddie and I get pregnant.”

Roxie hummed their agreement.

“If you’re really lucky,” they said, “maybe a year or more.”

Steve threw back his head and laughed. “That’s what Eddie’s hoping for, but I’m fine with either, honestly. My two biggest dreams growing up were having pups and being an escort, how that would have worked out biologically, I had no idea, I was just dumb kid. But actually getting both feels like a miracle.”

Roxie smiled, their eyes crinkling. “I’m almost sad you’re a golden omega, because I really thought you would be the one to take my place as top earner when I retired next year.”

His jaw dropped and his eyes went wide. “Wait, really?” He couldn’t believe it. Roxie retire? That was unfathomable. Oh and the other thing, too.

Roxie must of read his mind because they laughed. “Yes, I’m retiring. I turn sixty-five next year, and I really can’t see myself doing it for much longer. And as for you, yes, darling. You. You are the best escort this industry has ever seen and you have the receipts to prove it.”

“They do want me to come back and teach the next batch of incoming escorts,” Steve said with a sigh smile. “From the ages of sixteen to eighteen, I’ll be teaching them everything I learned to make them better. And that’s more important than any glamour or glitz being an escort could possibly give me.”

“Then the agency is in better hands than I thought!” Roxie cried, gleefully clapping their hands together.

Steve smiled and shook his head. “You know, it’s funny. The only reason my dad even allowed me to be an escort was because there had never been a Harrington omega who wasn’t a trophy wife. They never worked a day in their lives. So when I offered to become a wet nurse to save up money to become a teacher, he blanched and said that I was going to be an escort. At least I could make money for them that way.”

He poured himself another glass and filled Roxie’s when they put out their own too.

“Well,” Roxie said smiling over their glass, “as long as you don’t start work until after you’ve bonded Eddie, that could still be true about the whole ‘no Harrington ever being a teacher’ thing.”

Steve laughed, his eyes squeezed tight, mouth open wide and just laughing with his whole chest. “Here’s to that!”

They clinked their glasses together. They talked for a little while longer, but soon Roxie had left and the movers and the cleaners filed in.

“These knothead movers,” Eddie said darkly, “were trying to duck out of doing the job because you were celebrating still.”

The older of the alpha moving team glared at him. “How was I to know that Roxie was in there?”

“From believing me when I told you?” Eddie asked, waving his arms out in front of him.

“He is so gorgeous,” one of the omega cleaners twittered.

“They,” Steve said with a frown. “Roxie uses they/them. Unless you're talking about someone else.”

The cleaner rolled her eyes. “He was a him for decades and then decides to come out non-binary? Whatever.”

“Out!” Steve said, barely containing his rage. “I will put in complaints with your bosses and management will get in new teams if they know what’s good for them.”

Eddie grinned. “You’ve got it, babe.”

Everyone filed out, the other omega cleaners hissing and snarling their dismissal at the other girl. The movers got what they wanted so they didn’t care.

As the lead mover was passing by Steve, he muttered, “Slut.”

The alpha was on the ground trapped in an arm bar, Eddie’s knee in the middle of his back.

The alpha cried out in surprise and pain. “What the fuck?!”

“That’s my omega you just insulted,” Eddie snarled, his alpha fangs extending. “And I don’t take kindly to that sort of thing. I will make sure that your company never gets a single celebrity client ever again. Steve will make sure Starcourt never uses you again, nor any other escort agency.” He yanked on the man’s arm causing him to gasp in pain. “Now I’m going to let you up, nice and slow and then you are going to apologize to Steve. Understand?”

The man nodded and Eddie got up. After a moment the alpha mover got to his feet.

“I’m waiting,” Steve huffed. His arms were crossed over his chest and he was leaning on his back leg.

“I’m sorry I called you a slut,” the man groused, rubbing the arm Eddie had yanked.

“Just because my work is different from yours doesn’t mean it’s not work,” Steve hissed. He waved his hand. “Now get out of my sight.”

The man followed his team out and Eddie slammed the door behind them.

“I’ve already contacted Powell,” Steve said. “They’ve already blacklisted both companies and have new crews being sent over.”

“Do we need to be here when they come?” Eddie asked.

Steve shook his head. “I was just cutting it fine getting the last of my stuff being packed away.”

Eddie grinned and pulled Steve in for a kiss. “Then why don’t you and I get out of here and celebrate a little bit on our own?”

“That sounds good,” Steve said, throwing his arms around Eddie’s neck. “Because that little display of yours taking down that mover was super hot.”

Eddie drew Steve in closer so they were flush against each other. “Yeah?”

Steve bit his bottom lip and nodded.

“Did my pretty little omega get wet watching his alpha take down a disgusting pig?” Eddie teased, cupping Steve’s ass with both hands.

“So wet,” Steve breathed. “Almost as wet as our first meeting, rockstar.”

Eddie licked his lips slowly and then nodded.

“Your stuff is already at my place,” he growled. “So I’m going to take you back there and fuck you into the mattress. Sound good, baby?”

Steve kissed him deeply. “Sounds so good.”

****

Part 2

Tag List: @mira-jadeamethyst @rozzieroos @redfreckledwolf @emly03 @itsall-taken

@spectrum-spectre @estrellami-1 @zerokrox-blog @swimmingbirdrunningrock @gregre369

@a-little-unsteddie @chaosgremlinmunson @chaoticlovingdreamer @messrs-weasley @goodolefashionedloverboi

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#my writing #stranger things #steddie #ladykailtiha writes #omegaverse #omega steve harrington #alpha eddie munson #rockstar eddie munson

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harrywavycurly · 8 months

Note

Do you think Eddie would tell Wayne about reader wanting a double date?? How would that go?👀 I know Wayne would knock some sense into him!😂❤️

Hiii lovey!!! So I wasn’t sure if I was gonna actually post this or not but I’m in a really good mood so I’m gonna give y’all this (sorry it’s at a random ass time lol) so I hope y’all enjoy💖

-find all things Trouble Next Door here✨

*also idk if it’s just me but this lowkey might make you sad? I hope not though!*

“She wants to do what now?” “A double date…she thinks it’ll help us move on or something.” “Move on? From…Chrissy and Steve or…” “please don’t start Wayne.” “Sorry…so what are you gonna do?” “Since when have I ever told her no? She seems really set on the idea…been talking about it for the last day or two.” “Who is she thinking of asking on this date?” “No fucking clue…she hasn’t mentioned anyone for her or for me.” “You’re letting her pick who you go on a date with? Damn son…you’ve really got it bad huh?” “I just want her to be happy…that’s all I’ve always wanted for her…really thought Steve was gonna be it for her…fucking asshole.” “But what about you? What’s gonna make you happy Eddie?” “Being in her life..anyway I can.” “How long has it been?” “How long has it been since…what?” “How long have you been in love with her?” “Oh uhm…I uh…I don’t know?” “You don’t know? So it’s been that long then?” “I know there was this moment when I turned sixteen and just got the van…I remember picking her up and just driving around because I was just so excited to be driving on my own and wanted to take her somewhere…I rolled the windows down and had the music up loud and she…she looked over at me with this huge grin on her face and her hair was blowing everywhere and…and I remember wondering if her eyes always had that sort of glow to them when she smiled…and if her laugh always sounded like a melody to a song that I could listen to over and over again…I almost ran a stop sign because I just…couldn’t look away from her.” “Eddie…” “I love her…so fucking much and…and I just want her to be happy Wayne…I need her to be happy.” “What if you’re the one that’ll make her happy? She deserves to know how you’ve been feeling son.” “It’s pointless…She told me she loved Steve more than she loved me.” “Well he was her husband…and she doesn’t know how you feel so maybe she just hasn’t had her moment like you did in the van at sixteen yet…because maybe she doesn’t want to risk loosing you? Have you thought about that?” “I don’t know…” “you deserve to be happy just as much as she does…I think you owe it to yourself to get your feelings out there in the open before you have to watch her be with someone else who we both know won’t be good enough.” “What if she doesn’t feel the same?” “What if she does?…we both know either way you’re gonna cry so might as well just rip the bandaid off and see what happens.” “I hate to say it…but you’re right…” “damn straight I am…now come on…coffees getting cold.”

#trouble next door convos #eddie munson series #eddie munson fanfiction #eddie and wayne munson #eddie munson angst #eddie munson au #eddie munson slow burn #eddie munson x best friend reader #eddie munson x y/n #eddie munson x you #eddie munson x reader #eddie munson x fem!reader #eddie munson friends to lovers #eddie munson #stranger things fanfiction #stranger things au #wayne munson #my little dungeon master baby

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penny00dreadful · 9 months

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Somebody To Love - Part 6

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 AO3

Here we have it everyone! I hope you enjoy. This part includes Eddie's addict brain trying to trip him up, so if that might be a trigger for you, keep yourself safe.

Eddie was six months clean by the time Wayne flew back to Indiana. He would have flown back sooner, around the four month mark but temptation had reared its ugly head and Eddie broke the lock on his bathroom door, intentionally trapping himself inside and away when he’d found one stray pill under the rug in his studio space.

He was alone.

No one was home.

No one would be home for hours.

Wayne was halfway across the city, Steve was at his own home, Chrissy was at a modelling gig, the boys were with their families.

It was a terrible, opportunistic coincidence.

The pill was tiny and white, covered in floor dirt and bits of hair, but it would go down easy enough. He’d be able to dry swallow it in less than a second. It was small enough. He could just take it and he’d probably pass for sober by the time they came back.

He had it in his hand.

No one would know.

No one would ever know.

His hand was completely frozen, almost on another plane of existence. He couldn’t move. A part of him was banging against the cage doors telling him to just take it. He’d taken worse things before, this would be nothing. He was strong enough now to not spiral again. This was just one, not nearly the worst thing he’d ever done.

He’d promised to be good and he had been good. So why couldn’t he have this one thing?

Another part of him was firmly trying to keep the cage locked.

Think of Wayne.

Think of the boys.

Think of Chrissy.

Think of Steve.

Why should they get to judge him for making decisions about his own body, the beast cried out. He was his own person, this was his own life, who the fuck were they to try and make him do these things, take it!

They didn’t make him do anything. He made that decision on his own. They were supporting him through his own decision. Not forcing him to do anything. They were supporting him. He said he’d change. He promised.

Don’t make promises you can’t keep, Eds.

The beast repeated Steve’s words back to him, twisting and poisoning them. Steve didn’t think he could do this anyway so why was he bothering?

No.

No!

Eddie bit his tongue hard enough to draw blood and the pain shocked him into action.

He threw the pill across the room.

He didn’t know where it landed, he didn’t want to know.

He’d run up the stairs as fast as he could, putting as much physical distance in between himself and that fucking pill as it was possible to do.

And he’d called Wayne, who’d called Steve.

It was maybe an hour later when the bathroom door was finally broken down and Wayne crawled into the empty tub with him and just held him while he wept quietly into his chest.

Steve appeared in the doorway some time later, letting him know it was gone and that Eddie would be spending a few nights with him and Robin while professionals came in to clear the house top to bottom, just in case.

Because there was a service for that apparently.

This was LA after all.

Of course there was a service dedicated to quietly, covertly and methodically going through luxury houses to remove every last trace of temptation.

Of course there was.

It was another thing entirely to fully realise just where he’d be staying.

Staying with Steve wasn’t an issue, they practically lived together whenever they went on tour anyway. They knew all of each other's habits, their quirks, their weird rituals. And he’d been to Steve’s house plenty of times so it wasn’t that either.

It was having to live in the space of one Robin Buckley.

Steve’s Chrissy.

He hadn’t met her very often, they just never tended to cross paths but whenever they did, Eddie got the distinct impression that she really, really didn’t like him.

Though if he was in Robin’s position, watching everything he’d ever put Steve through… He probably wouldn’t like himself much either.

Steve had been running interference on them for two whole days, trying to stop Robin’s glares and snappy comments and trying to stop Eddie from retaliating too dramatically. Because if it’s one thing Eddie was terrible at, one major, major character flaw he had, it was holding his tongue around someone who did not like him.

But Steve had to leave them alone eventually.

He was half way out the front door, begging the two of them not to murder each other while he was gone.

Robin crossed her arms and shot daggers in Eddie’s direction. “Non prometto niente.”

“Ti imploro.” Steve checked his watch again before raising his eyes back to Robin.

Eddie rolled his eyes. “Now you two are just being rude.”

“Cazzo.” She spat at him.

“Robin!” Steve rubbed at his temples before pointing at her. “Play. Nice.” Without another word he slammed the door behind him, the sound echoing around them as they stood on opposite sides of the open plan house, like it was high noon in one of Wayne’s old westerns.

“Okay. Let's get it all out, Buckley now that the parent is gone." Eddie spread his arms out in front of him. "What precisely is your fucking issue with me?”

“My fucking issue is that I don’t like you,” Robin snapped, “that’s my fucking issue.”

"I'm gonna need you to be more specific than that,” Eddie snapped right back, “plenty of people don't like me."

"Shocking." She widened her eyes in mock surprise.

He gave her the middle finger. "Is it just the Steve thing or are there other reasons?"

She scoffed. "There's no 'just' with what you did to him."

"You can't be stupid enough to think that I meant it like that."

"Jesus you're a real charmer aren't you?"

“I get it, I was a shitty person, to Steve especially, but-”

“No!” She shouted, cutting her hand through the air. “You don’t fucking get it. You really don’t fucking get it, Munson, because you weren’t there. You have no idea what all kinds of hell you put that man through for years, but I do. I was there for it all.”

“Of course I have no idea!” He threw his hands up. “How could I possibly have known?!”

“How could you possibly not have known?! Everyone knew how he felt and all you ever did was rub it in his face-”

“I didn’t rub anything! I wouldn’t have if I’d known but I didn’t! How the hell was I supposed to know?!”

“Are you blind?!” They had taken a few steps closer but the couch was still between them. Eddie guessed it was the only thing stopping her from tearing into him with her teeth. “You need something like that spelled out to you?!”

“Oh, I’m sorry, is that not a reasonable request? To be told what someone’s feeling with grown-up words and not have to navigate a minefield of guessing what’s going on in their head?” His legs bumping against the couch was the only indicator to him that he’d moved closer. “How was I supposed to know I needed to look deeper? Am I supposed to go around examining everyone’s motivations for a deeper meaning now? Try to see into their heads rather than trust the things they tell me? That makes no sense! I’m not fucking psychic, why am I expected to be? You know as well as I do that he hid this from me. He never told me!”

“Don’t you put this on him. Don’t you dare-!” She was leaning over the back of the couch now to jab him in the chest.

“I’m not!” He had his hands gripping in his hair by the scalp and he could feel the lump in his throat but he refused to cry in front of her. “But tell me I’m wrong, Buckley. Go on! Tell me I’m not making sense right now!”

Robin huffed. “You’re wrong and you’re not making sense right now.” There wasn’t much conviction behind it. She pulled her finger back from his chest and crossed her arms with a scowl. “Maybe if you weren’t so fucked up on everything all the time-”

“Oh, spare me. Don’t start on the puritan talk just because you know I’m right-”

“I am not-!”

“Okay, fine!”

He ripped his hands out of his hair and felt like everything inside him was crumbling before he could stop it. He’d done everything he could, he’d kicked the drugs, he kicked the drink, he hadn’t had any sex since the ‘Sucker’ video, he was letting Steve decide how fast they moved, even when they moved and where to… what else was he supposed to do? He was at the end of his fucking rope.

“Let’s examine that then, shall we? Do you think that if I knew that I had someone in my corner in that way, that I had someone I could come home to or- or be there with me in my lowest moments, that could help take the pressure off, that I felt safe with… do you think I wouldn’t have delighted in having a steady fucking thing for the hardest years of my life? People don’t do the amount of shit that I’ve done because they’re fucking happy, Robin!”

He turned his back on her to collapse down on the couch with his head in his hands, trying to force his tears to retreat. His whole body felt weak, like he’d been wrung out and he really hoped she didn’t take the opportunity to crack him over the back of the head with something.

The only thing that could be heard in the ringing silence of the house was his own heavy breathing as he tried to keep his emotions under control.

A weight settled down next to him and he thanked his lucky stars he was able to stop from flinching. He didn’t want to look up, the tears clinging to his waterline that he hadn’t managed to fight back would be undeniable, but as the quiet continued to extend around them he couldn’t ignore it.

Robin wasn’t looking at him, thank god. She was curled up as far away from him as she could get with her back to the couch arm, her knees pulled up against her and she was scowling in the direction of the tv.

It must have been nearly a full minute later when she spoke. In that time Eddie had to pull the bottom of his t-shirt up to wipe at his eyes and sniffle everything back and he was fully prepared to execute a frosty retreat to the guest room he’d been using.

“Fine.” Robin bit out. When Eddie looked over, she cut her eyes in his direction but quickly averted them again.

“Fine, what?” He cringed at the thickness in his own voice. He didn’t even have the energy to bite back, he just sounded petulant.

“Fine, you’re a miserable fuck.”

He scoffed. “Great. Thanks for your input.”

“You didn’t let me finish.”

“You didn’t want to finish, you left a dramatic pause in there on purpose.”

Her frown only got deeper. “Fine, you’re a miserable fuck but you’re not wrong.” She raised her hand to her mouth and started to pick at some dry skin on her lip. “It’s not on you to read minds.”

Eddie nodded.

The tv wasn’t even on but she was still staring at it like it was. After another few moments of silence he turned, mirroring her position. “I am trying, Robin. Ever since it properly hit me I’ve been trying.”

“I know.” She sighed heavily, exasperated and slumped lower into the couch. “So he’s been telling me. And to be honest, I can see it.” She glanced back at him again. “Last time I saw you before this you looked like some strung out, coked up skeleton. Now you look,” she waved her hand around in his direction, “like you’ve got actual blood in your veins and not just Xanax and vodka. I just wish Steve didn’t need to get stepped on for you to get there.”

“I wasn’t stepping on him on purpose. If I’d have known… all of this would have happened a lot sooner.”

“Yeah.” She heaved herself up from the couch and grabbed the remote. “Put on a movie. I’d like to keep this little stalemate of ours going at least until Steve gets back. Might help him relax a little bit. Maybe not get a coronary. But pick well,” she threw herself back down and stared him dead in the eye, “don’t make me hate you again.”

Eddie didn’t end up picking a movie, he ended up picking a tv show but either way it ended up being a winner because Sense8 was always a winner. At least that was until it actually started because…

“This show is so fucking horny, man.”

Eddie just shrugged. “It’s a good show.”

“And what are you gonna do if Steve walks in while you’re watching two men fucking on tv?”

Eddie's heart stopped and his face flooded. It wasn’t that he thought Steve would judge him or it would set their progress back or whatever. It was that Steve would be standing there while very, very, super-duper, gay, gay, gay shit was happening in front of his eyes.

Robin snickered next to him just as the key sounded in the lock and a shout of “No one better be dead!” preceded Steve’s entrance.

The phone nearly flew out of Eddie’s hand as he made a frantic scramble to skipskipskip.

Steve stopped dead at the sight of the two of them sitting on the couch, not touching but also not hissing at each other like feral cats. Eddie with what was probably a red face and his phone clutched tight in his hand while Robin tried her best to hide her smile.

“What’s going on here?” Steve asked, wary eyes bouncing between them.

“Nothing!” They both answered at the same time with vastly different inflections. Robin sounded light and jovial while Eddie squeaked, trying to conceal his panic.

“Right…” Steve gave them both a final look before he turned towards the kitchen. “Whatever happened here, I don’t want to know. I’m just glad the two of you haven’t ripped each other's hair out.”

Once he had completely disappeared around the corner Eddie turned his glaring eyes to Robin who had the biggest shit-eating grin on her face.

“You were no help.”

“Yeah? Get used to it.”

That fucking song wouldn’t leave his head and he didn’t know why.

Well that was a fucking lie.

Eddie knew exactly why this fucking song wouldn’t leave him alone.

Freddie fucking Mercury was haunting him from beyond the grave.

He could almost hear him, see him out of the corner of his eye. Sitting cross legged, an arm across the back of the couch as Eddie strummed on his guitar. That grin on his face. Drawling out “You’ll get it soon, darling.”

It wasn’t even like it was a hard song to cover.

On guitar anyway.

Vocally was a whole different story. If anyone even thought of singing Freddie Mercury's pieces, figures would materialise out of the woodwork advising it was a bad idea. People just didn’t cover Queen. It was too difficult to do.

Freddie had a vocal range almost unmatched. He could switch keys effortlessly and often. He was iconic. Still is iconic. And almost everyone who had tried wasn't able to match up to the legend.

God, why was he doing this to himself?

A weight dipped the couch cushion next to him and Eddie nearly jumped out of his skin, almost firing his guitar across the room, convinced for half a second that Freddie Fucking Mercury had actually manifested next to him.

But the arm that was now across the back of the couch wasn't Freddie's.

"Jesus, Steve." Eddie clutched at his chest. "Warn a guy."

"You seemed very far away." Steve leaned his head against his hand with a small smile on his face. He was so pretty.

"Not that far.” Eddie shrugged. “Just a dimension or two."

“Seems pretty far.”

“Freddie’s just haunting me is all.” He said as he got up to place his guitar back in her stand along the wall with her sisters, throwing himself back down on the couch with an oof.

“Oh, tell him hi from me then.” Steve reached down, grasping Eddie under the knees and pulling his legs into his lap, causing Eddie to slip down the arm of the couch as his body was pulled forward, leaving only his head propped up at what must have been an incredibly unflattering angle.

“You could’ve just asked.” Eddie wrenched himself up to a sitting position, planting his arms behind him and refusing to think about the fact that if he wiggled his way forward just a little more he’d be pressed right up against Steve, fully in his lap.

As it was, the backs of Eddie’s thighs were pressed against Steve’s and that was enough to kick his heart up a few notches.

Steve looked down at his legs, plucking at an old cigarette burn in the knee of Eddie’s sweatpants. They were good pants despite the hole. Soft and comfy and he did really mean to stitch it up but he kept getting distracted and then suddenly it was five years later and that same burn kept looking at him.

“You’re doing really well, you know.” Steve said in a quiet voice, staring at Eddie’s knees like they contained the answers to the universe.

Eddie tipped his head back until it hung between his shoulders and he groaned at the ceiling. “The guitar part is easy. It’s the vocals that are-”

“No,” Steve squeezed his knee, “no I don’t mean that, I mean your… your self improvement. Your getting healthy. Your-”

“Oh my god.” Eddie snapped his head back up, staring at Steve with wide hopeful eyes while his breathing got shallower. Steve had a light blush across his cheeks and was continuing to keep eye contact with the knees in front of him. “Is it happening, like is it really happening? Are you giving me a chance, are you-”

“Eddie.” Steve admonished, trying to pull his mouth into a scowl but his face was getting redder and the corner of his lips were lifting up of their own volition. “How are you such a pain in the ass? I had a whole speech planned about all the hard work you’ve put in and how dedicated you’ve been and how rough it’s all been for you but you’ve still persevered-”

“Right, sorry!” Eddie wanted to wave his hands in front of him but they were the only thing keeping him upright so he just nodded like a lunatic. “Sorry! Go ahead.”

Steve rolled his eyes and scoffed but was smiling now. “I can’t just go ahead. Especially now. I was gonna come down here and act all calm and cool and suave and deliver this great speech about how much it’s meant that you did all of this for me. For me?” Steve huffed and pinched his nose, his voice coming out a little shakier than before. “People don’t do things like this for me. And you stuck it out. You’ve kept going even during the hard days and there’ve been some really hard days. I know. I’ve seen them but you kept going and I’m so proud of you. Eddie, I’m so fucking proud. So yeah. I had a whole plan.”

Steve finally looked at him, his eyes were shining and his cheeks were still red but he was managing to pull himself back into his vaguely bitchy and disapproving façade that they both knew was fake but if Steve needed it to give him some strength Eddie would give it to him.

Eddie would give him everything.

“I had to call Robin twice to hype me up and it still took me a half an hour to get down the stairs. Then I do come down the stairs and you’re sitting there, looking like that." Eddie glanced down at himself.

Like what? He was in ratty tatty sweatpants and an old dark henley that might have originally belonged to Steve but he honestly couldn’t remember. He was in fuzzy socks and his hair looked like a bird's nest because he just wanted it washed and couldn’t be bothered to go though the whole curly girl thing Chrissy and Robin were trying to push him into.

He just looked like Eddie.

“And you’re playing that song, trying to sing that song, my song and I couldn’t-” Steve clenched his eyes closed again, reaching his hand out blindly and Eddie shot forward, snatching Steve’s hand up in his own, leaning towards Steve so his centre of gravity was no longer behind him and holding Steve’s hand tight to his chest.

Steve would be able to feel Eddie’s runaway heart under his ribs but he didn’t care. In fact he hoped he could. He hoped it would let Steve know he wasn’t the only one who was scared out of his mind right now.

“Do you-” Steve gulped, opening his eyes again. “Do you still-”

“Yes, I still. I very still.” Eddie squeezed his hand tighter, pulled it harder into his chest, like he wanted Steve to touch his raw and bloody heart with his bare hands.

“Really? Even now? Even though… even after…?”

“Stevie.” Eddie whispered, heart breaking. “Do you think now that I’m sober I wouldn’t want you anymore?”

When Steve just shrugged Eddie couldn’t help himself. He reached a hand out, brushing his knuckles against Steve’s cheek before thumbing a tear away.

“All of this. Everything has been for you.” Eddie kept his voice low, trying to inject as much love as he could into the tone of his voice while he kept stroking Steve’s cheek. “It’ll continue to be for you as long as I live. Now that I know what I know, I don’t think there’s any going back for me. There hasn’t been for a while. I’ve been miserable for so long, hiding underneath substances and sex and denial that I forgot what it was like to even feel… neutral. I didn't know my own heart and you… you allowed me to be able to feel it again."

“Eddie… d’you- can I- can-”

“Do you want to kiss me?”

“Yes.” Steve almost sighed, relaxing like the weight of the world had just been gently lifted from his shoulders.

“C’mere.”

Eddie moved his hand from Steve’s cheek, curling his fingers around the back of his neck.

He pulled Steve forward and despite the thundering of his heart in his chest he had only intended it to be a short press of lips, an assurance, a comfort.

As soon as he kissed Steve, Eddie knew for certain that this was it for him. He was done for. He never wanted to kiss anyone else as long as he lived.

He’d never been kissed with so much emotion, with so much feeling. It enveloped his entire body. Any emotions that had previously been attached to kissing, he realised with sudden clarity, were just a general feeling of wild hornyness, crushing on someone, liking someone, being attracted to someone.

All those were there when kissing Steve but there was so much more.

There was so much love and compassion and it was just so easy. They could have been doing this for years and Eddie found himself already mourning all the time that had previously been lost. He mourned who he used to be, the previous Eddie who had just been kissed out of existence despite his slow death over the last few months. The previous Eddie who’d thought that that life was the best it could ever get.

The poor bastard.

The kiss was wet and not exactly in a sexy way, Steve’s tears mingling between their mouths. Despite how it started, chaste and innocent and assuring, it didn’t stay that way even though Eddie had the best of intentions.

Steve’s hand was at the back of his head, holding him close, trapping him in the best way as he leaned over him. Eddie felt his knee get batted out of the way and his legs pushed open as Steve settled between them, laying Eddie back on the couch and pressing him down as his tongue bullied its way into his mouth. Steve was well and truly steering this ship and Eddie was just happy to be along for the ride.

If Eddie’s eyes had been open they’d have rolled back in his head.

“Stevie,” Eddie croaked as his neck was being attacked by little nips and sucks that were making it very hard to think, “are you in the right headspace for this?”

Steve paused for a moment before pulling back to shoot him an incredulous look, hovering over him on those strong arms. “You’re asking me if I’m in the right headspace for something maybe sexual? How often have you been in the right headspace when you’ve done sexual things in the past?”

Eddie frowned. “Not very often, which is why I’m asking now.”

The line over Steve’s brow softened and he leaned down to place a kiss against Eddie’s forehead and damn there were those butterflies again.

“Do you want me to stop?”

Eddie shook his head, a little more emphatically than he needed to. “No.”

“Do you want me?”

“I- yes. God, baby, I don’t want anyone else ever again.”

“Okay, good.” Steve leaned down again until he was a breadth away. "Can I continue then?"

So, like…

Eddie hadn't done anything in the last six months besides use his own hand.

And maybe some toys.

But he hadn't had a good fuck, hadn't had a good suck in six months after having multiple of each every week for years. In hindsight it had all been frighteningly close to some kind of sex addiction.

But still, six months.

That was to say when Eddie nodded and Steve leaned back down with that smirk of his, it was like he knew.

Knew that when he rolled his hips down like that Eddie was at risk of blowing his load in less than ten seconds.

“Don’t care,” Steve moaned into his mouth, “don’t care if it’s quick. Don’t care. I wanna see.”

And as embarrassing as it was, that’s what did it.

Steve telling him he wanted to see him.

Eddie came with a cry, only barely able to coherently get half the man’s name out of his mouth. It took him longer than usual to float back into his body and even then he was still a little fucked out. Six months. He scrambled to stick his hand down Steve’s pants. This he knew. This he could practically do with his eyes closed. It only took a few minutes for Steve to follow with his mouth hanging open and a beautiful little scrunch in his brow.

“Oh shit.” Eddie sunk back into the cushions. “Don’t think I’ve come in my pants since I was sixteen.”

��I’m flattered.” Steve smiled, peppering kiss over his cheeks, his nose, his forehead.

“You should be.” Eddie smiled back, leaning into the easy affection he was being showered with with so much joy.

“Um,” Steve hesitated, still pressing Eddie into the couch with his body weight but up on his elbows, fiddling nervously with his hair, “just so we’re clear on-”

“I’m with you. If you want.” He slung his arms around Steve’s neck. “We can be a thing. In a relationship. Boyfriends. Partners. All of the above. I’m yours for as long as you want me.”

“Hmm.” Steve tried to give a nonchalant shrug. “That could be a very long time.”

“I’m okay with that.” Eddie leaned up, making sure to seal it with a kiss.

Six Months Later

“So… here’s the thing.” Steve wedged himself in behind Eddie, legs on either side and pulling him back against his chest while Eddie tapped away on his game controller, swinging from building to building.

Eddie settled back, allowing his body to relax but keeping his eyes on the screen. “Mhm?”

“You remember the Sucker music video?” Steve nuzzled his nose into Eddie’s hair.

“Ugh.” Eddie couldn’t watch it. It had come out while Steve was on vacation the first time and Eddie hadn’t wanted to look at the guy who’d potentially destroyed one of the most important relationships in his life.

Nowadays he was almost tempted to send the bitch a fruit basket. Sex with you helped me find love with someone else. Something like that.

“Right, well you know how there wasn’t enough footage for that gory online exclusive cut?”

“A tragedy, really.”

“Yeah. But the label is looking to release something small before you all start writing again, keep interest up and I was talking to the boys-”

“You were plotting with the boys.”

Steve nodded, tightening his arms for just a moment. “I was plotting with the boys and we were thinking why don’t we do some reshoots to get enough footage together and release it?”

Eddie had to pause the game and twist around. “Sweetheart, tell me you are not suggesting we contact whatever the fuck his name was and I go film with him again?”

Steve looked scandalised. “No! Jesus, no. That’s not what I’m suggesting. I’m… well we were thinking that maybe you could film it with… me.”

Eddie turned completely, planting himself over Steve’s lap and grinning down at him. “Oh yeah?” He leaned in, ghosting his lips over Steve’s cheek, coming to a stop right by his ear. “You wanna be my victim, baby?”

“I get bitten by you enough, I might as well-” Steve gasped as Eddie sunk his teeth into his neck, sucking at the skin. “-might as well get paid for it.” He rolled his hips up and any logistical talk of the video shoot completely flew out the window.

Three weeks later and the video had been released. It was filthy, it was disgusting, it was downright sexy even if that fake blood still tasted like shit.

Though Steve didn’t really have a problem with his face being in the video, he was mostly kept anonymous.

Quick close up flashes of his open panting mouth before a hand was clapped over it then his neck gushing blood while Eddie practically bathed in the spray. A shot of Steve’s chest as the clothes were ripped from him, a hand tugging harshly at the hair. Then red dripping handprints over his stomach and black tipped fingers pushing his knees apart and Eddie’s hand running through his hair, leaving blood streaked in its wake, were all that was seen of him.

People went fucking wild for it. It broke through to mainstream news, which Corroded Coffin hadn’t managed to do for a while.

Christian moms were scandalised.

Conservative men were outraged.

Social media was thirsty.

And Steve was starting to get offers.

Even though he wasn’t really identifiable, people in the industry who’s job it was to know these things started sending him offers for modelling jobs or acting jobs. Though Steve had originally not given them a second look, now he was starting to look.

They’d both agreed that ethically Steve couldn’t really continue on as his P.A. anymore. The thought had once scared the everloving shit out of Eddie but now… now it was okay, because Steve was Eddie’s and Eddie was Steve’s.

Two Years Later

God, he loved being on stage. It was such a rush. How had he been doing it in an altered state for so long?

It was their first tour since all of everything with Steve had happened.

Nearly a year and a half since he’d had to get a new personal assistant.

Nancy was like some weird mix in between Steve and the other two, Dustin and Max. Like Steve, she knew how to handle executives and businessmen like she was speaking a second language. She was loyal to a fault. She was small and sweet looking. People didn’t keep their guard up around her. That would be their first mistake.

There was one very memorable instance where an overly eager and quite frankly stupid paparazzo had managed to sneak onto Eddie’s property.

It was rumoured that the new up and coming heartthrob of indie rom-coms was allegedly the live-in boyfriend of a controversial metal singer and this idiot was sure he could get the scoop.

What he hadn’t been expecting was Nancy Wheeler in her white frilly blouse and baby blue dress pants popping him on the nose and swinging her sensible heeled foot in between his legs.

It had all been caught on security footage.

Eddie had the screenshots framed and Nancy now had them hung behind her desk in the office she had in his house.

Like Dustin and Max, she’d worked with Steve in the past. She was an absolute wizard when it came to organisation, she didn’t treat him like a mythical entity and she could see past the big bad image to the soft squishy human underneath.

She had a bit more trouble articulating things when it came to emotion but her intentions were never bad.

Though Eddie and Steve didn’t have an employer/employee relationship anymore, the relationship they did have had only blossomed.

Apparently they were sickening to be around, but Eddie couldn’t really find it within himself to care. He loved his boy so why would he hide it when they were amongst friends?

Robin was forced to eat her words soon enough, which Eddie found great satisfaction in, and reminded her of it often, when he’d introduced her to Chrissy.

Those two were just as bad as he and Steve.

Eddie gave his thanks to the crowd and jogged off to the wings where Steve was waiting with a bottle of water that he nearly drowned himself with, trying to swallow it all down in one go.

Steve just rolled his eyes, making sure to stay out of sight of the crowd as he did it. Neither of them really cared if they got caught red handed with each other but if they could avoid the media circus, they would.

Steve wanted to make a name for himself on his own.

“You don’t have to do this, Eds.”

Eddie nodded. “I know.”

“It’s a big risk.” Steve continued with his hands on his hips.

“I know.” He handed the bottle back to Steve. “But I said I'd do it, didn't I?”

“You did, but you can always pull out.”

“Baby, I never pull out.”

“That's a fucking lie.”

It was Eddie’s turn to roll his eyes now. “Just sit back and enjoy the show, sweetheart.”

Steve gave his ass a squeeze. “Always do.”

Eddie pinched his cheek before turning and jogging back out to centre stage amongst the cries of encore from the crowd.

“Alright, alright.” He spoke into the mic. “One more song for you all. Um,” the nerves were coming in hard and fast now as he glanced behind him towards the other members who gave him encouraging nods.

Well of course they didn’t need to be nervous.

They weren’t singing the damn thing.

Eddie turned back to the crowd as a stage hand came out and handed him his guitar. “I gotta be honest with you all, I’m scared shitless of performing this song. You might be wondering what that’s been doing here all this time.”

He pointed over at the piano that had been sitting quietly in a corner, unused for the whole show.

The audience ooohed and cheered.

“Unfortunately I can’t play, but Jeff here is multi-talented.” Jeff handed his guitar off and took his seat at the piano, tapping on a few keys before giving Eddie the thumbs up.

“People get crucified for covering this band. It’s just not done.” There was chattering starting up in the crowd as they started to speculate. “No one can get close to what this man had, but god damn it, there’s someone special out there who I want to do this for. They’re his favourite band and this is his favourite song and based on your reaction I think some of you already know what I’m about to fucking do. Shit.” He sighed into the mic. “This is Her Majesty. Queen.”

Eddie had no hope of being able to improvise or vamp like Freddie once had and he would never even attempt to try. So as the first piano notes played out over the speakers he opened his mouth and started to sing.

They'd practised this song to death. The whole band was adamant that if they were going to do this they were going to do it right. They guys had practised their high backing vocals for weeks. Eddie had rehearsed the song for months.

There was no way he was going to do Freddie dirty.

By the time he’d gotten to Brian May’s guitar solo he was able to move around a little and get a good look at the crowd.

His eyes landed on a mess of long dirty blond hair and he felt his mouth drop open.

“Holy shit.” He muttered to himself.

Julian beamed up at him, his arms wrapped around a little twink of a man with a shock of black hair wearing a battle vest that if memory served, had definitely belonged to Julian last they’d met.

“Danny?” Eddie mouthed at him.

Julian’s responding nod was elated as he squeezed Danny against him tighter. Danny himself looked completely shell shocked while something was whisper-shouted into his ear over the music.

Eddie wanted to fucking jump for joy.

With a glance back into the wings, he saw Steve muttering to Nancy, gesturing out towards them. When he looked up and caught Eddie’s eye he tilted his head in question.

You wanna bring them back?

Eddie nodded, just barely catching sight of Nancy disappearing off somewhere before he turned back to finish out the song with a bang, sending one last wink Julian’s way before the lights went down.

When he opened the door to his green room, it was to the sight of Robin trying to adjust her top and Chrissy pulling her skirt back down, both red faced and breathing heavily.

“Can’t you two go find a bathroom or a maintenance closet or something? This is my room! I’m supposed to be the one doing sexy things back here.”

“We lost track of time!” Robin said with crossed arms.

Eddie stuck his hands on his hips. “Surely the sudden lack of loud music should have tipped you off that the concert was over?”

“We were distracted.” Chrissy shrugged, looking completely unapologetic.

“Well go be distracted somewhere else, I’ve got guests coming back.”

“Who?” They asked at the same time.

“An old friend.”

Just then the door behind him was opened.

Nancy gestured Julian through, who had a huge smile on his face, pulling Danny along by the hand who looked like he was about to faint.

Eddie surged forward, catching Julian up in a crushing hug while he laughed.

“You got your man!” He cried, practically bouncing the two of them.

“I got my man!” Julian squeezed back before extricating himself from Eddie’s arms, pulling Danny forward and tucking him in under his arm. “Eddie, this is Danny Aguilar. Danny this-”

“Hi! I- uh… yeah, I um. I know you. I mean I don’t know you. I mean I know who you are…” Danny stuttered out and before Eddie could even say anything, Nancy was at his side with a small smile and a bottle of water that he took with shaking hands.

“It’s really cool to meet you, man. I’ve heard great things.” Eddie smiled at him but that only seemed to freak him out more so he decided to give the guy a break, turning his attention back to Julian who was rubbing small circles on Danny’s back.

“So tell me, how did this happen?” Eddie asked, pointing between the two of them.

“Well,” Julian gave Danny a squeeze while he took a large drink. “It was the rumours about you actually.”

Eddie snorted. “Which ones?”

“The ones about you shacking up with some guy named Steve who may or may not be the same Steve who’s been making a name for himself.” Julian raised a brow at him. “I figured that even if they weren’t true, I’d seen you get your shit together, get sober, get healthy and it made me think I could do that too. Only one life to live, you know?”

“That’s amazing.” Eddie smiled. “I’m so happy for you, man.”

Julian blushed. “Thanks. What about you?” He asked. “If you tell me that it didn’t work out after I said all of that I’m gonna feel like a giant asshole.”

“No, I-” He felt an arm slide over his shoulders.

“I think it worked out okay.” Steve grinned at him and Eddie felt like he was falling in love all over again. “I hear you were the only one to actually say it out loud to him, so I guess I have you to thank for this.” Steve tugged on one of his curls and Eddie batted his hand away, only to grab it again and hold on tight.

“Oh shit. Really?” Julian looked between them with wide eyes.

Danny was looking at him like he’d hung the moon.

“Yeah, really. Listen, I was thinking. We have a private space booked at a restaurant for the band and the crew and the lesbians,” Steve waved his hand in Robin and Chrissy’s direction who’d fallen into quiet conversation but now just shot him matching middle fingers, “we’d love it if you wanted to come along. Let us treat you two? As a proper thank you for helping this idiot get his shit together.”

Steve pulled him in tight and Eddie just melted.

Julian was nodding enthusiastically.

And poor Danny.

Poor Danny could only squeak in agreement.

Thank you for coming with me on this journey and I hope you've loved it as much as I have. 🖤

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 AO3

@lifeisnotsobadonceyoustopcaring, @child-of-cthulhu, @sweetwaterangel, @anaibis, @katytheinspiredworkaholic, @littlewildflowerkitten, @hallucinatedjosten, @estrellami-1, @gregre369, @stxrcrossed186, @novelnovella, @imhereforthelolzdontyellatme, @hellowhatthehellisgoingonhere, @thesuninyaface, @messrs-weasley

#steddie #steve x eddie #stranger things #eddie x steve #fanfic #steddie fic #penny00dreadful #stranger things fic #rockstar eddie munson #rockstar eddie #personal assistant steve #personal assistant steve harrington #modern au #somebody to love

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peaceteaa11 · 2 years

Text

Temper, Temper

Oneshot - Eddie Munson

Pairing: Eddie Munson x Reader

Rating: clean. Some smooch smooch but nothing crazy.

Warnings: There do be some smooches… and not just on the lips. But not like super spicy. I wouldn't even call this spice tbh. Just like... regular relationship shit? It's safe for work.

Summary: Y/N gets jealous when they see Eddie Munson, their boyfriend, talking with Chrissy Cunningham. It also doesn't help that Y/N knows Eddie used to have a crush on Chrissy. And it DEFINITELY doesn't help that Chrissy is being especially touchy with Eddie.

A/N: okay this took me a moment to finish tbh. I started and then my job took over my life and I got to start packing for college again. Which… ya boi hasn’t done shit yet soooooo. Oopsie poopsie. But here is another Eddie Munson one shot! I truly love this man. His eyes… bro. Anyways. Hope you enjoy it. Another part of Love Luna should be out and My Rockstar finale should come soon after that! And tomorrow is my last day of work so hopefully that will free up some of my time until college officially hits! Only proofread once.

Word Count: 3.1k

Alexa, play jealousy, jealousy ^.^

─────── ･｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ──────

You carefully trudge through the dry leaves of the woods looking for your boyfriend, Eddie Munson. He should be in his selling spot making some deals and you have been waiting all day to see him. Lots of things floating around your mind that you are aching to share with him. Your stomach flutters at the thought of his smile. Today has been the worst and you could really use one of his hugs where he pulls you in and squeezes you as if he is afraid you may disappear. As you see the clearing where the picnic table is you see Eddie, but you also see Chrissy Cunningham. Your heart starts to pound out of your chest.

“How could I forget?!” Chrissy giggles and Eddie chuckles crossing his arms over his chest. He shrugs and walks towards the picnic tabling not noticing you at the woods’ edge. Your heart sinking further and further down your body. Heavy in your chest.

“I don’t know, Chrissy, you’re a freak.” He smirks softly and your stomach twists in painful knots. You have always been self-conscious about Chrissy Cunningham, Eddie’s first crush. When you two were just friends he never stopped gushing over her.

'Oh, Chrissy is so pretty.' 'Chrissy, smiled at me.' 'Do you think if I was more handsome she would like me?' 'I know you like me but I want someone to like me like... actually like me. Love me.' 'Chrissy has really pretty eyes.'

God just the thought of all his old comments make you feel queasy. Once you two got together it all stopped, Eddie was caught off guard by your feelings but returned them twice as strong. It was like you were the only one he could see but you have never seen the two of them interact. And this scene is not giving you much confidence in yourself or your relationship. You trust your boyfriend, but the little green monster starts to rear its ugly head by twisting your intestines.

“You know, you’re not what I thought you’d be.” Chrissy smiles up at Eddie with stars in her eyes. You can't blame her really, that's how you look at Eddie. But then again maybe you could blame her because that is how you look at Eddie and no one else should be looking at him like you look at him... right? He smiles back at her. Soul-crushing smile.

“What? Mean and scary?” He laughs lightly as he gets ready to take a seat at the picnic table across from Chrissy.

“Yeah…” Chrissy sighs sweetly leaning forward onto her elbows.

“Well, I kinda thought that you’d be kinda mean and scary too.” He grins widely at her.

“Me?” She smiles brightly and you can’t help but feel relaxed by the kindness in her smile. It's hard to hate someone as nice as Chrissy Cunningham, but she makes it easier when she leans across the table closer to a now seated Eddie.

“Terrifying.” He chuckles. They both fall silent and Eddie props his head up on his hand. Chrissy blushes a bit and smiles at Eddie before gently placing her hand on his bat tattoo on his arm. Your skin crawls and your blood heats beneath the surface.

“These are really cool.” She smiles softly tracing the bats on Eddie’s arm.

“Oh… thank you.” He sighs. You watch as he stares at Chrissy intensely while she stares down at his tattoos. You are unsure of what to do. You stand by a big oak tree feeling as if you’re watching your heart get broken before your very eyes.

He’s gonna fall back in love with her. Maybe he never fell out of love. Maybe you're just a distraction from what he really wants. Your mind runs wild with thoughts but the worst and most present one is how angry you are that Chrissy is gently stroking your boyfriend’s arm.

You get ready to storm off back toward the school but when you turn you bump into someone else. Dylan Railes who happens to be one of Eddie’s most frequent buyers.

“Oh shit sorry, babe.” Dylan chuckles grabbing you by the shoulders to stabilize you. Saving you from tumbling back. Your heart sinks at how loud Dylan's voice is. It booms through the woods and there is no doubt that it could be heard a few feet away in the clearing. “You okay?” Dylan questions, his eyes red, obviously high out of his mind. You sigh you hear shuffling from the clearing behind you. Well, fuck you right? Of course, this would happen while you are trying to escape unnoticed.

“My love?” Eddie’s voice is soft and sweet, your stomach twists at the sound. “Were you leaving?” You can hear the confusion in his voice. You turn to face him and see him standing only a few feet away with Chrissy still sitting at the table. You glance between the two of them and Eddie follows your gaze. He looks at Chrissy and back to you with wide, almost guilty eyes.

“She ran right into me, Munson. Someone was obviously in a hurry.” Dylan chuckles oblivious to the tension between Eddie and you. Seriously, was the universe trying to trap you here? All you want to do is run away and let the anger and jealousy and fear subside.

“I am just… I forgot something at school. I’ll catch ya later.” You go to move around Dylan when two hands catch your waist. They turn you around and you are face to face with your boyfriend. He got to you so fast it was seemingly impossible. He looks down at you and frowns.

“I don’t even get a kiss?” He smirks down at you obviously trying to reassure you but your mind is clouded with jealousy. Your eyes glance to Chrissy and back to him. He does the same and shakes his head. “Sweetheart…” he starts and tucks a piece of your hair behind your ear. His eyes are filled with a pang of soft guilt but you can't feel sorry for him. The pain and confusion in your chest are too much to overlook.

“Don’t. Eddie. I forgot something and I have to go. I’ll see you around.” You sigh and try to pull from his grip but he doesn’t let you.

“Y/n. Stop it. I think I know what’s happening in that beautiful mind of yours and I’m not a fan. This is not what it looks like. I know what you are thinking. I know you. This... she is not... My love, please.” He huffs pulling you flush against him. “Talk to me.”

“Go talk to Chrissy.” You whisper and pull from his grip. You whip around and start to storm toward the school again. Your heart shakes in your chest as he shouts after you. Your mind flurrying with thoughts that you wish you could quiet. You love Eddie with all your heart but does he feel the same? It’s hard to believe that he would choose you over Chrissy Cunningham, she’s literally perfect. And you? You can’t stop all the self-deprecating thoughts from swirling around in your mind.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"He was practically drooling over her. It's like we're in sophomore year again." You sigh to Nancy as Jonathan whips around a corner. Lucky for you, you were able to avoid Eddie the rest of the day, but usually, he was your ride home so... you had to find other options. You would have gone with Robin and Steve since you are closer but they had work and you didn't feel like being trapped at Family Video all afternoon in your state of mind.

"Maybe..." Nancy pauses to give Jonathan directions to your house. "No, remember it's left here. After all these years of picking the kids up from Max's, you would think you would learn where the trailer park is Jonathan." Nancy giggles as she places a loving hand on Jonathan's shoulder. Your heart warms at the sight of the couple in front of you. The soft heat in your chest only makes you feel worse about the whole situation. You look down at the floor in the back of the car and try to stabilize your breathing. "Anyways," Nancy's voice catches your attention and you look up once again. "Maybe Eddie was just being nice to Chrissy. I mean... do you see the way he looks at you? Practically combusts every time he sees you." Nancy smiles sweetly but you shake your head.

"You don't get it, Nance. He was obsessed with Chrissy. I listened to all his reasons that she was the most perfect girl and how much he wanted her. I thought I would get over it once he expressed how he felt about me, but... the look in his eyes today... hasn't changed much from back then. He still loves her." You sniffle a bit trying to bite back tears and Nancy frowns.

"I think you're underestimating how much Eddie loves you." Nancy's grin is filled with a weak sympathy that makes you feel beyond pathetic.

"Right." You roll your eyes, trying to end the conversation as you stare out the back window.

"Y/n..."

"Ha! Found it! All on my own." Jonathan interrupts proudly as he pulls into the trailer park. As you all roll in your eyes find Eddie's trailer, his van sitting outside where it always is. You feel your stomach drop when the doors swing open and Chrissy follows Eddie into the trailer.

"Oh. I..." Nancy's voice cracks a bit showing she just witnessed the same thing you did.

"Thanks for the ride. Gotta go." You whisper through your wavering voice.

"Wait. Y/n maybe he is-"

"Just drop it." You snap as you open the door to Jonathan's slow-moving car.

"Wait! Let me put it in park-"

You hop out stumbling a bit and rush over to your trailer which sits a few feet away from Eddie's. You storm in letting the front door slam behind you causing your dad to shout from his seat on the couch. You ignore him, storming into your room at the back of the trailer. You flop onto your bed and sigh into the pillows. You wrap your arms around your pillows and squeeze them tightly to your chest.

Rolling over onto your back your eyes find your ceiling. You clutch your pillow tightly as you replay Eddie holding open his trailer door for Chrissy Cunningham. Your heart and mind fight between two very powerful emotions, anger and sorrow. Staring up at the ceiling you let the tears stream down your face silently, trying not to alert your father to your upset state. A few hiccups slip past your lips as the room fades to a fuzzy mess behind salty tears.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When you wake up the sun has set and your room is covered in shadows. You sit up, eyes sore from the tears, and crust covering your lashes. You rub your eyes and release the pillow that you never stopped clutching. Carefully, you tiptoe out into the hall to see your dad has already left for his night shift. Your heart sinks having no one to comfort you in such a heartbreaking time. You flip on the kitchen light and look out the window over the sink. The lights in Eddie's trailer glow dimly in a yellow haze.

You feel more tears well in your eyes when there is a soft knock on your trailer door. You whip around to face the living room and front door. Slowly, you walk over and unlock the door. Once open you see Eddie standing outside in his pajama pants and an old band shirt. You shake your head and quickly try to close the door but Eddie catches it with the palm of his hand and pushes into your trailer.

"Sweetheart. Please just tell me-"

"Stop calling me that!" You shout which causes Eddie's eyes to widen. He crosses his arms over his chest and raises his brows at you. You close the trailer door and make your way back into the kitchen.

"Why are you mad at me? You've never yelled at me. What is wrong?" Eddie huffs and follows you back into the kitchen, frustration obviously finding its home in him. You stare out the window trying to keep your eyes averted from Eddie. Suddenly, you feel his hand on your waist. he turns you around and pins you to the counter, encasing you in his arms. "Look at me, please. My love. Just tell me why you're upset."

"Just leave me alone. I don't want to talk to you or see your stupid face." You growl and he can't help but stare down at you in amusement.

"Oh wow... you're really mad aren't you, darling."

"Eddie stop it. Get out! Just go be with Chrissy! Like we both know you want to!" You scream up at him but he doesn't move or seem phased at all. He simply stares down at you with a knowing smile.

"I knew that's what this was about." He sighs, shaking his head a bit to remove the hair from his face. He meets your eyes and his brows knit together. He is about to speak up again when you cut in. Infuriated and confused by his calmness.

"Shut up! You don't know anything! Get out! Get out of here! You- You- You- arghhhhhh!" you shout and lean your head back.

"Ooooo temper, temper." Eddie chuckles causing you to snap your attention back to him. You glare up at him, confused as to how he can find this so funny. "You're hot when you're angry with me." He smiles sweetly.

"Stop laughing," you bite harshly which only causes him to laugh harder. "Eddie!" You whine more than shout this time.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," He mumbles through his laughter. "I just, I never thought you would get so jealous, my love."

"Jealous?!" You scoff slightly. Eddie smirks down at you.

"Honey. Chrissy was only with me to buy weed." He smirks.

"Oh yes, tracing your tattoos like a lovesick puppy sure seemed like buying weed." You watch as Eddie's face falls into a serious frown.

"Okay, okay. That was all her. If anything it made me a bit uncomfortable." he sighs honestly, but you still hold onto the anger inside. You stay silent, glaring up at him. "Honestly, when I was looking at her and she was touching me," you shift at his choice of words and he frowns at how uncomfortable you become, "baby." He coos, he only calls you that when he is trying to comfort you. "When she was... tracing my tattoos, all I could think about his how strange it felt. I didn't like it. I stared at her wishing that she was you. All I could think about was how different your fingers felt, how good your skin feels against mine. I mean, that's my favorite drug." He chuckles and you can't help but let a small smile slip. "Listen. I know how you must feel. I mean, I would be angry too if I saw you with an old crush but really. There is nothing to worry about." He smiles but still, you can't get one thing off your mind.

"If you like me so much better than her, then why was she at your trailer." You watch as Eddie's cheeks go pink and you feel your stomach twist.

"God. I know how that looks and honestly, I'm ashamed that I did it but she wanted some hardcore stuff that I only keep in my room. I- I don't know why I let her in but it seemed weird to just leave her standing outside. Plus I thought you would be there until I heard you got a ride from Byers, which... honestly made me a little... jealous so at the time I didn't really care how you would-"

"Why would you be jealous of Jonathan? He's dating Nancy." You huff confused.

"Why would you be jealous of Chrissy? She's dating Jason." He retorts. Both of you stand silently for a moment before Eddie leans down and hides his face in your neck. "Please forgive me. I was stupid today. I didn't think about how it would look or how it would make you feel. I'm sorry. I love you so much. I never wanna make you feel like that ever again. Please." He whispers into your skin and it sends shivers down your spine.

“Eddie. I…” your voice trails off as Eddie lays a soft kiss on your neck. He smirks against your neck and squeezes his arms around your waist tighter.

“What can I do to show you how truly sorry I am?” He lays another soft kiss at the base of your neck and drags his lips along your shoulder. “How can I prove to you that you’re the only one on my mind? The only one I want.” He drags his lips along your shoulder again back up your neck and smiles into your skin. He leaves a long wet kiss on your neck, lightly sucking at your goosebump riddled skin.

“Eddie. This-This is not going to work I’m still mahaaad-“ your words slur as Eddie bites down on your neck roughly. Lapping his tongue over the bite marks he’s left, he grins. You quickly grab at his hair and he chuckles as he pulls away to look at you. Your pupils blown beyond belief.

“Your temper tantrums are only gonna make me wanna prove myself to you more so.” He chuckles and grips your hips tighter. He pulls away suddenly and looks down at you. His hand quickly cups your chin and he meets your eyes. A goofy grin settles on his lips and it is hard to ignore the warm knot in your stomach. “You’re my Heaven and Earth, malady. I would never do anything to lose you. You have to know that.” His smile turns serious as he searches your eyes for an answer.

Staring up into his big brown doe eyes makes it hard to find anymore anger inside yourself. You honestly began to feel awful for thinking Eddie would ever do anything to hurt you. “I’m sorry.” You mumble and his face twists up in confusion.

“For what? My love? You have nothing to feel sorry for?” His voice is laced in confusion and he leans down resting his forehead on yours. His bangs tickling you. His hand falling back to your hip. His thumbs begin small circles of comfort.

“For getting angry. I don’t know why I yelled at you like that… we never yell at each other.” You can feel tears swelling in your eyes. A lump forming in your throat. Another session of sobs and tears threatening to break through.

“Hey, hey. Don’t be sorry. Don’t cry.” He smiles down at you nudging his nose against you in hopes of making you smile as well. You don’t, still dwelling in embarrassment and shame. “You… you were scared… right?” He questions softly. You nod, moving both of your heads. He chuckles at your response and places a soft chaste kiss on your nose. “Okay. We all yell when we’re scared. I know I do.” He smiles as you crack a small grin. “Come on. Love, you were scared. I would… I would feel the same way if I thought there was even the slightest chance that I could lose you.” He hums, closing his eyes, his lashes kissing your skin.

“You would?” A small sniffle escapes you and his eyes shoot open once again. Eddie smiles down at you and pulls your body flush against his.

“Most definitely. Heaven and Earth remember?" He flashes a cheeky smirk before laying more kisses on your jaw. His lips trailing back to your neck again. Your hands shoot into his brown locks. Gripping tightly, holding him against you. Wanting to feel every part of him just to reaffirm that he is here and he is yours.

─────── ･｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ──────

Okay here it is, just a classic and shameless jealousy fic with some nice comfort at the end. Is it cheesy and overused? Yes. But. This is fanfic and I will write what makes me happy so... jealous Eddie fic it is. Anyways hope you enjoyed this little blurb.

Join my taglist along with these lovely babes. - @iwillbiteabitch @and-claudia @ruinedbythehobbit @luvmybbies @wannabeyousobad @llodinsonll @tlclick73

Peace and Love, Babes x

#eddie stranger things #eddie munson #eddie munson fanfic #eddie munson imagine #eddie my beloved #stranger things #eddie munson fluff #fictional crushes #peaceteaaposts #eddie x reader

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mazeinthemiroh · 2 years

Text

bangchan boyfriend headcanons

genre: fluff

word count: 0.8k

warnings: none

requested?: yes

song rec: my universe - coldplay, bts

author's notes: in honour of chan day, here is some bangchan bf headcanons. i may or may not have cried whilst writing this. i just love him so much ;-; anyways, i really hope you enjoy this one! happy chan day <333

guys...

oh my gosh i can't breathe-

okay, okay

i don't think you understand how much this guy means to me. this guy. the most beautiful, gentle, gorgeous man in the whole world. this person who's very existence is why i am still here today. bangchan. bang christopher chan. chrissy boi

however has the privilege of dating this one should know that they are the luckiest person in the whole wide world

bangchan as a boyfriend? he puts his all into the relationship. being the leader of stray kids has taught him many things: patience, kindness, empathy, compromise, understanding. he is well equipped for any sort of human interaction, if we're being honest. he is also prone to be protective, taking a more caring role is natural for him. as a boyfriend, he will look out for you. make sure you stay out of harms way, protect you from the press, sasaengs, paparazzi, toxic fans, idols, anyone who hurts your feelings, your reputation, your image.

you are like the kids in the sense that you become chan's top priority.

speaking of the kids, you will have to get on well with them. the other members as so important to chan because they are essentially his family. so getting along with them is a must and non-negotiable, tbh

and they welcome you with open arms, anyway, seeing how happy you. make chan. you all end up being one big happy family, its lovely

but it's baffling, really. because at first, chan was a bit concerned that being in a relationship would be extremely difficult because of his tight schedule

and, much like i said with hongjoong, he's a quality time guy. he craves a one-on-one connection with someone, to really get to know them well and to understand their thoughts, feelings, and opinions. which is hard because he literally has no time at all. but somehow, magically, he manages. and much better than he thought he would

and it's because he absolutely thrives in a relationship. he finally has someone to commit to. something to look forward to. something that give shis life a new meaning. a brighter joy that he has never quite experienced before. sure, he's living his dream, but it's not easy. his life is hectic and tough and crazy and busy and lonely. and therefore he values, much more deeply than others, the feeling of companionship

to love and to be loved. that's what he desires the most. that's what he needs

because this man has so much love to give. he will hold you close to him and never ever let you go

cuddles are a necessity! he's very physically affectionate and essentially wants to be close to you in any way. he doesn't even care if he's the big spoon or little spoon. if he's. a big spoon, he feels like he is protecting you and it feels so good holding you close in his arms. but if he's the little spoon, he would feel so safe and loved and cherished as you hold him tight. he lives for any type of cuddles <3

overall, being in a relationship with chan would be extremely important for him for one key reason: you make him feel like he is at home. he finds himself being so comfortable around you; he is free to be himself, with no judgement. he feels safe with you. that's something he can never deny. you are his best friend, his family, his soulmate. a massive part of his life. he never underestimates how much you mean to him. and he never takes you for granted. not once.

dates with him would include:

studio dates - yes, i know, how predictable. the usual setting of every chan fic out there, i get it, i get it. but he loves it when you're at the studio with him. sometimes you guys work together, just quiet and enjoying each others comfortable company, ordering takeaway food at midnight, falling to sleep together in the early hours of the morning. or you guys just mess around and get like zero work done. either way, he loves it

binge-watching - he counts this as a date. he wants nothing more than after a long day working at the studio, coming home to you snuggling up in his arms in his bed while he puts on a movie or anime or tv show you guys have been watching. it's one of his favourite moments ever. it makes him feel so warm and happy

fireworks display - kinda cliché but also totally his vibe. i think he's watched so many anime with romance fireworks scenes that he's just like 'yep, we have to do this.' and it's breathtaking how perfect it all is. a beautiful moment shared with a beautiful man

i hope chan chooses happiness, above all else <3

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bookshelf-dust · 1 year

Note

Hii, if you're still taking request I wanted to ask if you could write a Gareth fic where he sees the jocks annoying you and steps in (I feel like I'm feeding the 'damsel in distress' stereotype but it's Gareth🥰💞). If you won't or can't write this thank you anyway<33

I also wanted to say I love your work and writing!

my hero.

gareth emerson x gn!reader

word count: 703

warnings: swearing, jason and his goons being assholes, jason carver in general, brief mentions of anxious!reader, fluff

a/n: hi my sweet!! thank you for your request!! this is a really precious concept. i hope it’s to your liking!! i just kind of went for it and this is the result. and thank you for saying that you like my work. it really does mean the world hearing that and i am sending you an enormous hug. enjoy! <333

————

You didn’t need to be saved. You were completely capable of defending yourself—you did it all the time—and you knew that.

But the relief you felt at Gareth’s appearance was palpable.

You were having a shitty day. One of those where everything hurt your feelings, every little thing went wrong.

You’d slept through your alarms and woken up twenty minutes before you needed to leave. Gotten toothpaste on your shirt and had to change it.

Then you’d gotten stuck in traffic because of a wreck and made it into class right as the bell rang, out of breath and a little sweaty despite the freezing temperatures.

You’d been handed back your essay in class and not done nearly as well as you hoped, despite having worked your ass off on it.

Your lunch had been rushed and tasted like shit because you had an anxious stomach ache.

But it all met a peak when you were getting books out of your locker in between classes.

“You look like hell. Do you ever sleep?” Jason Carver’s voice rang out like a shotgun from where he stood next to you. You had the unlucky advantage of his locker being a few down from yours.

You were too frazzled to even answer him. “What, you mute or somethin’ now too?” That was Andy.

You shifted your math textbook. “How’s your mom Andy? She looked like shit when I left her last night.”

Jason moved in, slamming your locker door shut. Good thing you were finished with it.

“You really shouldn’t say things like that. It’s not polite.”

“Fuck off, Jason. Just because you can’t get Chrissy off doesn’t mean you have to take that frustration out on me.”

He blushed a dark shade of red, borderline purple, his brows pushing together angrily. “You’re such a bitch. You know what—”

“What, Carver? What are you gonna do, huh?” Gareth took your books out of your hands, moving behind you to put them in your backpack for you.

Jason crossed his arms, letterman jacket crinkling as he did so. “Just making conversation. What do you want freak?”

Gareth laughed. “Original. So, what’re we chatting about this afternoon?” He crossed his arms, mimicking Jason’s pose and pouting at his fussy expression.

You looked up at him for the first time since he’d appeared. He looked like he always did. Gorgeous. Brown hair fluffy and moving with each turn of his head, shoulders enveloped in a black corduroy jacket. He looked warm.

The ache in your chest that had surfaced when Jason and his goons started bugging you vanished. Gareth was good at that.

“How your friend here is a bitch and could learn a lesson in respecting their higher-ups.”

A shadow crossed Gareth’s face. Asshole, he thought, wrapping his arm around your shoulders.

“Hey, Carver?”

“Yeah?” The blonde looked confused.

“Suck my dick.”

You coughed out a laugh, making Gareth smile and rub his hand over the top of your back before pulling you away.

Clearly, even the idea of that was bothering Jason. He spun around at your retreat. “What the hell is wrong with you? Creep!”

Gareth turned around, grabbing hold of your hand. “Aw, you know you want to. I bet it’d help release some of that tension. Bet Andy’d help you out if you’re not so fond of me!”

Jason flushed that cruel pink again, and Gareth tugged you off in the direction of your next class, which you shared.

He stopped you in the hallway, checking his watch to make sure you had a few minutes. “You okay?” He asked, blue eyes boring into yours.

“Yeah. Thank you, Gareth the Great. My hero.” He shook his head at you in disapproval, but it was hard to take him seriously with that cheesy ass grin on his face.

“You’re such a shit.” He leaned in and kissed the top of your head, lips warm and curls brushing your skin, just as the bell rang.

He made sure to wave at Jason in the parking lot after school, which only caused a more violent blush than before and a slam of a car door. Gareth, however, laughed in triumph and practically jumped he was so giddy.

————

please let me know if you liked this! feedback is always appreciated!! comments and reblogs mean more than you know. <33

#gareth emerson #gareth emerson x reader #gareth emerson x you #gareth emerson x gn!reader #corroded coffin #gareth the great #gareth stranger things #gareth emerson fic #gareth emerson fanfic #gareth emerson comfort #jason carver is a piece of shit #savannah’s fics

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starrystevie · 11 months

Text

hiya everyone! the month of june is a big one for not only myself personally but also for this blog so we'll be celebrating a few things:

my own birthday on june 24th!

reaching 2k followers! (which is still mind blowing where did y'all come from)

pride month!

now i may not be a gif maker or edit maker, but i do want to celebrate by interacting with you all in the ways i know how! i'm going to be hosting what i like to call "roll for...?", a mysterious way to get stranger things content from me for the rest of the month. starting today, june 13, you can send me in asks for things to roll for (just make sure you go over the rules before sending in an ask pls <3)

if you're interested in participating, click the read more for the rules!

how it works:

i'll have the following categories to pick from: drabble, playlist, or aesthetic/moodboard. pick one of those categories and then select up to 3 of the following subcategories for me to roll specifics for: ship, trope, vibe/colors, length, era, crossover. whatever subcategories go unchosen, i can use if i want to! each of the subcategories will have a few options in them that i will then roll for to leave the final product up to the luck of the roll. if needed, any additional details will be left up to me! if you would like it to be entirely my pick, please select 3 ships listed below for me to choose from and i will take it from there. warning, some categories will be easier for me to combine than others (ie vibe with crossover might be challenging) so please take every post with a grain of salt. this is all just for fun. these will be posted as i can get them done, so feel free to send in asks whenever you want to! i will stop accepting asks for this project on june 30th but will probably still have things to post after that. all posts will be tagged with #rollfor2023 to help keep things organized.

important to know!:

if you have any triggers or things you wouldn't want to me to include, please let me know what to avoid. i'll honor it no questions asked. all drabbles will be rated anywhere from general to mature with absolutely zero explicit smut unless you tell me you are comfortable with it being included. overcommunicate with me and we'll both be happy campers!

subcategory specifics:

ship: 1. steve/eddie, 2. robin/nancy, 3. robin/chrissy, 4. jonathan/argyle, 5. joyce/hopper, 6. bee's pick of steve ship (platonic or romantic) trope: 1. enemies to lovers, 2. friends to lovers, 3. one bed, 4. the italicized 'oh', 5. soulmates, 6. bee's pick of shop au vibe/colors: 1. whimsical/pastels, 2. angst/dark muted, 3. hopeless romantic/soft pinks, 4. cheerful/bright & bold, 5. bittersweet/blues & greys, 6. angry/dark reds length (around a certain word/song count): 1. 100-300 words/3 songs, 2. 300-500 words/5 songs, 3. 500-750 words/8 songs, 4. 750-1000 words/10 songs, 5. 1000-1500 words/15 songs, 6. bee's pick era: 1. ancient greek, 2. 1980s, 3. modern/2020s, 4. 1800s wild west, 5. 1940s, 6. unspecified fantasy world timeline ala lotr or got crossover (all chosen from my favorites!): 1. moulin rogue, 2. across the universe, 3. bee's pick of disney movie, 4. grishaverse, 5. glee, 6. supernatural

an example ask (can copy / paste if you'd like!):

i would like a drabble with a roll for ship, length, and crossover. avoid character death and mentions of drugs.

i hope this makes sense, so please let me know if you have questions! i'm truly just wanting to do something fun for the hell of it because isn't that we're all here for anyway?! rejoining the fandom side of tumblr this time last year has been such a great decision. i've been able to meet so many of you wonderful people and remember what it's like to enjoy fandom spaces again without shame. best of all, it's gotten me writing again, which had been such a big part of my hobbies that i had pushed aside. getting back into writing as a way to express myself and make content with some fucking guys from some fucking tv show has made a massive difference in my happiness over the last year.

i thank you all so sincerely for being with me along the ride. tagging some of my beloved buds here in no possible order because if it weren't for y'alls support, i never would have written half the things i have. thank you from the bottom of my heart, truly <3

@buckleydiaz @thefreakandthehair @yournowheregirl @scoops-stevie @gothbat99 @bayouteche @toburnup @stevethehairington @judasofsuburbia @henderdads @sharpbutsoft @kkpwnall @figthefruitfaeth @fastcardotmp3 @fragilecapric0rnn @wynnyfryd @stargyles @jeysuso @bitchsteve @lovespiralls @riality-check @cheatghost @legitcookie @hellsfireclub @sanguineterrain @kingofscoops @roykentt @sidekick-hero

#rollfor2023 #i was going to wait to post this but nah i wanted to go ahead and do it now #especially since i'm all anxious waiting for my bigbang claim email #love literally all of you sm thank you for maki ng tumblr fun #pls ignore any spelling errors but don't ignore if something doesn't make sense so i can clear it up #steddie #ronance #buckingham #jargyle #jopper #stranger than things #stranger things prompts

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eddievanhammettmunson · 2 years

Text

She Was Destined For An Alternate Dimension

vampire Eddie munson x vampire female reader 9.7k words

Authors note- hi ghouls and goblins I’m back with another Eddie one shot cause I’m stalling on working on my actual story but I hope you enjoy this anyways. This wasn’t proofread so we’re just gonna roll with it loves <3

WARNINGS!!!!!- LOTS OF MENTIONS OF BLOOD definite trigger warning, violence, foul language. Mentions of drugs. 18++++ minors DNI, SMUT, oral female receiving, unprotected p in v, biting, blood again.

Summary- Eddie Munson is devastated when you’re taken in the upside down and is willing to lay down his life to get you back.

Eddie Munson had done everything he could to protect you that day at lovers lake. As Steve dived down into the depths of the water to investigate the portal and then got dragged beneath the surface. He begged you not to go. Not to follow them. But you did.

When Eddie reached the other side and started battling alongside you with the oars in order to free Steve he had no time to react when you were being hauled away by a hoard of demodogs and demo bats. He tried to chase after you but there was nothing he could do as he himself was getting swarmed.

He knew Vecna wanted you for your powers and thats why he oh so desperately didn’t want you going through this gate. Sure he hadn’t known you long but in the short time he had all you had done was save his life without hesitation despite what everyone in town thought of him.

Eddie Munson was horrified as the bats dispersed and left Eddie, Robin, Steve and Nancy alone but no you. They all turned around and tried to see what direction they might have taken you in but they saw nothing. They quickly had to run to the Forest for cover as the swarm of bats was on their way back to them.

Eddie was devastated that they’d lost you. All the rescuing you’d done for others but none of them saved you. Eddie felt like a failure yet again after losing Chrissy and now you.

“Come on man, give yourself some credit.”

“I don’t know Steve. Save her?”

“How? What’s your plan here man? You give yourself so much shit but look at the situation we’re in. You can’t blame yourself so much.”

As they stood by skull rock in the upside down and Nancy patched up Steve. Eddie paced around thinking to himself but he was way out of his depth here. In an alternate dimension he really had no footing on where to even begin to rescue you.

He climbed up on a rock to get a better look at his surroundings and all he saw for miles and miles was more upside down and no signs of you. He began to climb back down the rock.

“So uh this place is like Hawkins but with monsters and nasty shit”

“Yeah pretty much” Nancy said as she stepped away from Steve.

“Wait Eddie! Watch out for the vines! It’s all a hive mind!” Nancy called out to him.

“It’s all a what?” Eddie asked not taking any further steps.

“All the creepy crawlers around here dude. There like one or something. You step on a vine, you’re stepping on a bat, you’re stepping on Vecna.” Steve said as he held his wounds.

“Shit” Eddie said as he made his way down the rock carefully avoiding the vines.

“But everything from our world is still here right? Except people?” Robin asked.

“As far as we understand. Yes” Nancy said, turning to face Robin.

“So theoretically, we could go to the police station and steal guns and grenades and whatever we need to blow up those bat things that are guarding the gate.”

“I highly doubt that the Hawkins PD has grenades Robin but guns, yeah, sure.” Steve said, turning his full attention to Robin.

“Well we don’t have to go all the way downtown for guns. I have guns in my bedroom.”

Eddie hops off of the rock to the ground fully and turns towards Nancy.

“You, Nancy Wheeler, have guns, plural, in your bedroom?” He asked.

“Full of surprises, isn’t she?” Robin said with a shaky voice.

An earthquake rattled the ground causing the teens to crash and fall to the ground and grab on to anything for dear life.

“Yeah so guns seem like a pretty good idea to me.” Eddie says as he listens to the growling and rumbling from his surroundings.

Steve grabs the flashlight and takes point to walk through the dark Forest.

“So what are we waitin for.”

***

As you got carried off kicking and screaming by the hoard of bats you couldn’t help but think back to your last moments with Eddie on that boat. Maybe he was right.

You used all your strength but it was useless to struggle against so many with their tails wrapped around you in a vice. Yet you persisted. You weren’t going to give up that easily.

Suddenly the vice grips on your body tighten and you’re plummeting to the earth and land with a loud crack. You groan and turn over. Nothing seems broken but everything feels bruised.

Sitting up you take in your dark and dingy surroundings and find yourself in front of an old beat down house. A house you know all too well to be the Creel house.

You stand as quickly as possible and turn to run away from the house but as soon as you turn around your met by a towering monstrosity oh vines and flesh and that’s all you see as the world turns black.

***

As they walk through the forest Steve attempts to catch up to Eddie to have a chat.

“Eddie. Eddie psst.”

Eddie turns around and slows allowing Steve to catch up to him and walk next to him.

“Hey, man. Uh… listen, I just, uh… I just wanted to say thanks. For saving my ass back there.”

Eddie scoffs. “Shit. You saved your own ass, man. I mean that was a real Ozzy move you pulled back there.”

“Ozzy?”

“When you took a bite out of that bat. Ozzy Osbourne? Black Sabbath? He bit a bats head off onstage.”

“I don’t…”Steve was really confused here.

“It’s very metal. What you did. That’s all I’m saying.”

“Thanks.” Steve said. Not entirely believing himself as metal but grateful for the compliment nonetheless.

Eddie looked around the forest and then back to Steve. “Y/n told me you were a badass. Insisted on the matter, in fact.”

“Wait y,n said that?”

“Oh yeah, shit. Girl worships you dude. Like you have no idea. It’s kind of annoying to be honest. I don’t even know why I care what she thinks but uh, I guess I got a little jealous, Steve. I guess I couldn’t accept the fact that Steve Harrington was actually a good dude. Rich parents, popular, chicks love him. Not a douche? No way, man. No way. That, like, flies in the face of all the laws of the universe and my own personal Munson doctrine. Still super jealous as hell by the way.”

Eddie gets closer to Steve’s face in a teasing manner. Steve laughs.

“Which is why I would never have jumped in that lake to save your ass. Not under any, uh… normal circumstances.”

A branch snaps in the distance and both Steve and Eddie turn to look at it while Steve points the flashlight in that direction.

“Nope. Outside of D&D, I am no hero. I see danger and I just turn heel and run. Or at least that’s what I’ve learned about myself this week.”

Steve gives Eddie a light tap.

“Hey give yourself a break, man.”

Eddie stops and turns to Steve, stopping him.

“See, the only reason I came in here was cause of those ladies.” Eddie points to Robin and Nancy. He wished he were also pointing to you.

“Those ladies were fearless. Y/n was fearless. I mean shit. All she’s done since I’ve met her is save my ass.”

“Yeah she really has. You gotta give yourself a break though Munson. Y/n is a good person. She wouldn’t save you unless she thought you were worth saving. What you’ve been through is hard. You’re not a coward Munson. Or you’d have never gone through the gate anyways.”

Eddie thought about this for a moment. Maybe Steve was right. Maybe he had been too hard on himself. But he couldn’t help the guilt that grabbed him.

Eddie is snapped back to reality when Steve continues talking. “And Eddie, I know you’re scared. But we’re gonna find her. She’s strong and we’re gonna get her back.” Steve rests a hand on Eddie's shoulder and as he does the earth begins to quake once more.

Eddie tries to steady himself and quickly becomes irritated. “Here we go again.”

“Second on my list of least favorite things, earthquakes. Seriously, I'm unsteady enough as it is.” Robin says as she tries to keep herself upright on the ground.

As Nancy steadies herself on a tree she sees something in the distance and runs forward. As she runs she can hear Robin calling for her but continues onward. She can see her house in the distance.

***

As you wake up you immediately remember what happened and sit up straight. You’re leaning against a wall in the attic of the creel house. Across from you is Vecna.

“Y/n. I’m so glad you’ve awoken.”

He steps closer to you and forces you to stand up using vines. Holding you in place.

“I want you to join me.”

You spit at him.

“I will not be your next victim you asshole!”

“Oh no no. I don’t want you to join me like that. You’re stronger. More resilient somehow. I see potential where in the others I saw collateral damage in the pursuit of a greater good. I want you as an ally.”

You’re taken aback and at a loss for words. He was asking you to be part of his army? You fight against the vines once more.

“If you do not wish to join me then I will make you. Join me.”

You can’t make me.

“Oh but I can.”

He raises his arms and a swarm of demobats flies into the room.

At once everything is blinding pain. From all sides as they rip and ear into your flesh. The scratch and claw and dive bomb you until you feel nothing. Until you are nothing. You see black.

****

As Nancy, Steve, Robin, and Eddie walk into the Wheeler residence Robin decides to try and break the tension. “Might be time to get a maid Wheeler.”

Nancy doesn’t find it amusing. “Come on. I don’t want to stay here longer than we have to.”

Nancy, Robin, and Eddie make their way upstairs but Steve stops. Hearing the faint whispers of Dustin Henderson in the Wheelers kitchen.

Upstairs, Nancy reaches for her shoe box and opens it. Only to find a pair of shoes. And no guns.

Eddie points at the box. “Those aren’t guns”

“Though those heels are a bit pointy I was hoping for a deadly projectile.” Robin says beginning to panic slightly.

“I don’t understand” holding the pair of shoes in her hand, Nancy begins to observe her room a bit closer.

“Maybe you left them somewhere else” Eddie suggest trying to search for an answer.

“There’s a six year old in the house. I know where I keep my guns. And also I threw these away years ago.”

Nancy studies her table and finds her old flash cards from her study date with Steve in sophomore chemistry. She notices her wallpaper is old. Her ready bear is back from the garage sale. Her journal is missing entries. It’s all wrong. It’s all…from the past.

Eddie can clearly see that Nancy has discovered something and that she seems distressed. “What is it?”

“Nancy, you’re freaking me out.”

“I think the reason that my guns aren’t here is because they don’t exist yet.”

“They don’t..exist?” Eddie asks through gritted teeth.

“This diary should be full of entries. It’s not. The last entry is November 6,1983. The day Will went missing. The day the gate opened. We’re in the past.”

Eddie, Nancy and Robin share a worried stare before they hear shouting from downstairs.

“DUSTIN?! DUSTIN?!”

Nancy, Eddie, and Robin run downstairs to the kitchen to find Steve alone shouting to the air.

“Du- - Hello? Hel…Hello?”

“Steve what are you doing?” Steve turns to face them as Nancy’s voice had caught his attention. Shining the flashlight in their eyes.

“He’s here. Henderson. That little shit, he’s here. He’s like…He’s in the walls of something. Just listen. Dustin! Dustin! Dustin! Dustin! Dustin! Can you hear me?”

As they listen closer they can in fact really hear Dustin speaking on the other side and they begin to search around the house for him but to no avail.

“All right either this kid can’t hear us or he’s being a total douchebag.”

Nancy starts looking for any source of light switch on the wall. “Will found a way.”

“What?“ Steve says turning to Nancy.

“Will. He found a way to speak to Joyce through the lights.”

Steve holds his flashlight up to the lights on the ceiling and it begins to emanate a funny glow.

“You guys seein this?”

Nancy is the first to reach a hand through the glowing particles in the ceiling. A funny feeling emanates through her hand and a funny tingle runs through her body. It feels good. She twirls her fingers around and makes the particles dance. The sight brings a smile to her face.

As she does this the more she moves the particles the more the light glows. Eddie and Robin inch closer to the light. Everyone else joins in their hands to reach for the light.

“Does anybody know Morse code?” Nancy hopes.

“No…” both Steve and Robin whisper.

“Wait, does SOS count?” Eddie asks.

Eddie begins to signal SOS through the lights and they begin to hear the conversation change amongst the kids on the other side. The kids are going to help them and they couldn’t be happier to hear from the little shrimps.

****

The kids told the teens that gates open up at every murder site so they plan to meet at Eddie’s trailer. Nancy, Steve, Robin, and Eddie take off on bikes towards the Munson residence.

Upon arrival they see a pulsing gate on the ceiling of Eddie’s trailer. The group is scared when they see something moving from within the gate and it bursts open with a pop. From the other side they see Dustin, Erica, Lucas, and Max.

Steve approaches the gate. “No way”

“Hi there” the sound of Dustin’s voice and laughter echos through the gate.

The group laughs with relief.

Dustin, Lucas, Erica and Max get a mattress set up on the ground beneath the gate and Dustin makes a rope out of sheets and tosses it through the gate. The rope floats and causes the group to stare in awe.

Robin is the first one to test going through the gate. “Guess I’m the Guinea pig.”

“Alright let’s clear the landing pad.” Dustin says directing the other to back up.

Robin lands safely on the mattress. “Oh thank god. That was fun.”

Steve and Nancy look at each other and Eddie takes it upon himself to climb through next. Landing safely Eddie says “shit, that was fun!”

Nancy is the one to go next.

Climbing the rope and entering the gate expecting to fall onto a mattress Nancy is shocked when she hits the hard concrete of a pool floor. Pulling herself up off of the ground she takes in her surroundings.

Walking around the pool floor Nancy sees something against the wall. Walking closer she observes what appears to be a body. The body of her dead friend Barbra. As a slug comes out of the corpses mouth Nancy jumps back in fright.

“Do you remember What you did Nancy? Or have you already forgotten? When I kill someone… I never forget.”

Nancy watches as blood starts to fill the pool around her as she panics. Searching for a way to escape. Over to her left she sees the remains of a pool ladder. She runs and jumps up to reach it and begins to climb.

Once out of the pool she finds herself on the staircase of the creel house. As she walks down the staircase the same voice booms.

“I see you’ve been looking for me, Nancy. You were so close. So close to the truth. How was old, blind, dumb, victor? Did he miss me? I’ve been meaning to check back in, but I’ve been busy.” As Nancy reaches the ground and turns to look for the voice she sees the bodies of Fred and Chrissy on the pillars of the house. Making her gasp and back away.

“So very busy.”

Nancy begins to see images. The life of Henry Creel. Victor Creels son. She sees his life as he was turned into one and his life as it continued and he was turned into Vecna. He shows her all of it and she’s not sure why.

“All done. Not so bad. Was it? Nancy? See? There’s nothing to be afraid of. Is there, Nancy? Why don’t you take a seat.” Nancy is standing in the room where Dr Brenner tattooed the number 001 on Henry Creels arm. The lights flicker and suddenly Nancy is in Henry Creels place. Squishy wet vines wrapped tightly around her arms and legs to hold her in place. She looks up to see Vecna across the small room. He begins to walk forward.

As he nears Nancy he leans over her. Face directly in front of hers.

“I want you.. to tell.. eleven. I want you to tell her.. everything you see.”

He raises his hand to her forehead. Nancy’s mind begins racing with images. The earth is splitting in four. She can see the creel house. Her family. Her friends. People dying. Seemingly the end of the world as an army invaded Hawkins. A part of that army. What appears to be you. You in a way shes never seen before. Nancy begins to cry out. None of this is real. None of this could be real. He was lying. But as the flashing images continued and she saw her family, her friends, everyone dying. She couldn’t help but feel the fear overtake her as she begged and pleaded for it to stop.

Finally it did. It all stopped and Nancy was falling into the warm embrace of Steve Harrington. Looking at her surroundings she was still in Eddie’s trailer in the upside down. Just below the gate. Laying in the arms of Steve Harrington. For a moment she could breathe a sigh of relief. But only for a moment.

***

Nancy sits on Max’s couch in herreal trailer in our dimension. Steve ,Robin, Eddie, Dustin, Lucas, Max, and Erica sit around the room listening to Nancy recount what happened to her.

“He showed me things that haven’t happened yet. The most awful things. I saw- a dark cloud. Spreading over Hawkins. Downtown on fire. Dead soldier. And this..giant creature with… a gaping mouth. And this creature wasn’t alone. There were so many monsters. An army. And. And.” Nancy took a deep breath and sighed. She looked across the group but avoided looking at Eddie.

“And y/n was in that army. She didn’t look like herself. She was….different. And they. They were coming into Hawkins. Into out neighborhoods. Our homes. And then.. He showed me my mom. And Holly. Mike. And they.. they were all..” Nancy begins crying to herself and the group falls quiet.

Steve tries to have some hope. “Okay, but…he’s just trying to scare you, Nance. Right? I mean… I mean, it’s not real”

“Not yet.” She says in barely over a whisper.

“But there… was something else. He showed me gates. 4 gates. Spreading across Hawkins. And these gates, they looked like the ones outside of Eddie’s trailer but… they didn’t stop growing. And this wasn’t the upside down Hawkins. This was our Hawkins. Our home.”

“4 chimes. Vecna’s clock. It always chimes 4 times. 4 exactly.” The group turns to look at Max with concern.

“I heard them too” Nancy says making the group turn to look at her with concern as well.

“He’s been telling us his plan the whole time.”

“4 kills, 4 gates. End of the world. ” Lucas turns to Max. Face full of concern and fear.

“If that’s true… he’s only one kill away.” Dustin declares.

“Oh Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ.” Eddie covers his face with his hands. Not being able to comprehend everything he just heard at once.

Steve tells Max to try calling the Byers once more and there’s no answer.

After there’s no answer once again the group begins to worry about what might be happening in california. Nancy walks over to the window and looks across the trailer park.

“It can’t be just a coincidence. It can’t be. Whatever’s happening in Lenora is connected to all of this. I’m sure of it. But Vecna can’t hurt them. Not if he’s dead. We have to go back in there. Back to the upside down!l

Everyone is baffled by what she’s suggests. Outright saying no and disagreeing but Nancy doesn’t back down.

“We barely made it out of there in one piece!”Steve shouts.

“Yeah, because we weren’t prepared. But this time we will be. We’ll get weapons and protection. We’ll go through the gate we”lol find his lair. We’ll get y/n and we’ll kill him.” Nancy explains.

“Or he’ll kill us. They only reason you survived is because he wanted you to. He’s not scared of us.”

Robin stands from the floor. “And for good reason. We were wrong about Vecna. Henry. One. Sorry, what are we calling him now?” They debate on it for a moment but there’s no real answer found. “Right we’ve learned something new about Vecna/Henry/One. He’s a number like Eleven, only a sick, evil, male, child-murdering version of her with really bad skin. But my… point is, he’s super powerful. He could turn us inside out with the snap of his fingers. It’s not a fair fight.”

“So then why fight fair” Dustin interjects. “You’re right he’s like eleven. But that gives us an upper hand. We know elevens strengths. And weaknesses. When El. Remote travels, she goes into this sort of trance like state. I bet the same is true with Vecna. When he attacks his next victim I’ll bet you he’s back in that attic physical body defenseless.”

“Defenseless? What about the army of bats?” Steve asks.

“True we’ll have to find a way past them. Distract them somehow.”

Eddie is becoming irritated at how nonchalant Dustin is being about this. “And uh, how do we do that exactly And uh while we’re at it. What are we going to do about y/n? He still has her and what if he really had made her apart of his army? Huh Dustin. How do we get her back?” Eddie is almost standing off the couch at this point.

“No idea”

Eddie sits back down in defeat.

“But once they’re gone, And once we have y/n back. He doesn’t stand a chance. It’ll be like slaying sleeping Dracula in his coffin”

“That’s all great in theory Dustin but there’s not pattern to his killings. I mean we don’t even know who he’s going to attack next.” Robins begin to panic again.

“Yes we do.” The group turns to Max.

“I’m still..marked. Cursed. I ditch Kate Bush and I draw his focus back to me”

Lucas begins to plead. “Max you can’t. He’ll kill you.”

“I survived before. I can survive again. I just need to keep him busy long enough so that you guys can get into that attic. Then you can find y/n. Chop his head off, stab him in the heart. Blow him up. With some explosive Dustin cooks up. I honestly I really don’t care how you put this asshole in his grave. Just… whatever it is… try not to miss.”

The group turns to look at one another. Steve suggests the group take a minute to think about this and get cleaned up just a little bit and maybe rehydrate cause we still need to take care of ourselves in dire situations.

As Eddie sat on the couch of the trailer and took a deep breath. How on earth were they going to get to you. If what Nancy said was true then what did he do to you? Would you ever be the same? He felt so guilty for letting this happen to you and this happening right after Chrissy? And Patrick at the lake? When would it end.

Nancy came to join him on the couch. She put a hand on his shoulder. “We’re gonna kill the son of a bitch Eddie. We’re going to get her back.”

“But Wheeler. You said she was… different? What did he do to her?”

She removed her hand from his shoulder and looked away from him.

“I-I don’t know. Sh- she. She just looked different.” Nancy was almost trembling as she thought about the image of you. Standing atop a building in the upside down. In bloodied clothes, the image burned in her brain.

***

You wake up on the floor of the creel house completely alone. You move with a slight ache but other than that you feel fine. You stand with ease and have to believe that what must have happened was some horrible vision Vecna had created. Some wild hallucination.

You go to walk and your clothes all feel damp. You look down and everything is red. Your clothes are all covered in mostly dried blood. You look at you body and your covered in what spear to scars. You trail yourself hands up your face where you also feel scars. As you trail your hands back down your face over you mouth you feel something funny.

You use your tongue to investigate the inside of your mouth and then you feel them. The fangs in your mouth. What has he done to you. You run down the stairs of the attic and find the first door you can. You try to find a room with a mirror in it to see what has happened to you.

You find what you assume was at one point a bathroom with a mostly intact mirror. Your eyes are a pale white with no color. Theirs scars down your face and body. From scratches and bite marks alike. Your nails are just ever so slightly sharper. Your ears curl upwards just a little more. You’re features all a bit more defined.

That’s when you lean in a bit more and open your mouth. For the first time you see them. They’re real. The fangs protruding from your gums like little daggers. You stagger back, you’ve had enough of this sight. You run out of the bathroom and attempt to find your way out of the creel home. Making your way to the staircase you run as fast as you can. At the bottom of the stairs you hear a voice from the living room.

“Do you like what I’ve done?”

Your feet stop moving. Not that you wanted to stop moving. Your feet wouldn’t allow you to move anymore.

“What the fuck did you do to me!”

“I asked you to Join my army.”

Your feet turn and walk you back up the stairs and to the attic where you sit on the floor against your will. Vecna walks up the staircase slowly until he reaches the attic where you’re sitting.

“Do you like what I’ve done y/n?”

You don’t answer him.

“If you don’t want to answer me. I can make you.”

He raises his arm and you raise from the ground with it. You step towards Vecna until you are within arms reach. He raises his hand to your forehead.

“Do you like what I’ve done”

The words come tumbling out of your mouth before you can even try stopping them.

“No! You made me into a Monster!”

“So ungrateful for your gift.”

He removes his hand from your forehead and you turn on your heels and run to go sit against the wall you were previously against.

Vecna walks back down the stairs and leaves you in the attic by yourself.

****

Eddie is the one to come up with a sort of plan. Grabbing the phone book and turning to a familiar page and gathering the others around the table. And pointing to a page with an article on a place called “THE WAR ZONE”.

As Eddie’s ringed fingers trace the page as the others lean over his shoulders to observe.

“Check this out. The war zone. I’ve been there once. They’ve got everything you need for, uh well uh killing things, basically.”

“You think fake Rambo has enough guns there? Is that a grenade? I mean, how is any of this legal?” Robin questions.

“Well lucky for us it is!” Eddie chides back. “This, this place is just far enough outside of Hawkins. As long as we steer clear of the main roads, we oughta be able to avoid cops and uh angry hicks.”

Erica chimes in. “If we’re trying to avoid angry hicks, maybe we should t go to some place called the war zone.”

Nancy stands tall. “Normally I’d agree but we need the weapons so I think it’s worth the risk.”

Dustin raises an excellent point. “But is it worth the time? It’ll take all day to bike there and back.”

Eddie is already prepared. “Who said anything about bikes?”

“You got some kinda car we don’t know about?” As Steve asks this Eddie stands up in front of him and turns to face him.

“It’s not exactly a car Steve. And it’s not exactly mine. But uh…it’ll do.” Eddie turns and walks over to Max. “Hey, red uh you got a ski mask or a bandanna, something like that?”

Max has an idea and gives him the Michael Myers mask from her old Halloween costume.

The group makes their way through the trailer park and into a mobile home which Eddie breaks into using the unlocked window on the backside of the home. Maneuvering his way through the home and locking the door Eddie sits down in the driver seat and pulls out a bundle of wires from under the dashboard and begins rewiring it. Steve approaches from behind him.

“Where’d you learn how to do this?”

“Well, when the other dads were teaching their kids how to fish or play ball, my old man was teaching me how to hot-wire. Now, I swore to myself I wouldn’t wind up like he did, but now I’m wanted for murder, and soon grand theft auto. So uh I’m really loving up to that Munson name. Bet y/n would be real happy to see me doing this.”

At this time Robin walks up behind Steve.

“Uh Eddie I’m not sure I love the idea of you driving.”

“Oh, I’m just starting this sucker. Harringtons got her. Don’t ya big boy?”

And just like that the engine roars to life and the mobile home starts. Eddie moves out of the drivers seat and is replaced by Steve as he steps on the gas and they make their great escape from the trailer park and move towards the war zone.

***

As you sit on the attic floor you can hear the squelching of his vines as he approaches up the staircase and your feet raise you from the ground against your will.

By the time he reaches the top of the staircase you’re already standing at attention. “Y/n. I’ve brought you a gift.”

You spit at him once more. “I don’t want any more of your gifts.”

“Oh but you will.”

He drops a dead demodog at your feet. It’s oozing blood and you can smell it. The smell of blood overwhelms your senses and you can hear your stomach growl. This can’t be. You won’t.

“I could make you. But where is the fun in that. You’ll do it on your own soon enough.”

With that he leaves you and walks back down the stairs and you allow yourself to sit on the ground on the opposite side of the room from the dead demodog.

You’re not sure how long you sit there trying to avoid looking at it. But it’s like the blood calls out to you. “Drink me!” “Drink me!” It hisses in your ears.

You rise on shaky legs and slowly make your way over to the dead animal. The hunger becoming too much. You dip two fingers into the blood spilling from the animals abdomen and bring the fingers back to your lips where you cautiously take a taste.

As soon as the blood hits you lips you feel alive. A spark of electricity runs through your body and you need more. The hunger becoming too much. You look down at the animal and plunge face first into biting it and draining it of all the blood you can. Feeling it everywhere you feel revitalized.

Once the animal has been drained you and you realize what you’ve done you back away slowly collapsing on the floor. You begin to cry and rock yourself back and forth at the monster you’ve become.

***

As Eddie sits in the Winnebago with Dustin he stares out the window at the passing scenery and can’t help but think of you. And how desperately he wished you were in this Winnebago with them. He wouldn’t even allow his mind to wander to what might be happening to you.

He’s snapped out of his thoughts when he feels a hand on his shoulder and he turns to find Dustin. “Hey man.”

“Hey Eddie. Mind if I sit?”

“Not at all”

Dustin sits on the bench next to Eddie.

“We’re gonna get her back Eddie.”

Eddie sighs and looks down at the rings on his fingers. “You don’t know that man. We’re fighting alternate dimensional shit. What if we don’t man. I mean how are you all so sure?”

Dustin sighs and looks down at the table. “It’s not about what I know Eddie. We have to believe we’ll get her back to get her back. And we’re going to. I promise.”

“What if he has her man. What if it’s too late?”

“Y/n is strong. Trust me. Even if he had her. We’ll get her out of his grasps.”

Eddie turns to Dustin and gives him a weak smile. “You know Dustin. Y/n told me when we were hiding out that you’re actually a total badass. She told me you fight stuff like this all the time. Looks like I should give you more credit in D&D”

Dustin laughs. “Y/n said that?”

“Shit man yeah. When we got into this whole mess she told me you and her have fought together before.”

Dustin sighs. “She’s the real badass man. I mean shit she’s a fighter. She stands up for everyone in everyday life and then stands up for everyone in the end of the world. She’s a real badass girl. So when we get her back you better not screw it up with her.”

Eddies eyes snap up to Dustin. “I don’t know what you’re talking about man.”

“Oh bullshit Eddie. You like her and it’s clear she liked you too. She really cares about you ya know.”

“She barely knows me man. I mean this whole thing has been a whirlwind. She’s just a nice girl you know. She would have done it for anybody.”

“True. She is a nice girl. But I know her Eddie. I know when I see her look at someone the way she looks at you and I know she thinks you’re special.”

Eddie can’t help the rosiness that blesses his cheeks at Dustin’s words.

“I don’t know man. I mean when this whole thing is over. A girl like her with a guy like me? It’ll just never happen. I mean I don’t even know how she could be around me after what happened that night.”

Eddie gets flashbacks to you and him in this trailer watching as Chrissy’s body crumbled to pieces before your eyes. The way he grabbed your hand and pulled you out of the trailer and took you both to reefa ricks to hide. You’d chosen to stay with him after the news broke that Eddie Munson was wanted for the murder of Chrissy Cunningham. He couldn’t understand why you’d hide with him after that. But he was thankful for your company anyways. He just wishes you hadn’t been involved now.

Dustin makes Eddie come back to reality. “Y/n isn’t like that man. She’s friends with everyone. No matter who you are or where you come from. She doesn’t judge you like that.”

Dustin hits Eddie lightly on the shoulder and Eddie hits him back. He knows deep down that Dustin is right. And when they did get you back Eddie was going to do everything in his power to make sure he didn’t screw things up with you.

***

As you sit on the floor once more you can hear the steps of Vecna coming up the stairs. When he reaches the top, you’re still crowded in your corner of the room with your knees up to your chest.

“Y/n Rise”

You stand up from the ground and your posture is tall.

“I see you’ve had dinner.”

He examines the drained demodog on the floor and looks over to you in your bloodstained form.

“Leave this house.”

You stand there for a moment dumbfounded.

“Leave this house.” He repeats slightly louder and your feet start carrying you to the steps of the attic. When you reach them you begin to run. You run down the stairs and out of the house.

You run as fast as your legs will carry you and after having your meal you find your legs will carry you a lot faster than they previously had. As you run from the house you think about where you’re going. Once you’re a far enough distance away you stop in your tracks.

Where would you go? How could you possibly leave the upside down now as what you are? Who would accept you? Maybe Vecna had truly won.

You begin to wander the streets of the upside down Hawkins. You wander into downtown and find a store window where you can see your reflection. You find yourself hideous. Studying your eyes, your fangs, your scars. Your bloodied clothes making you look the worst.

You continue through downtown until you find a clothing store to which you break open the window and climb through.

As you’re looking through the clothing racks you hear a growling coming from outside. You turn your head to see a demodog. It growls at you and you decide to growl back. A noise you’ve never heard yourself elicit comes out of your throat and the demodog tilts it’s head but doesn’t back down.

You stalk towards it and it lunges at you. You catch it and grab it by the throat. You look at it for a moment as it squirms and tries to free itself from your grasp but you don’t relent. Instead you use your hand to snap it’s neck and you quickly drain it of its blood.

As your draining it you get a stinging pain in your back that makes you drop the animal and collapse onto the floor as you scream and cry in pain. Your back begins to split open as large wings begin to claw their way out of your back as you scream on the floor in agony. It feels like an eternity of pain before it finally stops and you can see the large black boney wings surrounding you.

A voice echos through your skull. “Your first kill. I never forget a kill.”

The voice of Vecna leaves your skull and you take a deep breath. Once you do you feel the wings retract and you stand once more. You turn your attention back to the demodog and decide there’s no use in wasting it so you drain the dog of what’s left of it’s blood and leave it there on the floor.

You feel your back and where your shirt had split open from the wings protruding your spine and turn your attention back to the clothing racks. Picking out some new clothes you decide to go for a darker look.

Grabbing some jeans and a pair of boots with a open back tank top you change your clothing and leave the store through the window from which you came.

Continuing down the street you consider finding a gate and attempting to go through. Instead you walk back to the house of Vecna.

You stand outside before opening the door and heading inside. Walking slowly up the stairs to the attic where you see Vecna attached to all these vines. When he hears you approach he lowers himself to the ground.

“Y/n. You have decided to join me.”

Upon hearing his words it makes you want to vomit. But you had nothing left. You take a knee of your own free will and pledge yourself to Vecna’s army.

****

Nancy, Robin, Steve, Erica and Max go into The War Zone to gather weapons and supplies. As Eddie sat in the van waiting for them to come out he couldn’t help but wish he were in there with them. Wishing he could help more.

He felt like a coward. Running after Chrissy died. Hiding with you. Fleeing to skull rock from the basketball team, Letting you get taken by those things. He felt like a coward. He was decided in that moment that he would do whatever it took if it meant saving you.

He’s snapped out of his thoughts by the door to the Winnebago swinging open and being hit with bags. Apparently there’d been a run in with the basketball team and now the gang was peeking out of the parking lot to find a secluded area to set up camp and prepare for battle.

Upon finding a clear area in the woods the gang sets up the Winnebago and gathers the supplies to prepare for the coming battle. Dustin and Eddie begin to make shields out of nails and garbage can lids, Nancy and Max as sawing off a shotgun, Steve and Robin are making Molotov cocktails and Erica and Lucas are making spears.

Eddie holds up his shield and tests it out a little bit as Dustin looks at him.

“How’s it feel Eddie?”

“Deadly. But durable. Deadly. But reliable.”

Dustin chuckles in response and Eddie takes a stance atop a milk crate holding a hand over Dustin’s head.

“Hear me now Dustin Henderson! There will be no more retreating! From Eddie the Banished! We’re going to rescue the fair maiden if it’s the last thing I do!”

“Wow Eddie you’re really ready for BATtle” Dustin laughs at his own joke and Eddie raises a brow at Dustin. “Do you get it. B-A-T? No? Man I thought that was a good one.” Dustin sets down his shield and looks disappointed as Eddie rushes to tackle him. Dustin plays back and the two boys rough house for a moment before Eddie grabs the back of Dustin’s head and forces him to look at him.

“Never change Dustin Henderson. Promise me?”

“Wasn’t planning on it.”

“Good. Goood” the two boys laugh and Eddie turns his attention to Lucas and Erica making their spears. “Hey! Sinclairs! How are those spears comin along?”

The two kids give him a thumbs up and he turns his attention to look at his surroundings and breathe the fresh air. Eddie means it this time. He’s going to be a hero.

***

As you knelt before him you could feel the betrayal in your body. Choosing this when you knew fully well he intended to kill your friends. But what would they think if they saw you anyways. They probably didn’t even know you were alive. And even if you hadn’t pledged yourself to him now willingly. He’d made it clear that he could control you if he wanted to.

As you stood to your feet you forced yourself to look at his face and look him in the eyes. He nodded his head and raised his hand. Your feet turned and walked you out of the house. You spread your wings and flew away into the sky.

You hated to admit it but the flying was nice. Getting to glide and flap your wings. As you flew you didn’t know where your body was taking you until you landed. You landed in front of your own home where your body made you walk through the front door and up to your room where you sat on the bed.

You knew you were waiting but you didn’t know what for.

***

The gang makes their way to Eddie’s trailer come night fall and go through the gate to the upside down one by one. First Steve who sets up the mattress. Then Nancy, followed by Eddie, Robin, and lastly Dustin.

As they make their way out of the trailer. Steve turns to Dustin and Eddie. “They guys, if things here start to go south, I mean, at all, you abort. Okay? Draw the attention of the bats. Keep them busy for a minute if two. We’ll get y/n and take care of Vecna. Don’t try to be cute or be a hero or something. Okay? You guys are just decoys.”

Dustin interrupts him. “Don’t worry. You can be the hero Steve.

Eddie turns to Dustin. Absolutely. I mean, look at us. We are not heroes” Eddie says with a twinge of sadness.

After the rest of the group leaves to fight Vecna, Dustin and Eddie start fortifying Eddie’s trailer in the upside down. Gathering metal and scraps to attach them to the trailer to reenforce it’s strength.

When they’re done Dustin and Eddie take a step back to examine their work.

“Not bad” Dustin says with a chuckle.

“Not bad at all.” Eddie says as he taps Dustin’s shoulder. “Now for the fun part”

Eddie makes his way up the steps to his trailer and down the hallway to his room. Upon reaching the door he exhales a cold shaky breath. “There’s she is.” He says with a grin as he walks to the mirror that sweetheart his guitar hangs off of.

“What do you say Henderson? Are you ready for the most metal concert in the history of the world?”

“Is that a rhetorical question?”

“Let’s do it” he says as he slings the guitar over his shoulder and him and Dustin grab an amp to take to the roof. Running a very poorly constructed dangerously long extension cord through the gate and into the trailer on the roof.

While sitting on the roof they hear the crackle of the radio in Dustin’s hand. “Copy that, initiating phase three. Let’s hope they hear this” dustin says as he plugs in the final cord to the amp and gives Eddie the go ahead to start playing the guitar.

“Y/n,this is for you!”

Eddie began to play master of puppets to attract the attention of the bats. And attract their attention her did.

From where you were in the depths of your home you heard the music ring out and found it to be your calling. Stepping outside and allowing your wings to spread you take to the skies and fly towards the sound.

Dustin raises his binoculars and looks into the distance. He knows the plan is working.

“EDDIE WE GOTTA LOCK DOEN IN T-MINUS 30 SECONDS!” Eddie gives him a nod in return. Dustin raises his binoculars again this time seeing form swooping much closer than anticipated.

“EDDIE!” Eddie stops playing and can see not far from him a form landing on top of a nearby trailer. It takes his eyes a minute to register what exactly he’s looking at before he recognizes.

It’s you. Standing tall, wings spread, facing him. “Jesus Chri-“ He whimpers. ”its like…she was destined for an alternate dimension.”Upon seeing you Eddie thinks you’re the most beautiful creature across any dimension.

Upon seeing Dustin and Eddie you immediately regret joining Vecnas army. You look into Eddie’s eyes and you just know that there’s nothing in the world that can make you fight him right now. You decide not to betray you them. so you don’t willingly fight them. Instead you call out to them.

“DUSTIN! EDDIE!”

Dustin yells back. “Y/N!” You fly towards them and land nearby on the roof near Eddie and retract your wings. You don’t get too close but Dustin immediately Runs up and hugs you. Your brain kicks in after a second and you hug him back.

When Dustin pulls away Eddie is close behind him when he wraps you in an embrace. When you pull away you realize the others aren’t here. “Where are the others?”

Dustin and Eddie look at each other and then back at you with a knowing look. You immediately use your wings and fly into the sky towards Vecnas home.

Upon arrival you see Nancy, Steve and Robin against the walls using vines. You run up to them and start clawing at the vines and ripping them free one by one. Once they’re free Steve turns to you.

“Y/n? What? What happened to you? Are you okay?”

You don’t answer but you look down at your feet. “What are you guys doing here”

“We’re here to kill Vecna.”

“Y/n I don’t believe in a higher power or divine intervention but you’re a miracle. You just saved our lives.” Robin says while rubbing her throat where the vine was one wrapped tightly around it.

“Then we better not waste our miracle” Nancy says as she cocks her gun and moves toward into the house. Upon reaching the attic you all see Vecnas body on floating above the ground attached to vines. Steve is the first to throw the Molotov cocktail and set him ablaze. Followed by Robin, followed by Nancy shooting him. Vecna wakes and sees you beside them.

You haven’t moved.

“You betray me, y/n?”

You grab a Molotov from Robin and throw it at Vecna and he stumbles back.

“Fine”

And with that Nancy walks forward and shoots Vecna a few more times. Killing him. But as he lay there dying you begin to get flashes of horrible images. Images of bats raining down and screaming fills your ears. You run out of the house and fly back to the trailer park.

Upon reaching the trailer park you see Dustin on the ground cradling Eddie’s dead body.

“D-Dustin?! What happened?”

“T-the bats..they got to Eddie! I-I don’t know”

You knew what Vecna had done. Just as he had cursed you he’d cursed Eddie too.

“Dustin we have to get his body back to the trailer do you understand.”

You and Dustin hauled Eddie’s body back

through the gate and into his trailer. You brought him into his room and laid him on his floor. Once all the others arrived you explained to them what happened to you. You all waited a few hours only to hear Eddie wake up with a gasp.

***

4 weeks later you walk out of the hospital hand in hand with Eddie as you both walk out of another round of blood transfusions from Dr Owens after Eleven called in a favor for saving the world.

Blood transfusions and blood donations were your saving grace until they would hopefully someday find a cure for the two of you.

Tonight was you and Eddie’s first official date. After having to adjust to life as what you two are now and having to get his name cleared of murder charges you two decided to hold off on a date until tonight. So after your blood transfusions at night Eddie and you got into his van and drove off into the night and he pulled into an empty field.

He opened the doors at the back of his van and laid out some pillows and blankets in the back and the two of you gazed at the stars as you laid on his chest.

“Hey y/n?”

“Hmm?”

“Whyd you consider joining Vecnas army?”

You sigh “well I didn’t think I’d have anyone or anything to come back to like this. I thought nobody would want me.”

Eddie sits up quickly and places his hands on your shoulder. “I will always want you. You know that.” He leans forward and kisses your nose. “Forever now” he flashes his fangs at you playfully and you laugh.

You flash your back and you lean in and give him a kiss. It’s tender yet clumsy as neither of you are quite sure how to go about kissing with fangs at first but you two get the hang of it.

You decide to deepen the kiss by sliding your tongue in his mouth as you move to straddle him and he moans into the kiss. Eddie decided to pull away and start leaving kisses down your body and you do the same to him. Trailing each other in kisses wherever you could reach.

Eddie could hear your heart beat speeding up in your chest so everywhere he touched he would make a mental note of what sped up your heart rate and what didn’t. Finding special spots you liked with ease.

His mouth found its way back to yours and you began to suck on his bottom lip giving it a little nibble and drawing blood making him moan.

“Want more Ed’s.”

“Take more, baby. Take anything my princess wants.”

You move your lips lazily pressing kisses along his jaw and down his neck until you reach the crook of his neck where you dive in and start to suck his blood earning some moans and grasping from Eddie. He seems to like it so much that he bucks his hips up into yours and you begin to grind down on him.

You pull out your teeth and remove your shirt and he removes his. He sees your exposed breasts for the first time and immediately has his mouth wrapped around one of your nipples and the other breast is being massaged by his hand.

After a moment of sucking on your nipple he releases it with a satisfying pop. “Can I taste you my queen.”

You inhale sharply at the name. “You May.”

He flips you over so you’re on your back and he goes to remove your jeans. Tapping your thighs so you’ll lift them he slides them off with ease and tosses them aside. Looking at the wet spot on your underwear he leans in and sniffs.

“I knew it.” He laughs to himself and a blush of rosiness appears on your cheeks.

He hooks his fingers into the waists and and gifs them down your hips. Tossing them aside as well. He lifts your legs and parts them and begins leaning a trail of kisses on your thigh.

A kiss here a kiss there a bite here. He’d suck on a spot closer and closer until he reached your core where he place one kiss on your clit before he was sucking on it like a starved man. Slipping a finger into you with ease.

The head rush from having your blood sucked combined with the pleasure building in you was hurdling you toward and early orgasm as he added a second finger and you began to chant his name.

“E-Eddie. Oh god yes! Eddie right there!” He began to move his fingers in and out faster and faster the more he felt you clench around him until your body shuddered and your thighs locked around his head as you whimpered out his name.

You finally exhale and relax, releasing him from between your thighs and he sighs as he sits back covered in your fluids. As he trails up your body to give you a kiss where you can taste your blood and cum on his tongue.

You move your hands down his body and unbuckle his pants pushing them down you free his erection where you begin to stroke him and he groans. “Baby if you do that I’m not gonna last to be inside you.”

You stop stroking him and he positions himself and begins to slide in. You feel the stretch and throw your head back exposing your neck where he takes the opportunity to bite you and suck your blood making you moan even louder and grasp at his hair. As you tug on his hair he groans against you throat. Once he’s fully inside of you, you breathe a sigh and he rocks himself gently until you give him the go ahead to move. He starts moving his hips at a steady rhythm as he continues to drain you. When he finishes sucking your blood he taps your nose and you look up at him as he leans closer and you bite his shoulder and begin draining him of his blood making him moan into the kiss and feel incredibly light headed as you both neared you orgasms.

He felt you clenching around him and you felt him twitching within you so you pulled out your teeth and shared one last kiss as the both of you came together.

He rested there for a few moments on top of you as you stroked his hair and kissed his forehead.

He pulled out and the two of you got dressed and resumed your position in the back of his van on the blanket staring up at the stars. He closed the door and the both of you slept the day away together in the back of his van. Knowing that you two were destined to be together. Even after alternate dimensions.

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ticklishraspberries · 1 year

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You Belong With Me (Chrissy/Robin)

Summary: Chrissy and Robin are friends now, and it’s totally normal for friends to do things like having tickle fights, right? Totally just friends. (Thanks for the anon who requested this ship, I changed it a little bit and it’s quite short, but I hope you enjoy it anyway!!!)

“There’s no way that your hands are ticklish,” Chrissy said, looking at Robin in disbelief.

“I can’t help it!” Robin replied, rubbing her palms together to rid her skin of the tingling sensation. “I’m literally ticklish everywhere, Steve makes fun of me for it, like, all the time!”

“Everywhere, huh?” Chrissy asked, scooting closer, her curiosity piqued.

Realizing her mistake, Robin’s eyes widened and she scrambled backward, only managing to trap herself between the arm of the couch and Chrissy’s body, and she kicked her legs to try and keep the blonde girl away. It didn’t work in her favor, however, because it made it easier for Chrissy to grab onto her shin and tickle the bottom of her socked foot, making her tilt her head back and cackle.

Being paired together for a simple science project had somehow led to Chrissy Cunningham, the head cheerleader, becoming friends with Robin Buckley, the band geek. Chrissy had never believed in sticking to her own circle, never quite fitting the mean girl stereotype. Yes, she was popular, but she tried to be nice to everyone, and while Robin may have described her as prissy in the past, she had started to see the sweet yet anxiety-ridden girl behind the pom-poms.

Which was how they’d ended up here, in Robin’s basement, giggling like children. Chrissy had been telling Robin about some palm-reading segment she’d seen on television, and gone to demonstrate it on her hand, only for her to pull back with a giggle.

As Robin kicked and twisted, trying to free her ankle from Chrissy’s surprisingly strong grasp, she only managed to wriggle further down on the couch, laying against the cushions, her knitted sweater riding up to reveal pale, freckled skin. A quick scuffle led to Chrissy climbing on top of her while she squealed out half-hearted protests. Chrissy straddled her waist with a mischievous grin. Robin babbled beneath her, already giggling like mad.

“Chris, please, I can’t—”

“Can’t what? Handle it?” she asked, hovering her fingers above Robin’s belly. “I’m not even touching you yet!”

Robin used one hand to hide her blush while the other batted at Chrissy’s wiggling fingers, letting out a shriek when those fingers finally made contact with her stomach.

As Chrissy looked down at her freckled face, scrunched up nose, and wide smile, she felt a flutter in her chest that felt strangely like what her friends described when they talked about liking boys at school. A feeling she had never truly experienced with Jason, but pretended to understand when people talked about it.

She hadn’t realized her fingers had slowed as she’d been thinking, allowing Robin to catch her breath and look up at her, cheeks flushed and brow furrowed, a question on the tip of her tongue. She never had the chance to ask that question, though.

Chrissy had no idea where the sudden surge of bravery came from, but without a second thought, she leaned down and pressed her lips to Robin’s, the taste of drugstore chapstick mixing deliciously with her own vanilla lip gloss.

And although the events of that evening, as well as what followed, stayed between a select group of friends, even those closest to them found their dynamic amusing, the movie trope of the popular girl and the nerd falling head over heels. Steve playfully whined that Robin had gotten a girlfriend before him, and Eddie took great pleasure in Jason’s post-breakup misery.

They were an unlikely pair of friends, yes, but they were an even more unlikely couple. Perhaps opposites really did attract, or maybe they were both mature enough to push aside high school labels and truly see one another for who they were. Regardless, they were both happy.

#bandcheer #bandcheer fic #stranger things fic #stranger things tickle fic #robin x chrissy #chrissy x robin #ticklefic #tickle fic #chrissy cunningham #robin buckley #raspberry writes #stranger things femslash #st femslash #wlw

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harrywavycurly · 2 months

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I need to hear Chrissy telling us she knows Eddie has a crush on her because why would she say that??👀

Hiii babes!! So I’m using this ask to give you a bonus conversation that’ll help explain why and how Chrissy mentioned Eddie having a crush on her! I hope you enjoy!!💖

-find all things Secret Rendezvous here✨

“I think we should end all of our practices with frozen yogurt.” “I agree and as captain of the team I think I could probably make that happen.” “So…how’s it going with Jason? You two make up after the whole incident in the cafeteria?” “You know how he is…he says some mean things then he gets embarrassed and apologizes…it’s never that big of a deal.” “Uh…yeah it is…he’s an asshole and he’s lucky Edd…I mean that dude with the long hair didn’t kick his ass.” “Dude with the long hair? You mean Eddie?” “Oh is uhhh that his name? It fits…yeah he looks like an Eddie.” “Yeah that’s his name…he’s always kinda had a crush on me so I think that’s why he went so…crazy on Jason.” “What? A crush? On you?” “Yeah I think ever since middle school or so? He used to have a band…I can’t remember the name but yeah he used to always be writing these weird songs and I’m pretty sure the one he sang at the talent show in like seventh grade was about me.” “No fucking way…he wrote a song about you?” “Yeah but it didn’t go anywhere I mean…he’s not exactly our type.” “Our type?” “I mean…yeah he’s an outcast and we…well we are cheerleaders we usually date jocks or…come to think of it Tracy is dating a nerd…but still Eddie isn’t really looking to be with one of us anyway.” “That’s true.” “Jason has a few friends I can introduce you to if you want?” “Oh that’s okay…I’m good just being single right now but if I change my mind I’ll let you know.” “Okay…it would be fun to double date.” “That would be fun…but really I don’t have the time or the energy for anyone right now.” “Okay if you say so…”

#cheerleader convos #eddie munson au #eddie munson series #eddie munson fanfic #eddie munson fanfiction #eddie munson x cheerleader!reader #eddie munson slow burn #eddie munson friends to lovers #eddie munson x y/n #eddie munson x reader #eddie munson x you #eddie munson x fem!reader #eddie munson angst #Eddie Munson #hellcheer #my little dungeon master baby

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mcybank · 2 years

Text

LOSING GAME ; S.H (3)

summary hooking up with steve harrington was meant to be a one-time thing. What's the worst that could happen if it exceeds its limit? A relationship with a guy that is clearly not over his first love.

warnings eddie munson himself, drug consumption | angst: regret, pining, attempts at moving on, concealing feelings, and all that jazz

word count 2.9k

࿐ ˚ . ✦ part three to the losing game series click here to read part one click here to read part two

author's note: this was meant to be a lot longer, but this is setting up for a long ass angsty chapter next (with a lot of drama). i really hope y'all enjoyed this!! feel free to let me know your thoughts and suggestions!! thank you so much for the support on this series y'all make me cry happy tears

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Steve Harrington knew better than anyone the power of first love. Although Nancy wasn't his first everything, she was the first person he did all of the everythings with and associated with love. She was the first person who broke down the walls he wasn't aware he had up; she was the first person who made him want to be a guy she could trust and rely on.

Maybe continuing to see her weaved within such a light was stupid of him.

He didn't think that she was better than you—not at all—but the way he felt with her was different from what he felt with you. There was a comfortable imbalance when he was with Nancy: she was responsible to an unwavering degree while he was just trying his best. But it was different with you. That might have been the reason why you were friends for longer than you were a couple.

In some ways, you matched his energy. In Steve's eyes, you were perfect, with a layer of chaos taped on every edge of your person. He found comfort in that, but after his mind began comparing you to Nancy, he came to the conclusion that the comfort with you was too comfortable compared to Nancy.

Nancy kept him on his toes. She tried to polish every part of his life to the best of her abilities. You, on the other hand, let Steve do whatever he wanted. Who were you to force him to focus on things he doesn't like? You were barely getting through everything yourself, trying your best to keep up with the pace life took you at, and you nor Steve were in any place to push each other harder than you'd already done.

You weren't sure when it all went downhill—you didn't want to find out, either—but it did, and there's nothing you could've done to change that. If Steve truly couldn't let go of Nancy, then you had to do your best to let go of him.

No matter what it was going to take, you were going to push Steve Harrington out of your mind. Even though he was your best friend. Even though he was the one person who had been there with you through everything. Even though he made you smile the hardest, even before you had entered into a relationship. You had to let him go.

If Chrissy thought paying Eddie Munson was a great idea to turn your, as she eloquently phrased 'frown upside down,' you weren't going to deny her. After all, you and the head of the Hellfire Club go back, and a reunion was bound to arrive.

Asking her why she was on visitation terms with Eddie was caught in your throat. You were going to find out, anyway.

"So," Chrissy started, clearing her throat. "This stays between us."

A corner of your lips tugs up in a smirk. "Sure, but why?" It wasn't like you were looking for an answer sufficient enough to keep whatever this was a secret; you would've kept the secret anyway. "Does Jason know?" Jason was her long-term boyfriend.

"No," she replied instantly, eyebrows raising. "And there's nothing that should be known either—I'm not doing... anything with Eddie. But you know how Jason is." Her words were honest, with no hint of malice or deceit. You believed her. You thought that Chrissy was an angel sent from above and that you had truly scored the best-friendship lottery with her.

There were many things you'd done with her that had been kept between the two of you because, like she said, Jason was the way he was. And although you considered the boy a good friend, he wasn't the best person when it came to emotions with anybody other than Chrissy.

As you pulled into Forest Hills, you were greeted by Max Mayfield walking out of her house with her headphones secured around her head. When her eyes landed upon your car, a twinge of excitement etched her features before being boiled down by confusion.

Her footsteps hurried to your side of the car, and you pulled the window down to greet her. "Max!" Chrissy's skin flushed slightly as she meekly waved her hand at the new high schooler.

Max's long, red hair was tied up, and her gleaming blue eyes looked into yours. "I never thought I'd see you—and you—over here."

Chrissy let out a small hum. "I live right around here."

Max slightly nodded, eyes bouncing from you to Chrissy, confusion she didn't bother hiding all over her face. Once she'd padded away from your vision, you parked the car and tilted your head to gesture Chrissy out of the car.

Aside from Max, Chrissy didn't have to worry about anybody from school finding her here. On the other hand, you had stopped caring enough to keep up with niceties and everything you had succumbed to since your break up.

The walk to the Munson trailer went by in a blur. Chrissy tugged you by your hand, guiding you. The two of you stopped after climbing up the two steps and were right in front of the door. You slowly inched your ear closer, trying to determine if there was anything going on inside. The beat of a rock song filtered through the house, crawling out of the door.

Within seconds of Chrissy knocking, your eyes fell onto the tall figure and sumptuous curly hair of Eddie Munson. You didn't try to hide your eyes from scanning him from head to toe for a small moment—the worn-out band shirt and blue jeans that you were sure were darker at some point. His woodsy scent mixed with a splash of weed hit your nostrils like a brick, and you were suddenly reminded of who Eddie Munson was.

It seemed that he had the same realization because his smile was slowly creeping away from his face, and the same look of confusion Max had on was beginning to take over his features.

"I hope it's okay that I brought Y/N," Chrissy said, breaking the silence with an awkward smile as she bunched her hands together in front of the stomach.

Eddie shook his head, his hair slightly shaking at the action, before he replied, "Uh, yeah—yeah, of course."

Your lips curved upwards as he opened the door wider and motioned the two of you in. It was your first time being in Eddie's house, and you took it all in. From the coffee table to the small kitchen, the hallway led to his bedroom, from what you assumed.

"Don't take this the wrong way, but," he trailed off, eyes finding yours, as he searched for his words. "What are you doing here?"

You gulped and shrugged. "I don't know either."

Chrissy, who was behind you, placed her hands on your shoulders and looked at him. "I thought she needed something, so I brought her here. I hope that's okay."

"You already said that, Chris," you mumbled, suddenly feeling awkward in the situation. As soon as you caught onto her words, your head snapped in her direction.

"I'm fine!" you exclaimed. "I thought you wanted something, so I brought you here. I'm completely fine."

Her face looked borderline devious.

Eddie stared at the two of you, and that was when you noticed his dilated pupils. He raised his hands and backed away. "As long as you got the cash, sweetheart," he mumbled.

You weren't going to mention that your wallet was at your house—where you'd initially thought you were heading.

"Oh, she does," Chrissy said.

You were planning on talking to Chrissy later about this completely new information, but you weren't going to press her in front of him.

Ten minutes passed, and you held a perfectly rolled joint in your hand.

After twenty minutes, your mind was becoming foggier, and your tongue had loosened from its previous restraints.

Even though you weren't talking directly with Eddie, you still noticed the shy glances he sent your way when he thought you weren't looking. That part of this situation got a lot worse when Chrissy announced that she had to go back home. Something about helping her dad with something.

"I'll take you," you instantly offered, considering you drove her there.

She waved a hand in your direction. "I live like, right here. I'll walk. Stay here and let the high wear off." Those were words you never thought you'd hear her say. "If that's okay with you," she added, glancing toward Eddie.

He shrugged with a kind of forced nonchalance.

The house was blanketed in silence when Chrissy walked out of the door. It wasn't the comfortable kind, but rather the kind where two people were racking their brains to find something appropriate to say. In this case, said people were so far away from the point of thinking straight due to the power of the little joint in their hands.

"You've been good?" Eddie asked after what seemed like an eternity.

You smiled slightly, just enough to let him know you were grateful for him attempting to walk the two of you out of the vicinity of awkwardness. "Yeah." The lie came easy. "And you?"

You knew Eddie, but not to the point that he could detect when you were lying. That was why you were surprised when he slammed you hard with two measly words: "Stop lying."

You were sure he didn't intend to strike a nerve, but you couldn't help but glower at him.

It didn't phase him, as he continued by explaining, "Dustin talks."

Oh, Dustin. Little, sweet, annoyingly intelligent beyond the realms of one his age. Of course, he would spread the word about your breakup, and of course, Steve would tell Dustin about it.

If only Dustin had talked more about Eddie's life to you, you would've been able to form a retort.

"I think Harrington's an ass."

You coughed, and a cloud of smoke escaped your lips. "Christ, Eddie. Why'd you have to mention him?"

"Because," he started, shrugging a shoulder. "We used to be friends," he paused. "Kind of. And I'm the kind of person that wouldn't let a friend crumble over a stupid jock." His words were laced with sarcasm, but you barely caught the last half of his sentence as your gaze was fixed on the hand that reached out to pluck the joint out of your fingers.

Although his arms were relaxed, you could see the faint hint of the veins crawling under his skin as his fingers wrapped around the end of the brown paper, slightly brushing against yours.

You were snapped out of your stupor when your hand was empty. "I'm not crumbling," you scrambled out quickly. He took a puff, turned his head to the side, and let the smoke seep out of his mouth, careful to not let it blow onto your face. "I don't need you to therapize me."

"I'm not trying to therapize you," he defended. "You don't need that, I know." He pointed a finger in your direction to punctuate his words. "What you need is to not wallow in your sadness while trying to put on an obviously fake happy face when you're around people."

You didn't bother denying his claim. "What do you suggest then, shrink?"

He pondered, and you stared at him while he did. His brows furrowed, and a small wrinkle appeared above his nose as he looked skyward. "I have a place in mind."

Five, seven, ten, thirteen, fourteen days. Every second passed with Steve forcing himself to believe he had everything he wanted, and he did. He had gotten exactly what he'd wished for, and he didn't try to stop himself from relishing in it.

His fingers smoothened the white t-shirt as his eyes fell upon his face in the mirror. A faint blush was coating his cheeks, and he felt it, too. The warmth spread all over his features, ran down his neck, and buried itself in his stomach like a band of fluttering butterflies.

But how long had it been since he'd seen you? This had to be the longest the two of you had gone without seeing each other.

His hair was a mess, mostly because he'd spent most of the day above Nancy's sheets and pillows that smelled exactly like her. Her, who he'd wanted for as long as he could remember. Her, who at one point, he imagined would be the only one to make him reach a stage of joy he'd never even grazed a finger against before. Her, his first.

And also her, who showed him a form of kindness he'd rarely seen duplicated on anybody else. The kind of kindness that prompts her to restlessly question him about you to ask him how you were doing and ask him if she should apologize to you.

Steve was never able to give Nancy a sufficient answer to those questions. He didn't know how you were doing. You hadn't stopped by the ice cream shop at the mall while he worked, not even to visit Nancy. He'd wondered if you were trying to avoid him, considering you used to visit Scoops Ahoy nearly every day just to get your favorite sugary delight. That was what prompted him to pick up extra shifts and change it up to see if you would drop by when you knew he wouldn't be there.

You didn't.

He asked Robin if she'd spoken with you, but it seemed that he'd asked her in a way that made her think he didn't care and made her refrain from answering him at all.

After a few days, he began working at his usual times again and never asked Robin about you again. In fact, neither of them were able to mention your name around each other. You were doing fine, he assumed. He'd apologize to you thoroughly when he was ready to because even after two weeks, he felt as though seeing you would crumble his defenses into a rubble of nothing.

His fingers slid into his pocket to retrieve his car keys. Nancy said that she wanted to go on a drive; it was related to something about how the sky was the clearest it had been in a while, and it would be fun to drive around under the moonlight until they reached a patch of grass to lay on.

When he opened her bedroom door, he was greeted by the sight of Lucas and Dustin walking out of Mike's room with a small bag in each of their hands. He waved at them, and they waved back.

Mrs. Wheeler was on the couch, her legs crossed, as she flipped through the pages of a magazine. She didn't notice him.

Nancy was leaning against his car in the driveway, a book in her hand that she had been devouring over the last few days.

He gazed at her, and a small feeling of joy erupted in his chest.

He bent his neck as she craned hers upwards to place a peck against her lips. Her lips tasted like ripe cherries, and that unwittingly reminded him of how yours tasted like a mix of strawberries and a gloss you called 'frost,' which he adored licking off your lips.

"What are you doing tomorrow?" he asked her once his foot hit the pedal and the car began moving.

His eyes were focused on the road, but his right hand reached out to take ahold of hers.

"Just planning on finishing up some work for my internship," she replied, slowly stretching her fingers to intertwine with his.

He nodded. They didn't have much time to spend with each other, but they managed to squeeze in a few hours of the day once they were free of any commitments. He had started to help around the house a bit more than he used to: he cleaned up every time he had the chance to rid his mother of the responsibility, and he brewed three cups of coffee for himself and his parents along with a warm cup of milk for his little brother.

As he drove past the rows of trees and mostly empty sidewalks, his gaze fell upon a shadow outside a small bar near your friend Jason's house. He'd been there before, and it was probably the only place in Hawkins that played loud music aside from the house parties around the area. His car slowed in speed as he directed his eyes to a shadow that seemed to look extremely familiar. The hair that cascaded down was the same shade he was running his fingers through over two weeks ago, and the curves on the body seemed to match the ones he soothingly massaged over two weeks ago...

It couldn't have been you.

"Steve?" Nancy's voice made him realize that he was stuck in his head and thinking about you. Thinking that a stranger entering a bar was you and imagining you, reliving the moments he'd shared with you like a broken record in the comfort of his mind.

"Hmm?" he hummed, turning on the street in the opposite direction of the bar.

"You looked like you saw a ghost. Don't do that when you're driving," she chastised.

He cracked a smile, shaking his head. "Sorry," he mumbled. But still, the image of the shadow, your shadow, was stuck in his head, and he tried to decipher every detail to figure out if it was truly you.

And while Steve drove away to find a stop to gaze at the stars, you were in the middle of a throng of people with the Corroded Coffin's members preparing their instruments and mics to perform.