#child!eddie munson x child!reader | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

blueywrites · 1 year

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turtle dove and the crow, part four

A 1940s Farm AU, featuring bsf!neighbor!eddie x fem!reader

story tags: 18+ (minors dni). smut; true love; unexpected pregnancy; angst, angst, angst; parental issues; corporal punishment; scheming, plotting, and betrayal; hurt/comfort; period-typical stigma regarding unwed pregnancy; angst with a happy ending.

chapter tags: please heed this warning and decide if you are prepared to read this chapter, which includes scenes of harsh but period-accurate parental abuse against an 18-year old child. this includes emotional and mental abuse in the form of 'discipline' and depictions of physical punishment. these methods are always harmful and never appropriate. they do not represent the views of the author. avoiding tw/cw's? read the part four summary instead

PART FOUR: THE WEIGHT BENEATH THE SUN (8.6K)

It’s hard to make the moment last

Hard to keep the dreams you have

Hard to let the love inside your heart

The guards are always at the gates

Turning everyone away

But you got through

Didn’t you?

You’re the One I Want — Chris and Thomas

When you were six— two years before Edward Munson became the new boy next door— your mother still hosted garden parties during the warm months. Pa would arrange the iron furniture into a pleasing configuration, ensuring the grass was level and dry beneath the table's heavy feet. The stiff-backed chairs would be spaced precisely from its wrought edges, far enough for ease of entry but close enough that the ladies would not have to stretch their arms too far to reach the cucumber sandwiches. Those Mama would assemble in careful layers, laying them out on a ceramic platter decorated with filigree. Mama's finest pitcher, made of delicate glass and attractive curves, would be used to serve fresh-squeezed lemonade. She'd garnish the sweet drink with muddled mint leaves plucked from the small personal garden she carefully maintains against the backyard fence. A generous spray of flowers would finish the trio of treasures awaiting the town's ladies, invited by your mother for an afternoon of light refreshments and genteel socializing.

Your sister, Virginia, has the supreme honor of being allowed to join the garden party for the first time this year. She is five years your senior in age and ten your superior in manner, evident in the graceful way she smooths the skirt of her shiny pink dress, perching herself with impeccable posture on the very edge of the iron chair situated to your mother’s right side. Poised and prim, Virginia accepts a glass of lemonade, taking a tiny sip before placing the china delicately to the right of her plate. Ever observant, her eyes dart around the table, absorbing gestures with ease; she follows her sip quickly with a dab of her napkin before arranging it dutifully on her lap again. She is rewarded for this, as the ladies generously indulge her presence among them.

You would be jealous of your sister's invitation if you gave a hoot about such things, but you are entirely disinterested in all of it. You care not for hushed titters floating from beneath their sunbonnets and the passing of cucumber sandwiches, which are nibbled little by little and then chewed behind demure palms as gossip is exchanged. Instead, you've happily plopped yourself behind the apple tree, back to rough bark and short legs spread wide in the ticklish grass.

Methodically, one by one, you have been picking the delicate yellow petals off the heads of dandelion weeds, dropping each one to collect in the basin of the sunbonnet cradled between your thighs. It's painstaking work and nonsensical, perhaps, but it serves to satisfy some innate curiosity inside you. The purpose of this is unclear; your actions are confusing, the way children's play is often confusing to everyone but the child. But since you are quietly occupying yourself, and your mother and sister are busy socializing, they are happy to leave you to your own devices.

They are happy, that is, until your eye is caught by something much more exciting than plucking weeds.

Your neighbor down the lane has just finished imparting some succulent gossip to the gathering, and her lips are pursed against a grin as she relishes the reaction to her news. Her revelation has the intended effect: shock ripples around the table, but it is mixed with the suppressed delight of knowing a new, tantalizing secret. The party-goers exchange glances, searching for cues in one another, all wanting to know more but reluctant to appear too eager.

"Oh, my goodness." Mama places her hand over her heart as if in regret, but her eyes are gleaming. Interest thrums within the hush of her voice as she begins to ask, "And what d'you suppose he might now do, on account of—?"

"Mama!"

Her question is interrupted by your delighted cry. She turns to see you holding aloft that which made you abandon your collection. Back by the tree, those petals have spilled from the tipped sunbonnet to scatter heedlessly across the grass. "Look't what I caught!" you squeak, eyes alight with eager, innocent delight. "It's a big one, too!"

Despite your excitement, you cradle the large bullfrog gently in your hands, mindful of its comfort as you present it to your mother. You considered it quite the feat to catch the frog without causing it alarm, and when its strong legs twitch against your palm without attempting to flee, pride glows beneath the dirt streaks on your round cheeks.

Your mother does not share your sentiment.

The way her expression contorts is so opposite what you expected that she may as well have smacked you across the face. Your earlier excitement is smothered like water douses a match, and promptly, you drop the frog.

You drop it as if by acting quickly, you can undo whatever has caused your Mama offense. But it is not enough. Your mother stares at you, and though the look in her eyes is one you are too young to fully decipher, a parent's disapproval is sensed innately, and felt deeply.

One year after you drop the bullfrog, Mama will sell the garden furniture to purchase seeds and stock in preparation for the coming hardship, and the garden parties would end. Two years after you drop the bullfrog, Eddie will roll in like a summer storm to join his uncle in the red house next door. Seven years after you drop the bullfrog, Virginia will establish a nest of her own, leaving you as the only unwed daughter left in your parents' roost. But no matter how many years pass, you will never forget how your mother's stare made you feel. In the garden, a heavy stone sank in your gut, sickeningly leaden, steadily crushing your delicate insides with each second you spent pinned by her furious stare.

This moment in the hayloft reminds you of that. But there is no stone of lead in your stomach this time. This time, with the salt tang of Eddie's seed still lingering on your lips, your entire body turns to solid, petrified rock.

Your mother stares up at you from the barn floor. Her face is contorted, screwed up tight with shock and rage, but her eyes are wide, wide enough to swallow you up entirely like a sinkhole would. She traps you. And you remain there, locked tight until the seethe of her voice boils hot from between her lips, blistering the ruddy flesh on its path to you.

"Git. Down. Here."

Each word is a spitfire bullet, enunciated so precisely so as not to be misconstrued. The burn rushes down your spine to melt your solid rock into magma.

Your muscles are clenched tight, but the warm pulse once stoked between your legs has deadened. You're thrumming instead with horror, with deep, all-consuming dread. Where one moment ago you were heavy as a sinking stone, now you are unsteady, shaky like the first time Eddie coaxed you into a rowboat.

You can't grab hold of his rough, broad palm to settle yourself this time, and you don't dare risk a glance at the man still nestled in that soft bed of hay. To catch his eye would be torture of a different kind. Instead, you rush to obey your mother's command. Your knee scrapes raw against old, splintery wood as you scramble around and dip one foot to catch the rung of the ladder.

It's a sturdy old thing, that ladder. Good thing, too, because it holds fast as you cling to it with shuddering fingers and legs so wobbly, they clatter against its rungs with each step toward the perilous ground. By the time you reach the floor, the knee you'd scraped has gone numb. You want to turn your chin down and see if your dress has bloomed a crimson flower of blood, but your neck is unyielding. It's hard enough to step back from the security the ladder provides. All the will your spirit possesses must be channeled into facing the woman looming like a cloud of miasma behind you.

There is no time to brace for a confrontation, but you force your face into as docile an expression as possible before you meet your Mama head-on. She is short and portly, hunched up in such a way as to make her smaller in theory, though, in reality, the sight is only more imposing to you. You expect to meet her piercing stare again, but she isn't looking at you. Instead, she's got one eye hooked on the edge of the hayloft and her lip caught in a sneer so deep it's almost a snarl.

"You too, Edward," she spits, and your throat dries to dust. "Don't think I'm ignorant of your bein' up there with'r."

The silence that follows is stifling, crowding in on you from all sides. The pressure doesn't ease even as that pregnant pause turns to the creaking and groaning of wood, which protests as the weight of an unseen body shifts toward the hayloft's edge. The thud of booted feet that replaces the wood's cry is little consolation; your heart kicks up at the steady plod that commences, matching it in rhythm but pounding twice as fast. You don't dare to turn and look or even to fiddle with your skirt nervously. Your hands remain still at your sides as your mother stares above your head, watching Eddie climb down from the hayloft. Her eyes dip slowly and steadily along with the thumping of those booted feet until her gaze is even with your face. The final step down behind you is quieter than the rest, and your throat tightens as you sense Eddie's hesitance in the sound.

As he alights on the ground, Mama's eyes suddenly shift. Where once she had been staring almost uncannily in your direction, as if she may or may not have been trying to look you in the eye, a sudden cut and glint make it abundantly clear that now— now— your mother is gazing directly at you.

It's all you can do to keep from trembling.

You vaguely hear the shuffle-scrape of Eddie's footsteps and feel the warmth of his body as he comes to stand beside you. The tiniest glance reveals the extent of his mortification: his pale cheeks are beet red with a flush that creeps down his throbbing neck, and his eyes are squinched half-shut as if bracing for a blow. His adam's apple bobs, and unconsciously, you swallow at the same time.

When Eddie finally opens his mouth, all that eeks out is the briefest croak before your mother interrupts coldly. "You best be gettin' home to your uncle now, Edward."

While the words don't drip with venom, the mention of Wayne is nothing if not a threat, and Eddie recognizes it as so. You would never expect him to argue; in fact, you'd be dismayed if he had, but the thought of facing your mother's wrath alone covers the frozen dread inside you with a fine layer of poignant sorrow. You are heavy, but now you are empty, too.

Weakly, Eddie clears his throat to rasp, "Yes, ma'am." Your chin trembles at the sound of his voice, but your eyes only begin to sting when you feel the soft, subtle draw of his fingers across the small of your back as he passes by you to disappear out of sight beyond the barn doors. The touch is one last offering of comfort from your beloved before you both must face the consequence of your transgressions.

In the kitchen, Mama takes you apart.

The way she lashes you with her tongue is harsh and unforgiving. Each word darts across the kitchen counter, catches you with its claws, and burrows beneath your tender skin, sinking deep to carve into your marrow.

"How dare you." Her voice quivers with the force of her rage. "How dare you bring such disgrace upon our family. You know darn well that we forbade you from seeing that boy, yet you went behind our backs anyway. And now, to make matters worse, I find you been carryin' on like a," her lips twist up to spit a sharper barb, "hussy up in the hayloft. What kind of a girl do you think that makes you, y/n?"

She pauses long enough to make you question whether she expects an answer, but she carries on without you. Her eyes dart along the cabinets, unseeing as she chuckles mirthlessly. "And, oh. M'blood could just boil thinkin' how that boy could set there at his dinner table and talk about how good we raised our daughter, only for you two t'turn around and… and…."

She stutters off, wild eyes rolling as she works herself up. The deepening of her wince uglies her visage, so that lines crease at the corners of her mouth where before there were none. And oh, how foolish you were to think the sight of her bulging eyes would be in any way gratifying. How deeply, utterly stupid of you to think such a thing.

"What you done is unspeakable. How'm I supposed to show my face in town, knowing what you been up to right underneath my nose? It turns my stomach just to think about what y'were doin' up there w'him."

Each word sinks deep inside you. It’s a barrage of all you deserve because it's the truth. And this is just the beginning. Because there's disgust there, in Mama's screwed-up face, and there's fury, too. But beneath those, there's also hurt— the evidence of a deep wound torn open by your impropriety. It's a hurt you aren't sure you can mend.

At that realization, fat, hot tears begin to roll unimpeded down your cheeks. They drip from your quivering chin, which tightens with the occasional sniffle as you try to keep yourself from collapsing to the floor, wrapping your arms around your mother’s skirt, and pressing yourself to her shins in pitiful supplication.

Though Mama is looking at you, she doesn't seem to register that you've started to cry. "I just can't understand it." Mama's fingers press divots into her temples, and her head wags absently as if in subconscious denial. "Virginia was your age when she married her Lawrence. She knew the way of things. And now look at 'er— got her own home and three children to raise." Her hands drop sharply, and a flash of judgment returns. "She's a proper lady. And then what d'we have? You. I never thought I'd see the day when a daughter of mine would behave like this."

The burrs stick sharply, coating you in a prickly sadness that only intensifies when your Mama's plump arms tighten to her sides, crossing beneath her bosom, cinching in tight as she presses a fist to her lips.

"Lord help me— what'm I gonna do with you now?"

It's so much quieter than all else she's said, so much duller, and yet all the more painful for it.

Her name on your lips is a whimper, a sob, a plea all at once. "Mama—" You suddenly feel no more than six years old with dirt streaked on your shameful cheeks, filled with the crushing sense of all you've done wrong.

"Don't." She cuts you off firmly. Your teeth click together painfully as your jaw snaps closed. She stares at you for a long moment. "Th'last thing I wanna do is talk about what was goin' on up there, but clearly…"

You read the intention in your mother's restless shifting, the discomfited rocking of her heels. Heat floods up your throat, a sickly blaze of shame. "Well," she continues stiffly, "I know y'had your mouth on him, and that's… that's one thing. But I need to know." Her fist drops to reveal a stiff upper lip, but her voice quavers slightly as she asks a question that doesn't stick like burrs or burrow beneath your skin. Instead, it pierces straight through the center of you.

"Have you had relations with Edward?"

Your shock is like the firm twist of a leaky spigot. The steady flow of your tears ceases so abruptly that it's nearly enough to distract from the question itself.

Nearly enough. Not quite enough.

Horrified panic surges up as the question sinks in: Mama's askin' me if I had sex with Eddie. The feeling claws its way past your stomach, past your heart, past the heat in your throat, and straight up to your head. It rushes there, leaving you dizzy. Black fuzz spreads across your vision.

And the lie springs up, ready and poised behind your teeth. It's a denial borne of fear, desperation, and the deep ache beating in the child's heart still nestled within your grown one. That tiny heart flutters against your ribs, recalling the plink of music box drift-offs and gentle John the Rabbit wake-ups; the balm of kisses pressed to scraped knees and hurt feelings wrung out with tight hugs; the roundness of laughing cheeks streaked with flour and little hands cradled in large palms, guided to knead love into dough, right here, in this room, all those years ago.

Could you survive the loss that would come with confession? Could you bear to see the lingering light— the final vestige of a mother's regard for her child— die behind her eyes?

Led by a child's heart and a mind seized by panic, the choice you make is not a choice, but an inevitability.

"No," you whimper, and such sincerity pools within your eyes that even one who knows better might be convinced you believe that. "No, I din't lay with him, Mama. I swear it."

The softening of her features, fractional though it is, brings you such tender relief that tears spring anew at the corners of your lashes.

"Well, all right," she says finally, and while her voice isn't quite fond, you can see the creases around her mouth ease, fading from deep crevices back to the faint lines you're familiar with. It's a gift you wouldn't dare waste. "Y'know what needs to be done, then."

Without a hint of protest, you retrieve the wooden spoon from the crock on the counter, passing it into your mother's waiting hand and presenting your backside to her.

With balled fists and a rigid spine, you take your punishment. You press your lips flat to keep all your noises in as Mama spanks you with the rounded back of the wooden spoon. The even raps— ten against your clothed buttocks— smart and sting, but they do not ache. Her actions are not hesitant or reluctant, but they aren’t gluttonous either. Your mother does not grow fat feasting on your pain; she is merely obliged to provide it.

You are braced for another impact when you hear the spoon clatter back into the crock. When you realize another blow will not come, you face her again. Silence reigns the room as you take stock of yourself: warm, stinging skin, pressure in your cheeks, nose, and forehead from crying, and a new, yawning hollowness inside.

"M'sorry, Mama," you sniffle, throat thick with remorse, "M'sorry for disobeying you, a-and bringin' shame on the family. I— I jus'..." You choke and try again. "I—"

There is only one justification, however inadequate it might seem to your mother. It's spoken in the misery of your crumpled brow, in the glaze of your big wet eyes, in the copper of your lower lip where you've worried the spot Eddie's kisses still sweetly linger.

I love him.

"I know." Mama replies as if you'd said it aloud, and her voice is tight, tight with what she is trying to suppress. "I know you do." Her bosom heaves with a heavy, bracing sigh. "But y'know what your Pa said." She doesn’t seem to feel the need to be more specific, and you muster a smidgeon of gratitude for that.

"I know," you echo her, and your voice is tiny and broken. You are tiny and broken. And tired. You realize all at once that you are so tired, it's a labor just to keep from lying down right here on the floor. "R'you gonna tell 'im what I did?"

A jerky nod confirms it, and you think you'd feel more afraid if you could feel anything at all. "I'll speak with your Pa when he gets home," Mama tells you. "Now go'n up to your room. Don't expect you'll get any supper tonight."

You stare at her, solemn and unresisting, and in that stillness, you can see the moment she hesitates. The flicker that passes across her crinkled eyes is brief, but you see it, and the hush of her voice tells a story all its own. "Don't come down for nothin'," she murmurs intently. "No matter what y'hear. Just stay in your room 'til the morning. Hear me?"

You can feel yourself wilt further into exhaustion with each passing moment. "Yes, Mama," you croak in dutiful agreement.

The press of her cool palm against your warm, sticky cheek is brief. It lingers only long enough for you to barely realize it has been offered. But that fleeting sensation keeps you alert enough to drag yourself up to your bedroom, softly shut the door, strip off your dress and chemise, and pull on your thin nightgown before relinquishing yourself to the sunken mattress. At that point, you cease to tick, like the final tines have plinked within a wound music box. You have landed on your back atop the covers, and there you will stay until you can summon the strength to turn onto your side.

Though you are tired, sleep does not come to offer a reprieve. Instead, though your eyes begin to strain, you stare at the crack in the plaster above your head. It's the same one you traced while waiting for your crow to land on your windowsill yesterday, yesterday, yesterday. Yesterday beats in the useless yearning of your heart, trailing down your temples to pool in the hollows of your ears.

Yesterday, Eddie held you in your bed until you fell asleep. Today, he never would again.

Heavy footsteps rouse you, and you jolt awake.

At some point in the afternoon, outside your conscious memory, the slow leaking of your eyes had finally ceased. Blearily, you curled into yourself, tucking your wrists beneath your chin and finally drifting off into unconsciousness. Now, your bedroom is not the way you remember it. It's dizzying at first when your eyes pop open not to the crack in white plaster you'd expected but instead to the sight of your bedroom window. The outside is dark beyond the gauze curtains. The air now hums with the dusk song of cicadas.

You have little time to orient yourself before the heavy footsteps that woke you yield to the squeal of a door hinge. Your neck is stiff when you lift your head, attempting to blink the strain from your eyes.

Cast in dimness, Pa looms over you like the shadow of death.

Your father is typically imposing, but his visage is made even more severe by the lack of light. His long face appears to be carved with crags, which harshen the snarl of his brow and turn the wrinkles of his sneer into jagged gashes lining his thin lips. What little light remains glints off the bony line of his nose and the flash of his hard, unyielding eyes. He stands unmoving as if etched from obsidian; the only feature to betray him as man and not stone is the ticking of his square jaw. A muscle there jumps erratically, twitching out its silent fury.

Eyes wide, heart fluttering, breath quick and shallow, you lay still as a prey animal hoping to escape a predator's sight. That is no use. Quick as a rattler, Pa's hand strikes out, and the yawning hollowness inside you becomes an uproar of fear flooding your throat.

He takes firm hold of your arm, thick fingers like a vice pinching your skin. When he tugs at you roughly, you let him maneuver you to the edge of the bed. You keep yourself limp and unresisting because, now that you've been caught in his jaws, you know he'll only bite down harder if you don't. And you even shimmy to assist him, fingers twisted tight in the hem of your nightgown to keep it from dragging up your legs. Preoccupied with maintaining your modesty, you're unprepared to be dragged beyond the footboard; you lurch off the bed in an ungainly slump, and your knees clunk painfully to the hardwood floor.

A shock of pain shoots up both of your legs, and you muffle your reaction with lips pressed tight, following the silent command of your father's grip as he insists you turn to face the mattress. He drops you only once you're kneeling how he wants you, and the loss of his clamped fingers is a relief. Feeling begins to return to your arm as blood flows freely again, and a dull throb starts up in the place he'd gripped you.

Yet that's nothing compared to what you know is coming when you hear the metallic clink of a buckle. It's followed by the unthreading of his belt, which shicks through the loops of his blue jeans with a drag of denim and a snap of leather breaking free.

Moments pass in agonizing silence as you wait for the first crack of the belt. Everything inside you tightens in preparation for the pain to come— your muscles, your bones, your heart, and your spirit. You brace yourself, thighs quivering as you hold so perfectly still despite how your skin has begun to dew with nervous sweat. As you hold that stillness, you can even detect the sting of your mother's milder punishment throbbing in time with the pulse that thrums within your tense body.

Your head has just begun to sag when Pa's voice grates loudly like the grinding of stone, gruff and hoarse. "Y'pologized to your Mama for your behavior?"

You rush to answer. "Yes, sir."

"Y'ever gonna dare sneakin' around under my roof again?"

"No, sir."

A grunt follows your reply. It sounds satisfied enough to untwist a little of the fear inside you. "Y'ashamed of yourself for what you done with that piece of trash? You regret lettin' him," he pauses so the spit of his words might sting you worse, "ruin you with his filthy hands?"

Unbidden, Eddie's face blooms in your mind's eye: wild curls of soft dark frizz, crinkled eyes lightened to amber in the sunshine, soft nose dusted with cinnamon freckles, pink lips stretched wide in a smile that makes your heart squeeze even in your memory. You see him there, your beloved crow, and your chin trembles with the truth. You manage to steady it so that your second lie of the day can come out strong. "Yes, sir."

But perhaps, in your remembering, you hesitate a second too long, because your answer is quickly followed by fire cracking across the crease of your thigh and cheek.

You yelp with shock and pain, reeling as the contact burns through you, beginning as a white-hot ache before dulling to a throb. You tremble, breathing shakily as your father mutters, "I'll make damn sure of that."

Pa belts you across your buttocks and thighs, attempting to scald that shame into you with the cruelty he wields by his hand. But the whip of the belt is not the same as the lashing of your mother's words in the kitchen; it could never be. Not when Eddie's face has bloomed before you, bathed in summer sunshine. Not in this place, where the bunching of your fingers in the bedspread only makes you think about strong arms around your middle, soft breath on your cheek, and the tickle of wild curls against your shoulder.

Your father feasts on the cries he draws from you. He takes them as evidence of your guilt and shame. But you're fortified by the memory of Eddie's strong body cradling you in this bed, the breadth of his wide palm on your mound as he brings you to the pinnacle of pleasure, holding you snugly against him when you fall into surrender.

Harshness could never drive out reverence. Pain could never drive out love.

Pa might leave you welted and whimpering against the footboard, but he can never make you waver in your devotion to Edward Munson.

That's not, of course, due to a lack of trying. Because try he does. Pa efforts to cleave you from Eddie in any way he knows how. He begins with a belting and continues the next morning with a visit to your neighbor, Mr. Wayne.

He's over there 'til midday, which you know because you do not rouse from your bed until he returns. You'd lain there on your side for the entirety of the morning, wrists again tucked beneath your chin, but legs straight since curling them made the throbbing in your bottom and thighs sharpen to a burning ache. Throughout the morning, you stared out the window, watching the light crawl steadily up the red siding of the house next door.

You stirred only when Mama came to tend you. She didn't speak, but you could sense her sentiment in the mild soap and damp cloth she used to wash you, in the gentle pat of a soft towel against your cleansed skin, in the earthy spice of the calendula salve she dabbed on your welts. After she was done, your nightgown fluttered back into place around your hip and flank with the lightest touch. You nibbled on the toast sweetened with butter and honey she left for you on the bedside table, but you did not quit your bed.

This was not the first time Pa had taken the belt to you for some indiscretion, but it was by far the harshest. That's evident as the painful throbbing in your lower half intensifies when you prop yourself up on a palm, testing how it feels to sit up. Your father finds you in the midst of this endeavor: leaning gingerly on one flank, your lips pressed tight and pale.

You glance toward him warily as he bullies open your bedroom door, and he squints back but doesn't acknowledge your pained expression. "Get y'rself presentable," he grunts. "You're comin' with me next door."

Humiliation, it seems, is the next tool Pa has decided to use to cleave you from Eddie. You know it isn't unreasonable to ask you to apologize to Mr. Wayne for your inappropriate behavior. In fact, now that you've had time to reflect on your actions, you even want to apologize to your neighbor. You cannot— will not— denounce your devotion to Eddie, but you do regret disrespecting Mr. Wayne. He's a man who has been nothing but kind and patient with you and his nephew throughout all the years you've known him, and to think you'd wounded him with your actions makes your throat thicken with genuine regret.

So you dress hastily in your loosest, lightest frock and spend the majority of the time Pa affords you sitting at your writing desk, crafting a missive of carefully-chosen words you hope will convey to Wayne the depth of your sincere contrition. It takes some scratch-outs and restarts, but by the time Pa returns to retrieve you, you feel satisfied with what you've written.

You expect to apologize to Mr. Wayne for the offence you have caused him, and you expect to make the apology in person, so you don’t hesitate as you follow your father into the red house. It is also unsurprising that Pa would watch you deliver that apology. Knowing his nature, it's expected that he'd want to ensure your efforts are satisfactory. But you do not anticipate the way Pa ushers you through your neighbors' house, one palm pressed flat to your back to keep you from retreating when you see Eddie sitting next to Wayne at the dining room table.

Eddie doesn't look any worse for wear, not in the way you feel after enduring Pa's punishment last night, but he isn't unaffected by yesterday's events. He's wilted like a shade plant left too long in the hot sun: limp curls clumped at the ends, broad shoulders slumped, pink lips sagging at the corners. His umber eyes are smudged with purple in the hollows of their sockets as he stares down at the table. He doesn't look up as Pa urges you forward.

Your heart seizes at the sight of him, stalling as familiar, hungry want mixes with poignant, thrumming sadness. The impulse to rush to the table and throw your arms around him, to bury your fingers in his curls and cradle his face to your breast, to feel his hot arms crush you against him— all comfort, all sweetness, all desperate relief— is nearly overwhelming.

To resist is worse agony than any strike of leather, but resist you must. Pa's firm hand on your back demands you stand behind the chair across from Mr. Wayne; all the while as he maneuvers you, you will your crow to look up. He doesn't, though you can tell he now knows you're here. You see it in the tightening of his brow and the twist of his plush lips, which pinch with the effort to keep himself at bay.

Pa scrapes a chair out, settling himself heavily down into its seat. Standing beside him, you fidget with the crisply-folded letter, pinched fingertips crawling slowly along its edges as you pour all your will and longing into a stare that Eddie refuses to return.

The stalemate ends as Pa clears his throat loudly, growing impatient. "Go'n, now," he prompts, crossing his arms and kicking his feet out under the table in a scuff and thump of heavy boots.

You steal one more lingering glance at Eddie before dropping your eyes to your hands and unfolding your letter. It is silent at the table as you turn it right-side up to read from. You lick your lips and take a breath to steady your nerves before beginning.

"Dear Mr. Wayne," you begin, reading in a cadence reminiscent of your schoolteachers' voices— melodic, perhaps too overly-expressive. "I want to tell you that I am so very sorry—"

A lump rises suddenly in your throat, and you falter; you begin again, speaking a little faster, though you can't disguise the tiny tremble that has emerged. "I am so very sorry for what I've done to disrespect you. I have been carrying on in a shameful manner…."

The apology becomes a blur as you race to complete it before losing your composure. As you express your remorse and acknowledge your wrongdoing, the shaking of your voice only worsens; by the end, your chin is wobbling hard enough that your teeth start chattering.

"Tha's all right, dear," Wayne interjects, gruff but not unkind. Never unkind. "I kin what you're tryin' to express. 'ppreciate your apology."

You nod jerkily, accepting the reprieve gratefully. You fold your letter back up with trembling fingers and pass it over the table to your neighbor, who tucks it away in his pocket.

With a jut of his chin, Pa motions to Eddie. "S'your turn now, boy," he says, and there's enough vitriol roiling there beneath the surface to more than compensate for Wayne's lack. Pa's shrewd eyes dart to you. "Sit down now."

You don't dare disobey, though your stiffness and pinched expression bely your discomfort as you perch gingerly on the edge of the chair. Eddie rises sharply, and your gaze catches on the clench of his broad fist at his side, how his ruddy knuckles have blanched with the force of his grip. You know they'd tightened at the sight of your pain, and a sudden surge of longing nearly leaves you breathless.

You'd urged Eddie to look up at you when he'd been seated, but now you know why he didn't because neither can you, now that the positions are reversed. You can't look up at his face and see the expression there. It's hard enough to hear his voice as he apologizes to your father for touching you without his permission, for the deep offense of wanting you when he'd expressly been told he wasn't allowed because he was too wild and frivolous, and that he'd proven himself as such for what he'd done with you in the hayloft.

At the end of Eddie's apology, Pa grunts his acceptance. Then, he informs you in no uncertain terms what now will happen. It is the result of his lengthy discussion with Wayne this morning; in the end, they both agreed on certain truths moving forward, and they share those with you now.

They tell you that you and Eddie have been stripped of your freedoms and grounded for further notice. That you aren't to attempt to see or speak with one another. That you should begin thinking about your separate futures and leave this silly summer romance behind. That you are both lucky they are benevolent enough to allow you to continue living side-by-side without sending one or both of you away.

You are bidden to acknowledge the rules, and you intone your obedience, as does Eddie. And when Pa is satisfied that you have been sufficiently cleaved from the boy across the table, you are herded back around the tall fence and deposited onto your property.

Having seen the defeat written across your miserable face, Pa leaves you to your own devices. You choose to sit beneath the apple tree, hissing at the lance of pain that races up your buttocks and into your spine as you thump down into the grass. Stubbornly, you ignore the low throbbing in favor of deciphering the storm inside you.

Under the apple tree, a billow of emotion spreads within, complex and layered, filled with contradictions. Because what you've done is indeed wrong, and you know that. But to take the depth of your relationship with Eddie and reduce it to an indiscreet romp, a careless mistake, an insignificant dalliance chalked up to the folly of youthful impulse…

Well, you know this also. Down to your core, you know that that isn't right. And no one rivals you in conviction once your mind is set.

Twelve days ago, the intimacy you shared with your crow came to fruition in a wondrous way. As you pass your days in solitude within your roost, that wonder begins to transform you. It starts with a letter.

Though the tall fence running the length of your adjoining properties keeps you apart from Eddie, and your parents' watchful eyes prevent any wandering from your front porch, one minor breach remains in those steadfast defenses. It's the tree stump rotted straight through, the only place where the grass of your backyards mingles to become one. Secrets are concealed there, announced by the innocuous song of two woodland birds: the turtle dove and the crow.

You don't hear the call the day following your public apologies, or even the day after that. It comes on the third day while you're sat on a stool in the goat pen, working down the nanny's final teat with one hand. Milking her has been slow and steady work, impeded because her kid is leaning against your flank, content so long as you keep one hand on his small bristly side. His tiny tail beats rhythmically against your skirt as her milk rains hollowly into the metal bucket with each pull of your pinched fingers. And when the stream has turned to a dribble, you hear that unmistakable sound: a deep, harsh 'kaa-kaa-kaa' that has your heart pattering instantly against your ribs as your head whips of its own accord toward the fence. You strain to see Eddie through those tiny gaps, but you're too far away for the gesture to mean much. Your eyes dip to second best— that familiar stump, gnarled and weathered gray, splintered but surprisingly soft and spongy to the touch as if it would give way under a heavy hand or foot. You cannot see into the dark crevice at its base, but you know what now awaits you there.

You want to throw yourself to the ground and reach elbow-deep into that damp space, dirt and dress be damned. But you know the second you leave the bucket unattended, all the milk you'd painstakingly gathered would be claimed by the kid. You squeeze out the teet a few more times— perhaps a bit too hastily, since the nanny flicks her ears at you— before snatching up the bucket, bringing it to the kitchen to strain with cheesecloth and tuck into the icebox, leaving the bucket and soiled cloth in the sink out of sight. I'll wash it right quick as soon as I check the stump, you assure yourself. You couldn't possibly wait another moment longer to see what Eddie has left for you to find.

You're thrumming with impatience and excitement as you pop the screen door back open, struggling not to rush toward your prize and draw suspicion from anyone who may see you. Thankfully, a furtive glance around the yard ensures you are alone, and with nothing else to impede you, you quickly gather up your dress and kneel before the stump to claim your offering.

You reach past the blanket of fertile green moss that skirts the stump's base, mind flicking through the possibilities of what you might find in there. It will surely be a scrap of paper, but what will its few words convey? Will Eddie beg you to join him at the creek one last time? Tell you he's enlisted someone's help, an emissary of sorts, to go between you so you can speak again? Will he express his longing for your body's closeness? His pain at your separation?

A fluttering thrill blooms low inside you, cautious and sweet, fearful in its intensity. Because another wondering crosses your mind before you have the good sense to prevent it, and that wondering is this:

With an acknowledgment, perhaps, of how unideal the timing and the method is… will Eddie finally put words to the truth you see in that soft expression that graces his features, the one that's only come out for you, only you, only ever you?

Your fingertips graze thin smooth paper nested in a cradle of grass. As you pull your arm out of the stump, you can imagine it so plainly, written in that familiar scrawl: three words to turn a scrap into the most precious of treasures.

But the paper that comes out is not torn hastily from the corner of a brown paper bag as it usually is. Instead, you’re holding a folded piece of stationary, lightweight and crisp white, though its edges have soaked up some dirty dampness from where it has been hiding.

You don't have the luxury of time needed to examine the emotions that stir at this unexpected sight; you need to get to safety first. You tuck the letter beneath the band of your pocketless apron, fumbling with the bow at the small of your back to tighten it. There the paper stays, pressed against your stomach as you return to the kitchen to wash the bucket and cheesecloth. You lay them out to dry, then pass by your mother in a brush of fabric down the narrow hallway. Lightheaded, heart thumping, you creak up the stairs to your bedroom, closing your door and releasing a woosh of held breath. You sink to the floor in front of it, pressing your back to the wood. In lieu of true privacy, this position keeps someone from bursting suddenly in on you before you can conceal what you're doing. With that assurance, you shift forward, untying that tight bow and letting the apron fall across your legs, revealing a flutter of crisp white.

That stirring of emotions returns full force as you run your thumb along the bottom edge of the paper, wiping the collected dirt absently on the hem of your dress. As you unfold it and Eddie's penciled scrawl is revealed, the first wave of your emotion crests to sting sweetly in the corners of your eyes.

The letter isn't particularly long. It doesn't wax poetic about your grace and charm or meander through the hills and valleys of your shared story. It little matters when you can hear Eddie's teasing rasp in every sentence, see his wild beauty in every word, and feel his firm touch in each uneven scratch of letters into the page.

My Dove, Eddie murmurs against your temple, and you sigh, melting with the sticky sweet honey as he voices his claim on you. His Dove. That's what you are.

"Yes, Eddie," you whisper into the stillness of your empty bedroom, lids low, lashes heavy as you read the next line.

First things first. Don't you even think about writin' me back. You hear me? Plush lips curl as your besotted expression falls into a pout, and you hear the rasp of his laugh as he cradles your face in his broad, rough palms. S'not that I don't wanna get a letter from you, you know. I just can't have you in any more trouble. It nearly killed me to see how you were hurtin' on account of me. Umber eyes crinkle, and his thumb brushes the corner of your lip. Promise me you'll listen for once.

You regard him sullenly for a moment. "Fine," you grump, and the crooked smile you're rewarded with softens the edge of your frustration.

Eddie regards you fondly. I know you don't wanna. But you will anyway, 'cause y'can't help but do what I say now that you're all gooey over me.

You flush with heat, bashful but pleased, twisting your lips against the dopey smile that wants to come out for him. Now that that's settled, he snarks, making you yearn to kiss the knowing tilt right off his lips, I want you to know that… well, I really am sorry for makin' a mess of things for us. Maybe if I'd done different, we wouldn't be where we are right now. No use dwellin' on it or nothin', because what's past is past. But I screwed it up for us, and I don't know what to do to fix it, and I'm just sorry, Dove. I really am.

"Oh, Eddie—" His name is a soft, feminine sigh of anguish as the sting returns full force, burning insistently behind your eyes. You grab up his hands, squeezing them tight; the paper wrinkles in your grip. "Eddie, you didn't make a mess of anything. It's not your fault at all, what's happened."

He stares at you mournfully, dark eyes heavy and sad, continuing as if you hadn't spoken. And I know it's only been a few days since I seen you, but I miss you something fierce. S'like my arm's been cut clean off. His lips quirk up just slightly in the corners. And you'll say that's just me bein' dramatic as always, but I mean it. It really does hurt me that much to be away from you.

Eddie's curls brush your cheeks as he gathers you close to him, pressing his nose to the top of your hair. Wish I could hold you. Be there for you, take care of you. But I guess this's all I can do for now. He breathes in deep, and your heart twists sweetly in your chest at the feeling of his breath there— a cool inhale, and then warmth puffing in short bursts when he murmurs, You know you're my best friend, but you're so much more than that. Y'always have been. I told you I'd never let anyone take you from me, and I intend to keep my word, no matter how long I gotta wait.

Your first tear falls, and Eddie's arms tighten around you. He presses a kiss to your hair. In the meantime, he rasps, quiet but sure and brash as always, if you find yourself missin' me, or if you're havin' a hard go of it, or if you just wanna remind yourself where I am. All you gotta do is call for me, Turtle Dove. And when I call back, what I'm really sayin' is, 'I'm here. I'm here, and I ain't goin' nowhere.'

On the page, there's a gap of space and a scratched-out word, and you can feel Eddie's adam's apple bob in a gulp. And if I'm missin' you, or… or if I'm havin' a hard go of it. If you still want me the way that I want you.

The final line of the letter begins to fuzz while you stare down at it, expanding in a bloom of dark-on-white as more tears flood your eyes. But you don't need to see it; the words have already been etched into your heart.

Will you call back to me? So I know you're here, and you ain't goin' anywhere?

Those two questions close the letter; there is no signature. After all, when two like souls flutter their wings and settle themselves to perch together on a shared wire, names become nothing more than an afterthought.

Paper flattens to the wooden floor. It crinkles as you press against it with your palm, leveraging yourself up to your feet blindly as your stirrings finally overtake you in a rush of tears. They flow over as you lurch around the footboard to the windowsill, pushing the gauzy curtains heedlessly aside; they catch the corners of your lips as your fingers twist the stiff window hinge, and your smile stretches in time with the window's jerky progress up the frame.

September air floods in, ruffling gauze and soothing over your forehead and cheeks. The humid heat of summer has finally broken, leaving mugginess a thing of the past. And it's into that air, scented with crisp wind and the first dry musk of fading leaves, that you call for your crow.

Your first coo isn't as graceful as usual because your voice is choked by sorrow and joy combined. But you do not let that stop you. You call out your bedroom window again and again, as loud as you've ever been, eyes fixed on the stoop at the back of the red house. You call and call until the door springs open there, and a crow hops out onto the stoop. As you look down upon him, tears run in trails that drip off your chin, and your cheeks begin to ache with the force of your smile. You cup your small hands around your mouth and call again.

'Turr-turr-turr,' you sing, mimicking the melodic trill of the turtle dove.

This moment will not quell your stirrings. As more days pass, they will billow ever more intensely and change ever more quickly as the transformation continues inside you. Your bitterness and your temper are still to come; you have not seen the last of your aching.

But, for right now, this is all that matters. A pale face tipped up toward the sun, a cloud of dark curls tossing wild and untamed, a boyish whoop of relief and adoration, and the love that swells within you— still unspoken, but no less true.

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pollenallergie · 1 year

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Thinking about you pulling out child!best friend!Eddie’s loose tooth for him in the third or fourth grade because he was too scared to do it himself. You get home later that night and tell your mom you saved your best friend’s life today. Meanwhile, Eddie gets home and tells Wayne that he pulled it out all by himself. He’s like, “Yeah, it's no big deal, Uncle Wayne. I just pulled it out during math class because I got bored.” Cut to you comfortingly rubbing your sobbing, scaredy-cat friend’s arm at recess as you count down from ten to help him mentally prepare for you to yank his loose front tooth out of his gums.

#eddie’s talking to wayne at dinner that night like ‘yeah i’m just tough like that’#meanwhile you’re talking to your mom at dinner like ‘i was such a good friend today. ur gonna b so proud of me when i tell u what i did.’#eddie munson x reader #best friend!eddie munson #child!reader #child!eddie munson #best friend au #best friend!eddie #childhood best friends au #eddie munson thoughts

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fanfictionvibes · 1 year

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𝑬𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒃𝒆 𝒐𝒌 ❤️

Steddie x child reader

Words: 1k

Summary: Steve & Eddie go back to the upside down after they defeated vecna only weeks later. Of course they went reluctantly but anyways do to the gang hearing little child whimpers over a walkie-talkie (that's what I call it) that has been stuck in the upside down ever since

It was finally over. Vecna was gone. Upside down was gone. Things started to go back to semi- normal in Hawkins. The cracks from the earthquake the upside down cause still linger but many people volunteer to cover up the cracks. If only that was said to peoples mental states. Everyone tried to move on in which a lot of people did leave Hawkins but a good amount stayed. Especially the Hawkins gang.

" I'm telling you I heard something on there!" Dustin said franticly telling everyone in what it looks like emergency meeting in his basement. Everyone looks at Dustin confused written on their faces as Dustin was explaining to them that he heard something on the walkie-talkie.

" How is that possible?, we left it in the upside down? " Steve said crossing his arms, leaning on the entrance of the basement doorway.

" I'm sure your just hearing things Henderson, Its long gone." Eddie said cutting into the conversation. Eddie wrapped his arm around his boyfriend's waist firmly. If this wasn't serious Steve would have melted in his hold.

" I'm telling you g— ummhu " Everyones eyes darted to the walk-talkie on the coffee table

" Did the walk-talkie just whimper?" Max questioned to make sure she wasn't hearing things. The radio whimpered again not to long after making everyone confirm there something or someone on the other side.

That's how Steve & Eddie got in this position to go back into the upside down, of course unintentionally. As they went into the oh so familiar portal, nervousness started to settle in, into the two boys. When coming out of it it, it the same as they left it.

The skies were still red, abandoned homes and land everywhere, the air was still with a heavy atmosphere all around, thunder was as loud as ever, shrieking of demo bats were heard farther away but that still made Eddie hold on to Steve's hand even tighter, Steve grip match with Eddie's.

Steve and Eddie started walking hand in hand carefully and quietly to where they left the walk-talkie. It felt like a century before they finally arrived to the destination.

" let's find this thing and get the hell out of here" Eddie said now speed walking to skull rock with Steve trailing behind him.

" ...ummhu.... " Steve & Eddie eyes narrowed in on a smaller bolder that's a few feet away. There minds now racing with theories about what is behind that rock. What if its a demo dog? a demo bat? Or worse a full adult Demogoron. Steve & Eddie took out there weapons and slowly walked towards it making sure to be as quit as possible.

Eddie's narrowed his eyes clocked on the rock now in front of them prepared, Ready to fight for his life. The boys looked at each other and counted down to 3 together. Once they got to 1 they both made loud battle cry's and weapons swinging high like maniacs.

Before they could do anymore damage a high pitched whimper was let out. Steve opened his eyes even though he swear he didn’t close them. His eyes widened little by little as he focuses in on the thing or should I say child sitting in front of them hands over there head in fear.

“ Stop eddie…STOP “ Steve raised his voice hitting Eddie’s arm demanding his attention. Eddie also had his eyes closed, arms whipping in the air with his nail covered shield in any and every possible direction. Eddie opened his eyes at Steve’s demanding h̶o̶t̶ voice and looked straight at the child.

The child though they left do to no more screaming battle calls and what is consider “ ᴡᴇᴀᴘᴏɴs “ swing around. The child lowered their arms and took a look.

They both were staring back at them

The child try to hide again

“ Hey, HEY it's ok were not monsters.. Were like you.. “ Steve said softly kneeling down on your level, looking you in the eyes. Eddie not long after. The child took another look and slowly put there arms down and stare at them.

" What's your name? " Eddie said softly

The child took a minute to answer

" Y/n.. " The child answers almost in a whisper but Steve and Eddie hear it

“ Y/n.. that’s a nice name “ Eddie complimented with a lip tight smile. Eddie and Steve looked at each other in a sense were not knowing where to go from here. Eddie's eyes pulled away from Steve's onto the child in front of them.

" We're are your parents y/n? "

" Gone."

The boys looked at each other in disbelief, that is just ..wrong. Who would leave their child in a place such as this? What kind of parents dose that. Without wasting a second Eddie picked Y/n up and put them on his hip. Startling her first then became stiff. Eddie started walking.

" Ywu dowing?! "

" Eddie don't tell me what your doing is what I think your doing." Steve said speed walking to catch up

" I'm taking her with us " Eddie stated still walking

" but we- " " No buts Harrington!, this child is here left to die, I will not just leave knowing that we just killed a kid HELL a baby at most?!" Eddie turned to meet Steve's eyes

Y/n finally relaxes in his hold leaning against his shoulder. Eyes dropping shut tiredly do to the warmth and protection you felt.

Both boys were still looking at each other almost telepathically talking to each other. Steve was the first one to look away. He sighed and rubbed his eyes in frustration to try to finger out what to do. Not long after, Steve walk past Eddie to the direction of the portal.

Eddie wiped his head around, hair flowing behind him. Steve stops walking and turns around

" You coming or what smart guy " Steve turned back with a little smile and continued to walk closer to the portal. With big smile on Eddie's face he followed Steve with a kick in his step. Grinning like a fool.

The child in Eddie's arms unconsciously grinned the same way in their sleep. Not knowing that they'll finally have the life they deserve.

Steve and Eddie only had one thing on there minds

Y/n, it's ok now. We are all safe.

𝓔𝓿𝓮𝓻𝔂𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝔀𝓲𝓵𝓵 𝓫𝓮 𝓸𝓴 ❤️

#x reader #eddie munson x reader #stranger things #foryou #steddie x reader #steve harrington #billy hargrove #steddie #billy hargove x reader #child reader #fruity 4 #dad eddie munson #eddie munson #welcome to hellfire #dnd ocs #dnd character #dnd

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writingsonsaturn · 2 months

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| writingsonsaturn’s milky way |

hiii !!

requests are: closed (just so i can catch up on current requests)

masterlist || characters i write for || my do’s and do not’s

all nsfw content is marked as 18+ please do not interact with nsfw content if you are a minor.

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farfaras · 2 months

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why is it so hard to find reader fics that are PLATONIC. like ... please !! i don't wanna fUCK these fictional bitches, i wanna be their b e s t i e ! ! ! :( :( is that too much to ask :( :( does no one else feel this way? am I GONNA have to write them mySeLF? goddammit

#fanfic #fanfiction #writing #writers #reader insert #x reader #fem reader #male reader #gn reader #target audience #:#steddie #eddie munson #steve harrington #ill even take being steddie's child

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clanwarrior-tumbly · 2 years

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Headcanons for Stranger things Eddie being Friends with a Friendly Ghost Child yn please? They look up at him and likes to make cool things for him? Like imagine in a dnd session where there’s a cold windy night as a scenario,they make the air go chilly and make strong wind noises,they would scare others away if they’re beingrude to Eddie’s ((maybe even saving him?? ))

Aw I love this idea!! Let's say Ghost!Y/N’s around 10-11 years old

Also these hcs got long so half of them (aka the angstier ones that go into major spoiler territory) are under the cut!

........

The memories of your death remained fuzzy; not even the wounds on your ghostly form could help you recall what exactly happened the day you perished.

Not only that, but you were stuck in the living world for some reason...

Yet you didn’t despair over this. In fact, you stayed hopeful and optimistic. Even if you couldn’t move on, you wanted to at least find some new purpose in your afterlife.

So you explored Hawkins, which led you to the highschool where you noticed cliques of science nerds, band geeks, preps, and athletes in the lunchroom. It made you wonder where you’d fit in if you were still alive, but you weren’t exactly sure...

Then you hear a student’s boisterous voice taking jabs at the groups, proclaiming that “conformity is killing the kids”..or something like that.

You didn’t fully understand what he meant, but when you saw his long hair, rings, and biker jacket, you instantly admired his aesthetic.

He looked like the coolest guy ever standing up on that table, mimicking devil horns when confronted by a jock.

Then you officially crossed paths with him after noticing he dropped a D&D dice as he’s walking down the hall, listening to heavy metal. You happened to love D&D as well and knew it was important that he had it.

“Hey! I think you dropped something.” Forgetting that he probably couldn’t see you, you picked it up and tried getting his attention.

Eddie stops short when he sees you in front of him, removing his headphones with wide eyes.

You’re worried that you scared him, but then he smiles and thanks you, remarking that you seemed way too young to attend highschool right now.

Meanwhile, you’re perplexed that he can actually see and hear you.

He doesn’t realize you’re a ghost until the jock from the cafeteria sees him and scoffs like “Hey, druggie. You talking to air now?”

“No, Carver.” Eddie sneers back. “Don’t you see the kid standing right there?!”

“...what kid?”

Suddenly, he realizes that Jason does not see you at all and he clams up.

The jock continues taunting him until an invisible force knocks the books out of his hands. He freaks out and runs away, before Eddie sees you reappear.

“Why is that guy so mean to--oops, uh..” You feel awkward as he stares at you in shock, worried that he’ll run too. “Hi.”

“H-Hey....so.....you��re a real ghost?”

“Yeah. But it’s weird how only you can see me..”

“Yeah, that’s weird but...pretty cool, I guess. Although this reminds me of a session I made where the party had to defeat evil ghosts who tried turning them against each other through possession.....you’re not evil, are you?” He eyes you suspiciously.

“What? No! Of course not!” You huff. "We're not all evil."

“Then why are you still here among the living?”

“I dunno. I’m still trying to figure that out. But I promise I won’t hurt you.”

Although cautious at first, Eddie quickly became friends with you and invited you to join the Hellfire Club that day, wondering what cool powers you had.

Even you weren’t sure, but you experimented with them and provided his D&D session with an eerie atmosphere for immersion purposes.

Eddie began with “On this cold, windy night..” and you decreased the temperature of the surrounding air and made windy sound effects, blowing out some of the nearby candles and relighting them when appropriate for his story.

This sent shivers down the club members’ spines as they wonder how he’s able to do that. They suspect he hid fans around the place.

But you and Eddie just grin at each other, finding a way to make this game even better.

Outside of club, you hang out with him at his trailer, listening to him practice a Metallica song on his guitar and brainstorming new ideas for D&D sessions.

You quickly see how harshly he’s treated by other students, including that “Carver” guy who reminded you of bullies from your school, so you’ll harmlessly prank them and send them running scared. You both get a kick out of it.

Unfortunately, these fun times don’t last forever as things start to go wrong in Hawkins.

After Eddie witnesses Chrissy’s death, he panics and avoids you.

But you have no idea what happened or why he’s so terrified of you all of the sudden. You're certain you haven't insulted him in any way..but it took you forever to find him and confront him about this.

“Eddie, what’s wrong? Did I do something?”

“Just don't follow me anymore. Go haunt somebody else!!”

“What? I-I don’t understand. What did I do wrong?? What happened-?”

“CHRISSY IS GONE, [Y/N]!!!” He finally screams. “THAT’S WHAT HAPPENED!!”

You flinched as he yelled at you, but you’re horrified at the revelation. “That..nice cheerleader? She’s dead..?”

Part of him feels bad for startling you, but he gets choked up as he accuses you of possessing and killing her, believing you lied to him about never hurting anyone.

With tears in your eyes you try defending yourself. “Eddie, I..I wasn’t anywhere near your trailer that night. I would never do that to anyone!”

“B-But if not you, then who else?!"

“I don’t know! But I swear I didn't do that to her. Please..you have to believe me. Why would I ever break my promise? Why would I want to hurt anyone you cared about?”

Even after Eddie stops running from you, he’s still emotionally distant, which worsens after he’s accused of more murders and thinks making contact with you somehow “cursed” him.

This wasn’t the cool rebellious dungeon master you once looked up to anymore. He became so..withdrawn. Yet you didn’t wanna abandon the only person who could see you. So you never left his side.

Once Dustin and the others find him and explain the Upside Down--he realizes he was wrong about you and apologizes.

Of course you forgive him, knowing he’s just scared and confused.

Though all this talk about the UD leaves you wondering if it had something to do with your inability to move on. Maybe you’ll find answers there and help stop the real monster who was ruining Eddie’s life.

So you venture into the dimension with the group, and its supernatural forces somehow allow everyone to see you. And this leads to a very awkward explanation from Eddie on how you both met. Your injuries carried over, but you reassured them they didn't hurt.

When a demobat spots you, it swoops down to attack--only for it to fly right through you and crash into a wall.

That’s when you realize the monsters can’t harm you, and you use this to your advantage in distracting the swarms of demobats sent by Vecna, especially when they come for Eddie and Dustin.

You choose to stay behind in the UD to keep them away from the portal for as long as possible, snatching the sheet so Eddie can’t chase after you.

Eventually Vecna is seemingly defeated, and Eddie and Dustin return to the dimension, but neither of them can find you anywhere.

Days later, there’s still no sign of you in the real Hawkins, and this leaves Eddie a total wreck as he wonders what happened to you.

Were you corrupted by the UD? Did a monster find a way to harm you? Or did you simply pass on without saying goodbye?

He still had to hide from a town who hated him, and despite having friends who believed him..he's never felt so alone.

You were just a kid. A brave kid who made the ultimate sacrifice for him, a cowardly adult who accused you of murders you weren’t even capable of committing.

It crushed him. He was proud of himself for that concert, for not running from the swarm but facing it.

But he couldn't help you.

He feels like he failed as a shepherd, losing one of his sheep forever.

And he laments over this while taking a smoke break in the woods, the same place where he once connected with Chrissy.

But he becomes frustrated when the lighter’s flame keeps going out, which was a habit of yours to deter him from smoking.

Then...he hears a familiar voice.

“You know that's bad for you."

Eddie turns and gawks as he sees you sitting beside him, in a fully corporeal human body. Your wounds were patched up and your eyes no longer looked lifeless--as if you’ve been reborn.

Apparently the time you’ve spent in the UD allowed you to travel between dimensions, and you found a way to keep the corporeal form you gained there in the real world (although it’s temporary).

You just smiled at your friend once you finished explaining why you were gone for so long. “So I basically leveled-up and gained mastery over-”

Immediately Eddie breaks and hugs you, sobbing with relief and thanking you for all you’ve done for him, apologizing again for how he treated you before.

And again, you forgive him and hug him back, promising you won’t leave.

You ended up finding your new purpose after all:

Eddie was in desperate need of a guardian angel..and you were the perfect candidate.

#clanask #anonymous #stranger things x reader #st4 x reader #eddie munson #child reader #platonic #stranger things spoilers #st4 spoilers #headcanons #ghost reader

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streets-in-paradise · 1 year

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Horror Characters Preference - How they celebrate Christmas with you

Happy Holydays! This is a little gift i wrote for you all :)

I wished I could have added more characters and some escenarios ended up a bit short, but this is the best i got in the few writing time i had in between holyday preparations.

Fandoms incluided: Chucky, The Walking Dead and Stranger Things.

tags: @losersclubisms @helie-brain ( i added Daryl for you) @richiethedigidestine ( i remember how much you like Carl)

Chucky

Andy Barclay

-Only after growing tired of hearing you sing ' You are a mean one, Mr Grinch' he ends up confessing why he hates Christmas.

- Andy is the sort of person who would give speeches about consumerism and children being brainwashed by commercials. It is a very important topic for him because it ruined his life, over the years he blamed himself a lot about wanting a Good Guy for his birthday when he was 6 and manipulative advertisement played a big role on that.

- He is the least materialistic person you have ever met. Although he has a hard time expressing what he wants or needs you have clear that he prefers people over things.

- If it would depend on him, he would spend Christmas like a regular day, but he has you and Kyle getting him out to get things and do holiday stuff.

- Decorating the tree was easier to convince him about, you made the cabin look like a home and he couldn't complain of that.

- It made him feel a bit fuzzy inside. His place would not be a prison or an Isolation spot anymore. You wanted to stay with him and turn it into a home, your home.

Junior Wheeler

- Christmas is Bree's favorite holiday and she is your favorite of your boyfriend's parents, so you are there to celebrate.

- You also want to support Junior because you know Logan has a way of always ruining his mood somehow. He would never let him be happy, not at least in his own way.

- For so, you were there to do it. Perfectly aware of his musical inclinations, you encouraged him to sing Christmas songs with you for the little kids in the party. Junior knows that you like that and only you could have convinced him of joining.

- People are shocked, Logan receives tons of compliments and advice coming even from some of his friends regarding the unexpectedly discovered talent of his son.

- You casually mention that you play piano, a subtle act of support in that context.

- Junior is so happy that, if there weren't formal appearances to keep, he would have kissed you ríght there.

Jake Wheeler

-Christmas is a hard time for him. He used to love it as a kid but since his mom died nothing is the same. The season reminds him so much of her and his father is not a good source of support. Lucas gets even worse around the holydays and Jake has to either avoid him or babysit his drunk ass.

- One of his saddest memories involves him having to decorate the tree alone, feeling the loose even harder' because the season makes him feel like he is alone in the world.

- That's precisely why it meant so much to see you at his doorstep visiting to help him with the decorations. You even brought some yourself along with some other Christmas plans.

- He almost cried while eating your gingerbread cookies, that's how strongly emotional you got him with such simple acts.

- Lucas gave you the side eye as he was passing by. He knows who you are and he is not supportive of your relationship, but that time you didn't mind in the slightest.

- In fact, you previously fought the urge of bringing a mistletoe just to not get Jake in trouble.

- You love your boyfriend and wouldn't let the assholeness of his father get in between your chances to give him happiness.

Bonus

Chucky

- He is the gift for one of the kids on your family gathering.

-Switched the original gift for a box containing him, actually.

- Good luck surviving his holyday fun.

The Walking Dead

Daryl Dixon

- Celebrating anything is complicated in the world you live in, almost impossible for most people. When you were freshly arrived the Alexandria people were trying to push parties down your throats and Daryl had the worse reactions to that.

- He hates to be pushed into anything, even more when it is about a celebration he wasn't a fan of before the apocalypse.

- One thing was for sure, his reactions of discomfort were quite adorable to you. At some point of the party he got tired of giving deathly stares so he wouldn't be bothered and he stayed outside. He was out in the front not only refusing to participate, but to even be present.

- Of course, you followed to make him company and make sure he wouldn't freeze. After all, If both of you wanted, that party could be just the two of you.

Carl Grimes

- If he gets the chance to celebrate, he wants to make it nice for his little sister. Carl feels he was fortunate because he got to experience a real Christmas and she will never have that.

- Even if she is too little to remember, he wants to make it special for her and you help with whatever you can. Sacavange for things, arts and crafts, whatever necessary to get some nice decorations and presents.

- Your determination on the topic ends up convincing Rick of accepting the idea. As soon as he heard your reasons, even Daryl was up to participate. He has a soft spot for the little girl and Carl is doing so much for her.

- When the time comes, all the people you consider family are there. It's your first truly felt Christmas since the end of the world.

Stranger Things

Steve Harrington

- He doesn't get much comfort and family at home, but since he has you and his little friends he found a family where he belongs and that manifests on his attitude around the holidays.

- His gifts are super thoughtful. Everyone knows he is gonna surprise and that makes you nervous. You fear he would give you the most perfect gift and yours for him wouldn't be as good enough in comparison.

- Meanwhile, Steve stresses more about what to get for Dustin, considering how far he is from his peculiar likes and interests, than what he planned for you.

- For Christmas Eve he gets invited to dinner by the Hendersons and that means you also got invited. Dustin loves you both and wants you to be there with him and his mom.

- When you arrive the boy is watching ' Silent Night, Deathly Night'.

- " No horror movies tonight." You commented to him. " It's our first Christmas together. We have to make it nice. "

" But it counts as a Christmas movie!" He playfully complained. " It's an open film subgenre."

- Steve laughed and messed with his hair, loving to hear him being himself and you trying to make things the normal way.

- You both in your different ways make him insanely happy.

Eddie Munson

-I get the feeling that his celebrations are the closest to how It's used to celebrate where i live.

- Loudest Christmas ever, it's 6 pm of Christmas Eve and Eddie is already blasting music. He is a happy and unapologetical dude and that's how cheer hits him.

- You are neighbors, so you are constantly crossing over trailers to see how each other is going as you await for the night. You have to get reminded to get back whenever someone needs any of you for something on your preparations.

- Eddie and Wayne end up joining you. Your family is on good terms with them and getting all together is better than having to stand how you and Eddie leave out of sudden to see each other.

- At some point of the night, once you have enough time to dedicate to your families, you follow him into the next step of your celebrations.

- Surprisingly crashing late at Dustin's and pumping up the party.

- Steve mocked you for showing up late, he and Eddie have a secret war going on over who amazes Dustin the most.

Bonus

Billy Hargrove

- You have been dating for a while and your mom suggested you could invite him to your Christmas party.

- Everything goes fine when you are introducing him to your parents but, as soon as he saw him, your little brother reacted as if he would have seen the reaper. He clumsily tried to dissimulate, but you know him well enough to notice he is terrified.

- That’s how you find out that the dude you were seeing was also your brother’s bully, the nameless guy he would always complain about everytime he came back home made a scared mess.

- You dump his ass without hesitation. He may be charming and super hot, but he showed his true colours messing with a little boy, with your family.

- Nothing can excuse that.

#horror preferences #chucky #child's play #the walking dead #stranger things #andy barclay #junior wheeler #jake wheeler #daryl dixon #carl grimes #steve harrington #eddie munson #andy barclay x reader #junior wheeler x reader #jake wheeler x reader #daryl dixon x reader #carl grimes x reader #steve harrington x reader #eddie munson x reader

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thefuseoftemptation · 1 year

Note

What type of hugger do you think Eddie is?

Oh, he full on hugs you. Just pulls you into him and holds you. Eddie’s the type to put everything into the hug, he won’t let go until you do and even then he doesn’t feel like pulling back because m’sure he likes and needs it just as much as you.

Expect times where he surges to you suddenly and just pulls you into him—wherever you guys are at. It happens plenty when you guys are together and he hasn’t seen you in a while. And by a while, I mean it could’ve been just a few hours.

“Eddie,” you breathe out. “We just saw the other…” you speak rubbing his back.

“I know.” It’s mumbled but you hear.

Expect too, behind the back hugs. Do it to him and that’s it—he’s gone. He just melts.

(That’s all if he knows you).

But if you guys haven’t known the other for much time, m’sure he’ll still be the type to hug you because whether he knows it or not—he revels the feeling.

Though, there are times where if he’s not expecting it and it suddenly happens—there’s a brief second of him not knowing how to even take to it. Like he’ll just sort of be there with his arms up to the side before he sighs and leans into it. He won’t be sure of himself for a few but he’ll get used it in no time.

. . .

#could see Eddie as the type that if he’s not too set on you #he would be much like a child when it comes to hugging back or not #you know where they just eye you and then turn themselves #or push you back #eddie munson #eddie munson x reader #eddie munson x gn!reader #eddie munson hcs #eddie munson headcanon #eddie munson blurb #asks

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maidenofartemis · 2 years

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The Coolest

Pairing: Eddie x GN kid reader (Platonic)

Gif credit: @ofalltheginjoints

A/N: I hope I did Eddie justice and that it turned out okay. I would love to know what you all thought. :) Ps. Be sure to read the sequel The Lil Devil that revolves around these two.

Summary: Not everyone feels cool growing up but it gets a little easier when we have someone tell us how cool they think we are.

---------------

A knock at his door is what caught Eddie’s attention that Thursday night, three consecutive knocks followed by silence and then another three knocks but louder the next time.

“I’m comin’, I’m comin’” Eddie sighed, gently setting aside his guitar. “You can stop knocking, I’m comin.’”

Pulling open the door, there standing with frown and pout on their lip at 111 cm (3 ft 5 in), was none other than his 7 year old neighbor (Y/N).

“May I come in?” they asked politely.

“What are you, a vampire?” He chuckled, “Of course you can come in. You don’t even have to ask at this point, just let me know that’s it you.”

“Sorry, last time I came over my mom got mad that I walked in without even knocking” they thrust a Tupperware into Eddie’s arms. “Ma, sends her love and some food because she says you’re too thin.”

“Oh you know I’ll never say no to your Mom’s food” Eddie said scrounging in a drawer for a clean fork.

(Y/N) sat cross legged on his couch, watching as he munched happily on the food they had brought for him. They were quiet and this caught Eddie’s attention as the kid was rarely ever so subdued when they came over to his trailer.

“Okay, what’s up?” He asked as he put the Tupperware down. “You’re never this quiet.”

“I’m fine” (Y/N) murmured unconvincingly.

Instead of looking at Eddie, they instead turned their whole body to mush their face against a pillow.

“I wasn’t born yesterday, kid. You’re not fine and I would know an upset pillow mushing like that” Eddie said softly. “I’ve known you since you were two, so tell me what’s got you so bummed out.”

“Kds wer bei’ m’an.”

“What was that?”

They pulled away from the pillow, “Kids were just being mean. It’s nothing for you to worry about.”

“Hey,” he tried to catch their attention.

(Y/N) refused to look at him, stubbornly pouting with arms crossed and keeping their gaze on their lap.

“Oh so that’s how we’re going to do it?” Eddie laughed, “Then I guess we gotta do this the hard way.”

Eddie was quick to scoop them up and throw them over his own shoulder, jumping around until he finally pulled a laugh that slowly turned into shrieks of laughter as they pushed against him to make him let go.

“Eddie!” They laughed even harder, “Eddie let go of me, you’re gonna drop me!”

“Oh, do you doubt my strength little one” he swung them around a little more. “I am hurt, wounded by your callous words!”

“I’m sorry!” They giggled. “I didn’t mean it, but put me down or I’m gonna hurl all over your back..”

Eddie swiftly plopped them onto the couch once more, their laughter and squirming slowly petering down. They comfortably curled themselves on their side and looked at Eddie with wide eyes.

“I wish I was like you Eddie. Maybe other kids would like me then” they mumbled.

“What do you mean?”

“You know that really cool Metallica shirt that you gave me?”

“Yeah.”

“A lot of kids were making fun of me because of the shirt and because I get most of my stuff from the thrift shop,” tears welled up in their eyes and hastily they tried to wipe the tears away. “They called me trailer trash and said I would only be a poor loser.”

“You know that’s not true,” Eddie protested.

“I just wanted to be like you Eddie, you’re so cool and - and have a really cool style” they hiccuped. “But everyone was so mean!”

Gently he pulled (Y/N) into his chest and let them sob as he gently shushed them, comforting as best as he could. (Y/N) gripped tightly onto his jacket and whimpered softly, nuzzling further into Eddie’s arms.

“You know, kid” Eddie said softly. “I’m actually… not as cool as you think I am. In fact, I am the definition of uncool.”

“You’re just saying that,” (Y/N) mumbled.

“As cool as you think I am, kid. Everyone in my school thinks I am a freak and weirdo too” Eddie said. “Thing is, as hard as it is for you right now there will be others who you’ll find along the way. Others who don’t quite fit in and will understand you because people suck sometimes.”

“But I think you’re cool Eddie.”

“And I think you’re cool too, kid. Heck, I think you’re too cool for any of those losers that made fun of you for being yourself” he said. “You weren’t afraid to be you and that takes a ton of guts, so that’s cool in my book.”

The 7 year old was quiet, “I was really scared. I couldn’t say anything when they made fun of me.”

“And that’s okay, kid. You don’t have to do anything, just don’t ever let them change who you are” Eddie said. “You think you can do that?”

“Yeah,” they mumbled. “But what do I do if I get scared again?”

Eddie thought about it for a moment and carefully pulled off the leather bracelet from his wrist.

“Here!” He said while gently tying it around the child’s wrist. “Any time you get scared, this magic infused bracelet will give you courage to keep being you because I’ll be cheering you on.”

(Y/N) giggled, “I’m not a baby anymore Eddie. I know that magic isn’t real!”

“Hey, I pulled a quarter from your ear once, didn’t I?”

“Well, yeah but -“

“No buts! I got Eddie magic so it’s different, got it?”

“Okay, I got it!” They laughed some more.

Despite their originally sad mood, a bright smile lit up their features as they looked at Eddie with admiration.

“You know Eddie, I can’t wait to grow up and be as cool as you someday.”

“Nah kid, you don’t have to grow up to be cool. Cause you’re already the coolest.”

He wouldn’t know it, but Eddie’s words would stick with (Y/N) even when he was gone.

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Tag: @spidyyparker @iidarlingbunbun @reticent-writer2-0

#eddie munson x child reader #eddie munson imagine #eddie x reader #x reader #x child reader #x reader insert #fluff #eddie munson x reader fluff #eddie munson x reader #stranger things x reader #stranger things fic

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jokenotfunny · 4 months

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i'm backkkkkk 😄😄😄😄

and finally have enough free time to upload chapters !

i've just published a heavily edited version of our favorite eddie and steve x platonic!experiment!reader story to wattpad under it's new official title : atychiphobia (007) a stranger things story by the name of @jokenotfunnyy !!

i'll still be uploading on here!! but i will also be utilizing ao3 and wattpad under the same username!! with possibly more detailed chapters ! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🩷

if you guys are still interested in the story i'd love if you read it and tell me what you think!! 🩷🩷🩷

#eddie munson x reader #eddie munson #stranger things 4 #stranger things #eddie munson x fem!reader #eddie munson x poc reader #eddie munson x y/n #steve’s not an only child anymore 🤭#steve harrington x platonic! reader #steve harrington x black!reader #steve harrington x reader #steve harrington

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ridestomars · 2 years

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when lana del rey sang "wrap you up in my daisy chains" she was talking about eddie and flower child!reader, and i'm dead serious about this. being so opposite to each other – the og metalhead and the hippie lovechild – eddie never thought he would fall for the oh-so-sweet y/n, but the moment he saw they standing up for his protegé, dustin, something just snapped. when did someone who wore mismatched tie-dyes and flowers in their hair start to look so beautiful? especially when they're angry? next thing he knew, he was practically begging dustin to introduce the two of you. what? maybe you like metallica too...

#this might be my new favourite troupe #trust me i will elaborate this i'm in too deep now #eddie munson #eddie munson x reader #stranger things #liv talks about eddie #flower child!reader #eddie <3 #liv writes #music ramblings

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tkpuke · 2 years

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No Crime in Relaxing

Pairing - Eddie Munson x Reader

Word count: 3,222

In which the growing distance away from your friends only caused one person to notice. To notice the color draining out your adored personality. To notice how long it’s been since you last laughed or even pulled a tiny smile. That person being your best friend, Eddie Munson.

This is a tickle fic. Please do not read if that’s not your thing.

Your conversations to your friends all slowly became the same. Discussing on their next hangout, giggling about how fun it’ll be spending time together by being dumb young teenagers, then heads turning to you to see if you’re in. Bowling, skating, and late night kickbacks. It guarantees you a blast, but you give your friends a apologetic look with a quiet ‘no, sorry.’ Each and every time.

‘No biggie’, is what they always tell you. Will they ever get past seeing it as a “no biggie”, and maybe question if you’re doing alright? You give it your best to try attending invites to parties n such, finding a way to work with your strict curfew set by your parents. You usually do, in fact, make it every time. Though these past couple of weeks you found yourself going straight home after school, alone in your room doing homework and study your ass off until night falls where you plop into bed for the next day to repeat the cycle.

The cycle you fully blame on your parents. Your parents have set expectations on you since day one. They remind you everyday, but lately their expectations has started to weigh heavy on your shoulders. The exhaustion of desperately trying to live up their dream of having the most perfect and smartest kid in Hawkins kicked in, leaving you unmotivated to keep up the good scores in tests and be the top of everything when it leaves them unsatisfied at the end. Your parents want more, thinking you can do better.

Focused so much on completing the goals they have on you which only benefits them and earn bragging rights when speaking to other parents, that they completely turned a blind eye on how it might’ve left a negative toll on you.

The one person who seemed to have an immediate problem on not having enough time for them, was Eddie Munson. Doesn’t take awhile to note he can’t live without getting unlimited attention from his close friends dear to his heart. You are nearing top three on his list who owns a special spot in his heart, which comes down to him wanting to spend as much time with you as possible.

You never complained. Eddie gave you the type of friendship everyone envied to have in a guy best friend. Sharing deep conversations at Skull Rock, inviting you over to his trailer to give you a sick mini concert in his room, to the time you snorted out your milkshake from your nose because Eddie’s jokes were gold. There was not a single dull moment you’ve had with him.

Explains the great pain you’ve gotten with the amount of times you had to decline his offers to spend quality time with you.

“Sorry, Eddie.” Is all you say, tucking some hair behind your ear as you walk down the halls, three books in your arms. You heard footsteps behind you, Eddie giving gentle pushes to people followed by ‘excuse me’s’ to try walking beside you.

“No no, I totally get it. Drive-in movies are outdated.” Eddie starts, beaming from his next suggestion as he shakes your shoulders a bit. “But playing DND isn’t.”

Dungeons and Dragons hasn’t failed in getting you to cave in whenever you swore to Eddie you were busy. Your slight obsession to the game was what brought you two close, playing together until feeling burned out. You knew Eddie probably thought he had reeled you in with this one, but from all the declines and distancing to your friends has made it easy to even refuse an activity you would agree on doing in a heartbeat.

“I can’t today.” You haven’t made eye contact with him once since the start of this conversation. The confused yet disappointed expression he’ll soon wear would bring a strong wave of guilt towards you. You can’t bear to face that, especially since you damn well know you can make time for anyone, just the determination of pleasing your parents is what’s pulling you back.

Eddie damn well knows too. Of course he does, he’s your best friend.

You halted your movements the minute Eddie got in front of you, blinking in complete surprise. “Okay, what? You’re always down in playing DND. What’s so important right now other than that?”

You scoff a little. “Heading to the library to study for Mrs. Eyerly’s next big biology test. You should try it sometime.” Adding the last part couldn’t be helped, you constantly nagged him to put more effort in his classes by joining you in study sessions. The repeated no’s irked you a bit.

Your small library trips weren’t unknown to him. The library card makes an appearance whenever you open your wallet around Eddie. Although, it isn’t a place you would call your second home.

“Bullshit. I refuse to believe someone study’s for two weeks straight and still be completely sane.”

You give off an eye-roll, sometimes forgetting how dramatic Eddie is. “Do you not see the books in my hands? I’m not bullshitting.”

You took a step to walk around him, but he quickly blocks your path a second time. “Give yourself a break, Y/N. There’s nothing wrong with doing that.”

Your eyes falls down to your shoes, avoiding his now softened gaze. “Yes there is.” You took off as soon as you replied, not looking back. You felt Eddie’s eyes watching you leave, holding back in catching up to continue the pathetic argument. Eddie knows this won’t be the last time your conversations will end like how it did. When next time rolls around, he’ll fight back.

The morning newspaper was waved at your face, Eddie pointing at a certain title through the list of movie showings tonight. “Aliens tonight, sweetheart. Me, you, and the rest of the group.”

You snagged it out from his hands, reading the timings. There was one time where it showed just before the sun will set, and you assumed that’s the timing Eddie was planning to go see. Bless him, for understanding you had no control over your early curfew but still made plans regardless because he worked along with it pretty well.

“There’s no reason to back down. You’ve been waiting on the edge of your seat for Aliens to release ever since the first one came out.” He’s right. Ever since the first movie, you’ve been obsessed with anything horror. Then you discovered the Alien comics, so you kept busy reading all of those while waiting for a continuation. A new interest of yours lead to talking Eddie’s ear off about all your own theories and fangirling. He never mind, he thought the first one was as amazing as you perceived it. If there’s one thing Eddie loved about you, is how you get into deep detailed conversations about your special interests.

“This might be a long movie. I’m not sure if I’ll be home in time for dinner.” You attempted. Not your best excuse, because when were you ever a big fan of your parents cooking? You rather stick with microwave TV dinners.

“Tell your parents after the movies you’ll have dinner at whoever’s friend’s house since they offered.” Eddie shrugged like it was no big deal, but there’s one thing that is.

“I think they’ll get a heart attack if I tell them I’m gonna watch Aliens.” You thanked your good friend, Jenna, at the time to convince your parents to let you spend the night then immediately buying two tickets to watch Alien. Some days you would do anything to go back to sweet ol’ 79, wanting to experience the film for the very first time again.

At this moment, especially considering how this past month has been for you, there’s no way your parents will buy you wanting to have a sleepover tonight at some friend’s house. They already have the mindset that since you’re a senior, you grew past all those “kiddy” stuff. Besides, you can’t even think of one lunch friend you’re close enough with to stay the night over.

“Uh, I know. Which is exactly why I’m giving you ideas on how to lie to them.” Eddie scoffs, seeing you stay in silence for a couple of seconds while kicking pebbles nearby.

He releases a sigh before speaking once more. “I don’t think you understand how not only me, but the whole group misses you.” A hand squeezes your shoulder, causing you to finally meet his eyes. “It’s okay to take a break once in awhile. Fuck your parents for telling you otherwise.”

You let out a breathy laugh, nodding your head understandably to his comforting words. Comfort, All Eddie gives you in your troubling times without hesitation. You never had to verbally ask for him to reassure your growing worries away, he just knows when it’s the right time for his help. You believe without a doubt Eddie having the ability to read his friends’ moods like an open book so fantastically is his gifted sixth sense. He’s been by your side since day one, you were too blind beforehand to realize.

A barely visible smile tugs on the corner of your lips, saying ‘thank you’ by playfully punching his shoulder in your guy’s own made up physical language.

“Well, what are we waiting for? We have a movie to catch.”

The long line to the ticket booth brought no shock for everyone. The wait gave you a chance to catch up with everyone, also apologizing profusely when Gareth purposefully made you feel guilty for all the times you missed out on the hellfire campaign nights due to your stressful study sessions. Jeff shares his gratefulness that you’re here now and that is all that matters, Eddie agreeing.

The minute you sat down, you couldn’t contain your legs from bouncing with excitement. Every single scene got you watching intently, absolutely refusing to do a bathroom break until the very end of the movie. You wouldn’t dare to miss anything. Jeff and Gareth made a few whisper comments to each other during the middle of it, causing you to shush them by giving a single glare to your right.

You gained the urge to snack, Eddie giving you his popcorn. Apparently you were supposed to share, because when you handed back the paper bag empty, he crumbled it up and flicked it to your cheek before forcing Jeff or Gareth to get up and buy some more. You had no regrets, buttery popcorn tastes amazing while you watch people getting beaten down by a bunch of horrifying aliens.

The movie eventually came to an end, all four of you walking out as everyone discussed their favorite scenes with the thrill of wanting to watch it a second time.

“Man, I’m telling you, Ripley is a total badass.” Eddie practically swooned. You wouldn’t understand why anybody would not have the hots for the main character. Having the guts to face giant creatures a second time willingly is the kind of bravery everyone is immediately attracted to.

“Newt is definitely my new favorite. She is so adorable.” You added in the topic of which character sucked and which didn’t.

“I for sure thought she was gonna die when those ugly son of a bitches took her.” Jeff said, shuddering a little in picturing himself ending up in Newt’s situation.

“What, you mean like this?” Suddenly you felt arms wrap tightly around your torso, feet high off the ground. “Eddie!” You yelped, getting spun around as he pretended to gobble on your neck with growling noises for dramatic theatrical points. Lips never touched your skin, but the close proximity along with the growling sent a ticklish chill down your spine.

Before you even had time to giggle, the playful attack ended as soon as it started. From how quick it all happened, the group all laughed due to your confused yet startled reaction afterwards.

Although, you smiled right after, because moments like these are exactly what you’ve missed so dearly.

You gave your goodbye waves to Gareth and Jeff before hopping in the car with Eddie in the driver’s seat. When arriving at the trailer, you mentioned you were a little bit hungry thanks to only filling your stomach up with popcorn.

“I can fix something up for you.” Eddie suggests but the nervous rubbing on the back of his neck tells you he doesn’t have much to serve a perfect gourmet meal. The possibility of eating ramen or Chef Boyardee ravioli didn’t matter, food is food.

“Don’t worry, I know you aren’t the world’s best chef.” You say with a bit of tease lacing your tone. Eddie lightly scoffs, crossing his arms. “It was one time I almost burnt this entire place down. One.”

You giggled, briefly going back to that memory. Eddie trying to surprise you with delicious banana bread for your birthday went south before he could even blink. Eddie learned two things that day. Baking is not his speciality, and there’s nothing wrong in going to the mall to buy a cute necklace instead, rather than going the extra mile and baking dessert as your gift.

“I miss hearing your laugh.” He says, catching you off guard. A nice shade of pink becomes visible on your cheeks, fiddling a strand of your hair whenever you’ve become too flustered to speak. You felt a little guilty as well, noticing you haven’t been the happiest usually this past month.

“Time to hear more of that.” Your thoughts became interrupted with Eddie joining you on the couch, gently tackling you down. You squeaked in complete surprise of feeling ten fingers tickling you silly on your sides.

“Noho EDDIE!” You rolled off the couch, scrambling to stand up quickly. You mentally scolded yourself for forgetting ever since Eddie discovered how ridiculously ticklish you are, he found just about every reason he could to tickle your breath away. You’re being a pain in the ass? He’ll focus on your worst spot until you’re spluttering out giggly apologies. You’re laughing when he’s in unlucky situations? He will give you something better to laugh about. Oh, you’re just minding your own business by simply existing? Too peaceful for Eddie, you’re getting a tickle attack whether you were prepared for it or not.

You kept glancing behind, making sure you would not trip on anything as you’re backing away in fear. Eddie has no problem chasing after you. You know this. Whenever you think you’ve successfully gotten away, he scares the absolute shit out of you from thin air. The speed Eddie gains when he runs is terrifying, to say the least.

“C’mon, don’t make this hard.” Eddie takes another step forward, opening his arms for a warm innocent hug. “Bring it in.”

You weren’t gonna give up so easily. You swore, actually. Although, you guessed God decided you needed this more than anything, because the minute you turned your heel to run, Eddie caught you by solely taking two big steps.

“All I asked for was a hug, but you decided to make a run from it?” The light squeezes on the lower set of your ribs instantly took you apart, burying your entire face in his chest which muffled your shrieking laughter. “My hugs can’t be that bad, can it?” Eddie asked you calmly like you weren’t slowly going limp in his arms.

“Yohou weren’t gohona hug meHEHE!” You squealed when his nimble fingers crept higher, aiming for under your arms.

A gasp escaped his lips, mocking offense. “Are you calling me a liar? I think you just did.” Hands meeting their destination, Eddie following you to the floor as your legs gave out.

He pulled your back against his chest, his arms wrapped around your torso giving his hands an easy time to skitter up and down to the top of your ribs and down to your hips, over and over again. Heels digging for purchase on the floor, hoping it’d give you a strength boost to rip away from his grasp.

He caught on. Of course Eddie caught on, because he only made the embrace tighter. “Going somewhere? Must suck to realize you can’t do anything but kick your legs endlessly.”

You grew nervous the more time Eddie spent skittering around your stomach area, dangerously going close to your hips. Targeting the hips earns a wild snort from you, then being sprinkled with hiccups in between. A priceless reaction, one Eddie loves to see. You were aware he is mere seconds from digging his two thumbs deeply on the soft spots near your hip bones.

“Eddie, plehehease. I’m smiling, okaHAY? I’m happy! No moHORE! GOHOD!” Stopping near your waist, squirming uncontrollably by anticipation. Eddie grins, one you don’t trust. The sudden latching on your hips made you jump a literal inch off the ground, grabbing onto his wrists like it would help the slightest in stopping everything.

“You’re right, and I’m so glad you are. Do you want to know what tells me you’re really happy?” You didn’t want to know, because you already know. Thumbs harshly drilling your hips nonstop for thirty seconds felt like hours on your poor end. Needless to say, you snorted. Loud. The hiccuping came shortly after, cuing Eddie to pull his hands back.

“Aaaand stopping.” Eddie beams in delight, being nice enough to rub away the leftover ticklish sensations for you. That is until he pinched your thigh to catch you off guard, rewarded with a shocked squeak. “Or am I?”

“You’ll be wanted for murder, because I’ll seriously die.” You over-exaggerate, showing Eddie a thankful look for finally leaving your ticklish spots alone and helping you up. ”I guess my work here is done.” Eddie says while dusting his hands together.

“Thank you, Eddie.” For not just getting you to loosen up. Not for having to fight for you to open your eyes and realize how the distance towards the people you love has taken a toll on your everyday lovable personality. Not for breaking the unhealthy cycle you forced yourself on, stressing weekly on being the top of all your classes purely for your parents pride in you.

For being right there, by your side, since day one. You never saw hesitation flicker across Eddie’s face whenever he had to step in to cheer you up. Eddie got his priorities straight, and that’s checking daily you’re comfortable and in a good mood before he can be.

He nodded a ‘you’re welcome’, his dimple smile revealing itself. “Now,” Eddie fetched two cans of Chef Boyardee spaghetti and meatballs, also setting two bowls on the small kitchen table. “Let’s feast, shall we?”

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greenishghostey · 2 years

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These are mostly sad tbh. I thought about Eddie’s mum and got SAD

EDIT: I’ve now seen how horribly this is formatted on mobile. I am so sorry oh my god

tw: mention of death, unstable family life, neglect (to an extent), parent death

Eddie was best friends with his mom before she died. Her name was Jennifer and she was the best mom she could be. She worked two jobs, cashier at the grocery store in the mornings and bartending at night to make ends meet because her husband certainly wasn’t going to do it. The constant stress and responsibility of being the backbone and provider for her family made her tired and she fell asleep at the wheel of her car on her way home one night. Eddie was six years old when his mom died and sometimes he worries that it was his fault. He remembers how tired she always looked when she was home and she tried to be home a lot for him.

Eddie’s dad wasn’t necessarily a “bad guy”, he never raised a hand to his son or his wife or anything like that. Harvey Munson was a spineless coward through and through. He was a pushover when it came to the wrong people and he became a petty criminal as a result. Theft, fraud, gambling, Harvey did it all thinking that he would strike gold and then Jenny wouldn’t need to work anymore. Honestly, he did like Eddie but he had never really wanted a kid, but having Eddie around was helpful when he needed smaller hands and someone who wouldn’t ask too many questions.

Eddie’s parents had only been together for a short period of time when they found out they were going to have a child. They had a very quick wedding. Jennifer was over the moon that she was going to have her own family.

Eddie makes sure to never forget what his mom’s voice sounded like. It’s the voice he tries to replicate for female characters when he is DM-ing - slightly raspy but with a distinct warmness that was soothing to listen to as a little boy.

Eddie looks exactly like his mom and bares very little resemblance to any of the Munson side of his family. He’s actually kind of glad that he doesn’t look like his dad because his mom was beautiful so maybe he is too.

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off-phelia · 2 years

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Send me your thoughts and requests, I'm bored 😞😩

Bat!Eddie? Child!Harry and Animagus! Reader? Time Traveler!Reader? Reader with Eleven powers? Marauder!Reader? Genderband!Marauders? Horror AU? Pirate AU? Mermaid AU?

Poly relationships? Fluff? Angst? Smut? AU?

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streets-in-paradise · 8 months

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Unlikely Friendship-Child's Play (1988) and Stranger Things Crossover

Warnings: Crossover AU, many apects of the ending of Stranger Things season 4 were ignored for this. Eddie Munson moves to Chicago and gets adopted by meets the Barclays. Background Eddie x Reader (reader is named). Happy fic with an A Nightmare On Elm Street-like open ending.

Summary: Little Andy Barclay develops a peculiar fascination when he meets the boyfriend of his substitute babysitter, a neigbor from his building that keeps an eye on him whenever Maggie is unavailable. His mother is highly skeptical of him due to his strange attitude and threatening appearance, but Eddie's kindness of heart would end up surprising her.

Notes: The name I picked for the reader (Lily) i did because I wanted a flower name to match with Maggie and I really like that one. Also, the flower represents a few things in her characterization and plot function. Not intending to make it even more of a self insert or anything

Tags: @losersclubisms

The neighbors of the building were for most living immersed in their own problems and Karen didn’t expect anyone to care for hers. Being a prideful woman herself, she wouldn’t have seeked any support networks among them. There was not much on their part besides some volatile offerings during small talk that often sounded more like charity than friendly help born from true involvement. A kind young girl on the down floor was the only exception, she had been babysitting Andy from time to time since the first moment she had to leave him for a job interview. The deal was arranged as a spontaneous thing meant to last just for that occasion, but it kept repeating sporadically. The little boy responded well to her and his adorable sweetness won her over, so she felt more than happy to help. As their bond became more stable Karen insisted on offering her payment almost every single time, but she would end up accepting only a minimal fraction attempting to show she truly cared for her family untill she would understand it.

A cordial, reciprocal solidarity based friendship began to develop between both women. They were both struggling in their different ways, Lily didn’t have a good relationship with her mother and she would often come to her asking for advice on countless topics. From work problems to romantical advice, anything that would be floating around in her mind she would share it with her. Karen was quite concerned about the guy she was seeing, from the tales she heard he seemed quite eccentric and describing him like that would be an euphemism. It wouldn’t take much time for some of her guesses to be confirmed, since she got to meet him quite quickly as the relationship advanced.

If she would have come across him on the streets, his threatening looks would have probably scared her. The long haired young man dressed in black leather and jeans carrying tons of jewelry with strange symbols didn’t inspire her much trust. Even less the first words she heard him say overhearing the couple talking before they noticed her and her boy coming in close to them.

“ I’m going to keep taking you home, babe. I have reasons to be worried, there is a maniac on the loose! Well, another one besides me, of course. “ He joked, making the girl chuckle. “ How long do you think it’s going to take for local metal bands to catch up on that? Every impactufll psycho eventually gets their song."

“ Until police would catch him, I hope. “

Their conversation got inmediately interrupted by Andy's pure excitement.

" Hi Lily!!!" He happyly saluted, quickly catching attention before his mother could say anything. " Nice to see you!!"

Her expression was brightfull for the cute surprise.

" Andy!!! How are you, darling?"

He was all smiles before replying.

" Good, doing all kinds of stuff. "

The curious eyes of the kid were fixated on the man beside her, his attention focused in his unusual appearance.

In the meantime, Karen followed with more kind salutes.

" Good evening, dear. Excuse us for the intrussion. "

The young neighbor was happy to see her.

" You are never intruders, i have wanted to do the presentations from quite some time. "

" I handle it from here, sweetheart. " The man followed her. " A pleasure to meet you, from all I have heard I guess you must be Karen. I'm Eddie, and i have the honor of dating this lovely lass."

Andy chuckled, the self introduction somehow reminded him of a Robin Hood he saw in a puppet show.

He once more spoke in advance

" Hi, Eddie! I'm Andy!!!"

Eddie responded while offering him a handshake.

" Nice to meet you, Andy!!"

There was no glimpse of fear in the boy, only a strange fascination. He was paying attention to all the details in his jewelery, specially the rings.

" Woooow! What's that?"

The kid had clearly pointed one of the skull shaped ones.

" Well, it's how all of us look from the inside. When we die, that's what's left. "

The answer was too disturbing and it weirded the mother.

" That's enough, honey. We are going home. "

As the small family followed its route, Eddie still intended to apologise.

" Sorry, Mrs Barclay! i'm not a big fan of lying to kids, I will try to be less terrifying next time."

It was hard for her to understand what was that girl seeing in him. The first awkard interaction didn't do much for his reputation, but she would notice her so in love and the whole thing was a mistery to her.

However, her son was another story. The strange man must have caused a great first impact in him, because he wouldn't stop talking about him. Everytime his neighbor would be babysitting him, he would ask her about Eddie. When was he coming to see her?, What was he doing? and Could he come to play? where some of the most usual ones. At one given time it occured to him that they could call him and she had to invent some excuse to avoid indulging him. During their next cassual encounter in the building the metalhead was carrying his guitar and the kid wouldn't let him be. He even attempted to beg his mother if they could invite him for dinner so he could show him his music.

When he saw him for the fourth time Andy came to him for a hug and asked him if he would be his friend. Eddie looked at Karen, bright smile in his face caused by the shocking reaction of the child, indirectly asking for her approbation before giving any answers.

She couldn't refuse, not when her son seemed so happy. That didn't mean she wouldn't bombard Lily with questions about her boyfriend. She already knew they have in the record store where he worked, only job Karen imagined that would have allowed him to keep that style. Admitting she was understanding of why she would find him a bit rough arround the edges, her neighbor promised he would surprise her if she would give him time. His kind heart and sense of humor had her infatuated since the first date, she had no doubt more people would be able to see the good in him.

Watching an instant on any of the interactions he had with the boy was enough to make one suspect there had to be more about him than what meets the eye. Eddie had managed to connect with Andy in such an unique form. He seemed to understand him in ways no one else in his close circle did, they somehow related to each other. His impressive, highly developed imagínation was doing great as a developmental stimulation source for the little boy either while telling stories or playing games. Karen saw it happening by herself on his first short visits coming to pick up Lily after the babysitting. The positive impact on her child slowly began to change her mind about him.

The definitive step that seiled a start of true bonding between them happened spontaneously and with a very strange timing.

It was the morning of Andy's sixth birthday and facing her son's dissapointment with the gifts she could buy for him had crushed her. She brought him clothes and the only Good Guy brand set of toys she could afford. An accessory playset, while he wanted the doll meant to go with it. A good while after the present unboxing Andy got the first birthday call of the day. Their happy couple of neighbors wanted to give their salutes early and Karen pretended not to hear the sadness in her boy's voice while telling Eddie about his presents.

Minutes afterwards they were at their doorstep and the smiling metalhead was carrying a huge wrapped box. Karen couldn't believe her eyes and the disbelief was evident. To the ' no way' in her expression, Eddie's complicit mischievousness seemed to confirm her it was, Indeed, very possible. The pridefull smile of his girlfriend showed it was probably his idea. She knew which presents the mother was planning to get for the kid and probably just commented to her boyfriend about it before deciding what they were going to do.

" Good Morning, Karen! Where is the birthday boy? I have this thing my princess has been hidding for him in her appartment."

Andy rushed to the sound of his voice, but remained skeptical to the sight of the package.

" We tricked you, little buddy!!! Do you think your mom was going to leave the big one in plain sight?" Eddie cheerfully encouraged him to approach, pretending he was carrying the box for Karen. " This is all an elaborated scheme to surprise you. The little one Karen gave you is ours, we were hidding hers all along. "

It was enough to get the kid excited again.

" Really? Woooow!!!"

" We have no idea of what's inside, but it's kind of heavy." The man followed, exaggerating with his mannerisms the effort of carrying the box to later support it at the floor level." Why don't you take a look for me?"

The three adults remained expectant and when the kid ripped off the paper mother and son were one in the surprise.

" A Good Guy, I know it!!" Andy cheered towards her. " I knew you would get me one!!!"

Karen gave a side look to Eddie while he played the fool, comical fake innocence almost getting a chuckle from her.

It was unbelievable, the excuse was so perfectly crafted that she had no time to object before he presented the doll in her name.

" A Good Guy doll for the nicest kid in the neighborhood. " Eddie spoke because Karen couldn't. " It fits, ríght? Your mom is a genius."

Andy glanced at him for an instant and smiled, then rushed to hug her.

" Ohh, mom. Thanks!!"

" You are welcome, honey. " She lovefully replied. " but you should also thank Eddie and Lily for helping me hide it. Without them, the surprise wouldn't have been so great. Don't you think?"

The boy nodded affirmatively and kissed her cheek before following her suggestion.

" Happy Birthday, buddy!!!" Eddie cheered while receiving him. " Aren't you excited to play now?

" Thanks, Eddie! Will you play with me?"

The metalhead didn't hesitate in reassuring him.

" Sure I will, we are going to play such cool story games that Good Guy Show will want to hire me to write for them."

The boy's eyes were open wide and the excitement accompanied him when he gave the girl her time to be hugged.

" Thank you, Lily, for my friends. " He sweetly said to her and she understood the phrase implied two different things.

Convinced of the tale they told him, he was thanking her for hidding the doll with her. However, in his childish way he also tried to thank her for bring Eddie into his life.

" You are welcome, sunshine. " She inmediately responded. " I love them too. "

A silent instant of shared smiles completed the moment, then she tried to create a good excuse to get him occupied so her boyfriend and the mother would have their needed space to talk.

" Hey, Andy! The box says your new best friend needs batteries. I have a singing rabbit plushie at home, so I know how this things work. Wanna follow me so we can power up your buddy?"

He happyly obbeyed, leaving Karen free to interrogate Eddie.

" So, you finally learned how to lie to kids … You didn't have to do this. How the hell did it occur to you? Do you know how fucking expensive that thing is?"

He tried to ignore the fact that hearing her swear was kind of shocking.

" Hell i know, but I was sure Andy would want it. Good Guy Show is all he talks about and the ads are everywhere."

The answer frustrated her, he would say that as if she wasn't already aware of that.

" Why couldn't you just wait untill I would get one for him? "

" He would have never ask you directly, he knows you can't afford it."

The ríght guess in his thought process felt a bit too personal. It was one of those moments where Karen felt as if the man would be trying to prove he knew Andy better than her even when that wasn't his intention.

" And how exactly did you got it?"

It was an important question he trully didn't want to answer, even less to her accusatory tone.

" A magician never reveals his secrets, just enjoy the magic."

She was not in the mood for more of his jokes.

" Eddie, I'm being serious. You are an adult and I shouldn't mess with your spending, but i'm older than you and I can't just allow you to commit this act of financial irresponsibility without having a say. "

She was showing true concern for him, so he was at least going to give him some of his reasons. Seeking to make her understand so he wouldn't have to explain more Eddie opened up to her like never before.

" Listen, Karen. I come from a trailer park in a small town forgotten by God in some corner of Indiana. My uncle took me in on his own and it was just the two of us against the entire fucking town. I know how your son feels, he just wants a nice toy and a friend to play with. Believe it or not, I understand your powerlessness too because i saw it happening while growing up. If i can make it better for another struggling family, one that by the way I really care a lot about, I'll do it even if I have to go broke for it."

It was then when she got to discover he trully had a heart of gold, the breaking surprise her neighbor prophetized.

" I'm so thankfull, but please take care of yourself. " She tenderly nagged him while approaching for a hug. " I promise I will find a way to repay you. "

" You don't have to, but if you insist, just think of me if Ozzy adds concert dates near here on his next tour. "

It was a joke, he chuckled to let her know he was just messing with her.

Her son and his girlfriend returned to find her kindly fixing the loose locks of his messy hair.

Andy was happyly showing his unboxed doll.

" Mommy, mommy!!! Come to see this!!! "

The three adults silently shared their relief for the accomplishment.

Andy wasn’t completely unaware of the implicit secrecy around him despite not being sure of its reason. It made his smile acquire a shade of mischievousness, wondering if there was another surprise.

“ You tricked me again! ” He complained to the young man, slightly frustrated. “ How you do it?”

Before he could get to answer, Karen did it for him.

“ I invited him to your party, that’s the last surprise.” She announced, matter that was never discussed before. “ Lily can bring Eddie after work to play and have cake if that’s fine for them.”

Trying the doll was the only thing that could have possibly redirected the kid’s excitement after getting to hear that. Fascinated as he was with its startup phrase introducing itself as Chucky, he encouraged every single one of them to talk to it.

Chucky and Eddie were all he would be talking about for the rest of the day. Although his mom couldn’t be present for the occasion because work forced her to miss it, he would still comment on it with Maggie over and over. Best friend and coworker of Karen, she was his main babysitter and the most trustable emergency contact. Usually, the neighbor girl would come whenever she was unavailable.

They had met, so she was aware of her, but on the many times Andy would mention Eddie he referred to him as his friend and never specified he was the backup sitter’s boyfriend. In fact, the way he would speak of him didn’t differentiate him much from a child. Karen told her about the kind hearted lad showing up at her doorstep with the doll her son wanted, but the differential descriptions made her think she and Andy were talking of two different persons.

Opening the door for a threatening looking grownass man followed by his contrastingly sweet appearing girlfriend was not what she had in mind.

The visits were initially unaware of the change and, since they were hoping to find Karen, seeing someone else confused them too.

" Sorry, wrong place. "Maggie said as soon as she saw him, almost shutting the door if she wouldn't have recognized the girl beside him. " Is this guy coming with you? Look, Lily. Karen isn't home because Walter forced her to take other shift to cover up for someone else. I have been warned Andy is waiting for a friend to show up, but i will be fine on my own dealing with the two kids. "

The couple shared a few chuckles, unsure of how they were going to explain the hilarious misunderstanding.

" Well, if you think so i'll pick him up at nine. "The girl responded, acting on purpose as if she would be leaving a kid at the birthday party of his little friend. " Have fun, Eddie! Listen to Maggie and don't get yourself in trouble."

He followed the joke pretending child like excitement.

Maggie got the message, but was still quite shocked.

" So, this is Eddie … If you would hear the way that kid talks of you, you would get why I was waiting for a child."

" My teachers used to say i'm one in spirit as some flattering, euphemistical replace for inmature as fuck. " He mocked himself, trying to overcome the awkwardness. " I guess I should let you judge by yourself. "

She rolled her eyes and let both in.

" No swearing in front of the boy. If I hear one curse word coming from Andy, I'm going to know he got it from you. "

He smiled and did a gallant reverence before stepping in.

" Worry not, Margareth, for I will keep the manners of a knight."

Lily chuckled as he guided her inside to later kiss her knucles and do the same for Maggie.

" Calm down, Shakespeare. " She mocked him in return. " Don't piss me off and we are going to be fine. "

" I could never not behave accordingly in the presence of such lovely ladies. " He insisted, sticking to the character for a little bit. " Margareth and Lily, the most beautifull flowers on the little prince's garden. "

She amusedly ignored the compliment.

" Andy, you friend is here!!!!"

In a matter of instants the presence of Eddie revolutioned the home. The quiet playtime of the little boy was over, since the energy of the metalhead would incentivate him to go nuts. It literally finished turning the situation into something closer to a birthday party, music incluided. Aware that Andy was super curious about his guitar, he would have preferred to play something by himself. However, since Karen just started to like him and he guessed that would be too much for her, he límited himself to bringing a mixtape with the most palatable music for a general audiencie that he owned. When questioned about it, he simply said there was nothing on it heavier than Metallica mixed with some radio friendly hard rock.

Maggie stopped caring for his strange excuses once she saw Andy jumping all over the place to Led Zeppelin's ' Rock and Roll ' while holding his doll so he could pretend it was doing the same. He was acting like a happy kid on a birthday should despite that was happening in a very unconventional way. In fact, she wished she could have videotaped it for Karen to see. The hairstyle of the doll was completely ruined during Andy's attempts of making it replicate the movements of Eddie, who would also try to encourage everyone else to join them.

She got more material for her self deprecating and ironical dating jokes. When asked about it she could say that at least part of her night involved being dragged to move by a twenty somethings and out of context it would work.

The calm part of it was still full of games that were more intense than what she would have expected from Andy's usual playing behavior. He tried to show Eddie the way that the Good Guy Show lore pre imagined for him to play with Chucky, but the man kept challenging it.

" We are going to think outside the box here, Andy, … literally speaking. " He was kindly explaining his point. " The Playpal guys say Chucky has only six options depending on the accesories we can buy for him, but he can be anything we want if we dare to imagine it and we don't need any more sets for that. "

Sat on the floor ríght next to him and in front of the doll, the kid was observing it as if he had the most amazing realization.

" But we have the construction worker set, what else can we make him be?" He asked in a wondering tone. " What do you think ?"

" I don't know, but we can have fun figuring out. " Eddie followed him. " For example, with that flaming red hair and the hammer, I believe he could be a dwarven blacksmith who craftes magical weapons and beautifull jewelery. "

The idea seemed appealing to the kid simply because he made it sound way cooler.

" Mom sells jewelery, Chucky can make it for her. " Andy agreed. " Don't you, Chucky?"

Following the whole thing while trying to keep a conversation with Maggie, Lily was undone from tenderness feeling as if her heart would be about to explode holding all that love for Eddie. She couldn't help excusing herself and do an Intervention to help him out.

" We can make him look more dwarvish, we just have to make some little changes."

She attempted to transform Chucky into a fantasy dwarf using one of her boyfriend's bracelets as necklace for the doll and adding the touch of one of the pending chains from his pants circling the hip to represent a belt.

" I will add a few cool dwarvish braids in his hair and that's it." She pridefully informed. " He would be ready for forge work or battle. "

" He still needs a battle axe, but that one comes in the fireman playset. " Eddie joked, still admiring the work. " Be carefull with that, babe. Braiding hair is a marriage proposal gesture in his culture. "

Andy seemed quite surprised and she pretended to follow him for an instant.

" Well, I can play as Chucky's bride. Surely he will not mind."

" Over my dead body!!!" Eddie exaggerated on purpose, making the kid laugh. " I'm going to challenge him to a duel for your hand. "

" Andy should decide who I should marry, it's his birthday and you are his friends. What do you say, birthday boy?"

" I don't want them to fight. " He sweetly admitted. " Friends shouldn't fight."

Maggie couldn't help bursting into laughter many times while watching the madness escalate. Eddie convinced Andy of enacting the duel, but it ended up as playfull fighting between them while Lily finished braiding Chucky's hair.

Some of the fictional escenarios they were collectively coming up with were hard to follow, so the woman eventually got bored and sat on the couch to watch tv.

" Pardon me, Margareth, but we are in the middle of a quest to destroy a dark wizard and you are ruining the ambience!!" Eddie complained at some point. " Are you sure you don't want to be the wise witch guiding us? I'm offering you the coolest role."

He made her chuckle, she couldn't pretend to be upset anymore despite she would still make him a target of her sarcasm.

" That sounds great, but i think the dark wizard can wait untill after the cake. "

Once Andy blew the candles surrounded by happy cheering and had a piece of his cake he began to feel tired from all the exciting playing. Noticing it as well, Eddie explained him that they didn't have to complete the quest all in once. Relieved and happy, the boy finished the day with some of the standard playing with the construction set and his Good Guy back in the classical look. In the meantime, Eddie insisted in helping Maggie clean to compensate her for all the chaos of the night.

Bedtime was near when the little boy delivered one last weird occurence.

" Aunt Maggie, Chucky wants to watch the nine o clock news."

She shared complicit glances with Eddie as he pilled up the clean dishes that had to be saved, initially thinking Andy's plead was some joke to ignore the bedtime and keep playing with him.

"Sure, he does."

Lily tried not to chuckle, feeling almost sure of what the thing was about.

The news presenter mentioned the Lakeshore Strangler, Eddie's most recent fixation. He obviously wasn't talking about that with Andy, but he must have been aware of that because her boyfriend was talking about it with her the same day the kid meet him.

"Don't worry, sweetie. He can watch the repetition at twelve. " She tranquilized him in sweet whispers as Maggie approached. " You should go to rest."

His aunt turned off the tv and picked him up in order to carry him to the bedroom, while the substitute sitter carried Chucky a similar way. The kid obediently proceeded to go brush his teeth in the bathroom, when the sudden bombing of tv sound freaked them out.

Eddie was sitting on the couch, staring at them innocently like a child that tries to deny doing mischief.

“ I’m done with the chores … Can I watch the news, Aunt Maggie?” He pleaded by himself. “ It’s very important, I wouldn’t ask it otherwise. They are on the case I’m following.”

“ Again with that? “ Lily wondered out loud. “ Charles Lee Ray is dead. It 's over, love.”

“ His accomplice has escaped. “ He summarized for her. “ Police get the right Eddie this time and they let him escape. Can you believe it?”

“ Why is it such a big deal for you?” Maggie seriously asked him. “ The hell are you talking about?”

Following the conversation and remaining attentive to the screen was hard, especially because one of the women was in front of it. He didn’t want to explain his full reasoning, but she was cornering him so he had to say something.

“ I know it sounds creepy and I’m a total freak, just don't get upset with Andy. He must think that the Strangler is to me what the Good Guy show is to him, that’s why he said that. I never spoke about it with him, I swear. He must have overheard me and he just wanted to be nice. “

“ If you say so, I won’t deny it: you are a freak.” Maggie simply stated. “ … but you make that kid happy so I guess I have to get used to it.”

“ Eddie is not a weirdo obsessed with a killer just because his partner in crime has his same name, he has valid reasons to feel the way he does. “ His girlfriend interrupted, sweetly approaching to sit beside him. “ There was a series of ritualistic murders happening in his old town and the people wrongfully targeted him and his friends just because they looked suspicious to them. When things seem to work out, he moves here trying to leave everything behind and some guy starts doing a similar thing. He was terrified of being targeted by the police all over again, he would be trying to hide it from me through silly dark jokes.”

He was very thankful of not having to explain the situation himself, unsure of how to present it in a way that wouldn’t ruin things.

“ I elaborated an exhaustive list of reasons proving I could never be the Strangler just in case they would come to interrogate me, if there was going to be a second time I wanted to be ready.”

“ Holy shit, that’s terrible!” Maggie exclaimed, feeling truly sorry for him. “ I can’t imagine how horrible it would be to be blamed for a crime I didn’t commit. Did they eventually catch the guy?”

“ I like to believe I helped to serve justice somehow.” He vaguely explained. “ Charles Lee Ray was the most faithful reflection of everything people said I was, I felt relieved when they identified him as the Lakeshore Strangler and I followed his case intensely because I wanted to feel sure cops weren’t fucking up again. The dude who was shot in a toy store last night wasn’t an unlucky scapegoat and nobody will be coming after me again saying I’m a killer for the way I dress, the game i play or the music I listen to.”

Maggie stopped obstructing the screen.

“ I was kind of a bitch to you, sorry for that. You may be weird, but I can tell you are a great guy.”

The recognition got a genuine smile from him.

“ No problem, I’m used to it.”

“ I tell him all the time that I feel lucky to have him, but he says I’m insane.” Lily continued, seeking to cuddle from her position beside him. “ He is wonderful, maybe I’m a bit guilty of trying to make the world love him as much as I do.”

He gave her a soft peck on the lips and they smiled at each other before he proceeded to share bits of their story.

“ I love this woman from the very first moment she smiled at me after having asked me for the dullest hair metal record that she wanted to buy mostly for the power ballad single. She was so lovely, I became a mess and I couldn’t care less for my artistic principles. For her I ended up listening to that damn Whitesnake record during the in-between dates time, closing my eyes to think of her to Is This Love because I knew she loved that one and I was becoming a lovesick fool.”

Their tenderness was very surprising to the woman observing them.

“ Girl, I’m going to end up asking you for dating advice.” Maggie mocked them, that time with plenty of good intentions. “ Should I start attending metal concerts?”

“ We are on the same page, I follow Karen’s. “ She honestly replied. “ Well, except for that one time I didn’t and I kept dating him.”

The women chuckled and kept chatting, but he missed most of it because he got lost in his own thoughts while the heat of his girlfriend’s body was relaxing him. Eddie’s imagination was starting to connect the dots in many strange coincidences surrounding him and the story he intended to follow. Lee Ray and Caputo were partners in crime named exactly the same as Andy’s partners in playing. From the many names the Good Guys could have, the one he got for the kid was a Chucky and Chucky was short for Charles. The serial killer was shot by police in a toy store, last hideout resource when his friend abandoned him.

“ Hey, handsome. It’s your mind on the moon again?” Lily teased him sweetly, noticing he got very distracted. “ What’s wrong?”

“ I’m gonna write the song, babe … and I know what I’m going to do.” He revealed, with determination. “ I’m going to write about the killer from the point of view of his friend, and it's going to be wrapped in a metaphor about childhood. Andy just inspired it to me, you know? We have a Chucky and I’m an Eddie … that ‘ My best friend Chucky ’ thing. It 's perfect! “

“ What do you mean?” She stopped him before the rambling could escalate because she wanted to follow him. “ Slow down and share it.”

“ Chucky IS Chucky.” He replicated with excitement. “ Chucky is short for Charles, so doll Chucky is my metaphor for dude Chucky and Eddie is his best buddy. Committing crimes is like playtime for them, until the police arrive. Waking up from the fantasy of their murder spree is like growing up. Eddie becomes aware of the consequences and trying to escape those he leaves Chucky behind to die in the fucking toy store like a forgotten toy. “

It was a bit too much, but she was quite impressed anyway.

“ It’s … twisted, but brilliant! And you are going back to writing! That’s good, I’m just so happy that Andy managed to inspire you somehow.”

“ Are you planning to launch your musical career with a lawsuit from Playpals? Because that’s what you are going to get. “ Maggie warned him. “ Just try to keep yourself out of trouble, allright?”

The casual demonstration of concern was well received by him.

“ Yes, Aunt Maggie!”

They intended to stay until Karen would return, but Maggie told them over and over that she was going to be alright on her own and they didn’t have to. They were going to be in the building anyways, so if she needed anything she could just call them and they would be there for her.

Lily seemed uneasy, there was something else her boyfriend hadn't discussed with her and coming down from all the excitement surrounding them once they were back in her apartment made her aware of it.

“ Where did you get the doll, Eddie?” She questioned him. “ I had no money for it, as far as I know you didn’t have it … So where did it come from?”

The ask was very rational, but at that point he would have preferred to avoid it.

“ Why does it matter? Andy is happy and Karen will not have to lose all her savings for it.”

“ It matters to me because I’m afraid you could have endangered our friends “

She meant she feared he could be messing himself and others into something illegal and she had a point.

“ It was alley money for a clean doll, alright? I got rid of the last shit I had left and with what I got from those sales I bought him a brand new doll from the store.” He finally confessed. “ I paid in cash so there is no way to track it, just don’t tell Karen. “

There was no inmediate reaction, but when it came, her reply was way deeper than a moral objection.

“ Andy told me something very curious today when we were unpacking the doll from the box. I kept calling it his best friend because that’s the slogan of the brand, but he corrected me. He said Chucky is not his best friend, you are.”

She held his hand holding back tears.

“ If something happens to you, it would crush that kid. I want you to take care of yourself and I’m not even doing it for us, but for him. He already lost his dad, he can’t lose you in the most shitty way possible.”

Eddie hugged her and began to caress her hair in a calming way.

“ Easy, princess. it’s going to be ok, nothing bad will come to them or to us.”

For once in his life, that seemed to be true. With some ups and downs, but things were working out. He had a day job that didn’t suck while he could still keep working on his music, a wonderful girlfriend and one more friendship with a kid bringing out the best of him. Aware of Andy’s frustration for wanting to get little friends of his age, Eddie was slowly starting to teach him how to socialize in the way of the weird kids. He would constantly tell him about his younger friend from Hawkins who had three friends to play with since many years before meeting him. In some ways, he could be blamed for talking too pridefully about Dustin presenting him and his experience as the horizon for lonely freaky kids. To be fair, he would also comment with excitement to Dustin about the baby steps the little boy was making from time to time on their phone calls.

His first visit was an important event for everyone involved.By that point Andy had heard so many amazing stories about him that he hero worshiped Dustin despite the teenager was initially unaware of it.

" You are completely sold to that cute little brat, it is unbelievable. " Dustin concluded in whispers after observing an interaction between his friend and the kid for the first time. " I finally understand how Steve felt when I befriended you. "

Andy couldn't hear the talk because he was distant enough from them searching for some thing he desperatedly wanted to show them.

" We are lucky he isn't here. He would loose his shit over how tiny and cute that kid is, Msrs Barclay would never get rid of him."

They laughed because of how accurate that sounded to both.

" Karen could use one more free babysitter. " Eddie concluded. " C'mon, Dustin! I can't believe you are jealous of a six year old kid. "

" Well, he says you are his best friend and i thought WE were best friends. "

They were just messing with each other, but he still wanted to give him a good reminder of how important their friendship was.

" I owe you everything, you are practically my little brother. "

Eddie hugged him ríght away and Dustin chuckled through it.

" Don't try to make me tear up!"

Briefly afterwards Andy returned proudly holding a piece of paper.

" I made this for you. " He explained to Dustin while handing him the paper. " … and your friends. "

A drawing, classical little kid present. The teenager managed to distunguish at least four human figures in it surrounded by strange shit that was coming after them.

He smiled, unsure of what to say, so Andy provided a clarification.

" It's you fighting the monsters with them."

" Did you told him about the Upside Down? " He asked to Eddie, midly panicking. " How much does he know? "

" Chill, Karen and Maggie think is just nice tales I tell him. " Eddie defended himself. " Andy knows you are a hero."

Without any gestural warning the little boy rushed to hug Dustin.

" I want to fight monsters with my friends like you. "

The kid managed to awake his sentimental fiber.

" I wish you and the friends you will make will never have to, Andy. "

They all were awaiting for more introductions to be made. Since Eddie was introducing Dustin, Andy wanted them to meet the very first friend he managed to make in school. Lily was in charge of bringing him in, acting as trusting sitter and bridge between both families.

Eddie was particularly excited about it, from all comments he had heard the child was an old school freak in the making. He was a loner with an interest in fantasy and a labelled troublemaker.

The first impression didn't dissapoint.

" Nice shirt." The kid complimented him ríght away, pointing at the Iron Maiden cover art in the shirt Eddie was wearing." Great taste. "

" Aren't you a bit young to know what this is?"

The questioning didn't bother him in the slightlest.

" Is she your girlfriend? "

" Yeah, she is. " Eddie confirmed. " She is Andy's sitter and i heard she will become yours soon too because everyone else has given up. "

He smiled at her, then replied.

" … I like her. "

" Well, Lily is lovely so I can't blame you. " The metalhead added before introducing himself. " it's a pleasure to meet you, I'm Eddie. "

The boy was laughing, a bone chilling cackle that threw everybody off.

" What should I do with your Good Guy, sweetie?" Lily asked him, trying to overcome the awkward moment. " I wouldn't want to mix both by mistake, Andy has a Chucky too. "

#stranger things #child's play #eddie munson #andy barclay #karen barclay #maggie peterson #dustin henderson #eddie munson x reader #stranger things and chucky crossover

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