#no beta we die like Barb

[dyslexicsquirrel]

This is a super rough draft and I'm working to polish it up for AO3 but have some childhood friends who kissed (no homo) second chance romance(?) Harringrove

I haven't posted anything in forever and this idea took over my body so uh I hope you like it? If you don't? Don't tell me lmao

Now I'm thinking about childhood friends Steve and Billy who practice kissing and whatever it's totally not gay. But Steve is like imagining their life after high school together, how they're gonna go to the same college and be roommates. Maybe if they get to kiss sometimes still that would be fine.

He tells Billy about it cause they're best friends and they tell each other everything. He thought Billy was on board. He helped Steve study, made sure he graduated.

So he's a little surprised when he gets to the school and Billy's Camaro isn't there cause he was running late but Billy always did like to make an entrance. Except Steve keeps checking down their row in the stadium and Billy never shows up. Doesn't come running onto the field when they call his name.

When he goes to return the cap and gown and pick up his diploma after the ceremony, the lady at the table check's her list and tells Steve "Looks like Billy picked his up the last day of class."

There's a big hole in the middle of Steve's chest that never really quite goes away. Not through college and parties or meeting his wife and getting married. Having his kids helps a bit but it's always there, sharp and jagged just like the boy who made it.

Steve focuses on work and raising his kids and maybe that's why his marriage falls apart. His wife handed him a big Manila envelope with sadness in her eyes. "You're a great dad and there's a part of me that will always love you, but I don't think you ever loved me, Steve, and I deserve better than that. We both do."

He agreed to everything, got split custody, and moved into an apartment in the city. It was beige and empty, but he covered it with pictures of his kids and ignored the way the hole in his chest started crumbling inward, growing every morning he woke up to silence until he felt hollow.

Steve got the kids for the summer and rented an RV. They were driving to California cause the kids had never seen the Pacific, he told his ex. She shrugged and sent them all off with hugs and kisses on the forehead. If a tiny voice in the back of his head called him a liar, he ignored it.

They ate at hole in the wall diners off the highway, but Steve splurged on hotels with pools cause sue him he was too high maintenance to live without soft sheets and good shower pressure.

Somewhere in Kansas or Colorado, Steve couldn't remember where they were right then, he saw the gas gauge getting low and pulling off at the next exit to find a place to get gas.

Steve almost ran a red light when he saw the sign at the convenience store on the corner. It had his brain lighting up like fireworks, memories of a past he didn't normally let himself think about crashing against the inside of his skull like waves.

There was no way. It was just a coincidence. He made sure the kids were fine and swung into the parking lot after the light turned green. "Dad's just a little tired. We'll find a place to check in after I fill up the tank."

The gas pump was old fashioned, not a single card reader in sight, and Steve shook his head with a chuckle, before rounding up the kids and heading inside. They dumped way too many snacks on the counter when they got to the front of the line. "Can I also get $40 on pump 3?" here told the guy behind the counter who was restocking cigarettes.

Short blonde hair, wide shoulders under a worn t-shirt, jeans so tight they molded to his ass and had Steve biting the inside of his cheek because he was in public, for fuck's sake.

He had to be really hard up if he was on the verge of making a spectacle of himself over some rando in a gas station. A grunt and the guy turned, pinning Steve with the brightest blue eyes Steve had ever seen.

Ones that haunted his dreams. "Billy?" he whispered, wallet slipping out of his numb fingers.

The guy who couldn't be Billy blinked at him, except he said, "Steve."

Robbie tugged on the hem of his shirt. "Who's that, dad?"

"Dad?" Billy repeated, sounding confused and a little accusatory. And seriously, fuck him.

"Just someone I used to know." He needed to get out of there before he made a scene of a different kind by jumping over the counter and punching Billy in his stupid, perfect face. "How much do I owe you?"

Billy's frown deepened. He bagged up all of the snacks, no longer meeting Steve's eyes and said, "Don't worry about it" when he handed them over.

Nope. He was not making it that easy. *You left. You left me. Why did you leave me?* clamored to get passed his lips, but Steve refused to be that pathetic when Billy obviously hadn't cared as much as Steve. He got his wallet off the floor and slapped his credit card on the counter, handing the kids the bags to hold.

Billy rolled his eyes, the way he had whenever they were kids and Steve did something Billy thought was stupid. They stood on silence except for the chatter of his kids and the bell chiming over the door when someone else came in. Steve took his receipt without a word.

"Come on, you two, let's go." He herded the kids toward the door, determined to walk out on Billy the way the other man had walked out on him, but Steve never did have much self control.

Billy was still watching him and their eyes met when Steve looked over his shoulder. "You know a good hotel around here?"

"There's a Best Western a few blocks down. Nicest place in town."

Was he imagining the question in Billy's eyes? Steve didn't know. Grace whined, "Come on, dad," the way only teenagers could and Steve let the door swing closed behind him.

Part of Steve was anticipating the knock at the door after the sun had set and the kids were both curled up in their beds. The other part called him an idiot for still holding a torch for the guy who broke his heart.

The rap on the door was soft, but Steve still jumped, tripping over his feet when he got off the couch.

There was Billy on the other side of the door, a cigarette dangling from his lips, hands shoved into his pockets.

Mindful of his kids, Steve stepped outside, leaving the door cracked behind him, while they stared at each other, the weight of all the years between them.

Billy broke the silence first, pulling the cigarette from his mouth, ash flicked from the tip in a cascade of sparks. "Where's Mrs. Harrington?"

That was about all Steve could take. He shoved at Billy's chest, still as solid as it had been back in high school, the prick. Billy didn't budge an inch. "I got divorced last year."

Billy took a long drag, a quiet "Shit" exhaled on a cloud of smoke.

"Yeah." Steve took the cigarette from Billy like they used to. He hadn't had a drag in years and almost choked.

There was no laughter, no jibe at Steve forgetting how to smoke. Instead, one of Billy's hands rubbed circles against Steve's back. Just that one touch unlocked something in Steve, all the years of longing, of loneliness, of regret. He wrapped his free hand around Billy's waist and tucked his face into the other man's chest.

"Why?" It came out garbled and wet from his tears but Billy understood all the same.

His answer made his tears run faster. But it was okay because size Billy's arms wrapped around him, holding Steve together. "Because I loved you too much."

"You're a fucking asshole."

"I know."

"I loved you too."

"I know." Of course he had.

They stayed like that until Steve got himself back together, the cigarette left to snuff itself out on the concrete. His eyes red and puffy and Billy wiped the moisture off his cheeks with his thumbs.

Steve leaned into Billy’s calloused palms, pulling the scent of Marlboroughs and warm skin into his lungs. He sniffed loud, echoed by the crickets and the distant traffic. He needed to say something or else he’d start crying again because Billy was looking at him the way Steve always secretly dreamed Billy would look at him one day.

He wanted to know what the hell he ‘loved him too much’ to stay meant, but this thing—could he call it a thing? Robin would probably call him a dingus right about now—was too shaky, like a house built on a cliff during an earthquake.

So instead, he said, “You know I meant why’d you pick that name when I asked why, but thanks for the declaration, I guess.”

Steve felt Billy’s chuckle where their chests still touched. “Now who’s the asshole?”

And, okay, Steve really was curious because Billy had to be the one who owned that place and had the balls to slap Pretty Boy on the front of a building.

Which meant he thought about Steve and the nickname he bestowed upon him enough to name his business after him. To have to see it every day and think about Steve.

So he was curious, but not enough to stop and ask when Billy was angling Steve’s head with the hand still holding his cheek to press their lips together.

It had been decades since the last time Steve and Billy kissed and it was still the best feeling in the world. The feeling of a full beard was new, but Billy’s hands felt the same, cradling the back of Steve’s head, the other pressed low on his back.

He still tasted like cigarettes and the mint gum he liked to chew.

Steve didn’t pull away until he heard the bathroom door close inside the room and even then he didn’t go far, pressing their foreheads together so they were still sharing the same air for as long as possible.

“How long are you here for?” Billy whispered, like he was afraid if he spoke too loudly, he would shatter the moment like spun glass.

“Just until tomorrow. The kids and I are going to California for the summer.” Saying it out loud, in front of Billy, made it feel like a dirty little secret. Billy knew why Steve was going there of all places if they way one side of his mouth kicked up. Steve had missed that smirk. He’d missed a lot of things if her were being honest.

“Maybe you can swing back through on your way back.”

The hopeful note Steve heard made him feel bold, reckless. “You should come with us.”

“What?”

“To California. You should come with us. I got an RV so there’s plenty of room. We could take turns driving. Grace and Robbie are cool kids, I swear. I’m realizing now that I said that that it’s kind of weird. Forget it—” His nervous rambling was cut off by Billy’s lips.

“Shut up, pretty boy. I’ve been wanting to go to California with you my whole life.” And, oh. Well, Steve was done for. His hands curled into the fabric of Billy’s shirt, holding on for dear life, scared if he let go Billy would disappear. “Besides, I should probably get to know your rugrats before I ask their dad to marry me.”

Steve's eye went comically wide and his heart stopped and that hole in his chest felt like Billy had slapped a patch over it. He wheezed. “Huh?”

“You think I’m letting you go again, Harrington?”

That was fine with Steve.

#harringrove #second chance romance #DILF Steve Harrington #fan fiction #no beta we die like Barb #rip #canon divergence #no upside down au

[steddieassheg0es]

Not So Unrequited

Steve Harrington wasn’t the douchebag people thought he was.

Well, most people wouldn’t see it that way anyway. But he wasn’t the façade that most people couldn’t see past.

Eddie’s always been a bit of a wild child. Reckless and with a dangerous lack of self preservation instincts, it got him into many a rough spot over the years.

One such rough spot was back in middle school. He’d stupidly flirted with the wrong boy. He didn’t even like him, hadn’t even fully realized that he liked boys Eddie just didn’t always know when to turn his mouth off, or where the line was until he’d already crossed it. But that didn’t matter. It was enough for a group of boys to track him down and beat him up.

He’ll never forget that day. The day he realized being different meant being hated. The day he realized that that liking boys wasn’t allowed in Hawkins.

But also, the day that he met Steve Harrington. He’d apparently heard the hateful words that had been thrown at Eddie as those bigots left him to bleed on the pavement. And he’d crouched down next to him, reached out to gently rub his back.

“Are you ok? Do you want to me to get someone?”

Eddie lifted his head from where he’d buried it in his knees, looked up into those pretty hazel eyes. He shook his head, not sure who he’d even ask for. His dad wouldn’t care, and Uncle Wayne was great but Eddie tried not to burden him with his problems too much. He needed that safe space to run to too much to ruin it.

“Ok…well, I can stay with you. Don’t listen to those guys, they’re jerks. They don’t know anything. I think it’s ok for boys to like boys.”

And just like that Eddie was sure he liked boys. He thought he very much liked this boy.

So yeah. Steve Harrington wasn’t who people thought he was. At least not completely.

—

Once Steve’s graduates, there’s a change in him. He’s…softer somehow. Like he’s let that carefully constructed mask slip. Maybe getting out of school was enough. Maybe his relationship with Wheeler, or said relationship going down in flames, did him some good. For all that it made Eddie want to hurl. Maybe it’s his affection for the group of kids he’s inexplicably pseudo adopted. Whatever it is, it’s nice to see.

Even nicer when Steve starts talking to him.

It starts because some of his kids joined Hellfire and apparently he’s their permanent ride. First just a friendly nod as the kids scramble out of his fancy car. Then he’d smile and wave. Eddie’s embarrassed by how much those stupid little smiles made his heart flutter.

Finally one day he steps out of the car with the kids. Just leans against the roof at first, watching them run into the building with affection. Then he’s turning those eyes to Eddie.

“I hope they behave themselves for you in there.”

“Uh…” Jesus Eddie pull it together. “Heh, yeah. They’re good kids, man.”

Steve’s face is all soft fondness. “They really are. But they can be little shits when they wanna be. If you ever need any help…or, I mean can bring some snacks and shit if you want. Whatever.”

He shrugs like it’s no big deal. Like him even talking to Eddie at all is totally normal.

“Y-yeah sure. I don’t think they’d ever say no to more food. And you, uh…” Eddie can feel his cheeks heat up, “you can probably afford better shit than I can anyway.”

“Oh I wasn’t-Shit I didn’t mean it like that. I just wanted…”

Damn it. Two sentences in and he’s fucked it up. Steve’s giving him big sad eyes like he feels just terrible at the thought of offending Eddie.

“No! I uh…I know you didn’t. Forget I said that. It’s cool of you to offer to help. I know this isn’t exactly your scene.”

Steve laughs. “You’d think that, huh? But the kids love it so what can I do? I gotta admit I was a bit jealous at first, you know?”

What on earth could Steve Harrington have to be jealous of? “Of what?”

“You. Those kids, they worship you man. But then I figured, I don’t know shit about this stuff and it means a lot to them. And they still seem to think I’m not so bad. So I’m just glad they have you.”

“Steve…they’ve been singing your praises since the moment they joined Hellfire. Especially Dustin. You’re their hero.”

Now it’s Steve’s turn to go pink in the cheeks. It’s a good look on him. But then again, what doesn’t look good on him?

They’re interrupted by a loud bang from inside. Eddie just sighs and rolls his eyes.

“I should probably get in there before they burn the place down…” It’s true, but he’s reluctant to let this moment end.

“Yeah. So I’ll be back in like an hour, pizza sound good?”

Eddie blinks at him, confused.

“I mean…snacks yeah? I can grab a few pizzas and some sodas. If you don’t mind me crashing your nerd fest, that is.” He says it with a grin, but his eyes show a hint of worry. Like Eddie would ever say no to him.

“Right, yeah! Yeah pizza’s good.”

With that Steve is off, apparently to fetch Eddie Munson snacks. Well, not him specifically, but he’s included…He feels off kilter, not sure how to deal with this sudden shift, but also a little bit giddy. The kids all tease him about the daze he’s in when he joins them, but when he sits in his makeshift throne he’s in Dungeon Master mode and the game commences.

—

It turns into a semi regular thing. Steve can’t always hang around, but most nights when the club meets he’ll come back by after with food to share before hauling the kiddos back home.

Eddie thought he’d had a crush before. Now that he actually talks to Steve somewhat regularly…the guy is just so fucking sweet. He’s surprisingly dorky, and generous, and he’s so damn good with the kids. Eddie’s heart never stood a chance.

One night he hangs back as the kids pile into his car, slowing when Eddie stops to wave them off like he usually does.

“So…Me and Robin, Robin Buckley? We’re gonna go see a movie tomorrow. Probably get some food.”

“That’s nice.” Eddie says with an unmistakable tone of confusion. Is Steve trying to talk to him about girls? He desperately wants to keep this thing going, their almost kind of friendship, but he’s pretty sure listening to Steve go on about hookups or whatever will actually kill him.

“Yeah…and I figured, she’s kind of a nerd too. Seems like it doomed to surround myself with them. But I think you two would get along. If you wanted to join us?”

Steve has this adorably shy look on his face that makes Eddie’s heart thump almost painfully in his chest. How can a full grown man be so fucking cute? God he wants to say yes so bad, but…

“I don’t know that bringing a third wheel to your date would make her very happy, man.”

“Huh? Me and Robin? Oh god no. We’re, uh…just friends. ‘Platonic with a capital P’ as she puts it. I’m uh…not her type.” He says with a secretive little smirk. Oh no. This might even be worse.

“Not really looking for a set up…”

“Dude. No one’s hooking up with Robin in this situation. I just thought it would be fun and you two could be friends. But it’s no big deal, don’t worry about it.”

Shit. Well now he just feels embarrassed. And a bit like a dick. Steve starts to head back to the car and it’s a sad little wave over his shoulder and Eddie panics.

“No! I mean, yeah. I’m free. Tomorrow.”

Steve turns back and looks up at him from under his lashes. “Yeah?”

“Yeah…I’ll uh…meet you guys there?”

“That’s silly, I can pick you up. No need to waste the gas. I gotta pick Robin up anyway. She doesn’t drive. So I’ll come by tomorrow at like 6?”

Eddie nods dumbly. With a satisfied smile and a nod of his own, Steve finally gets in his car to leave. Eddie hears Dustin’s judgmental “Dude” from the back seat as they pull away and he’s not sure what to make of anything that just happened

—

He spends the next morning on the verge of panic, fidgeting and occasionally pacing. He’s being manic enough that Uncle Wayne shoots him a few concerned looks, but not enough for him to actually confront him which is nice.

Eddie’s not sure what he would say. ‘The painfully straight boy I think I’m a little bit in love with asked me on a not-date with him and his platonic gal pal and I am freaking the fuck out’? Yeah, he’ll pass on that conversation. Wayne may be incredibly chill about the whole gay thing, but Eddie doesn’t think he’d have any clue what to do with that. Eddie sure doesn’t.

Finally there’s a knock at the door (at 6 PM on the dot) that stops his restless motion. For a moment he’s completely, utterly still. Then all that frenetic energy rushes back and pushes him to the door so fast he almost face plants right into it.

When he gets it open, his breath catches in his chest. Steve has traded his dorky little polos for a black button up, top two buttons undone flashing a tantalizing peek at his collarbones. His dark wash jeans are snug in all the right places, and he has on a pair of combat boots that Eddie would’ve thought he’d never be caught dead in. He looks…fucking delectable.

“H-hey. I uh…should I change?”

He hears Uncle Wayne snort from the kitchen and dies a little inside.

“What? No, you look good man. You ready? Robin’s waiting for us.”

Shit did Steve just say he looks good? In his ratty torn jeans and metal band shirt under his usual leather jacket and battle vest, he feels utterly unremarkable. He shudders to think at what they look like next to each other. Too late now, though.

“Yeah, yeah let’s go.” He pokes his head back through the door to see his uncle smirking back at him with one eyebrow raised. So much for not saying anything.

“See you later asshole!”

—

It takes him all of five seconds to figure out why Steve isn’t Robin’s type. He’s pretty sure she clocks him right back, especially once they get out and she eyes the black hanky in his back pocket. He’s dying to ask if Steve knows, but if he doesn’t…

Anyway she actually is a cool chick, if a bit weird. Not like he has any room to talk on that front. They decide to grab food first so they can get acquainted. As soon as they’re seated she’s talking a mile a minute and Eddie struggles to keep up with he lightening fast change of topic but he thinks he’s holding his own pretty well.

Seeing Steve around her is fascinating. For all their differences, Beauty and the Band Geek, they seem to operate on the same wave length. He catches glimpses of silent conversations happening entirely with eyebrows and subtle lip movements. Steve doesn’t say much out loud, seeming content to watch them with a pleased little smile for the most part.

When the check comes, Steve takes it before either of them have a chance to even move.

“I forced you both out tonight, so it’s my treat.” Eddie tries to protest, as does Robin before she shares another eyebrow conversation with Steve and gives in. Then he turns to Eddie with his puppy dog eyes. “Please Eddie, I really want to.”

God damn it, not being able to say no to this man is going to get him in trouble.

“Fine! But I’m getting you back for this.”

The dazzling smile he gets in return makes his heart skip a beat. He’s so utterly fucked.

—

When Uncle Wayne asks him later than night how the movie was with a knowing smile, he just shrugs and says it was fine. The truth is he couldn’t tell you what movie they even picked, never mind how it was. The lights dimmed and he was hyper focused on the man next to him. Their fingers brushed as they both reached for the popcorn, their legs were almost touching, and at one point Steve had leaned over to whisper some comment into his ear and he had to bite his lip to stop any sound from escaping him.

He caught Robin’s teasing grin on their way out. At this point he might as well have “gay for Steve Harrington” stamped across his forehead, he was so transparent. At least the man himself seemed oblivious.

—

Billy Hargrove is exactly the asshole everyone thinks he is. Eddie sees how weirdly focused on Steve, in a way that make his stomach turn.

Eddie’s pretty sure the guy’s queer, but definitely the self hating kind. He looks at Eddie with disgust, calls him a slur a time or two. He knows Billy’s caught the way he looks at Steve and hates him for it. Thinks maybe he’s jealous of it as much as he is disgusted by it. It’s a weird, twisted rivalry over a boy neither one of them could have.

It wasn’t like Eddie thought he had any kind of claim over Steve, he just didn’t like the dark twist to the lustful way Billy looked at him. It scared him. He wasn’t quite sure what Hargrove was capable of or willing to do.

Now that Steve came to his place sometimes, he catches Billy outside his own trailer with a murderous look in his eye. He knows he has to keep a close eye on Steve anytime he comes by, makes sure he leaves safe. He watches his car until the taillights fade, then looks across at Billy’s trailer. He doesn’t think he’d have the guts to try to come after Eddie, Uncle Wayne may be soft spoken but he’s ex military and everyone knew he wouldn’t hesitate to kill someone who hurt Eddie.

But Eddie would have to be the one to protect Steve.

—

So they’re friends now. Like real friends. They don’t just both hang out with the kids at the same time. Sometimes Robin joins them for whatever they decide to get up to, but not always.

The first time he visits them at Scoops Ahoy he nearly chokes on his own tongue. Why would you need shorts that short to sell ice cream?

Then again…if they weren’t friends, Eddie would probably spend a small fortune just to have an excuse to come stare.

He lets out a low whistle. “Helloooo sailor.”

Steve turns a lovely shade of pink and scratches the back of his neck.

“Yeah, yeah laugh it up. Totally lame uniform, I know. But what are you gonna do? You here to take advantage of my perks like the kids?”

“Well I was just gonna hang around and see if you wanted to do something when you got off, but what kind of perks we talking about?”

Steve laughs. “Free ice cream, man. Whatever you want. And yeah, sure. I’m off in about 20 minutes. Robin’s stuck closing so it’ll just be us.”

Eddie feels a little bad being so happy Robin can’t come. He loves hanging out with her, and he loves her dynamic with Steve, but…alone time with Steve.

—

“So when you said ‘do something’, did you have something in mind?”

It’s hard to focus when Steve is still in those shorts. Especially because he’s walking slightly ahead of Eddie, leading the way to where the van is parked beside his car, making it far too easy and enticing to keep stealing glances at just how good his ass looks in said shorts. “Whuh? Oh, uh, no not really. I figured I’d be crashing you and Buckley’s plans so it didn’t really occur to me to think up my own.”

“K, well I don’t know about you but I would kill for some Chinese food right now. I could pick some up and meet you back at yours?”

It occurs to Eddie, not for the first time, that Steve never suggests his own house. He’s not sure what to think of it, but he’s not sure if Steve’s comfortable enough with him for him to ask.

“Yeah, that sounds good. I’m not picky so whatever you wanna get is fine, we can just share?”

“See you there then.”

—

He loves his uncle, but Eddie’s grateful he has the graveyard shift tonight. He doesn’t need to worry about making a fool of himself with an audience. He scrambled around to clean the place up a bit, even changing his sheets then feeling incredibly stupid for doing so.

When he hears a car door slam, he peeks out the window in excitement only for his heart to drop. Billy’s home, and from the looks of it he’s pissed about something. He stomps inside and Eddie decides now is a good time to go out for a smoke and wait for his guest to arrive.

He’s not waiting long. He greets Steve with a smile, trotting over to grab the bag out of his hand so he can get the beer he also picked up and close his door without a struggle.

Steve smiles at him gratefully. “Aren’t you chivalrous?” His voice is teasing, but Eddie still feels his face heat.

“Only the best for you, my king.”

—

Eddie decides it’s time to start Steve’s musical education, so he puts on some Metallica as they eat.

He tries to focus on the music and not stare at Steve’s mouth as he wraps his lips around an egg roll. Or licks a bit of stray sauce from them. He’s not very successful, but what else is new.

When the food is gone and they’re a few beers in each, they lay on the floor of the trailer. Bodies facing opposite directions and their heads side by side, just listening to the music.

“You play guitar, yeah?” Eddie startles out of his daze.

“I do. Even have a band. We have a standing gig every Tuesday.”

“Could I…could I hear you play? I know music is super important to you and uh…shit if it’s totally personal that’s cool, I just thought I could understand it better if I could hear it from you, but really it’s fine-“

“Steve. Chill, it’s fine. I don’t think The Hideout is exactly your kind of place, but I could be persuaded to give you a private show.”

“Yeah?” He looks so pleased that Eddie’s heart stutters in his chest.

“Sure. Maybe not tonight though. I’ve got a decent buzz going, and my coordination’s not the best. I’d hate to make a poor first impression.”

Eddie turns his head to find Steve already facing him. Those pretty hazel eyes blink sleepily back at him.

“You’ve already made quite the impression, I don’t think you could mess it up now. But that’s ok, I can wait.” Then he’s turning his head to let out a jaw cracking yawn. “Sorry, I forget how tired drinking makes me.”

“You a lightweight Stevie? It is getting pretty late, you could…you could stay tonight, if you wanted.”

“I’d hate to impose.”

“I’d hate to wake up to finding out you’ve wrapped your car around a tree. Seriously. Stay.”

Steve giggles, closing his eyes. “So bossy. Whatever you say, Eddie.”

“Alright Sleepyhead, come on, let’s get you to bed before you pass out on my living room floor.”

—

Eddie lends Steve some sweatpants and a well worn band t to change into. He sits on his freshly made bed and ponders if he should sleep on the couch or set himself up on his floor. He doesn’t think Steve is that drunk, but he’d still feel better close by just in case. At least that’s the excuse Eddie would use if anyone asked.

Steve comes back in while he’s laying a blanket out on the floor. Seeing him dressed in Eddie’s clothes stirs a possessive glee in his gut. Apparently that really does it for him.

“What are you doing?”

“Hm? Oh. Setting up on the floor, you can take the bed.”

“But the bed’s big enough…unless you’re uncomfortable sharing?”

Uncomfortable? Kind of…but not for the reasons Steve thinks. More worried that sleeping next to the source of his unrequited love will kill him, or at the very least be an exercise in sexual frustration. He can’t very well say that though.

“No, that’s…I mean yeah, we can share.”

He quickly rushes into the bathroom to change his own clothes and take a moment to collect himself. After a few minutes of deep breathing, he makes his way back to his room to find Steve already curled up under the blankets.

Eddie takes a deep, centering breath before climbing in next to him. He turns out the lights and settles in, leaving as much space between them as he can. Apparently Steve had other ideas though, because suddenly he’s pressed right up against Eddie with his arm thrown around his waist.

“Uh…”

“Oh, shit, sorry man. I’m uh…I get kind of touchy when I drink. I’m a snuggler. But I totally should have asked.” He goes to pull away and before Eddie can think better of it he grabs Steve’s wrist.

“I…I don’t mind. I just wasn’t expecting it, that’s all.”

“You sure?”

“Yes. Go to sleep, Steve.”

He hears a giggle in the darkness before Steve settles back in, this time resting his head on Eddie’s chest. There’s no way he doesn’t hear how fast his heart is beating, but luckily he doesn’t mention it.

Eddie thinks it’s going to be a very long, torturous night, but soon enough he finds himself lulled to sleep by Steve’s deep, even breathing.

—

He wakes to the front door closing, and would’ve paid it no mind if it weren’t for Steve. The other man jolts upright with a look of panic.

Eddie sits up next to him and rubs a soothing hand down his back. “Woah woah, hey, it’s just Uncle Wayne coming home from work. It’s alright.”

For a second Steve looks right through him before blinking into awareness. Then his cheeks flush with embarrassment.

“Yeah, yeah, sorry. Just uh…startled me.”

Eddie continues the gentle patterns his fingers are tracing along Steve’s back. He can’t shake the concern, that reaction too much for just a slight scare. He doesn’t want go jump to conclusions but he has to ask.

“Steve…you can tell me to fuck off if you’re not comfortable answering, but…Why do you never want to go to your house?”

Steve furrows his brows in confusion, clearly not having expected the question. “Oh, uh…shit I’m sorry, of course you’re welcome to come over if you want.”

“That’s not what I meant. Why do you never want to be there?” A little bit of the panic returns to Steve’s eyes. “Shit, I’m sorry. Seriously just tell me to fuck off.”

“No, it’s…it’s fine. No one’s ever asked me that before. I don’t think anyone’s noticed, I try not to make it a big thing. I mean if anyone asks to come over I let them, I just…prefer to be somewhere else.”

Steve pauses, then takes a deep shuddering breath and continues. “My parents…they had a kid because it’s the proper thing to do not out of any actual desire to be parents. So I was meant to be seen but not heard. Always be on my best behavior. Do all the right things, get the perfect grades. Be something they could show off to their friends. I wasn’t very good at it though. I was a sensitive kid, always wanted hugs and cried too easily. Stupid. Always fucking up somehow.”

“Steve…you’re not stupid. You’re not fucking anything up.”

He gets a sad little smile. “Yeah well, they certainly didn’t see if that way. And I guess my dad figured he could beat the stupid out of me. When that didn’t work they left. Traveling. They’d pop in now and again for appearances and to remind me of what a failure I was. Now they don’t come at all. They signed the house over to me. Made a big show of it to their friends, how their son was all grown up and they were so generous to give him a house as a graduation present. I haven’t seen them since. Which is good, I’m glad, I’m tired of trying to be someone I’m not so maybe they’ll finally love me. But I fucking hate that house. It’s huge and empty and filled with bad memories. Sometimes it’s nice when other people come over. Fill it with laughter, make good memories.” He looks up at Eddie through his lashes. “But I didn’t want you-I hate the thought of you in that house. It just doesn’t fit. You’re too fucking good for that place, man.”

Eddie feels his hands shaking with rage. He wants to find Steve’s parents and knock some sense into them. He wants to destroy them for making this amazing man feel like he was worthless.

He also falls even deeper in love. How Steve had managed to stay so soft, so kind in the wake of all of that…sure he’d made himself a mask but underneath it was the man Eddie knew now. The man he’d always known was beneath it. He hates those people so much for making Steve think he had to hide away the best parts of himself.

He throws his arms around Steve, the angle awkward but he doesn’t care.

“Steve…fuck. I need you to hear me, ok? You are the best person I know. You didn’t deserve any of that. You deserve to be loved, to be taken care of.”

He hears a broken sob as Steve’s arms tighten around him and he vows to himself that he will do whatever he can to make this man feel loved.

They stay like that for a while, Steve shifting at some point to basically curl up in Eddie’s lap and just lets himself be held. The quiet little whimpers stop after a while and they just cuddle.

—

They eat breakfast with Uncle Wayne before he heads to bed. Eddie worries that it will be awkward but they seem to get along really well. He can feel his uncles eyes on him more than once, but is too scared to meet his gaze.

Soon enough Steve needs to go get ready for work. It dawns on Eddie that Steve isn’t the rich kid anymore. He has that huge house, but he’s all on his own and has to support himself.

“I’m uh…sorry for crying all over you, man.” He pauses before look at Eddie cautiously. “Please don’t tell anyone. Not about the crying thing, I’m pretty sure everyone’s seen it at some point by now, just all the other stuff.”

It breaks his heart to think how Steve takes such good care of everyone else while no one takes care of him. He doesn’t want to burden the people in his life even though they love him. But Eddie’s here now and he’s going to change that.

“Of course. Your secrets will always be safe with me.”

He walks with him to the door, stopping to lean in the entry way as Steve continues down the steps and to his car. Eddie can’t help but smile at his dorky little wave, but his face drops when he looks up to see Billy watching them, furious. He must know Steve spent the night, clearly he’s making assumptions. A part of Eddie wants to grin lasciviously. To confirm what he only wishes were true. He thinks the better of it, and goes back to watching Steve’s car pull away.

But he can feel those hateful eyes on him until he closes the door.

—

Eddie considers heading up to Scoops a few hours later, but then figures after this morning he should probably give Steve a little space to breathe. He may be desperate to spend every moment in the other man’s presence, but that doesn’t mean the feeling is mutual.

So he ties his hair back into a low, messy bun and tinkers with the van for a bit. She was due for a tune up soon anyway, and getting his hands dirty has always been a good distraction for Eddie. Though today it’s not as successful as it usually is.

His thoughts wander to the place, or person rather, they always do lately. The conversation they had this morning weighs heavily on his mind. He can’t get the image out of his head, of Steve all alone in his way too big house. Or worse, bruised and bleeding at the hands of the ones meant to love and protect him. Eddie’s father was a piece of shit but even he’d never laid a hand on his kid.

Eddie hopes they truly stay gone for good. He’s not sure what he’ll do if he ever sees them.

Once he’s taken care of all he can in the van, he cleans his hands off with an old rag and heads inside. Just in time for the ringing phone to get sent to the answering machine.

“Hey Eddie, uh…it’s Steve. I’m off work soon and I just wanted to see if you were busy. Which clearly you are. So I’m not sure why I’m leaving this message. Shit. Sorry-“

Eddie trips over his own feet in his rush to grab the phone. “Steve! Hey!”

“Oh…hi. I’m sorry I didn’t mean to bug you, if you’re busy I can just call back some other time it’s no big deal.”

“Nah I’m never too busy for you. What’s up?”

“Well I was just…Robin’s got a hot date tonight so she’s blowing me off. I thought maybe you’d wanna do something?”

Eddie grins, tries to keep the joy out of his voice. “Ouch, Harrington, I’m the second choice huh? The back up plan?”

“What? No! No of course not!”

Steve sounds so distraught, Eddie can’t help but laugh.

“I’m just fucking with you it’s fine. Yeah man, wanna come over? I can give you that private concert if you’re still interested.”

“Yeah, that would be great!”

Robins voice interjects in the background, he hears a muffled “stop flirting and get back to work, Dingus, you’ve only got an hour left.”

“Shit, sorry, gotta go before Robin kills me for hiding in the back. I’ll see you in like an hour and a half?”

“Sounds good.”

If Eddie’s heart skips a few beats at the thought that Robin even teasingly saying Steve was flirting with him, that’s no one’s business but his own.

—

Uncle Wayne is up and about when he gets out of the shower. Takes one look at Eddie all clean and fidgety and sees right through him.

“That Harrington boy coming over tonight?”

“Is that…is that alright?” He’s never had to ask to have any company before, but then again the boys he’s had over don’t make repeat visits.

“Eddie, this is your house too and you’re grown. You can have whoever you want come over. I just…you been real happy lately Ed. That boy’s not gonna break your heart, is he?”

Well shit. Eddie doesn’t know what to say.

“We’re just friends.” He hedges.

“That’s what I’m worried about. You’re ‘just friends’ to him maybe. I seen the way you look at him Eddie, you don’t wanna be just friends. Shit I don’t think I’ve ever seen you so gone on someone. Look…I’m not tellin’ you want to do. All I’m saying is be careful.”

“Uncle Wayne…I’m not gonna say I’m not gonna get my heart broken, but I promise it won’t be his fault. He’s not leading me on. Whether I want it or not we are just friends. And I’m ok with that. If he knew-if he thought for a second he was hurting me he’d hate himself for it. So if I’m stupid with my heart and it gets broken, it’s on me, not him.”

His uncle just looks at him searchingly for a long time. Then he shakes his head. “I’m not saying he’s a bad guy. I actually like the kid, much better than anyone else you’ve ever brought home. I’m saying don’t be stupid with your heart. But for what it’s worth, son, that boy looks at you like you hung the moon. So yeah, I know he wouldn’t hurt you on purpose.”

Eddie feels his face flush. He tries so hard not to get his hopes up, he knows Steve is straight, but he imagines him looking at him like that. For a moment he lets himself live in the fantasy where this isn’t one sided. He shakes his head to clear it.

“Thanks Uncle Wayne. Love you.”

His uncle pats him on the shoulder. “Love you too kiddo.” Then he heads to the door to head out for another graveyard shift. As he opens it he smiles. “Hey son, go on it he’s expecting you.”

—

Steve must have stopped at his house before coming over, as he’s no longer in his uniform. He’s forgone his usual polo in favor of a tight black T-shirt with a dark green jacket. He’s also got on dark grey jeans. Eddie can’t help but notice his color pallet has shifted darker in recent months, wonders if it’s his own influence that’s inspired the change.

In any case he looks enticing.

“So I know you said you’d play for me, and I really want you to. But maybe after…Nancy’s throwing this party and that’s what me and Robin were gonna do before she got a better offer. Rob said you probably wouldn’t want to go, but I think the kids are going to make an appearance early on, so I thought maybe…?”

Eddie hesitates. “That wouldn’t be awkward for you?”

“What do you mean?”

“Going to a party hosted by your ex. With her new boyfriend.”

“Oh. No. Nah man me and Nancy are over. Like way over. But she’s a cool chick, and Jonathan’s not a bad guy, so we’ve stayed friends. I’m happy for them.” His cheeks are a lovely shade of pink. “I’ve got my eye elsewhere anyway.” He looks up at Eddie with his pretty hazel eyes and smiles.

Eddie tries to smile back. Thinks he should probably ask who, be a good friend and encourage Steve to go for it. Doesn’t matter who it is, of course they’d say yes. But he can’t. He allows himself to be selfish in this, to protect his heart as much as he can.

“Oh. Cool, then, yeah we can go I guess. We can just head over, I can play my guitar for you any time.”

Steve’s face falls a little, and Eddie tries not to feel guilty.

“Oh…yeah, ok.”

The van is still a bit deconstructed, so they climb into Steve’s car and make their way to the Wheeler house.

—

Eddie’s never been much of a partier, despite what people may think of him. He’s more inclined to smoke and chill at home, or hang with a few friends, than to go to some rager. He’s pretty sure Steve is much the same, at least the Steve who’s let go of his mask.

Needless to say he’s surprised and a bit concerned to see Steve dive headfirst into the alcohol.

“Hey buddy maybe you should slow down a bit? Pace yourself?”

“But it’s a party! Time to drink your troubles away!”

Eddie just shakes his head. Decides he’ll be sober tonight, watch after his little lush.

He chats with the kids for a bit, then mingles about trying to make friends with the other people Steve cares about. Eddie keeps one eye on him as he chats, highly entertained by a man he’s never seen before named Argyle. Then Nancy approaches him when Steve’s more than a few drinks in, all careful concern.

“Is he ok? I’ve never seen him like this.”

Now Eddie is worried. He’d hoped maybe he just didn’t know this side of Steve, but if Nancy thinks this is abnormal behavior…

“I’m not sure. He seemed fine earlier. He uh…he mentioned he’s into someone, maybe he hoped they’d be here and he’s disappointed?”

Nancy shoots him a look of surprise. “Oh, you’re not…huh. Ok. You should maybe talk to him about that. When he sobers up. But for now he’s going outside so you might want to keep an eye on him.”

Eddie looks around, finally spotting Steve slinking out the back. He looks back to Nancy, not really sure what to say, or what she’s trying to say. He settles for a nod before following the other man.

He finds him swinging on a porch swing.

“Hey, whatcha doing out here on your own?”

“S’too loud. Couldn’t find you, so I came out here to get away from the loud. You wanna sit?”

Eddie grins, then joins him on the swing. He kicks off the ground, sending them into a gentle sway.

Steve looks over at him and smiles. “You’ve got such pretty eyes. They’re so big. It’s very distracting. S’hard to think when you look at me with your big doe eyes all soft and pretty like that.”

Eddie has no idea what to do with that. He tries to tease. “Are you flirting with me Harrington?” He gets a manic little laugh in return.

“Have been for months, thanks for noticing!”

“I-What?” Before he can begin to process what Steve just said, he hears a voice that quickly turns the heat in his veins to ice.

“Aww Munson finally got himself a girlfriend. Careful though, that one’s got quite the reputation. But hey, if you don’t mind used goods…”

Steve curls in on himself, looking ashamed and miserable. Eddie curses himself for coming out here alone with just an intoxicated Steve. Friends party or no, they’re still in Hawkins.

“Fuck off Hargrove, go back to whatever hole you crawled out of.”

Billy keeps talking like Eddie hadn’t said anything. “He does have quite the pretty mouth though. What do you say Munson? We can share. I’ll let you fuck that tight little ass while I take his mouth. Bet he’d love it wouldn’t you Stevie?”

Before Eddie consciously realizes he’s decided to move, he’s got Billy on the ground. He’s not a fighter but fueled by protective rage he lands a few punches.

Billy gets his hand on a small potted plant and smashes it against his head and then Eddie is shoved on his back. He blinks the blood out of his vision to see the other man approaching Steve, and one glimpse of those terror filled eyes has him stumbling back to his feet.

As he stands he sees the trowel laying in the garden. He uses it to hit Billy in the back of the head, and as the man falters Eddie knocks him to the ground. Quickly hovering over him, he holds the trowel like a knife against Billy’s throat.

“If you so much as look at him again, I will kill you, do you understand me?” He pauses while Billy just stares at him, face blank. “Do you understand me?!”

“Yes! I understand.”

He stands, still gripping his makeshift weapon, and lets Billy scuttle away. He watches until he’s sure the creep is gone before he lets himself relax, swaying on his feet.

Steve is immediately at his side, tears streaming down his cheeks. He lifts his hand to brush the wetness away. “Hey, you’re ok sweetheart, please don’t cry.”

“I’m not crying for me you idiot! You’re bleeding. Jesus Eddie, I was so scared. I thought he was gonna kill you.” Steve buries his head in Eddie’s shoulder, shaking with sobs.

Eddie shushes him, cradling the back of his head. Thinks back to the moment before Billy interrupted them. He wants so badly to ask if Steve meant what he’d said, but he knows this isn’t the time. Between what just happened and Steve still being drunk…if they were going to talk about this, he needed to be sure it was real.

So for now he just presses a kiss to the top of Steve’s head and holds on tight, reassuring him that they’re both safe now.

—

Once the adrenaline wears off, Eddie becomes aware of the pain. His head is throbbing, there’s a decent chance he has a concussion. Definitely some busted knuckles. His hip aches from where it hit the ground. Could be worse.

Steve may be drunk, but he’s still Steve. He’s unsteady on his feet as he leads Eddie through the house, confidently finding the first aid kit in the bathroom. He sits Eddie down on the toilet and carefully cleans the gashes on his head, bandaging them and giving them each a sloppy kiss when he’s done. Eddie’s hand gets the same treatment, and the sight of Steve gently cradling his hand for a kiss makes his heart ache with want.

Eddie takes his other hand and wipes the tears that start leaking. “It’s ok. I’m ok. I promise it’s going to take a lot more than one slimy creep to take me away from you.” Steve giggles in response. “There’s that pretty smile, much better. No more tears. You wanna head home or do you wanna stick around for a bit longer?”

“Home. I mean…can I stay with you tonight? I know I was just there last night it’s ok if you want your space I don’t mean to be clingy-“

“Steve. You will always be welcome wherever I am. You don’t even have to ask. And there’s not a chance I’d let you go be in that house on your own, not after tonight. Besides, someone needs to make sure you don’t choke on your own tongue in the middle of the night, boozy.”

He stands and keeps Steve’s hand in his bruised grip, leading him out. Nancy spots them and shoots him a questioning and worried look, but he just waves her off. They can explain later.

He get Steve settled in the passenger seat of his own car, before holding his hand out for the keys. Steve just squints up at him, adorably confused, before reaching out to hold hands. Eddie snorts.

“No, you goof, the keys. Unless you want to sleep in your car you’re gonna have to hand ‘em over so I can get us home.”

Steve smiles fondly. “Home…that sounds nice. I wish. But my home’s no good. And I don’t think your uncle would want me to. But it’s where the heart is right?” He clumsily fishes the keys out of his pocket and hands them over. “So m’already there I guess. Don’t think you are though, which sucks. Your house is nice though, so we can go there.”

Eddie laughs. “I’m not really sure what you’re trying to say sweetheart, maybe you can try again in the morning, hm?”

As they pull in next to the van, Eddie glances cautiously across the to the Mayfield/Hargrove home to find it dark and silent. He’s pretty sure Billy won’t bother them anymore, but he won’t be letting his guard down any time soon just the same.

Steve has been drifting the whole drive over, so Eddie gently shakes his shoulder. “Come on pretty boy, let’s get you into bed so you can sleep nice and comfy.”

He groans and grumbles, but he gets out so Eddie counts it as a win. Until he tips dangerously close to face planting. Steve pouts at him like it’s Eddie’s fault he can’t stand up on his own two feet. Eddie wraps Steve’s arm around his shoulder to steady him and tries to shuffle them both forward.

Unfortunately Steve’s feet seem completely unwilling to cooperate. With an eye roll and a heavy sigh, Eddie bends down and scoops his legs out from under him. Steve squeals and almost flails right out of his arms.

“Shhh you’re gonna wake the whole trailer park!” Eddie whispers.

“Sorry, sorry” Steve giggles, “I wasn’t ready. My hero.” He swoons dramatically, then grins and wraps his arms around Eddie’s neck.

Once they get inside he gently places Steve down on the bed. He makes him drink some water, then throws the sweats from the night before on the bed and heads to the bathroom to change into his own.

He comes out to Steve curled up under the covers peeking up at him, suddenly looking shy.

“Eds…thank you. You really are my hero.”

Eddie laughs as he crawls into bed next to him. “I don’t know about that, but either way no thanks needed. You just keep smiling for me pretty thing, that’s all I need.”

Steve lives up to his word and remains a snuggly drunk. As soon as Eddie is settled there’s a body draped across his.

He knows tomorrow they have to talk and he has no idea how it’s going to go, so he enjoys this while he can.

—

Eddie wakes long before he opens his eyes. He can feel Steve’s steady breathing against his neck, an arm draped across his chest. He just wants to stay in this moment as long as possible. Live in this domestic little fantasy of waking up next to he man he loves.

But eventually he feels Steve stirring and knows he can’t delay the inevitable much longer. He opens his eyes and looks down to see Steve already looking back.

“Morning beautiful. Sleep well?”

“Mmm. Feels like I got hit by a bus.”

“That’ll be the hangover. Not too surprising considering how much you drank. You remember much about last night?”

Steve blinks through the haze of sleep and alcohol before his eyes widen.

“Billy. Shit Eddie, are you ok?” His hands come up to gently touch Eddie’s bandaged head.

“I’m fine. I’ve had worse. I may be a lover not a fighter but that didn’t stop the meat heads at school from playing ‘hunt the freak’. Anyway that’s not what I was talking about.”

“What’s more important than some psycho attacking us?”

Eddie hesitates. He’s not sure Steve will want to be snuggled up in bed after he says what he needs to say. “You know what? I can’t have this conversation like this. Come on time to get up. I’ll make you a nice greasy breakfast and get you hydrated. I need coffee.”

Steve gets up, casting nervous glances at Eddie as he heads to the bathroom to brush his teeth. He’s already claimed the spare toothbrush as his, because of course he has. Eddie swipes his own and brushes his teeth at the kitchen sink.

He hears the shower turn on and a part of him relaxes, glad that Steve feels at home enough here to do so.

Eddie may not be a great cook in general, but one thing he does right is breakfast. Bacon, eggs, hash browns, pancakes, French toast…the works. Today he settles for bacon and eggs with some toast. Just as he’s finished plating everything he hears the shower turn off. He gets gets the coffee for himself and puts out orange juice and a Gatorade for Steve.

Steve’s decided to stay in Eddie’s clothes from the night before. He sits across from Eddie looking like he may throw up, but more from nerves than the hangover.

“Eddie…look, I know what this is about and we really don’t have to do this. I can take a hint, it’s fine. I just…I really don’t want to lose you, ok? So it’s fine. We’re good.”

“I uh…I’m not sure we’re having the same conversation here Stevie. Because I have no idea what hint you think you’re taking.”

Steve laughs, but it’s a sad little thing. “Come on Eds, I know you heard me last night. I mean I lied a little, I’ve been trying not to flirt with you for months. But when I told you I had my eye on someone you shut down, you clearly didn’t want to talk about it. And when Billy called me your girlfriend you were mad. Like mad mad.”

“Jesus H Christ Steve you cannot possible think that’s what I was mad about.”

“…What?”

“The implication that we were together, that’s what you thought pissed me off last night? Fucking hell Steve. I was furious because of how he talked about you, because he said we should fucking share you. I wanted to fucking kill that little creep because he was talking about using you. Assaulting you. Jesus. The thought of him looking at you never mind touching you makes my skin crawl. Who cares if he thinks we’re together? I know you were drunk but shit, how the fuck could you think I cared about that?” He’s running his hands through his hair so hard he’s pulling strands out.

“I just…I said I was into someone and I thought you knew I meant you and you were upset, and then that happened and you were even more upset I just thought…”

“I was upset because I thought you were into someone else! Fuck Steve I thought you were straight, I thought you’d found someone and I was going to have to watch someone else make the the love of my life happy and it was going to slowly kill me.”

Steve’s head jerks up so fast from where he’d been staring at the table, it’s a wonder he doesn’t get whiplash. Eddie replays his own words in his head and realizes with horror he said more than he meant to.

“I’m the love of your life?”

And fuck, there’s this soft awed look in Steve’s face. It cracks Eddie right open.

“Fuck it.” He takes a deep breath to steady himself before he closes his eyes and dives head first. Reckless as ever. “I love you. I’m in love with you. Pretty sure I’ve been half in love with you since the day we met, but now? Yeah Steve, you’re the love of my fucking life.”

Before he can steel himself to open his eyes and see the reaction, he feels a hand on the back of his head pulling him and suddenly there’s a mouth against his. Oh. It’s soft, and sweet, and everything he’d ever hoped a first kiss with Steve could be.

It’s over as fast as it began and he leans forward to chase those lips. He feels Steve giggle before a hand at his shoulder stops him. He opens one eye to see Steve all soft and shy.

“You remember the day we met?”

“How could I forget? You were my gay awakening.” He opens his other eye and grins. “Pretty boy like you came to my rescue? I was gone.”

“You’re one to talk. My knight in shining armor.” The hand on his shoulder drops to his own bruised hand, thumb rubbing gently across the still bandaged knuckles. “Shit Eddie you really didn’t know? Everyone knows!”

“Wait what? What do you means everyone knows?”

“Eddie, everyone knows. The kids give me shit all the time. God the first time I tried to asked you to hang out with me and Robin they mocked me the whole drive to Dustin’s because I couldn’t just suck it up and ask you on a proper date. Robin also mocks me because I dressed up and paid like it was a date anyway. Hell Nancy knows….and also mocks me, Jesus I need better friends.”

Eddie laughs a little hysterically. “That explains why Nancy said I should talk to you when I told her you said you liked someone last night. Steve I thought you were straight. Why would I ever think I had a chance?”

“Well I’m bi, for the record. I mean it was me coming out to my parents that was the final straw for them leaving. I just thought you knew. Robbie said you clocked each other from day one. And she knew about me right away so I figured you did too and you were just too nice to say anything about my glaringly obvious crush. But everyone kept telling me to go for it so I thought last night I’d kind of open the door a bit and you slammed it in my face. So instead of having you serenade me and then maybe make out a little at the party I got spectacularly drunk in self pity.”

Eddie grins beatifically. “I can serenade you, baby.”

“Ugh god then there was that. Last night you called me ‘sweetheart’ and ‘pretty’ and I was so confused. You’d never called me pet names before.” He pouts adorably.

“I’ll call you whatever you want, gorgeous, as long as I can call you mine.”

“Oh Eddie, I’ve been yours for a long time.” Steve closes the gap between them once more.

~

I’ve had so many fic ideas in my years in fandom, but this is the first one I’ve actually written. I have like 3 others in progress, all Steddie, so there’s that. Anyway, be gentle. I’ve been writing for forever but this is the first fic and also the first story I’ve ever shared publicly.

I may write a follow up to this one too. We’ll see.

Find me on AO3

#steddie fic #steve x eddie #steddie #steve harrington #eddie munson #stranger things #stranger things fic #my fic #good uncle Wayne Munson #idiots in love #Eddie Munson has a crush on Steve Harrington #Steve Harrington has a crush on Eddie Munson #bisexual steve harrington #gay eddie munson #au: no upside down #steve harrington needs a hug #Steve Harrington has bad parents #no beta we die like barb #my stuff

[pez-and-quiet]

Sweetheart (mini fic possible more parts)

also on a03

Steve and Robin sat by the phone impatenitly, waiting for the call that would change their lives. Steve sighed and stood up, i’m going to grab some water want anything” he asked Robin before heading to the kitchen.

Robin grabbed his arm to pull him back onto the couch, you can't leave, what if they call, i'm horrible on the phone.” she complained

He laughed, “then why did i make you my personal assistant? hmm” He raised one eyebrow in a questioning way sending robin falling off the couch and onto the floor. 

The phone rang, Robin raced to grab it. “Hello, Harrigton residence, Robin speaking. Oh” she paused a undeciferable look on her face “oh, alright i’ll call him now” She put the phone against her shoulder to block the microphone. “MR.HARRINGTON! There’s a call for you, it’s the record label” Steve shook his head at her shenanigans. “He’ll be right with you” Robin told the other side of the phone.

“So??” Steve mouthed to her excitement brewing in him like a cup of coffee, Robin shrugged, 

“They wanted to talk to you” she mouthed back at him. She handed him the phone looking more anxious than he was.

“Hello, Steve Harrington speaking, my assistant said you were wanting to talk to me.” He paused waiting for a response. 

“Ah yes, Steve Harrington. I have some big news for you son!” It was the record label producer he had talked to a few months ago. “You’ve been signed by Starlight Records!” There was nothing that could wipe the grin off his face, he had done it, he had made it into the music industry and he hadn’t done it for himself, he had done it for Eddie. 

“Really! That’s amazing!” Steve answered calmly enough that he still sounded excited but not like a maniac. “What are the next steps?” He asked

There was a pause on the other side of the line, a bit of rifling through papers “Well were moving you out to New York to record the rest of your album, did you decided on a name for it?” 

Steve nodded, they couldn’t see him but nodding was fun, “Yes, it’s called Sweetheart. He told the producer excitedly. It hadn’t taken him long to come up witht he name, it was one of the pet names Eddie ahd called him before he disappeared three months after everything that happened. Steve didn’t even get a goddamn letter. 

“Alright then Steve, well work out the details later I’ll let you go and celebrate with your friends” The producer said goodbye and the phone line went silent.

Robin looked up at him from the floor, “So did you get it?” she asked impatiently

“What do you think?” Steve asked her, smirking, Robin jumped up off the floor and gave Steve the biggest hug she’s probably ever given him. “Jeez Rob, i need to breathe if i'm going to be recording an album” he laughed “also how do you feel about moving to New York with me?”

part 2 -> here

part 3 -> here

#platonic stobin #eddie munson #robin buckley #steddie #steve harrington #stranger things #ronance #eddie x steve #mini fic #based on a taylor swift song #Marjorie taylor swift #ao3 tags #no beta we die like barb #rockstar eddie munson #sweetheart minific

[auwuli]

Stupid mouth

Sleeping is hard. It always been hard for Steve, but after everything they all had been through ... What he had been through, it wasn't just the silence that kept him awake at night. It was the fear and the guilt. That it wasn't over. That his claws were still around his neck. That he died while he carried him on his back out of hell to the hospital. That he wasn't fast enough. That he should have been with him, not with the girls. The girls handled themselves just fine and he wasn't. He fucking wasn't. Just because King Steve had to be the hero that gets the cute, smart and strong girl at the end. Except he's not a hero, he's bullshit. Bullshit. It was his job to protect them, all of them. Well, the guilt kept him awake more than the fear it seems. Why? Because he cares, so fucking much. He started carrying fast, too fast. It was so easy to care, care hard. He only knew the guy for a few days before trying to save the world together. The dude even tried to slice his throat open the second he laid eyes on him, christ. And now, he's lying awake at 3am on a workday thinking about how much his death would have fucked him up? Like ... What? The pain in the ass that lives in your basement right now is alive, chill Harrington. When things calm down, he'll be alone again, they just have to be patient apparently. The ex-suspect serial killer with the most chaotic curly hair is still not completely clean of all accusations. “On it”, they said. Hiding in a basement, sleeping on a mattress on the floor, in the house his parents abandoned him in when things started to go south in Hawkins. What a life for one of the real hero of Hawkins! Let's calm down. Breath. Alright. Steve throws the covers aggressively on the ground, followed by the pillows because he wasn't satisfied yet. He stands up and decides to go grab a glass of water and a snack in the kitchen. An everything-except-healthy-snack sounds good. He almost made it to the kitchen when he swears he hearsd a strange noise coming from the basement. He wouldn't go down without a good reason obviously, he takes privacy to hearst obviously. He's lonely, but not desperate enough to ignore his duty as a host. Or maybe he is. He just needs to see him. Needs it. Just a second. Okay, two minutes tops. He'll watch him breath a few minutes and then fuck off. Pinky promise. He's halfway to the stairs when he clearly hears his new favorite sound in the world since it ends. He almost trip while rushing down the stairs. Well, you know what, fuck it. He's definitely desperate.

̶ Oh hey Stevie boy! Can't sleep either? Or is it my fault, the noise? Sorry man.

He is breathing right there, within reach. Better, he's smiling at him, with his guitar on his lap. The tension in his shoulders magically disappear.

̶ You know I love it when you play Munson. And, couldn't sleep in the first place, don't apologize.

Steve doesn't have a clue of what hearst eyes he is sporting on, but he can see the softness in Eddie's when he opens an arm in a dramatic gesture to invite him on the bed next to him.

̶ In that case, my precious host... Take a sit, make yourself comfortable. I love it when you watch me.

Steve sits next to him, a little too close, and chooses to ignore the emphasis on the word “love” or the fact he didn't say “watch me play” but just “watch me”. Why did he do that? And he's staring now, great. Good job on ignoring something Steve. Before his brain goes in overdrive again, Eddie's fingers start moving on the strings of the acoustic guitar he didn't know lied somewhere in his basement. The song is slow and Steve could fall asleep right there. It's so nice. Then, he hears a low humming rise from Eddie's throat, and his heart takes the biggest free fall of his life. Steve tries so stay still, not breathing, not even blinking. It's the first time he hears Eddie sings. Steve thinks he recognize Black Sabbath, maybe. And the next thing he knows is that his mouth opened without his consent.

̶ I am so glad you're alive. So much it keeps me awake at night just thinking what would have happened if I was a second too late. I am so so glad I can be with you for a little longer.

Eddie doesn't look at him, doesn't respond, he just continues playing and humming and smiling. He's smiling. Steve loves that smile. He loves it. He loves ... All the emotions he so desperately tried to surppress suddenly crash over him, in a chaos of cold fingers on his arms, in his hair, of lame jokes and nerd references he didn't get, of bloodied bandages on the bathroom floor, of movie nights and late talks on the living room floor, of ... his presence everywhere all the time. Tears slowly rolls on his doted cheeks.

̶ I'm in love with you.

Eddie's hands freeze on the strings. After the last note dies, the silence is suffocating. He carefully put down his guitar next to him, grabs a pillow, smashes his head in it and screams at the top of his lungs. Steve jumps, a little startles and a whole lot anxious. What is happening? Did he just fucked everything up? He did, didn't he? He didn't mean to say it. However, the moment he knew, the words were punched out of his stupid mouth. Fuck. His heart takes the second biggest free fall of his life. Eddie means so much to him. This weird frizzy metalhead that filled his empty house with noise and laughter and everything nice, that he learned to know, that he learned to loved apparently. If he fucked up he's not going to survive losing him. He is so not going to. Steve doens't remember how he lived before Eddie, even when he lived most of his life without him. Steve can't see anymore through the salty pearls stuck to his lashes, his hands are shaking, but he stays still. God knows he wants to run, but can't.

̶ Shit, Steve. Steve, look at me. I didn't mean to freak you out.

Steve heard him from somewhere faraway and dark. He can feel warm hands on his cheeks, guiding his head to meet his gaze. He is truly beautiful, even deformed by the water that keeps oozing out of his eyes.

̶ I'm so sorry, I just couldn't process the fact that you love me back.

The words take their time to sink in his thick head that took one too many punch. When they eventually reach his brain, the confused and sad tears become happy tears.

̶ You love me?

̶ I love you Steve.

#steddie fic #steve harrington #eddie munson #eddie x steve #steve x eddie #steve stranger things #eddie stranger things #fix it fic #steddie fluff #love declaration #no beta we die like barb #not my first language

[bylerschmyler]

Vecna - The Warlock

I'm currrently diving a little bit into D&D because me and some friends are currently preparing for our first campaign. So while I was browsing through the classes on https://www.dndbeyond.com/ I noticed some intersting connections to some characters from Stranger Things.

Obviously I am not an expert in D&D nor its lore and I firmly believe their were others before me who found those parallels. Everything I present to you in this post I found simply by going through the class and spell descriptions and doing some background info checks here and there.

I will try to explain other characters and their probably not so obvious undertones from time but I wanna start with Vecna. Why? Well I browsed the Warlock Class description today and was pretty suprised how much of it I saw represented by our behated S4 villain.

Vecna never gets called a warlock in the show. This simply due to the fact, that warlocks weren't introduced before 2004. So Dustin and Eddie calling him a dark wizard or spellcaster still resembles the warlock trope.

Just for the start here is the general description dndbeyond give us on warlocks:

Warlock Class Details

With a pseudodragon curled on his shoulder, a young elf in golden robes smiles warmly, weaving a magical charm into his honeyed words and bending the palace sentinel to his will.

As flames spring to life in her hands, a wizened human whispers the secret name of her demonic patron, infusing her spell with fiendish magic.

Shifting his gaze between a battered tome and the odd alignment of the stars overhead, a wild-eyed tiefling chants the mystic ritual that will open a doorway to a distant world.

Warlocks are seekers of the knowledge that lies hidden in the fabric of the multiverse. Through pacts made with mysterious beings of supernatural power, warlocks unlock magical effects both subtle and spectacular. Drawing on the ancient knowledge of beings such as fey nobles, demons, devils, hags, and alien entities of the Far Realm, warlocks piece together arcane secrets to bolster their own power.

The Pseudodragon: It's funny how the first thing mentioned here is the pseudodragon because their desciriptions reminded me of demobats.

Keen senses relate to how Vecna uses them as spies (S4E7 - the bat on the lamp when the teen drive to Eddie's trailer). Limited Telepathy basically a reference to the hive mind. That they have a biting attack and potentitally posinous sting attack (Steves rabies) makes it even funnier.

Odd alignment of the stars: Stranger Things has so many references of stars. In S4 specificially there are the stars on Jason's and Patrick's jackets. S3 Will had robes with stars during the campaign and the show literally starts with the star filled sky in S1.

open a doorway to a distant world.: Do we really have to talk about that? I mean the not marked reference about chanting a mythic ritual is even more fitting. Vecna used ritualistic sacrifices to open the gates in S4.

seekers of the knowledge: Vecna describes himself as adventurer when he taunts El before he trie to kill Max. He also searched for ways to open the gates and found his answer in El. Thats why he stole her powers (The bite in S3). He also seeks for knowledge to tourment his victims. Going through their memories to reveal their bigest secrets.

alien entities of the Far Realm: Demogorgons and Mind Flayer we see in his flashbacks.

warlocks piece together arcane secrets to bolster their own power: Also ties to the adventurer thing Vecna mentioned himself. The whole consuming the other numbers to grow stronger himself is also bound to this description.

Sworn and Beholden

A warlock is defined by a pact with an otherworldly being. Sometimes the relationship between warlock and patron is like that of a cleric and a deity, though the beings that serve as patrons for warlocks are not gods. A warlock might lead a cult dedicated to a demon prince, an archdevil, or an utterly alien entity—beings not typically served by clerics. More often, though, the arrangement is similar to that between a master and an apprentice. The warlock learns and grows in power, at the cost of occasional services performed on the patron’s behalf.

The magic bestowed on a warlock ranges from minor but lasting alterations to the warlock’s being (such as the ability to see in darkness or to read any language) to access to powerful spells. Unlike bookish wizards, warlocks supplement their magic with some facility at hand-to-hand combat. They are comfortable in light armor and know how to use simple weapons.

Pact: I don't want to start a discussion about who is the big bad. Imo it's clearly Vecna. But I still think that Vecna has made a pact to the Upside down itself. I don't if he just controls it by I think he draws some power of it and that's why he gets hooked up to the vines.

Cult: The mention of a cult is so S4 vibes. But a cult specifically dedicated to an alien entity was exactly what happened with the flayed in S3.

Alterations: His creepy claw hand and his kind of blinded eyes as well as the ability to communicate/command the UD creatures.

Spells: Also a reference to how the Vines in the UD give him the power to target and kill the teens in S4.

Delvers into Secrets

Warlocks are driven by an insatiable need for knowledge and power, which compels them into their pacts and shapes their lives. This thirst drives warlocks into their pacts and shapes their later careers as well.

Stories of warlocks binding themselves to fiends are widely known. But many warlocks serve patrons that are not fiendish. Sometimes a traveler in the wilds comes to a strangely beautiful tower, meets its fey lord or lady, and stumbles into a pact without being fully aware of it. And sometimes, while poring over tomes of forbidden lore, a brilliant but crazed student’s mind is opened to realities beyond the material world and to the alien beings that dwell in the outer void.

Once a pact is made, a warlock’s thirst for knowledge and power can’t be slaked with mere study and research. No one makes a pact with such a mighty patron if he or she doesn’t intend to use the power thus gained. Rather, the vast majority of warlocks spend their days in active pursuit of their goals, which typically means some kind of adventuring. Furthermore, the demands of their patrons drive warlocks toward adventure.

Secrets: Seeking other people secrets to use it against them.

Drive: Vecna want his very own world how he sees fit and that's why wants to become more powerfull. He also sees himself superior to other humans.

Forbidden: He consumes people. That's why Brenner controled him through the soteria chip.

Alien: Yet again something you can connect to the Upside Down.

Goals: Ties in to Drive. Also supported by his own explanation how he waited for a door to open ("I just needed someone to open the door")

Adventuring: I repeat myself here. He sees himself as an adventurer.

Now that we have a good overview about what a warlock is in general let's take a look into what he can do.

So one of his first perks is this:

Armor of Shadows and the use of Mage Amor. This could he relate in how Vecna was able to survive Nancy's shots and the burning.

He basically uses Ascendant Step everytime he gets hooked up to Vines.

Basically the way he is able to hold up the mirror.

Exchange Monsters with scared teens and we have the final stage of his curse.

This is how he is able to sense El when she is searching for Billy in the void. And if Will has powers, this is how he found out he had them.

Another possible explanation to his survival.

Gaze of two Minds is the reason he is not able to block Nancy, Steve and Robin when they enter the attic.

Lifedrinker sound to me like the curse. They take damage through the symtoms.

This what he does with Max's mom.

This is partly why he looks like he looks (not human anymore).

Maybe that is why the demogorgon in S1 just sometimes (diss)appears.

So if we look at Max having music from a DnD angle that would mean music is giving you an huge advantage. She basically saves herself with a Wisdom save.

Screaming Hive Mind.

There are a lot more spells that a tied to a warlock. Many of which are basically how he attacks. But this post is long enough anyway so I won't dive down that rabbit hole too.

To the end here just another funny connection to Stranger Things:

The Fiend

You have made a pact with a fiend from the lower planes of existence, a being whose aims are evil, even if you strive against those aims. Such beings desire the corruption or destruction of all things, ultimately including you. Fiends powerful enough to forge a pact include demon lords such as Demogorgon, Orcus, Fraz’Urb-luu, and Baphomet; archdevils such as Asmodeus, Dispater, Mephistopheles, and Belial; pit fiends and balors that are especially mighty; and ultroloths and other lords of the yugoloths.

AND (Screaming Will in S2)

That should be it for now. If you have thought about this or ideas how other warlock stuff is connected to Vecna please share! I do want to know everything there is.

Next up will be Mike.

#vecna stranger things #vecna's curse #stranger things #stranger things analysis #st analysis #st theory #stranger things 4 #stranger things theory #this got long #this got way longer than i intended #sorry not sorry #enjoy this tiny fun thing #stranger things eating up all my time #i shouldn't just think about my theories all the time #why is that not a tag #no beta we die like mike's heterosexuality #no beta we die like barb

[entropicquilibriumofchaos]

Master of Puppets

After a year away at college, Margaret Byrnes is called home to Hawkins, Indiana when her father turns up missing after an earthquake swallows half of the town. Something is different about Hawkins, though, and she stumbles right into it, quite literally. After along fall and a chance encounter with a mysterious stranger named Kas, Margaret will have to reconsider every thing she believes as her world mixes with a strange world on the other side of her hometown.

Eddie Munson/Original Female Character

READ IT ON AO3

Chapter 1 - Welcome Home (Sanitarium)

It had been a week since the earthquakes that rocked Hawkins, Indiana. A week since the four great, fiery maws that had opened up and swallowed half of the town. A week since she had gotten the call that flipped her life on its head.

It was like coming home to a home to a warzone, she thought as she passed car after car leaving Hawkins. Or like driving towards a wildfire that everyone was evacuating from. It seemed like the whole town had packed up their lives and started to flee for the safety of anywhere that wasn’t Hawkins. But, here she was, driving headfirst into the flames.

Not literally, of course. Most of the fires had been put out by now. Still, the smoldering ruins of her hometown shocked her to the core as she pulled into the driveway to the house that she had called home up until last year. She twisted the key in the ignition and the engine died out as she grabbed the bulky backpack that sat in the passenger seat and hauled it over her shoulder. 

There was a strange sense of deja vu that washed over her as she opened the door to the small trailer that had once housed her and her parents. It opened with an audible creak and you could tell that it perhaps wasn’t as structurally sound as it once was. Just one more thing to keep her busy as she waited on news that part of her hoped wouldn’t come. 

It had been a week since the earthquakes that rocked her hometown. A week since her father had gone missing in the aftermath. 

Her mother called her as soon as she had gotten the news. Her parents had divorced before she started high school, but lived together until she had left for college. Afterwards, however, her mother moved to the East coast and her father stayed in Hawkins. 

She didn’t waste any time getting back to Hawkins. A quick note to her professors and a teary-eyed goodbye to her few friends she had met in college and she was on the road. The recently new-looking 1984 Cutlass her father had saved up for and bought her was now covered in dust and bugs from the near-cross-country trip. 

A quick look-around the trailer to see if things were still in place sufficed before she dumped her bag onto her old bed and made her way back to the car. A few more trips with two coolers and an armful of grocery bags unpacked the car fully.

But she couldn’t settle in just yet. She jumped back into the car and it roared to life as she twisted the key once more and she sped down the dirt road to Hawkin’s High for the first time since she had graduated. 

The ride felt longer than it should’ve. She spent most of the time gawking at the crumbling buildings and following the smoke that was still rising up in spires around the town. However, the deserted appearance of Hawkins disappeared as she approached the school.

As she parked her car and slammed the door shut, she spotted a familiar face ushering some younger kids through the school doors. 

“Robin!” She yelled, suddenly breaking into a sprint towards the young woman.

Robin froze in place, her jaw dropping as she dropped the clothes that she had been handing out. She wrapped her arms around the other girl as she barreled into her with astonishing strength. The two almost collapsed if not for the sturdy-ish man behind Robin catching them both. He let out a surprised yelp as they fell onto them before pushing them back onto their feet. 

“Christ, Robin! Stand on your own two feet, will ya?” He groaned, but Robin wasn’t paying attention in the slightest.

“Mags! Holy shit is that really you?” She exclaimed towards the girl who had buried her face into her chest. 

Margaret, Mags for short, lifted her head and her tear-filled eyes met her best friends for the first time since she had left. “Yeah, it’s me,” she barely choked out. 

“Uh, Robin? Are you gonna introduce me to your friend here?” The man behind her interjected, but Robin waved him off. 

“When did you get home?” she asked the shorter girl, putting her hands on her shoulders and steadying her at an arm's length. 

“Just now. I stopped at the trailer to drop my stuff off, but then I came straight here.” Mags answered, slightly out of breath. 

“Come on, let’s go inside and get you something to drink okay?” Robin said, leading Mags into the school before grabbing the man by his bicep. “Get some water for us, will you Harrington?”

He nodded, still a bit confused by the appearance of this random girl out of nowhere. “Yes, ma’am.” 

Robin led Margaret into the gym that had been transformed into a sort-of help center for Hawkins after the earthquake. The first thing that she noticed was a bulletin board that read in red lettering “ROANE COUNTY: REPORT MISSING PERSONS HERE”. She released herself from Robin’s grasp to float over to it, drawn by curiosity and fear. A pit formed in her stomach as her eyes found the flier that she had dreaded seeing.

 A missing persons poster, with a picture of her father pasted onto it and his name in bold letters. 

“I’m so sorry, Mags.” Robin whispered, grasping her hand. 

“He’ll turn up somewhere,” Margaret said in a steely voice, “I know he will.”

Robin sighed and put her arm around her friend and rested her head against hers. Before she could say anything a cough made her straighten up and turn around. 

“I- uh, grabbed some water for you guys.” the guy from before said, holding two glasses of ice water in his hands. 

The three sat down on a nearby, unoccupied cot. Mags took the water gratefully; she had been parched from the drive. 

“Steve, this is my friend Margaret,” Robin introduced, “She was in the band with me.” 

Steve nodded, “Hey, I’m Steve.”

Margaret chuckled solemnly. “Yeah, I would recognize the hair anywhere,” she responded dryly. Steve’s mouth dropped open slightly and a confused look crossed his face. “We graduated together. I didn’t really expect you to remember me anyway. It’s no big deal.” 

His face softened with understanding and Robin nudged her lightly. “Be nice, Mags. We’ve all been through it.” 

Mags’ shoulders slumped forward slightly and she sighed. “Yeah, I’m sorry.” 

“It’s okay,” Steve reassured, “I was a total dick in high school. But, I think I’ve shaped up a bit… Robin can vouch for me.” 

Robin nodded vigorously and Mags eyed her friend with a curious gaze. Robin snorted and shook her head. 

“You know I like girls, Margaret,” Robin retorted quietly, her face contorting in fake hurt.

A smile touched Mags’ lips and her dry lips cracked slightly. “I didn’t know if maybe something had changed!” she said, holding her hands up. A moment passed before she put her hands back onto her knees and stared at her shoes. Suddenly, her white laces seemed very interesting. “Like everything else.” 

Robin rested her hand on Margaret’s back and rubbed gently. Words wouldn’t help, she knew. 

They caught up briefly before Robin was called back to help out with a new donation of clothes that had just come in. She gave her friend a sympathetic look, but Mags just grabbed her hand and gave it a squeeze. 

“I’ll be fine. I’m gonna head back to the trailer anyway; I’m dead tired,” she assured, yawning for effect. “Could you stop by tomorrow to help me clean up a bit? I think a couple things need to be fixed as well.”

Robin nodded, “Of course. I’ll bring my tools!”

This time, the smile on Margaret’s face cracked wider. “I’ll see you tomorrow, loser.” 

The taller girl’s face dropped slightly as she held her grip on Mags’ hand, “Are you sure you’ll be alright by yourself? It’s dangerous out there these days.”

Mags just shook her head, the ghost of a smile still haunting her lips. “I told you I’ll be fine. Plus, my dad left his rifle on the mantle and you know I know how to use it.”

Robin huffed, “Yeah, I know. Just.. be careful okay? Things have changed around here.”

#stranger things #stranger things fanfiction #eddie munson x oc #eddie munson #stranger things s4 #stranger things season 4 spoilers #eddie munson x original character #kas!eddie x oc #kas!eddie munson #no beta we die like barb #not proofread #i wrote this at 3am #my work #master of puppets fic

[frankenstein-ate-my-left-shoe]

@steddiemas Day 13 -  Snow Day

uh...yeah.. this got way away from me but...here's day 13! (a day late and 4k words more than normal???)

pairing: steddie | word count: 5,201 | rated: T

The following Thursday finds Eddie and the entire Hellfire Club literally and metaphorically clamoring over each other and his large dining room table while their campaign (Eddie had helpfully told him) continues on.

Luckily, Robin had agreed to spend their night off work from the video store with him.

“So, when are you going to do something about your hopeless Eddie crush?”

“SSshh! Not so loud, Rob!”

She rolls her eyes at him, “Sorry to tell you this Dingus, but I don’t think he’s paying you a single modicum of attention.”

Steve looks over at the table from his spot on the couch; Robin’s right, of course, Eddie’s already halfway onto the tabletop, his arms stretched wide and the rest of him hunched low to the wood.

He’s deep into his story and his voice is dropped low, only the tone of it reaching Steve’s ears.

“He’s such a dork.” Steve sighs, shaking his head.

“Yeah, but you loooove him!” Robin teases, poking one foot that had been with her other on Steve’s lap into his side instead.

Steve rolls his eyes at her, “Hand me another slice of cheese.”

She reaches over to one of the leftover boxes of pizza on the coffee table and fishes out a slice for him, “So what are you gonna do about it?” She asks, handing it to him.

“About what?” he asks, taking down half the slice in one bite.

“Don’t play dumb Steve,”

He sighs, “I don’t know Rob; he hasn’t made a move either! He kissed me first, remember? Right over there!” Steve points to the offending doorway, “Because of you, by the way.” he snarfs down the other half of the slice two big bites.

“I remember.” She nods.

“I honestly don’t know what to do Bob, I want to corner him and kiss him all over his fuckin’ body but how’m I supposed to know if he’d be okay with that? Does he want that?”

“Oh he wants that, believe me.”

Steve narrows his eyes at her. She only quirked a brow at him in return. “What do you know, Buckley?”

Robin snorts out a laugh, “I would say to just go for it, but I feel like he’d freak if you did that out of the blue.”

“So, what, I just say ‘Hey, I really really like you, maybe already halfway love you, and I want to know if you’d like to kiss about it maybe?’?”

“Who’s Steve kissing?”

Steve jumps at Dustin’s voice, suddenly beside him. He knew his hearing was going on his left..Robin told him he was just imagining it.

“OOh, Steve’s kissing someone?” This time it was Lucas, his voice teasing as he passes behind Dustin through the door under the stairs with his arms full of pop cans.

“I’m not kissing anyone,”

“He just wants to.” 

Damn you, Robin. Steve glances quickly to the table, Eddie has his back turned to them.

“Who is it?”

“Uh, it’s…” Steve pauses for a half a second, “None of your business. You guys done for the night?”

“Yeah.. about that..”

Oh no–

“Can we stay the night here? We have to start planning out our characters for the next campaign!”

“You guys are done done?” “Not quite,” Steve turns his head to the right, the older kid Frank is standing in the other doorway from the living room to the hall closest to the front door. “We have one more session then I’m DM-ing the next campaign.”

Steve nods along with Robin (whose head is hanging backward over the arm of the couch closest to Frank). “So you…six? Seven? Want to stay the night?” He's already skimming through the house in his head to where the extra blankets and pillows are stashed. He should have enough.

“No, just us.” Mike confirms, plopping down onto the carpet between the coffee table and fireplace across from the couch. “Me, Lucas, Will, and Dustin.”

Dustin nods, adding “And Eddie was going to stay a little longer to plan his own character, since he’s gonna be able to play in the next one.”

Steve turns back to Frank and the other older kid…Jeff…?, who’s now leaning around the doorway too. “You guys aren’t staying?”

“Nah man, we don’t wanna impose, thanks for having us though.” Maybe Jeff said.

“Yeah, of course,” Steve lifts Robin’s legs off his lap and stands, moving to see the three older Hellfire members off at the door. The Harringtons are polite hosts first and foremost. “Thanks for coming, guys.” What was he thanking them for? It wasn’t like they were here for him.

Jeff’s polite smile seemed to echo Steve’s thoughts, “Of course man, thanks for having us over.” “And for the pizza.” the shortest of the three says to the agreement of the others.

Jeff shakes Steve’s hand, the shortest one (Garby? George? It was something with a ‘G’) smiles again after pulling on his coat before heading out to Frank’s truck.

One of Frank’s solid hands lands on Steve’s shoulder in a friendly pat, and it’s almost enough to miss Eddie slipping out the door behind him into the slow fall of fat snowflakes outside. He was surprised to see a swath of snow had blanketed his front yard since the boys had been here.

Steve almost says something, but hears the guys exchanging their own farewells through the cracked door, so he turns back to the steps. 

Will is already coming back down them, arms full of blankets and pillows, Lucas following behind him.

“I was about to go grab those myself–wait, did any of you dipshits call and ask your parents if you can stay? It’s a school night!” Steve follows the two into the living room.

The four of them immediately look cowed.

“OOohh you better get moving guys,” Robin teases.

“All of you up, you’re calling home.” Steve waves his arm as if to shove them all through the hall into the kitchen. “And no complaints, otherwise you’ll all be piling into the beemer before you can say demogorgon.”

Three of the four boys grumble their complaints as they pass him, “Hey, you’re lucky I’m even letting you stay. Seeing as how I’m the one that’s gonna have to drive you all to school in the morning.”

“You’ll already be driving Robin!” Mike complains

“Yeah but I have pretty privilege.” Robin calls from her spot on the couch.

Steve hears the door click closed, and looks over to see Eddie coming back in.

“Hey–” Eddie disappears down the hall and past the steps, only to reappear in the dining area through the other doorway under the steps. He immediately goes back to whatever papers he’s got on the table.

Steve looks down at Robin, who looks up at him at the same time, his confusion is reflected on her face.

He’s about to go talk to Eddie when Dustin calls for him from the kitchen.

-x-

“Steve! Mom wants to talk to you!”

Eddie hears Dustin call from the kitchen, and he stacks his pile of notes together, finally closing them up into his spiral notebook.

He pauses then. Just staring down at the disheveled wire binding. 

He should go. No need to torture himself further, the kids will understand right? He’ll just make up something about his Uncle needing him home right away tomorrow morning or something. 

Yeah. That should work, it’s not like anyone would call Wayn—

“So. You’re down in the dumps.”

Eddie’s shoulders crowd up against his ears at Robin’s arrival.

“I’m fine.”

“Uh huh.” She doesn’t believe him, of course.

He can hear the sound of Steve’s cheery voice from the kitchen, the tone he takes whenever he’s talking to one of the kids’ parents, and Eddie can feel his face screw up in pain.

“Ah hah!”

“Don’t.”

“I didn’t say anything.” “You didn’t have to,” he bites out, “It’s not like you’re the one having to listen to your crush wax poetic about some girl he wants to kiss stupid.”

He turns to look at her. Robin’s face is blank for a moment, then a barely-there smug smirk appears on her lips.

Eddie’s vision goes scarlet. “You don’t get to be a shithead about it, Buckley. This is all your fuckin’ fault.” he spits out in a low whisper.

“My fault?” she echoes in the same tone, the smile falling from her face. “What’s my fault??”

“You’re the one who made me think I had a chance, weren’t you? The one who put up that fuckin’ mistletoe? Your fault.” He pokes her shoulder accusingly. His volume was getting higher, so he adjusts before continuing. “I should have known there was no chance; he’s the one who said ‘Now we’re even.’ after he kissed me in Melvald’s!”

“He said tha—”

Eddie was practically hissing at this point, just a steady stream of steam escaping him like a cartoon character. “He just felt bad, Robin! He just felt like he owed me something, there’s no goddamn feelings there!”

“Eddi–”

“I gotta go.”

He scoops up his notebook in one hand and snatches up his bag with the other, slinging it over his shoulder.

“Eddie, don’t go–”

He stalks down the hall past the steps away from her voice. He’s almost to his escape when Dustin cuts off his path from the kitchen doorway closest to the front door.

“Eddie, you’re leaving?”

“Sorry kid, gotta go.” He steps around him, “I forgot Wayne needs me home right away tomorrow morning.”

“But you were going to–”

“I’ll help you later, Dustin.” it wasn’t supposed to come out like that.

“Don’t be an ass, Eddie.”

“You know what? Bite me, Mike.” He really shouldn’t be taking his feelings out on the goblins.

“Fuck you, man.”

“Hey! Hey, what is happening right now?” Steve comes out into the hall then, making eye contact with Eddie for a fraction of a second before Eddie focuses on lacing his boots onto his feet.

“Eddie’s leaving,”

“...Okay? And?”

Alright, ouch.

He yanks his laces even tighter.

“And he said he would help us, and now he’s leaving.”

“Oh come off it Dustin, you heard what he said.” Lucas says, an eyeroll in his voice.

“What’d he say?” Eddie’s head told him that Steve’s voice sounded hurt, but best not to believe his head right now. “He said,” Eddie cuts in, “That his uncle needs him home in the morning.”

Steve’s soft “Oh.” was barely audible over the other three arguing back at him.

He yanks the last lace tight to his calf and stands sharply.

“Yeah, so, thanks for having us over, Harrington, I’ll see ya around.” he purposely doesn’t look up at Steve’s face as he says this, focusing on his notebook and bag.

His hand just reaches the doorknob when Robin’s voice calls out from the living room. “Don’t think you’re going anywhere anytime soon, Eddie.”

Because his arm was already in motion when she started talking, the door opens in front of him just as she finishes. 

The slow fat flakes from only, what, 10 minutes earlier? are now flying harsh and sideways across the light escaping Steve’s front door. It’s piling up out there, and fast. Bessie has braved many a winter in Hawkins, but he knows he’d get snowed in by time they got across town to the park. 

Honestly though? Getting snowed in on the side of the road is seeming much more preferable than staying here after his little hissy fit.

“Eddie? Just stay here, man.” Steve sounds much closer than before, “I don’t want something to happen to you–” What Eddie can only assume is Steve’s hand falls to his shoulder, and he immediately turns away from it, closing the front door and letting his bag fall down his arm to the floor in the same motion as he turns into the kitchen without making eye contact with anyone.

The phone is still warm in his palm when he lifts it to his ear, punching Frank’s number into the buttons on the cradle. 

In the handful of rings it takes for him to pick up, Eddie can hear the others whispering to each other, no doubt things like “What’s Eddie’s problem?”, “Why’s he being mean to Steve?”, “Why can’t he control his big gay feelings for his obviously straight friend?”.

Okay, maybe that last one was a bit much for a bunch of sophomores.

“Hello?”

“Frank, you’re home?”

“Uh. Yeah. You called me at home.”

“Well it’s snowin’ like shit outside now, I wanted to make sure you guys got back safe.”

“Oh. Yeah, yeah, I just got in when I heard the phone. Everyone’s home safe.”

“Alright good, I’m gonna stay here at Harrington’s; talk to you later man, I gotta call Wayne.

“Okay Ed, see ya’.”

Eddie jabs his finger into the phone’s switch to end the call, then starts to dial the trailer. Wayne should be just about to leave for work.

“Y’ello?”

“Hey Wayne, it’s me.” Eddie says, turning his face away automatically when someone shuffles into the kitchen.

“Ed, where’ya at?”

“I’m still at Steve’s. It really started to come down so I don’t want to risk driving home tonight.”

“Good. You stay righ’ there, son.”

“Are you still going in?”

Wayne hums in agreement, “Got to.”

Eddie’s stomach sinks, “Wayne–”

“Now don’ you worry ‘bout me boy, I woke up early enough to get the chains on the truck.”

“Fine, fine. Be careful, old man.”

“You got it kid. I’ll see ya tomorrow.”

He hangs the phone back into it’s cradle on the wall feeling much looser now; he’d almost forgotten why he was so wound up, but seized up again as soon as he turned.

Steve was standing at the stove, stirring something that was obscured by his torso. “You want some hot chocolate too, Eds?” he asks, not turning from the stove.

Eddie gives him a short “No.” and goes back out into the hall to unlace his boots once again.

He wanders back into the living room with his bag and plops down in the recliner, pulling out his monster manual and his smaller, less pulverized notebook, the one with the basics of his next character fleshed out in it.

A tiefling bard, one he had imagined as having such thick skin on him that no matter what snide remarks, insults, and bashes to his character were thrown at him, he’d only shrug them off. Something real Eddie’d love to do. A charming, charismatic bard that got all who heard his songs to overlook his hellish appearance.

Wouldn’t that be something.

While he’s mulling over what name to give his bard (he’s waffling between Zarlech and Erron), Robin appears, settling in on the corner seat of the couch beside him.

He tenses up again, thinking she’s going to try talking to him about the too-good-for-this-world man in the yellow sweater in the next room, but she doesn’t. She only sits down and starts back in on the thick Vogue magazine she’d been swiping though since he and his troupe arrived.

Steve comes in with two mugs of cocoa not long after, walking to Eddie first with a soft smile.

“I told you I didn’t want any.”

He regrets his tone as soon as the words pass his lips; Steve looks stunned, the boys’ idle chatter from the coffee table dies off immediately.

Eddie’s face burns in embarrassment, but before he can even open his mouth, Robin says “I’ll take his,” and reaches for the steaming pale yellow mug. 

He passes it over, and stands there for a moment with the other mug before turning and handing it over to Will, the closest to him of the four on the floor.

Steve pinches the bridge of his nose briefly, then turns out of the room. Robin’s up and out of the room not a moment later, saying, “I’ll go help him with you threes’.”

There’s a beat of silence, then: “What. In the actual fuck. Is your problem, man?”

Eddie turns to face the voice; all four teens are staring at him, each one with a different level of incredulousness on their faces. Mike’s is the worst, looking at Eddie like he just killed his dog.  And he’s about to get revenge for it.

“Who do you think you are to talk to him like that, huh?” Mike seethes at him, “This is his fucking house, and you’re gonna sit here and be rude as all hell just because he doesn’t like you back?”

What the fuck?

“What the fuck?” Eddie hears his voice echo his thoughts. “How do you—”

“Steve puts up with enough shit from us as it is, he doesn’t need it from you too.”

There’s surprise on the other threes’ faces, but Eddie’s got an inkling it’s surprise at this coming from Mike and not from the content of the outburst.

“Uh..”

“Mike’s right, Eddie. You’re our friend, but Steve’s our…” Lucas trails off.

“He’s our Steve.” Will says resolutely. 

“He’s our Steve.” Lucas agrees, “And we won’t hesitate to drop you like a dead fish over him.”

Eddie turns his gaze to Dustin, not looking forward to what he might see in his closest butthead’s expression.

Dustin’s face is set in determined lines, and he meets Eddie’s gaze solidly. “I love you both as brothers, man. Don’t make me choose between you two…Though I will choose Steve.”

Robin returns before Eddie can formulate any sort of response to..all that.., pressing a steaming mug of cocoa into each of the boys’ waiting hands.

She came in with four though, and brings the last one to Eddie. “Leave him be for a minute. I’m sure he will be fine, but he’s upset.” He takes the mug from her and she squashes back down into her abandoned seat with a sigh. “Which usually means he’s going to be doing laundry until I make him go to sleep.” 

Eddie spends the next 25 minutes trying to think about what he’s going to say to Steve, what he’s going to tell him was the reason for his bullshit attitude.

For a solid three, he seriously thinks about telling Steve the truth, that he got all pissy at the thought of him sucking face with whoever it is he’s got a crush on, but that’s really not fair to Steve..or to this mystery girl.

At 30, Robin nudges his arm with her bony elbow, so he leaves his book and still-unnamed character on the chair and goes to find Steve.

He follows the sound of music coming from off the kitchen, stopping just outside the door when the low sound of Steve singing along to ‘The First Nöel’ playing softly through the radio.

It had to be that damn song, didn’t it?

…Okay, maybe it’s not so bad if Steve’s the one singing it..

He steps into the narrow room once the radio host comes back on. It’s small, but there’s more than enough room for the machine’s doors to open and to manuver a basket around in here, and there’s a side door out to the yard at the end of the room; there’s neat-ish piles of clothes in front of the washer and overflowing a basket under the dryer door, a few loose dust bunnies and used dryer sheets litter the corners.

Steve’s standing at the dryer, pawing through a seemingly freshly cleaned pile of towels on its top.

He glances up at him briefly when he enters, going back to the pile immediately, “Eddie, hey, sorry for sulking off like that. I just..got into my head a bit.” Even Steve sounded like he didn’t believe what he was saying. “I’ll be back out in a minute, just gotta take care of this load..”

“Hey, it’s alright man. It’s not all on you, you know.” Steve’s hands stop when he looks over, dropping themselves and a half-folded towel back onto the pile. “Look, I’m sorry Steve. My brain is weird sometimes too; I had some of my own shit pop back up for no fuckin’ reason at all and it just..really threw me. I didn’t mean to take it out on you like that, I swear.” 

The truth. For the most part at least. He really didn’t mean to snap at Steve like that over fuckin’ hot chocolate.

“Really, it’s okay Eddie. You did say that you didn’t want any.”

“Yeah, well, that doesn’t give me the right to be an ass to you.” Eddie ducks his head in embarrassment.

“Thank you,” Steve finally says. “I appreciate it, Eds.”

Relief floods through him at the nickname, he meets Steve’s gaze again. “Do you uhm, need help or anything?”

Steve smiles softly, “No, I really do just need to take care of this last load and I’ll be back out there.”

A low howl of wind from outside the side door cuts him off before he can reply.

Eddie groans, “Well that sounds like it’ll be fun…”

All in all, it was fun.

After going back to the living room and confirming with the others that he did, in fact, apologize to their Steve, Eddie sat back down with his notebook and got back to work.

He was slowly absorbed into the boys’ huddle and by time Steve comes back in, all five of them are heavily debating what alignment Zardok the bard should be.

Not 30 minutes later, the lights flicker off above them.

“Aw hell.” Steve mutters from the sofa.

“I’ll start running the tub.” Eddie sighs, pushing himself off the floor and waving his arms in front of him so he doesn’t run into any walls on his way.

“Why would you run the tub?” Dustin asks, incredulous.

“You fill the tub with water in case the pipes freeze while the power’s out. That way you still have water to flush the toilets and get clean and stuff.”

“Thank you Will, exactly.” Eddie says. Smart kid. 

Damn. Why doesn’t he carry a mini flashlight again?

“That’s a thing?” Robin asks, then clicks on a flashlight. Where in the hell’d she get that?

“You don’t need to do that, Eds. The place is plenty well insulated.” Steve assures, stopping him from leaving, “The pipes won’t freeze, I promise.”

“....Lucky bastard.”

Dustin goes to the opposite end of Robin’s couch and fishes another light from between the cushions.

He and the other three make quick work of arranging their blankets and pillows there in the living room, Dustin’s light only going so far as to help continue their brainstorming.

Steve and Robin leave them to it, and lead Eddie upstairs with their light. 

One round of fighting off nightmares later, he’s dragged into wakefulness with the smell of cinnamon.

He re-cinches Steve’s lended sweats around his hips and trudges down the stairs.

There are snores still reverberating from the living room, and Steve is standing in front of the stove flipping something.

A square glass pan with an inch of some sort of mixture in it was sitting on the island across from him along with an open bag of bread and half a dozen eggs still in their carton.

The floor under his feet squeaks when he stops in the doorway, alerting Steve to his presence.

He glances over his shoulder at him, then goes back to the stove to flip something again. “Hey Eds, just makin’ some breakfast, you want something?” He turns to him fully then, leaning his elbows onto a clear patch of the island countertop.

Steve must take his sleepy silence as confusion.

“Oh! The power came back on last night. Well, er..” he looks back at the stove’s clock, blinking 5:08 out at them, “Early this morning, actually.”

Huh. Guess it was confusion.

“Anyway, you want some french toast?” That explains the cinnamon. “Or I can whip you up some eggs…?”

“No, no, french toast is great.” his voice comes out scratchy with disuse. “Thanks Stevie.”

Steve smiles and turns back to the stove, “The coffee machine is on, if you want a cup; I’ll have a plate ready for you in just a couple minutes.”

Eddie wakes up slowly with his coffee, watching as Steve resets the clock on the oven to his watch.

“It’s 8:30 already? Shouldn’t we get the kids up for school?” Holy shit. Who knew Eddie Munson would ever sound so much like a mom.

“Nah,” Steve waves him off, “I was up with my alarm to get them up and ready, but when I got down here, Claudia called. The school called a snow day.”

Steve passes him a plate of toast, already smothered with syrup. “You want powdered sugar?”

“Ooh fancy, fancy,” Eddie laughs, adding a haughty accent to his next words, “Bring me my powdered confectionary Steeves, I wish to dust it upon my imported french breakfast.”

Steve rolls his eyes at him, but passes over a short ceramic container of the stuff.

Lucas is the one up next, going to the coffee machine before acknowledging either of them.

He sips on his cup without adding anything to it, the heathen. Eddie’s own cup was nearly drowned out with milk and sugar.

Slowly but surely, the rest of the house wakes up and wanders to the kitchen, each getting a plate stacked high with sweet cinnamon-y goodness.

Dustin, Mike, and Will are sitting at the little breakfast nook table in the kitchen’s front window, getting steadily louder about their plans for the near eight inches of snow that’s blanketed across Steve’s front yard.

“You’re going to help me shovel it out so I can get you free-loaders home as soon as possible. That’s what you’re going to do.” Steve insists, pushing a plate of toast in front of Robin, the last to get up.

So that’s what originally got them all outside, but two shovels can only get two of them so far with the driveway before any of the other five start fucking around.

The first blow comes from Mike, a well thrown snowball hitting dead center on the back of Will’s head.

Then Lucas lobbed one aimed for Dustin but hit Mike right on the nose.

Will’s shovel was abandoned, teams were made, and Steve was left shoveling alone when the snowballs really started flying.

Robin, Lucas, and Will booked it for the bushes on one side of the yard, immediately packing snow up between them and into gaps in the branches to protect them from the flurry.

And of course, the only other good cover on the other end of the yard from them was Steve’s beemer, so Eddie, Mike, and Dustin dove behind the newly uncovered tires, frantically packing snowballs from the untouched drift under Steve’s car.

“Really?” The three of them look up at the sound of Steve’s voice.

Fuck, he looks so adorable all bundled up like this. Nose and cheeks bitten red with the cold and with the exertion of shoveling, scarf tucked around his neck and into his jacket, the dark blue mittens, one on his hip and one over the handle of the shovel, the matching knit cap—even as he glares disapprovingly at them.

“So you’re not gonna help me, and also subject my baby to enemy fire? Not cool, guys.”

Mike lobs a ball across the yard.

“Join us then! Help us defeat those heathens and we’ll help you with the driveway.”

A snowball smacks into the back passenger side window of the car

“No.”, Steve says with finality and goes back to shoveling.

Another ball soars over the roof of the car and splats across the cleared-ish pavement behind them.

“Awe, you’re no fun Stevie.” Eddie complains, though he’s definitely not complaining about the view he’s got right now.

Dustin sends one back, mumbling out a “Damn! So close..” soon after.

“Bite me.”

Not 10 seconds later, a blast of snow smacks the back of Steve’s head.

Everyone freezes.

-x-

He turns slowly back around to face the three snow-covered idiots crouched behind his car.

All three stare wide-eyed at him, faces flushed with cold.

Mike and Dustin's hands raise at the exact same time, both pointing at Eddie.

He can tell from Dustin’s face that it was definitely him that threw the thing at his head, but the panicked, adorable, wide-eyed look Eddie has at the accusation is worth playing along for.

“What?! You traitors!” He scrambles up and back, glancing over and managing to duck a snowball aimed for his head by Robin, “Stevie, sweetheart, darling, you know I wouldn’t do that to you.”

“Do I?” He growls out playfully, advancing on the doe-eyed menace.

“Yes! You know I love you, Steve, I would never betray you like that.” 

The words, even said teasingly as they are, make Steve’s stomach swoop heavily. He’s lucky his face was already red from the wind.

“I don’t know, Eds,” He holds out one mittened hand to Mike as he passes between the two boys. He drops one into his palm. “Sounds like something you would do.”

He raises the snowball and yells out, chasing Eddie around the front of his car to the hoots and hollers of the others jeering him on.

Eddie is not a good runner, and his Reeboks slip and slide as they try to carve a path through the fresh snow in the yard.

He’s quick though, and doges out of Steve’s reach when he almost catches the back of his borrowed puffer coat, launching off toward the side of the house instead.

Oh no.

“Wait, Eddie! There’s a—” Eddie’s dark head of curls disappears under his feet as he slips off over the side of the hill. “Hill—shit!”

Steve spoke too soon even for himself, unable to stop his momentum before he slips down the hill too.

Snow pushes itself under the back of his jacket down the first half of his slide, then one of his feet gets stuck up under him and he tumbles ass-over-tea kettle the rest of the way.

“OOF—” he lands on something much more solid than snow at the bottom.

Eddie’s cackling laughter bursts out from under him, his chest heaving with it under Steve’s own.

“Eddie, you okay, man?”

Steve pushes up on his hands, one on either side of Eddie’s torso, to look down at him properly.

He lost the red hat he’d grabbed when they came outside earlier, gone to the snow somewhere, and his hair is fanned in an almost perfect halo around his head.

The red spots on his face show off the flakes that fall onto them briefly before they melt under the heat of his skin, his mouth open wide and his eyes crinkled shut in laughter.

Steve was already head over fuckin’ heels for this man, but…oh.

Oh.

Eddie has laugh lines.

They’re so deep already, crinkled up at the corners of his eyes, but for a split second, Steve can’t help but wonder how much more they’d be in 10, 15, 20 years in the future. 

And he realizes in that instant that wants so badly to be there to watch them grow longer.

look out, it's noelle coming in hot with the Oh. Oh. moment!

other parts! Pt. 1 (Day 1) | Pt. 2 (Day 2) | Pt. 3 (Day 5) | Pt. 4 (Day 6) | Pt. 5 (Day 7) | Pt. 6 (Day 11) | Pt. 7 (Day 13) [YOU ARE HERE] | Pt. 8 (Day 18) | Pt. 9 (Day 21) | Pt. 10 (Day 25) also on AO3! this year

#also as always: no beta we die like barb #i basically wrote this in order from start to finish #i had no idea where this was going #it wrote itself through me #steddie #steve harrington #eddie munson #steddiemas #st #stranger things #steddie fic #steddie ficlet #st fic #the party #robin buckley #dustin henderson #mike wheeler #lucas sinclair #will byers #jeff stranger things #gareth emerson #frank the freak #wayne munson #steve harrington x eddie munson #eddie munson x steve harrington #platonic stobin #eddeve #steveddie #noelle writes

[izgnanik-a]

CoD ABC’s

NSFW 18+ x Reader Edition - Minors DNI!

Masterlist here

Overstimulation (Werewolf!Simon Riley x Reader)

Tags: breeding, unprotected p-in-v, barebacking, creampie, knotting, consented sex, headspace, forced orgasm, possessive Ghost

Not beta read, we die like men 🤷🏽

Prompt: Simon doesn’t like to be around people when he’s in his rut because he can become easily aggressive. But this time it’s really bad - and there’s no one to help him but you. Of course, you’re willing to help, but you didn’t know it would come with a price.

The slick sounds of Simon’s wet cock slipping into your full pussy reverberated off the walls. You don’t know how long you’d been splayed out under him, your back arched low, a pillow under your chest, and pussy just devouring the werewolf’s thick cock.

You were rendered to helpless whimpering, holding tight to the sheets under you as he pile-drived you with no relent.

The werewolf snarled, his sharp nails digging into the mattress around you, and his blistering hips stilled as he moaned, trembling against your pussy as his cock milked through another orgasm.

Already filled to the brim, you could feel the cum oozing out of your abused pussy, and onto the sheets once more.

The never ceasing knot popped again, for the nth time that night. The barbed edges catching against your walls, and you gave a silent sob as he stopped moving.

You gasped, “Simon.”

His forearms pressed into the mattress as he brought himself down, his gasping breaths brushed over your sweaty spine. He kept himself still as his knot plugged his seed inside of you.

“No more.” You looked over your shoulder with teary eyes. “It’s too much, I-“

“I told you what you were getting into.” He stated. “You said you could handle it.”

You pressed your forehead into the pillow. “Please.” You begged, “It’s too much.” Your mind felt hazy; orgasm after orgasm pulled from your body until you were trembling with dry shudders. Simon’s fingers were stained with the juices from your pussy. Simon could just smell it still.

“I know what you need.” He mumbled against your spine before wrapping his arms around your stomach, pushing down on the knot inside of you.

You arched back with a cry, and clenched down involuntarily.

Simon growled as he pulled you onto himself, lying on his back, his knot still wedged inside. His hand wrapped around your chest, the other navigating down towards your spread legs. “Cum for me, one more time.”

You arched against him. Crying out and trying to escape his sultry fingers against your puffy, hooded clit. You sobbed, pleasure racing through your body defiantly again.

With every movement against him, Simon’s cock itched against your walls, his cum seeping along the edges and onto his base underneath. He held firm to your waist, stroking and pinching your clit. “Just one more. God. You’re clenching around me-so tight-“ he growled, pushing his hips flush to your ass. “I’m going to breed you so well. No one will ever touch you but me.”

You clenched onto his intruding hand, arching your back as he stroked his index and middle finger firmly against your clit. Your eyes rolled back in pleasure, colors bursting behind, you whimpered as his free hand drew circles across your pebbling nipples. With every stroke, you whined in unison as your breath grew heavier.

“I’m going to fuck you until you’re full to the brim. And then,” his hand held firm to the bottom of your jaw to keep your head back over his shoulder, “I’ll fuck it deep inside, to make sure you’re mine.” He suckled along your throat, his teeth grazing dangerously.

His swollen cock thrust deeper inside, and it was enough to send you spiraling with a broken “YES.”

When the white cleared from your vision, Simon’s cum soaked fingers were drawing lines up and down between your breasts and to your belly button. His mouth pressed to your ear whispering sweet praises; “You’re so beautiful. So perfect for me. You do so well. I can’t wait until you’re mine. You’ll never know pain again. God. You’re so sweet to me. You’ll look so full, pregnant with my child. I can’t wait.”

4/8/23

#simon riley imagine #simon riley x you #simon riley #cod mw x reader #cod modern warfare #cod mwii #Izgnanik-a #simon ghost riley #werewolf Simon Riley #supernatural cod

[steddie-fanfic-recs]

just as you are

by yournowheregirl

Rating: Explicit Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationship: Steve Harrington/Eddie Munson Characters: Steve Harrington, Eddie Munson Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - College/University, Hurt/Comfort, mild anxiety attack, Steve Harrington is a Sweetheart, Love Confessions, Frottage, Dry Humping, No Beta We Die Like Barb (RIP), Friends to Lovers Words: 3,881 Chapters: 1/1

Summary

“What are you looking at, Steve?” Eddie says with a loud sigh. Maybe if he acts annoyed, Steve will get the hint and leave him alone. “You.” Jesus Christ, what kind of answer is that? “Didn’t know I suddenly became a zoo animal.” Eddie snorts. “You’re not.” Steve says. “It’s just… something’s off about you and I’m trying to figure out what’s wrong.” OR: Finals week is trying to kill Eddie, Steve is there to help him through it (in more ways than one)

#steddie #steddie fic rec #oneshot #1-5k #au college #hurt/comfort #friends to lovers

[steddieunderdogfics]

I've gotta recommend Handbook for the Recently Resurrected by findmeinthewychelm

Handbook for the Recently Resurrected by findmeinthewychelm

Rating: Mature

16,323 words, 1/1 chapters

Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply

Tags: Vampire Eddie Munson, Vampire Bites, Blood Drinking, Mild Sexual Content, Eddie Munson as Kas the Betrayer (Dungeons & Dragons), idk what you expected its got vampires and gets horny about blood, discussion of trauma, Nightmares, Panic Attacks, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Post-Season/Series 04, Eddie Munson Lives, Mistaken for Being in a Relationship, Getting Together, Supportive Wayne Munson, Appalachian Eddie And Wayne Munson, No beta we die like Barb

Summary:

Harrington nudged him out of his daze. Eddie glanced at him where he stood at his side, solid and supporting. He let out an unsteady breath as he shifted to make eye contact with Wayne. Once he looked, he could no longer see the disbelief on his uncle’s face. He could recognize the relief and love in his expression. Seeing Eddie was all he needed. Wayne raised his hand and shook his head as a silent request that Nancy and the others pause. “I don’t care for whatever stories y’all came up with,” Wayne said softly, his eyes focused on his nephew. He slowly stepped forward with his arm stretched before him. “I jus’ care ‘bout Eddie being alive.” [or: Eddie's pov of A Vampire's Guide, where he attempts to cope with the lingering effects of the upsidedown and the strange events that lead to Steve Harrington becoming one of his closest friends.]

Thanks for the rec!

Know a fic that deserves extra love? Submit through our asks or the submission box!

#steddie #steddie fic recs #steve harrington #eddie munson #steve x eddie #stranger things #eddie as kas #post season 4 #getting together

[hoffmannwrites]

On My List

1  - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 + 1 Masterlist

Author’s Note: Look at me! New fic, new fandom, new style, ouhhh! So new, so shiny! Anywho, this is a 5+1 fic based off THIS text post which has been rattling around in my brain for weeks. Thank you @stevietruther for the insufferable thoughts in my brain.

Pairing: Steve Harrington x Eddie Munson

Description: 5 Times Steve and Eddie kiss as friends, and one time they don't.

Warnings/Tags: Everyone lives, Nobody dies, 5+1, Kissing, Fluff, Idiots to Lovers, Friends to Lovers, some pretty brief mentions for drinking, smoking, being inebriated (the gang is drunk here but nothing too bad, just in a fun way), uhhh they're gay your honor, no beta we die like Barb, let me know if I missed anything?

You Spin Me Right Round

One

The first time Steve and Eddie kiss is also the first time Steve kisses Robin and Eddie kisses Argyle. It’s just the older members of the party and a few random acquaintances that tag along, and there ain’t shit to do but get high and drunk and play party games. Later into the night, when everyone is inebriated enough to feel comfortable around each other and they have managed to lose both beer pong balls, Vicki suddenly perks up, chest a blotchy bright red under her button up. “We should play spin the bottle,” she announces, feigning bravery with a hopeful glance in Robin’s direction. 

“Oh fuck, seriously?” complains Steve, who is already doing a mental inventory of the people there and how terrible it would be to kiss all of them. Well, most of them, at least.

“What? You afraid someone’s gonna realize that Big Bad Sex God Harrington isn’t actually all he’s cracked up to be?” teases Eddie, pushing his shoulder into Steve’s with a huge smile on his face. 

“No- that’s not- I just…the ratio is off!” Steve sputters, going hot under the collar. He knows that at least one of the girls is a lesbian and the other is his ex girlfriend and the OTHER is the girl his best friend has a crush on. And as he has this thought, his eyes shift to Robin who is wringing her hands in her lap, not looking anyone in the eye. Oh. Oh. This is her chance. To kiss Vickie without any one thinking too much about it. To see if Vickie is as into her as she is. To see if there are sparks, without any pressure. Because it’s just a drunken game. 

“We’re actually gonna motor,” says Jeff, getting up off the floor and pointing to the two Hellfire members behind him. “As much as I would LOVE to stay and lock lips with Munson, some of us have actual jobs in the morning. And Gareth is 1 beer away from ralphing on Harrington’s front lawn.” Gareth just shrugs, knowing he is notorious for over imbibing. 

The three Hellfire boys make their way out the door, leaving just the usual suspects and, of course, Vicki. 

“See? Almost even now, Harrington. Pass me that empty Seagram’s,” says Eddie, oblivious to the fact that this is, by all accounts, a horrible idea. 

“You go first if you’re so intent on planting one on all of us, Eds,” Steve replies, determined to call the older man’s bluff. 

“Gladly.” And with that, Eddie spins the empty bottle and watches smugly as it settles on Argyle. 

“Oh, come to Daddy, Surfer Boy!” Eddie exclaims, shooting his eyes from the bottle up to Argyle, who had already leaned over the bottle towards Eddie expectantly. 

“Dude. I’m expecting greatness. Lay it on me, bro!” Argyle says so seriously it was startling and puckers his lips in the most cartoonish way possible. Eddie grabs his face with both hands and lays one quick and dramatic kiss directly to the other boy’s lips, complete with a loud “Mwah!” Sound effect added. Everyone chuckled at the display, all relaxing slightly due to the fact that the first victims of the game were the two must unserious people of the group, who had no problem breaking the ice.

The game continues, with Jonathan landing on Vickie. He decides to chivalrously go for a kiss on the hand, as he previously declared his loyalty to Nancy. Nancy lands on Robin and kisses her softly on the cheek, sighting the same reason as Jonathan. Argyle goes next and ends up landing on Jonathan. He kisses the photographer lightly on his forehead and pets his hair, which left Jonathan furrowing his brow, but laughing nonetheless. Vickie goes next. Robin holds her breath as the bottle spins and spins and spins for what feels like a lifetime until it lands on…Robin. The girls lock eyes immediately and Vickie subconsciously ducks her head and pushes a piece of hair behind her ear. They turn to each other and just kiss. No preamble or bullshit explanations or disclaimers. They just kiss softly and sweetly for a few moments before breaking away. Neither girl says anything, but Robin is noticeably redder in the face and Vickie seems to lean into her just slightly for the rest of the night.

Next is Robin’s turn and although she prays to whatever high power she can think of for the bottle to land on Vicki again, it lands on Steve. “Ugh man, no! Gross!” Robin whines. “Dems da rules, sugar plum,” Eddie smirks and wiggles his eyebrows.

“Fuck. Fine! But Capital P, guys. I’m so serious,” she warns everyone before turning to Steve. “Don’t worry. I’ll do my best not to woo you with my masculine charms,” Steve says before kissing her so quickly that if anyone blinked they would have missed it.

“Ew,” she states simply when it’s over and wipes off her lips dramatically, like a petulant child wiping away a kiss from their mother. Steve silently takes the bottle and spins it, just begging that it lands on anyone except his ex girlfriend. Anyone! Anyone at all even…Eddie. It stops on Eddie and Steve looks at him, like a big brown eyed idiot in headlights, all that previous confidence gone. Eddie clears his throat, shuffles almost uncomfortably. “So, you gonna show me what Hawkins’s Most Eligible has to offer?” he asks, trying so hard to look like he’s not sweating bullets. 

And Steve is just drunk enough that he’s got the balls to shut Eddie up the way he’s been thinking about for months, since he was called “big boy” in that stupid trailer when the world was ending.  Suddenly, Steve is all siren-eyes and sex appeal, letting his voice drop just a little when he almost whispers “Get ready, big boy,” and grabs Eddie by the back of the neck. Steve tilts Eddie up just enough and takes his sweet time leaning in and ghosting over Eddie’s lips, just enough to make him shiver a little, but not enough for anyone to notice. They share each others air for a fraction of a second before Steve leans in the rest of the way and kisses Eddie, really kisses him, the way he’s been doing to girls for years. And Eddie kisses back, just enough that somewhere in the back of the rockers head, red flags and sirens are going off. But he doesn’t notice, too lost in the feeling of Steve on him to register anything else. They separate after what feels like entirely too long for a kiss during spin the bottle, and wait with bated breath. What for, they’re not sure. But no one says anything and the air feels like it’ll shatter is if they do. And then the moment is gone, because the doorbell rings and Argyle jumps up, chanting “Pizza! Pizza! Pizza!” And suddenly they’re all too hungry to focus on that moment that felt just a little too charged. The rest of the night, Eddie and Steve take turns sneaking glances at each other, like they’re really noticing each other for the first time. But come the morning, everyone is too hazy on the night before to read into it. They all remember the nights activities, but no one thinks to question the tension, chalking it up to being cross faded. Except Eddie suddenly pays a lot more attention to Steve. 

A/N: Fun fact! Wine coolers came out in the early 80s and have only gotten better tasting and more hangover inducing since! 

#Steddie #steve harrington #eddie munson #Steve x eddie #Steve Harrington x Eddie munson #stranger things #fluff #hoffmannwrites #5 + 1 #5 + 1 fic #spin the bottle #everyone lives/nobody dies #they're gay your honor #idiots to lovers #friends to lovers #stranger things au #stranger things fanfiction

[steddieholidayexchange]

Secret Santa Shenanigans

For: @stardust-walker

Relationships: Steve Harrington/Eddie Munson

Rating: Teens and Up

Wordcount: 9,795

Warnings: No Warnings Apply

Tags: Pining, Holidays, New Year's Eve, New Year's Kiss, Secret Santa, First Kiss, Friends to Lovers, Drug Use, Recreational Drug Use, Gay Eddie Munson, Bisexual Steve Harrington, Lesbian Robin Buckley, No beta we die like Barb, Coming Out, Period-Typical Homophobia, Discussions of period-typical homophobia, nothing happens, THEY JUST TALK ABOUT IT

Summary:

It's the winter of 1986, the Upside Down is gone for good, and The Party is planning a New Year's Eve party to celebrate. And for Secret Santa Eddie gets...Steve Harrington. What is he supposed to do with only $23.49 to his name and a crush that he's struggling to keep secret?

This fic is a part of the @steddieholidayexchange

#steddie holiday exchange #steddie #steddie fic #steve harrington #eddie munson #steve x eddie

[maxineholtzmann]

project easy-bake - complete on ao3

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Relationship: Steve Harrington/Eddie Munson

Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, We're ignoring all of Season Four, It never happened, Chrissy Cunningham Lives, Chrissy Cunningham & Eddie Munson Friendship, Chrissy Cunningham Has a Crush on Robin Buckley, Robin Buckley Has a Crush on Chrissy Cunningham, Eddie Munson Has a Crush on Steve Harrington, Steve Harrington Has a Crush on Eddie Munson, Getting Together, First Kiss, Eventual background buckingham is implied, Minor Maxine "Max" Mayfield/Lucas Sinclair, Steve Harrington & Maxine "Max" Mayfield Have a Sibling Relationship, Steve Harrington & Dustin Henderson Friendship, Platonic Soulmates Robin Buckley & Steve Harrington, Maxine "Max" Mayfield & Eddie Munson Friendship, This whole thing is a romcom, Baking, Hijinks & Shenanigans, No beta we die like Barb

Word Count: 16,911 Chapters: 2/2

Written for @thefreakandthehair's Lex's Spicy Six Spring Fanworks Challenge 2023!

Chapter One Snippet:

“Get your ass off the counter, that’s not sanitary,” Max lightly shoved Eddie's legs, getting flour on his black jeans.

“If you think anything in this kitchen is sanitary , Red, you’d be incorrect. Stop changing the subject–what is all of this for? And why on god’s green Earth do you not want Harrington to know about it?” Eddie scooted closer as Max carefully measured out the second cup of flour.

She paused, considering. “If I tell you, you have to promise not to tell anyone.”

Eddie perked up, of course , he should have thought of this earlier. “Oh, so that’s it. You have a crush on Harrington. I mean, he’s a bit old for you, but I can see the appeal–”

“What? No! Ew! He’s like my weird hybrid brother-mom.” Max looked at him like he had five heads. “It’s his birthday next Tuesday and I’m trying to bake him a cake but every time I try it turns out disgusting. Sunday it was burnt and yesterday it was raw in the middle! He does a lot for us and I know no one else even knows when his birthday even is and I wanted to do something…nice, for once. If you tell anyone I said that I’ll kill you.”

read the rest on ao3

#stranger things #stranger things fanfic #steve harrington #eddie munson #steddie #steve harrington x eddie munson #max mayfield #rated t #fluff #repost #completed fic

[scoops-aboy86]

I know it’s January but I wrote a Christmas thing. No beta we die like Barb. There’s several thousand words of it and I have no impulse control.

🔞 Seven Christmases pt. 1

The Munsons (988 words)

rated: T | cw: none | tags: chubby eddie, established relationship, weight gain, belly kink, fluff, they’re in love

Steve may have spent his school years getting up early for the sake of sports, but he’s not especially a morning person. He’s okay about waking up when he needs to now, for work and shit, but for the most part he relishes any opportunity he gets to sleep in. 

But not today. Today is Christmas, and he has a whole sixteen hours to pack a very special gift that he and Eddie will get to unwrap this evening—the process is part of the gift for both of them, and oh, he plans on packing it full.

“Eds,” he murmurs while cuddling up to his boyfriend, who is definitely not a morning person. Eddie is already on his side turned towards him, snoring softly, his pajama top rucked up a little to show his empty belly. Steve slips a hand underneath it, biting his lip a little as he feels Eddie up, kneading and groping soft skin and scar tissue alike. “Baby, hey, wake up. It’s Christmas morning.”

Eddie’s long eyelashes flutter. He yawns, not opening his eyes fully yet as he starts to stretch like a lazy housecat, pressing into Steve’s big hands with a contented hum. “Mmm, ‘s’at?”

Steve can’t help the smile taking over his face, knows it’s sappy as hell but can’t do a thing to fight it. He nuzzles in to kiss Eddie’s neck—which gets him a happy sigh and a wriggle further into his grasp—and then leans their foreheads together. “Christmas morning, baby. It’s time for breakfast with Wayne. Are you hungry?”

Eddie’s mouth curls into a slow, sleep-glazed grin. “Hm…” He rests his hand over Steve’s on his stomach, pressing and moving them around to his softest parts while he stretches languidly. “…I think I could eat.”

With a grin and a peck on the cheek, Steve rolls out of bed to get dressed. 

Emerging from under the cozy cocoon the blankets is more of a process for Eddie. Not every day goes the way he’s planning to spend this one, but his weight has been inching up ever since the Upside Down, starting while he was still on bed rest and continuing as he relaxed into new habits and a post-government-payout lack of scarcity. He likes the solidity he has now, likes the feeling and the way Steve looks at him (and touches him, and dotes on him) when he’s full.

And he actually has an ass now, which is great, because it looks amazing in the pants he’s picked out to wear today. The dark fabric looks like denim but has an impressive amount of stretch to it, comfortable even as it already looks practically painted on when he checks himself out in the mirror. Pleased, Eddie pulls on a burgundy-red sweater that’s still a little loose and yawns his way to the coat rack by the front door for his signature leather jacket—because he can’t not be himself, even on Christmas. 

He’s still blinking the last of the sleep from his eyes as Steve pulls a knit cap down over his wild curls, winds a scarf around his neck for good measure, and plants kisses on each cheek followed by one on the lips. That wakes Eddie up a bit more, deepening the kiss with a happy sound in the back of his throat. 

Confirmed night owl or not, he’s just as excited about the day to come as Steve. 

They’ve brought almost as much food as Wayne has prepared, the latter taking care of eggs, sausages, bacon, and hash browns while Steve is in charge of the cinnamon rolls and various breakfast breads. Eddie, still waking up, is content to sit at the kitchen table while they (mostly Steve, who manages to shoo Wayne out of his own kitchen to spend more quality time with his nephew) bustle around getting everything set out. 

“Looks delicious, you guys,” Eddie says approvingly, more awake now as the sweet and savory scents wrap him up in a blanket just as comforting as the one Steve had pried him out of not long ago. His hands have gravitated into position, one by his fork and the other resting atop the not insignificant belly that rests in his lap. He licks his lips. “Wayne, you gonna start this party off?”

Eddie eats a respectable portion of everything, but clears out the cinnamon rolls almost single-handedly, heedless of any need to pace himself for the whole day of holiday celebrations ahead. Steve’s cinnamon rolls are heavenly; he has no regrets, eyes still rolling back in happy ecstasy on his last one same as the first. By the time he’s done he feels warm and full and a little sticky. Steve and Wayne are already down to just coffee, Steve’s eyes subtly glued to him over the lip of his mug whole he sips, and Eddie snags the last few pieces of bacon if no one else is going to eat them. 

They unwrap a few presents each, nothing crazy. Wayne doesn’t doesn’t need much and asks for even less, so it’s just a few gifts—a new hat and a novelty mug and a few odds and ends that his uncle doesn’t need to know about the price tags for. 

Because sales from Eddie’s latest book are doing great, bolstered by the recently released books-on-tape versions of the entire series so far. Eddie read them himself, and wrote all the background music to go with them; they’re a hit with fantasy readers around the country, and the overseas release is only a few months away. Things are good, and the piece of mind that comes with knowing he can provide his uncle with anything he might need is even better. 

And Steve bringing him another little plate of banana bread and cranberry orange bread with cream cheese layered thick on top of each slice, just the way he likes it, certainly doesn’t hurt either. 

Part 2, part 3, part 4, part 5, part 6, part 7, part 8

#scoops words #wg steddie #chubby eddie munson #scoops - do not unwrap fic #christmas steddie #merry belated christmas chubby steddie goblins 🎁 #steddie fic #steve harrington #eddie munson #wayne munson

[anthotneystark]

My wounds cry for the grave (My soul cries for deliverance) (33039 words) by mywarisalreadywon

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Stranger Things (TV 2016) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Robin Buckley & Steve Harrington, Steve Harrington/Nancy Wheeler (past), Steve Harrington & The Party, Steve Harrington/Eddie Munson, Robin Buckley/Nancy Wheeler Characters: Steve Harrington, Nancy Wheeler, Jonathan Byers, Dustin Henderson, Robin Buckley, Eddie Munson Additional Tags: others are in there but not the focus, It goes through all four seasons, Not Really Character Death, like he does die, But he comes back, angel au, Slow Burn, they're all traumatized teenagers sometimes they make dumb decisions and it's okay, Canon-Typical Violence, here there be monsters, Hurt/Comfort, Angst, No beta we die like Barb, there is some law breaking, but it's fine Summary: He’s dizzy, distracted, in pain, and doesn’t even feel the blood dripping, sliding down from his ears. He leans his forehead against the wheel and promises that it’s just for a moment. It’s not. He drifts out of consciousness, and it’s easy, in the end. His eyes are closed, his breathing slows, and he’s not even aware as it just…stops. Steve Harrington breathes his last breath on a cold November day, and leaves the world all alone, with no one to miss him.

#steddie #angel au #kat writes #fic #I DID IT #I FINALLY DID IT

[entropicquilibriumofchaos]

Master of Puppets

After a year away at college, Margaret Byrnes is called home to Hawkins, Indiana when her father turns up missing after an earthquake swallows half of the town. Something is different about Hawkins, though, and she stumbles right into it, quite literally. After along fall and a chance encounter with a mysterious stranger named Kas, Margaret will have to reconsider every thing she believes as her world mixes with a strange world on the other side of her hometown.

Eddie Munson/Original Female Character

READ IT ON AO3

Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3

Chapter 4 - Fade to Black

Chapter Warnings: Descriptions of blood and wounds.

The sky overhead maintained its angry red complexion as Margaret and Kas crept across the deserted field that separated the shack that they had been hiding in from the trailer park. The ground was covered in oily black tendrils that seemed to pulse with some otherworldly heartbeat. Carefully avoiding them, they slowly made their way towards the desolate grouping of ramshackle buildings.

“How’s that leg?” Kas asked as they hunkered down in a copse of trees to take a breather. 

“It’s been better,” Mags answered, trying to mask her pain with humor. Kas, being the master of masking pain with humor, didn’t buy it.

“I could carry you the rest of the way. It’s not much farther,” he offered, looking over his back at the stretch of land this still had yet to cover. 

Mags stifled a laugh. “You’re cute.”

If Kas could blush, he did. A tinge of gray flooded his cheeks and Mags noted the interesting difference. He quickly reclaimed his composure and scowled at her. 

“Do you think you just floated to that shack?” he snarled, meaner than he had intended to be. She shied away from him slightly and he cursed inwardly. 

“Sorry…” she whispered and his eyes softened as he sighed and placed a hand under her chin and lifted her face so she could look him in the eye. 

It was hard for Mags to focus as his calloused hand lightly rested on her cheek and his brown eyes bore into her own. His hand was colder than she expected it to be, but it was oddly soothing. She thought about her leg and she prayed inwardly that she didn’t have a fever.

“No, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have raised my voice at you,” Kas said softly as she unconsciously leaned into his hand causing him to almost stutter. “My people skills are a little rusty and I’m a bit on edge right now.” 

She nodded as he took his hand away. A sense of longing panged in Mags’s heart as a pregnant pause fell over them. She still couldn’t shake the feeling that she knew him from somewhere and she began to wonder if she had hit her head at some point and gotten a concussion. The thought was swept away as Kas rested his hand on her thigh. Timidly, she placed her own on top of his.

“I understand,” she replied, coming out of her thoughts with a faint smile on her lips. “I’m a bit on edge, too.”

He smiled and she couldn’t help but admire his dimples and the soft look in his eyes. Even the sharp canines didn’t deter her from reaching out and brushing a piece of hair out of his face. 

“Come back with me,” she whispered, so quietly that she almost didn’t expect him to hear, but he did. The smile melted off his face and he shook his head, withdrawing his hand from under hers. 

“We’d better get going,” he said, quickly changing the subject. “You need to get back and have an actual doctor look at your leg.” He stood up and helped Mags to her feet.

“Kas, I’m serious.” she responded, tucking the makeshift crutch under her armpit again. 

He ignored her and turned around to survey the surroundings. “We don’t have much left to go.” he mused. He picked up his trash can lid shield and looked back to Mags as she frowned at him. “The sooner we get there, the sooner you can get home and I can go back to my plan of wallowing in self pity for the rest of eternity.” His voice dripped with sarcasm, but Mags had a feeling that there was some truth to it.

Her mind was made up in that moment. She was going to find a way to convince him to come back even if it killed her. 

The vines got thicker the closer they got to the trailer park, and so did the black particles that floated through the air. The two crouched and darted in between trailers towards the source of an eerily low rumbling noise. Kas stopped in his tracks and held up a hand for Mags to stop as well. He turned, looking for the source of the peculiar sound that he had been hearing among the familiar rumbling. Like a drum beat, it was steady, but growing faster by the second. As he turned his gaze landed on the very soul he was guiding through his personal hell. The sound was Margaret’s heart thumping wildly in her chest as the awaiting gate created a fear in her that crept into her mind. 

For a moment, Kas’s vision blurred and her heart beat got louder in his ears. Flashes of blood and the sound of flesh tearing burned through his mind. The pit in his stomach seemed to grow larger and he felt the hunger rampaging through his veins. 

Mags looked at him wide eyed as he stood frozen, mouth slightly open and eyes glazed over. His breath came out in pants as he stepped towards her. 

“Kas, what’s wr-” she began, but a sound caught her attention as well. Instead of her own heart beat, it was the beating of wings. The noise seemed to snap Kas out of his trance and he looked up to the sky behind her.

“Fuck,” he cursed.

Behind them, a writhing mass of black had formed over the horizon. And it was growing quickly.

“Fuck shit fuck,” he continued, pushing down the hunger that had caught him off guard. “We need to go. Now.” 

Before Margaret could respond, Kas’s shield clattered to the ground and he swept her off her feet into a bridal carry. Her crutch clattered to the ground as he made a beeline to the gate, no longer worried about being spotted. He moved with surprising ease, expertly avoiding the vines that had started to move towards them as if he’d done this a million times before. 

Mags didn’t have time to be surprised, as the rumbling had grown louder as they neared a trailer that seemed to have been fortified at some point with fencing and wooden planks. He set her down outside of the fencing and pulled back a section before ushering her inside. 

The black cloud of creatures had grown exponentially bigger and closer. Looking closer as Kas made his way through the small opening in the fence, Mags could make out the individual creatures. It was an entire hoard of the bat-like monsters that had attacked her before she fell into this dimension.

“Come on!” Kas shouted, slipping an arm under her shoulders and pulling her away from where she had been paralyzed as she beheld the horror in front of her. He half-carried her into the reinforced trailer before slamming the door behind him. 

Margaret’s heart beat grew even more wild as she saw the gate in front of her. The black tendrils seemed to sprout out of a fiery red center that hung in the middle of the ceiling. The gate seemed to pulse with energy that made her head hurt. 

Behind her, Kas grimaced at the gate. Memories flooded his mind and as the emotions plagued his mind, the hunger snuck back in. He shook it off, running to grab a broken chair to stand on to get closer to the gate. He gritted his teeth as he hopped up and stuck his hand up and ripped through the thin membrane that separated the two dimensions. Mucous dripped from the tear as he widened it with both hands. 

His mind was starting to cloud again as he looked down at the girl below him. Her eyes were wide with fear and her mouth hung slightly agape. Her heart beat pounded in his ears along with the ever growing sound of the demobat hoard. 

“This is it,” he instructed, holding out his hand to her before retracting it quickly when she gasped and shuffled away in fear. 

He hadn’t felt the change, nor had he noticed it until now. His fingers had blackened and his nails had elongated and shifted into razor sharp claws. He looked down in horror before jumping down from the chair and backing himself into a corner. 

“Get on that chair and pull yourself through the gate. Get out and run like hell.” he instructed, gripping onto an overturned couch to hold himself back. 

Margaret, scared as she was, shook her head. “I’m not leaving without you, Kas.” she said, limping towards him slowly. “You don’t belong here. We’ll go back to Hawkins, the real Hawkins, and get you help.”

As she grew closer, Kas backed further into the corner. His upper lip twitched in an involuntary snarl that made her pause briefly. But her determination and stubbornness was greater than her fear. “I’m not afraid of you. You are not a monster.” 

He stared at her with blown out pupils, still holding the couch with a white knuckle grip when he heard the first demobat ping off the fence. The sound snapped him out of his hunger-induced craze and he saw the tears in her eyes for the first time. He knew she wouldn’t leave without him, and he wasn’t about to let that happen. 

He took a deep breath and let his monstrous hand find her smaller one. He could feel her pulse just under her skin. 

Another demobat hit the fence.

She stepped in closer until they were face to face. His other hand cradled her cheek once again and he used his thumb to wipe a stray tear. His pupils had shrunk and the black was starting to recede from his hands. He let go over her hand and placed it on her hip.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered. He leaned in and pressed his lips against hers as his hand slid up to cradle the back of her head.

She reacted immediately, kissing him back gently and reaching up to cup his cheek. 

There were no fireworks; no sparks of true love. It was a kiss, nothing more, but nothing less. Two beings, brought together by pain and suffering, managing to find something brighter in the blackness. 

He broke the kiss, still holding her close as he rested his forehead on hers. His bangs tickled against her eyebrows as she looked up at him. “You’re sorry about that?” she whispered incredulously as the bats began to beat louder at the exterior of the trailer. 

“Absolutely not,” he chuckled. “I’ve been wanting to do that ever since you woke up.” 

She smiled softly. 

They bathed in the chaos, taking solace in each other’s presence for a moment before Kas pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead. 

“I’m sorry about this,” he explained as his pupils grew again and she felt his nails dig into her hip sharply. 

“Kas, don’t-” she started, but before she could finish, she was frozen in place by his gaze.

“You’re going to pull yourself through that gate and run like hell back to your house,” he instructed coldly. “And once you’re there you’re gonna call an ambulance and go to the hospital.”

Tears streamed down her cheeks and Kas struggled to maintain his composure as his command took root in her mind. She fought hard against him, but he could see her shoulders starting to relax.

“I’m so sorry, Magaret.” he whispered as the command took hold and her hand fell from his face to hang by her side. 

The last thing she thought before she lost control of her body was a simple fact. 

She had never told him her name. 

#stranger things fanfic #stranger things #eddie munson x oc #eddie munson x original character #eddie munson #original female character #fanfic #kas!eddie munson #kas!eddie x oc #no beta we die like barb #stranger things s4 #stranger things season 4 spoilers #stranger things fanfiction #angst #my writing