#n/ancy w/heeler

[softsnzstuff]

Idk if I’m just dumb but I’ve never seen the full interview of JQ dealing with like really bad allergies? And finally found the full thing!!

You can hear him sniffling SO AUDIBLY in the background especially at the beginning. He wipes his nose on his hand several times and poor guy’s eyes are like super watery.

#s/tranger t/hings #e/ddie m/unson #s/teve h/arrington #r/obin b/uckley #n/ancy w/heeler #j/oseph Q/uinn #Youtube

[sleptwithinthesun]

y'all're way too nice. i genuinely forced out the last fic i posted and might just end up rewriting it later, but i'm trying to write the au chronologically so there aren't continuity errors, and that one needed to be finished before i could work on the next few.

anyway.

here's ~1.2K detailing the first time s/teve and n/ancy try inducing j/onathan :) hope you like it because THIS is where the fun starts

"Is this okay?"

Jonathan shrugs, his knees tucked up to his chest and parted slightly for Steve and Nancy to access his face. His back is against the headboard of their bed, and he's twisting his fingers together nervously. "I think so," he says, managing to prevent his voice from curling upward at the end and turning into a question.

Nancy smiles at him, and Steve reassures, "Don't be nervous, Jon. Whatever happens is fine. Don't feel pressured because of us."

He nods, but the anxiety building in his chest is too much for him to speak around. It's taken a while for him to come around to the idea of letting them induce him, despite how willing he initially was to put it on the table, and now, he might be regretting it.

"Hey," Nancy says, putting a hand on his knee. "Be honest, Jonathan. Do you not want to do this?"

Jonathan swallows. His throat is too dry. "I want to," he says. "I do."

"Are you sure?"

He nods. "Yes." His voice comes out a little steadier that time, and Nancy and Steve relax a bit.

"Alright," Steve says, picking up one of the pillows and examining it for a long moment before plucking out a feather. "We're going to start small, okay? Tell us if you're uncomfortable at any time, and we'll stop as soon as you say so. We've both done this before, so if anything gets to be too much, we know how to dial it back. Okay?"

"Okay," Jonathan whispers.

It's... kind of awkward. Likely because Jonathan feels awkward sitting there and letting Nancy slide a feather into his nostrils, but also, just because the situation itself is fairly unorthodox. He's never been into anything specific, in regard to sex, and has no experience with this particular kink.

"Does it tickle?" Nancy asks quietly, using her fingertips to slowly twist the feather around. She's hitting all the soft walls of his nostril, getting the barbs to brush right up against the mucus membranes.

Jonathan hums in affirmation, then pulls away a second later to bring his shirt up over his face and sneeze quietly, suppressing it the way he always does. "Sorry," he says the second he pulls his shirt down, and Steve only smirks at him.

"Don't apologize. That's kind of the point, though, it would be nice if you lost the shirt so that you couldn't hide your face," he says, and Jonathan flushes. "Stick to your boundaries, though."

He takes the feather from Nancy, inserting it into the other nostril and wiggling it around. They have different methods, he realizes; while Nancy prefers to take it slow, teasing him, Steve goes quickly, almost rushing, and it's a matter of about thirty seconds before Jonathan pulls away to sneeze again. "Oh," he says, blinking.

"What's going on?" Steve asks.

Jonathan sniffles. "That one felt, like, uh... more than the first one. Does that make sense?"

Nancy nods. "Yeah. Harsher?"

"I... think so."

"It looked like it, too," she comments. "You backed up more urgently."

And that is definitely not a normal thing to notice.

Something must show on his expression, because Nancy's eyes suddenly go wide. "Oh, shit. Was that too weird?"

"It's weird, but good-weird," he says. "Because it's you-weird, and Steve-weird, and I love both of you."

"You're so fucking sappy," Steve says, and kisses him. "Are you ready for more?"

"Yeah," he says, actually feeling confident this time. "Keep going."

"If you say so," Nancy sing-songs, then slides the feather back in. "This time, try not to sneeze for as long as you can, okay?"

Jonathan nods, wincing when the position of the feather changes. Nancy's careful to adjust it, spinning it slowly as the itch and irritation builds up slowly. He scrunches up his nose a couple times in an attempt to alleviate the feeling, and Steve laughs a bit.

"You look like a little bunny rabbit when you do that," he teases, and Jonathan bites his lip to keep from either talking back to Steve or sneezing.

He scrunches his nose up again.

Nancy giggles. "You're right," she says to Steve. "He does look like a bunny rabbit. Very cute, Jonathan, thank you for that."

Jonathan laughs a bit, then does his best to clamp down on the rising urge to sneeze, the feeling blossoming quickly in the very back of his sinuses and buzzing in his face. His breath hitches once, twice, before he takes back control of it, forcing himself to breathe steadily.

"You getting close to needing to sneeze, Jon?" she asks, pushing the feather in just a tiny bit further and twisting it again.

"Y-yeah," he mumbles, sniffling again.

"Keep it back," she demands, a second before she lefts the feather brush against the very back of his nose, right where he assumes the olfactory nerves must be, and he gasps before throwing a hurried string of four into his elbow. He manages to stifle all but the last one, and it slips out in a tiny "hgk'sh!"

"Bless you," Steve murmurs, his eyes practically glinting with lust. "That was good, Jon."

He ducks his head. "I still have to sneeze," he confesses.

"You need help?" Nancy asks, offering up the feather. She waits for Jonathan to nod shyly before tracing around the edges of his nose in a figure eight pattern, and Jonathan shakes his head slightly at the sudden irritation.

Nancy's face breaks into a grin at that, and she beckons Steve over. "Do the thing," she says, still working at him, and Jonathan is given no time to even wonder what that means before Steve's finger is tracing lightly down the bridge of his nose.

"Nancy, that reahh! Really tickles," he murmurs.

"It's supposed to," she teases, and finally moves the feather back into his nostrils, attacking the areas just below Steve's finger. Jonathan's breath stutters, but he doesn't sneeze, not yet. Nancy's being careful not to let him, and he feels tears of irritation prick at his eyelashes. He's not even allergic to feathers, and yet.

"You almost there, Jon?" Steve asks, and he nods, closing his eyes. "Alright, we'll wrap it up."

The feather suddenly twists, changing direction, and brushes up against something that's really sensitive, because he's sneezing down into his lap with absolutely no warning and no ability to stifle them. "hk'sHhu!"

"Bless you."

"ESH'uh!"

"Bless you." From Nancy, that time.

"h'esHh'uh!"

"Bless you."

"Nance, he's gonna—"

"hk'shh!"

"Bless you," Nancy emphasizes, running a hand through his hair. "Shit, are you alright?"

"I'm fine," he replies, blinking shyly up at her and Steve. "Was, um... was that okay?"

Steve grins. "That was perfect, Jon."

He smiles back at them, a bit sheepish. "You want to do any more of that tonight, or wait?"

"If you're up to it, then I'd definitely want to do more," Nancy says, and Steve nods in agreement. "Jonathan?"

"I'm good," he says. "That was... good, I guess."

Nancy snorts and Steve laughs a bit. "Baby's first time," he teases, and Nancy only laughs harder. "Alright, Jon, round two."

He nods, and it begins.

#s/tranger t/hings snzfic #s/tranger t/hings #snzfic #s/teve h/arrington #j/onathan b/yers #n/ancy w/heeler #s/toncy #c/hicago au #swts fic

[minteacutie]

Okay so this is an idea that basically started as a conversation with @softsnzstuff of Robin starting to wear cologne because she prefers it over perfume and Steve giving her some Then it ended up being: What if Steve accidentally (conveniently) forgot to mention that Nancy might be allergic to a couple of them. Also Robin might low-key have the kink. I hope it’s good. 🤣 Steve pulled the shoe box from under his bed, setting it in front of Robin.

Pulling off the lid Robin ogled over the many fancy expensive cologne bottles neatly nestled in the box.  She prodded around in the box carefully pulling out a deep red bottle, admiring it in the light of Steve’s room watching the dark liquid inside slosh around.

“You’re sure it okay if I take these?” Robin chewed her lip cradling the bottle close to her chest, feeling her hands sweat a little. Afraid of dropping the fragile bottle. “I already told you it’s fine, better than having them collect dust in a shoe box.” Steve reassured Robin with a shrug watching his friend pick through the bottles.

She nodded plucking another blue bottle from the box squinting at the fancy label, trying to decipher the swirly writing. “How come you don’t wear any of these?” Robin asked, spritzing a bit of the cologne in the air, wrinkling her nose a the scent. “They’re not really my thing…besides I’m pretty sure I’m allergic to a few of them.”Steve shrugged, thumbing at his nose.

“STEEEEVE!!!” Robin exclaimed, almost dropping the bottle, “You should have told me that before I just started spraying cologne willy-nilly.”

“Jesus, Robin, calm down it's not like it’ll kill me!” Steve answered, holding his hands up as the younger girl swat at him lightly. “You suck, you know that, right dingus.” Robin huffed half-heartedly, picking out a couple more scents with a couple of tentative sniffs, “...just make sure to tell me which ones not to wear around you.” After an hour of trying out different scents, Robin found a few she liked. Steve, helped her get them wrapped up so they’d hopefully survive the trip between work and home. She took one in the bathroom. It had a sweet but spicy scent when she sprayed it onto her skin with a giddy feeling fluttering in her stomach. “Robin, we’re going to be late!?”Steve knocked on the door to the bathroom, sounding disgruntled. Robin rolled her eyes, tucking the bottle back into her bag and sliding her family video vest on before meeting Steve in his car.

~

Robin sat at the counter at Family Video, flipping through a magazine while waiting for a tape to rewind, only looking up when the little bell over the door jingled.

She felt her cheeks flush pink when she noticed Nancy Wheeler standing in the doorway, looking lost. Sitting up straighter clearing her throat to get the other girl's attention, watching as Nancy startled slightly, her sharp blue eyes flickering towards Robin. She waved, flashing a nervous smile, before walking towards the counter. “Hey, Nan-Nancy, looking for anything in particular?” Robin stumbled over her words, trying to look casual even though it felt like her heart was in her throat.

Nancy lazily tugged at one of her curls, twirling it around her finger. “M’just here to pick up some movies that Mike reserved…” She explained, her usually confident voice sounding a bit uncertain.

“No problem, I’ll pull those up for you!” Robin answered turning toward the computer trying not to cringe and hearing her overly chipper tone. She typed in Mrs. Wheeler's account squinting at the screen as she scrolled down. Hearing Nancy gasp slightly Robin glanced at the other girl out of the corner of her eye, noticing the shorter girl thumbing at her nose.

She tore her eyes away, feeling a hot flush creep up her face, trying to focus on the screen, eyes occasionally flitting over to Nancy. “Hih’Tschtt!” Robin jumped at the strangled stifle, her fingers stumbling over the keys, “Bless you!”Robin squeaked, passing Nancy some tissues from the box under the counter. She took them from Robin, a soft pink dusting her cheeks. She rubbed at her flushed pink nose with a tissue, trying to get at the tickle in her nose. Lashes fluttered as her breath caught again, smothering a flurry of itchy little sneezes into the ball of tissues. “hih!! hh’Tsch! ‘Tschuu! ihHh-Tschiue!” “Bless you…uhm, are you okay, Nancy?” Robin asked, pulling the box from under the counter, sliding it over to Nancy. “Gh…sorry I don’t know where that came from…”Nancy sniffled, shaking her head slightly before tugging a few more tissues from the box on the counter. “It-it’s okay...” Robin said, hoping Nancy didn’t notice how red her face was watching the other girl crush her nose against the tissues with a soft blow. Scrubbing at the itch in her nose. She averted her gaze back to the counter when Nancy resurfaced from the tissues. “Uh…so it looks like we do have a couple of movies on hold for you.” Robin answered, “Let me just…” “Hih!! hh’Tschiie! ‘hHHRtSCHiue!” 

“Sndf…god I really don’t know what’s come over me…” Nancy squeaked, knuckling at her flushed nose, face a deep shade of pink. “It could be allergies…”Robin suggested hoping her voice didn’t come out as strangled as it sounded. “I’m not allergic to anything though…except a couple of Steve’s colognes.”Nancy huffed, sounding frustrated, carding her finger through her curly locks. Robin jumped dropping the stack of tapes in her hand. “Jeez, Robin…are you okay?” Nancy asked when Robin suddenly jolted like the words had burned her. “Uh yeah, I’m great just let me go grab those movies for you.” Robin fumbled, scampering to the back room of Family Video. Locking eyes with Steve. “Why didn’t you tell me Nancy was allergic to your cologne!!!” Robin hissed, jabbing Steve in the chest with her finger. “I swear, I completely forgot about it, Robs,” He answered with a laugh, holding her hands up defensively, “but, something tells me you’re not too disappointed.” “Get. Your. Mind. Out. Of. The. GUTTER!!!” Robin grits out, swatting at Steve with each word, feeling her face grow hot. “Fine!!!!”Steve cackled, raising his arms in defense, “Look, I swear, after work, we’ll go over which colognes not to wear around Nancy, now get back out there Robs.” He pressed the tapes into her hand, guessing they were what she was probably back there for them. Robin gave Steve one last playful shove, before going back out. “Got those movies for you, Nancy!!!” Robin said her tone shifting as she held up the tapes triumphantly, bringing them over to the counter so she could ring her up. “Gh…Thanks, Robin.”Nancy answered, knuckling at her nose and riffling through her purse, looking for the money to pay for the movies. She pulled out the money passing it over to Robin when her breath caught abruptly, ducking into her shoulder. “Hh! ‘Tsch!!! ‘Tschiue! ‘hHhTSCHieu!!” “Gh…sorry,” Nancy passed the money over snagging a couple more tissues, rubbing her nose with a squish, that left Robin’s insides on fire, “I think I should probably get out of here somethings really setting me off, see you later.” Robin waved as Nancy took the stack of movies off the counter ducking out of the store. Once she was out of sight she practically dove for her backpack pulling out the offending bottle of cologne holding over the little trash can behind the counter…but she hesitated. Sighing she tucked the little blue bottle back into her bag, burying her face into her hands. Trying not to think too hard about Nancy’s adorable little sneezes and the way her cute pink nose wrinkled up when she had a tickle in her nose.

#Can you tell I didn't know how to end this lol #very first r/onance fic #R/onance #snzfic #n/ancy w/heeler #r/obin b/uckley #All characters are 18+ in this fic

[rebelcliche-archive2]

HEY SO THE W/HEELER SIBS ACTUALLY DO BE LOOKING A LOT LIKE T/ED!!!

n/ancy - traits from k/aren: eye shape, face shape, hair color traits from t/ed: eyebrow shape, nose shape, lip shape, chin, skin tone m/ike - traits from k/aren: eye shape, eyebrow shape, nose shape, lip shape, face shape traits from t/ed: eye color, hair color, skin tone h/olly - traits from k/aren: eyebrow shape, face shape traits from t/ed: eye shape, nose shape, lip shape, skin tone with h/olly's blonde hair, i would say that that's probably just bc she's young and it'll darken over time since that's pretty common in some families- also bc k/aren's hair is naturally brunette, not blonde. with h/olly and n/ancy's blue eyes, i assume that they got that recessive gene from a grandparent or smth.

all this to say: you're not gonna tell me i'm wrong, bc i'm right lol. also, i've spent WAYYY too much time looking at the w/heeler f/amily's features over the years, plus i LOOOOVE genetics so i can't help myself lol.

#💖 𝑵. 𝑾𝑯𝑬𝑬𝑳𝑬𝑹 : * about . #cw long post// //// #cw large image// ////

[rebelcliche-archived]

@dehddie​ asked:    ❝  maybe  it’s  not  so  bad.  maybe  no  one  noticed.  ❞

          oh  no,  there  was  no  way  no  one  noticed.  it  simply  wasn’t  n/ancy  w/heeler’s  luck  to  be  able  to  get  away  with  something  like  this.  sure,  she’d  been  able  to  keep  the  upside  down  under  wraps,  but  the  school  newspaper ?  lots  of  people  saw  that  right ?  she  knew  that  the  people  of  hawkins  weren’t  the  brightest  bulbs  in  the  bunch,  but  why  wouldn’t  they  notice  the  typo  ' AMPHIBIOUS  NEWCOMER,  L/UCAS  S/INCLAIR,  SCORES  WINNING  SHOT  IN  FRIDAY’S  GAME ! ’ ?

          “ you  really  think  no  one’s  gonna  notice  that ?  really ? ”

#dehddie #💖 𝑮𝑬𝑵𝑬𝑹𝑨𝑳 : * ask prompt . #💖 𝑵. 𝑾𝑯𝑬𝑬𝑳𝑬𝑹 : * interaction . #💖 𝑮𝑬𝑵𝑬𝑹𝑨𝑳 : * answered . #💖 𝑮𝑬𝑵𝑬𝑹𝑨𝑳 : * queue .

[sleptwithinthesun]

a little explanation of the initial conversation that j/onathan, s/teve, and n/ancy had when j/onathan first started realizing they weren't reacting the way an ordinary person would to his sneezes. 2.1K

It's three weeks into living in Indianapolis, a shitty little apartment they can barely even afford to live in with their current income, that Jonathan starts noticing that something is... off.

He fucking loves being with Steve and Nancy, don't get him wrong. It's like a missing piece has finally slotted into place, and everything feels right in a way he didn't even know was possible, but there's something else that he feels like he's just missing out on.

Occasionally, Nancy will send a look toward Steve, or Steve will tap Nancy's side and glance at Jonathan and he'll simply have no idea what the hell they're saying to each other without words. It can't be too important, if they're not letting him on it, but he doesn't know how to bring up the fact that it makes him uncomfortable. He still has no idea how to date Steve and Nancy together, since all of the intricacies of it are still too new for him, and it just feels awkward.

It's just so uncomfortable to watch it happen, though, and so it's over a Thursday dinner that he finally snaps.

Nancy's just come back from work, and walks into their room to change into more casual clothing before joining Jonathan and Steve in the kitchen. "Did both of you cook?" she asks, raising an eyebrow as she folds herself into Steve's open arms.

Jonathan shakes his head as Steve laughs. "Don't worry, I didn't let Steve touch anything," he says, flashing a grin at his boyfriend, who, in response, playfully rolls his eyes. "We know how that would end."

The sigh of relief that Nancy gives is only half of a joke, and she relaxes a little further into Steve's embrace before folding herself into Jonathan once his hands are unoccupied. Her perfume is strong, today, and Jonathan scrunches his nose up a bit as the scent irritates his sinuses. Only a couple more seconds pass before her proximity is just about unbearable, and Jonathan pulls away before yanking the collar of his shirt up.

"Jon? What's go—"

"hh'ngt!"

"Bless you," Nancy says, after a long beat where Jonathan waits to see if he's going to sneeze again. He doesn't, thankfully, and Steve clears his throat before echoing her.

"Thank you. Sorry," he murmurs, turning his attention back to the dish at hand. The turkey only has to cook for a minute or two longer, and then he can mix it in with the couscous, squash, and beans.

Steve gives him a passing smile as he starts opening the cabinets, intent on setting the table. "Don't be sorry," he says, "we don't mind."

Jonathan manages to return the smile, mixing the ground turkey up a bit to ensure that it's cooked evenly, then nods to his partners. "This should be ready in a minute," he comments, taking the proffered bowls from Steve and setting them down on the counter. The elder mutters something about being back in a minute, then leaves the room.

"Thank you," Nancy says, wrapping her arms around his middle and leaning into him.

He rubs her arm gently when she lets out a heavy sigh. "Work okay?" he asks.

"It was fine. Just, long day," she explains, shifting at his back. It puts her chin just behind his shoulder, enough so that she can see what he's doing without getting in the way, but simultaneously brings the scent of her perfume closer to his face. It's not long—only enough time for him to move the ground turkey into the same pot with the plain couscous—before he's forced to twist to the side and sneeze into his shirt again.

Nancy squeezes his shoulder. "Bless you, again," she says, frowning. "Are you okay?"

"Mm." Jonathan hums affirmation. "Your perfume, uh, it's— like, getting to me?" He says it quietly, almost questioning, hesitant to admit to it. He's not sure why. Something about the way Nancy's looking at him, something about her eyes. It's not quite... innocent.

Her eyes go wide all the same, and she takes a step back from him. "Oh, shit, I'm sorry," Nancy starts. "Do you need me to wash it off before we have dinner, or anything?"

"It's not that bad," Jonathan amends, turning to fill their bowls with the dish. "Only if you're really close to me. Don't worry about it, Nance." He's quick to reassure her, despite the fact that he seems more anxious that she does about the whole thing.

Steve reappears a moment later, and happily takes a bowl out of Jonathan's hands. "Thank you so much, Jon," he says. "Seriously. Without you, I would probably starve."

Nancy gives a pointed ahem, paired with a single raised eyebrow, and Steve corrects, "Both of you."

"That's better," Nancy says, grinning.

They all settle down at the table, and Nancy's careful to avoid taking the seat next to Jonathan, instead sitting on the side opposite him. Steve looks between them with a confused glance, and asks, "Nothing happened while I was gone, right?"

"No, we're fine," Nancy says. "Jonathan's reacting to my perfume."

Steve's mouth drops in an 'O', and he gives Nancy one of those looks before nodding and sitting next to Jonathan. And ordinarily, that wouldn't be a big deal, but it's happened so many times since Steve joined their relationship and Jonathan can't take it anymore.

"Why do you keep doing that?" he asks. It's not a snap; Jonathan's not sure if he would be able to stand himself if he started acting even a fraction like his father. "The— it's the look you keep sharing with each other. I don't get it, and I'm tired of being left out of the loop."

Jonathan's shaking. It's not anger, not really, more of a mix of fear and worry and desperation that Steve and Nancy aren't going to leave him behind.

"We're not leaving you out of anything!" Steve insists, and Jonathan feels something inside of him crack.

"Don't try to deny it," he says, and only now is true anger beginning to seep into his tone. "I can see it, Steve, don't do that to me."

"We're not trying to leave you out of it," Nancy says. "It's just... something that came up when we were dating. Old memories."

"You're lying," Jonathan whispers, betrayed tears pricking at the corners of his eyes.

"Jonathan," Steve says, and his voice cracks over the syllables. "Believe me, it's not that big of a deal."

They're all standing now, Jonathan at one end of the table and Steve and Nancy at the other. He feels trapped, cornered, and maybe, that's why he's lashing out at his partners. He doesn't know.

"If it's really not a big deal, then just tell me what's going on," he says.

Nancy and Steve share another look, and Jonathan resists the urge to dig his fingers into his hair and tug. He just doesn't get it.

"Okay, Jon," Nancy says eventually. "Okay."

She takes him by the wrist nad pulls him back down to their level, makes him sit down on the couch and sits at his left, Steve his right. Takes a deep breath. Says, in one exhale, "Steve and myself both have a kink for sneezing."

"What?"

That's... not what he was expecting. At all.

Nancy squirms a little, but keeps her chin up and sets her shoulders with confidence. "We're into sneezing. Like, it does it for us, if you catch my drift."

"Both of you?"

"Yeah." Steve looks at him, eyes soft and worried. "We didn't mention it earlier because, I mean, we haven't even done anything yet as a— as whatever we are, and we were worried it'd feel like we were moving too fast. It wasn't supposed to become anything until later."

Jonathan blinks.

"You're not weirded out by it, right?" Nancy asks.

"What? No," he says. "No. Just. Um. I didn't expect it. Really. I was just, kind of thinking that you had realized you liked it better, uh, without me." Jonathan winces.

"Never," Steve says firmly, and Nancy gives a sharp nod. "I joined for both of you, I better get both of you."

"Exactly what he said," Nancy agrees. "I don't want this if it means one of us is absent."

And Jonathan simply lets them hold him for a moment, take away each of his worries as they slip down his cheeks in tears. Even with Nancy before, he wasn't great about relying on her as his partner, rather than as his friend, and it seems that still hasn't clicked for him with both her and Steve.

A few minutes pass before he's able to pull himself together, and once he does, Steve starts carding a hand through his hair and brings Jonathan close to his side. "Better?" he asks, and Jonathan nods.

"Do you want to talk about this now or later?" Nancy questions softly. Jonathan can't see her face because of the way he's leaning against Steve, but he's known her, has dated her, for long enough to know that she's not upset.

"I want to figure us out before we deal with this," Jonathan whispers, unable to look either of them in the eye at the moment. "But I did have a few questions, if that's alright."

"Whatever you need to feel secure about this," Nancy replies.

Jonathan nods, then blurts out, "Does it apply to everyone, or just to me and each other?"

He catches a flicker of confusion as it crosses Steve's face, and the elder asks, "What do you mean, 'applies to'?"

Jonathan fumbles. "Like— like— will just anyone do it for you, or would it have to be me or each other? Who sneezes, I mean."

He forces himself into a sitting position so that he can actually look at their faces while they're talking. Nancy's lips pucker in that way that means she's thinking, and Steve pauses, considering.

After a beat, he says, "I don't know if it really works the way you think it does? I guess I'll pay more attention to it than the average person when someone sneezes, and I'll think about it more, but it's not like I'll be attracted to another person or turned on or whatever solely because they sneezed." 

"I'd say it's the same for me," Nancy says, nodding in agreement. "You're the exception, because we're actually able to engage with it through you, as long as you're okay with that." 

"Not yet," Jonathan says. "I'm not... I don't want that right now." Frustration creeps up his cheeks, and Steve gives him a soft smile at how red his face must be.

"That's fine," he says.

"We can postpone this conversation," Nancy offers. "Dinner is still on the table, after all."

Steve facepalms. "I totally forgot about that. Come on, let's go eat." He tugs Jonathan up with him when he stands, and hesitantly, Steve cups the sides of Jonathan's face with his wide palms and presses his forehead to Jonathan's own.

At times, everything still feels like they're back in high school, when Steve and Nancy were dating and Jonathan resigned himself to watching the only person he'd ever fallen in love with get swept away by someone better than him, on the basis that he was handsome and rich and popular. On the worst days, he doesn't even feel like he can breathe around them, not wanting to interfere.

He knows it doesn't work like that. Jonathan knows that, but even while in college, he and Nancy struggled to keep their relationship together amidst the piles of schoolwork and busy environment of New York. They'd even taken a break during the second semester of freshman year and picked it up again the summer after junior year was over. It was enough time off for Jonathan to know, with a certainty he'd rarely felt, that he'd never want to date anyone else, and for Nancy to realize that other guys didn't fill the hole the way Jonathan did, but even then, he couldn't completely do it either.

They needed Steve.

And it was— it was terrifying, that car ride back to Hawkins after they had graduated. Nancy had bitten her lips bloody trying to figure out what to say to Jonathan, who had been gripping the wheel so tightly his knuckles were turning white.

Nobody's going to like this, he'd warned.

I know, Nancy whispered. But...

She wanted them both. Jonathan had realized he'd been harboring a small crush on Steve post their senior year of high school, after Eddie and Vecna and everything, and told Nancy that he was okay with it. Steve was more than okay with it, once they'd arrived on his doorstep to fucking ask about it, but he and Jonathan still don't know how to love each other the same way they love Nancy.

But right now, he can feel it, he knows it's there, and he presses back and lets his boyfriend love him.

#s/tranger t/hings #s/teve h/arrington #j/onathan b/yers #n/ancy w/heeler #s/toncy #c/hicago au #swts fic

[softsnzstuff]

steddie (eddie snzer) w 💊(nasal spray) + maybe 🤒!!

(not me forgetting this is where i drop these💀)

I LOVE this combo!! 💊Nasal spray and 🤒Cold in Disguise. Wowowow!!! Please enjoy this little drabble for the Radio Show AU Bc I miss it. ~KB

*****

After spending five days a week together at the most ungodly of hours, it’s frankly a miracle that on the off days they still want to hang out.

Today in particular it’s a Sunday afternoons and the entire gang is out for a picnic. They even managed to get Jonathan and Chrissy to join too!

They’d all brought an assortment of fruit, crackers, and champagne, Al spread out on a huge blanket that was Jonathan’s mom’s.

For probably the tenth time this morning, Eddie turns away from the group, sprawled out on the blanket.

“H’xxT! N’xT!! X’tCHiew!!”

“Bless you!” Jonathan offered a napkin, which Eddie took with gratitude.

The long haired man tented the napkin over his nose and blew harshly. Robin making an openly disgusted grimace at how full it sounded.

“What’s up with you Eddie? You’ve sneezed like. Seven hundred thousand times.” The freckled brunette teases.

“Ha ha,” he sniffles again, “my allergies are SNF killing me. Some help this is…”

He grumbles and drops the Flonase spray out of his jacket pocket.

“You sound like you’re getting sick, Bean.” Chrissy rubs a hand on his arm.

“What?!”

He was certain it was allergies, but now he has to wonder. The blonde has known him the longest and seemingly knows him better than he does.

“I guess I feel a little more worn out than allergies usually makes me…”

Steve rubs a hand on his boyfriends back, but then pulls his shoulder in to make Eddie face him. The brunette takes a beat to take in the tiny details on Eddie’s face before resting a hand on his forehead.

Eddie scoffs, “Steve it’s springtime. I’m not going to feel any warmer than usual.”

Steve shot Eddie a look right back, “You don’t feel warm. Probably just a cold. But Flonase definitely isn’t going to cure that.”

Eddie grabbed the spray off the picnic blanket and pocketed it again, “yeah yeah whatever.”

#s/tranger t/hings #e/ddie m/unson #s/teve h/arrington #r/obin b/uckley #n/ancy w/heeler #fruity four #kb au’s #radio show au #snzblr #snz kink #ask box #kb writes #steddiesnz

[softsnzstuff]

Surprise!!! New AU Drop!

I said I’d do it when I hit 200 followers! I’m a little bit late, but I didn’t forget. I’d like to introduce you all to my new Radio Show AU!

The Fruity Four are cohosts of a radio show on 198.6 FM, of which Jonathan and Chrissy are producers. It’s hinted at the fact that some of the kids like Max, Dustin and Will are interns at the Tower.

As always, ask box is open for questions about the AU. Annnnnd here’s a little intro fic to tide you over. (Word Count: 1.6k) 🤍KB

Eddie yawned as he reached over and turned off his alarm that had been beeping for the last two minutes. He glanced over at the clock ~ 3:47 am.

The 28 year old was not a morning person by any means, but he loved his job and this is what the job called for. He pulled some jeans on over his boxers and made his way to the bathroom to brush his teeth and try to tame his hair. He’d find a shirt afterwards.

The smell of bitter coffee cut through the air of his apartment kitchen. ‘Thank god for coffee timers.’ He thought as he poured some into his Metallica travel mug. Despite everyone assuming he’d like his coffee black, Eddie was very much an “oat milk and two sugars” kind of guy.

His watch told him it was almost 4:15 am. He had to hit the road if he was going to be on time. He threw on his leather jacket and grabbed the denim vest off the back of his sofa. Keys and coffee in hand, he headed for the van.

The drive to the Hawkins Radio Tower was about 30 minutes. A little longer than he would have liked, but at least it was decently scenic. With some music in the background, he usually took the time to collect his thoughts as he sipped his coffee on the way over.

He pulled into his usual parking spot right out front. He recognized the Toyota Corolla parked next to him as Steve’s. The brunette was a year younger than Eddie, and one of three of Eddie’s cohosts on the 189.6 morning show.

Eddie got out of his van, standing on the curb in front of Steve’s car. Steve’s door opened and Eddie grinned. “Morning, Princess!”

“H’iiGTSHew!” Steve sneezed to the side, a light mist visible under the streetlights.

Eddie jumped back over dramatically, “Yuck!” He teased.

“Sorry,” Steve sniffled against his wrist, “Morning.”

“Nancy and Robin already here?” Eddie asked.

Steve looked over his shoulder, spotting the cranberry mom-van in the parking lot, “Looks like it!”

As they entered the studio, they were hit with the smell of donuts. they followed the scent until they almost ran into the blonde coming out of the kitchen.

“Oh geez! You guys scared me!” She laughed.

“Chrissy, you did not get us donuts.” Eddie’s eyes widened.

She blushed, “I did. Happy Monday! Saved you a Maple Bar, Steve!”

“You didn’t happen to get -”

“Old fashioned with sprinkles, yes. You think I don’t know you after fifteen years Eddie?” She playfully punched his arm, “I’m going to help Jonathan set up for the show. Be in the studio in five?”

“We’ll be there in three!” Eddie called after her, “Thanks Chrissy!!”

The two boys collected their donuts of choice and ate them as they walked to the recording studio. Nancy and Robin were already sitting at their chairs around the round table and talking amongst themselves.

The setup was fairly simple. A round table in a brightly colored room. Four microphones came down from the ceiling and had headphones next to them for each of the cohosts. There was a window on one side that led to the production booth where Jonathan and Chrissy basically lived.

“Morning ladies.” Eddie greeted.

“Hey guys! You alright Steve? You look a little worn.” Nancy asked.

“M’fine.” Steve offered a gentle smile and took his seat at the table, Eddie following suit.

A knock on the glass made them all look up. Chrissy signed a 3-0 at them, letting them know they had thirty seconds before they were live on air. Eddie shot her a thumbs up and the four put on their headsets, getting ready.

Eddie cleared his throat as he Looked up at the light above the door where they came in. After a few seconds it lit up. “ON AIR”.

The long haired man leaned into the microphone, bursting with energy he didn’t know he had, “Good morning Indiana! You’re listening to 198.6! Today is Monday and you know what that means-”

“iiGSHew! H’eTSHuhew!” the brunette tried to turn away from the mic, but he was certain he could be heard on the broadcast.

“-Bless you Steve. Today’s Monday which means we’re going to be reading some Missed Connections from Craigslist!”

Robin chuckled and leaned into her mic, looking speaking to Eddie, “I’ve got a good one today, I don’t know about you guys.”

“She’s right. I read it earlier. It’s good.” Nancy added.

“Alright then girl boss, why don’t you start us off.” Eddie offered, gesturing that the floor was hers.

“Okay then,” Robin tapped her card on the table for effect, “To the blonde babe in aisle seven of Whole Foods…”

“Jesus Christ…” Steve muttered under his breath.

“You looked gorgeous from your head to your toes. I especially like the way your arms flexed as you picked up your hand basket of hot dogs and Graham crackers. Judging by the Hershey's bar you also picked out, I assume you are going camping. If you’re looking for a lifelong camping partner, here I am. You looked so graceful picking out a chocolate. So why don’t you take a chance on this here SweeTart?”

Eddie made a fake gagging sound, “THAT WAS SO BAD!”

“Am I wrong or did he compliment the way she bicep curled her hand basket?” Nancy laughed.

“No he totally did. And is NO ONE going to mention that terrible pun at the end???” Steve threw his hands up in the air.

“Alright killer, your turn.” Robin smirked at Eddie.

The older man picked up his own paper and put on his most dramatic voice - the one he usually saved for the nights he hosted DnD for the interns.

“We met at Jason’s Halloween party. I was the one dressed as a sexy vampire. You were a witch. Though I could not see your face, I could tell you were beautiful. I asked Jason who you were but he was too drunk to remember. If you’re out there please call me.”

“Wow. That guy is really hoping to find luck when they dressed as the two most cliche Halloween costumes … of all time???”

“Nance is right. ‘Sexy vampire’?? Eddie weren’t you a vampire this year too?” Robin asked.

“Ha ha, very funny.” Eddie said sarcastically.

“Wanna go next, Steve?” Nancy offered.

The 27 year old looked up, “Oh uh sure!” The tickle in his nose has blossomed once more and he was desperately trying to will it away.

“Snf it’s not too long. Wednesday morning I was working my shift at the movie theaters. You SNF you had tickets for the matinee re-screening of Lord of thehh Rings hiCHMPshh!”

Steve turned and sneezed into his elbow, sniffling as he moved back towards the microphone.

“Bless you.” Came the replies from his cohosts.

“snfsnff I like a girl who knows her lehhh lore. If you were the girl in seat twehhhnty six D, you can reach me here-”

The tail end of his sentence was rushed as he once again swiveled away from the microphone, pulling the collar of his shirt up over his face.

“ItsCHEW! HaESSH! H’EKSHuhew!”

“Bless you! Jesus…” Eddie placed a gentle hand on Steve’s back while he sniffled helplessly against his wrist.

“Snlrff sorry I have to blow m’by n’dose.”

Steve got up and walked out of the recording room, not something any of them usually do. There was a brief downbeat of silence until Eddie realized the girls were looking at him to say something witty.

“You know what I love about a story?” Eddie asked. “Specificity. Seat 26D huh?”

The girls chuckled and they continued with the on-air banter.

Steve had gone to the bathroom to clean himself up and wash his hands before returning to the production room. When he got there, his fellow cohosts were getting up from the table and walking towards the door. Steve could see them through the window Chrissy and Jonathan looked through.

“Twenty minute song break.” Robin explained as she jogged past Steve, “I have to pee so bad!”

Nancy followed, but held up her water bottle. “I’m gonna refill. Be back in a sec.”

By the time Eddie walked in, Chrissy and Jonathan were busy talking amongst themselves about different tools they could use for some future segment editing.

“Hey dude, what happened? Are you okay?”

“Ugh god that was so embarrassing…” Steve rubbed at his eyes. Eddie frowned at the way his consonants were rounded with congestion.

“Are you not feeling well Stevie?”

“I felt it coming on this weekend, but it really hit me today.”

“Well listen, you’ve got three cohosts for a reason. If you wanna go home we’d understand. Or…”

Eddie paused, thinking he might be overstepping.

“Or?” Steve questioned.

Shit, so he did hear him. Eddie rubbed at the back of his neck trying to play cool.

“Or… if you wanted to wait for me and just rest on Jonathan’s couch in here… I could uh pick up some soup or medicine or whatever and bring it to you?”

He bit his lip, preparing for the rejection he was certain he’d face.

“I’d like that a lot actually.”

The answer shocked Eddie to the core, “Really?”

“Yeah! Jonathan can I lie down in here while they finish the show?”

The man looked up from his smorgasbord of editing tools. “Yeah man go ahead.”

“Cool,” Eddie joked, glancing at his watch, “Just hang tight for about three more hours.”

#SURPRISE! #kind of excited about this one I hope y’all enjoy #s/tranger t/hings #radio show au #kb au’s #e/ddie m/unson #s/teve h/arrington #r/obin b/uckley #n/ancy w/heeler #j/onathan b/yers #c/hrissy c/unningham #fruity four #snzblr #snz kink #sickfic #NEW AU

[sleptwithinthesun]

the c/hicago au n/ancy w/heeler snzcanons, because why not. considering possibly doing snzkink hcs for her and steve as well? perhaps? idk. if y'all are into the au, i'll definitely write them :)

- sneezes in doubles, with a slight pause in between. it's not really long enough for people to think that she's done, but it's long enough that there's a sense of ✨anticipation✨ lol

- pitchy buildups. you know those people whose pitch just gets higher on each breath? yeah that's nancy. they're not long, but steve did tease her about it a bit when they were dating in high school

- can stifle, but doesn't like to? nancy finds it uncomfortable when she does it, and tends to get a little self-conscious because like. stifling is something she likes, so to her, it's a lil funky to be fulfilling her own preferences

- unrelated, but hair bounce when sneeze. idk it's just cute to me

- i've never seen this next one talked about before, but i think nancy would close her eyes pretty hard whenever she sneezes, regardless of the force.

- sneezes into her elbow or the back of her wrist. the latter is only when she's forced to stifle though

- isn't afraid to admit that she's sick but also just won't stay put. like she'll tell steve and jonathan that she's sick and they'll be like "cool now please stay in bed" and twenty minutes later they'll find her cleaning the dishes or something. nancy please rest

- normal temp! she would make it easy to tell if she's actually running a fever or not, unlike her boyfriends

- straight-up just doesn't get sick. nancy got sick badly once as a little baby and her immune system fully went "yeah no we're not doing that shit again" and toughened up. she hasn't been sick once since eighth grade

- that's part of the reason why she doesn't like resting if she's sick; nancy doesn't ever consider herself "sick enough" to take a break, and she's usually correct.

- if she were to get sick, her symptoms would literally just be a cough and a headache or something. like illness does NOTHING to her, making her the designated caregiver <3

- very few allergies as well.

- maybe she'll react to dust if there's a lot of it? really it's nbd though

- the one thing that DOES get to nancy is this spice called star anise. it's used in a lot of asian dishes (pho, biryani, etc) but i think american people mostly use it in cookies and jams and stuff. but yeah it really gets to nancy, although her reactions are pretty quick. remove the allergen and she'll be fine in a minute or two

- hates sneezing. she likes it for other people, but not herself

ye. i hope those were okay lol :) if you want, you can send me an ask about the au and i will be more than happy to answer it

#snz headcanons #snzcanons #s/tranger t/hings #n/ancy w/heeler #c/hicago au #swts hc

[sleptwithinthesun]

hi this is just c/hicago au with j/onathan talking about Stuff™ soon after they move to chicago? no actual sneezing but a few mentions. 0.7K words i hope you enjoy!! (i hate these setup fics so bear with me until the end of this one because it's SHIT lol)

Jonathan's the last one home on Friday evening, three weeks after they moved into their new apartment in Chicago, which is still unbelievable to him. They'd been talking about it for months, practically since they started living together, mentioning that they wanted to live in a city instead of hopping from town to town, and have finally, finally managed to settle down in an apartment with a lease longer than six months.

The floor of said apartment still boasts a handful of broken-down moving boxes that haven't been shoved into the closet yet, just because they've all been so preoccupied with finding jobs. Thankfully, Nancy and Jonathan managed to land jobs as a journalist and photographer, respectively, at one of the major newspapers for Chicago, and Steve's got something going as a floor manager over at the local department store, the position aided by his solid amount of previous experience in retail.

"Hey, Jon," Steve greets, smiling at his boyfriend as he crouches to unlace his boots. Jonathan returns it, the corners of his lips quirking in that way that he does, the one that's more telling of his happiness than an actual smile is. "Work alright?"

"It was fine," Jonathan says, "for the most part."

Nancy looks up from her book, eyebrows furrowed with concern. "What happened?" She and Jonathan work in wildly different areas of their office building, and rarely see each other unless they're both on break or get to work on the same story.

He shrugs. "Other photographer was in the darkroom while I was, and kept moving in and out to get his stuff because he was completely disorganized, which is really just not conducive to developing photographs." Jonathan sits down on the couch next to Steve, sniffling quietly before adding, "Not to mention the light."

"I keep forgetting about the light thing," Steve says offhandedly, feeling his abdomen tighten with unnecessary excitement. Christ, Jonathan's not even ready to deal with that, not after the first talk they all tried to have. He's pretty sure Jonathan forgot about it entirely, considering that the conversation was more than a year ago, and isn't looking forward to bringing all of that up again.

Jonathan sighs. "It'd be alright if people thought it was normal whenever I tell them that the light makes me sneeze, but instead, they just look at me like I'm crazy."

"I mean, it is kind of a weird thing to have to explain," Nancy says, and clears her throat. Steve can tell that Jonathan's getting to her as well, involuntary as it may be.

Jonathan only shrugs. "I guess."

They lapse into a quiet silence after that, and when Jonathan leaves the room to get a book of his own, Steve moves over to Nancy's side.

"We have to tell him," he says quietly. "If these kinds of conversations become a regular thing, we have to tell him."

Nancy frowns. "We did tell him, back in Indianapolis," she whispers.

"I'm not sure if he remembers that."

"Oh, shit. Yeah, you might be right about that."

"Do we want to tell him?"

"...Not really."

"Nance."

"We can wait!" she hisses, glancing toward the bedroom, where Jonathan currently is. "We can wait. It's fine, Steve, we'll bring it up when the time is right."

He hesitates for a moment, then nods. "Whenever you're ready."

Nancy shoots him a tight-lipped smile, and closes her book and stands just as she and Steve stand up. "I think we have the stuff we need for pork chops," she says, letting their conversation flow seamlessly into a discussion about dinner right when Jonathan walks back into the room. "Would that work?"

"Sounds good," Steve says, then looks up at their boyfriend. "Jon?"

"That's fine," he says, and puts his book down on the couch. "Nancy, do you want help in the kitchen?"

"As long as Steve isn't allowed in, then yes. I don't trust him not to set anything on fire."

"Hey! That was one time."

"One time too many, Harrington," Nancy says with a playful grin, and Steve rolls his eyes before grinning back.

#s/tranger t/hings #s/teve h/arrington #j/onathan b/yers #n/ancy w/heeler #s/toncy #c/hicago au #swts fic

[softsnzstuff]

🎬 eddieee? 💕

🎬: they’re watching a scary movie marathon with their friends and cannot. stop. sneezing. At first, maybe their friends thought it was funny, but now they’re starting to get concerned. What’s going on?

*******************************************************

“Hey hey!” Robin opened the door and let Steve and Eddie inside.

Nancy was sitting on the floor in front of the couch, with a laptop in front of her.

“Started the stream without you, hope you don’t mind.” She called out.

Steve took in the setup. Both girls had fluffy Halloween socks. The table was covered with treats, snacks, and hot cocoa. Nancy had lit a couple of candles, the room smelling of warm spices and pumpkins.

“Not at all! This looks cozy.”

The living room tv was paused on the opening of The Nightmare Before Christmas. The four of them were doing a Halloween movie night and streaming their commentary live.

Eddie was quick to plop himself on the couch, waving. “Hi guys!!!”

Eddie!!!!

Finally the boys are here!!

Play the movie!!

This is my favorite

“Hey Stevie they said hurry up and sit down so we can watch the movie!” Eddie teased, rubbing a hand against his nose. It suddenly started to feel tickly.

“Sheesh okay, I’m coming.” He sat down on the couch next to Eddie, one arm around his partner.

Robin sat on the floor in front of Eddie, they were all staggered so the viewers could see them all. She picked up the remote and pressed play.

“So it begins.” She said into the camera.

Eddie scrubbed a little harder at his nose, something Steve picked up on right away.

“You okay?”

“Yeah sorry, just tickly all of a sudden…” he twisted to the side, pinching his nose, “H’ixxT! NxxT! NxxT’iew!”

“Bless you, sneezy!” Steve teased.

“snFF thanks.”

The screen panned down, the opening beat for This is Halloween playing loudly from the speakers around them. Robin was singing along while Eddie head banged behind her, both Nancy and Steve laughing at their respective partners.

Robin and Eddie know what’s up! 🤘🏻

This is my favorite part

What an absolute banger

When the song ended, Eddie leaned back, letting himself sink into the couch cushions a little. His nose twitched suddenly and without warning.

“FHehhuck!” He pulled his collar over his nose and sneezed down towards his stomach, misting it slightly, “iK’tch’EW! H’ETCH’iew! snfSNF Hissh’IEW!”

Bless you!

This always happens lol

Steve turned to face him and squeezed his shoulder, “Bless you!”

“Gosh Eddie, we can’t hear the movie.” Robin joked, poking fun at his sensitive nose.

Eddie cleared his throat, “Snfff, ugh, excuse me. I’m gonna go blow my nose.”

He got up and carefully stepped over Robin and Nancy, making his way down the hall to their bathroom.

He flicked on the light and pulled a few tissues from the box. He gave his nose a blow, folding the tissue over and blowing again.

As he threw it away, Steve came up behind him.

“Hey,” he said in a hushed tone, “You okay?”

“snF! Yeah, just got real tickly all of a suhhhdden… A’KSHh’ew! KShh’EW! snf ISSHIEW! Jesus chrihhhst H’iKSH’iEW!!”

Eddie had ducked down into his sleeve. Sniffling thickly, he pulled a couple more tissues from the box repeating the process he’d just completed.

He was still wiping his nose when Steve furrowed his brow and held a hand to his forehead.

“You don’t feel warm…” he hummed.

“M’not sick, Stevie.” Eddie said, turning to wash his hands, “SNF, think I’m allergic to something, just don’t know what.”

Steve paused in thought. “I think I know what it is.”

Eddie turned off the bathroom light, taking a handful of fresh tissues with him, knowing he’ll probably need them.

He flopped back on the couch, the girls turning to him while Kidnap the Sandy Claws played on the tv.

“Alright Eds?” Nancy asked.

“Yeah, think I might be allergic to something in here.”

“I have a suspicion it might be your nice candles, Nance.”

Steve picked it up off the table and blew out the flame, a small trail of smoke and scent billowing up into the air. He held it in front of Eddie’s face and gently blew the smoke towards him.

“What’re you-? Oh fuhhhck.”

Eddie squeezed his eyes closed and waved his hands in front of his face, nostrils flaring. As Steve set the candle back on the table, Eddie was turned to the side, elbow pulled up to his face.

“it’CHEW! Tsch’EW! TsschEW!” He sneezed rapidly. “God dammbit Steve! I- hNG’chu! H’mpTCHew! eh’KSHh’IEW!”

Oh my god are you good bro?

Bless you bunches

No more pumpkin spice for Eddie :(

“Shit, sorry Eddie! We had no idea you were allergic!” Robin paused the movie and scrambled to take the candles and put them in a different room, turning on the ceiling fan to try and circulate the air a little more.

Nancy had also gotten up, bringing Eddie the tissue box from the kitchen. He already had the extras from the bathroom pressed to his face as he blew his nose, pausing only to sneeze into them, and then keep blowing.

Steve rubbed his back. The man was so drained that the sneezes came in singles every couple of seconds.

“Tissh’u! ….H’ssh’IEW!…snfSNF H’iKSHhiew!”

Eddie sniffled helplessly against the tissues as Steve wiped away an allergic tear from his eyes.

“Sorry Eds. Why don’t we finish this another night?”

“Are you crazy?? We cad’t bail on Hallowee’d m’bovie n’dight!”

The rest of the gang looked at him a little skeptically. “Are you sure Eddie?”

He nodded.

“Yeah! Viewers are already waiti’g. As long as you do’t mind - eT’sch’EW! - that… I’ve got mby tissues, I’b good to go!”

Bless you again!

What a trooper

Watch Sleep Away Camp next!

“If you say so.”

Robin shrugged and pressed play, Jack Skellington resuming his mission of creating Christmas.

#s/tranger t/hings #e/ddie m/unson #s/teve h/arrington #snzblr #steddiesnz #fruity 4 #streamer AU #r/obin b/uckley #n/ancy w/heeler #r/onance #ask box #halloweensnz

[sleptwithinthesun]

hi i really like the chicago au i made the other day so here's another lil story for it lol. not snz-focused, more of plot/establishing stuff, but the fic discusses snzkink quite a bit, so. here's 2.4K words :)

Summer is winding down.

The end of August gets closer and closer every single day, and despite the fact that Jonathan's been out of college for over a year, now, he still finds himself with a leftover sense of dread, slowly enforced over the course of sixteen years of school, digging roots into his gut. It doesn't matter that he knows things are going steady, that his job pays well enough to help keep them afloat, that he won't have to drag himself through another nine months of hell once September rears her ugly little head; Jonathan can't help the way that his skin begins to prickle with gooseflesh as soon as the slightest hint of the autumn chill starts to weave through the air.

Nancy teases him with a smile when he brings up his anxieties, but her eyes get soft all the same when she runs a comforting hand down his arm and presses his knuckles to her lips. Steve just nods and lets Jonathan drop his head onto his shoulder, whispering that he gets it after Nancy disappears to make him tea. He says that Jonathan and Nancy rescued him, when they came back to Hawkins to get him. That they saved him. That if they hadn't done that, if they hadn't chosen to let him in, he doesn't know where he'd be today.

In truth, Jonathan doesn't know, either. There was a period of time, and a long one, at that, where he thought that it really couldn't get any better than him and Nancy. Joyce didn't think they would last, but their family has an inexplicable tradition of high school love that's been maintained by Jonathan and Will, following in her footsteps. But now that he and Nancy have Steve, he can't possibly imagine what it was ever like to be without him. The past three months in Chicago with his two partners have been the best of his life, and Jonathan's in constant disbelief as to how they actually made it out of Hawkins. Just over a year ago, they'd moved into their apartment in Indianapolis, settled on their six-month lease, and quickly realized they didn't have the funds to support it. A handful of the little towns around Indiana remember their presence, watched the attempts that quickly spiraled out as they routinely tried and failed, miserably, to find jobs that would allow them to properly settle, only gaining a few months of work at a time before they'd have to pack it all up and try again. Signing absolutely nothing longer than a three-month lease and living paycheck-to-paycheck for more than a year was nerve wracking, and Jonathan's simply grateful that Chicago worked out. The city was definitely a risk, but one that they needed to take.

They're certainly not well-off, not by a long shot, but at least they're doing better than just scraping by, now. They actually have a decently-sized apartment to themselves and space to breathe.

Steve's catching his jaw in a kiss before Jonathan even fully sets foot in the kitchen, sighing into his neck with a soft, "Hey, Jon," as he wraps the younger man in an embrace. He sways a bit, lit up by the early morning light. The air coming in from the open window is sticky with August humidity and filled with the sounds of a city waking up.

"Steve," is all he manages, still not quite awake, mumbling into his boyfriend's chest. Steve laughs quietly, the sound vibrating through him and Jonathan clings tighter to him.

"Do you want coffee?" Steve asks. Jonathan, who runs a bit more than two degrees lower than the average person, whines when Steve, the human space heater, pulls away from him, but resigns himself to his fate, crossing his arms over his chest. He shakes his head; coffee's only ever made him jittery.

He clears his throat before speaking. "Nancy'll probably want a cup when she wakes up, though," he offers, and Steve nods, agreeing. The light streaming in from the window catches Jonathan right in the face as Steve turns away to get the grounds out of the cabinet, and nearly freezes when Jonathan inhales suddenly before sneezing near-silently into his elbow. His knee jerks up a bit when he does so, and he barely gets his shirt up in time to cover his face. "h'gt!"

Jonathan sniffles momentarily, pulls his shirt back down, then pauses when he notices the expression plastered on Steve's face. The other man looks oddly... flustered, strangely enough, and Jonathan has no idea how to respond to it. "Sorry?" he offers.

"No! No, don't be sorry," Steve rushes. There's no missing the catch in his voice, nor the nervous little shuffle he does as he scuffs his foot against the ground. "Bless you, Jon."

And—

Oh.

"This is about the other night, isn't it?" he asks. They've discussed it before, Steve and Nancy's shared kink in regard to his sneezing, but they've never gone into any further detail than what it actually was and the basics of what it entailed. So, Jonathan understands that it's attractive to them, but he doesn't know what about sneezing does it for them and the ways in which he can fulfill their specific interests.

Steve practically flinches with the force of his worry. "We didn't— Nance and I didn't make you uncomfortable, did we?"

"You didn't make me uncomfortable or cross any boundaries." Jonathan is quick to reassure him. "I just. Um. If it's okay with both you and Nancy, I wanted to know more about what it means for you? Like, I get that my sneezing is attractive, but I don't know what either of you want from it, if that makes sense." 

"That's fair," Steve says. "Nancy and I differ a bit in our preferences, so it's probably better if we wait to talk about it until she's awake?"

"Talk about what?"

Nancy stands in the doorway, rubbing the sleep away from her eye and blinking tiredly.

"Sneeze kink stuff," Steve explains, absolutely shamelessly at only seven-thirty in the morning. Nancy raises an eyebrow at them, pointedly glancing at the clock, and then back to them. Steve rolls his eyes, and Jonathan ducks his head slightly. "He brought it up," Steve says, pointing his finger toward his boyfriend.

"Hey!" Jonathan protests. "That's not at all my fault. You're the one who got all weird when I sneezed."

"You're the one who sneezed!"

"The light hit me in the face, I can't help that it makes me sneeze."

"Oh my God," Nancy says, shaking her head fondly at them. "Hopeless, the lot of you."

Steve only grins, and Jonathan offers a little smile. "I was asking Steve about your, uh, preferences? Like, what both of you like, basically. Yeah. Um."

"You're so fucking cute," Nancy says, walking forward and gently cupping the sides of his face. "You'd do that just to indulge us?"

"Yeah?" Jonathan asks, tilting his head in confusion. "As long as it makes you and Steve happy. I just want to make you happy."

In front of him, Nancy pretty much melts. "Steve. Steve, how the hell did we get lucky enough to end up with him?"

"No idea," Steve says, and from the sound of it, he's finally taking the coffee press out of the cabinet. That's partially, if not mostly, Jonathan's fault; he did pretty much derail the entire conversation.

Nancy traces her pointer finger down the side of his face before letting her hand drop back to her side. "Let me wake up a bit first, and then we can all have a proper talk about preferences, because Steve and I are into pretty different things."

Jonathan nods. "Sounds good to me."

-

Nancy wraps her hands around her mug at seven-forty-eight, breathing in the scent of her coffee before taking a cautious sip and setting her mug back down on the coaster. Steve, who's sitting opposite to Jonathan on the other couch, also has a mug on the coffee table, but so far, it's remained untouched.

"Do you want me or Nance to start?" he asks, looking at Jonathan. "Either way, it really doesn't matter, but it might be easier for us to explain one at a time."

Jonathan shrugs. "I don't care. Whatever's best for both of you can work for me."

Steve glances over at Nancy, who simply shrugs and waves a hand toward him, giving the universal tacit signal for go ahead.

"Okay, so. Uh. Preferences," he starts, rubbing the back of his neck. It's his tell for when he's uncomfortable, but he sits up straighter once Nancy gives him a reassuring nod. Explain it like we did when we first started dating, she mouths. Jonathan simply waits on the end of the couch, endlessly patient.

"I honestly don't have many," he blurts. "For me, pretty much however you sneeze is enough just because it's you, but sometimes I'll get into a mood where stifles or holding back is really good, but that comes from Nancy, I think. Before her, I really didn't care at all. I do like, uh, inducing, sometimes, 'cause it feels good for me to be in control of what's making you sneeze." Steve casts a look up at Jonathan. Obviously, he's not expecting disgust; he's been with Jonathan for long enough to know that he'd never react like that. He's expecting something, though, other than the plain confusion that Jonathan meets him with.

He's the first to look away. "What's inducing?" he asks softly, almost sounding embarrassed, and Steve nearly collapses into a puddle right then and there. For all he's been worried about Jonathan thinking that he's weird for liking this, Jonathan's probably been just as worried that he's the one out of the loop, since he and Nancy share this kink and Jonathan's only now being introduced to it.

"Inducing is pretty much what it sounds like," Nancy says. "Basically, we make you sneeze, usually with something like a tissue or feather."

Jonathan nods in understanding. "And... that's it? For you, I mean?" His gaze lands on Steve, eyebrows raised.

"Yeah, pretty much. If I think of anything else, I'll tell you, but I think that covers it. Nance?"

She's already nodding along. "Yep. It really hasn't changed much since we first talked about it."

"Are yours really different?" Jonathan asks.

"Yes, and no. I'm trying to figure out how to explain this." Nancy's posture straightens out, and her gaze drifts the same way it does whenever she's thinking about something. "Like, the feeling I get from it or want from it is the same. I like being in control, and I like having dominance over people, so that definitely reflects in the shit I'm into." She laughs. "I do enjoy stifles and holding back, as Steve mentioned, and inducing as well, but mostly, I just want to make you lose control. You're very composed, Jon, and it's nice to break that every once in a while, if you get what I mean."

And Jonathan doesn't look scared, not exactly, but definitely a bit intimidated. "Not really?"

"You stifle your sneezes into silence most of the time, Jonathan," Steve points out. "You're the one in control of that. Nancy, though, she likes to make it so that you can't stifle because there's no time for you to react to the feeling of needing to sneeze." He doesn't know how obvious it is that he's speaking from experience to Jonathan, but Nancy very clearly knows what he's talking about, if her confident smirk means anything.

"Oh," Jonathan says, then blinks. "Okay."

"You don't have to deal with any of this, not if you don't want to," Nancy tells him. "Neither of us need it to be happy in a relationship. Don't feel bad if you're not comf—"

"I want to do it," Jonathan interrupts. "Sorry. But. I want to, uh, do it. To do this stuff with you. If we can set boundaries?"

"Of course," Steve says, at the exact same time that Nancy states, "That's not even a question you need to ask."

Jonathan nods. "Okay. Cool. Um."

There's a long beat of silence where he's clearly trying to figure out if what he's about to ask is going to offend them, and Steve reaches across the space between them to place what he hopes is a comforting hand on his knee. "Hey. Jon. Don't worry about it, okay? Whatever you want to ask, just ask it. We're not going to say no."

"Alright," Jonathan says, and his lips quirk up for a moment. "Yeah. So, like, how far would either of you go if we're, uh, inducing?"

"We want you to feel safe." Nancy looks at him, a sad little smile gracing her face. "I know you want to make us happy, but if you don't feel comfortable with what we're doing, or don't feel safe, or want us to stop, just tell us and we will. It's more than enough that you're willing to indulge us in the first place, so we're only going to go as far as you're ready to."

"If you genuinely feel like you're losing control—more than of just your sneezes, if you feel like you can't breathe, or something like that, please tell us," Steve adds. "We're not trying to kill you."

That startles a laugh out of Jonathan, and some of the stress that's been pulling his shoulders taut releases. "That's good to know."

He shifts in his seat a little, pulling his legs up to sit cross-legged, picking at a thread on the couch when he says, "This might be weird, or whatever—"

"We're literally into sneezing as a kink, Jon, don't worry about weird."

"—but do you want a list of my allergies, or something? Would that help at all?"

Steve can feel his body tingle at the mere thought. "Fuck, please do."

For the first time since the conversation started, Jonathan's expression slips into something teasing. "Would that do it for you?" he asks, voice dropping slightly, and Steve just nods dumbly. Christ, he's dating this?

"I think you broke him," Nancy comments.

Jonathan shrugs. "If that's what he's like now, then it'll be really fun when we actually try this out."

"We're going to do shit to you that you've never even dreamed of," Nancy warns, pointing a finger at him.

"You already promised that when we first started dating," Jonathan says, teeth flashing as he smiles. "I think I can handle a little more."

#s/tranger t/hings #s/teve h/arrington #j/onathan b/yers #n/ancy w/heeler #s/toncy #c/hicago au #swts fic

[softsnzstuff]

Home for the Holidays

Merry (early) Christmas just because!! I’ve had this idea since October and only sat down to write it tonight, hope you enjoy!! ~KB

Fandom: Stranger Things; Streamer AU

Summary: The Fruity Four go to the Buckley household in New York for this famous holiday party that they intend to vlog. The remainder of the plot is quite literally - “everyone gets sick.”

Word count: 3,000

“Ladies and gentleman, we are about to begin our final departure. Please stow away any large electronics and make sure your seat and tray table are in the upright and locked position.”

Eddie took off his headphones and hung them around his neck, turning to look at Steve, who was asleep against the window. His lips were parted slightly as he slept, nose tinged pink.

The older man rubbed his partner’s thigh lovingly before putting the headphones back on for the last 20 minutes of the flight.

Across the aisle, Robin and Nancy were packing up their playing cards. Robin had her phone out, recording quietly. She zoomed in on the boys, Eddie waving and pointing at Steve with his thumb, laughing.

Even though this getaway to Robin’s family home was a personal vacation, their annual Buckley party was well known across the country. All of the streamers had decided to vlog the trip this year, giving viewers an inside look into the famous holiday shindig.

The plane landed at JFK around 7:30pm Eastern. They all grabbed their small suitcases or duffels, wearing their backpacks as they exited the aircraft. Eddie was filming as they walked down the gate into the main part of the airport.

“Alright freaks, we just landed in New Yawk, Birdie’s hometown.” He glanced at Robin and wiggled his eyebrows before she laughed and pushed the camera back towards the boys.

Eddie returned to frame just as Steve turned slightly, steepling into his hands.

“Hih.. iiGSHuhew! snff H’etCHHuh!”

“Bless you!” Eddie exclaimed. “You alright Stevie? You look like shit.”

The younger man groaned quietly, running a hand through his ruffled hair and running a knuckle under his nose.

Eddie addressed the camera again, “Steve’s not feeling too hot guys. Think he caught whatever Nancy has.”

“Sorry Steve.” Nancy shot him an apologetic glance as she walked. She’d started getting sick only a few days ago, but despite being on the tail end of it, still felt kind of crummy.

“It’s all good, N’dance. I’m okay.”

“WELP! We’re gonna snag a taxi to The Buckley Household.” Eddie said in a British accent.

Robins voice rang in from the background, “My family isn’t British Eddie.”

“Yeah yeah alright, we’re going to Birdie’s house! See you later!”

---

Filming picked up again the next morning. Robin was sitting at a small table in the kitchen, Nancy resting on her shoulder.

“Morning, Mama B!” Eddie filmed as he strolled into the kitchen where Victoria Buckley was boiling water on the stove. “What’s cookin?”

“Tea for Nance and Steve.” Robin said.

Mrs.Buckley nodded in agreement, turning to Eddie. The 27 year old turned the camera back on himself.

“Things kind of took a turn for the worst last night. Nancy has a fever and Steve can’t stop coughing… speak of the devil.”

Eddie turned around as Steve walked down the staircase, coughing into the elbow of his hoodie.

“Oh, go back to bed sweetheart, Eddie will bring you this tea when it’s done.” Mrs.Buckley cooed.

“That means she doesn’t want you to get the kitchen all germy before the party tonight.” Robin teased.

“Be nice Robin, he’s sick.” Mrs.Buckley said.

“Yeah Robin,” Steve mimicked, “Be nice. I’m hhh sick- h’AESHhu! Hih-eKSht’iew!”

“Alright you,” Eddie turned Steve around and nudged him back towards the stairs, “Back to bed.”

“Steve and I can stay upstairs during the party, Mrs.B. I’d hate to get any of your guests sick too.” Nancy finally spoke up, lifting her head off of Robin’s shoulder.

Mrs.Buckley rubbed a hand on Nancy’s shoulder as she set down the mug of tea. “After that display from Steve, I think that’s a good idea. But please do help yourself to any of the food and drink!”

Nancy smiled and nodded and Robin kissed the top of her head.

Mrs.Buckley held out the second mug of tea. “Eddie dear, do you mind?”

“Yeah of course!” Eddie turned off the camera and pocketed his phone, taking the mug carefully with both hands.

He carefully jogged up the stairs to the guest bedroom he and Steve were staying in. “Hey Stevie I got your tea!”

A wet cough escaped Steve’s lips before he turned back towards Eddie, reaching for the mug. “Tha’gks Eds.”

Eddie frowned and sat on the edge of the bed next to Steve. “You sound bad. How do you feel?”

Steve sighed, debating how honest he wanted to be. “Hon’destly? Pretty bad.”

“I’m sorry babe. Robin and I are going out to run some party errands for her parents. Do you need anything?”

Steve sipped his tea, “Umb some cough m’bedicine? Maybe…”

“You got it.” Eddie smiled, lifting Steve’s chin with a finger before leaning in and kissing him.

“Eddie what are you doing? You’re going to get sick too.”

Eddie scoffed, “I’ve already been around you and Nancy all week. Plus I’ve got the good old Munson constitution. Don’t worry about me.”

He shrugged on a jacket and started to tie up his Reeboks. Steve watched guiltily, “It’ll be a Christmas miracle if you don’t catch this. I give you till the end of tomorrow.”

“Thank you so much Steve,” Eddie said sarcastically, “For your endless belief in me.”

With a quick smile and a dramatically blown kiss, Eddie disappeared to head out with Robin.

---

“So uh, what errands are we running again?” Eddie asked as he climbed into the passenger seat of Robin’s mom’s Honda. “Actually wait!”

Eddie pulled out his phone and turned it on Robin. “Okay Robs, tell everyone where we’re going!”

“Okay! Hi everyone!” Robin waved frantically, “Today Eddie and I are running errands for my mom before the big partayyy. We need to pick up a small Christmas tree, some alcohol, and snacks!”

“And medicine for Steve!” Eddie added.

“And medicine for Steve.” Robin parroted as she shifted the car into reverse.

Driving in New York was always a hassle, but thankfully the Buckley’s didn’t live deep into the city. It was only a 15 minute drive from Robin’s to the mini tree lot. It was a cute little place tucked away, decked out in Christmas lights and leftover New York slush.

“So my dad is actually the picky one.” Robin mentioned, “He doesn’t want anything bigger than four feet, can’t be too bare but also can’t be too bushy.”

“Good old John…” Eddie joked. He wiped at his nose with the back of his hand, sniffing slightly.

The lot was small, but Robin walked up and down each aisle, Eddie meticulously documenting the process. Finally, they landed on the right tree.

“This one is perfect!” Robin exclaimed, holding up the tree and beaming at Eddie.

“That’s a great one, Birdie!” Eddie scrunched his nose before pulling the collar of his jacket up, “h’EKSHT! T’szzEW!… iiSHiew!”

“Bless you!” Robin said cheerily as she walked over to pay for the tree.

“Thanks, sorry. Not used to New York air I guess.”

After they secured the tree, they made sure it was sitting comfortably in the backseat of the Honda. This time, Robin pulled out her phone.

“Eddayyyyyyyy! We have acquired the tree! Where to now?”

Eddie smirked and then said, “Ladies and gentlemen, let’s go to T-T-T-T-TARGET!!!!”

---

To be honest, it was complete and utter chaos to send Eddie and Robin shopping alone, and if they weren’t literally the only two able, Mrs.Buckley would have sent them with a chaperone…and with good reason.

“Oh my god Eddie look at these little BIRDS!!!!” Robin screeched, picking up some fabric birds and throwing them in the basket Eddie was holding.

“A bird for my Birdie.” Eddie laughed as he kept walking towards the alcohol. “So what do your parents actually need?”

“They’re pretty stocked, just maybe some more champagne…ummm baileys?” Robin grabbed the respective bottles and stuck them in the basket.

“Peppermint Schnapps?” Eddie raised an eyebrow and held up a bottle.

“Edward Munson, do you like schnapps??” Robin laughed.

“Do you not??” He asked before adding that to the basket too.

“Snack time.” Robin smirked before dramatically jogging towards the further aisles.

Eddie followed behind. When he got to the snack aisle, Robin’s arms were full with Pirates Booty, the Christmas color sour patch kids and peppermint Pattie’s for Nancy.

“Anything you want, Eds. Go crazy.”

Eddie’s eyes scanned until he found what he wanted. Reese’s cups. He grabbed a bag of the snack sized ones and added them to the now overflowing basket.

“Good to go?” Robin asked.

“Oh shoot! Steves medicine. One sec!” Eddie put the basket down and jogged off to the cold and flu aisle.

He looked around until he found the non-drowsy cough medicine for Steve. The long haired man sniffled again, unhappy at how the congestion was starting to settle.

He hovered over a bottle of DayQuil, considering getting it for himself, when Robin snuck up behind him practically dragging the basket.

“Ready?”

“Yeah!” Eddie said quickly, snapping back up and adding the cough medicine to the basket and taking it from her. “Let’s roll.”

---

After bringing everything back and helping decorate the little tree, Eddie and Robin headed upstairs to get ready. “I’ll be in my room, Eddie!”

“Okay!” Eddie headed to the guest bedroom.

Steve wasn’t there, so Eddie rummaged through his suitcase for the outfit for tonight. He pulled out a collared shirt and a nice green sweater that Steve got him for his birthday.

He ran into Steve on his way to the bathroom to fix up his hair and clean up a little.

“Hey, you’re back! How were the errands?” Steve asked as he scooted past Eddie so he could use the bathroom next. Steve coughed into a closed fist.

“Good, yeah! Your medicine is on the bed!”

“Thanks Eds.” Steve smiled weakly as he sulked back off to the bedroom.

Eddie closed the door of the bathroom and ran his hands through his hair as he looked in the mirror.

“N’xxTCH! ikTCHiew! H’eKSHt!”

The sneezes crept up in him before he could stop them. He grimaced as he held a tissue over his nose and blew into it. He folded it over and blew again. While he was washing his hands, he felt a wave of regret for not buying the DayQuil back at Target.

He’d tried to convince himself the runny nose and spontaneous sneezing was allergies, but now his throat was starting to hurt and his sinuses were buzzing. He closed his eyes and splashed some cold water on his face, willing away the headache that was forming between his eyes.

He just had to make it through this party and then he could sleep.

---

Nancy knocked on Steve’s door, poking her head in. “Want some company?”

Steve paused the tv. “Yeah I’d like that. Come on in!” He gestured to Eddie’s side of the bed where she could sit and watch with him.

Downstairs, Eddie was chatting up party guests. John Buckley was talking to a group of men and women in their late 50’s.

“Eddie, come tell my colleagues about this streaming stuff you kids are doing!”

Eddie smiled and walked over, Robin helping her mom set out the many appetizers and mini desserts out on the dining room table for guests to grab.

After about an hour of mingling and filming, Robin and Eddie reconvened in the living room, where it was slightly more quiet.

“Mrs.Robinson says you’re ‘an incredible young man’. What’s up with that?” She teased.

Eddie laughed, “She just asked me to tell her how to create a new Google Doc. But if that makes me incredible, I’ll take it.”

He flopped on the couch, sighing heavily. Robin sat next to him and leaned up against him, taking a sip of her champagne.

“Hey would you hate me if I… went upstairs? My head is kind of pounding.” Eddie murmured.

Robin chuckled, “You drunk on peppermint schnapps already, Munson?”

“Actually uh…never opened it.” He said sheepishly.

Robin pulled back and held him at arms length, really looking at him. She’d thought the light flush on his cheeks were from a buzz, but if he wasn’t drinking, it must be something else.

Her smile faded as she reached out to feel his forehead. Eddie leaned into the cool touch before his eyes fluttered shut and he quickly twisted to the side. He brought his elbow up over his face.

“N’gisSHuh! M’mTCHh! snfsnff T’ssiew! … H’eKSHiew! Ugh fuck!”

“Aww Bean,” Robin reached out and rubbed his back, “You’re sick too.”

Eddie gave a soupy sniffle, “Yeah, I thi’gk so.”

“You can definitely go upstairs to rest. I’ll tell mom you aren’t feeling well. I should probably stay and mingle though.”

Eddie nodded, “Sorry Birdie, I was having a fun time.”

“It’s okay Eds, go rest.”

Eddie coughed against his wrist and wiped his nose on the sleeve of his sweater on his way up the stairs. When he opened the door of the guest room, he jumped slightly, not entirely expecting Nancy to be watching tv too.

“Oh hey Eddie, what’s up?” Steve asked.

“The M’bunson co’dstitution failed m’be… iiKTCHiew!”

Nancy and Steve jumped up from the bed and rushed over to Eddie.

“I’m sorry Eddie, I got you guys sick.” Nancy gave him a hug.

“Poor guy. Get changed and come lie down with us.” Steve cupped Eddie’s cheeks. “You feel warm.”

Eddie stripped off his sweater and shirt, switching it out for a clean tee and a sweatshirt. Steve had walked to the bedside table and returned with the Buckley’s thermometer. He pressed the on button and held it out to Eddie.

Eddie looked at it and then back at Steve before he grabbed it and popped it under his tongue, changing into sweatpants and cozier socks while he waited. Nancy had been turned away to give Eddie privacy while he got changed. She fluffed some pillows and made a little section just for him.

When the thermometer beeped, he pulled it out and handed it to Steve, already beelining for the bed. Steve examined the instrument. “101 Eddie…”

“That would explain why I feel like garbage.” He groaned, laying down and pulling the blankets up to his chin. “S’fucking freezing in here.”

Nancy shot Steve a worried glance. Steve rummaged in his own bag for a minute, stopping every now and then to cough. He finally found the travel bottle of Tylenol he was looking for. He tapped out two pills and walked over to Eddie.

“Take these first babe and then you can sleep.” He held out the pills and Nancy brought him his water bottle.

“Thanks.” He mumbled, popping them in his mouth and taking a sip before laying back down.

Steve climbed into bed next to Eddie, rubbing his arm. Nancy crawled in on the opposite side of Steve. They turned down the volume on the tv and watched quietly while Eddie fell asleep.

Nancy pulled out her phone and turned the camera facing her and Steve.

“Hey guys, the plan to film the party for you was a bust. I got Steve sick and we’ve been watching tv upstairs -” Steve waved at the camera. She panned over to the lump next to Steve and whispered, “And now Eddie is sick too. Robin is still downstairs mingling but the rest of us are quarantined I guess.”

After another episode or two, Nancy decided to head to bed in her and Robin’s room. Steve turned off the tv and flicked off the lights. Eddie was passed out, lips parted and snoring congestedly. The younger man rolled over to race Eddie’s back and pulled him into a hug, slowly slipping into sleep as well.

---

~6 Days Later~

By the time New Years Eve arrived, everyone was on the mend. Nancy was completely healthy, Steve too except for the lingering cough.

“Feeling better today Eddie?” Nancy asked.

“Much better. I can finally breathe through my nose today.”

They were all lounging on the couch, editing different video clips for the vlog they were going to eventually post.

“Hey Robs how did you manage to escape that??” Eddie asked.

She shrugged, not looking away from the laptop on her lap. “Must be a Christmas miracle I guess.”

---

It was a well known fact that New Years Eve from Times Square was popular. It was a lesser known fact that if you were smart, you avoid Times Square at New Years Eve at all costs. That is why they found themselves on the sofa with Mr and Mrs Buckley, sipping on champagne and wearing those funny glasses with the years’ numbers on them.

“iixT’iyue! snlff eh’tssiew!” Robin sniffled into the blanket she was wrapped in on the couch. She was using the armrest as a pillow, laying down while everyone else was drinking and dancing to the artists playing on tv.

“Bless you Robs!” Steve said, sipping on his champagne.

The three were already slightly tipsy and it was just barely past 9pm. By 9:30, Robin was fast asleep.

“Oh come on, Buckley’s asleep?! We still got two hours to midnight!” Eddie teased, downing the rest of his champagne flute.

He walked over to her and whispered. “Birdie?”

Her freckles stood out against her pink dusted cheeks. Eddie knelt down and put the backs of his fingers on her cheek.

“Uh oh.”

“Uh oh what?” Nancy asked, stopping dancing.

Still kneeling, Eddie turned around. “Don’t think she escaped it after all.”

“Ah shit.” Steve stopped now too.

They sat back down in the couch, joyfully watching the bands continue performing until it was 11:59pm. The minute countdown popped up on the screen as the ball started to drop in Times Square.

When midnight hit, the boys welcomed in the new year with a kiss. Nancy bent down and placed a gentle kiss on her girlfriends warm forehead.

“Happy New Years, Robin.”

#s/tranger t/hings #e/ddie m/unson #s/teve h/arrington #n/ancy w/heeler #r/obin b/uckley #fruity four #streamer AU #snzblr #snz kink #christmas snz #steddiesnz #kb writes #sickfic #contagion #coldfucker

[softsnzstuff]

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Fandom: Stranger Things, canon

Summary: Eddie spends all of fall working at a haunted house. Halloween is his absolute favorite holiday. But oops he gets sick on Halloween and Wayne does not let him leave the trailer.

Word Count: 3.6k

“You guys have to come to the haunted house at least once.”

It was a typical Wednesday at Hawkins High. Eddie was trying to get everyone into the Halloween spirit.

“Cmon Eddie, you know better than anyone that the Hawkins ‘Haunted House’ is usually shit.” Gareth said as he ate another pretzel.

“Yes…usually! BUT that was before-”

“Before you started working there, we know.” Mike interrupted.

Eddie shot him a look across the table, “Something you want to say, Wheeler?”

Mike threw his hands up, “No, no. All I’m saying is - I don’t know how you could make the shitty haunted house any less… I dunno… shitty!?”

Eddie bit his tongue, “Wouldn’t you like to know. Guess you’ll just have to go.”

Mike rolled his eyes and looked to Dustin for help. “We we’re going to surprise you, but Steve is taking us all tomorrow night. I think Nancy and Robin are coming too.”

“Welcome back from the dark side, boys. Keep your eyes peeled because you’ll never know if I’m right behind you…” Eddie grinned, trying to scare them.

---

After school, Eddie met up with Robin, Nancy, and Steve at Scoops Ahoy for some ice cream.

“This hits the spot,” he began, “My throat’s been killing me.”

“You’re not getting sick are you? I don’t want to get sick right now Eddie.” Robin said.

“Nah, I’m pretty sure it’s from screaming at all these damn kids every night.” He cleared his throat.

“Are we still doing pumpkin carving at mine on Friday night?” Robin asked.

“UM, yes! And I'm going to win the scariest carving.”

“It’s not a contest, Dingus.”

“But it can be!” Steve retorted. “I mean listen, Halloween is Saturday. We have to have something scary to display!”

“Wait so what are our actual Halloween night plans guys?” Nancy asked.

“Umm I think Eddie and I are taking the kids trick or treating and then afterwards we can do a movie at my place.” Steve suggested.

“Are you guys dressing up?” Nancy asked, “I’m going as Dorothy and Robin’s gonna be my scarecrow.”

“Well that’s painfully cute, isn’t it?” Steve joked. “But I’m not sure what we’re dressing up as yet.”

“Halloween is going to be so much fun. You know it’s my favorite holiday??”

“We know Eddie, you’ve told us like a million times.” Robin added. “Are you not working at the haunted house on Halloween?”

“Nah, requested that day off a month ago! I hear you’re taking the gremlins tomorrow?”

“That’s the plan! I mean, seven kids?? You’re lucky there’s three of us, Eddie.”

“Watching Henderson piss his pants from fear will make it well worth while for you, I promise. Kid needs to be humbled…”

“Agreed.” Steve noted, “You really think that janky house is going to scare them?”

“I have a couple extra scary tricks up my sleeve.”

“Wow Eddie, it almost seems like you enjoy scaring innocent children.” Robin joked.

Eddie set his ice cream down on the table and smirked, opening his arms. “It’s the most wonderful time of the year.”

---

The next night, Steve and the girls took all the kids to the haunted house. The Hawkins haunted house was something that everyone in town knew about. It was some rinky-dink old house that got decorated with fake tombstones, cobwebs, and fake rats every year.

The workers would dress up as zombies, murderers, or other assortments of scary creatures. You walk through the haunted house and around the grounds, workers jumping out and trying to scare you. Once you make it through, there were pumpkin carving sessions, bobbing for apples, and a corn maze on the property next door.

This year Eddie was working as one of the scarers. Typically, they weren’t actually scary. It was a bunch of 40 something year old men who put in plastic vampire teeth and yelled “boo”, pretty lame by the metalhead’s standards.

But, the owners gave him free range to scare as he pleased and Eddie took that to heart. Tonight he wanted to be extra scary. He was by no means a makeup artist, but he’d be lying if he said he didn’t ask Chrissy Cunningham for some tips and tricks.

He’d learned that if he smeared some Elmer’s glue on his cheek and arms, it would harden. He’d use some pale grey makeup to color himself and make it seem like the glue was part of his skin. He was going for the zombie aesthetic so bits of green, purple and brown eyeshadow were applied in sections to look like decomposition.

The house itself supplied fake blood that Eddie would drip down from his fake wounds. He also had some old torn up clothes and boots he found at the Goodwill.

His current hiding spot was right outside the exit to the house, but before the scary walk to the corn maze. He was tucked away just so, so that you couldn’t see him from the walkway.

The screaming and scaring was tearing at his throat, but he tried his best to ignore it for now.

Across town, Steve was picking up half of the kids, Nancy and Robin picking up the rest.

“What the hell is that Henderson??” Steve asked as Dustin got into his car holding a large green and orange plastic something.

“It’s a super soaker. Duh.”

“Why do you need a super soaker??”

“You can never be too prepared for something like this.” Steve noticed that Lucas, Erica, and Will also had slingshots or innocent weapons of sorts.

“You don’t need weapons for a haunted house.”

“Okay Harrington, but don’t come crying to us when you’re being chased by killer clowns and zombies.”

Steve rolled his eyes and shifted his car into reverse. “Is everyone buckled up??”

---

After they’d all arrived, they started the walkthrough. The house itself was anxiety inducing at best, and stupid at worst. It was certainly the kind of thing that was put on by a small town community like Hawkins.

Mr.O’Neil was there as expected, wearing the same dumb plastic vampire teeth that he’d been using the last decade or so.

“I sincerely hope he washes those…” Robin mumbled, making Steve laugh.

At this point, the boys were talking big game.

“This is the shittiest haunted house I’ve ever seen. It’s like not even scary!” Mike complained.

“Did you really think anything in this crusty town could be scarier than watching Steve flirt with Eddie?” Erica asked sarcastically.

“Hey! Watch the attitude or you walk home.” Steve threatened.

“Mike is right. This house is shit.” Lucas added

Max was walking next to Will, “Maybe the corn maze will be scarier.” She, too, loved Halloween and was hopeful for some frights tonight.

Dustin and Mike were walking towards the front of the group and were the first ones to see the exit of the house.

“See? Not even scary.” Dustin opened his arms and walked backwards towards the door.

“BRAINSSSSSS!!!!”

Eddie jumped out from his discrete corner and scream-growled the word into Dustin’s face. The kid screamed, immediately shooting Eddie over and over with the super soaker.

“JESUS H CHRIST!!! STOP SPRAYING ME!” Eddie shrieked.

Steve pulled the plastic weapon away from Dustin while Eddie stood there, soaked, makeup starting to run off his face.

“Sorry Eddie. On the bright side, you were scary!” Dustin offered a toothless smile that Eddie couldn’t stay mad at.

“You guys are lucky I like you.” He grumbled as he shook some of the water off his sleeves. The group took off to continue the fright fest in the corn maze, leaving Eddie to continue his shift.

The man couldn’t lie, it was cold. Winter in Hawkins could be relentless, but fall was just as brutal if the winds picked up, and tonight just happened to be one of those nights. He debated asking if he could move to an indoor scare position, but his current one was doing so well that they wanted him to stay there.

God damn his talent for scaring the shit out of strangers.

And so he stood outside the house for the remaining three hours of his shift, jumping and screaming and growling at the people who came through. He got a lot of good scares - more than the next person for sure - but by the time his shift was done, he was shivering.

His cold hands fumbled with his car keys as he blasted the heater, thawing his fingers for a bit before driving. When he got back to the trailer, he showered the water, sweat, glue and fake blood off of him and crawled into bed.

Sleep came easy. The trailer was quiet since Wayne was just starting a shift at the plant, and he was tired. Scaring was hard work! His eyes drooped closed as sleep overtook him, the blaring of his alarm waking him up just 6 hours later.

---

Eddie must have snoozed his alarm at least 6 times. Quite frankly, he was exhausted. After the alarm had gone off for the seventh time, he peeked an eye at the clock and realized he was going to be late. Shit.

He jumped out of bed and pulled on some jeans, hopping into the bathroom as he pulled on a pant leg. He brushed his teeth while he tried to make his hair look less messy and then threw on his jacket and shoes. He had grabbed his backpack on the way out the door, nothing but a quick “Bye Wayne!” As he ran outside to the van.

Starting the engine, he coughed dryly into a closed fist and started his drive to school. While the drive itself wasn’t that far, it felt like it took forever. His nose was itching the entire time.

“H’iKTSchEW! Isshiew! hiKSHhh!”

He scrubbed at his nose as he pulled into a parking spot, jogging inside of the school.

He just barely made it to first period, sitting in his seat right as the bell rang. Panting, he coughed again towards his shoulder and put his head on the table. Why was he so tired today??

“Oversleep again?” Chrissy whispered from her desk next to him.

He looked up, “Yeah, shit. Need a better alarm or something. H’ixxT! NxxT! NXXT!”

“Bless you!”

“No talking!” The teacher snapped.

Chrissy’s eyes widened as she looked at Eddie and stifled a laugh. “Sorry.” She mouthed at him.

The man shook his head and smiled at her, turning again to face the blackboard at the front of the room. He was having a hard time focusing past the headache that was forming. He really needed some more sleep.

---

As the day progressed, Eddie felt more and more like he’d been hit by a bus. His head was throbbing, his body hurt, his head felt so stuffy, and he kept sneezing.

When he got home, he beelined for his room to change into a hoodie and some more comfortable pants for the pumpkin carving session he had planned with the gang.

A comfier shirt and sweatpants was definitely the right choice. He started walking towards the front door when he buckled over to sneeze.

“IGT’chiEW! H’rrzt’iEW! IsshIEW!”

He sniffled thickly and tried to keep walking but was stopped by Wayne, who was in the kitchen. He held a gentle hand to the boy’s chest, keeping him from going out the front door.”

“Whoa whoa whoa, kid, I’ve seen your work makeup enough times to know that you look like a zombie. Where are you going??”

Eddie stared at him, lips slightly parted. “You sure k’dow how to mbake a guy feel special, U’cle way’de. M’goi’g to Robin’s to carve some pubpkins…”

“You sound like hell, boy.”

“Believe it or ndot, I thi’gk I feel worse than I look.”

The man’s face softened as he really took in Eddie’s appearance: the red-rimmed and slightly damp nostrils, his complexion almost translucent, and a bright flush across his freckled cheeks and on the tips of his ears.

Wayne held out his calloused hand, feeling his nephew’s too-clammy forehead. “Oh Ed…”

With a firm hand on Eddie’s shoulder, Wayne walked him to the couch. He made a quick trip to the bathroom, shaking the trusty thermometer. He held it out to Eddie until he parted his lips and slipped it under his tongue.

The young man shifted so he was laying on the sofa, pulling his hoodie tighter around his frame as he waited for the device to do its job. After a minute or two had passed, Wayne examined it under the light with his glasses on.

“You ain’t carving pumpkins tonight, son. You’re burnin up.”

With his eyes closed and a hand over his face, Eddie mumbled, “Wha’ does it say?”

“Little over 101°. You don’t do anything by halves do you?”

Eddie groaned and pulled a thin blanket off the back of the sofa and putting it over his legs. Wayne brought over a box of tissues from the kitchen and placed them on Eddie’s lap.

“But Steve’s gonna be here soon. He’s p- H’aessh’IEW! picking mbe up… hehh H’akt’ssiEW!! ItsschIEW!” Eddie coughed chestily into the crook of his elbow and lay his head back on the armrest of the sofa.

A knock on the door sounded before Wayne could respond. He looked over at his nephew who had gotten all small under the blanket. “Told you.” He whispered.

Wayne opened the trailer door. He was familiar with his nephew’s partner and honestly liked to talk with him about various different things.

Eddie looked on from where he was laying on the couch, just seeing the top of Steve’s hair as Wayne greeted him.

“Hey Steve, good to see you again!” He gave the boy a firm handshake and smiled.

“Hey Mr.Munson! How’s work going?”

“Just another day in paradise.” The man joked, “Listen, Eddie’s not going to be able to come out tonight for whatever pumpkin carving thing he’s got going on…”

“Oh, is he oka-”

“H’itsch’IEW!! Sorry Stevie…”

A sudden knowing expression flooded Steve’s face as he looked past Wayne to his boyfriend curled up on the couch holding a box of tissues as if his life depended on it.

“He’s pretty sick.” Wayne stepped aside to let Steve in briefly. The younger man walking over to Eddie and running his fingers through his hair.

“What happened Eds?”

“snlrff He’derson’s Super soaker mbost likely. I feel like crap.”

“Are you out for trick or treating tomorrow too?” Steve asked.

“Well I- H’tshCHEW! H’itsch’IEW!!” Eddie pulled the collar of his hoodie up to try and contain the mess.

“Sorry kid, I think he’s down for the count unfortunately.” Wayne answered since Eddie had sat up and started that god-awful coughing again.

Steve knelt down and rubbed circles on Eddie’s back. “My poor sick guy…but it’s-”

“The mbost wo’derful timbe of the year…I k’dow.”

Steve swears he can see Eddie’s heart break. He’d been talking about Halloween nonstop since September. The older man shivered slightly, “You should go. Don’t want you to catch this too.”

Steve frowned but agreed. He gave a sympathetic goodbye to Eddie and made his way to Robin’s house where the girls were already hard at work.

“Hey Dingus, maybe you misheard but you were supposed to bring Munson with you.”

“He can’t come; he’s got the flu or something. Wayne’s got him on house arrest so he’ll miss trick or treating too.”

“Aw poor guy, he was so excited.” Nancy said.

“Tell him my pumpkin is dedicated to him. It’s a bat.” Robin stated as she carved away at the face of the pumpkin.

“That looks like a bird.”

“Well it’s a bat, okay??”

“Who’s going to help you with the kids tomorrow night?” Nancy asked, half offering.

“I was actually going to call in a favor…” Steve started, “Do you think you two could take them so that I can hang out with Eddie? I’m pretty sure Wayne’ll be working so he’ll be all alone…”

Robin seemed to consider as she tossed some additional pumpkin guts to the side.

“Please?”

---

The next day, Eddie felt exponentially worse. At some point during the night, his fever had spiked and he woke up sweaty and whimpering from a nightmare about his parents. Wayne had overheard the commotion and sat on the bed with him while he drank a cold gatorade and took some Tylenol.

Despite sleeping a solid ten to twelve hours, he still felt beat, joints tired and limbs heavy. A good 50% of the square footage in his bedroom was scattered with tissues. He’d actually passed biology and had no idea how one body could produce so much mucus.

Around lunchtime, Wayne had come back from the store, bringing Eddie a fresh box of tissues and another Gatorade. When he poked his head in, Eddie was coughing again - a barking cough that sounded painful.

“What do you feel like for lunch kiddo?”

Eddie’s stomach did a flip at the mention of lunch.

“M’not hungry. Plus mby nose is so stuffy I can’t even- H’ehKSSHh! Can’t even tahhh taste hehIKSHew! H’iGkSHhew! snlorff”

Wayne winced at the messy display, giving his nephew a minute to clean himself up. “How about your favorite?”

“You got mbe applesauce?” Eddie perked up a little at that. Wayne held up a little cup and spoon and handed it to him. “Tha’gks U’cle Way’de.”

As Eddie sat in bed eating his applesauce, he couldn’t help but wonder what kind of fun Halloween antics Steve was getting up to right about now.

---

The man in question was just getting back from the store. He had to pick up a few things for tonight - some Halloween tissues with lotion, a movie, snacks, and Eddie’s favorite candy: sour patch kids.

As he was shutting the trunk of the car, he heard someone calling his name. He turned around to see none other than Joyce Byers speed walking up his driveway.

“Steve! So glad I caught you. Nancy told me about Eddie and your plan for tonight, poor thing. I was hoping you could bring him these from me.”

Joyce held out a blue bag of strawberry cough drops that were disguised as lollipops.

“I thought it would make them a little more fun for him, given the holiday and all.” She smiled.

“That’s so thoughtful, thank you Mrs.Byers! I’m sure he’ll love them.”

She gave Steve a reassuring rub on the arm before heading back to her car. Steve carried the rest of his stuff inside and started to get dressed for the night.

---

Wayne had just left for his night shift at the plant when someone came to the trailer door. Old man must’ve forgotten his keys again or something.

To Eddie’s surprise, the open door revealed Steve in tattered jeans and a flannel, hair messed up and what looked like dog ears?

Eddie stood there in awe for a minute before he started laughing, which turned into coughing.

“Sorry sorry!” He said between coughs, “I have so many questions. First and foremost. What’s up with this?” He gestured to the ears.

“I’m a werewolf. Isn’t it obvious?” Steve, in return, gestured at his outfit.

“Ah. I see it now. Aren’t you supposed to be out with the kids?”

“I asked Nance and Robs to take them so I could spend the night with you. I brought goodies.”

Eddie invited Steve inside as the younger man laid out the assortment of treats on the Munson’s coffee table. Some sodas, chips, tissues and candies later, Eddie pointed.

“Are those sour patch kids for me?”

“Of course they are!”

Steve kept pulling things out of the bag. “I thought we could watch this if you wanted to…”

“ROCKY HORROR??? That’s my favorite!” Eddie shouted, wincing at his sore throat.

“I know it is Ed’s, that’s why I got it.”

The older man pulled him into a hug. “How are you feeling by the way?” Steve asked.

“Eh. Not great, but my fever broke a little bit before you got here. Now I’m just sneezy and tired.”

“Well let’s get you comfortable then!”

Steve sat on the couch and pulled Eddie on top of him so the older man was leaning up against Steve’s chest. A giant pair of lips appeared on screen as the tv started playing “Science Fiction/Double Feature”.

Eddie had the sour patch kids in his lap while Steve was snacking on a Twix bar. The opening wedding scene was always so cheesy that Eddie couldn’t stop laughing. Unfortunately, that sent him into a long coughing fit. As Steve patted his back, he remembered the gift from Joyce.

“Here Eddie, this might help.” He unwrapped one of the lollipops and handed it to his boyfriend who took it and popped it in his mouth.

He caught his breath just in time for the Time Warp. Steve got up and danced a little for Eddie’s entertainment, even falling to the floor at the end like in the movie.

After that, they just moved the pillows and blankets to the floor and sat there eating candy.

“H’eKSHhh! iKSSSH! KSSSH!” Eddie sneezed in quick succession into his arm.

“Bless you!”

“H’aeKSSHiew!”

“Geez Munson, bless you!”

“Welcombe to the last forty eight hours of mby life.” He deadpanned as he gurgled into a tissue. “Sorry that was gross.”

“It’s okay Eds, you’re sick.”

Eddie crawled across the floor over to Steve and lay down so that his head was resting in Steve’s lap. He could get clingy when he was sick sometimes. He turned to look up at his boyfriend.

“Hey Steve?”

“Yeah Eds?”

“Thanks for saving Halloween.”

#s/tranger t/hings #e/ddie m/unson #s/teve h/arrington #r/obin b/uckley #n/ancy w/heeler #fruity four #r/onance #steddiesnz #snzblr #snz kink #coldfucker #illness #colds #halloweensnz #kb writes