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skepsiss · 8 months

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Long road ahead - pt 5

I might make this the second to last chapter actually because this ended very softly but without a firm direction. I like that tender things like this don't have to be definitive. Anyway, here is part 5 and the payoff for all the previous chapters. This part is not without its heartaches, so apologies, but if you like confessions I hope you'll like this. Also, surprise! A wild Dustin appears

TW: Miscommunication, swearing, and some self-hatred.

4,300+ words, Steve’s POV. 1 week and a half or so after their fight.

Pt1 Pt1.2 Pt2 Pt3 Pt4

He had fucked up. He had fucked up so badly.

Steve had been beside himself with sorrow and frustration for days as he went over and over the events of last week. He had been so unbelievably stupid and let his drunk brain take control. He hadn’t been able to help it–but that was just an excuse. It was all just excuses actually. But the way Eddie had been positively shining that night had made Steve feel irrational. It had made him irrational. It was so easy to get swept up into a party with someone like Eddie there who laughed freely and touched everyone he was familiar with. He had partially hung off of Steve’s shoulders and every time he came close enough to ‘rib’ Steve in one way or another–boast about him and charm the crowd–Steve had felt a bit more of his conviction waver.

It had been weeks, weeks, since Steve and Eddie had hung out and it had started Steve off on the back foot. Time apart sounded like a good idea, but the fleeting moments he had shared with Eddie in a group setting over the last month had only made him pine harder. It broke him up inside and it hurt every time Eddie turned him down when he asked to hang out. It hurt so fucking much, but each time he convinced himself it was the better, so of course he hadn’t been able to say no when Eddie asked him if he wanted to come to an end-of-the-summer rager.

God, he had been so weak and Eddie had been so fucking brilliant all night. It was like he had been apart for years and finally, Steve’s heart couldn't be contained anymore. He had let himself be reckless and he had gone and fucked up the whole night.

Steve was miserable at home by himself for days as he self-soothed the hurt away. Not only had he gone and ruined their friendship he had made Eddie straight up hate him. He had never taken rejection this badly before, but it couldn’t be helped with how long he had let this crush go. No amount of stamping his interests out had worked and then he had set fire to their foundation in one night. Less than one night… and now Eddie absolutely hated him.

He had been sworn at and crushed out, called terrible and cruel and Steve couldn’t deny that it was true. What had he been hoping would happen? Had he gone into it thinking they would kiss and then he could walk away from it all? He hadn’t been thinking at all, but something Eddie had said made him pause and it was dwelling heavily on his mind now.

Do you know how fucking badly I wanted you to kiss me all fucking summer?

He had said that--he had yelled it in his face--and after the initial shock, Steve had turned that phrasing over in his mind again and again.

It was to no avail though; what was he supposed to do with that piece of knowledge? How was he supposed to handle that and do anything with it? Was he supposed to feel regret for not acting soon or regret for acting at all? Just because Eddie had said it didn’t mean he wanted it–and it especially didn’t mean he wanted it now after all of that. He had been right to be mad, and he had been right to accuse Steve of leading him on.

Steve still didn’t think he could face genuinely pursuing Eddie, because what was worse than it not working out was the idea of Eddie accepting and risking his heart further. If he accepted that would mean… Steve couldn’t deny the fact that he was a freak too.

The doorbell rang and Steve had to muster all of his energy to pull himself up from bed. The doorbell had actually rung four more times as he slumped out of his room and down the stairs, trying to hush it with a ’yeah, yeah, I hear you’ to no avail.

Steve pulled the door open and Dustin stood there with his finger on the buzzer, making deliberate eye contact as he pressed the button twice more, giving Steve an incredulous look.

“Stop it–” Steve scolded, reaching out to swat Dustin’s hand away. He pulled back before Steve could make contact, frustration evident.

“Just making sure it works–what took you so long, huh?”

He was being a brat, acting like he owned the place like he always did and Steve didn’t have the energy to do anything else other than roll his eyes and sigh.

“What is with you, man?” Dustin asked, pushing past Steve and into his house.

“Henderson–” Steve half tried, his hand slapping lamely against his own leg as he turned to look at Dustin, “at least your shoes–”

“Yeah, yeah,” Dustin complained, wiping his feet on the mat and then toeing his shoes off, barely stopping his stride toward the living room.

“No one else home?” Dustin asked, surveying the two closest rooms to them–the kitchen and the living room–before turning to look at Steve who was still standing with the door open.

“No,” Steve answered, exasperated as he shut the door a bit dramatically, pinching his lips and looking back at Dustin.

“Good, so what the hell happened?” Dustin asked, crossing his arms and behaving as if he was the older one here.

“What are you talking about?” Steve asked, picking up Dustin’s shoes and putting them properly by the front door before walking past him and into the kitchen.

“You know what I mean!” Dustin declared, following and then leaning with his chest against the kitchen island as Steve opened the fridge to get something to drink. He kept soda and juice in the fridge for if and when one of the kids dropped by–even though most of the refreshments were regularly used up by Robin when she visited.

“No, I don’t,” Steve answered, frustrated, as he poured the soda into two glasses and put one of them within arm’s reach of Dustin. He didn’t go for it right away and instead gave Steve an unimpressed look, one that could have put Robin to shame.

“Yeah, well, why is Eddie saying you guys aren’t talking?” Dustin asked, finger quoting before settling back down with his chest on the counter.

Steve visibly cringed as Dustin spoke, the glass halfway to his lips before he was forced to break eye contact with Dustin and look away. He didn’t want to talk about this. He didn’t want to hear what Eddie had been saying.

“What the hell happened? Cause from the way Eddie tells it something happened, it’s your fault, and now you guys aren’t talking. That’s bullshit, man. Just apologize!”

Steve grimaced and turned his back to Dustin, not sure if he was going to yell or cry. He wasn’t looking to sort this out and he sure as hell didn’t want to explain all of this to Dustin.

“Come on, man!” Dustin grumbled, finally standing up in order to walk a dramatic circle over towards Steve.

“If I mess up, I apologize. It happens! Ask Lucas and Mike!” He exclaimed, pointing towards the front door as if his friends were in that direction.

Steve wasn’t interested in hearing this, he didn’t want to be scolded and treated like a kid when Dustin was four years younger than him.

“It’s more complicated than that,” Steve tried, attempting to drink his soda again as he took a tentative sip, still avoiding eye contact.

“Bullshit!” Dustin hollered, his hands shooting up into the air and then letting them fall again with a loud slap against his thighs.

“Come on, man. We’re helping him pack the van today.”

Steve’s stomach flopped hearing that and he hunched forward a bit as if closing in on himself would help the uneasy feeling growing in his belly. He already felt terrible and he didn’t want to be put on a time limit to sort out his own feelings. It was so much more complicated than that.

“Come on, man…” Dustin said again, his tone much quieter and edging into desperation. The sound of his voice tore at Steve’s heart a bit, the obvious hurt and confusion that was there because he just couldn’t understand why Eddie and Steve had fought.

Do you know how fucking badly I wanted you to kiss me all fucking summer?

“He’s not going to forgive me,” Steve said finally, placing his glass down on the counter.

“Yeah, he will,” Dustin insisted, that edge of annoyance back in his tone.

“No. He won't,” Steve sneered back, holding his tongue.

His tone seemed to surprise Dustin a bit because he went quiet for a moment which allowed the eerie silence of the Harrington home to make Steve uneasy.

“Well, say it anyways,” Dustin finally said, the words simple and somehow piercing through Steve’s heart.

Say it anyways?

“Just say it anyways and mean it… and then there’s nothing else you can do.”

Steve felt his throat getting tight at the sentiment behind those words. They weren’t wise because Dustin didn’t know what he was talking about, but they weren’t untrue either. Just say it anyways. Just say it anyways.

And then there’s nothing else you can do.

Steve pinched his nose and sniffed, covering up any emotions that could have slipped through. He had been leaning with his palms on the counter and he straightened up now, looking across the kitchen at nothing in particular.

“Yeah… alright,” Steve swallowed, feeling a bit foolish for having to have Dustin give him a pep talk. Maybe he was a bit wiser than Steve gave him credit for.

“Alright?” Dustin asked as if he needed to confirm that he had heard Steve correctly.

“Yeah, I said alright,” Steve repeated, putting on an annoyed attitude to cover up the fear and relief that mingled in his gut.

“Alright then,” Dustin replied, almost shocked that what he had said worked, “we going?”

Steve was hesitantly walking towards the garage door, a bowl of keys sitting at the far end of the kitchen counter.

“Yeah, we’re going,” Steve grouched, looking back over his shoulder as he picked up his car keys and rolled them between his fingers.

“Dump that, won’t you?” He asked, gesturing towards the cups of soda that had been left on the counter.

“Dump it? Dustin repeated back, offended.

“Yeah, dump it,” Steve mocked, holding the door to the garage open.

“No way!”

As if to prove him wrong Dustin hurried back over to the glass and made hard eye contact as he tipped the drink back and started to chug. Steve rolled his eyes with annoyance, obviously becoming irritated as he waved his hand in a ‘hurry up’ motion. Why was Dustin always such a brat?

Dustin finished the glass and put it down a bit too hard before belching loudly and putting his hand to his chest.

“Oh, uh, I think I drank that too–fast,” he burped, making a bit of a sour face as he walked towards Steve anyway.

“You think?” Steve replied exasperated, pushing Dustin through the door and into the garage.

—- –

Focusing on the road had been hard as they drove the short distance from Steve’s place to the Trailer Park. Dustin hadn’t stopped talking and Steve wasn’t sure if that was to cover up the awkward silence or because he genuinely wanted to try and liven the mood. Either way, he appreciated it in part, even though he couldn’t focus on all of that right now.

No, he needed to pay attention to the road and not get so far into his own head that he turned around and went home. He just had to resign himself to being chewed out and left for dead. Dramatic, but that was how it felt. At the very least that would mean he could properly bury this crush and maybe he’d be able to cruise through life not thinking about another man ever again. It was wishful thinking and it had taken him a long time to even admit that was what was happening to him–he still thought of it as this foreign thing instead of a part of himself. That was only half true though, because the worst thing that could happen was that Eddie forgave him. Maybe it wouldn’t happen right away, maybe it would be three years down the line or even twenty, but Steve wasn’t sure how he’d feel if Eddie forgave him.

But that was all he could do. He didn’t need to theorize and implement a fail-safe for something that was out of his control.

Just apologize and mean it.

Steve slowed the car as they drove down the gravel road and into the Trailer Park. Most of the homes here were new but still unimpressive. Many of the trailers had been replaced by the government program that came to do the ‘clean up’ and the real site of the ‘incident’ was roped off farther to the south. You could still see some of the rusting, metal homes through the treeline if you went looking for it. Steve didn’t go looking for it and he didn’t know of anyone in the party that would.

Steve had trouble pulling up because there were people all over the place. Gareth and Lucas, Mike, Nancy–everyone was here and totting boxes or struggling to move a heavy, wooden dresser. Fleetingly, Steve had seen Eddie standing by Wayne’s trailer talking with Benson before he had excused himself. No doubt he had seen Steve’s car, it was unmistakable; no one else with a BMW would drive down this way.

Dustin hopped out as Steve pulled to a stop. He took a moment to breathe as he turned the ignition off, the din of voices outside making his nerves flare until he finally mustered the courage to get out of his car.

No one drew much attention to him and Steve said some quick hellos before helping load a few things into Eddie’s van. He didn’t come back outside and Steve stood awkwardly with his hands on his hips, looking at the trailer. Someone elbowed him and Steve glanced down to see Dustin giving him another one of his frustrated looks.

Steve rolled his eyes and with the motion noticed that a few other people were watching him subtly. They probably all knew to some degree that Steve and Eddie had fought and that made him uneasy, but from the looks of it Eddie wasn’t going to come back outside unless he was forced. They were getting close to finishing the packing too, so it really only left one option.

Steve cocked his hip a bit and hung his head, breathing through the anxiety quietly before counting down in his mind and just walking into the trailer. No one stopped him, and the door had been left open for moving purposes. Everyone probably knew what this was about, or at least they knew Dustin had gone to get him for this exact reason.

Steve swallowed thickly as he stepped into the trailer and looked down the dark little hallway to Eddie’s room. The door was ajar, but he couldn’t see in and he was uncertain if Eddie was in there or not. Probably. If he had to place his bets.

Steve knocked quietly on the door, pushing it open just enough to see inside and spot Eddie sitting on the end of his bed. The room was mostly empty except for his unmade box spring and a few larger pieces of furniture. It felt weird to see it like this since the room had almost always been bursting at the seams with junk that Eddie had squirreled away.

“Yeah?” Eddie asked to the knock, only glancing up before looking away again.

Steve’s stomach flopped and his grip on the doorframe tightened slightly. Eddie wasn’t a ball of rage any longer, but he still looked distressed and he was pointedly not looking at him.

Steve swallowed and stepped the rest of the way into the room, half closing the door again before taking a seat on the end of the bed with Eddie. He didn’t want to give him any reason to refuse him, but it felt rude to sit down without asking. Eddie didn’t move away though–actually, he didn’t move at all.

Steve glanced at Eddie, unable to see his expression as his hair fell in his face, but his shoulders were hunched forward and his hands were limp on his own thighs. He looked listless.

“Hey…” Steve started, his tone gentle but not pandering. This felt so awkward, he didn’t know what he wanted to say.

“Can we talk?” He asked as he clasped his hands between his knees and looked ahead. He hadn’t wanted to ask that, but he didn’t know how else to start the conversation.

Eddie just shrugged in an indifferent manner, uncharacteristically quiet.

“So...” Steve breathed, tapping his thumbs together softly, “I’ve been thinking about what you said and… I’m sorry.”

Eddie tensed and Steve noticed right away. His shoulders rose up to his ears and his once limp hands were now fisted on top of his thighs. He still wasn’t looking at Steve so he couldn’t read his expression, but from his body language alone he didn’t seem happy.

“That it?” Eddie asked as the silence drew out between them. It hurt to be spoken to that way and Steve felt his airway tightening a bit.

“Y-yeah,” Steve answered, having to clear his throat halfway through because of how strained his voice sounded. He didn’t get up though and Eddie still wasn’t looking at him as he let the silence draw out between them.

“If you need any more help… moving stuff, don’t hesitate to ask,” Steve offered weakly, pressing his tongue hard against the roof of his mouth. Eddie didn’t move and Steve swallowed again, trying to remind himself he just needed to apologize and mean it… that was it. What else could he say?

With a heavy breath, Steve finally stood up, his head almost feeling light as the tension settled over him. That was it then, that was all he could do. Eddie would just hate him for the rest of their lives.

Steve stepped towards the door, intent on leaving Eddie to his peace and just wallowing in his own emotions for the next few days. He had lived through heartbreak before, he could live through it again.

“You’re unbelievable.”

Steve stopped as he stood at the door, his palm already pressed against the cool metal of the handle. He glanced back at Eddie who still had his head turned, but he watched as his shoulder shook a bit and quiet, bitter laughter filled the room.

“You came all the way here to say that?” Eddie asked, his voice accusatory but not as punchy as it usually was.

Steve pressed his lips into a thin line, not wanting to linger if he was just going to get yelled at.

“Yeah…” Steve replied, sounding sorry as he tried to steady himself, “I’m really sorry that I hurt you.”

Eddie barked a laugh and it startled Steve a bit, his throat closing up.

“You’re sorry that you hurt me?” He repeated back, acting as if Steve had just said the most unbelievable thing in the world.

The words made Steve’s heartache though, the sentiment behind the language so drenched in distrust and pain. All he could really think about was the insecurity that he had heard in every single one of Eddie’s words when he had tried to hide his scars or ask for a ride. How secretly fragile he was and how desperately he tried to hide that part of himself until he trusted you. How Steve had broken that trust completely.

“Yeah, Eddie,” Steve replied genuinely, his voice soft as he tried to speak to that heartache instead of his own feelings.

“I didn’t–I shouldn’t have done that to you,” Steve replied, his own insecurities threatening to come through as he felt his fingers twitch against the door handle.

“Why?” Eddie asked, sounding like a child all of a sudden as he curled up into himself. He pulled his legs up, wedging his heels under himself so he was sitting in a squat on the end of the bed.

“Regret it?” He asked, laughing a little bit as if the bitter remark had instead been an attempt at levity.

Steve felt himself frown and he let go of the door finally, trying to push past the stress that threatened to steal his voice.

Just say it and mean it, and then there is nothing else you can do.

“Of course I do,” Steve replied, watching as Eddie slowly started to shake his head, obviously starting to get frustrated again.

“That was a terrible way to tell you… that I like you.”

Eddie stopped moving at Steve’s words, his shoulders slowly hunching in more as he hugged his legs to his chest. He went quiet again and Steve resigned himself to admitting that this was probably as good as it was going to get. He regretted a lot of things, but nothing more than this–

“Since when?” Eddie asked quietly, his voice almost lost to the room.

It was Steve’s turn to freeze and go silent, as he stared at Eddie. He gaped at him, unsure of what to say to that before Eddie repeated himself.

“Since when?” He asked again, his voice a bit firmer this time, but he was still closed off to Steve.

“Since when…” Steve said back to him, understanding what he was being asked but unsure of how to reply.

“Since–” Steve tried, his chest flooding with butterflies as he tried to grasp at his thoughts, “since–I don’t know–since—since you came back.”

That wasn’t much of an answer but it was as close to the truth as Steve could get. He had been pining since March, but he hadn’t admitted it to himself for months. He hadn’t even wanted to admit it to himself today.

“All summer?” Eddie asked quietly after another pause.

Steve pinched his lips together again, fighting back the torrent of emotions threatening to swallow him whole.

“All…” Steve sighed, putting his hands on his hips, “all summer.”

Eddie finally moved as he tightened his grip on his legs and turned his head so he could press his face into his knees. Steve still couldn’t see his expression past his curtain of hair, but it was obvious that he was crying.

“You’re such an—asshole,” Eddie blubbered and the sound went straight through Steve’s heart.

“I know…” he swallowed, thinking back to how many times that had been said to him over the years, “I’m sorry.”

Eddie shook his head and sniffled, not looking up as he sat there curled in on himself. Steve didn’t know what to do, so he lingered for a moment before eventually sitting back down on the edge of the bed beside Eddie.

“Not like that,” Eddie muttered, shaking his head again and vaguely peering up from under his bangs.

“Sorry?” Steve asked, confused about what was being said to him. Did Eddie want him to leave after all?

“Not like that,” Eddie repeated, lifting his face marginally so his nose was pressed between his knees. “You’re a good guy… I’m sorry… I said that.”

Steve felt his heart lurch at those words, his breath shuttering a bit at Eddie’s correction. It wasn’t forgiveness, but it felt something like that. Mercy maybe. Mercy not only for what he had done at the party but somehow it felt like mercy for the past 10 years of his life.

“I’m moving,” Eddie mumbled quietly, his eyes red, but his cheeks freshly dry.

“I know…” Steve replied, sighing quietly and glancing away from Eddie.

“So…” Eddie swallowed, actually turning to look at him properly, his nose red and eyes a bit swollen, “so, what?”

Steve looked at him with confusion again, his voice sticking in his throat as he tried to puzzle out what this question meant. Surprisingly, his confusion actually elicited a laugh from Eddie who turned away again and pressed his eyes onto the top of his knees. He sounded half-charmed, and Steve let the note shutter his eyebrows up.

“So, what does this mean?” Eddie explained further, sounding shy.

Steve sucked in a breath and exhaled slowly. He hadn’t thought about getting this far. What did this mean? He didn’t know where to go from here.

“Do we…” he waffled, his expression pinched, “do we need to have a plan?”

Eddie seemed to consider the offer before eventually answering no and then looked back at Steve.

“We can figure it out as we go… if you want,” he offered and Steve felt his entire being quake at the prospect.

Figure it out as they went? They could just… figure it out as they went.

“Okay,” Steve swallowed, feeling a smile break onto his face for the first time in what felt like months.

“Okay, okay, yeah…”

Eddie let his legs drop as he slowly put his feet back down on the ground, his head hung a bit but his expression was much softer than it had been. He looked shy and perhaps a bit uncertain, but the emotions mingled nicely into the room as they both seemed to imagine the tender possibilities of what this meant for them.

#my_writing #eddie munson #steddie #steve harrington #steddie fic #steve x eddie #Long road ahead

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coughrat · 9 months

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@bubbiethesaur LONG ROAD AHEAD ECLIPSE!! God I loved him last chapter he was such a sweetheart.

( I gave him a glow up from last time I drew him /j )

ID in alt!

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whorejolras · 3 months

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blows my mind reading fanfic in the les mis fandom of all places - les amis fanfic too - and seeing that overall there's more neutral-positive attitude towards cops than there ever is towards sex workers.

fucking. cops.

like i know u guys hate us (sex workers) that's very apparent, i know, but really? the fics about the little guys trying to change the world fighting against the system in place and were fully killed by the national guard will have bangers like "the police are just doing their job". fr?

and those same fics will have enjolras campaigning for sex workers to not be able to safely do their jobs. ok.

anyway writers who have enjolras as a staunch sex worker ally who listens to actual sex worker community organisers and supports them in fighting for full decriminalisation i am holding you tenderly in my hands and kissing you top of head.

writers who understand the gravity of what they're writing about re: police and understand the very simple fact that ACAB and have some real direct action fuck the state anarchist/domestic terrorist enjolras & abc, i'm shielding you from everything bad in this world and blessing ur first born.

and swerf bootlickers i hope you run face first into a hammer <3

#bothers me bc again none of this is in a vacuum #bet the people writing these fics are the people we're battling against when trying for full decriminalisation #did you know i live in one of the ... i think it's three total locations in the entire world where sex work is even partially decriminalised #and that's not the whole country #just the state #like it's a long fucking road ahead and public opinion is the number one challange and this is a way it manifests #anyway yeah yeah hooker rage i know no one cares but listen: acab #hooker posting #sex work in les mis #tagging it that just bc .. u know... wider fanfom

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kannedia · 13 days

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dead - for the single-word fic prompt!

A Blessing from Branch to Sapling

Post Malikah's Well. Oscar attempts to up his Paladin training again. This gets the attention of Feo Ul.

His hands were shaking.

The training grounds were at an unusual peace. Gentle birdsong and distant chatter filled a space normally filled with shouting and the clatter of metal.

And yet, Oscar's hands were still shaking. His old shield was somehow tightly held in his grip and a million yalms away.

This was a problem. He was the only other member of their group with training in defensive fighting. If something were to happen to Thancred again. If his friend were to fall. If Thancred were to fall. If another friend were to... die.

"You are crying, my sweet sapling." Oscar could feel Feo Ul's hands on his cheeks before he heard their voice. The shield fell from his hands as his Branch reached out to wipe a tear from his eyes.

"Uh Feo-"

"Tell me." They interrupted, eyes hardening. "Who was it that laid their hands upon my sweet sapling?!"

Oscar stood for a moment, simply blinking as he watched Feo Ul. A gentle smile formed on his face. He couldn't help it. Not in the face of his kind Branch. He felt lucky to have such a kind friend.

"Please don't worry, Feo Ul. I am hale. I was just thinking of a friend." He explained quietly. His eyes followed them if only to keep from looking at what he had dropped.

"One of your dear friends?" They question looking to where he would not.

"Yes. A very dear friend. He was like a brother to me. He-" Oscar paused, for a second he wondered if he had spoken to anyone about Haurchefaunt's death before. He had not. Not really. Perhaps he should. "Perhaps I should explain."

---

"Ah, how ephemeral your mortal lives are. Such has always been a part of your beauty and yet..." Feo Ul sits gently on Oscar's shoulder as he finishes. "And such is why you gaze at your shield so?"

Oscar nodded wordlessly.

"Mmhmm." Feo Ul hummed, before flying off his shoulder. "Oh my dear sapling, how many times must I tell you?" They gripped his chin. "If you are in need of my aid, then ask for it!"

He could only watch in awe as the shield he had dropped floated up to his eye level and began to change.

"Here a blessing from branch to sapling." Feo Ul explained proudly the moment the change ended.

"Thank you, my lovely branch."

#Thank you for reading.#Oscar still has a long road ahead of him #tried to fill my own writing prompt #but he will not be alone #Feo Ul was harder to write than I thought #hopefully i'm just being my worst critic #heavensward spoilers #shadowbringers spoilers #Oscar Moreau #Feo Ul #ffxiv #final fantasy 14 #final fantasy xiv #ff14 #ffxiv fic

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bubbiethesaur · 8 months

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Chapters: 14/?

Ope it’s chapter 14 time! Eeeee I’m so ecstatic about posting this chapter!

Quick summary: Promises in the dark

#peepaw Willy is taking a mid-day nap LET’S POST #uhh maybe grab some tissues for this one?#this chapter is very dear to me #long road ahead #long road ahead fic #dca au #dca pleasurebot au #pleasurebot! Sun #fnaf sun #fnaf moon #fnaf eclipse #fnaf sun x yn #fnaf moon x yn #fnaf eclipse x yn

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manchasama · 2 years

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Emmet has been searching for Ingo for…a long time now.

Oh, he tried to stick to his normal schedule, tried to rely on the police to investigate, tried to run the subway alone.

What was his wakeup call was that no matter how hard he tried to stay focused, he couldn't be serious about pokemon battles when his worry about Ingo took up so much of his attention. He didn't want to be battling, he wanted to be searching, helping. And it was a disservice to everyone who came so far to fight him. If he couldn't be serious, it wasn't fun for anyone. Moreso than his own feelings, it was the heart of the battle subway. If stepping down was what was best for the subway, that is what he'd do.

No one was happy about it, but everyone understood in their own way. The depot agents as a unit wished him well and promised he was welcome back whenever, no matter what. Someone would take the place of Ingo and Emmet, but everyone knows the battle subway is best when they are there. Their positions are waiting for them when Emmet returns with Ingo. (Emmet is heartened by their certainty.)

Elesa is a mess as well. Ingo was one of her best friends, and she was trying so hard to be there for Emmet, but his decision to leave his job to search for Ingo struck her as worrying. She didn't want him to fall to despair, didn't want him to harm himself over this, didn't want him to give up his life chasing rumors down. It would take a bit, a good heart to heart, but Emmet would reassure her that this was best right now. He wasn't despairing, but he was determined to leave no stone in the world unturned trying to find where Ingo went. She extracted a promise from him to take care of himself, to keep in contact. He did, and he does.

Since there are no clues to be had about the disappearance, Emmet immediately starts looking into sources that could give him answers through magical/mystical means. And that means legendaries and mystic pokemon. He of course tries Unova's legendaries first, imploring them over the loss of his twin. He was hopeful, since he and Ingo were so closely modeled after the legends Unova was built upon, that it might mean something. Might give him an edge of sympathy that the dragons would want to help reunite them. But they didn't answer his call. (I don't believe the MCs or N keep legendaries, so they are not available to call upon. Even with the MCs help, the dragons do not appear (they sometimes do))

So it goes, so it goes. Emmet zeros in on the pokemon who are said to grant wishes, but does not see hide nor hair of it. He travels to Sinnoh, and for a while it seemed promising. There was a reaction, a swelling of power, of presence. But it fades away, leaving Emmet alone again. For whatever reason they found him wanting perhaps. (Dialga and Palika are unable to mess with the timeline during Hisui, it's too fragile to meddle with. Thus they can do nothing to help Emmet.)

One after the other, Emmet wanders the globe. He keeps an ear open for any mundane rumors as well, just in case. Asks if anyone has seen a man with his face. No one ever has.

What finally breaks his losing streak is when he goes searching for Celebi. He comes across a small group of them. Knowing better than to attempt to attack or battle, he instead lays his case at their mercy. Despite his best efforts, though, the celebi leave him behind. He tries not to let another failure crush him, tries to keep a positive outlook and plan for his next stop. But there's a small noise, a soft squeak, and a tiny celebi pops out in front of him.

It is a young celebi, comparatively weaker, and very new to their powers. Emmet questions it gently, asking if it wants to help him. At the affirmative, he presses further. Does it not have parents that will look for it? Friends? Would they be angry or scared if it left with Emmet? (Perhaps one of the other Celebi flits by, acknowledging the pair but unbothered. It reassures Emmet.) It indicated no, there is no problem to it leaving.

Through some pantomime, Emmet comes to learn that Celebi is certain Ingo is not in that time. It can't tell when he is though. It could be in the future, it could be in the past. Chandelure knows Ingo is not dead, their bond strained but not broken. If Ingo had died, even in the past, Chandelure would know. (It was almost enough for Emmet to attempt to search the future first. But he talked himself back around, that Ingo hadn't died in the past because Emmet had found him and brought him home. That had to be the reason.)

The solution proposed is to travel as far as the little Celebi is able, and to search for Ingo at each stop. Emmet…realizes how long that would take. They would have to search the world over, at each stop. How long would that take? How many jumps would it take them? How long by foot to cover enough ground to confirm that Ingo wasn't there, before they could move on?

So he decides to gamble on a crazy idea. It was a mental exercise he and Ingo did as kids, a fun little project that had no use but was fun/cool to figure out how to do it. The biggest problem was covering enough ground at each stop. On foot wouldn't do. Travel pokemon would be better, but exhausting for all. There was one thing that Emmet was verrrrrry qualified to drive however. It just needed to be made portable.

The idea was to take a standard train engine, and figure out how to make it able to travel anywhere. Impractical in modern times, as it would be more of a hazard than a help. But as quick, safe transport, a home base built in? It's perfect for what Emmet needs. To make it work, he needs a few things. One is of course the train itself. (steam or electric? Hmmmm i'm leaning toward steam so that a pokemon doesn't have to keep it constantly powered. Also aesthetics lol) Next are the tracks. He needs enough for the length of the train he plans to take (engine and a car or two), plus leeway for maneuvering.

The biggest thing he needs however, is a group of psychic pokemon with enough precision to be able to lay and pull the track in a moving railroad. Multiple, so they can take turns/breaks and don't wear themselves down.

Pokemon Emmet tries:

0. Chandelure insists, but Emmet tells her she is more needed to sense for Ingo. Plus she can't do it alone. She still learns telekinesis despite that, and is ready and willing to help if needed. Most skilled, able to teach other Pokemon what's needed.

1. Espurr - First attempt, but he quickly realizes they will not be able to help. They can't control their powers with enough delicacy. However they still really want to travel with Emmet, and so he gains a companion.

2. Emmet hears about Xatu's ability to see past/future. He manages to convince either a Natu or Xatu to accompany him, but they are disinclined to help with the train. Still, they DO indicate he should start traveling to the past. He takes that as a good sign. (I like the idea of a Xatu flying above the train, though their dex says they stay stationary. *shrugs*)

3. Reuniclus - It is more interested in physical battling. Emmet appreciates the enthusiasm, but it doesn't really help his cause. Until it handshakes with Espurr. It's not the same as linking up with another reuniclus, but it is able to help guide espurr to control their powers better. Useful as backup/emergency situations.

4. Emmet had decided to try for the Abra line to help him. If he could convince any to join him, that is. Abras are notoriously hard to catch, and the evolution line is a bit standoffish. However along his journey, Emmet discovers a small colony of Eevees in some distress. The eevees do not want to be battlers, maybe are having a hard time surviving on their own, something. I'm thinking maybe four or five? Emmet's kindness shines through, and they want to accompany him. He allows it, because he does enjoy the company. Perhaps there is a pair of twins that move in unison, and he can't help but look at them fondly (if sadly). The Eevees listen to his explanation of what he needs the Abra line to do, that he needs some strong psychic pokemon who are willing to do this strange task instead of battle or otherwise. Basically Emmet accidentally befriends the Eevees so hard they evolve to Espeons just so they can help him out. He now has his task force.

5. When Elesa learns about what he plans to do, she insists he take her rotom who can learn telekinesis as well. It doesn't hurt to have another backup, and it's all she can do for him since she can't go herself.

(Along the journey, some chimecho take a liking to riding along the current of the train. Their chimes are a soothing constant on the journey. Still wild tho)

Once his preparations are nearly complete, only then does he tell Elesa what he's planning. She is distressed all over again. Because she wants so badly to go with him. But like his original journey, this is not hers. She has her gym, her friends, her family, Skyla, etc. As much as she wants to, she can't give that up. And this is even further away, where she wouldn't even be able to contact them. No, she can't go with. The knowledge is a painful truth. But she believes in him. She gives her blessing, and her unwavering faith that he will return with Ingo.

She implores him to not leave just yet. To promise to wait just a little bit for her. Emmet doesn't know why, but he agrees regardless. He love Elesa, and it's hard for him as well. He can do this much for her.

What she does is go to the gear station depot workers and explain this crazy plan their boss is doing. Like her, they can't go with, but they can do one thing to support him. They set up a stretch of railway, with the intention of upkeeping it while Emmet is gone. When they present it to him, they explain that when he returns, he'll need a place to pull into station. They will make sure it's ready to receive their bosses home.

(Best end, as soon as Emmet leaves, he also returns. Because celebi knows exactly when and where to go, its able to return them right away. Emmet is beaming at them all, because they may have expected a long wait, but his early return is a great surprise. Ingo, of course, accompanies him.)

The train is both transport, protection, and sleeping/living quarters. It's able to hold all their pokemon, plus the new ones, and an astonishing number of Joltiks. The reason to utilize tracks and let the train run as a normal train is that the train is heavy. It would take considerable more pokemon to carry it at speeds and lengths that they need. Track is much easier to move, though it does require precision and concentration. The Espeons get really good at it, however. Especially the twins :>

So begins Emmet's journey through time in search of Ingo. He retains his positive outlook, never letting the failures get him down. Sure, there are the occasional rumors that pop up about the phantom train that can be seen traveling the countryside, but it's never seen twice, and usually doesn't even get a footnote in history. Emmet isn't careless about driving near towns or roads, and those start to vanish the further back they go. Eventually he's a little more lax about being spotted.

When he arrives in Hisui, he arrives in the Obsidian Fieldlands (not that he knows it). He knows the general part of the world he's in, Sinnoh, and decides to circle the flat side of the region before heading for the mountains. Whoever his lookout pokemon are warn him about the town, and he plans to give it a wide enough berth (but is a liiiittle sloppy about it and is closer than he normally would.) Or perhaps he planned on stopping and asking them if they'd seen Ingo. Either way, he's chugging along obliviously.

A survey corp manages to send warning back to the town ahead of the train. It stirs a bit of a panic, because what is this strange metal contraption heading for their town?? Laventon is able to identify it as a train, though the fact that it is running off tracks (he can't see them perhaps) is astounding! Kamado wants to know who is driving and what they want, ofc.

Ingo tho…of course he was in Jubilife at the time. Perhaps the MC was around, and they were battling. Either way, when the town stirs to life to respond to the potential threat heading their way, he joins in to see what's up. And when he sees the train…

I don't think he remembers, I think he just acts. I'm leaning toward him whistling a call to stop the train, some known signal that can be heard over the noise. (Chandelure is beside herself, because she can feel him. She heads off the train before it stops, and gets first dibs at hugs.) Emmet immediately throws on the breaks, barely giving warning to his passengers to brace themselves for an abrupt stop. He too doesn't even need to question it. As soon as the train stops, he's out and running. Doesn't stop until he's hugging the life out of his brother.

(When I first was writing this out, I did have some more detailed scenes in mind. Alas, lost to the whims of my brain. Road Trip AU tho! Ironically most of these notes are not the travel section, but this idea was spawned by my comments on This Song in This Post. :)

#fun times ahead #pokemon #submas #submas road trip #pokemon writing #some of what i lost was around elesa #just her thoughts in a bit more detail #i need ideas on emmet's journey #ironically this is the second emmet on a journey fic idea ive had #i just want him to be ok :<#and have some agency

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severeweatheralert · 6 months

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Was very happy with the Long Way Home and (alt ending AU) Road to Nowhere title combo however this implies I need to call the actual sequel ALSO something road/journey/travel related and. I am having trouble

#i want the coherence i do not want to write novel length fic called idk Estimated Time Of Arrival do you see my problem #hello this is my son an angsty fanfic sequel called Road Work Ahead (Sure Hope It Does!)

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joelsgreys · 7 months

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I think about The Road Ahead EVEDY DAYYYYYYY I literally cannot wait to see Gracie and Joel being a dad back in action 🥹🥹🥹 and beautiful reader finally getting to have her girl!!!!

I was thinking about them today for some reason asdfghjkl this little family means so much to me as it is and then adding Ellie into the mix and writing her meshing in with them, oh I’m gonna be such a wreck 😭

#vee answers #fic: the road ahead #coming soon

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beck-a-leck · 3 months

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Next chapter is up!

In which Bilbo earns the title Barrel Rider.

Have a Sneak Peak

Bilbo shivered in the water, but there was nothing to be done about getting warm. She looked skyward and saw it was a wonderfully clear night. The stars were out and shining with a crisp brightness she’d never seen before. She hoped the elves were enjoying their feast and wondered if their escape had been noticed yet. She worried for the others trapped in barrels, and hoped they were all right-side up and none of the barrels had sprung a leak. Given how dark it was and how loudly the river rushed about them, they wouldn’t be able to know if something had gone wrong until it was far too late. There was a moment when some of the barrels got caught up on some rocks that Dwalin was able to get Bilbo boosted up out of the water and onto one of the barrels. It wasn’t a comfortable seat, nor an easy ride – Bilbo could only compare it to riding a very round-bellied pony who would rather roll in the grass than humor a rider – but it got her out of the water, even if the night air kept her chilled to the bone. “I hope the others are all right,” she said aloud, watching one of the lower-floating barrels pass them. “Well, at the very least, they’re dryer and warmer than we are,” Dwalin said. He laughed humorlessly. “Almost wish I was packed into one of the barrels.” They drifted on all through the night and into the morning. The sun brought some comfort, as it was turning out to be an unseasonably warm day, and Bilbo was able to dry a bit and warm up after a cold night frozen atop her barrel. But it also brought much worry. They began looking in earnest for a place to make for land, but the section of the river they were in was running too swiftly and the banks were too steep and rocky. The longer they traveled, the more worried Bilbo got that someone was going to come out of the barrels completely drowned. And there was, of course, the worry that there might be elves or others along the river, watching for the barrels to come down. Someone had to collect them, after all. If they were seen by another party, they might be reported back to the elves. And there were the hair-raising moments when the river reached a split and some of the barrels broke away from the group and Bilbo feared that some of the Company was going to get swept away entirely and never be seen again, only to find a ways downriver the separated barrels rejoined their flotilla.

#becky writes things #how far ahead the road has gone #the hobbit #the hobbit fic

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thebeckster · 7 days

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WIP Wednesday

There's a mountain-sized writer's block in the middle of the next chapter of 'Road' but I've been fighting it by working ahead.

Have a double scoop of WIP Wednesday this week!

Something soft and sweet to show not everything in the back half of the story is gonna be dark and dismal.

"A father should give his daughter her first jewels. In his absence, a grandfather or other close kin. As Bella's is not present, I hope I might have the honor." Balin unfolded the cloth in his palm, revealing an intricately worked gold bracelet. Runes were carved into the bands, and there was a wide crest spread around a ruby the size of Bilbo’s thumbnail. And yet the bracelet was sized small enough to fit around Bella’s tiny wrist. “Oh… Balin it’s beautiful. But jewels for a baby? In the Shire most fathers bring their daughter her first bouquet or buy her first dress. Not… nothing like this. She’ll grow out of it in a few months.” Balin smiled. “Pieces like this are built to be worn for the entirety of a woman’s life.” He demonstrated the clever way the worked bands slid out and widened the bracelet’s band until it would have fit loosely on Bilbo’s wrist. Bilbo expressed her admiration for the craftsmanship as he folded it back down to its smallest size. “This crest here is my family’s. Rubies were our gemstones. I had this made for my daughter.”

And to counterbalance... Gold-sickness is rather sour and bitter. Isn't it? 😈

"I bargained with the Master of Lake-town. He has not come to collect. Bard has no right to beg at the door." "Then what about my right?!" Bilbo's anger flared. "What about my right to repay the man that saved my life? My daughter's life? Would you deny me that? I will give Bard my fourteenth share. I don't care about the gold!" "You have not yet been paid, burglar. You have not found the one thing I hired you to find!" Bilbo met his gaze, lifting her chin stubbornly. "You wouldn't have a burglar at all if it wasn't for the people of Lake-town. You would have buried me and Bella at the lakeside. Without their help, you wouldn't even be here now." Thorin growled, tearing away, stomping up to the throne. "I will not part with a single coin! Not one piece of it!" Bilbo bit her lip to stop it from trembling. Resolutely, she forced the tears from her eyes. "So you've weighed my life, and found it worthless, then." Thorin glowered. "You do not know what I value your life at." "Very little, I imagine. Since you will not do the least to end this siege." "We can outlast them. Dain is coming." "And what if reinforcements cannot break through? What will we do for food when our supplies run out. I cannot eat gold! I cannot nurse Bella on rubies!"

#wip wednesday #the hobbit #the hobbit fic #how far ahead the road has gone #sneak peaks #god there's probably a ton of typos. i wrote most of these scenes on my phone's notes app

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swordsonnet · 5 months

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on the off chance anyone on here followed me for my jonmartin fake dating au, currently standing tragically unfinished at 7 out of 8 chapters: i'm still working on the last chapter! i would love to have it up this year, but unfortunately i can't make any promises, because i've started a new medication and the side effects are wreaking havoc on my mind and body. haha isn't chronic illness fun. but rest assured the fic is the beating heart under my floorboards, and i WILL finish it one day

#i feel pretty bad about it because my update schedule has been really inconsistent for the whole fic :///#and now the final chapter is going to be even more epically delayed than the other ones #should've probably finished the whole thing properly before i started posting it but you live and learn i guess #my chronic illness really messed with my ability to write and i hate it #like the chapter is almost done. under normal circumstances it wouldn't take me long to finish it #but it's like my brain has forgotten how to make words happen. ugh.#i don't want to let people down by making them wait so long for an update #but i also don't want to let them down by giving them a mediocre chapter y'know #if all goes well the new meds might help with both the chronic fatigue *and* the depression which would be an absolute godsend #but ngl. the side effects are rough. and they can apparently last for up to six weeks #and i've only been taking the meds for about 2 1/2 weeks so i've still got a long road ahead of me #i also started my period yesterday which certainly doesn't help lmao #delete later maybe #just needed to vent for a lil bit. and as everyone knows there's no better place to discuss your private business than tumblr dot com

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skepsiss · 8 months

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Long Road Ahead - pt 4

Lots of anger. Lots of miscommunication. Steve and Eddie get drunk and have a fight. It'll work out, promise. Sorry, but also not sorry. I'm a slow burn truther. Read the other 3 parts to this fic linked below. It really establishes why this is a heartbreaking pt 4.

TW: Miscommunication, lots of anger an lots of swearing.

2,500+ words, Eddie’s POV. Later in the summer. Pt1 Pt1.2 Pt2 Pt3 Pt5

“Don’t fucking do this to me, man. Don’t,” Eddie sobbed, his hand pressed against his face as he covered his eyes.

He was leaning against a wall, the summery sounds of night chirping through the air as he dug his fingers into the bricks behind him. He was drunk, he knew he was, not black-out but he knew he was drunk, they both were.

Eddie brought both his hands to his face and yelled into his palms, the anguish muffled as he leaned there in the dark alleyway between the house and the fence. They were at a house party, he didn’t even know whose anymore, but he was pretty sure it was someone in his circle. Why had he invited Steve? It had seemed like a good idea at first–at first. Eddie had kept to his word the best he could: Seeing Steve sparingly for the rest of the summer, mostly in groups, and purposefully avoiding him if he suggested being interested in hanging out. It had been frustrating, but it had helped. He didn’t think about Steve as often and that made finishing his GED course easy. He had passed. Not with flying colours, but he had passed.

It had seemed like a good idea to have a summer send-off–not that this was what the party was for, it was just a party–but it had seemed like a great idea to use it as a summer send-off. Last days of warm nights and crickets chirping well into the morning. Last nights of late-night romps in Hawkins as Eddie speedily tried to look for a place to move to outside of town. He was out of here. He was going to go. It had felt only fair to see Steve one last time. It had seemed like a good idea.

“Eddie?”

Eddie shook his head, groaning miserably as he felt his throat closing up. He hated this, he hated this so much it hurt.

“Stop,” Eddie whined, his voice small and feeling like it didn’t belong to him.

Eddie felt big hands on his cheek, trying to push past his shield. Delicate, gentle hands that had Eddie choking out a sob. Frustration flared in Eddie and he slapped the hand away, sidestepping a few paces as he looked back at Steve.

“Stop it,” he said more firmly, tears still streaking down his face, “you’re drunk!”

Steve was standing there, barely visible in the dark little alleyway, with nothing but the sounds of muffled party music and the crickets to be heard. They were alone more or less as they stood outside of a stranger’s house.

The look of hurt on Steve’s face made Eddie crumble again, his anger subsiding as he wiped at his cheeks and looked away.

“Don’t do this…” Eddie mumbled, sniffling, “not now.”

This party had been a stupid idea, bad from the start. At first, Eddie had been thrilled by how Steve bloomed in the party atmosphere; how easily he smiled and laughed with people once he had a beer or two in him. He looked like he was in his element, and Eddie understood why Steve had been crowned a party king. Everyone gravitated towards him, even people clearly way too punk to be seen with a prep like him.

That had been bad because in two seconds flat Eddie had felt himself smiling and his eyes twinkling as he looked at Steve. A wash of possessiveness had come over him and suddenly it had felt so important to let everyone know he was the one who had brought Steve here. Steve was here for him. Worse yet, Steve hadn’t rebuffed him. He had smiled and laughed as Eddie slung his arm over his shoulder and gushed about how badass Steve was, about how he had a heart of gold. And they drank to it. They drank a lot.

Eddie had no idea what time it was, but the night had worn on him. He wanted to go home. He wanted to go home and lock himself in his room and mutter miserably by himself.

“You’re drunk too,” Steve offered up as some kind of excuse.

Eddie felt his eyes blaze as hot rage rolled into his cheeks.

“What does that have to do with anything?” He shot back angrily, knowing it was true and knowing that even if he had been sober he probably wouldn’t have been able to keep his temper down.

No, it had been the booze that had gotten him into this situation. He had gushed and pandered to the crowd about Steve but it didn’t seem to matter what he said or who tried to sway Steve, he seemed to always want to gravitate towards Eddie. He had watched Steve harmlessly rebuff and walk away from people in drunken favour to come to sit beside him, to laugh at his jokes and smile at him like he was some kind of siren. He had looked smitten.

All of that had compounded once they were alone together.

Eddie knew he was drunk, he knew they both were.

“You’re being an ass!” Eddie yelled, feeling his own tongue heavy in his mouth, making his words sound slurred.

“Me?” Steve shot back, raising his tone for the first time all night.

“Yeah! Asshole!”

Eddie pointed angrily at Steve, a few paces away now as he felt his arm trembling. They stood like that for a long moment before Eddie felt his anger dampen and that deep etching of sorrow carve back into him. He broke down again, his body crumpling in on itself as he covered his eyes again and squatted down.

“I hate you,” Eddie mumbled, hugging his own legs as he pushed his face into his knees. “Why’re you like this? Why are you doing this now?”

They had stumbled into the dark of the backyard almost conspiratorially, Eddie couldn’t remember why, it had been stupid and only something two drunk 20-somethings could think of. He had no clue where they were going, but eventually, it had turned to Steve leading him away. He had asked what they were doing, still all smiles before they had rounded the side of the house and Steve had all but pinned him to the nearest surface.

Thrill and shock had rocketed through Eddie, his drunk brain taking way too long to process what was happening. Steve was so fixated on him, intent, touching his face and holding his cheek. He was obviously drunk and Eddie had the startling realization that Steve was going to kiss him. That was when he had started yelling.

“I’m leaving in like 2 weeks, man,” Eddie mumbled out miserably, squeezing himself into a smaller ball. He had wanted this all summer–all fucking summer--and now Steve had decided to do something? Now he had decided it was worth getting drunk out of his mind so they could kiss?

“What am I?” Eddie gasped, looking up from his lap and glaring daggers into Steve, “some kind of fun experiment?”

He was bitter and he knew his words stung because Steve took a staggered step backwards. But that was it, wasn’t it? They had all summer and it had taken five beers and who knows what else for Steve to even think about approaching him. The fact that he was thinking about it was flooring, but Eddie didn’t have time to dwell on that. Why this? Why now? Why him?

“What?” Eddie shot out again, knowing he was just unloading his anger onto Steve now, “I’m just some fucking thrill ride? Do you even know who I am right now?”

He was breathing hard and Eddie could see that Steve was just standing there, unmoved by his words. His expression was pinched and he was fisting and unfisting his hands, but he wasn’t moving.

“What do you want, man?” Eddie asked, his throat feeling tight as he gasped out the words, burying his head in his hands again. This was so unfair. This was so, unbelievably unfair. What was he supposed to do? He had pined all summer for Steve fucking Harrington and now he was getting his attention? Now? After fucking ignoring him for a month straight and getting so blitzed Steve probably didn’t even know where he was.

“You.”

Eddie looked up sharply at Steve, wanting to make sure he had heard that right. Steve hadn’t moved, he was still standing there, but his mouth was hanging open now, his hands balled tightly by his sides.

“You…” Steve repeated and Eddie could tell that his breath was coming out sharper. He looked terrified, but drunk as he was Eddie couldn’t imagine why.

“Don’t–” Eddie barked, his words followed by bitter, humourless laughter. “No you fucking don’t.”

Steve’s expression grew more pinched and Eddie felt a wash of self-satisfaction. He had hurt him. Good. Good. He could fucking understand how badly this hurt. How much this fucking sucked.

“Yeah I–” Steve started and Eddie shot to his feet, anger rising to the surface again.

“No, you fucking don’t!” Eddie shouted, feeling like an incredulous child. “You don’t Steve, you don’t! Eddie Munson? Eddie fucking Munson? No, you don’t. You don’t want to walk a mile close to my disaster of a fucking life. You’re straight! You don’t even like guys! So what? Curiosity? Cruelty? Kiss Eddie Munson right before he’s leaving Hawkins and never talk to him ever again?”

“No, I–” Eddie cut him off again, watching as Steve took half a step forward. He mirrored the action by stepping backward.

“Do you know how goddamn cruel you’re being right now? How fucking awful you are for this? What, Steve? Is this fun for you? Is this some kind of fucking joke?” The tears were starting back up again as Eddie yelled, his collar soaked as he felt water pooling on his upper lip.

“All goddamn summer–you fucking bitch. Do you know how fucking badly I wanted you to kiss me all fucking summer?”

Eddie shook his head, watching with building frustration at the look of shock on Steve’s face. This guy. This fucking guy. Steve Harrington: a heart of gold, sweetest guy in the world, local hero–yeah fucking right. He was toying with him. He was genuinely surprised that Eddie had feelings for him.

“Fuck you, man,” Eddie spat, his tone leveling out as he wiped at his face again and finally turned away. He didn’t care how Steve made it home–he didn’t care how he made it home but he knew he wasn’t going to stay here.

“Eddie–” Steve tried one last time and Eddie flipped him off over his shoulder, hastily walking to the garden gate and letting himself out, running away. Running away like he always did.

#my_writing #eddie munson #steddie #steve harrington #steddie fic #part 4 of this mini series #Long road ahead

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