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sagewritings · 2 years

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Car Confessions - Steve Harrington x Fem!Reader

pairing: steve harrington x female reader

synopsis: in an attempt to help robin with her crisis in her love life, you and steve set up a plan to help her get closer to vickie. but steve realizes that he might just need the same push with you.

word count: 2.3k

warnings: none, aside from very minimal season 4 spoilers (scenes from s4 ep1 only)

a/n: hello everyone! here’s another steve harrington fic <3 this one is shorter than the one i posted a few days ago, but much more chill. this is sort of like an au where vecna doesn’t happen :)

also, if you’d like to check out my other works, you can check the pinned post in my blog :>

i hope you’ll like this fic! happy reading!

'*•.¸♡ ♡¸.•*'

There is never a dull or quiet moment whenever you are with Steve and Robin.

“And then there’s Heidi tomorrow night, but the problem with Heidi is that she’s going out of state for college. So it’s like, do I really want to start another relationship that has no point other than sex? I mean, I don’t know, does that make sense to either of you?” Steve rambled, looking sideways at you and Robin through his rear-view mirror.

When neither of you spoke, he raised his hands off of the steering wheel.

“Y/n, Robin, are you listening?”

You sighed as Robin ignored him, continuing on her attempts to apply her mascara while holding a small mirror shakily.

“No.” You groaned. “You lost me after talking about ‘Kate’.”

“Cut us some slack, please.” You heard Robin exclaim from the backseat. “It is 7:00 in the morning, we have to go to this stupid pep rally, and I woke up looking like a total corpse!”

“You’re worried about a basketball pep rally. You expect me to believe that?” Steve gave her a pointed look.

“Yeah… so?”

“We all know what this is about.”

“Who this is about.” You corrected Steve, and both of you chuckled.

“Seriously, Y/n? You’re supposed to be on my side!” Robin threw a glare at you, pushing her head in between you and Steve.

“You know what you got to do? You need to stop pretending to be someone else when you’re around Vickie.” Steve said.

“You’re literally quoting me to me. You do realize that?” She turns her glare to him.

You shook your head as they continued to argue.

“What time is the championship game again?” Steve asked.

“6:00 p.m.” You answered.

“Want me to pick you up?” He offered.

You prepared to nod but stopped yourself after remembering your plans for this afternoon.

As a treat in regards to the pep rally and championship game, the teachers decided to shorten their class periods for today. You initially planned to return to your home after your classes, seeing that there are a few hours to spare before the game.

“Oh, no. I won’t leave the school. I’ll be with Hellfire until the game.” You smiled.

“With the entire Hellfire or just with Eddie?” Robin teased, pinching your arm.

You rolled your eyes, slightly pulling yourself from her grasp. “Seriously, Robin?”

She shrugged and Steve rolled his eyes. He opened his mouth to talk, but you know him well enough to figure out what he was going to say next.

“Before you say anything,” You started. “Eddie is a nice guy. Dustin and Mike wouldn’t love him if he wasn’t.”

“Yeah, except he sells drugs.” He pointed out.

You decided not to reply; you’ve lost count on how many times you two have fought about this.

Admittedly, you were wary about Eddie Munson too. His reputation of being held back to the same grade thrice, and selling drugs on school nights isn’t particularly enticing. But that was before Dustin introduced you to him a month ago.

You weren’t a member of the Hellfire Club, but most people have mistaken you as such because of how much time you spent with them. You did this for two reasons; you started to genuinely like their company, and you needed to make sure that Eddie does not give drugs to Mike and Dustin.

You all reached the school a few minutes later, and you immediately spotted Eddie’s wavy hair by the parking lot. You quickly thanked Steve and grabbed your bag, leaving his car in seconds.

Steve watched as you walked toward your friend. He didn’t have anything personal against Eddie Munson, aside from the fact that you’re being way close to him. Despite all your assurance that you and Eddie are just friends, Steve can’t help but feel envious and protective.

“You confuse me.” Steve recoiled slightly on his seat, forgetting that Robin was still seated behind him.

“What?” He asked her.

“I don’t know why you still go out with those random girls when it’s already obvious that you like Y/n,” Robin said as she began to gather her things.

“I don’t like Y/n.” Steve groaned. “At least not in a way that you think.”

“You may be good at talking with girls, but you are not good at lying, Harrington.”

=====================

“Are you sure you’re not going?” You asked Eddie as you sat beside him, waiting for Mike and Dustin.

“Nah. Watching little boys toss balls into laundry baskets isn’t really my thing.” He shot you a smile, laughing slightly at his words.

“Alright. Well, I got to go.” You stood up.

“Woah, wait. Are you sure? You know you can stay here for a while longer.” Eddie said, looking up at you.

“I’ve been here for hours, Eddie. Besides, I promised Lucas I’ll attend this game.”

Eddie glowered at his name.

You waved the club goodbye and headed to the gym. While walking, you noticed Steve standing in line for the visitors’ entrance.

“Steve!” You called out, and he turned and smiled upon hearing your voice.

“Y/n.” He said.

You two headed towards the bleachers, taking the seats near the band so you can be closer to Robin.

While the others were tense about the game, your and Steve’s attentions were divided. You would occasionally cheer, especially when Lucas was called to replace an injured player, but your eyes would wander towards where Robin and Vickie whispered to each other.

“Aw, our girl’s finally doing it.” You mutter jokingly to Steve.

He snickered. “Do you think she’s asking her out?”

“They’re just starting to get to know each other, Steve.” You rolled your eyes. It was then that an idea popped into your head. “Hey, let’s go for a milkshake after the game.”

“Sure.” Steve agreed.

“With Vickie.” You continued, giving him a mischievous smile.

“Ooh, I think I know where you’re going with this, Y/l/n.” He laughed, immediately catching up.

You shrugged, still smiling as you look back at the game.

=====================

Go. You mouthed at Robin.

As soon as the game ended, you pulled her and shared your plan with Steve. Robin was quick to disagree, eyes wide as she looked at a cheering Vickie. You convinced her that it was just going to be casual, allowing her to spend more moments talking with the girl. After a full minute of contemplation, Robin eventually agreed.

Now, with almost everyone leaving the gym, you quickly motioned for Robin to ask Vickie who was cleaning up her things.

You and Steve watched from your seats, observing the smile and nods between the girls. When Robin pointed at the two of you and Vickie followed her hand, you and Steve waved.

You were giddy the whole time. It was as if you were the one who would be bonding with your crush. Well, technically, that was right too.

Having a crush on your best friend is the most cliche thing ever; you used to think that until it happened to you. But unlike the others, it wasn’t just Steve Harrington’s glorious hair that caught your attention.

You lost count of how many times he openly placed himself in harm’s way just to protect his friends, especially you and the kids. You witnessed him try to fix his mistakes, and you were probably the only person he allowed to see him cry. And regardless of all the silly fights, he shared with Robin, he would still take an additional shift at the Family Video so she won’t be alone.

Naturally, you kept your feelings quiet. Though, you might have slipped a few times because Robin and the kids would often tease you silently.

The ride to the diner took around fifteen minutes, and you were happy that Vickie was at ease with all of you the entire time.

“Two strawberry and two chocolate milkshakes, please,” Steve said to the waitress, shooting her a small smile as he ordered. The lady smiled back at him, returning with the milkshakes a few moments later.

Despite the diner being almost empty, the booth that the four of you chose is located at the corner. You and Steve sat beside each other, facing Robin and Vickie.

“Are you dating anyone?” Robin blurted, and her eyes widened after realizing her words. Before she could reply, Vickie laughed and shook her head.

“Nope.” She said casually as she sipped on her shake, then she turned to you and Steve.

“How about you two?”

Your eyes snapped back between her and Steve, stuttering for an answer. You didn’t know whether she was asking if you and Steve were together, or separately.

“Oh! I’m not dating anyone either.” You chuckled.

Steve uttered the same, cheeks slightly flushed as he distracted himself with his shake.

Meanwhile, Robin’s panicked expression turns into a smug one, a smirk planted on her face as her eyes darted back between you and the boy.

You glared at Robin, asking Vickie a question about the band to redirect the topic.

The next minutes were filled with questions between the four of you, and it seemed that Vickie and Robin are similar in more ways than one. They even shared a simultaneous “no!” when Steve pulled out his wallet to pay, saying that the drinks are his treat.

“Hey, wanna leave them alone for a while?” Steve whispered to you, ensuring that either of the girls couldn’t hear.

You raised your brow. “How?”

“Just follow me.” He said simply, sitting up straight as his voice got back to its normal volume. “Hey, I’ll just check something in my car. I’ll wait for you guys there.”

He stood up, and you three girls nodded your head. He discreetly motioned for you to follow him and you nodded your head, waiting a few seconds after he stepped out of the diner.

“I’ll go check on Steve.” It was your turn to stand, earning a smile from Vickie and a squinted smirk from Robin. “I’ll see you outside. Take your time.”

You hastily walked out, and you caught sight of Steve sitting on the driver’s seat.

“You think your plan worked?” He asked you with a smile as you sat beside him.

“Definitely.” You proudly grinned.

His eyes went from yours to something behind you. No, someone. There were two blonde girls, laughing as they entered the diner.

“Do you know them?” You asked, confused and slightly saddened but still keeping a neutral expression.

“Only one of them. The one with the red bag is Heidi.”

Your eyes widened, recognizing the name from your conversation earlier this morning. “No way. Heidi? Heidi for tomorrow night?”

He shrugged, reclining his seat back.

“Does it work?” You asked him quietly.

“Does what work?” Steve looked at you.

“Going out with many girls until you find someone you like.”

“I guess. It works in helping me find the characteristics I like and don’t like. But that’s it.”

“Do you think you found her?” You picked up one of your legs and tucked it under the other, allowing you to fully face him. When he shot you a confused look, you continued. “You know, ‘the one’?”

Steve’s face softened. “I think I did.”

You felt your insides turn, in a bad way. It already pains you to see him with other women every night. But him saying that he might have found the right one for him, makes you ache even more.

What you didn’t know is that Steve is also trying to maintain his calmness. He has been thinking about Robin’s words before she left his car this morning, and he immediately canceled his future dates after he made up his mind.

He was scared; he was probably more scared of coming forward to you than facing the giant Mind Flayer several months ago. But he couldn’t take it anymore. He wanted to hug you and kiss you, pull you closer to him whenever you needed someone’s shoulder. Most of all, he wanted to be honest.

“Really?” You asked, trying to keep your tone positive.

“Mhm. Never realized it until this morning, actually.”

You raised a brow in question, and he took it as a sign to continue.

“Y/n…” He started. He looked like he was about to close his mouth again but then he took a big sigh. “What I’ll say may or may not ruin our friendship, but I’ve spent way too much stalling already and I want to be honest.”

You felt your heart pump faster at his words, but you gave him an encouraging nod.

“I like you. And not just in an ‘I-like-you-as-a-friend’ type, but ‘I-would-like-to-take-you-out-on-a-date’ type. And if you don’t feel the same, that’s okay! T-that’s cool. It’s just… you’re beautiful and smart and funny and I’ve realized I liked you since that day you took Max and El out to the mall. Then I thought that I could set aside what I feel for you by going with other girls but I can’t. And I’m sorry if this all sounds like it came out of nowhere, Robin knocked some sense into me earlier–”

You cut off Steve’s rambling by holding his hand, your face beaming.

“Steve.” You softly said his name and his eyes widened, thinking that this is going to be the last day of your friendship. You never thought that you would ever see Steve Harrington nervous as he confesses to a girl.

“Did I say something wrong?” He asked.

You shook your head sideways, still smiling. “I like you too, Harrington. Not in an ‘I-like-you-as-a-friend’ type, but ‘I-would-like-to-go-on-a-date-with-you’ type.”

Steve’s eyes twinkled, his smile reached from ear to ear as he processed your words. He pulled you to him, as close as possible with the gear controls between you. You two laughed softly, pulling away when you heard the bell of the diner’s entrance.

You spotted Robin and Vickie walking towards Steve’s car, almost hip to him beside each other.

Steve looked at you, faking an annoyed expression but still keeping a smile on his face. “I guess I gotta thank Robin.”

“You really do.”

#steve harrington x reader #steve harrington #stranger things #stranger things season 4 #steve harrington imagines #steve harrington fic #steve harrington one shot #stranger things fic #steve harrington fanfiction #robin buckley #robin x vickie #steve harrington season 4

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zaacoy · 1 year

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Lego monkie kid season 4 spoilers ‼️

(heyyyyy note from after finishing writing all this out: this first one is just me going crazy over debatable freenoodles content in s4, you have been warned. Everything in here is /pos!! teehee)

WOW. OKAY. WHAHSJJSJnsjabsjanJSdWHHWJH????? The effect this show has on me is almost beyond my comprehension, not even really sure how to put this into words

iiiiiiiiiiii'll figure that stuff out when it isn't 3 am, it'll be a little rb thread whatever that's called on Tumblr

For rn can we please talk about how stRONGLY FREENOODLES WON WITH THIS SEASON????? WHAGAHT??????? ISHDKSJBSKX!!!!!!!!

FIRST FRSIT FIRST.

The FACT that tang KNOWS EXACTLY how Pigsy makes his noodles from memory if not by HEART??? He has no recipe on him and pigsy can't help he just????? KNOWS pigsy's noodles recipe. Something that is VERY important to him and is unique to his family??? And to which the ONLY other person we know of that also knows pigsy's recipe is mk. His adopted son???? The only people pigsy has EVER told his recipe to is his basically son mk and TANG. OR, POTENTIALLY, Tang has spent so much time sitting right by pigsy's side as he works, watching him indulge in his passion day in and day out to the point where he's just picked it up on his own?? EITHER WAY. HUSBAND BEHAVIOR.

"I'm your tangy!" he. he did not just say that. "I'm YOUR TANGY"????? 'YOUR' POSSESIVE. BASICALLY "IM YOURS". AND NOT YOUR Tang, TANGY. A PETNAME/NICKNAME. WITH THAT EXPRESSION ON HIS FACE????????? H. HWHWJGSJ???? HOW did they get away with this I genuinely wanna know. That is SO GAY. CATASTROPHICALLY GAY. "YOUR TANGY". I am dead on the floor.

"I have devoted my life to this man" elaborate on that. nonono keep going, what did you mean by that. How do you platonically devOTE YOUR LIFE TO ANOTHER MAN????? THAT IS THE MOST OBVIOUS INDIRECT WAY YOU CAN SAY YOU'RE MARRIED. THIS E N T I R E SCENE HOW DID THEY GET AWAY WITH THIS???? HOW do you a man devote your life to another man in a nongay way, Tang. Asking for a friend I just wanna know

The look of awe. He is literally stunned. No fear no nothing just. woww what is my husband doing. Gay gay homosexual.

what.

THE.

FUCK.

In. In what UNIVERSE is leaping into someone's arm, NUZZLING AGAINST THEM BECAUSE YOU'RE SO HAPPY TO SEE THEM AGAIN, AND THEN STAYING CURLED UP IN THEIR ARMS ,BOTH OF YOU BEAMING AT ONE ANOTHER, NOT GAY. I. That's. I'm. HfhdhsggdwghwWHAWT???? They are so married. They are so gay for each other. I. I cannot even fathom. Not even going to get INTO THAT GIGGLE WHAT WAS THAAAAAAT.

Slight side note, glad to see a head canon validated! The little nuzzle thing was a cute little gesture that I've always hc'ed onto Tang pretty much from the beginning of my freenoodlesshipping journey. Watching it HAPPEN in canon??? Feels good >:3 He's a snuggler fr

almost got a 2 for one, I hc tang to be the kind of person that doesn't really stutter or close off when he gets flustered he just starts laughing. It'll start out as soft chuckles and giggling but it just grows deeper and louder the more flustered he gets. Pigsy, being completely enamored with his man, tends to fall into a laughing fit with him and then they just become a flustered happy giggling heep in each other's arms. Sooo close, I won't stretch Tang's little giggle so far as to say that that hc is also basically canon, WILL use this scene to justify it tho :3c

"it's beautiful" AS A RESPONSE TO PIGSY KICKING ASS??? HOW DO YOU NONROMANTICALLY CALL YOUR "FRIEND" BEAUTIFUL JUST CASUALLY. UNPROMPTED. OUT OF THEIR EARSHOT. WHAT????? Why. Why are they so?? wghshdj

Some quick fire more general freenoodles moments:

"Oh, Pigsy where are you?" The first person he thinks to look for is Pigsy? Pigsy specifically? Not sandy or monkie king, pigsy. mmmmhm.

Talking back to a demon that is cooking you as we speak by praising your definitely not husband the entire time? Very straight. That's a very straight look they're giving each other too. Yes, very (/sar)

Just. How happy and excited he looks watching pigsy cook and get back into his thing? They're so wholesome. Old supportive married couple

"Doesn't that moron know we're his family?" Dadsszszs

the look of support and encouragement. They're so soft they make my heart hurt

:glance:

Trying to support each other, quite literally having each other's backs when in danger

Holding onto your husband and trying to protect your husband by extending an arm out in front of him respectively

Pigsy doing his thing and Tang being COMPLETELY there for it. Look at him. That content prideful expression on his face. Pride in his husband. Two kick ass husbands and their two unimpressed, frustrated children. Also find it cute how Pigsy made a bunch of food and then actively weaponized it but still went out of his way to make Tang in specific a nice bowl. Not the other two, just Tang.

IN CONCLUSION: 🏳️‍🌈🐷🍜

It is 4 aaaaaammmmmmm, goodnightttt prepare for more delusional ramblings later in the week I have so many tang thought jfjfn

#TLDR: zaacoy goes off their rocker and explodes about freenoodles #They are so real to me #lmk season 4 #lmk s4 spoilers #monkie kid season 4 #Sorry for the really long insane rambling #It will happen again 😔#lmk freenoodles #freenoodleshipping #Zaacoy rambles🌙

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foreverrogers · 2 years

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parallel suns (1/4)

part one // part two // part three // part four

Pairing: steve harrington x f!buckley!reader

Summary: it's summer break, and you need something, or someone, to fill the time with before you go back to college.

Warnings: smut!!!! 18+!!!!! minors please DNI!!!!! friends with benefits, protected sex, oral (f receiving), steve is an adorably charming idiot. post-s3, pre-s4. no s4 spoilers!!

Words: 7.4k (!!!)

A/N: this fic came to me in a vision and i'm in love with it. big shout out to my notes app where i compulsively wrote 1.2k of this at 10pm. also shout out to the song partner in crime by lucy dacus because i am, once again, on my indie song title bullshit

request something! masterlist // series masterlist

Everything is sticky.

The humidity shimmers in the air like it's about to take corporeal form, and even with every AC unit in this Family Video on full blast, everything is utterly, disgustingly sticky.

It's one of the many things Steve hates about Summer. That, and school being on break means the store is always full of children, who are sticky all year round and only get stickier in the Summer, and teenagers, who embody the kind of sticky that tries to sneak into the adult section when they think no one is looking.

It's eight pm, the unforgiving sun just starting to glow yellow and orange at the horizon, and it's about the time Steve lets Robin go home so he can close up for nine.

He doesn't question it when she doesn't bolt out of the store on the hour like she normally does, desperate to go home even if she did prefer Steve's company over most others.

There's a slight jingle of the bell as the front door opens, but Steve is too busy taking his 10-minute break sitting on the floor behind the counter to get up, legs stretched end to end.

Somebody's above him, all of a sudden, announced by two sharp knocks against the counter, and when Steve looks up the backlight of the setting sun makes him think he's seeing an angel. "You ready to go?"

"Yeah," Robin mutters, hops off her stool and dips down to yank at the backpack sitting at her feet. "Bye, Steve!"

"Woah, woah, woah," Steve starts, so disorientated by the speed of everything that Robin's already slipped behind the counter before he's even thinking of standing up. Steve scrambles to his feet so quickly he almost slips on the linoleum. "Hey, Rob, you're not gonna introduce us?"

You've already taken a step back, and Steve's words stop Robin in her hurried tracks with a sigh. She looks between you, exaggerated turns in each direction, and sighs again. "Steve, this is my sister," She explains, matter of fact, not offering any other information than strictly necessary.

"You never told me you had a sister."

"You didn't?" You ask immediately, faux offense pinching your eyebrows as you look at her. You nudge her in the ankle with the toe of your boot. "Rude."

"Well," Robin starts, pointed as she looks at him. "You clearly don't ask about me as much as you talk about yourself, Steve."

"Hey, I do not- Don't listen to her," Steve cuts Robin to the side, turns to you with an outstretched hand and his cookie-cutter charming smile. It's a perfected art form you don't seem to buy. "I'm Steve, by the way. Steve Harrington."

"Seems like I've heard a lot more about you than you've heard about me, Steve," You smile, lean forward to shake his hand.

Steve thinks he likes the way you say his name. He also thinks your hand in his is warm, but the nice, soft kind of warm, and not the sticky Summer kind of warm he's gotten used to. He also hopes his hand isn't sticky. "All good things, I hope?"

You hum as you pull away, tilt your head to the side and narrow your eyes, your expression questioning. "Like 60%?"

"Okay, well, this has been nice, but we really have to go," Robin interrupts, looks to you then to Steve and gives him a single nod before she's gone, tugging at your wrist and pulling you with her.

"It was nice to meet you!" You call, turn a little to wave as your sister drags you through the door and into the carpark.

Steve's still not convinced you're not an angel, and spends so long staring after you that it takes him a couple minutes to realise you had never told him your name.

-----

Tonight is a different type of sticky. The type that only happens when it rains all day and the moisture hangs oppressively heavy, like you could drown where you stood if you weren't careful.

Which is why Steve can't be blamed for spending most of his free time standing in front of the huge air conditioner in the back room, letting the cool air bellow out his polo and his vest until he's almost too cold. It's a pretty good plan, except for the fact he can't be stationed at the counter waiting for beautiful women to walk into the store like he normally is.

When Steve emerges from the back room, there's a beautiful woman in the store.

Not that he can tell she's beautiful by the back of her head poking through the aisles of the romance section, it's just that he has a feeling... and it's been a couple weeks since he's been on a good date.

So, as always, Steve stands behind the counter and runs a hand through his hair, tussled and unruly by the effects of the fan, uses the darkened monitor of the computer as a mirror as he adjusts the sit of his collar and smoothes down his Family Video vest. It's the exact shade of dark puke green that always seemed to be a hit with the ladies.

He makes a 90-degree turn, back to the front of the shop, and all of a sudden there you are.

Steve gapes a little, turns left and then right and realises you're the only other person in the store. Oh.

"Hey!"

You're grinning now, too. Which doesn't help. "Hey to you, too."

"Did you, uh-" Steve clears his throat, walks towards you and slides the tape you've set on the counter towards him, pointedly ignores the fact you had just watched him check himself out in a computer monitor for any excruciating amount of time. "Did you find everything you need?"

"Just that, I think," You chuckle, still fighting back your smile as you cross your arms and lean them against the counter.

"16 Candles?" Steve asks, finally actually reading the cover of the film in his hands.

Your smile softens, a little fonder. "Yeah, Rob and I watched it like a million times the year it came out. I thought it would be a nice surprise."

"Really?" He asks, disbelief in his smile and the light pinch of his eyebrows. "Robin? 16 Candles?"

"I don't know what to tell you," You shrug, give a light shake of your head. "Everyone's got a guilty pleasure, her's is romance movies... And if you ever tell her I told you that I will make your life a living hell."

Steve thinks he's already experienced multiple living hells, but is still intrigued about what your could come up with. "Scouts honour," He offers, holds up the palm of one hand and presses the copy of 16 Candles to his heart with the other.

It makes you laugh, and Steve has to smile at the sight before he can remember he's supposed to be doing his job. You really might be an angel.

"And the name the account's under?" He asks, thinks he's smooth and is immediately told otherwise by the way you narrow amused eyes at him, the tug of a smile at the corner of your lips.

"Robin really didn't mention me at all, huh?"

"I really don't talk about myself that often, I promise."

You chuckle lightly, smile bright, eyes bright, makes the neon lights pooling in splotches of wet concrete outside look dim.

You're smile fades a little as the seconds go on, as you hold each other's eyes and Steve really hopes he's not staring right now because his face and his brain have lost all connection.

"Y/n," You offer, simply, and Steve was definitely staring because it takes him a moment to register that the sound that came out of your mouth had been your name.

"Y/n, right," He says, snaps himself out of it, maybe a little too animated in the way he shakes his head if the laugh you give him as he looks down is any indication.

Steve bites his lip as he clacks the letters of your name into the heavy keyboard, intensely concentrated. It's adorable, objectively, and you try not to let it pull anything too world-shattering from your gut into the base of your throat. You swallow it down when he meets your eyes again. "Last name?"

You grin at him immediately, simply raise your eyebrows and wait the few moments it takes him to realise what he's saying, tilts his head to the side with a tight smile as he moves to type in the rest of your name. "Right."

"What do I owe you?" You ask, lean a little closer against the counter, close enough that he can smell the sweet floral of your perfume or your shampoo or both.

"On the house."

"Really?" You start, raise your eyebrows at him. "Thank you... Do all the friends and family get discounts?"

"Just the pretty ones," Steve says, mouth and maybe libido moving too quickly for his brain to catch, words spilling and falling flat on the counter between you.

You're smiling again, gleeful surprise as much towards his admittance as the deep blush that rushes into his face as he realises exactly what he's said.

"I mean-"

"Nuh-uh, can't take it back now," You tease, sliding the tape off of the counter towards you and taking a slow step backwards. He's still mouthing at words to say, and so you take the opportunity to turn and start out of the store. You hold the tape up in the air beside you. "Thank you for the movie, Steve!"

-----

"Hey, why did you never mention me to Steve?"

You're in the middle of 16 Candles. Admittedly, it's not the best time to ask your sister about anything tangible, but something about the cheesy teen romance couldn't let you stop thinking about it. It takes her a few moments to answer, and you're about to repeat yourself when she gives back the uninterested "Why would I?"

"I don't know, the way you were talking about him it sounded like you two were basically best friends... Seems like pretty standard information to know about your best friend."

She shoves a messy fist full of popcorn in her mouth before answering. "It just never came up I guess."

"Right..." Robin still hasn't turned away from the movie, and you still haven't turned back, eyes narrowed at her profile. "So you told him you were a lesbian before you told him you had a sister?"

"Jesus Christ, y/n, fine!" Robin dramatically bends at the waist, reaches over to the coffee table for the remote and pause the movie. "He's a womanizer, okay? I knew that if I told him I had a sister, especially one who was basically the same age as him, he would never let it go and inevitably try to hit on you when you came to visit."

You scoff. "Hate to break it to you, babe, but him not knowing I exist has definitely not stopped him from hitting on me."

Robin's silent for a long moment, gapes at you in the dim light, and you think you can physically see the steam pouring out of her ears as her blood boils. "Y/n."

"What?"

"What did he say to you?"

"What, seriously?" You shake your head, turn back to the paused television screen in a sudden desire to no longer be having this conversation. "It was nothing bad, perfectly kosher. You should have seen the way he was blushing, though. Are you sure that guy gets around as much as you think he does?"

"He tells me about most of them in excruciating detail, so, you know, yeah." You feel her shift back towards the TV, pick up the remote at her side with a sigh. "Just don't fall for it, okay?"

You should let it go, because it shouldn't matter, and you shouldn't care. "What, you don't think he's a good guy?" You're looking at her again, trying to read the shadows of her expression. "You wouldn't be friends with him if he wasn't a good guy."

"Look, I say this with no offence to Steve but he's a Hawkins, Indiana good guy. He's not a New York, smartest girl in her class type of good guy."

You consider it for a moment, clench your jaw as you slide down the couch so you can only just see the screen over your bent knees. "It sounds like you're trying to say he's a 'literally anybody but you' kind of good guy."

"Yeah," Robin smiles, voice warm. "Glad we're on the same page."

-----

You think that maybe being told not to give in to Steve Harrington's fumbled, boyish charm just makes you want a taste even more.

Not that you went out of your way to do the things Robin told you not to, nor were you typically the type of person who wanted what they couldn't have. It's just that you had spent so long trying to be good, trying to get the best grades and get into the best schools and be the best adult, that now, during a Summer that should be inconsequential to the course of your life, you want to try something new. That, and every word and lingering glance you had received from him over the past couple of days had practically screamed how much he wanted you, and it was hard to deny that it was exhilarating.

No matter the way you try to reason it, nothing changes the fact that you're in an empty Family Video at 9am.

It's early enough that when Steve sees you pushing open the door he thinks he might still be dreaming. "Oh, y/n, hey! Hey, how are you?" Steve runs a loose hand through his hair, adjusts his position leaning against the counter a couple too many times to be natural. He flinches, hopes you don't register his fumbling. You definitely do. "Uh, Robin's not working today."

"Yeah, I know," You smile, innocent and polite, move to lean beside him on the counter with your forearms against the cool acrylic. You pick at your nails for a moment before turning towards him, but you realise as soon as you do that you've undershot your position a little, faces are a lot closer than you had intended. Still, you don't back away. "I'm here to see you."

Steve swallows, throat thick and chest fluttering with the proximity. "You are?" He mutters, doesn't have to say it that loudly for you to hear because you're that damn close. His voice is a little squeakier, too, like his body had suddenly forgotten it had already hit puberty five years earlier. He clears his throat, once again hopes you don't notice. Once again, you do.

"So..." You start, look back down at your nails because even though you had fully psyched yourself up to do this, you hadn't quite realised eye contact would be part of the deal. "I'm sure you know that I'm only in town for the Summer, which means I just so happen to have a lot of free time and also... just so happen to not have a boyfriend..."

Steve thinks he's hallucinating. Thinks that there must be something in the water and his sweating palms and dry mouth and tight chest are all symptoms of something awful. Either that or his mind is infinitely dirtier than he thought, because there was no way in Hell you were actually suggesting what he thinks you're suggesting. "I think I need... a little more."

"Oh, come on, Stevie," You start, tilt your head at him, and the combination of the nickname and the way you're looking up at him through your lashes makes his jeans tighten inexplicably. "You gotta have a couple brain cells knocking around that pretty little head of yours."

Steve pinches himself. Actually, physically pinches his arm to make sure he's not dreaming. He's staring again, and he's also a little speechless, silent for long enough that you start to second guess yourself.

"Unless you don't want-"

"No, no, no. Woah, no, definitely not. I definitely don't... not want to..." His hand is on your wrist before you can pull away, position shifted so he's now standing right in front of you, parallel suns across the counter. "I just, uh, wasn't sure that I was getting the right idea for a second."

"Yeah, I, um-" You look down, your well of confidence seemingly exerted too fast too soon. Your cheeks are hot with it. "Robin made it seem like you were pretty, uh... Loose about this type of stuff."

"She said that?" Steve scoffs, makes you look back up at him and the expression on his face is so genuinely offended it makes you laugh. "I can't believe she would- Wait, did you... tell her? About-"

"No!" You interrupt, eyes wide. "No, absolutely not. And Robin never knows, okay? Ground rule?"

"Yeah, right, of course," He agrees, and he registers suddenly that you're two people standing in the middle of a Family Video first thing in the morning defining the terms of casual sex.

"Not so much because she would get mad at me, but because I genuinely think she might cut your dick off."

Steve laughs, does that thing where he tilts his head to the side in a nod that's annoyingly endearing. "Yeah, I could see her trying."

You're both smiling, and you're both so close, his hand on your wrist still anchoring you to the counter. You chew at the inside of your lip, try to suppress some of the heat rising to your face. "This is a really weird conversation, right?"

"Possibly the weirdest I've ever had, yeah." And Steve has had a lot of fucking bonkers conversations.

There's a glint of light across your lipgloss as your smile widens, fresh and sticky and shining and all of a sudden Steve realises you wore it for him, and then all of a sudden wants to know what it tastes like.

You lean forward slowly, like you can read his mind or maybe you're just thinking the same thoughts, the curve of your lips deliciously tempting. "Steve."

"Yeah?" He asks, less of a word and more of a pitched exhale. He thinks he can feel your breath against his skin.

"You have customers."

You pull away, stand up straight just as the front bell rings and a gaggle of children storm into the store, followed begrudgingly by the slow steps of two exhausted looking parents. Steve pulls away, too, clears his throat in an attempt to regain his composure as he offers a tight smile to the two adults.

You're grinning, annoyingly and yet endearingly triumphant.

"That was mean."

"No idea what you're talking about," You start, shake your head with a shrug and a step away from the counter. You try to bite back your smile, bottom lip lightly pulled between your teeth. "Are you doing anything tonight?"

"Oh, you know." Steve gestures around the store, attention immediately pulled to a crashing sound somewhere to his side, like piles of hard plastic falling to the floor.

"You should go do your job," You tease, nod towards the source of the noise and make Steve narrow his eyes at you. "And I will be back at nine."

-----

True to your word, by the time nine pm rolls around you're already leaning against the hood of his car, watching carefully as he locks the door to the darkened Family Video.

You've changed, a light skirt that sits just below the knee to match the humid Summer night. Steve's first thought is accessible, and he immediately scolds himself for it.

"Hey," You smile, voice sickly smooth, sticky and seeping into his bones.

"Hey." He returns, finds it a little less graceful than yours because he's nervous, the kind of nervous that would probably make his chest shake if he stood still for too long. He doesn't think he's been this nervous around a girl since he first got together with Nancy.

"Fun rest of your shift?" You ask, even though you have a pretty good idea of what he might say, kick off the car and make a slow start towards him.

"A painful one, thanks to you."

The admittance makes you smile, too smug and too pretty as you look up at him, height difference exaggerated as you meet him at the curb. He tries not to look at your lips, but your lipgloss is fresh, and he still wants to know what it tastes like.

"My place or yours?"

"Are your parents home?"

Steve scoffs, a little offended. "What makes you think I live with my parents?"

"Oh," You start, eyes widening with something like surprise, embarrassment, maybe a little bit of both. "Do you... not live with your parents?"

"No, I absolutely live with my parents. And no, they're not home, by the way. I think I just resent the implication that-"

"Oh my god," You turn, walk towards the passenger side of his car with a shake of your head. You stand with a grasp on the handle, waiting for him to follow. "If you still wanna get laid tonight you better get in the freaking car, idiot."

"Wow," Steves says, keeps playing his mock offence but starts towards the car anyway. He digs his hand into his pocket in search of his keys. "I guess there's just something about you Buckleys and being mean to me."

You swing the door open as soon as it's unlocked, fall in with enough force to make the vehicle bounce lightly on its wheels. "Car, Steve!"

-----

You've made it this far without any hiccups. Without any bad omens descending from the heavens as a sign that this was all a bad idea.

If anything it felt too good to be true, a ridiculously handsome, charming boy with a genuine interest in you, complete with a mega fancy house and parents who were never in town. Then there was the tiny fact that he was your sister's best friend, but you tried not to think about that one too hard.

"What do we do now?"

Steve's moving to sit beside you at the foot of his bed, soft notes of music drifting from his cassette player slowly filling the background.

You smile at him, at the earnestness in his voice and the wide, open hope in his expression. It makes your chest ache so much you have to change the subject.

"Before anything, I just wanted to say..." You adjust your position, angle yourself to better face him. Steve looks terrified of what you're next move is, and it almost makes you laugh. "I don't know what you did to make Robin trust you enough to tell you... you know... But I just thought I would tell you that I appreciate it. I was really worried at first, about leaving her for so long with nobody else who really, actually knew her... It's just nice to know there's someone watching her back."

Steve wasn't exactly sure what he thought you were going to say, but it certainly wasn't that. It's a gesture that warms him through, not that he would ever admit that to Robin. "Yeah, no, of course. Thank you."

You offer him a gentle smile, nodding lightly as you lean back against your palms. You sigh like you're almost reluctant to keep going. "You're a pretty cool dude, Steve."

"I know," He says, response immediate, does that tilt thing again and proceeds to give you the smuggest smirk you've ever seen. "But thank you for reminding me."

"Oh, shut up," You mutter, nudge him lightly in the knee with your own and roll your eyes, can't help the smile that blooms across your face as he leans towards you.

"What?" He asks, accusatory, smiling, so close you can feel the fan of his warm breath against your skin. "I was agreeing with you."

"Steve," You say, try and almost succeed at pulling a serious face.

He's looking at your lips again, doesn't meet your eyes as he continues. "Yeah?"

"Stop talking."

Strawberry. That's the first thought Steve has when you kiss him, impossibly soft lips moving against his, turning his brain to fuzz in an instant.

It's all instinct from that point on, when he slots one hand around your waist and brings the other beneath your ear, thumb brushing against your cheek and opening you up for him.

"What?" You laugh, breathe it between sweet, sticky kisses.

"What?"

"You said something, I couldn't hear you."

Steve is only half paying attention, too busy pressing you back until your back hits the mattress. Oh.

"Strawberry," He repeats, hadn't realised he had said it out loud the first time. "Your lip gloss. It tastes like strawberry."

"That's what you're thinking about right now?" You're grinning at him, smile too wide to keep kissing and so Steve takes the opportunity to trail along your jaw, dips down to follow the column of your throat until he hears you sigh.

"It's not the only thing I'm thinking about," He mutters, presses curved lips to the crook of your neck and focuses on the spot.

Your breath is coming out a little heavier, your fingers tangling into his hair as he continues the gentle assault on your neck, but you try to keep up. "Care to share with the class?"

"Well," Steve starts, hands wandering downward to start to bunch up the bottom of your shirt. "I'm thinking about taking this off, for one."

Your position at the foot of your bed is a little awkward to manoeuvre, so Steve takes the opportunity to slowly stand over you, plants one last sloppy kiss to the dip of your throat before he's on his knees.

It makes you gasp, the sudden shift and the sight of him between your legs as he kisses the soft flesh of your stomach he's exposed. "I'm thinking about how fucking warm you are, and how soft your skin is." He leans back, moves to sit on his heels and brings one of your knees up to sit over his shoulder. The position makes the light fabric of your skirt fall back, bunches at the top of your thighs and leaves the cotton of your panties just hidden from his line of sight. He kisses the inside of your knee, one strong hand grasping the outside of your thigh, doesn't tear his eyes away from yours the entire time. "And I'm thinking about what other parts of you must taste like."

"Jesus Christ," You mutter, fall back against the mattress and look up at the ceiling because this might just be the best stupid decision you've ever made.

Steve chuckles, a deep reverberation that sends aftershocks through your body where his lips are still connected to your skin. "Are you gonna let me find out, sweetheart?"

"Jesus Christ," You say again, because what else are you supposed to say to something like that. You press up on your elbows, look down to see Steve already smiling at you, still annoyingly smug. "You can't just go around saying shit like that."

"Is that a yes?" He asks, and if there was any doubt in your mind all would be resolved by the feeling of his hand snaking under your skirt, fingers slipping just under the hem of your underwear.

"Please, yes. Fuck."

In any normal circumstance, you might register the fact that the two of you are still fully clothed, at the very least take off your shirts before you let another person take off your underwear. But this wasn't just any normal circumstance, and in that moment any force that could delay the feeling of his mouth on your cunt was sorely unwelcome.

Steve makes it slow, draws it out for as torturously long as he can before you're starting to squirm beneath him. He leans back, just so he can start to tug your panties down your legs, goosebumps rising at every tiny point of contact until the flimsy fabric has slipped to the floor.

Steve doesn't think he'll ever get over the way you say his name, not when he's heard it like this, the heady whine of it he earns with the first contact of his mouth on your clit.

Your hand is in his hair immediately, fingers threading through the thick strands and pressing him closer toward you, needing everything closer, craving everything impossibly closer than you could get it.

The tug isn't purposefully, simply another involuntary response your body gives at the feeling of him sucking your clit between his lips, along with your gasp and the arch of your back and the flex of your thighs. It does, however, pull something guttural out of his throat, the hum of it pressed against you sending a sharp shock of pleasure up your spine.

You say his name again, choked and frayed as it escapes through ragged breaths.

Steve pulls away, cruelly, awfully, leaves you hot and aching as he presses slick lips to the inside of your thigh. He kisses along, down, back up again, leaves behind quick little nips you're sure will leave marks tomorrow.

You laugh, a little because it tickles and mostly because you're not sure a guy has ever made you feel this good in your life, and this was only the crescendo.

"It's dangerous laughing at the guy who hasn't made you cum yet..." Another nip, quickly soothed by the warmth of his tongue. "Unless you wanna finish the job by yourself."

It just makes you laugh harder, knees coming up a little to close together and Steve has to tighten his grip to bring them back down. "No, no, no," You start, out of breath for multiple reasons, and when you look down at him he's grinning back at you, inexplicable and bright and beautiful. You comb your hand through his hair and bite your lip, slowly trying to tug him back towards you. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I won't laugh, promise. Just keep going."

Steve hides his smile back against the inside of your thigh, leaves one last mark. "Are you gonna ask nicely? I think it's the least I deserve after-"

"Fine! Fine, Jesus," You laugh, even though you had just promised you wouldn't, take a moment to compose something resembling a serious expression, make your best wide, innocent eyes at him. You give his hair a harsh tug. "Please make me cum, Steve."

And it has been a joke when he said it, but hearing the words come out of your mouth doesn't sound so funny anymore. The only thing hearing them does is make the strain in his pants exponentially tighter and brings his mouth back to you in an instant.

It's harsher, this time, relentless in the movement of his tongue and his lips over your clit. This time there's no mercy when it's too much, when you try to squirm and lessen the intensity of it all, the arm hooked around your thigh moving to spread over your pelvis and keep your hips in place as he works at you.

You try not to look at him, think as soon as you do the sight alone might be enough to make the rapidly growing well of heat in the pit of your stomach overflow. You can't help it though, when you feel the pads of his fingers start to tease at your entrance, tests the waters and let's another hum slip through when he finds you already dripping wet.

Your eyes meet his, and Steve gets to watch the look on your face as he presses two fingers into the sopping heat.

Steve wants that face burned into the inside of his retinas, wants to see it every time he closes his eyes and relive the feeling of your cunt clenching around his fingers. Your entire body is wound tight, he can feel it in his hand still spread over your hip and the flex of your thighs, sees it clear as day in the contortion of your face, and every point of tension is heightened tenfold when he starts to curl those fingers inside you.

You say his name again, different this time, pleading and needy and you want to let go so bad. Want to dispel all this energy into the universe and feel the waves of it drown you, crave the relief of that first deep breath of bliss that fills your lungs.

"I've got you, baby," Steve mutters, like he can read your mind or maybe he's just good at reading the cues, nods the best he can while still pressed against you when you look at him.

It snaps, like being cut loose, doesn't take much more of his mouth and fingers to have you falling and falling and falling.

That. That way you say his name. He's not sure you'll be able to top that.

Your hand slips out of his hair, meets your other one as you stretch out against the mattress with a sigh, a slow shiver creeping up your spine. "Jesus fucking Christ." You close your eyes and you laugh, because it's the only response you find fit enough for that.

"Now, what's funny?"

There's a mess against your thigh when Steve pulls his fingers away, slick and saliva melting on your skin as he slowly moves to crawl back up your body.

You open your eyes as soon as you feel his face hovering over yours, grinning and sloppy and hazy. You don't answer, say enough in the way you kiss him and wrap your arms tightly around his neck, welcome the taste of yourself on his tongue and the harsh squeeze he gives to your hip. "God, you're so fucking pretty."

You smile, catch him in another quick kiss, tugging his bottom lip between your teeth as you pull back away. "Funny, I was about to say the exact same thing." And it's true, because his hair is a mess and his face is flushed and you don't think anyone has ever been prettier.

"You think I'm pretty?" He asks, smug again, dips down to kiss the peak of your jaw.

"Like you haven't been called a pretty boy your whole life, pretty boy."

Steve gives you a lopsided grin and somehow becomes prettier. "And I never get sick of hearing it."

Steve kisses you, presses his smile to yours and waits until you're lucid enough to kiss him back. It's softer, for a little while, gentle in the way he cups your cheek and soothes the skin there with his thumb. It's you who deepens it, chases it as you bring your hand to the hem of his shirt. "Too many clothes."

You're right, of course; the two of you are still entirely clothed save for your underwear, a sore fact that Steve immediately moves to rectify, tugs his own shirt off and starts on the buttons of your blouse before you even register it.

"Careful, Jesus," You giggle, worried he might break a button, but even that's short-lived by the hasty urgency with which he takes off your shirt.

You have to sit up to let him slip the fabric down your arms, and as soon as you do he kisses you again, mumbles something unintelligible against your lips before his hands are at your waist and pushing you up the bed. "That's better."

You gape at him, not that he notices, too busy with looking down to work at the button of his jeans and kick them off.

He freezes when he meets your eyes again, reads the expression on your face. "What?"

"I can't believe I just got manhandled by Steve 'the hair' Harrington."

Steve sighs, dips his head into your neck so you can't see the deep blush that only exacerbates the condition of his face. "She told you about that?" He asks, muffled, oozing embarrassment, and it makes you laugh again.

"She absolutely did."

Steve nips at the crook of your neck, makes you gasp, and you're about to keep teasing him when he brings his face back to yours. "Let's change the subject?"

"To what?" You ask, smiling, tilt your chin up at him.

"To how perfect your boobs are and how much I want to fuck you right now."

You hum against him when he kisses you, effectively shutting you up as he takes a handful of your clothed breast and squeezes. His other hand slides up the outside of your thigh, hooking your leg around his waist, and with how close he's pressing against you you can feel just how hard he is. "A gentleman."

Steve smiles, presses one last heated kiss to your lips before he's leaning over you, dragging open the top drawer of his bedside table.

You take the opportunity to watch him, take in the solid, carved muscle of his stomach, the mass of dark chest hair, the flex of his bicep as he reaches for the small foil packet.

You want to touch him, and then you realise that you can, kiss him hard as soon as you can, hands slipping around the side of his waist to pull him in before gliding down his front.

The first inch of your fingers under the hem of his boxers makes him gasp, nodding when your eyes search his, asking for permission to dip further.

"Fuck," He mutters, squeezes his eyes shut for a moment and has to shake the fog in his brain loose, looks down to where he can just see the slow twist of your hand in his boxers. "You ready?"

You take the cue, remove your hand and mutter a quiet, "Yeah," before he's kissing you, kisses you and kisses you as he kicks off his boxers and moves to slip on the condom.

Steve pumps himself in his hand once, twice, four times, and then he's lining himself up with you, tip only just kissing your entrance. "I'll be gentle, yeah?"

You smile at him, shake your head into another kiss. "You don't have to be gentle with me, Steve."

He looks at you, mouth slack, and you have to nod to reassure him, a gentle squeeze at his waist to spur him on.

There's a slur of muffled, breathy profanities as Steve sinks into you, so slowly fills you up, makes you feel each tiny stretch of your walls around his cock.

You're both breathing the same hot, heavy air, open mouths slotted over the other, and the feeling of him finally pressed in to the hilt makes you both sigh. "Can I move?"

"Please," You breathe, and it's all Steve needs to start slowly pulling back, only makes it about halfway before he's pushing back in.

It's enough to knock the breath out of your lungs, regardless, the fullness of it all immeasurably more intense than you had prepared for. Steve's head is buried in your neck, pulls a little further out with the next movement of his hips, drives in with a little extra force.

"Faster, please, baby," You whine, needy and impatient and unashamed. The words make his grip on your thigh tighten, and he does what you ask, kisses down your neck and along your collar bone and peppers you in more tiny marks as picks up his movements.

It makes you moan, deep and echoing around the room and suddenly you don't know what you would have done if his parents had been home, or if you had had to sneak him into your place, don't think you could keep all this energy inside you without exploding.

"So big," You sigh, can't help the breaths and whimpers that catch in the back of your throat as his hips get even faster, chasing that same white-hot friction. "Feels so good, Steve. So- Fuck."

Your head presses back into the pillow, one arm coming up to wrap around his torso and dig your nails into his back. "Oh, fuck, there you go," He mutters, feels the sudden clench of you around him and thinks he might be done for, now and forever and until the next time you let him feel you like this again. "Can't believe how fucking tight you are, baby. So perfect."

Steve pulls his face back, dips his head to look at the place your bodies are connected, at the place you're swallowing him up and dripping onto his bed sheets and knows immediately it was a mistake, feels the shiver of pleasure it spreads throughout his body almost make him tremble.

But Steve's a gentleman, even if the brief manhandling may have told you otherwise, and he would be damned if he was gonna let himself cum before you.

He's not quite sure how you keep coming up with new ways to say his name, but the sound that slips out of you mouth when his thumb meets your clit is certainly new, only gets through the first couple of letters before melting into a low moan. You clench around him again, fluttering and velvet hot, and it makes Steve quicken the circling of his thumb, looking up to watch your face pinch with it.

"Are you gonna be good and cum for me, honey?"

"Holy fuck," You whine, don't miss a beat, open your eyes to already find him looking at you intensely, jaw slack and eyebrows loosely knit together, concentration and pleasure overwhelming his features. "Need it harder, baby. Wanna cum for you."

"Need it harder?" He repeats, doesn't wait for your answer for the next drive of his hips to be harsher, deeper, hits that spot inside you so well it almost makes you scream. "Need it rough? Like- Oh, fuck, I can feel you."

Steve can apparently tell you're about to cum sooner than you can, because all at once everything it too much, hits you so fast and so hard you don't even have time to warn him before you're coming apart around his cock.

And thank God, too, because Steve was already about to lose it, thumb on your clit working you through your orgasm as he stills inside you, moans into your mouth with a rough kiss.

Your legs are shaking, trembling in his touch and Steve registers the rush in his ears, high-pitched and muffling your shared pants into white noise.

Steve is now indubitably certain you're an angel.

-----

"You can drop me off at the end of the road, just in case Robin's still awake."

"Oh, right. Sure." He seems unsure, a little distant, and after the last couple hours, it makes your heart sink.

You turn to Steve, in the darkness, watching the street lights paint shadows through the angles of his face, his brow and his nose and his jaw. He's prettier than you think you'll ever admit, prettier than you could ever make him understand. "You're cool with this, right? Because nothing else has to happen if you're not."

"No, I'm cool with it. Totally cool, just like you said, I'm a cool guy." Steve smiles, and you smile at him, meet his eyes as soon as he's rolled the car to a stop at the bottom of your street.

"Cool."

You lean across the centre console and press a quick kiss to his cheek, feel the heat beneath your lips and know he's more flushed than the dim light is letting on.

You don't really pull away when you pull away, hover a couple inches away from his face as he turns towards you. Something pointy and solid is digging into your ribs, but you don't really care.

Steve kisses you, moulds you to him the same way he had in his room not so long before. His hand is on your cheek and his tongue is in your mouth and everything is hot. Too, too hot.

"Good night, Steve," You whisper, lips still brushing his because you're giving him another chaste kiss as soon as you say it.

request something! masterlist // series masterlist

You finally settle back into your side of the car, and all at once you're gone so fast Steve's own "Good night" hangs empty in the air.

part two

#steve harrington x reader #steve harrington x buckley!reader #steve harrington #stranger things #stranger things 4 #no stranger things spoilers #stranger things fanfiction #stranger things fanfic #steve harrington smut #steve harrington fluff #steve harrington fanfic #steve harrington angst

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awhimproned · 8 months

Text

you don't understand guillermo and his arc

have i got your attention?

hello, my name is nia, and welcome to me opening a blog solely for the sake of yelling into the void my analysis/meta of the haha hehe silly vampire show.

Small introduction/index right before beginning:

Spoilers for s5 finale!

Re-framing of what wwdits is really about and setting the record straight as what to expect and what not to be angry about.

Discussing how Guillermo's arc of letting go of his vampirism isn't, in fact, a let down or a missed opportunity and quite the opposite, is in character for him, in line with his character arc, and wasn't "all for nothing".

Long ass post (not exaggerating), so click "read more" and buckle up. Here we go.

I have to start this by reiterating that first and foremost, this is a batshit insane comedy show with batshit insane, morally bankrupt (yet endearing) and complex characters. It's not interested in telling a story or a plot, it's not interested in being pretentiously deep, and I say that for the people who can't really come to terms with the format and that the show is going nowhere, because it's not supposed to be going anywhere, it's just the daily lives of vampires and their little adventures and sometimes struggles. In a weird way, it's slice of life.

This show isn't like Good Omens or Our Flag Means Death in which you're concerned with an overarching plot. Even season 4 and 5 seem to look like it has an overarching plot, the term you're looking for is contained theme of the season. It's like "villain of the week" format. Only for the seasons. S1 we had the baron, s2 we had vampire slayer guillermo, s3 we had the vampire council, s4 we had nadja's night club, s5 we had vampire guillermo -- and these are just very broad summaries.

There ISNT an overarching plot, it's the character arcs that are starting to pick up, which guillermo's is the strongest and most reoccurring.

It's episodic even when there's a theme and plot of a season, and it's meant to be bite-sized and contained and followable. Someone who doesn't know this show can watch one episode from season one and one from season three and it wouldn't be that jarring depending on the episodes, like, the cast were able to answer "what episodes would you recommend to someone who hasn't watched the show" on the tumblr live ask.

The writers and the producers of wwdits are concerned with making you laugh, exploring how insane and unexpected places they can take things with a cast of vampires of the past who haven't quite adapted to the modern times and are devoid of common sense and knowledge most of the time in a mockumentary style. Yes, you know this already, I know, it looks like I'm being patronizing or condescending.

But do you know, really? I'm talking to a certain demographic, so please don't take this personally.

What most of these people consider dropping the show over, like the reasons "nothing changes" or "things go back to the usual and it's getting old" or "they throw ideas away" or "serious stuff gets brushed over so quickly" don't consider that these are often done on purpose.

Half because of the format and that the documentary crew can't be there all the time to capture every little thing and character moments you are naturally given in a normal TV show/movie, and half because it's one of the core themes of the show, that nothing ever really changes and these are centuries old vampires who are so closed off to change. That's the thing. That's what it's all about and that's where all the jokes are stemming from.

In a normal comedy show, you might perhaps see the characters being unhinged together, but you would also get to see their most private and vulnerable moments, (like maybe brooklynn 99), and you take that as granted, it's sometimes spoon-fed through cinematography and what's purposefully caught in camera per director and writer choices.

wwdits follows a very clear show-don't-tell narrative of characters putting on a front for the cameras, and you have to read between the lines more often than not to figure out these unreliable narrators, otherwise you might miss some things and take it at face value.

one example of this in my opinion is the relation between laszlo, baby colin robinson, the bastard children he doesn't like to talk about and the baby he turned into a vampire. the latter is very much played as a joke, the bastards are throw away line by nadja, but when you take baby colin into the picture and how happy it made laszlo to be a father (no matter how questionable), how (questionably) amazing he was at it, and how losing baby colin robinson downright made him grieve and mourn (like. he abandoned nadja to look after this child), you get a clearer picture as to why laszlo might have made a baby into a vampire and why he doesn't like to talk about the children he's fathered. maybe it's because he wanted to be a parent at one point, maybe with a vampire baby he could have a child who wouldn't die. it seems deeper than it was at first glance, the complexity is hidden beneath the layers of vampires being funny assholes.

other times you have to not overthink it and learn to accept some things are purely for shits and giggles. no matter how many levels of fucked up they are on. it's literally no use discussing the morality or how wrong things are. and on a framework such as this, the running gag being characters being left somewhere when their plot-relevance is over (benjy, jim the vampire, derek, the hybrid creatures etc.) shouldn't come off as surprising or lazy writing. because that's it, that's the joke.

This isn't to say this is a get out of the jail free card for not having progression or development.

I'm just saying that the vampires getting into shenanigans and everything being okay in the end despite all the drama is the status quo, and if you're going to have a problem with "sunrise sunset" and are so impatient with the theme of change being explored at a slow pace, then this show is not for you.

You are perfectly welcome to be frustrated with everything resetting, but you also have to know this is what you signed up for. The show is both trying to tell you something using this storytelling device to navigate the inherent cycle of stagnated repetition of the vampires' lives AND showing you that things ARE changing at the end of every season, bit by bit.

It's entirely on you that you don't notice and/or care it wasn't in the way you wanted it to be.

Like what they did with Guillermo.

The consensus of the arguments I've seen on this site consist of:

they finally made him a vampire and took it away from him and it was for nothing

it wasn't explored enough and well-enough

it breaks canon for him to be so squeamish about killing when he's been committing atrocities the whole show and it's a lazy reason to turn him back

nothing came of it. it ruins his character

he should have stayed a vampire it's what he wanted and deserved all along

it doesn't make sense with the narrative, they are writing him so differently now like he suddenly doesnt want to be a vampire? his character arc peaked in s3

First question: have we been watching the same show?

I'm going to walk you through this step by step for analysis sake, bear with me.

Who is Guillermo de la Cruz at the beginning of the show?

He is a fucking loser.

He is a pushover, has no confidence, deep down he's become so twisted from all the resentment and spite built up from being so overlooked, underappreciated and being cast aside. He has no life, he pays to live there as a familiar, his entire life is dedicated to Nandor, he's so tiny, has no presence.

And we establish his main motivation and want: to become a vampire.

But why does he want to be a vampire? Antonio Banderas in Interview with a Vampire. This apparently "inspired Guillermo because he had never seen another Hispanic person onscreen as a vampire". Yes, he projected and self-inserted to Armand, yes we know.

When you look closer, you'll pretty soon understands he craves the power he'll receive once he becomes a vampire. He'll become cooler, "sexier" (like he says that he doesn't feel any sexier when he became a vampire), nobody can look down on him, he can finally be someone, leave the old, pitiful Guillermo behind, it's all he's betting on. He doesn't want to grapple with his problems, the sexuality he represses, the Catholic guilt; he wholeheartedly assumes he'll just be a new person once he becomes a vampire, and for that, he'll do anything. He doesn't want to be a vampire, he wants to be a new, burden-free, hot-girl-eternal summer Guillermo who will demand respect just by existing.

Vampirism is the get out of the jail free card for him. The easy way out of his flaws and insecurities.

There's something called character's want vs. need in writing. What a character wants may not always be what they need. This is perfectly portrayed with Guillermo. Becoming a vampire isn't necessarily what he needs.

What he needs is making peace with himself, growing, acceptance, love, establishing confidence, finding his power -- self-growth.

the problem is he thinks vampirism will automatically give these to him. it couldn't be farther from the truth. this is a typical case of thinking the grass is greener on the other side.

So, naturally, discovering he's a vampire slayer is ruining everything for Guillermo, setting him up against the vampires whom he's trying to be a part of, to be accepted and loved by. It's threatening his found family.

Even though it's the most competent, confident, sexiest, and in element he's ever been in his life. It's what he's best at, when he's doubting himself the least, when he shines the most, the abilities come to him from within.

And he can't allow himself to embrace it. He still thinks vampirism will give him what being a Van Helsing is already giving him. He's gaining his footing, sticking it to the vamps who don't appreciate him where they deserve it, standing up for himself, being sassy and cunty, opening up, GROWING.

Yet he doesn't see it.

He believes he'll be whole once he becomes a vampire. You see him benefit so much from the van helsing genes but not once does he embrace it or actually celebrate his identity, embrace himself and who he is when it's what made him bloom in the first place. HE DOESN'T SEE IT.

He wants to renounce being a vampire slayer. He says it in season 5 to the baron. He full on wants to give up what makes him, him.

Hell, the symbolism of being a vampire slayer getting in the way of his transformation by fighting off the vampirism is so ironic and symbolic at the same time:

He can't find his true self and what his heart truly wants and needs if he doesn't give up the idea of being a fucking vampire. His true self has been within all along.

Guillermo's arc didn't peak in s3, it wasn't even close to being completed, because he hasn't found himself yet, he hasn't accepted himself yet. He hates being a vampire slayer deep down for setting him against the vampires and what he wants to become. Yes, he went through tremendous growth. He was powerful, he gained agency. But it was because THE POWERS VAN HELSING DNA GAVE HIM ON A SILVER PLATE. It wasn't that he accepted it. It wasn't that he found a sense of self in it.

He just got a preview of what he could become, is all. It made him think he was ready to become a vampire. He would never choose to stay a human/vampire slayer before the events of s5, it's always been about the endgame for him.

And it's so sad because Nandor is like. So stoked about vampire slayer Guillermo. He's so proud and giddy about him "being a warrior" because he knows Guillermo better than anyone and just when and how he's at his best. It's just that Guillermo doesn't see it and Nandor does. Just like how he knows Guillermo wasn't ready to become a vampire and how hard he would really take to actually killing people.

In retrospective, season 5 was about things we want not really being the things we thing we want.

They show that guillermo has gained the things he's wanted -- the love and friendship of the vampires and them deeply caring for him, thinking of him as family just in the way he thinks of them as, their respect, and he didn't need to be a vampire to get that. He already has the power he craves deep down.

He doesn't see it. He's not aware of any of it, he's so laser-focused to what he wants that he hasn't figured out how to handle the ugly side of vampirism, he hasn't even thought of it -- because he doesn't see any bad in being a vampire. He's so enticed by the power, the promise of sexiness and transformation and so blissfully ignorant by what he has to do to survive from being on clockwork in doing the dirty work for the vamps.

And precisely because of that hey show that guillermo wasn't ready to be a vampire -- yet. Because how can he be ready when he hasn't even figured himself out yet? When it's painfully obvious what he really wants isnt being a vampire but something he desires on a more emotional needs level?

And the most glaring point of this is how brutal and bloody his transformation was. It wasn't how he imagined or wanted it to be. He just wanted to be a vampire, and right off the bat everything went wrong.

He wanted it to be Nandor. He wanted it to be earned. He wanted it to be poetic, sexy and climactic.

Instead it was miserable and horrifying, the biggest shame to a vampire, and he had to keep it a secret to save his own life and nandor's -- hell, he wasn't even a full vampire, nothing had changed. Nothing had changed. When everything was supposed to change. (Catch the theme?)

And the thing he's happy about? The itty bitty powers he slowly starts to gain. Nothing else about vampirism is doing it for him. The raw meat craving, for one. He even cringes when he's drinking the blood Nandor gives him.

He only really wants the powers. He even goes on a little power trip when he fully turns. He's on a brief high until it comes to feeding.

And then the reality fully sinks in.

Guillermo has to come to terms with having to harm people if he wants to be a vampire. It's not the same as leading people to their deaths, he can't take the moral high ground by making the excuse he's not the one doing the killing or anything, vampires have their victims and he just handles the aftermath. Hypocritical? You bet your ass it is. Guillermo is considerate and horrible at the same time. That's what being complex is about.

Sure, there are ways such as not fully draining and just drinking his fill, but he isn't ready for tackling those topics yet. Vampirism was about becoming a new person for him up until that point, not having to drink blood to survive.

And figuring out that no, if he's given the choice, he wants to stay human has to be more devastating and earth-shattering for him.

Because everything he's worked for in the past 14 years, now, is up in the air for Guillermo. What does this mean for him, when will he go from there, is he still going to be a familiar, can he still stay with the vamps?

What does being a vampire mean to him now that his entire sense of self and future he'd built upon it is gone?

Here's what Yana Groskaya has to say about it:

This is one of the core themes of season 6.

In a sense, they've taken Guillermo's one and only hyperfixation away that was limiting his character. They've opened him up to new explorations.

He has to consider what being a van helsing could mean to him now that he can fully face his real self and there isn't a time limit to brush it under the rug so he can fully focus on becoming a vampire.

He has to face himself, learn about himself, go out more, discover himself better.

This also in a way is a direct parallel to Nandor in Season 3, and it's an interesting thing that it was Nandor who helped Guillermo to realize what he really wanted.

This wasn't "all for nothing" - it was a major beat in Guillermo's arc. To face what he naively and childishly wanted to "fix" himself had to be considered more seriously:

Nandor going "This is what I was waiting for" when Guillermo beat him in their fight in season 3 means SO MUCH MORE in this context.

Guillermo, in his BEST, having all the power, going all in on Nandor, seemed ready, as a slayer, he didn't hesitate to fight, harm, or throw hands, he could handle vampires and vampirism, and Nandor saw him fit. THIS was what he was waiting for. "You are alive because I let you live" and full on proving that statement. That he wasn't afraid to kill. For Guillermo to be ready in his soul, and it was his vampire slayer identity readied him. He had it in him all this time.

But in season 5, he has renounced it. He SAYS he has renounced it to be a vampire.

He has to embrace that part of himself to be truly ready.

Him becoming a vampire at this point in his life was so wrong on so many levels, they showed that Nandor would know when it was the right moment and he would do so right by Guillermo, and showed that really, what you think you want isn't actually what you want/need.

So no, this was bound to happen eventually, and an entire season dedicated to it was amazing in my opinion. Amazing things are coming for Guillermo, please don't be discouraged.

Thank you for reading this far.

I also want to write a Nandermo analysis at one point because I'm more passionate than ever and so excited (i loved what this season did with them), but we shall see!

#guillermo de la cruz #wwdits meta #wwdits #what we do in the shadows #wwdits season 5 #wwdits spoilers #nandermo #wwdits s5

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multifandoms27-blog · 1 year

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Reiner Braun Relationship HC's 2

• ───────────────── •

Content: Post-Marley Reiner Braun x GN! Reader

Warnings: Simpage (from me), mentions of kidnapping, mentions of Marco, Zeke. Also slight suggestiveness at the end, but nothing explicit.

Notes: No S4 spoilers, even though this takes place in Marley. Anime watchers can read this 👍

• ──────────��────── •

Okay so, a lot of this is going to be based off an rp between me and a friend you know who you are but I feel it's close enough to his character in S4, so bare with me

Reiner took you with him to Marley by force so now you're kinda stuck with him

If you can forgive him after the whole Marco/traitor thing, I would then this will be no problem for you

He's super serious in government meetings and anything pertaining to Titans and Paradis, but when with you he's anything but

Sometimes he needs to be held and told he's okay, sometimes he wants to take you out for a walk, sometimes he just needs your presence with him but don't talk to him...it depends

I feel like he would tell you what's going on within the government and what's happened over at Paradis, even though he's not supposed to and you both could be killed for it

He only does that so you're in the loop and are safe. Although, since you'd be from Paradis, I doubt the government wouldn't make good use of you.

Reiner would do anything to make sure they wouldn't send you back over to Paradis, or make you fight again. Obviously this can only extend so far, unless you gain the favor of Zeke. But that's a discussion for another day.

Reiner would still like some PDA, or just being semi clingy in general, as you're one of his only lights of happiness. But he wants the PDA to be restricted to hand holding in front of Gabi and the others.

He's going to lean on you a lot more in Marley than he ever did in Paradis, and it might be a little overwhelming, maybe annoying, but he's a broken man and is just trying to make you happy while also trying to be happy himself.

He can get jealous pretty easily - he's always worried about losing you. So when he sees you with Zeke once you've gained his favor, he's going to start comparing himself and the older man. He's going to lash out at you and Zeke for it, but will really only beg for forgiveness from you. Please show him the wonderful ways of communicating problems.

When you're alone and you grab his tits chest, he might give you a confused look before letting you continue to mess with him. He doesn't understand your fixation with his chest, but if it makes you happy, they're all yours.

Reiner please give me a chance I beg of you

• ───────────────── •

Here is my Masterlist in case you want to request, or look for more of your favorite character!

#reiner braun #reiner braun x reader #reiner braun x y/n #reiner braun x you #aot #snk #attack on titan #shinjeki no kyojin #i love reiner braun #reiner headcanons #reiner x reader #snk reiner #aot reiner #reiner brainrot

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carigm · 1 year

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Today Millie had a fan panel in which she answered that her ideal ending would be Mike and El getting married and Will being happy and confessing to Mike (lol) and ofc the Stranger Things fandom kicked up the old Byler vs Mlvn war once again, regardless of the fact she doesn’t write the show. But I want to break down some points here about things I’ve been noticing today, but also for a while and that I think need to be discussed. Keep reading if you want.

I’ve seen a lot of hostility towards Byler and Bylers on Twitter lately, saying we’re delusional and don’t know what we’re talking about. This always seems to be the go to argument even tho it’s all in the narrative. Today it got really bad after Millie’s comments and even people that were merely disagreeing with her opinions got called everything from delusional to misogynistic.

IF the Duffers suddenly decided to ignore everything they’ve carefully crafted and put into their narrative that doesn’t make anyone delusional, it just makes them terrible writers. Who would be doing a great disservice to all three characters involved in the love triangle.

There’s been an insurgence (on Twitter) of so called “Will stans” who seem to be completely fine with the idea of mlvn being endgame because “Will can just get another boyfriend” Not only is this insulting to what the writers have already established for Will’s character but it’s also a defense and endorsement of the worst kind of lazy/bad writing that could graze our screens.

The Duffers CHOSE to tie Will’s character arc to Mike’s and El’s.

How do you expect them to undo that and create a well fleshed out character that’s deserving of Will, in 8 episodes that we know are not just gonna be dedicated to Will’s supposed love interest, because there’s a shit ton of stuff to resolve?

If this was the route the Duffers were going for, they could’ve clearly given Will a love interest last season (like with Robin) or two seasons ago (like with Dustin) And yet somehow, people think it would be totally okay for Will to get the most meaningless romance of all time as the writers ignore the same story they’ve created.

Another point I’ve been seeing a lot from these people is “Mike won’t come out. Let it go. He’s just a very unlikable character” What does that say about the quality of the writing and content you’re willing to consume then? You’re okay with characters being poorly written? And please someone explain to me how Mike’s actions, especially in S4, make any sense unless he likes Will.

The more people try to simplify this story the more plot holes and inconsistencies it creates.

The funny thing is that a lot of these “Will stans” used to be Bylers themselves but are so deathly afraid it won’t be endgame that they’ve started to use the same rhetoric mlvns use every day to justify what would be atrocious writing.

And this next thing might be controversial but I think it needs to be said.

So many people on Twitter have hit those who disagree with Millie’s opinion today with “y’all are misinterpreting Millie’s words” and let me tell you, no one has. She’s been saying the same stuff for forever and quite frankly she’s never had a coherent thought about Will. Which is fine, at the end of the day that’s not the character she plays. However, I haven’t forgotten how last year (at another panel) she was asked about Byler and said it was just a reflection of Finn and Noah’s friendship and that was what people were seeing…

Whatever the fuck that means, I guess.

Again, I’m not taking her answer today too seriously cause truth be told she’s been saying some version of this since she was around twelve, and has even at times said she was joking about it. If a wedding were actually happening she wouldn’t be able to say it cause I’d literally be a spoiler, even if she doesn’t have the scripts yet or doesn’t know I’m sure there’s things that would be off limits for any actor to say at this point.

But this defense squad that formed today begging for us to not misconstrue her words because “she really cares about Will’s character” is laughable.

Her answers regarding the topic of the love triangle have been anything but nuanced. If she doesn’t want to get into it or address it, that’s fine. It’s her choice.

But of course, mlvn stans are gonna take her answers seriously, as well as those who are now “Will stans” who basically ship mlvn too.

And to me there’s a fundamental flaw regarding the ship wars in this fandom, which these people don’t seem to grasp. At this point, it isn’t so much about “which ship is better” but “which outcome isn’t violently homophobic”

That’s it.

I don’t care how much you ship mlvn, this is the undisputed truth here.

But when your lead actors act like it’s not a big deal, it’s no surprise the fandom doesn’t give a shit.

I can only hope the Duffers were smart enough to see reason and were able to write the only outcome that won’t set television back around 10 years or so.

And hopefully one day, when S5 is out, we can get a more in depth and honest conversation with the actors about all of this.

As for me, I’m gonna lay low and not give much of a fuck until we start getting those Reddit leaks, which were very much accurate for last season. I’ll take a peak at those, and depending on what they look like, I’ll stay around or dip completely.

If you read all of this, thank you.

#byler #byler theory #byler is real

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underoossss · 2 years

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a necklace, a movie, and a summer picnic – s.h

pairing: steve harrington x f!reader

warnings: i don’t think there’s any tbh, just fluff and kissing. for all intends and purposes of this fic, everything that happens in s4 happens after this fic lmao so this is set before s4, so no spoilers, except kate bush and max having headaches.

an: ok here’s another fic i wipped out from my very feel-y heart. because we all need a cute carefree weekend with boyfriend steve, the best most loving boyfriend. i firmly believe that this boy falls hard, so have some summer softness.

masterlist

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Family Video is quiet except for the two hushed voices speaking on the main counter. The two figures are close together, one of them dons the establishment’s uniform vest, the other does not. You sit on the counter with a box on your lap while you go through the various VHS tapes it contains. Steve on the other hand, stands next to you, his elbows resting on the counter as he fiddles with a necklace in his hands. You had arrived minutes ago and found Steve alone in the desolate store –except for Robin in the back and Keith “working” from his office. Being only the two of you, you had fallen into your usual closeness and easy conversation.

“So the guy just opens his backpack and takes out a bucket full of popcorn.” Steve says by your side, retelling what happened at Family Video one hour before you had popped by to visit. “He sits on the floor and starts watching the movie like it’s nothing.”

You chuckle, amused by the crazy things your boyfriend witnesses almost daily in his job. “I swear the funniest things happen in your job, Steve. At least you’re never bored.”

You lift your head from the returned movies you were perusing and glance to your left to look at your boyfriend. His brows are furrowed in concentration as he tries to untangle the gold chain in his hands.

You had left for work in a rush that morning after spilling coffee on yourself while eating a quick breakfast. You were left with no other choice than to run back upstairs to change. In the rush, you barely had any time to put your usual jewelry on –stud earrings and a thin gold chain with a moon pendant in the middle– and shoved everything in your pocket to put on at work. Only you realized it had been a huge mistake when you took the chain out, and found it all tangled up, a knot of chain in the middle. How did it get like that just from being in your pocket? Who knows. Only, you ran out of patience while trying to untangle it at work and put it in your pocket again. By the time your lunch break arrived, you skateboarded to visit Steve like you always did and decided to ask him to help you.

“I don’t know how it happened; it wasn’t in my pocket for that long.” You had said to him, resting your arms on the checkout counter. “See if you can untangle it, please? I couldn’t.”

“Sure, babe.” Steve shrugged. He still sported a big smile on his face, the same he always has when you visit him at work. He looked unfairly handsome like always, the dark blue polo under his Family Video vest doing wonders for his complexion. “I can take a crack at it. There are some returned movies in that box, I know you like to check ‘em out.”

“Thank you, baby.” You had smiled brightly, pecked his cheek, and hopped on the counter to check the movies out. Which brings you back to your current conversation.

“It only seems to happen during my shifts though.” Steve shakes his head with a chuckle, still focused on the chain. “And I’m always bored if you’re not here, babe.”

He glances over at you and winks which makes you shake your head at him –you still feel your face burn though, its natural reaction whenever Steve flirts with you.

“It’s okay if you can’t get it untangled.” You nod towards your necklace in his hands and continue looking through the returned VHS tapes.

“I think I’m making progress.” He holds up the chain for you to see; it’s about 10 percent less of a mess than it was before. “Have a little faith.”

You smile, “Alright.”

You speak up again, returning to your previous conversation. “Nothing fun ever happens in my job, I always get the boring shifts.”

“I like your boring shifts.” Steve says. He bumps his shoulder against your elbow as you continue to sit on the counter. “I can talk to you without annoying anyone behind me.”

“And you wonder why my boss doesn’t like you.” You shake your head in amusement, though you like it when he comes over to talk to you while you work. Even if you become fifty percent less productive because of it.

“I don’t understand why he does! I only held up the checkout line once.”

A carefree laugh bursts out of you, which makes Steve smile brightly. “I think you mean three times. The third one being last week.”

Steve joins you in your laughter until it turns into giggles. “That lady was ready to murder me.”

“She might have. I was the only available cashier when 7 people decided to checkout at the same time.” You brush some hair off his forehead, watching it fall back into place with fondness, then turn to the box. “You’re lucky you’re charming.”

“Honestly, it’s their fault for hiring such a beautiful cashier.” Steve’s voice holds a smile. “I’m just an innocent customer that fell in love.”

You’re about to say something back to him when you stumble across a particular VHS tape –one with a white background cover and Molly Ringwald wearing a pink dress in the middle. You gasp and hop off the counter. “Someone finally returned Sixteen Candles!”

Steve looks up from your necklace with a grin that grows into a smile as you clutch the movie to your chest. “I can finally watch it again!” You sigh happily, walking back to him and pausing when you see his knowing smile. “You already knew it was back.”

Your boyfriend shrugs, though his smile doesn’t disappear. “Hey, I wanted it to be a surprise. Besides you always like to browse through that box.”

“Well, it worked! Consider me surprised.” You laugh softly, then perk up once more. “I saw Nightmare on Elm Street in there, I’ll rent that one too.”

Steve shakes his head at the two opposing movies you’ve chosen –that he knows he’ll end up watching with you. He deserves all of Robin’s teasing if he’s being honest, he’s got it bad. “I’m obsessed with you.” Steve chuckles, shaking his head in wonder at you.

“That’s good.” You smile, deciding to flirt right back at him, all to see the way his face gets flustered no matter how hard he tries to hide it. “Because I love you. Now, can you help me checkout, handsome.” You place your forearms on the counter, leaning close to where he’s standing on the other side.

A triumphant smile takes over your face when you see Steve’s cheek flush, his eyes glance down to your lips before they drift away from you all together. Jackpot. Then Steve clears his throat and gains his composure back, much to your dismay. He takes Sixteen Candles from you a second later.

“How about… I rent both and bring them to you when I pick you up later.” He leans his elbows and suddenly his face is much closer to yours. Steve shakes his head when you start to protest. “And the chain.”

You stare into his cedar brown eyes, and they hold so much unrestrained adoration in them that you feel your insides melt. Your heart skips several beats. “You don’t have to get it untangled if you can’t, Stevie.”

“I almost got it, baby. I’ll bring it, and the movies, to you at five.” He seems to lean closer as he speaks, his lips a tantalizing temptation in front of you. He knows what he’s doing.

You nod your head, moving closer for a quick press of lips. “Alright.” You whisper to him, your mind almost forgetting what you are talking about.

Steve glances at the clock and sighs, breaking the spell. “I wish you could stay, beautiful, but I don’t want to give your boss yet another reason to hate me.” He holds your face gently in one of his hands before letting go and leaning back from the counter.

“Shoot! You’re right.” You jump when you look at the time. You have less than 5 minutes to get back to work. “Gotta go! Love you, bye!”

“Love you more!”

You turn on your heels as quick as you can and walk towards your skateboard, which you left by the door earlier.

“Bye Robin!” You yell, hoping she can hear you in the back, at the same time Steve calls out for you “Skateboard safety!”

“I always do.” You tell him, as the door closes behind you and you skateboard away.

–––––––

Steve pulls into the supermarket’s parking lot at 5:03, the two movies and the now untangled necklace are on the passenger seat next to him. The sun is almost ready to set, but still blazes orange light into town for just in time for the golden hour. Steve shuts down the engine and takes off his sunglasses before stepping out of the car. He walks towards the passenger’s side and leans against the door to wait for you.

One quick scan through the window and Steve sees you. You’re talking to a coworker, Casey who’s taking over your shift, and when you feel Steve’s eyes on you, you look out the window. You smile once you spot him, and Steve can’t help but smile back. You look so pretty today (everyday) in your jeans and a baby blue top that has flowers printed on it. You also put your hair up with a scrunchie today, to beat the heat, and Steve can’t stop himself from staring –can’t help wondering how he got so lucky. You hold your hand up and mouth 5 minutes. Steve nods, knowing you still have to close your till and count its money to give to your boss before leaving. So, Steve leans back and patiently waits for you, shoving his hands in his jacket’s pockets as the summer breeze picks up.

A few minutes later, he hears the store’s door open and your black high-tops scratching the pavement as you make your way towards him. It’s in moments like this that Steve feels like it’s impossible to feel more happiness than what he feels at present, but then you make him happier by the minute. His heart hammers in his chest, his stomach twists with giddiness, and his next breath stutters for one second. You’re smiling at him with so much love, like he hung the moon and painted the stars for you –which for the record, he would do if he could figure out how– and he feels it right to his bones. His own matching smile appears instantly.

Steve takes your skateboard with one hand and sets it carefully next to him as your arms go around his neck. He circles your waist with his arms as both your smiles come closer together, until his lips meet yours in a kiss. He smiles at the way you sigh against his lips, tightening his hold on you and stepping closer until there’s little space between you. Steve pulls away, brushes his nose against yours and kisses you again, gentle, and sweet.

“I missed you.” You tell him once you pull back from the kiss, hands playing with his hair. “Like I said before, I always get the boring shifts. Today was no exception.”

“I missed you more.” Steve says, meaning every word. He hadn’t been teasing earlier, he genuinely misses you when you’re away. He is so used to your presence near him that being away during both your jobs felt like withdrawal. It’s like the moment you leave, he wants to run after you and get you to stay a bit longer. Does that make him a lovesick mess? Most likely, but he couldn’t care less, not when your eyes soften at his words. “And… I got you this, beautiful.”

He lets go of you and leans into the passenger window. A second later he takes out a small bag with the two movies you had chosen earlier and your necklace. The smile that takes over your face makes him so happy he feels his skin buzzing.

“Steve, you did it.” You say as your eyes full of gratefulness move from the necklace to his own. “Thank you, baby.”

“You know I’d do anything for you.” He leans close to you again, kissing your cheek. “It was a piece of pie.”

Your arms circle his waist and you hug him for a few quiet moments, you heart beating like crazy with both love and gratefulness,

“Wanna come over?” You ask, stepping back and taking the bag with the VHS tapes. “I’ll make us dinner and we can watch one of these movies.”

And how can Steve say no to that? Especially when he’s been desperate to be with you all day; your lunch break visit feels like so long ago. “I’d love to, baby.” He brushes the back of his fingers on your cheek, kissing it when you close your eyes. “You sure your mom won’t mind? I know she doesn’t like spontaneous guests.”

You shake your head. “She’s out with dad in a who-knows-what meeting, it’s alright. I know we are spending tomorrow together with the kids, but–” You smile at him once more, and Steve knows you’re going to say the same thing he thought of moments ago. “I just really missed you.”

Steve’s heart jumps in his chest and he smiles back. “Me too.” He whispers. “Let’s go then.”

You smile brightly, then remember your necklace and look at him sheepishly. “Can you help me with that?”

“‘Course babe.” Steve opens the small clasp as you turn around and brings his hands over your head so the gold chain can circle your neck. Once it’s secure on you, he places a kiss on your shoulder –not helping himself– and pulls back.

He opens the passenger door for you to get inside and you do, placing the Family Video bag on the backseat. You make yourself comfortable in your seat as Steve puts your skateboard in the trunk and slides into the driver’s seat seconds later. The radio plays softly in the background when Steve starts the car, the tune of Everybody Wants to Rule the World reaching your ears and making you nod your head along to it. Steve glances at you and smiles; seconds later, he is backing out of his parking space and heading to your place.

“Steve,” You say over the sound of the wind that comes through the windows.

“Hmm?” His eyes drif to you for a second and then move back to the road.

“You didn’t finish your story, about the guy with the popcorn.”

Steve chuckles and places one of his hands on top of yours in the center console. “Well, the movie he started to watch was already halfway over, so when it ended he demanded for us to play another.”

You laugh. “Oh no.”

“And of course he wanted to watch a movie we didn’t have in-store.” Steve shakes his head, smiling at the way you’re giggling in your seat. “He ended up saying ‘the cinema is better anyways’ and left, offended by our lack of stock.”

“The cinema is better anyways.” You repeat laughing. “He should have gone there in the first place.”

“Robin told him that!” Steve says. “It’s good we didn’t have his movie, I don’t think he would have left.”

“Oh he would have, baby.” You tell him, looking at his profile, laughter still bubbling inside you. “He would run out of popcorn and go get some more.”

“Make us get him some more.” Steve laughs as he turns on his blinker and makes a turn into your street. “We just need to play bad movies from now on, that way no one stays for a marathon.”

“You’re doomed to bad movie land, then.” You say gravely, but still smiling at him.

“Then I guess I’ll have to visit you at the store more often, to brighten my day.”

Like you said, both your parents’ cars aren’t in the driveway when Steve parks in front of your house. He turns off the engine and crosses over to your side to open the door for you. “Go on ahead, babe, I’ll grab your skateboard.”

“Alright.” You smile, taking the movies from the backseat before sliding out of the car.

Steve is quick to retrieve the board from the trunk, lock his car and make his way to your front door. He leans your skateboard against the wall once he steps inside and locks the door behind him.

“I’m in the kitchen!” You call when you hear him come in.

He walks by the peach-colored walls of your living room, stopping to smile at your cute baby pictures hanging here and there. It’s not like he hasn’t seen them before –he has– but he loves to see your personality shine through each one of them. He wonders if you know how it has shined into him, helping him grow as he learns to see the world through your eyes. Tearing himself from the pictures, Steve wanders into the kitchen where you have turned on the radio. The Police is playing faintly as you move around, taking vegetables and a baking tray from the fridge.

“Remember the lasagna I brought you for lunch yesterday?” You ask him.

“I do, it was great.” Steve gravitates towards you, unable to stop himself. His arms go around your waist as you go on.

“I still have leftovers. ‘That okay for dinner?” You set your hands on his chest, looking up at him in question.

“Of course, baby.” Steve smiles, he’d be fine with breakfast cereal if that’s all that you’d offer to him. “I can help you.”

“I’m only heating up the lasagna and making a salad, Stevie.” You smile sweetly, closing your eyes when he leans down to steal a peck to your lips.

“I’ll help with that, then.” He murmurs against the corner of your mouth, grinning in triumph when you giggle and agree.

“If you insist.” You place a hand towel on his shoulder. “Just wash your hands first, I’ll turn on the oven.”

The two of you work together to make the salad while the lasagna reheats for a few minutes. Steve washes some lettuce and you chop it, the same process happening with the seasonal tomatoes and the cucumbers you pass to him. Steve is left in charge of seasoning the salad while you serve the lasagna and is pleasantly surprised when he does an okay job. It’s pure domestic contentment, the way you eat with casual conversation and wash the dishes afterward –all this with soft music playing in the background. It’s always like that with you; you love different genres, different melodies and make them a part of your daily life. Steve loves it, finding an enjoyment in music he didn’t have before he met you. Maybe he should make you a mixtape?

With everything tidy and clean, you drift to the living room –where you are now settled close to Steve’s as you watch Sixteen Candles. Your head rests gently on Steve’s shoulder while you enjoy the movie like it’s your first time watching it. Steve’s eyes drift to your face every now and then and his hand rubs your jean-clad calf. You’d thrown both legs over his thighs halfway through the movie, snuggling closer.

Each time he looks over at you, your eyes are glued to the screen in wonder, all the way to the ending scene.

Jake is sitting in front of Sam, a birthday cake with sixteen candles in front of them. “Happy birthday, Samantha.” He’s saying, “Make a wish.”

“It already came true.” You and the girl on the tv say at the same time. Steve smiles at you.

You sigh happily as the couple kisses on screen and the credits start to roll down. “Thanks for watching the movie with me, baby.” You angle your body sideways to face Steve.

“Babe.” Steve shakes his head, pausing the end titles. “You don’t have to thank me; I like watching these movies with you.” And watching you watch them. Though he doesn’t say it.

He brings a hand to your cheek, holding it gently before he leans down to kiss you. You grin against his lips, settling your hands on his neck as you kiss him back. It’s a slow caress of lips, yet full of the yearning the two of you had felt all day. This is what Steve waited for all day. You, close to him like you are now, head resting against the cushions as he leans down to kiss you again. Your hands are in his hair and Steve hums, kissing your top and bottom lip, letting his teeth catch one before soothing it with another kiss. Everything he doesn’t say with words he says it with a kiss. Every kiss he couldn’t give you today, he gives it to you now.

You’re breathless when you speak again, Steve’s lips having moved to your cheek and your jaw. “Stevie.” You say and Steve moves so that he can look into your eyes.

He smiles when you do, swooning in his mind at how beautiful you look –the corners of your eyes crinkling as you smile, your lips thoroughly kissed.

“Not that I want you to leave, but I really don’t want you to drive too late in the night.” Your hand goes to rest on his cheek, tracing his undereye with your thumb.

Steve looks down at his watch and runs his fingers through his hair. “Yeah, I should probably get going.” He also doesn’t want to get you in trouble with your parents for having him here without telling them first. Besides, with all the crazy things happening in this town so often, he doesn’t blame you for being fearful for him. He’s like that with you too.

He ties his shoelaces and puts his jacket on while you turn the tv off, then walks over to the door with you. “I’ll pick you up tomorrow at eleven thirty, okay?”

“Okay.” You nod your head and wrap your arms around his waist. “I love you, Steve.”

He swears nothing will ever be better than hearing you say those four words. Steve leans down to kiss you again, lips lingering because he doesn’t want to step away just yet. “I love you too, babygirl.”

You kiss him once more. It makes Steve grin against your lips because he knows you love it when he calls you that. He has to use it sparingly, lest it lose its effect. “Drive safe, okay?” You tell him, taking a step back to let him leave.

“I always do.” He winks, before he makes his way to his car.

You stand by the door, leaning on the doorway and watching him leave until his car turns right to the main road. Suddenly tomorrow feels like an eternity away.

–––––

You’re up early the next morning, choosing to shower and get ready before preparing everything for the picnic at lunch time. Last week the kids had claimed they found a hidden spot in Hawkins, away from the main town, where they can spend the summer. It’s supposed to be a paradise, so much so that it has a small creek running through it. You’d proposed a picnic day to check it out and everyone had agreed –even Max said she’d go when you called to invite her. Everyone was supposed to bring something, and you had decided to bring sandwiches and snacks.

You get dressed in a pair of pink linen shorts and a white button-up tied at your waist, a sky blue bathing suit underneath your clothes. With your converse on your feet and hair up in a claw clip, you grab your backpack and head downstairs. Only half you parents are home, that half being your father in the living room reading the newspaper of the day. You greet him good morning before moving to the kitchen, your body buzzing with energy for the day ahead.

As always, the radio is on –you made sure to put new batteries in last night so it can play all day during the picnic. You know Robin and Max will bring their own cassettes to play and nothing would be worse than running out of batteries while a good song is playing. You go around the kitchen to make simple toast, eggs, and coffee for breakfast before you sit on the counter to eat. I Ran is playing while you do, and you tap your foot against one of the cabinets, eating in content. The radio stays on after the song is over, though the next couple of songs aren’t that good but it fills up the silence in the house as you set to make the sandwiches.

They will be ham and cheese sandwiches, as well as ham and cheese with lettuce an tomato ones in case someone doesn’t feel like eating veggies today. You mix mustard and mayo with some lime juice to spread on the bread and then start to assemble sandwiches. Once that’s done, you pack them up in Tupperware and decide to chop some fruit to bring along. Seasonal berries, watermelon, and navel oranges, all perfectly sweet and refreshing for the sunny day outside. By the time you’re done and go back upstairs to grab the sunglasses you had forgotten, it’s already half till noon and Steve is ringing your doorbell.

You run back downstairs and pull the door open to find your boyfriend standing there in all his handsome glory. He sports a white t-shirt tucked into light washed jeans, a brown belt and his sneakers. A simple look but it makes him look like a movie star –you can’t look away. He has his sunglasses perched on his head, hair perfect as he gives you a beaming smile.

“‘Morning, gorgeous. Nice necklace.” Steve says, his eyes giving you a once over before he steps closer. You skin tingles at the proximity. “I brought the picnic basket you wanted.”

“Hey, baby.” You smile, then throw your arms around his neck to meet him halfway for a kiss. You’re both smiling when you pull back. “Thank you, I just need to pack the food and we’re ready to go.”

“Alright.” Steve says, letting you go and picking up the basket. “Let me help.”

You nod and he follows you inside, greeting your father as he goes, all charm and smiles. Once you’re in the kitchen Steve starts to fill up the basket with the fruit and sandwich Tupperware as well as some bags of potato chips. Double checking that you both have everything, you grab your backpack and radio then turn to Steve. He’s giving you a knowing smile as he glances from the radio to you. You shrug.

“Ready, babe?” He asks, taking the basket with one hand and offering you the other.

“Ready.”

You leave the house hand in hand after saying your goodbyes and being reminded of your curfew. Steve puts the basket in the trunk of the car where he’s also placed a cooler full of water bottles and sodas. Everyone will be waiting at Dustin’s place, so you make yourself comfortable as Steve pulls out of the driveway and sets into that direction.

The next half hour is full of yelling (Dustin and Steve), putting another cooler in the trunk (contents: unknown), telling everyone to use the bathroom before you leave, and cramming 5 people into the backseat of Steve’s car. But before long, Steve parks besides a dirt road and everyone is following Dustin and Lucas into a small forest. You’re only starting to wonder if they’re gonna kill you all out in the woods, when you step through some bushes and come face to face with a beautiful small meadow. There is a shallow creek running through it, colourful spring flowers sprouting from tall green grass, and there’s enough shade from the nearby trees to avoid being in the sun all day.

“You guys weren’t joking.” You say amazed. “This place is beautiful.”

There are murmurs of agreement all around before everyone walks into the flower-covered field and towards a big patch of shade from a tree. Max and Lucas lay out the blankets while you open the Tupperwares full of sandwiches and fruit, and the bags of chips to snack on. Steve hands over sodas and water bottles to everyone while Robin sets up the music. She won rock, paper, scissors in the car, so she gets to choose the first cassette you’ll play. Soon enough, Bowie’s smooth voice starts playing from the radio and everyone digs into the food.

Sometime later, with most of the food gone, Lucas takes out a card game that Max somewhat reluctantly accepts to play. Robin is intrigued but doesn’t join the game, choosing to watch instead as Lucas shows Max how the game works. Meanwhile, Steve leans against a tree and you sit between his legs, leaning back on him. His hands are joined over your stomach as he holds you to him, placing kisses on your shoulder every now and then. Steve looks out for everyone with a watchful eye, filling your eye with immense fondness for him. There’s laughter every time some petty argument starts from the group playing cards, or whenever Steve yells language! at Dustin who spits out more curse words any teenager should be allowed to.

Eventually Dustin picks up a frisbee he’d stashed in his backpack, and reminds Steve that he’d promised to play with them. You move so Steve can stand up, feigning reluctance but you know it’s all an act. He’s fond of all the gang, especially Dustin. All the boys walk to the open field, putting distance between them as Steve shows them how to play. They struggle to catch the frisbee for a while but eventually start to improve.

With the loud part of the group far away, Robin is quick to lie down on a blanket to take a nap. You go to sit by Max, who’s putting a new cassette into your radio.

Robin calls your name a few seconds later though. “Throw your boyfriend out there a bone, would ya? He’s been looking at you like a lost puppy since he left your side.”

You laugh with her as you look at Steve, finding him already staring at you. You decide to send a wink his way; it’s enough to get him flustered as he runs a hand through his hair.

“Told you, a lost puppy.” Robin whispers and you laugh again. She probably knows you’re just as gone for him.

“What are we listening to next?” You turn to Max, letting Robin nap.

“Kate Bush.” Max says, pressing the play button. The first melody of a song starts to play and Max nods her head along to Kate’s voice.

“I like Kate Bush.” You smile, then lean closer and whisper conspiratorially. “So does Steve, but don’t tell him I told you that.”

The redhead chuckles, looking at you briefly then down at the grass. “Ok, I won’t.”

Fresh summer breeze rustles the tree leaves above you, soothing the day’s heat. You lean your head back, taking it all in. The rustling leaves, Kate Bush singing, and the boys’ voices that the wind carries back to you. Max’s gaze moves over to the boys who are playing nearby.

“I haven’t seen you hang out with the gang lately.” You tell her, keeping your voice soft hoping she won’t shut you out. “Did something happen?”

“No.” Shes quick to reassure you, shaking her head, though you hear the uncertainty in her voice when she speaks again. She looks off to the treeline on the other side of the creek. “I just haven’t been feeling well lately.”

You hum in acknowledgment. “Is it your headaches?”

“Yeah.” Her voice sounds far off, like her mind is someplace else. “But…”

She hesitates but you don’t press her. Instead, you tune into the music playing from the radio speakers, your fingers tap your knees to the same beat. The boys keep playing in the distance, all of them sweaty and with grass sticking out of their hair. They’ve gotten better at catching the frisbee now but it’s been abandoned in favour of wrestling.

“After what happened to Billy and watching El lose her dad…” Max eventually continues, voice so low you almost don’t catch it. “I figured it would be best if I kept my distance, from everyone.”

“Max.” Her name leaves your lips lowly. Fear grips your heart for the teenager next to you, and the loneliness that will take a hold of her if she cuts herself off from the group. “Can I ask, why?”

“It’s for the best. That way it won’t hurt if I lose somebody else, you know?” Max swallows hard, her hands leave the grass and start to fidget in her lap.

A sigh escapes you. What she says it’s true from a certain point of view, but it’s not the healthiest way to deal with loss. Sometimes, you must feel the pain and learn to move past it instead of avoiding it all together.

“If I knew there was a possibility, I would lose someone I love,” You start, eyes finding Steve for a moment. “I don’t think I’d distance myself from them. I’d cherish every moment I have with them, that way if something happens, at least I’ll know I loved them as best I could.” Steve feels you looking at him, and you smile softly when he waves.

“I guess you have a point.” Max nods, blue eyes finally looking up to yours. “Thank you.” She says, and from the look in her eyes you can tell she needed to talk to someone. Even if one conversation doesn’t fix everything.

“You can talk to me anytime.” You tell her and nod to the radio, deciding to change the topic. “What’s the name of that song? I love it.”

“Oh, it’s Hounds of–”

She doesn’t get to finish the sentence because you’re both attacked with water balloons. Max’s shock lasts a second before she finds her attacker, stands up with revenge in her eyes, and starts to chase Lucas.

You turn to Dustin, who holds two balloons in his hands. “Where did you even–”

“They were in the other cooler.” He says smugly but is immediately soaked by a balloon Mike throws his way.

They even wake up Robin with all the racket –she soon decides to start a war on the kids. She gathers as many balloons as possible in her arms and throws them around, slightly off aim. Another balloon hits you straight on the back and you turn around to find your boyfriend standing in the distance, a daring expression on his face.

“Oh, it’s on, Harrington.” You stand up, taking three balloons from the cooler with you and chasing him across the field. Laughter erupts from within you, and it follows Steve’s own as you manage to land 2 balloons on him, one of them in his hair. Your boyfriend stops running and turns around to chase you, which makes you scream and laugh while trying to get away from him.

“Come on baby, let me give you a hug!” He laughs, sounding closer by the second until he catches you. A moment later you feel water soaking your hair as Steve pops both balloons on top of your hair.

You laugh with him until you’re breathless in his arms, staring into brown eyes that shine brightly with happiness. Your mind goes back to your conversation with Max, and you become surer that you could never give this up to avoid the pain of losing it; should that happen. The sheer amount of joy you feel just by being with Steve, and receiving all the love he has to give, will always be worth it. “God, I love you, Steve.” You say, smiling so big it hurts your face.

“Not as much as I do.” Steve tells you with a smile just as big, his eyes gazing into yours until he finds something there. “‘You okay, baby?”

His hands hold you tighter even though you nod to reassure him. Leave it to him to read you in a second. “I’m just treasuring all of this, you, us –in case something happens, and it all goes to hell.”

“Babe-” Steve starts to say but you shake your head, still smiling.

“Don’t tell me nothing will happen.” You chuckle. “We live in Hawkins, Stevie, a black hole could appear tomorrow.”

Steve chuckles, moving his hands to cradle your face. You close your eyes at the kiss he places on your nose. “I wasn’t going to say that.” He murmurs. “I was going to say, that if things indeed go to hell, you’ve got me. I always tell you I’d do anything for you, and I mean it. I’ll always protect you; you know that right? We’ll be alright.”

You nod, feeling some tears gather in the corners of your eyes –tears of happiness, relief, some fear, hope. Tears, overall, of love. “I’ll protect you too, you know.” You tell him with a soft smile.

The smile he gives you in return could rival the sun shining above you. “Then we’ll be more than alright.” He leans downs and brushes his lips against yours, “I love you, babygirl.”

You close the distance between you and bring your lips together for a loving kiss, butterflies fluttering in your stomach. It feels like a reassurance and a promise, the way you pull each other closer for one amorous kiss after another. That is, until you’re surrounded by the whole gang, who ambush you with a storm of water balloons.

“Get them!” Dustin yells, and you can’t even be mad, neither can Steve.

You only laugh as you try to run away from them, Steve’s hand in yours, everyone’s laughter mixing together under the summer sun. Maybe Steve’s right. Maybe you’ll be alright.

#steve harrington #steve harrington x reader #steve harrington x fem!reader #steve harrington x you #steve harrington imagine #steve harrington fluff #steve harrington fanfic #steve harrington fic

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jean-vi · 18 days

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The Volunteer | Jean x Reader

Pairing: Jean Kirstein x Marley!Reader Inspiration: “No, I’m not afraid to disappear” - I Know The End by Phoebe Bridgers Summary: this choice will have consequences. Genre: Rivals (?) to Lovers, One Bed Trope, Angst, Fluff? Warnings: Implied Major Character Death, SPOILERS S4, Non-canon storyline and timeline, map inaccuracies. WC: 6.3k A/N: DARLINGGG GUESS WHO’S BACK FROM JAIL?! Other: Masterlist

Paradis was peace. It was a place where you could be yourself and feel less afraid than before, which was saying a lot considering your drenched skirts. The man before you was nothing more than a rowdy customer who was already rosy with drink despite the early hour. You had taken the early shift this day so that you could explore Paradis without getting the you missed your shift again talk. Honestly, the people in Paradis were nothing like the ones back at home. They were nicer, even when they were leering in your face with slurred words. You were just glad you were alive.

“Miss, miss, please, oh please can I have another–” the man groaned and you delightfully plucked the drink from his hands. It was like stealing candy from a baby.

“Sir, I think you’ve had just about enough for today,” you chirped happily. The man seemed disgruntled but easily seemed to forget his rage as a buddy slung an arm around him. Soon enough, a merriment filled the air.

“Not even noon yet,” Mrs. Wasatch sighed pleasantly as she bustled through and started clearing tables. You jumped in as well, eager to get your duties over with for the day. Mrs. Wasatch was a squat woman with full hips and a wide rib cage. Her dark hair was curled quite fashionably into a bun, the strands falling just right. Mrs. Wasatch helped run the bar and while she had been skeptical of you, Mr. Wasatch was an avid supporter of Eldian refugees from Marley.

“You know they never settle, dear,” Mr. Wasatch bustled through the kitchen door and into the dusty bar. The man always wore the same pitch black work boots and broken spectacles. You had offered to get the cracked glass replaced, but the barkeep had refused.

“I’m surprised we don’t hear more complaints from the neighbors,” Mrs. Wasatch laughed and you couldn’t help cracking a smile. You swiped at the stains on the tables and kept your eye on the door. If that pesky watch guard of yours showed up, it would be over. Your day of fun would be canceled and you’d be escorted straight back to the camps.

“Hun, you must be just itching to go out and enjoy the sun,” Mrs. Wasatch said with a warm smile, “the day is clear, not a cloud in the sky. When I was your age, all I wanted to do was go outside. Of course, the walls mattered a lot more then, so there was never truly any freedom.”

“That must have been awful, Mrs. Wasatch,” you hummed, your mind wandering.

“It sure was, darling. Probably nothing worse than your situation though.”

It was only then that you noticed she’d stopped wiping the tables down and instead was staring intently at you. You hated the pity in her eyes. You’d much prefer the anger of the protesters to this. She reached out and touched your arm, which forced you to keep a pleasant smile on your face. Her touch burned, just like the hands that had touched you before. Everything was always too hot and you felt like you were going to melt. You needed air. You needed to get outside now.

“If you ever want to talk about your experience, please, never hesitate to come to me, darling,” Mrs. Wasatch said softly. Then, she dropped her hand, her smile fading as she followed your eyes to the windows, “you may go.”

You didn’t need to be told twice. You rushed to the backroom and took off your apron. Then you hurriedly let down your hair and haphazardly combed your fingers through the strands. You breezed past Mr. and Mrs. Wasatch, giving them thankful smiles.

“I’ll see you tomorrow!” You called cheerfully as you left the building. You peered carefully around the corner. A sigh of relief. No one was in sight, which meant you were free to explore beyond the walls without a soldier breathing down your back.

“I can trust you’ll be staying inside Wall Rose?”

Dammit. You froze and plastered a wide smile on your face as you turned towards the all too familiar voice. The man kicked off the wall, shaking out his light brown hair.

“Jean!” You greeted pleasantly, “I wouldn’t dream of it.”

“You and I both know that’s untrue.” Jean raised an eyebrow and took a hand out of his pockets to grip your shoulder, “don’t even think of running.”

“Of course, I wasn’t planning on going outside the walls,” you said with gritted teeth. He didn’t seem convinced, which wasn’t surprising. He rubbed his chin and looked at you intently.

“Well, if you need to do errands, I would be happy to join you.”

You let your smile drop a little and shrugged off his hand. Not every Marley volunteer had a personal guard to watch them, but not every Marleyan volunteer had escaped into the wilderness three times. Now, it wasn’t out of feeling like a prisoner, that you kept leaving, it was more so out of curiosity. This supposedly dangerous island was probably the best thing that had happened to you.

“That’s so kind of you, but there’s no need, Jean.”

“I insist.”

“No I insist.”

“I’ll drop the subject if you tell me where you plan to go.”

“The market, of course,” you lied.

“That’s so funny, I didn’t know there was a market called ‘outside Wall Maria’!”

You shot him a frustrated look and he seemed vaguely amused. He then crossed his arms and sighed.

“Look, I know you’re interested in what’s outside Wall Maria. I think anyone in the Scouts understands that feeling. It’s safer than before, but somehow the Scouts managed to find you in the restricted areas more than once, so there’s no way we can trust you. I’m sorry, but rules are rules now.”

“That’s big coming from the faction that overthrew the government.” You smiled, but for some reason a darkness filled his eyes. In fact, the look was somewhat saddened or perhaps nostalgic. The afternoon sun was high and bright, falling over his furrowed brows in a delicate shape. His features were accentuated, the shape of his jaw and the way his nose sloped were illuminated in gold.

“Well, I’m going to have to follow you either way.”

“Romantic. I like that,” you teased, if only to lighten his mood. Jean had this way about him where he’d go from joyful to serious in a blink of an eye. You’d overheard a few of the other scouts say that he’s been a changed man since learning of the outside world. You looked up, breathing in the chirping birds and the wind that whistled through the buildings. You couldn’t imagine living trapped in the walls, in a constant state of fear.

So perhaps now you had begun to feel ashamed, for what you had been taught in Marley. Marley. You turned on your heel and made for the gate out of the wall. The sting of betrayal was still fresh. Your mother’s face, her dreadful face, flashed through your mind.

Shaking your head, you waved to the guards, who had seen you pass through enough to know your name, and stepped into the unknown. Well, it wasn’t really the unknown. First, it was a series of Marleyan Volunteer camps and then beyond a rickety wooden fence was familiar territory. You wanted to explore beyond that today. Sadly, Jean just had to catch on to your antics.

“It’s so funny, Jean, how these old fences keep Marleyan soldiers tame.” You kicked a log and Jean raised an eyebrow.

“They understand that they’re not meant to stay here forever, but it looks like someone didn’t get the memo,” he grumbled.

“Well, I can’t imagine this old thing keeping me back,” you chuckled.

The man sighed and stepped in front of you. Sometimes it was easy to forget that Jean wasn’t just the little angel singing on your shoulder and was instead a breathing human. He took up space in this world. Did you? It was a question you sought to answer on your adventures. You hiked up mountains, felt the cool air hit your face, and climbed trees. You’d danced in open fields and pressed flowers into a notebook. How could anyone take that away from you?

“It’s for your safety. Not just from what’s out there, but also for the people who may not be as happy to see a Marley soldier.” His eyebrows furrowed and while you did admit he had handsome features, they certainly weren’t aided by the saddened look on his face. You wanted to take a wipe to it and bring back joking Jean–the one that would allow you to go out.

“Come on, just a little exploration? Just a little?” You smiled and pushed him playfully. He groaned.

“You’re never going to let up, are you?”

“I was never one to back down on my word,” You gave a mock salute and Jean just rolled his eyes. He ran a hand through his pretty brown locks and then stepped aside.

“Fine. I’ll go with you, but only to the wall. If I get in trouble for this, you take the fall,” he eyed you apprehensively, but you couldn’t help seeing a small glimmer in his eyes, “and remember, I’m only doing this so I can keep an eye on you.”

“Aw, Jean, I thought we were friends,” you laughed and took his arm as he begrudgingly went and got his horse. You went to untie another, but he made a noise of disapproval. You looked up and he was shaking his head.

“Like hell am I letting you ride your own horse,” he patted the space behind him, “you’re riding over here.”

You frowned, “I won’t run away, I promise.”

“I’d feel a lot better if you just rode with me,” he said and you sighed, walking over. Hopping onto the horse, his hand instinctively went back to grip your thigh for a moment. You bit your lip, but didn’t say anything, “hold on,” he said lowly.

And then you were off. You held onto his shoulders at first, but gradually let your arms wrap around his waist as you took off into the open fields outside. It was so wonderful. The fresh air and the breeze. The sun. The landscape was gorgeous in the afternoon as the golden rays of light illuminated the grass.

“It’s so pretty!” You shouted over the wind and he glanced back.

“What?” He called back. You just laughed. You passed a few villages of people slowly rebuilding since the Scouts retook Wall Maria. You didn’t know how long it would take to reach the wall itself. Then you felt Jean tense under your grip and you looked up. A forest of tall trees. You’d seen it from a distance, but all the times you’d gone on foot it just wasn’t really possible to get there. You’d thought of stealing a horse before, but it wasn’t feasible. Too many soldiers around.

“What’s wrong?” You shouted, and this time he heard you.

“It’s nothing. Just old memories,” he muttered and it seemed to be mostly to himself, but you still caught some of it. You were quiet at his statement. Old memories. You could understand his tenseness now. You shook off your own ghosts.

“You’ve been to the forest before? I’ve always been interested,” you tried to prod a bit more, but didn’t want to push it. He didn’t respond for a long time and then shrugged.

“Yeah, I’ve been a lot more than I would have liked.” The horse had slowed to a light walk now and you loosened your grip. You opened your mouth to say more, but he interrupted the silence.

“It’s getting late. We won’t make it to the wall. Let’s go to a nearby town and find a place to stay for the night. We’ll get to the wall tomorrow,” Jean cleared his throat as he spoke and you sighed as he slowed to a halt. You looked up. The sky was indeed becoming a dusky orange and pink.

“Let’s go then,” you said and he was quiet, just turning the horse back towards the last village you had seen.

As you rode along the fields, you leaned closer to Jean, “tell me more about yourself, mister,” you teased and he seemed to lighten up a bit.

“Well, I’m not sure there’s much to say. I think others would call me a leader of sorts.”

“More than your suicidal maniac friend?”

Jean’s lips lifted into a grin, “I haven’t heard that name in a while,” he then shrugged a little, “I guess. He’s a different kind of person than I am now,” he glanced back at you, “tell me more about yourself, miss. Like how did you end up as a Marley soldier?”

You paused at his question and you knew he picked up on your hesitation. You tried to cover it up. You laughed a little, “you already know a bunch about me, Jean. I never stop talking, after all.”

He scratched his chin at that as you entered the village. There was still a lively murmur in the air as vendors were packing up their stalls and kids were being ushered back home. Jean found a barn where other horses were being kept and you both hopped off.

“Not often we get newcomers,” said the man who took your horse. He had on a wide-brimmed hat and he had this long, white, beard, which he stroked thoughtfully.

“Just staying for the night,” Jean said politely, “is there an inn?”

The man hummed to himself for a moment, scratching his chin, “don’t think so.”

“Oh, well, then we’ll head to the next town over–” Jean started, shooting you an apologetic smile. You were just watching the whole interaction with much amusement. It was clear that the man knew who Jean was and was more than happy to have such an important member of the Scouts in town.

“Wait, wait, you can just stay with my wife and I! We’ve got a spare room that you and the missus can use,” the man smiled, “and we’ve got two kiddos, but they’re no trouble at all.”

Jean raised an eyebrow, “oh, no, we’re not–”

“We would love that, sir,” you grinned, interrupting Jean and taking a hold on his arm. Jean seem unamused, but he didn’t contest it as you dragged him along, following the man back to his home.

“I’m Peter,” the man introduced as you approached a cozy looking home. The house was a little on the outskirts of the town and had two stories. A yellow candle flickered in the windowsill and you could see two children running around in the dining room.

“I’m home! I’ve brought two guests with me, just for the night,” Peter announced as he opened the door. His wife was pretty. She had long brown hair and blue eyes. An apron was tied around her waist as she bustled around the kitchen preparing dinner.

“Ah, how wonderful!” She smiled happily and you looked over a Jean. For some reason, he had a forlorn expression on his face, which he easily hid when he noticed you looking.

“This is my wife, Greta,” Peter said, giving her a kiss on the cheek and taking a few bowls from the cupboards, “come, come, sit, eat.”

You introduced yourself and Jean, which they smiled at. Then you sat down, at the behest of Greta.

“How did you two stumble upon this here town?” Greta asked as she began to serve dinner. She ladled big portions of hearty potato soup into the bowls and served you and Jean, then her children, and then herself and Peter. Their children were cute. You estimated them to be about nine and ten.

“We’re traveling to Wall–” you began and Jean cleared his throat.

“My girlfriend wanted to see the forest of giant trees, since it used to be a big tourist destination,” Jean explained easily and you just followed his lead. You knew he was stressed about people finding out you were Marleyan–even if you were Eldian by blood. People had weird ways of drawing lines.

“That’s so sweet, but you be careful out there–although you probably don’t need me to tell you that,” Peter coughed, glancing at Jean’s uniform. You smiled and chuckled, nudging Jean to do the same.

“Do you have your swords with you?” One of the kids piped up excitedly.

“Yeah! Yeah! Can you show us how to slay titans too?” the other shouted.

“Settle down boys, settle down,” Peter said gruffly and Greta shook her head.

“I apologize for them, they’ve never seen a soldier in person before,” Greta smiled sheepishly and Jean scratched the back of his neck.

“It’s fine, don’t worry about it,” he said. He reached out and ruffled one kid’s hair, “I don’t have my gear on me right now, but I’ll tell you what, I’ll come back soon and show you, okay?”

This was met with a chorus of okays. You raised your eyebrow at Jean, but he only met your eyes for one moment. You weren’t sure if he was lying or not, if he’d have time and actually remember. Then he gave a small shrug. Peter and Greta seemed pleased by Jean’s offer and you supposed it was a small price to pay for the graciousness of them sharing their home.

“Our town just got some premium wine the other day, you should share some with us,” Peter offered, standing to grab a bottle from the kitchen counter, “just a little glass to end the night?”

You were about to accept–you weren’t one to refuse a drink, but Jean intervened. It was unexpected, but he cleared his throat, “actually, we’ve sort of sworn off drinking for now,” he said, feigning sadness. You shot him a confused look, but hid it well as Peter shrugged.

“More for me then,” Peter laughed and Greta rolled her eyes. She cleared the table and started ushering the children to bed as Peter got up, “let me show you to your room.”

Up the stairs, you and Jean followed Peter. The narrow staircase led to a hallway with three doors. Peter opened the first door on the left. You and Jean peered inside.

“It’s not much, but it’s homey,” Peter said with a firm nod. You gave him a small smile.

“It’s perfect, thank you, sir,” Jean dipped his head and Peter shot you both a knowing gaze before slipping away to kiss his kids goodnight.

Now alone, you got to thoroughly inspect the room. There weren’t any glaring problems with the room except for, well, except for the bed. You saw Jean grimace as he stepped in fully and you nudged him.

“Hey, you don’t have to look so upset about sharing a bed with me,” you yawned, going to take a seat on the edge. You looked up at him and he rolled his eyes.

“It’s your fault we’re in this mess,” he said, pinching his nose bridge. Then he rubbed his temple, thinking, “I’ll take the floor,” he finally concluded. You stood and walked over to him. You flicked his forehead, making him look at you with surprise.

“Took you long enough to come to that conclusion,” you scoffed, “but I don’t think it’s necessary. I’ll just scoot over and it’ll be no problem,” you gestured to the bed. He gave you a funny look and sighed.

“It’s unprofessional. I can’t.”

“And I say you can,” you gave him a disapproving look, “you’re acting like it’ll be the end of the world.”

His ears went red and he looked away, “I just don’t think it’s a good idea.”

“Maybe not, but the Scouts have had worse ideas, don’tcha think?” You grinned fiendishly and while he initially seemed unamused, you did catch a crack of a smile. Jean was so serious, for as long as you knew him, but you’d heard he’d been quite childish once. Maybe it was before all this Marley and Paradis thing started. Well, really it had gone on for centuries, but it was a relatively new part of Jean’s life.

It had gotten dark and you went over to the window to light the oil lamp. You had slowly been getting used to the ways of Paradis, but you weren’t completely familiar. You hadn’t grown up here and learning to ride a horse had taken a bit of time. Jean watched you fiddle with the lamp and he went to sit on the bed. He wasn’t putting up any more complaints, so that was nice. Truly, you were suggesting you share the bed because you felt bad for dragging him all this way.

There was a long silence as you lit the lamp, basking the room in a warm glow. You glanced over at him, his profile. A sharp jaw and stubble complementing brown hair.

“Hey,” you called softly, “I can take the floor if you’re really uncomfortable with it.” You walked over to him, lamp in hand, “I’m sorry I dragged you all this way, Jean. I just wanted to have some fun.”

He didn’t respond for a long time. Then his eyes slid over to you and he let out a deep breath. You set the lamp down on the nightstand and waited for him to speak.

“No, no, it’s fine,” he said as he unlaced his boots and tucked them under the bed. You did the same on the other side and then you both lay on top of the covers like two sticks. He was tense and you were being careful to keep the room. You shut your eyes, but you couldn’t sleep with him just laying there, stock-still, next to you. Finally, he broke the silence.

“You’re so tense.” There was a teasing lilt to his voice and when you turned your head, opening your eyes, he was staring at you. A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

“Can’t sleep,” you mumbled, turning back to look at the ceiling.

“And?”

You eyed him and rolled onto your side to look at him. He mirrored you.

“I don’t know, Jean. Maybe you should bore me to sleep, as per usual,” you huffed.

You could tell he wanted to rebuff you, but he just shook his head with exasperation, “fine. I’ll humor you.” He hummed to himself for a moment, thinking, “I’m going to quit drinking.”

You raised an eyebrow, “I said boring, Jean,” you then smiled a little, “so you weren’t lying earlier.”

He shook his head, “I just think it’s been something I’ve used as a crutch for a while now, but I should really get out of the habit. Too many things happening lately, I need to have a clear head.”

You nodded at his words. He was right. God damnit, Jean Kirstein was right. There was another silence and you averted your eyes, tracing the pattern on the wallpaper behind him with your eyes.

“You never really told me how you got in this position,” he said and your eyes flicked back to his. His words made your heart clench uneasily.

“I don’t know what you mean,” you muttered.

“Yes, you do. There’s nothing to be ashamed of. It’s just your past, but I doubt it will change what I think of you.”

You fixed him with a hard stare for once and he didn’t back down. You let out a breath and rolled onto your back. Your past felt so far away on Paradis, but it wasn’t so long ago that it all happened. You closed your eyes for a moment and then began your story.

“My family has been Eldian in Marley for generations now. We were always good Eldians. We never stepped out of line, never talked back. I have a brother and a sister, but they’re a lot younger than me,” you smiled a bit at the thought of them.

“You’ve never mentioned them.” Jean said quietly.

“Didn’t think it was important,” you shrugged. More like you didn’t want to let anyone know any intimate part of yourself, because that would mean they could hurt you. You’d already been hurt enough. “I was my mother’s favorite. My father was busy trying to support us financially.”

You rolled over to look at Jean. To your surprise, he was listening quite intensely, his eyebrows furrowed together. Maybe he could tell that for once you were being truly sincere, that you were telling the whole truth.

“The signs were there, but I didn’t want to believe them. My mother started disappearing at night, when she thought no one would notice. But she was my mom, so I always noticed,” you sat up a bit, pulling your knees to your chest. For some reason, recounting your history out loud seemed to bring out this vulnerable side of you, the side that wanted nothing but comfort and love. You didn’t like that. You wanted to be unshakable.

You cleared your throat, “and, well, she betrayed us. She joined the rebellion, but she got caught, of course. They threatened to kill our whole family, but I volunteered to join the military instead. And for penance, my siblings will need to join when they are of age as well,” you bit your lip. You couldn’t believe you’d left them. You wondered if they were still alive.

“I felt ashamed. I still love my mother, but I hate her for what she did to our family. And then I think I just hate Marley for making things work this way,” you mumbled, burying your face in your knees.

Things were quiet, but you felt Jean’s eyes on you. And then you felt his hand on your back, “you have every right to feel this way. I hope you can find peace knowing you did the right thing for your family.”

You let out a mixture of a laugh and a sigh, “I don’t know if I did. I don’t know if dooming my siblings to a life of serving in the military is any better. I’m just prolonging their death sentence. It’s selfish of me to want to have fun and explore on Paradis while they suffer at home.”

Jean nodded a little and pulled your form against his body, enveloping you in his warmth, “You want to know a little secret?” He asked. You nodded silently against his chest, “It’s my job to stop you from wandering off, but secretly I admire you. And I feel encouraged by your energy. It reminds me of all the hopeful Scouts who dared to go beyond the walls in search of freedom. I wish I was still like you. Sometimes, I’m scared to let people in because people in my life seem to die whenever I do.”

“You are, Jean, oh gods, you are just like me,” you laughed a little and looked up at him. It felt right to be in his arms, “I can see it in you, sometimes. It’s a flash, but I still see some of the horseface boy that they used to talk about.”

His cheeks grew red, “hey, how do you know about that?” he stammered.

“I have my ways.”

You felt your eyelids growing heavy, “Hey, Jean,” you mumbled, “you’re a really good guy. I hope you know that.”

He was quiet as you drifted off to sleep. You heard him reply, but you didn’t register his words at all.

The next morning, he was gone. You awoke, bewildered. There was an indent in the shape of him next to you, but you were holding onto nothing. You stumbled out of bed, pulling on your shoes and combing your hands through your hair.

“Jean?” You called, testing the waters to see if he was just in the bathroom or something. But no, you didn’t see him or hear him. You cursed under your breath and hurried downstairs. Greta was bustling around the kitchen, preparing breakfast. It smelled delicious, but you didn’t have time to think. You raced to the front door.

“Oh, honey, he just left. He said he’d send someone for you, but he needed to leave urgently,” Greta said, but even she seemed to know it was a lie. She gave you a knowingly sad look. You just took deep breaths, chest heaving up and down. It was all reminding you of your mother leaving, your back against the wall as everyone gave you pitying looks.

“No, no, he wouldn’t.” you whispered, “no, he was–” you stopped yourself, swallowing, “he was going to take me to the forest of giant trees.”

Greta nodded sympathetically, ushering you to sit, “it’s okay dear, these things happen. I’m sure he’ll explain it to you later,” she said reassuringly. She plated you some breakfast, but you politely declined.

“Sorry, I just need a moment to think,” you said, out of breath. You felt like you couldn’t breathe properly. It was like the world was closing in. Why did he leave you so suddenly? Was it because you finally opened up? Because he was scared of holding you? Maybe there was something fundamentally and irrevocably wrong with you that caused everyone to leave.

“I’ll give you a moment,” Greta murmured softly, swiping her hands on her apron and heading upstairs.

The second she left the room, you knew you needed to leave. But how? You stood. You needed to steal one of their horses. You clenched and unclenched your fingers, pacing. Think, think, think. You grabbed the wine from last night and took a swig for encouragement. Then you set it down, wiping your mouth.

“Sorry,” you squeaked quietly upstairs. Then you bolted out the door and towards where they kept the horses. Indeed, Jean’s horse was gone. There were two more in the barn and you managed to soothe one enough to let you ride it. You were off not a moment later. You needed Jean to do some real explaining and you were going to kick his ass.

But when you got back, they’d assigned you a different guard. Jean was nowhere to be found and you were losing hope of seeing him again. You didn’t know what you’d done to make him so upset, but you wished you knew.

After some time had passed, you barely left the bar where you served customers. Mr. and Mrs. Wasatch were growing concerned as your adventurous spirit had dwindled. It made the new guard’s job a lot easier. You just wanted to see Jean again. For the first time in a while, someone had finally made you feel comfortable, and now he had the audacity to rip it away from you?

One day, the bar was closing and you were clearing off tables. Mrs. Wasatch was counting the register and Mr. Wasatch was shooing out the stragglers. Then the bell rung, signaling another customer.

“We’re closed,” Mrs. Wasatch began, not looking up. But you looked up and saw a swatch of familiar blonde hair.

“Niccolo!” You called with a grin. Both Mr. and Mrs. Wasatch looked up. Seeing that you seemed to know the man, they gave a nod of approval. Niccolo stepped in, his usually happy expression shifted to something more serious. You sensed the changed in his attitude and waved him over to you.

“It’s been a while, how have you been?” you greeted pleasantly, but Niccolo looked pale, nervous.

“Is there somewhere we can talk privately?” Niccolo muttered and you looked behind him at the Wasatches. You then nodded and pulled him into the backroom.

“What’s up?” you asked, concern knitting your eyebrows together, “is everything alright, Niccolo? You look…scared.” you reached out, gently steadying him with a hand. He returned the favor, but his grip was deathly tight on your arm.

“Have you had any wine?” He inquired quietly, but urgently.

You stayed quiet, trying to remember. Then you remembered that morning. The moring after Jean left you. You just averted your eyes as you got the sense this wasn’t the answer he wanted. He could tell. He inhaled sharply and looked at your face.

“You need to get out of here. Now.” He ordered, his face growing paler by the minute.

“Hold on, Niccolo, tell me what this is all about,” you implored him, now slightly panicked as well.

“The wine. It has Zeke’s spinal fluid in it. He wants to turn everyone into goddamn titans when he returns to start the rumbling,” Niccolo hissed and you felt the color drain from your face. Now you could understand what his panic was about. Shit. Shit. Shit. Your eyes must have been wide because Niccolo shook you slightly.

“There’s still time to leave.”

“I can’t.”

“What?”

“I can’t leave. I still have things to finish up here,” You repeated.

“Like what? Talking to that guard? Yeah, everyone knows about you and your guard,” he scoffed, “come on, he hasn’t tried to reach out to you–”

“He’s just scared,” you bit back fiercely, “he’s just scared of commitment. He’ll come back.”

Niccolo’s gaze dropped and he deflated, “I can’t stop you. Just know it’s not the right choice.”

But maybe Jean was always the right choice.

He didn’t show. He didn’t show when the wine poisoning had been revealed. He didn’t show when you got your armband. You felt like you were being branded again. You just stared. Mr. and Mrs. Wasatch had given you time off as you waited around for the inevitability of your demise. It was a pointless existence. And so you were determined to find Jean.

Early one morning, you packed your things and left, bidding a quiet goodbye to the lovely couple who had taken you in. They had, by some miracle, not had a single drop of the wine.

It took you a while to find Jean and when you did, you didn’t know what to do with yourself. You couldn’t just confront him. It didn’t feel right. And suddenly you felt foolish for following him still. But he was right there. He was standing, talking to his friends, laughing.

You watched for a moment, then you slinked off, finding an inn to stay in for the next few nights. You knew tensions were rising, you just didn’t know what they would end up amounting to. The volunteers were never told much, not even as much as the citizens. The citizens barely knew anything either. You just knew some were behind Eren Jaeger and others weren’t. You were on Jean’s side though.

It took another day until you found Jean again. This time, he was alone. It was getting late at night and you were following him, being indecisive of whether to approach him or not. You kept your eyes on the ground, thinking, as you walked. And then you looked up, the cloak around your shoulders swaying a little .

Dammit. You lost him. And then you felt a breath near your ear and his presence behind you.

“Why are you following me?” he said lowly.

You turned and his expression softened. He stepped back, “why are you here?” he asked quietly, “how?”

You had so much you wanted to say. So much. But the first stupid thing that fell out of your lips was, “you left me.” and it sounded like a kid crying out for their mother. His eyebrows furrowed and he pulled you close to him, but you pushed him back.

“Why did you leave me?” You demanded, your voice hushed fury.

Jean stared at you for a moment and then he averted his gaze. He had the decency to look guilty, “honestly, I don’t know. I woke up and I just, I needed to go.”

“You just don’t like me,” you said flatly and he shook his head.

“No, no, it’s not like that at all. I…I think I like you too much. I was scared it would eat me alive and you would leave soon anyway. You have a family back home,” he said softly. You bit your lip.

“I believe you, Jean. I really liked you too,” your hand moved up under your cloak to cover the armband that gave away your poisoned status.

“Liked?” he whispered.

“Yeah.” you turned away.

“Wait, surely you didn’t travel all this way to just tell me that,” he said, reaching out and grasping your cloak. You pulled away harder.

“Maybe I did,” you bit back. You weren’t a violent creature, you didn’t know why you were lashing out at him. The cloak slipped off your shoulders into his hands. You both froze. You both froze because you both saw it at the same time.

You reached up, quickly covering your arm, “hey, you don’t drink, right, Jean?” you asked lightly, barely turning to look back at him. But you saw his drained expression.

“I–”

“Good.” You whispered.

“When did it happen?”

“The morning you left. I took a swig for courage, how else?” you murmured.

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s too late, Jean. I think you just need to let this go. I need to let this go.”

“We were never anything at all,” he said, defeat tinging his words.

“Maybe that’s the worst part of all.” You turned fully then and cupped his face in your hands, “don’t dwell on a Marley traitor.”

“How could I not?” he leaned down, but you dodged his kiss.

“Don’t make this harder than it needs to be,” you sighed.

“Do you want this?” he asked and you hesitated.

“Yes, I do. More than anything. But I–”

And he leaned in again, his lips pressing against yours with a needy passion. The kiss of someone who had no time, but he was stretching it as far as he could. You returned the kiss with equal passion and when you pulled away, out of breath, cheeks rosy, he grinned. It was a smile that quickly slipped away when you stepped back.

“Bye, Jean.”

“Don’t go.”

You clenched your hands, “I’m sorry.”

And then you were gone.

Fin.

#snk #aot #attack on titan #shingeki no kyoujin #jean kirstein #jean x reader #jean kirstein x reader #aot x reader #snk x reader #angst #fluff #Spoilers: season 4 snk #MAJOR CHARACTER DEATH #x reader #one bed trope

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ritz-writes · 1 year

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OKAY. I know the s4 specials aren't going to be out for awhile, but I'm saying this here and now-

TAG. YOUR FUCKING. SPOILERS.

I don't care how small it is. If it's a huge fucking plot twist, if it's a design for a character, if it's a screenshot of a tiny flower that's only shown in the corner of the screen. TAG IT. IF IT'S FROM THE SPECIALS, TAG IT.

And be specific!! There's gonna be a difference now between s4 vs s4 specials. I still want to be able to look at new art and not worry about spoilers. When you are using a tag--not if, WHEN--put 'specials' with it. And if you don't, at least put s4 spoilers.

monkie kid spoilers, lmk spoilers, lmk s4 spoilers, lego monkie kid season 4 spoilers, lmk s4 specials, lego monkie kid specials. I don't care. Just put. Something. And tell your followers what tag(s) you are using so they can filter accordingly.

I got spoiled for SO MANY THINGS in s4. I started crying at one point and hurt my arm punching the air, I was so upset. Some people are okay with learning stuff before watching it, most are not. I am one of those people. I don't even watch trailers anymore cuz I want to be surprised. People can call me over reactive, I don't care. This is how I enjoy media, and a lot of others do the same.

So, please, for the love the fandom, TAG. YOUR. POSTS.

Thank you

#im gonna reblog this when the specials come out #im serious yall #i espeically see twitter screenshots being reposted on here #with no tags except for 'lego monkie kid' 'lmk'#like #the screenshot says 'LMK SPOILERS' but that doesnt do anything #my eyes r still gonna go down before i have the chance to scroll away #im gonna see something i dont want to #tiktok is a lost cause #so im not even gonna try with that #but PLEASE tumblr besties #tag #your #shit #thank you #lmk #lego monkie kid

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sammy-is-not-smiley · 2 years

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hii! first of all I wanted to tell you that I really love your writing!! :) secondly I have a steve x reader idea:

so steve and the reader are dating and being really cute, happy & touchy and nancy starts to get jealous of them and makes rude comments or tries flirting with steve in front of the reader, and steves shuts her down immediately being all protective and maybe afterwards they could have a talk where he reassures the reader that he only loves them <33

You

Steve Harrington x fem!reader

S4 SPOILER FREE

Summary: While helping host a party with Steve, Nancy decides to drink too much and spoil the mood. It causes you to begin slipping into the insecurity of Steve leaving you for Nancy. Luckily, Steve notices and has some words of comfort.

Word count: 2.1k

Warnings/tags: Under-age drinking, physical touch, bullying? Kind of?, language, fluff

A/N: Thank you for the request! Although this wasn't quite my cup of tea, writing it was still fun! Also, I listened to the Elmo in Grouchland soundtrack while editing this. Enjoy!

You had never been a massive fan of parties, but when Steve asked you to help him throw one at his place, you figured you’d make an exception. Going to parties was one thing, hosting one was something completely different.

Immediately you began to flow with ideas of what kind of snacks to have, what recipes you wanted to make (like your mom's famous sherbet fruit punch), and even bought special party plates. Steve had told you you didn’t have to go all out like that, but you didn’t care. It was exciting and you wanted the guests to remember this party for years to come. After all, graduation was coming up. Why not make it special?

The night of the party, Nancy, Jonathan, and Robin all arrived early just to hang out and wait for people to arrive. It didn’t take long for them to. Although Steve might not have been ‘King Steve’ anymore, his parties still had a reputation people weren’t quick to forget.

Before you knew it, snacks were flying off the counter and drinks were making their way around in a drunken swoop. Steve’s stereo didn’t disappoint either as it blasted all the latest hits from the past year and then some.

It didn’t take long for you to remember why you hadn’t been a fan of parties. The drunker the underage crowd was reduced to, the more sweaty and stuffy the house became. Instead of sitting and getting annoyed with the crowd though, you focused on tidying the stray cups and keeping yourself busy with cleaning up after others. It wasn’t surprising that everyone tossed their trash wherever they pleased, but it gave you something to do.

Once, while bent over for a discarded solo cup, you felt someone bump into your behind roughly. When you straightened up to tell off whoever it was, you were face to face with Steve smirking mischievously.

“Hey, watch it,” He said as if it had been your fault.

“You’re so full of it,” You replied, returning the smile and grabbing his shirt by the front to yank it playfully.

He leaned in closer, gradually pressing you up against the wall by your waist. “Oh yeah? You gonna do something about it?” His smile smelled of booze, however, you were pretty sure this wasn’t entirely the booze talking.

Slowly you rested your hands on his hips, snaking them around ever so slightly, tucking them under the hem of his shirt. His skin was hot and smooth. You brought your face slowly closer to his, close enough to feel his breath mix with yours. Before you met him for a kiss, you stopped short. “You’ll have to find out later.” Then you dipped away from his face and made your way to the living room couch, a proud smile on your face.

Just as you approached the surprisingly empty love seat, a pair of hands gripped your waist and yanked you over onto the couch with them.

You yelped in delight, knowing exactly who it was that had tackled you.

“You think you’re funny, huh?” Steve laughed, roughing you up on the couch as you laughed with him.

Eventually, you found some grip and lifted yourself face to face with him. “You know humor is one of my best traits.” In retaliation, you began to tickle him at the sides.

This time he yelped and tried to scoot away from you, but to no avail, as you got onto his lap to anchor him down.

Suddenly, you both stopped, staring at each other breathlessly, now fully aware of how close you were to one another. Both of your hot breaths brushed each other's faces and your hair was a frazzled mess. His eyes were dark, but you could still see his blown-out pupils reflecting the light of the nearby lamp.

“Sheesh, get a room,” You heard a voice from the other love seat call out.

You turned and saw Nancy slumped at the couch, a beer bottle in hand. “Yeah, I’m talking about you two.” She gestured lazily with her free hand. She was obviously far past the point of ‘tipsy’. “I can smell the hormones from here.”

You felt your face begin to turn red and meekly you scrambled off of Steve. “I have to keep up with cleaning,” You muttered and quickly stalked off into the kitchen before Steve could grab hold of you.

“Nance, what the hell?” You heard him denounce as you walked away.

The time you spent cleaning after that felt like it was done in slow motion. Nancy’s comment was eating away at you. Not exactly over what she said, but the motive she may have had behind it. Was she bitter over their breakup? You knew it had hit Steve hard when it happened, but as for Nancy… You had no idea where she stood, even now. If it hit Steve that hard and Nancy was upset with him being with someone else, who’s to say they wouldn’t get back together again?

Who’s to say he wouldn’t ditch you?

That question lingered in your head for far longer than you wanted it to. You had finally felt like you were in a comfortable place with him… You didn’t want it to be for nothing. You didn’t want it to end.

As you walked through the house, picking up stray solo cups and food trash, you noticed Steve and Nancy down the hall. They looked to be in a small heated conversation. Nancy took a step towards Steve and put her hand softly on his chest. Your gut clenched at the gesture, however, your feet stayed in place. You wanted to look away in discomfort, but a hope in your chest kept you rooted on the carpet. You were thankful you remained where you were as you watched Steve push her hand off and take a step back from her, telling her something very sternly.

A small amount of relief helped your nerves, however, your thoughts trumped the relief. In the middle of the room, you dropped the trash bag on the floor next to you. You turned around and practically parted the crowd with your determined stride to the front door. The cold early spring air hit you in the face like a fly swatter when the door opened, but you didn’t care. Compared to the inside of the house still half full of horny smelly teenagers, the outdoor air was refreshing and clean.

You shut the door and it felt like your ears had been unstopped. All that could be heard outside were the sounds of cars driving in the distance and the rustling of leaves. The music could still be heard, but only slightly.

The front steps were cold when you sat down on them, stinging your thighs for a moment. It didn’t matter, your thoughts were far too loud to notice much else.

What if Nancy got to have him? After everything she did? You never hated her, but when Steve had told you the things she said in a drunken stupor that one Halloween… And then not long after was clearly involved with Jonathan… You had to admit it made your blood boil.

A breeze blew through, causing you to hug yourself tightly. There you sat in the cold, trying to fight off the growing insecurity you felt heavy in your chest. If anything, the sting of the cold was an odd comfort.

After about fifteen minutes, the door opened behind you. You assumed it was just some guests leaving until your name was called out.

Steve stood at the threshold, letting out a sigh of relief to have finally found you. “(y/n), what are you doing out here? And without a coat?” He muttered the last part under his breath, leaning past the door frame to grab a jacket of his hanging up on the wall.

You heard the door close, then footsteps. Something warm draped over your shoulders and, hesitantly, you accepted it, pulling it further on.

“Thanks,” You faltered, slouching slightly. It smelled like him.

“Rob said she saw you come out here. Why aren’t you inside?”

“Just wanted some fresh air.”

He nodded slowly in thought, then let out a loud dispondant sigh. “I’m sorry about Nancy.”

“You don’t have to be.”

“Yes, I do,” He insisted. “She was out of line and… absolutely wasted.”

“... Do you still love her?” The question shocked even you, causing you to freeze in the cold air in suspense of his response.

Steve turned slightly to you. “What?”

“I… I think you heard me.”

It was quiet a moment before Steve finally spoke. “I… Shit, (y/n), no of course not. I’m with you now, you’re what matters to me.”

Your hands fidgeted nervously in your lap and you looked down at them in embarrassment. “You matter to me too. A lot,” You emphasized.

He reached over and held one of your cold hands tightly. The warmth was inviting and you could feel the curves and indents of his palm. “You don’t think I’d get with her again over tonight, do you?” He chuckled dryly, trying to lighten the tension.

You shrugged and glanced at him warily as a response. “I saw you two in the hallway. I saw you push her away but it still…”

He lifted his hand and softly brushed a strand of your hair behind your ear. “It still…?”

Your brow came together into a pained expression. “Her being like that makes me worry… About us.”

“You mean about me.”

“No, Steve,” You turned to him to explain further, but he put his hand up, stopping you.

“No, it’s okay,” He warily smiled. “I don’t blame you. You were there through our breakup. You know how much I loved her, you saw some of the worst of me.” He moved himself to squat down in front of you on the side walk, still tightly gripping your hand in your lap. “But that was back then. That was all before you revealed yourself to me. The caring you that let me rant about that one night over and over again. It’s been you that’s helped me give Dustin good life advice. You that has the best laugh I’ve ever heard. You that insisted on dressing up this shitty party to make it not as shitty,” He chuckled, squeezing your hand, making you smile and shake your head. “What’s in the past is staying there. I promise. Nancy doesn’t get to waltz between us just because of my past with her. I promise you that you’re the only one for me.” He leaned back and sat on the ground in front of you, causing him to have to tilt his head to look up at you. “You’re the only one I ever want to be with.”

You could feel a dam of tears threatening to break, but not sad tears. They were tears of pure delight and admiration begging to be let out. “You’re still full of it,” You teased, trying to shoo away the tension in the air as he had tried to earlier.

A large grin broke out over Steve’s face and he took your other hand with his warm one. “Full of it just for you, babe.”

Unable to keep yourself seated, you leaned forward and crashed into him with an embrace. His hand found its way to the back of your head and he pulled you closer into the crook of his neck. There, you could take in a full breath of his cologne; clean, delicate, and familiar. He squeezed you just as tightly as you squeezed him and suddenly the cold around you didn’t have as harsh of a bite.

“Thank you,” You whispered gratefully in his ear.

He hummed sweetly in your ear, nuzzling his nose into your shoulder and leaving small kisses up your neck. “It’s only you, (y/n). Always will be.”

The front door swung open, startling you upright out of the hug. “Hey, dingus, Scotty is legit about to puke, I think you’ll want to get him out of your house before he paints the walls,” Robin called out, half paying attention to Steve and half glancing back into the house cautiously. She was clearly preoccupied and hadn’t noticed what you two had been doing.

“Ah shit, not again,” Steve began to stand, pulling you up with him. “I’m sorry,” He sighed to you abjectly.

“No problem,” You chided back. “I’m pretty cold now. And I know how to deal with puke anyway.” You slipped the jacket off your shoulders and bounced back into the house past Robin, ready to either help a sick person or clean up their mess.

Robin gave Steve a side eye as he walked up the steps. “Everything good?”

“Everything’s great,” He replied, smile genuine as ever.

#steve harrington x reader #steve harrington #steve harrington fanfiction #steve harrington imagine #steve harrington fluf #steve harrington x you #steve harrington x (y/n)#steve harrington wholesome #steve harrington one shot #steve harrington fanfic #stranger things #stranger things fanfic #stranger things reader insert #steve harrington reader insert #steve harrington fic

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will-on-the-internet · 2 years

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Always Waiting | Eddie Munson

Summary: What if Eddie survived, and instead of mourning for him, you waited by his side, hoping he'd wake up? You'd always wait for Eddie, even if no one else would. HENDERSON!READER

Warnings: HEAVY SPOILERS FOR S4! Swearing, mention of violence and death, food!

Word Count: 1.7K

A/N: This is the first SFW piece I've done for Eddie, and of course, it had to be hurt/comfort. I hope you enjoy it!

PLEASE REBLOG FOR MORE EDDIE MUNSON FICS

You never liked hospitals, never liked the plain rooms and shiny laminate floors. You hated how much sorry was trapped within the walls, and you could never bear to hear the pained cries of someone who’d just lost a loved one. But, for a whole week, you sat in an uncomfortable plastic chair, next to an ordinary hospital bed, praying and wishing that the person sleeping, would wake up.

It had been a week since the events of Hawkins and the upside down, since you and your friends fought Vecna, and most importantly, it was a week since Eddie was nearly massacred by the bats, left lying on the ground and covered in blood. Everyone else got out of the upside down relatively unscathed, but Eddie was barely breathing when Dustin and Steve got him to safety, barely getting him to the hospital in time.

When he got here, the doctors were horrified when they looked at the open wounds covering Eddie’s torso, some of them already infected by the poisonous air from the other dimension. They were shocked he was alive, and even more shocked when he started to recover, kept company by the constant visits from the Hellfire Club, Steve, Robin, Max and most often, you.

You had hardly left his side, only going home when visiting hours ended, to get a few hours of sleep and freshen up with a shower. You knew that everyone was worried about you as much as they were worried about Eddie, but they also knew you wouldn’t leave him in such a vulnerable state after everything that happened.

“C’mon Henderson, I’m taking you home tonight. Everyone was gonna grab some pizza at mine.” Steve’s hand is on your shoulder, squeezing it gently to shake you out of your thoughts, and though you knew he meant well, you couldn’t help but scoff and look at him.

“Sure, I really wanna eat pizza while my boyfriend is barely alive in a hospital. Such a good idea, Harrington.” Steve frowns, a look of hurt washing over his face, but he sighs and shakes his head, understanding that you were tired and worried and feeling so helpless.

No one knew if Eddie was going to wake up, the doctors couldn’t tell if the infection had affected his brain and led him to gain brain damage, but with him being able to breathe on his own, they were set on letting hope run its course. And Steve did feel bad, he thought they’d won against Vecna and saved Hawkins once again until he found Dustin with Eddie’s body.

Eddie had tried to be a hero, tried to be everything most people in Hawkins thought he could never be, and it had nearly cost him his life. So you sat and waited, watching over him as Dustin talked to him about an idea for a D & D campaign, Robin nattered about her taste of music, and Steve sat and waited with you, trying to keep you afloat too.

“Look, I know you want to stay here, kid…but you’re exhausted, you haven’t had a decent meal in days, and you need a break from this place.” Steve’s looking at you then, crouched to your level and pleading with you to take a break, get some air and let loose some of the tension caught in your shoulders.

Then you both heard it, a small cough. Neither of you took much notice, thinking maybe it was caused by another patient who shared the ward with Eddie, but then his machines started getting louder, and soon, to the surprise of you and Steve…he was speaking.

“Pizza… that sounds nice.” Eddie’s voice was awfully croaky, and he couldn’t help coughing, neck craning to try and get into a more comfortable position. Neither you nor Steve reacted, and in reality, neither of you knew what to do. The nurses and doctor swarmed in then, gently pushing the two of you out of the way as they looked Eddie over, and you couldn’t stop staring.

“Okay, I gotta be honest…you might need to pinch me because I don’t know if I’m dreaming or not.” Steve’s remark made you laugh, grinning wildly as you looked at Eddie, taking in his tired eyes and relieved smile. Eddie laughs in response to Steve, and in return gets scolded by a nurse, who’s shoving a straw in between his lips so he’ll drink some water.

Finally, the three of you are left to talk, and you have to stop from throwing yourself at Eddie. He laughs when you hug him, gripping you tight with both arms as your face burrows down into the crook of his neck. He can feel the tears soaking into his hair from your eyes, but like the gentlemen he is, he doesn’t mention it. And when you pull away, he doesn’t let you go far, making sure you’re perched on the edge of his bed within arms reach.

“Good to have you back, man. Now I can tell Dustin his hero survived.” Steve shakes Eddie’s hand without a thought, grinning with relief, and Eddie’s got an arm wrapped around your waist, a hand holding your thigh to ground himself into reality. “Honestly dude, what you did down there, Dustin told me all about it, I thought it was wicked. Anyway, you two have your moment, I’m going to call the others and let them know you’re awake.” Steve’s gone then, and Eddie lets out a soft chuckle. He tries to sit up higher and put his back against the headboard, but he struggles, nearly falling to the side before you catch him.

“Woah, baby, hang on.” You help him move his position and make sure the covers are up to his waist, pillows fluffed properly and that he’s comfortable. A comfortable silence settles over the two of you as you pour him another cup of water, holding the cup for him to drink.

“You know, everyone was worried sick about you, Dustin kept reading the D&D manual to you, hoping you’d wake up.” Eddie looks away then, a sudden onslaught of tears caught in his lashes and taking him by surprise. There’s a lump in his throat that he just can’t manage to swallow down even though he tries with all his might, and when you take his hand and rub the back of it with your thumb, Eddie’s a goner.

He’s in your arms then, gripping on to you tightly and hoping that none of this was a dream, or some fucked up idea of heaven, and you’re holding him just like he always likes, a hand stroking his hair and another one wrapped around his shoulders. He sobs, letting out all of the built-up emotion, trying to shove back the memories from his near-final moments, and you just let him, soothing with soft whispers and quiet hums.

“I…I didn’t mean to be so stupid…I really didn’t.” Eddie pulls away then so he can speak, fitfully wiping his face and frowning when you look at him. “I thought everything would be okay, in some sort of fucked up insanity. But then…the bats and Dustin and…I guess I liked the idea of not running for once.”

Eddie’s words are quiet, and he’s not really expecting a response, but he still gets one, with your hand cupping his cheek and your lips pressing gently against his chapped ones.

“You, Eddie Munson, are a hero. And maybe you don’t want to hear it, but you are the furthest thing from a coward. You made the distraction that we needed, you protected my brother as any good man should, and you did something so stupidly dumb and brave, in the hopes of saving people you didn’t even know.” You stop for a moment, having to take a breath as Eddie’s gaze bores into yours, and when you take his hands, he doesn’t hesitate to squeeze them. “I know our stupid town thinks you’re a monster, a freak and some devil-worshipping murderer, but I don’t care. Fuck what they say, fuck what they think.”

“To be honest…I was worried about you being here if I woke up.” Eddie’s got so much sadness in his eyes that you can feel your heart breaking in two, and once again you’re pulling him to you, soothing him with soft kisses and gentle caresses.

“Of course I was going to be here, baby. There was no chance I was going to miss you waking up, being one of the first people you saw. I’ve been waiting right here for days, right by your side. You weren’t alone, Eds.” Eddie sniffs against your shoulder, and he leans into your touch when you press your lips to the side of his mouth, getting a taste of salty tears and warm skin. “Your uncle’s gonna be so happy to see you, love. He comes to visit every day too, sometimes he’d play you music through your beaten-up Walkman.” Eddie laughs at this, a noise that’s so happy and filled with relief that it makes your body tingle, and he’s shaking his head in amusement.

“That reminds me, someone’s gotta get rid of my Master of Puppets tape, I don’t think I can listen to that song ever again.” You laugh back, leaning in to kiss him again and again, releasing the feeling of his hands on your body, the warmth of his skin against yours and his hair brushing your face and hands where you cupped his cheeks.

The two of you kissed for what seemed like ages, and when more doctors and nurses came to fiddle with his wires and monitors, Eddie couldn’t take his eyes off you or wipe his shit-eating grin off his face.

An hour or so later, he was in a private room, something that Steve managed to swing, and the whole gang was sitting in the various chairs and the free space on the bed, munching on pizza and sharing chaotic stories. Dustin kept going on and on about how well Eddie rocked on the top of the trailer, and Robin boasted about how good of a shot Nancy was, and everyone seemed happy, excited even.

This was home to you and Eddie, surrounded by your friends and your brother, listening to insane tales and laughing when Steve nearly spilled a soda on himself. Eddie was alive, everyone was safe, and sure you’d all been to hell and back a couple more times than anyone would like, but you’d move on.

And as the bites on Eddie’s torso healed, so would his trauma, and you were never going to leave his side, always waiting for him to be ready, always waiting for Eddie to just be…Eddie.

PLEASE REBLOG FOR MORE EDDIE MUNSON FICS!

Tagging: @sadgirlml @writingquillsandpainpills @gay-prentiss @prettyboyeddiemunson @gold-onthe-inside @wasteland-bvby

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inkheartedwanderer · 1 year

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please, let me get what i want || e.m.

(lord knows it would be the first time)

in which the wounds of the heart hurt more than those of the flesh, but they’re easier to fix

based on this song

eddie x reader.

content: post S4 (super minor spoilers), eddie survives, mentions of death and blood, this is mostly eddie’s headspace, i guess? pining, jealousy and insecurities. i just really want to give this guy a hug.

word count: 3k

Eddie Munson doesn’t consider himself a religious person. He’s dealt with too much shit in his short life to really care about whether there’s a higher power somewhere in the universe or not. If anything, he’d say he’s always been left to his own devices, so fuck whoever’s supposed to be looking after him. Theological matters are not something he’s ever been particularly concerned about, anyways.

Having spent the last ten days bound to a hospital bed, however, Eddie’s had plenty of time to reflect on his pathetic existence and the string of unfortunate events that have led him to this situation. In these ten days, he’s thought about his parents more often than he has in the last ten years -his father leaving for good after being in and out of prison for months, his mother’s untimely passing when he was too young to understand she was never coming back, and the sharp pain that floods his chest if he dwells on the thought of them for too long. He’s thought about Wayne, constantly taking extra shifts at the plant so he could put food on the table, and how he’s repaid him by failing senior year once, and then a second time. A triple-senior loser drug dealer, always being too much -too loud, too weird, too freakish-, but never enough. Not attractive enough, not smart enough, definitely not rich enough.

He’s also thought about death, and how closely he tasted it. The harrowing tangibility of his own mortality, sticking to his skin until he was coated in it, until he couldn’t breathe, washing over him like a tidal wave. He’s thought about Chrissy, and Patrick, and Nancy’s friend Fred, who weren’t as lucky as him. About how scared he was when Dustin found him, choking on his own blood, scared of dying, of dying alone, scared of what was waiting for him, scared that he wasn’t seeing any holy light amidst the darkness and he was supposed to, right?

And all he feels right now is guilt, because he’s thought about all of that and still, the main object of his musings the last ten days has been you. That’s why he’s considering that surely there must be some kind of deity, that there must be a heaven somewhere, because you’re an angel.

Soft in the way you speak and in the way you move, delicate when you touch him, Eddie still can’t believe that you’re not a figment of his imagination. In this aseptic limbo, the best part of his dreary days is getting to spend time with you. You, sweet as sugar, lovely as can be, arriving with the early morning light and leaving at nightfall when someone else forces you to go home and get some rest.

You didn’t even have it in you to pretend to be mad at him when he woke up, disoriented and confused, covered in bandages, every inch of his body sore and in pain. “You scared me half to death, Munson,” you’d said, looking at him through teary lashes, “don’t ever go playing the hero again, please.” It was a whispered imploration, so gently spoken that he could only nod his head yes.

He’d do anything you asked him to.

Ever since he met you, there’s a strange new feeling nestled in the pit of his stomach, or maybe just above, by his heart, and Eddie can’t quite put a name to it, can’t make sense of it, because he didn’t know who you were two weeks ago.

The feeling is warm and light, a comfortable weight in his chest that blooms in flowers and vibrates through his bones when you walk in the room, when you sit by his side and quietly start talking to him. About nothing, about everything -news about Max, who’s doing better by the day; a book or movie or song you like and think Eddie will enjoy too, the puppy that came up to you that morning on your way to the hospital-, whatever crosses your mind is good. And he listens willingly. He likes hearing your voice and its cadence, he likes how everything you say seems deliberate and how your smile shines through your words.

He felt it first in the cold, humid boathouse, as you sat side by side on the wooden floor for two days, your leg pressed against his and both of you scared to death. Eddie found solace in your company, in how you chose to stay with him even though you had, quite literally, just met him.

“We’re not leaving him here alone, Steve.” You’d said, an unexpected determination settling in the frown between your eyebrows.

And you didn’t, even though Steve tried to dissuade you and Max and Robin shared a worried look. You stayed, and told him things would be alright. You sat down next to him and let him hurt in silence when he needed to, and vent when his thoughts became too much.

You stayed, you sat and you listened to him without judgement, and suddenly you were looking out the window as the sun set outside, and your face was painted in shades of gold and lilac and Eddie had never seen anything quite as beautiful as you.

Minutes blended into hours and lighthearted comments turned into lengthy conversations inside that boathouse. In the rare times Eddie felt safe enough to let his guard down, his usual playful demeanour surfaced. Somehow, you found his knack for the dramatic hilarious, and countered his witty remarks with your own, good-natured and sprightly, with just the right amount of mischief to keep up with him.

The feeling blossomed in his heart and took shelter between his ribs, a nice kind of ache, one Eddie wasn’t used to, but that felt strangely familiar, as if he had been born to feel it, to find you, to know you. Damn his fantasy books and their promise of adventure and true love, and damn those metal songs for tricking him into thinking freaks like him could find the one, too.

But it grows heavy sometimes, a lead blanket that weighs him down and makes him feel vulnerable, minuscule. When his insecurities take over, it’s easy to believe the darkness that clouds his brain, his own voice humming harsh cruelties, reminding him of everything that he is -loud, weird, a freak- and everything he’s not -not enough, never enough, and not Steve fucking Harrington.

How could he ever compete if he doesn’t even compare?

Although you’ve mentioned before that Steve’s like the brother you’ve never had, it’s hard for Eddie not to read too much into the way he looks at you, or how easy it is for him to reach out and touch you, how easy it is for you to lean into it, and just how fucking much Eddie wants to be the one by your side… well, at all times.

Like right now.

It’s late. Eddie’s not sure exactly how late, but the sky outside is the colour of dark blue ink, splattered with stars, and the rusty orange glow of the streetlamps is casting shadows across the floor of his hospital room. He’s just woken up from a long nap, one of the many his body demands every day (who knew that almost dying would be so exhausting?) and the chair beside his bed is empty, your jacket draped over its back, your perfume lingering in the air.

He sighs deeply, eyes closed, sinking against the pillow. There’s an ache in his bones that doesn’t seem to go away despite all the painkillers the doctors have put him on, and it clings to him like the cold in the room. He’s tired and he’s cranky, it’s hard not to be when inhaling feels like breathing fire and he’s only allowed to get out of bed to go to the toilet; even harder when he looks out the ajar door and sees you, leaning against the wall next to Steve, eyes closed, your head on his shoulder.

The boy’s hands are respectfully tucked between his legs, and his gaze is trained on the floor. You are muttering to one another in low voices that Eddie can’t make out, but you look exhausted. Harrington, of course, looks straight out of a magazine with perfect hair and fancy clothes.

Eddie stares forlornly, eyebrows furrowed and pouting lips. He wishes more than anything to be the one to ease the worry on your face, the one you go to for support, for company, for advice. Still, the weight in his ribcage and the lump in his throat are too heavy to call your name, tell you to come and sit, tell you that he’ll let you rest your head on his shoulder and he’ll even hold your hand, ask you to please let him.

It’s a sensation he knows all too well, the bitter resentment of feeling like the second, third, last, worse choice. He’s good at pushing and pushing it down until it becomes nothing but a dark smudge at the back of his mind. This time, though, it poisons him from within until it’s all he tastes in his mouth.

And the worst part is he can’t even hate Steve. He’s been kind to Eddie. He helped him get out of the trailer park alive, he’s come to keep him company every other day, and he’s actually a pretty nice dude. Could he really blame you if you fell in love with Steve? He doesn’t believe so, but his throat constricts at the thought.

But as if you could read his mind, you open your eyes and find his gaze with yours. Suddenly, the sullen expression is gone from your face, the corners of your mouth are curving upwards and you're moving away from Steve and into the room.

"Hey, you're awake!" Your voice is soft, barely a loud whisper, and the dim light from the hall obscures your silhouette for a fraction of a second as you rush through the door and plop down on the worn-out chair by his side.

Eddie doesn’t miss the way your hand falls to rest on the bed, close to his own, twin sets of fingers twitching, tips tingling, eager for contact. He doesn’t dare move, but he looks up at you and you’re wearing the sweetest smile he’s ever seen in his life, the type of smile he’s never felt worthy of receiving.

His voice is hoarse with sleep and stuck emotions when he mutters, “Yeah, hi. You’re here.” The boy gasps when he feels the gentle touch of your fingers on the back of his hand, drawing circles and waves that ripple through his blood and tint his cheeks pink. Your smile widens, becomes softer, and your eyes mirror the look in his, shiny with unspoken affection.

“I’m gonna go see Max and then I’m out.” Steve, leaning against the rails of the bed, throws a thumb over his shoulder and nods his head at you. “You sure you don’t want me to drive you home?”

You shake your head no and tuck your hand in Eddie’s, and he swears he sees the sparks flying where his skin and yours touch. “I’m staying here tonight if that’s alright with you.” A gentle pressure of your fingers brings Eddie’s attention back to your eyes. “Is it?”

He nods, the most subtle movement, almost a blink-and-you-miss-it gesture, but enough for you to chuckle and tell your friend to go.

“Alright then,” Steve pats Eddie on the shoulder, more gently than anyone would expect from him, that fervent need to look after people shining through, so characteristically Steve, Eddie has learned, “you take care of each other, yeah? I’ll swing by tomorrow.”

And, with a soft smile, he leaves without waiting for an answer, leaving you two alone. A comfortable silence fills the room, one you’re both used to by now, as you stand and move around the space, placing your backpack on the windowsill, getting ready to spend the night by Eddie’s side. His skin still feels the ghost of your hand over his, its absence an emptiness that he yearns to fill again.

"You don't have to stay, you know that, right?" He whispers, the remnants of his jealousy still burning on his tongue, words fighting against his own willpower when he speaks next. “You should go home and get some rest. Go find Steve, go home.”

“Don’t be silly,” you reply, mirroring his tone but softer, sweeter, oozing a kindness Eddie’s not sure he’s earned. “I want to stay. Plus, I had a great nap earlier today.”

Eddie doesn’t understand why you’re so nice to him all the time, but he’s not about to argue. He falls silent, looking up at the ceiling as you sit down, bend your arms and lean on the edge of the bed. He can feel your eyes studying his face carefully, blinking slowly, and your lips turning upwards.

“Do you remember when we were hiding in Skull Rock?” You say, sitting down and bringing your knees to your chest.

“Yeah.” Eddie frowns. The memories of his days on the run are the most unwelcome ones.

Soaked and tired, covered in mud and sticky leaves, you sat side by side under the solid protection of the rock. Eddie was trying hard not to cry, not in front of you. It would’ve been the cherry on top of the cake, and the last thing he needed was to embarrass himself further.

He leaned his head against the stone and willed himself to calm down. He then looked at you through pinched eyebrows, calling your name softly. “I’m sorry.”

You rubbed your clammy cheek with the back of your hand and shrugged. “This is not your fault, Eddie.” It hurt to see the pained expression on the boy’s brown eyes, their usual sweetness replaced by pure despair, their spark gone.

“But it is.” The boy shut his eyes tight and ran a dirty hand through his hair. It felt gross, messy and knotted. “I’m sorry that you’re stuck with me. This sucks. I’m sorry.”

A cold hand wrapped around his, pulling it away from his face, and you were looking at him with so much resolve he almost fell backwards. “Eddie, I said I’d stay with you and I meant it. And I’d do it again, alright? I’ll be damned if I let you go through this alone. Okay?”

Eddie blinked and you blinked back at him. Your next words cut through the cold air of the early dawn like a knife, an arrow straight to his heart. “I’m not going anywhere, I promise.”

Your eyes now are softer than they were that night, but the conviction shining on them is just as firm, exuding reassurance and affection just for him, an affection you’ve never felt for anyone before but the boy in front of you earned in a matter of hours. “My word still stands.”

No, Eddie Munson is not a religious person, but later tonight, when he wakes up after a vivid nightmare, he looks at your figure, curled up on that ugly, uncomfortable chair, so close to him that he can hear your soft breathing, so close he could caress your cheek if he reached out; and then he looks at the clear dark sky behind you, and the million shiny stars that frame you, rings of diamonds with you at the centre, and then Eddie whispers a quiet prayer, a humble plea, a wish for only him and the quiet of the night to know.

He asks for you to stay, once again, to stay as you have before, like you said you would; he pleads to keep the one good thing that's come out of this nightmare, the best thing that's happened to him in a long time, maybe ever.

Eddie Munson calls to the gods, the ones people talk about on the street and the ones he knows from his books and his games, and he confronts them -his life is a mess, where are they, where have they been all this time- and bargains -they owe him, they owe him this one thing, this wish that's hidden like a secret in his heart-, and whispers your name like a sacred prayer, very low and very carefully, cherishing every letter, kissing them as the air leaves his lips.

And he truly thinks you can read his mind, there must be a connection between you two, because your eyes flutter open, and they gleam in the faint light that creeps under the closed door when you look at him, and your mouth curves upwards in that sweet way you save for only him.

You look so lovely, with your hair tousled and your cheeks apple pink, so sweet in your big clothes that seem to swallow you whole -in his sleepy state, it takes him a second to realise you’re wearing an old black hoodie of his-, that Eddie feels his heart skip a beat, and two and three. It’s overwhelming, really, how much he likes someone he’s just met, someone he barely knows. It’s worse when he notices you’re looking at him the way he’s looking at you.

The chair scrapes the floor when you pull it closer to his bed, and you lean your head on the uncomfortable mattress, your temple against his shoulder. Your hand travels down his arm until your fingers can wrap around his, warm and soft against his calloused digits.

Eddie blinks back the tears that threaten to fall from his tired eyes. You’re real, and you’re there by his side, looking up at him through your lashes like he’s the only other person in the world.

He squeezes your hand. You squeeze back. Your twin giggles break through the silence of the hospital room. Maybe for now, this is enough.

The stars outside twinkle when he looks out the window again, the words dying between his lips. Thank you.

🌷 🌷 🌷

a/n: thank you for reading if you’ve made it to the end, I hope you liked it. I had the song on repeat for hours when I started this one, and it’s both very sad and very beautiful, I had to write something. Likes, reblogs and comments are always welcome and appreciated. Much love!

#eddie munson x reader #eddie munson x you #eddie munson x y/n #eddie munson imagine #eddie munson one shot #eddie munson fanfic #stranger things fanfic #eddie munson angst #angst #stranger things x reader #stranger things x y/n #stranger things x you

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ultraintrovertedgryffindor · 2 years

Text

Something About Books and Covers - Eddie Munson

Eddie is a metalhead. I'm a metalhead. We're perfect, right? Right. Anyways, I sat down and wrote this for almost 3 hours straight with only one bathroom break...I don't expect this to pop off lmao

Warnings: Possibly triggering content, bullying (physical and religion based cause metal music was considered of the devil in the 80s) , very fluffy in the beginning, very angsty in the middle, then back to very fluffy, and very slight spoilers for S4 i guess? But not really.

5.4K Words🤙🏻

~~~~~~~~~~

Eddie was ecstatic. Metallica was finally coming to Indiana and there was no way he was missing this tour date. No way in hell.

It was on a school night, but he couldn’t care less. He’s skipped school so many times already so he didn’t care that he'd miss a couple days, it wouldn’t make much difference anyway, he knew he would already have to repeat the grade regardless. So why not?

He hadn’t seen Metallica before, never having the money or transportation to take him to one of their concerts, but finally having a driver's license and having saved up some money from summer jobs, he would finally be able to see one of his favorite bands.

He was talking to his friends about how excited he was about it. He wore a smug grin when they expressed their jealousy. He was a little disappointed that none of his friends could go with him, but he also didn’t mind going to the concert alone. Besides, it’s not like he’d be paying attention to them during the set anyway. Driving home would be the worst part because he just knew that he’d be exhausted after the fact. But something his friend said suddenly caught his undivided attention. “Sorry, can you repeat that please?” Eddie voiced.

“I said, I heard a rumor that Y/n girl was going to that concert tomorrow night too. I heard some of her friends talking about it at their lockers.”

Eddie scoffed. “There’s no way. I mean, look at her, she looks like she listens to Cyndi Lauper or Madonna or some shit.” He chuckled. “That girl wouldn’t be caught dead at a metal concert.”

“I don’t know, man. Her friends seemed pretty upset about it.”

“Dude, I bet my life savings that there’s no way she is going. It’s impossible. She goes to Harrington parties dude, trust me, it’s just a rumor.”

As Eddie got ready for the concert that next day, he couldn’t help but think about what his friends were talking about. He also couldn’t help but laugh. Picturing you at a metal concert was a hilarious thought. You’d stick out like a sore thumb. For Eddie, he wouldn’t even go near a concert that wasn’t metal, they’d probably stone him to death or something. He scared people, he made them uncomfortable, just by being himself. It was bullshit.

Eddie quickly shook those negative thoughts out of his head, he was not going to go into a mindspace that would put a bummer on his whole night. He turned up his radio all the way and belted out every song that came on his mixtape, trying not to get into a crash from headbanging.

He made sure to get there early, hence skipping school. He needed to get a good spot, hopefully near the front at the barricade. That would be a dream. But this was the first time Metallica ever had a show in Indiana, so there were a bunch of people who even camped outside the building. Yeah…these were Eddie’s people. Didn’t see you in the line though. He didn’t know why he was looking, it’s not like he wanted you there, he was just really curious.

As everyone started to pile into the venue, he felt the nervous excitement bubble up in his chest, almost like the time when he got his first tattoo, but this was obviously different. This was excitement to see a band that inspired him, that he looked up to, a band that made his life significantly better. He’d remember this night forever.

Eddie cheered along with the rest of the crowd as the opening band came on, he knew a couple of their songs but he was really only there for Metallica, but he’d enjoy himself regardless. And he got a pretty decent view considering the larger crowd, and his height helped. He felt bad if anyone behind him was shorter, he’d absolutely hate it if he was behind a taller person. There was this one kid behind him, holding a sign that said it was his first concert. That warmed Eddie’s heart, he couldn’t not let the kid move in front of him.

From his new spot, he could still see the stage pretty well, so he was thankful for that. But the new spot also gave him a chance to have a better look around to see who was in the crowd. It’s not like he wanted to people watch, he had that done to him too many times already, but he did like seeing who else was in the crowd to see who he could be friends with if they looked interesting enough. But one person only really stood out to him.

Eddie couldn’t believe what his eyes were seeing. It must’ve been a hallucination, right? There was no way you were at this same concert. You, miss straight A’s and future valedictorian and member of the student council, were at a metal concert? On a school night? Eddie must’ve been dreaming because there was no way someone like you would be in a place like this.

Eddie pinched himself a few times, almost breaking his own skin, but he was still not waking up. Damn…he wasn’t dreaming.

You couldn’t have been there of your own volition, he decided. You must’ve been dragged here by a boyfriend or best friend…or it was a dare. But from where Eddie stood, it looked like you were having fun. You were even dressed in a slightly different getup, not completely far from what you normally wore in school, but enough that you didn’t look too out of place. But to everyone else, you probably looked like you were in your element. They didn’t have the knowledge Eddie did.

It’s not like you were one of those stereotypical popular girls, he never saw you be mean to anyone or partake in the bullying of nerds and outcasts like the jocks. Granted, you weren’t a jock, but you were still a popular. You were actually pushing people around on the outskirts of a mosh pit with a huge smile on your face, the biggest smile he’d ever seen you wear. It was kind of…attractive. He had a hard time paying attention to the opening bands, he was so enthralled watching you in his preferred environment. He didn’t know why, but he felt a bit of pride even though he didn’t really know you. Maybe he’d have to change that.

While the stage crew set up Metallica’s equipment, Eddie pushed through the crowd to get where you were, apologizing to every person he pushed past until he finally was next to you. “Well, well, look who it is. I didn’t expect to see you here.”

Your eyes widened in excitement, wearing that big smile like you had been earlier, it made Eddie’s stomach feel like it was doing somersaults. “Oh, hi! Eddie, right?” You replied. Well, he definitely didn’t expect you to know his name.

“Uh, yeah.” Eddie cleared his throat nervously. “What’re you doing here?” He tried not to sound accusatory, but that edge was still in his tone. He didn’t want to come off as an asshole, but this scene was important to him and he didn’t want someone who didn’t enjoy the music to spoil the atmosphere.

You caught on to his attitude immediately, raising an eyebrow. “Same reason why you’re here, I’d assume.”

“Mm, sorry that I kinda doubt that.”

“Oh, and why is that?”

“Well, you’re…you. Popular, straight A student, someone who hangs out with people that makes fun of people like me.”

“Oh, so, people who do well in school can’t possibly like this kind of music right?”

Eddie winced, scratching the back of his neck nervously. “Well, no…it’s just, I never expected you to like this kind of music.”

“Don’t judge a book by its cover. You of all people should know that, right? Or is everyone right about you, that you’re a devil worshiping freak?”

“Alright, alright. I’m sorry. I got a little protective. This is my safe space and I was just worried you’d…ya know, ruin it or something.” Eddie mumbled, fidgeting with the ends of his hair, then holding out his hand. “Truce?”

You stared at his hand for a moment before rolling your eyes with a smirk. “Yeah, okay, truce.” Taking his hand, you almost shivered at the cold metal of his rings that lined his fingers. You had always thought he was attractive, the jock types never really interested you, but Eddie was interesting. There was just something so alluring about him. The rough start was more than a little concerning, but at least he apologized.

Nobody really knew that you were a metalhead, it was something that you kept on a need to know basis. Hearing society’s opinion about metal music didn’t really make you comfortable to be open about it. Almost everyone thought people who listened to metal were a devil worshiper or a serial killer. You had heard people talking about how Richard Ramirez listened to heavy metal and that must be why he was going on a killing spree, though it was mostly middle aged Christian women you had heard talking that way, but it still wasn’t very reassuring.

You always admired Eddie from afar, but you were always too afraid to talk to him, even about the similar music taste. He seemed nice enough, but then again, you both were from two completely different worlds. It just didn’t seem likely to happen. You had always planned to go to this concert, and when you found out that Eddie would be too, you felt like the stars aligned. Even if you never saw him in the crowd, you would be happy to know that he was at least in the same building as you, as creepy as that sounds. But when he actually made an effort to talk to you, it was almost as good as being at the concert.

After the truce, you both got to talking before the headliner finally played. You actually had some common interests. Eddie played the guitar and you had always wanted to, he said that he could try to teach you sometime, which was unexpected. You hoped the dim lighting in the building would hide your blush, but you could see a smirk on Eddie’s face in the corner of your eye. Thankfully, the lights completely dimmed and the stage lights coming on signaling that Metallica was finally coming on saved you from further embarrassment.

And out came Metallica, James Hetfield front and center in all his glory. It was a real starstruck moment, for both you and Eddie.

Every once in a while, you and Eddie would glance over at each other, huge smiles on both of your faces and slightly sweaty from jumping around and singing to the tops of your lungs. It was surprisingly intimate. You loved seeing Eddie in his natural habitat, you could tell how much this concert meant to him. It was really a sight to behold, if your eyes weren’t on the band you were looking at Eddie. The same thing could be said for him as well. Eddie didn’t know how to handle seeing you like this, it was a fine line between surprise and arousal, he didn’t know if the scale would tip by the time the night ended.

You and Eddie laughed as you both were squished together by the force of the crowd, the only way for him to be truly comfortable was for him to wrap his arm around your shoulders but you didn’t mind. It actually felt nice, despite the humid heat that enveloped the whole crowd, making your exposed skin stick to his leather jacket. Sometimes you’d stumble onto him, but he always made sure to never let you fall. You were grateful that he was your tall person that saved you from being crushed by crowd surfers, making sure your head was ducked before he’d help the person. You got kicked a couple of times, but it was no big deal. You were sure you’d have bruises by the time you got home.

As the band started playing their encore, you and Eddie held onto each other and sang along as loud as you could, knowing all the lyrics by heart. The two of you weren’t each looking at the band, you both were practically singing to each other. Your mouth was so sore from smiling so much, and you could tell that you wouldn’t be able to talk properly after singing for so long.

As Metallica said goodnight and walked off the stage, you felt the post-concert depression already kick in. It was over all too soon, but it was in part because you and Eddie probably wouldn’t even talk to each other after this. You didn’t want that to happen. You wanted to have someone who would go to concerts with you. You didn’t really feel like any of your other friends truly saw you. Music was important to you, and someone like Eddie would understand that. You’ve only hung out with him for a few hours, not even talking to each other, but you already felt closer to him than anyone else.

Eddie kept his arm around you as you both walked out of the building with the rest of the crowd, the cold air instantly making the sweat on your skin feel freezing. You knew you should’ve brought a heavier jacket. He noticed you shivering and he quickly removed his own jacket, putting it around your shoulders. The inside of the jacket felt like a warm blanket, encompassing you and the scent of sweat mixed with cologne filled your nostrils, Eddie’s scent. It brought that blush back to your cheeks, but at least you could blame it on the cold air this time.

“So…do you have a ride home? Or did you drive here?” Eddie asked after a beat of awkward silence.

“Oh, I was just gonna hail a cab. I just had a family member drop me off.”

“I drove here, I can give you a ride.” Eddie pointed to his van that was parked in the lot outside the venue. “It’s pretty busted up, there’s no air conditioning or heat, and it makes this weird clanking noise sometimes...but it’s something.”

“Yeah, it’s something.” You giggled, wrapping his jacket around you tighter. “Can I keep wearing the jacket?”

“Yeah. Yeah, of course! Can’t let you freeze to death now, can I?” He grinned, tugging you by the jacket sleeve to lead you to his van.

It was still really cold inside the van, but now being alone with Eddie, you felt the heat from your blush all over your body. You tried not to wince as the van’s engine rattled loudly as he started the vehicle, it definitely sounded like it was crying out for a tuneup. Hopefully it wouldn’t die on the way back home. You told Eddie your address, thankfully it wasn’t too far out of the way. It wasn’t on the wealthy side of town, but you didn’t live in a trailer park like Eddie, it was someone in the middle and only round fifteen minutes from where he lived.

You felt guilty as you let your head rest against the window, your eyelids feeling heavier than you expected. This wasn’t exactly your first rodeo, but you used up a lot of energy during the show. “Ugh, I’m sorry I’m falling asleep.” You chuckled weakly.

“Oh, that’s okay. Go ahead, I’m good by myself. I’m a veteran at this point. I’ve only been in a couple car crashes.” He smirked, chuckling to himself when your eyes widened. “Seriously though, you can sleep. I’ll wake you up when we’re in Hawkins.”

“Thanks, Eddie.” You spoke softly, the drowsiness taking over your body quickly and making your eyes close for the rest of the trip.

Keeping his eyes on the road proved to be more difficult than Eddie had anticipated. He couldn’t stop himself from glazing over at your sleeping form, and you looked so peaceful. He couldn’t believe you were actually allowing him to drive you home. It seemed tonight was full of surprises. He almost didn’t want to wake you up when he saw the “You are now entering Hawkins” sign, but your sleepy voice and tired smile definitely made up for it.

“I’ll tell you when to turn.” You yawned, tucking your knees to your chest as close as you could to try and retain some warmth, Eddie’s large jacket almost swallowing your torso and legs.

“Hey, just out of curiosity, do you listen to Cyndi Lauper?”

You snorted followed by a couple giggles. “That’s a random question.”

“Well, do you?”

“Yeah, of course.” You chuckled. “What?” You asked when you saw his facial expression.

“Nothing, just not surprised.” He smirked.

“Oh and what, you don’t like Lauper?”

“I listen to real music.”

You laughed loudly, almost startling Eddie. “Ah, so you’re one of those metal elitists, huh? You think your music is the only real music? Time after time? Girls just wanna have fun? Come on, no human on earth can’t not like those songs.” Eddie only shrugged, a toothy grin on his face that reeked of smugness. “Expand your horizons, Eds. You’re missing out.” You were too giggly to realize what you had called him, but he definitely did. It managed to wipe off his smug grin. “Oh, you turn here.” You pointed out.

A loud silence came over the two of you as Eddie parked in front of your home and turned off the engine, the shared exhaustion between the two of you apparent. But Eddie looked over to you with a smile. “I should’ve said this earlier, but I had a lot of fun. Best concert I’ve been to yet.”

“Me too.”

“So,” He turned to you, “what happens now? Are we just gonna go back to our respective lives? Ignore each other in the halls until the next concert we find ourselves at?”

You frowned. “Eddie, come on. I’m not going to ignore you just because of what other people think. I’m not as shallow as you think.”

“So, we can still be concert partners?”

“I was thinking more than that. We can be actual friends.”

“Wow, we’re moving on up, huh?” He chuckled.

“Sorry, Eds, but you’re now officially stuck with me.”

“Not the worst fate in the world.” He smiled softly, looking into your eyes intensely.

Before you could overthink it, you leaned over and kissed Eddie on the cheek. “Goodnight, Eddie.” You smiled before getting out of the van, not looking back to see his reaction as you entered your home, leaning against the now closed door and giggling to yourself.

Unlike Eddie, you didn’t skip school the next day after that long night, you still had responsibilities. But you quickly regretted it as you walked through the halls of Hawkins High, hearing whispers and dirty looks getting sent your way as you made your way to your locker. It was mostly the jocks, the people you typically hung out with, which disappointed you even more, especially if they were talking about what you think they were. You even heard some hushed laughter from behind you, causing you to turn around to see some of your other friends looking at you with not so hidden smirks. Thankfully, it was only that, just whispers and looks, until lunch.

You sighed as you saw Hawkins' own golden boy Jason started making his way to your lunch table with a mischievous smirk on his face. You just played it cool, talked to him like you usually would. “Hi, Jason.” You smiled.

Jason looked back at his friends before he sat down in front of you. “Hey, Y/n. So, me and the boys heard some rumors about you today and I just wanted to hear your thoughts on it before I made any opinions.” He said, but it was clear he already made up his mind about you.

You chuckled flatly. “And what rumors would those be?”

“We heard that you were hanging with that Munson freak last night. You went to one of those devil worshiping sessions disguised as a music concert, even though it’s not even music, it’s just noise. It’s in your best interest to tell the truth.”

“Is that a threat, Carver?” You spat, your expression hardening.

“Just answer the question.”

“Not that it’s any of your business, but yes. I was at a concert last night, and Eddie was there. He was kind enough to drive me home too.”

Jason sighed in feign disappointment, clearly trying to hide his smirk. “I gotta say, I’m pretty disappointed in you, Y/n. I thought you were better than this. I thought you were a church goer, what would your pastor say?”

“I wasn’t aware that he was the boss of me, or you, for that matter.”

“I’m just trying to look out for my fellow brothers and sisters. You’re going down a dark path. Once you start hanging with the wrong crowd, it’s a slippery slope.”

A feeling of dread came over you when Jason looked back at his friends, trying to be subtle as he nodded back at them, the exchange causing their faces to light up in excitement. Expecting him to say more, he only gave you a sad smile as he left your table. And for the rest of the school day, that fake smile was all you could think about it, how sinister it felt. Your panic really started when you couldn’t find your bike, the lock you had on it had been broken off. Then, you felt a pair of strong hands take hold of your shoulders. You turned to look at one of the jocks from the basketball team, a huge smirk on his face.

You kicked and screamed, but either there was no one around to hear or no one cared. He and other jocks helped drag you to the back of the school, where Jason and the rest of the basketball and some of the cheerleading team were waiting for your grand entrance.

You didn’t know how long it was until they all let you go, but the sun was starting to set, but then again, the sun always set early during winter. It felt like an eternity, but you were just glad they finally got bored of you.

Your outer layers of clothing were ripped, your jeans and jacket having rips and holes in them. They’d have to be replaced. You had scratches and bruises and cuts galore. Bruises, and scratches, and cuts, oh my! You weakly chuckled at your own joke, immediately regretting doing so since your sides were bruised pretty badly. You dreaded having to walk home, they stole your bike so you had no choice. Your house was so far and you absolutely missed the bus, but there was one person who’s home was closer, and he wouldn’t turn you away. You just hoped he was home.

You were relieved to see Eddie’s van in the driveway, and you shakily raised you fist to knock on the door, surprised how quickly he answered. He was stunned for a moment as he looked you up and down with his eyebrows tightly knitted together, before he finally spoke. “What the hell happened to you?” He ushered you into his trailer, making you take a seat on his couch.

“Jason and the basketball team.” You replied with a wince, seeing Eddie’s concerned and confused face turn into seething rage. “Guess the whole school found out I was one of those devil worshipers.” You finger quoted, a weak smile on your face.

“They did this to you?” Eddie seethed.

“Well, they held me down while their cheerleaders beat the shit outta me for them.”

“That’s so fucked up.” He almost yelled, pacing back and forth in his living room while grasping at his hair. “God, I am so sorry.” His voice wavered, tears welling up in his eyes as he gazed at you.

“Hey, it wasn’t your fault, Eds. But, it would be nice if you could drive me home. They stole my bike and your place was closer.” You chuckled.

“Hold on, I think I have a first aid kit laying around here somewhere. They’re essential when living on this side of town.” You watched with slight amusement as Eddie frantically searched around his trailer for his first aid kit, it was pretty cute and you would have laughed if you weren’t in pain. “Ah, found it!” He walked back and sat next to you, emptying the whole box onto the cushions with shaking hands. “Don’t worry, I know how to patch someone up. Had to learn how to do that pretty early in life.” He chuckled nervously.

“Hey,” You grabbed ahold of his hand, “I’m okay. These wounds are just superficial, they’ll be gone in a week or so.”

Eddie stayed silent, staring at your hand that held his and hesitantly placing his other hand on top of yours, delicately running his thumb over your knuckles. “This never should’ve happened.”

“You’re telling me.” You tried to joke, but Eddie’s face quickly told you that this was not the time to be joking. “Sorry. But I’ll be fine, really. I probably won’t be at school tomorrow though.”

“I wouldn’t let you anyway.”

“Oh really?” You smirked.

Eddie finally gave you a weak smile, his larger hands enveloping yours. “Let me clean you up though, okay?” You nodded, letting him clean and dress your small wounds. He was gentle, his touch as feather light as possible. He didn’t want to hurt you any more than you already were. His fingertips running along your skin made you shiver. “Cold?”

“Uh, yeah, a bit.” You stuttered. “Oh, that reminds me, I still have your jacket from last night. I have to remember to return it to you.”

Eddie shook his head. “Nah, I’ll let you borrow it for a bit. You look cute in it, especially because it’s mine.” Those kinds of comments can give people heart attacks, you specifically.

“I’ll be sure to wear it often then.” You replied, wearing a small smirk on your face.

“Well, I’m…I’m all done. Did you want to go home now?”

“Do I have the option to stay? For a little while?”

Eddie smiled softly. “Of course.”

You couldn’t recall how you ended up in Eddie’s bed, but you welcomed it nonetheless. You especially welcomed the heat from his body that was against you, his arm draped over your side and holding you to his chest with a hand on your back. You didn’t realize how comfortable being held in someone’s arms could be, but it was probably because of who was holding you.

You had woken up before Eddie, but that just meant you got to admire his face. He was so cute, you couldn’t help but lean up to gently kiss his stubbly chin. Apparently, that was enough to stir him awake. “Were you watching me sleep?”

“Mhm.” You nodded, smiling sweetly. Eddie briefly turned to look at his alarm clock on his bedside table, groaning in annoyance. “Time?”

Eddie frowned. “If I don’t tell you, will you go back to sleep?”

“No. Sorry.”

He sighed. “I guess I’ll take you home now. But I’m gonna come see you tomorrow, no doubt about that.”

“Can’t argue that.”

The next couple days went by smoothly. Eddie helped take care of you, even though you didn’t need help but you quickly learned you couldn’t win an argument with this boy. You knew he felt guilty for what happened, even though it wasn’t his fault. You tried convincing him of that, but he wouldn’t listen. You also learned that he was extremely stubborn, but who isn’t nowadays. You did dread going back to school, you were more embarrassed than anything else. You probably should’ve been scared, but it was hard when you had Eddie by your side. You’ve known him for a very short time but you already would go to war for each other. The power of music.

But when you walked through the halls, no one even looked at you. Almost everyone moved out of your way when you walked anywhere. You caught some stares, but they looked more fearful than disgusted. You noticed that Jason was nowhere to be seen. It was strange because he wasn't the type to miss school. You heard he had gotten in a car accident, he was driving drunk and ran a stop sign, another car ramming him and getting him a couple broken bones in the process. You thought about asking Eddie, but something told you not to. Either way, you were glad he’d be out of your hair for awhile.

But your curiosity finally peaked when Jason came back and…actually apologized to you. You thought he’d gun for you as soon as he came back, but he apologized. You almost thought that maybe a near death experience knocked some sense into him, but he looked too scared when he was saying sorry to you. It was suspicious, to say the least. You decided to finally bring it up to Eddie.

“Jason was acting pretty weird this morning.” You spoke up after school in his trailer, which became a regular hang out spot for you if Eddie wasn’t at your place.

“What? Why? What did he say to you? Did he threaten you? I swear to Christ, if he-”

“No, no!” You interrupted. “No, he told me he was sorry for what he did to me that day, said he wasn’t thinking straight, among other things.”

“Oh.”

“It just got me thinking, because that’s not like him at all.”

“How would you know what his typical behavior is like?”

“Well, I used to hang out with his crowd and him, for one. Plus, people like him never admit their wrongs, even if it kills them.”

“Guess he’d rather apologize than get killed…”

You narrowed your eyes, thoroughly analyzing Eddie’s expressions and body language. He was fidgeting with his rings, something he always did when he was nervous. And he was looking anywhere else but you. You scoffed in amusement. “You made him crash his car, didn’t you?”

“What? No, I don’t know what you’re talking about. He was the one who ran a spot sign while drinking, okay? It had nothing to do with me.” You only smiled smugly in response, eliciting a heavy sigh from him. “Alright, alright, fine. Yes, I…may have had a tiny part in that.”

“How?” You stuttered, amazed.

“I have some connections. I wasn’t gonna kill him or anything, I swear. I just wanted to scare him a bit. But then…well…it went a little further than I intended. I made him apologize to you, well, more like blackmailed him into apologizing.” Eddie looked up at you nervously, putting on his best puppy dog eyes. “Don’t hate me, please.”

“Oh, Eddie…” You frowned. “I could never hate you. I’m actually pretty impressed. Not gonna lie, I really wanted something bad to happen to that guy. I hope that doesn’t make me a bad person.”

“Y/n, you are literally the opposite of a bad person.” He said with an almost lovesick smile. You couldn’t handle it anymore…

Eddie let out a surprised noise as you suddenly leaned forward to capture his lips in a passionate, desperate kiss. You had wanted to do this ever since that night at the concert, so you were incredibly relieved when he reciprocated with fervor, grabbing you and pulling you into his lap.

You tangled your fingers in his long hair, gently pulling at the roots to elicit a groan from the man. After days and days of tension, having it finally break was almost overwhelming, but you couldn’t ask for anything better. You learned many things about Eddie, now happily learning how intoxicating his lips were. They moved against yours perfectly, his expertise not lost on you. You didn’t want it to end, you wanted to feel him against you forever, but you both had to come up for air.

“I’ve wanted to do that for so long.” You smiled, chuckling breathlessly.

“Honestly, I have ever since I saw you in that mosh pit.” Eddie said, making you giggle. “So, I guess we’re moving on up again. From concert buddies to concert partners, yeah?”

“I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

~~~~~~~~~~

aw man...it hurts but my heart is also full

#stranger things #stranger things season 4 #stranger things fanfiction #stranger things imagine #eddie munson #eddie munson imagine #eddie munson x reader #eddie munson fanfic #eddie munson x fem!reader

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oqlixsreads · 2 years

Text

𝗜 𝗗𝗢𝗡’𝗧 𝗟𝗢𝗩𝗘 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗔𝗡𝗬𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗘 𝗖𝗵. 2

summary// y/n can see eddie drifting away so easily for someone else, how would he feel when he has to watch you go through what he saw with chrissy? or could he possibly prevent it?

warnings + content warning// angst, fluff, break ups, cursing, mentions of drugs, death, SPOILERS FOR s4, lmk if i missed some

a/n: i am so so sorry this took so long for me to post, also this isn’t an insanely long fanfic. sorry if your tag isn’t there for some reason usernames ain’t popping up🗿

y/n woke up to the max and dustin screaming in the walkie-talkie “y/n? this is a code red, wake up!” snatching it from the nightstand while groaning from the loud voices. “yeah, yeah. code red, what the fuck do you want?” they pushed off of the bed and walked over to the door.

the house was quiet. way too quiet for their liking. but there was eddie asleep, leaning on the wall. beside the bedroom y/n had previously been in. they cursed at their self, for dismissing everything he said last night. a part of them was hoping it was all a dream and the two of them went back to no contact.

he flinched awake from the noise, and rubbing the tiredness from his eyes. they just watched not knowing what move to take yet. but snapped back into reality when dustin said they’ve brought food for eddie and will be there in a bit. “doesn’t sound like a code red to me dustin”. y/n rolled their eyes making their way to the couch with eddie trailing behind.

“yeah, whatever we needed to get your attention somehow.” they stopped responding when eddie sat down next to them. “how was your sleep?” y/n’s eyebrows knitted together, but remembered how they didn’t have a nightmare this time. “it was fine?” “listen uh- about last night, i just-” “you don’t have to say anything eddie.” he placed his hand onto their thigh “no i do, i know i apologized. but that wasn’t enough, i should’ve said more. I really do love you, y/n. I..i’m aware that i was being a total jerk, and i know sorry won’t do anything to fix us but i need you to know how much i regret saying those words.”

y/n inhaled sharply. “i’m not going to forgive you so easily eddie, i wish you understood how bad i felt, when i noticed you were paying attention to her, not me. canceling on dates, never kissing me, you made me think i wasn’t good enough.” eddie’s grip on their thigh tightened making his knuckles go white. and y/n’s face scrunched up in pain.

“because you’re not good enough.” with every word that came out of his mouth his voice got deeper. the house got darker, and thunder could be heard in the distance. “eddie, let go that hurts.” they uttered trying to remove his arm however it only got tighter.

“you’re almost out of time y/n.” they looked up in horror seeing the thing harshly gripping their leg. that was not eddie. then that damn clock. it all just started out as nightmares but now? y/n was full on hallucinating. eddie was shaking them “y/n not you too.” his hands were cradling their face, this was too familiar to him. “fuck! please y/n wake up.”

the there it was again, except it was in front of them, there in person. not a dream, the noise that made their head start pounding, making it feel like the room was spinning. “let go of me!” y/n quickly got up from the couch only for the atmosphere to go back to its original state. “Y/N!”

at this point they were full on convinced that they were surely going insane. their heart was practically beating out of their chest, while eddie watched in concern but was just as equally terrified. y/n headed for the door, hyperventilating and shaking. eddie followed yelling after them down to the lake.

“hey, hey, hey it’s alright calm down.” he spoke with a shaking voice. “just go back inside i just need to be alone for a minute.” they brushed him off while they rubbed their temples attempting to sooth their headache, staring off into space “your eyes-they looked just like-chrissy’s eyes.” eddie whispered nervously “what?” they whipped around staring at him like he just killed their entire family.

just in time max and the others pulled up with bags for eddie.

“we need your help y/n.” max worded out hesitantly. “with what?” “well. we don’t exactly know yet.” steve scratched the back of his neck realizing they really aren’t exactly sure where to start at.

all of them except eddie of course walked back to the car, till he grabbed onto y/n’s arm. “what is it?” they said eyeing him up and down. “you’re-okay? right?” fear was written all over his face. “huh?” tears were beginning to form in his eyes threatening to stream down his face. “i was scared. that what happened to her was about to happen to you.” a tear rolled down to his cheek before they wiped it away.

“i can’t lose you again, not in the worst way possible.” “eddie, i’ll be fine. i swear, but i need to go now.” he sighed and pressed a kiss onto their forehead. he watched them get into the car and saw their friends staring in utter disbelief.

the care ride was silent. “so if no one’s gonna say it i will.” robin broke the quietness in the car. “what the fuck did we just see?” “i uh- don’t really know.”

meeting with nancy at her friends crime scene. another teenager, fred. who died the night prior when him and nance were gathering more in tell on the murder at the trailer park.

fred and chrissy. two every odd people to go missing, who which have no correlation. “why them?” “maybe wrong place wrong time? they were both at the game.” “and the trailer park.” y/n looked hesitant at first. “we’re at the trailer park.” making the six turn their heads scoping out their surroundings. “maybe we shouldn’t be here” they suggested.

until nancy spoke up remembering fred’s actions “there’s something about this place though. he started acting weird the moment we got here. like scared, on edge.” “max said chrissy was scared too.” directing their attention onto her. “yes but not here, in the bathroom at school”.

y/n brought up how serial killers would stalk their prey before actually killing their targets. “the vec-man whatever.” robin mumbled “um vec-NA.” dustin corrected. “whatever his damn name is guys, it doesn’t matter. if they saw a monster thing, i would’ve mentioned it to at least someone.” “maybe they did. i saw chrissy walk out of Ms. Kelly’s office. i mean if you go to the police about a monster they would never believe you. but a school counselor? maybe.”

they all headed towards the car with nancy going back to hers. all of them decided her and robin would split up so she could gather some information on a man who had similar things in the past. victor creel. while max had an idea.

steve, dustin, and y/n stared as max quickly ran out of Ms. Kelly’s house, with a key in her left hand into the car slamming the car door behind her. “drive.” and telling lucas he needs to meet them at the school.

the four of them walked through the empty, dark and quiet hallways until reaching the counselors office. rummaging through the file cabinet that had just been unlocked, searching for symptoms chrissy had experienced before some recent events..

y/n and max read it together while steve and dustin read the one on fred, these symptoms looked every familiar to y/n but not just them, max too. “not sure what we’re looking for here, they’re both mentally ill?” steve spoke scanning through the papers. “STEVE?” y/n looked at him with a ‘are you serious’ face. “alright jeez.” he muttered throwing his hands up in defense.

y/n noticed how max wasn’t moving or talking “max?”

“it was here. right here.” by this point nancy and robin had met up with the group, now they were all gathered in the hallway. “what was here?” “a grandfather clock.” y/n’s face scrunched your together. “you see it too?” their attention turned onto them now.

“so the two of you are just going insane or what?” dustin smacked the back of steve’s head “dude?” “it was like she was in a trance. just like eddie said happened to chrissy.” y/n thought of when they were back at the lake, we’re they going to die too? “that’s not even the worst part.” “fred, and chrissy were experiencing the same things.”

“headaches that just wouldn’t go away, nightmares, trouble sleeping, waking up in a cold sweat, then they were seeing things…bad things, from their past. visions that kept on getting worse and worse until. they ended.” “vecnas curse.” “the headaches started a week ago for chrissy, six days ago for fred.” max paused looking up at the group.

“i’ve been having them for four days.” then y/n spoke up “i’ve been having them for five.” their voice cracked “what happened to max, happened to me. earlier at reefer ricks house. eddie said i was acting how chrissy was.” they rolled their eyes when tears started to fall. “what if i’m next? i mean- i just saw that goddamn clock so how much time do i even have left? and max? how much time do we have.”

the air was thick. nobody knew what to say they all looked stressed. “looks like i’m gonna die tomorrow.”

something creaked from outside the room, walking closer to the sound quick steps were approaching them. while steve was ready to hit whatever was coming towards them with a lamp he snatched beforehand.

someone ran out from the opposite hallway and everyone screamed “ITS ME. ITS ME.” “lucas!?” “the hell sinclair? i could’ve taken you out with this lamp!” lucas was catching his breath and walking around a bit “sorry about that guys. i was hiking for- eight miles. but we have a code red. i’ve been with jason, patrick, and andy and they gone completely off the rails.”

“what are you talking about.” “they’re trying to find eddie and they think dustin knows where he is.” he swallowed “you are in terrible danger.” “yeah, yeah that definitely sucks but we got bigger problems than jason right now.” dustin said brushing it off and turned to y/n.

who was going to die tomorrow.

who as only worried about seeing eddie again.

tags: @eddiescorrodedcoffin @httpjiikook @heizenka @capybaraluverfr @marisans @beepboop900 @eliangooxx @the-one-fee @chrissysgf @lovelyladymayyy @hotdilfworld @missgay15 @surfsupbrahh @trinatiger @simp4rengoku @stitchity @kozykenma1102 @zealouslibrariesparadiselight @eddiemunsonsfrgf @cam-peggio @iveofficallylostmymarbles @eddiemunsonsbitch2000 @jay-swoohoo @lostinwonderland314 @erikaar @lokigirlszendaya @preciousbabypeter @prettyplant0 @nooneadoresdotcom @jaz-444 @fairykiss32 @grimmbunniee @wren5650 @mess-is-my-aesthetic @fredskum @a-dot-ham-24601 @spoookyconsultingcriminal @parker-natasha @mopey-thicc @sarahwasfound @magnus-lightwood14 @munsonsquitar @boobielover2800 @who-iss-bells @imjustheretryingnottodie @henhouse-horrors @klitzgetsfreaky @urleastfavemilf @8282626262727838 @p1ss0ffgh0st @fujiihime @todoroki-slut @siren-melodies @sidekickforlife @bite-anon @platonic-greek-lover @gwendolyn3019 @crackityy @angelinab456 @bbumochi1 @faithsreades @notbeforelong @lilyblog2006 @baby-bearie @grannyrosita @fujiihime

#eddie munson #eddie munson x reader #stranger things smut #eddie munson fanfiction #eddie munson fanfic #eddie munson angst #eddie munson smut #eddie munson fluff #eddie munson imagine #eddie munson x you #steve harrington x reader #stranger things x reader #nancy stranger things #robin buckley

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mysterious-ocarina · 1 year

Text

Please, Save Your Breath

Armin Arlert x reader

Main Masterlist AOT Masterlist Requests AO3

(1.9k words)

A/N (takes place during S4 Ep 88 The Final Chapters Part 1. Basically the boat scene but armin is the one sitting and you go to join him. You’re kinda like historia but not as extravert. Super Kind but reserved) NO MANGA SPOILERS!!!!!!!!

A/N 2) i had the ending spoiled for me on accident and i didn't like only having vague details so then i ended up just reading the manga so i would know it all. i am now officially an aot manga ending knower!! but for the courtesy of others, please do not put any spoilers in the comments without a label, thank you!!!!!!!

Sitting in an empty room on the Azumabito boat, you did your best to rid your head of the screams and blood of your comrades. You knew that no matter how this ended, these memories would be something that you will never forget. You just hoped that you would live to find out, anyway.

“Fuck,” you sighed, banging your head against the wall. You had to get out of this stuffy cabin room. You got up and started to make your way to the front of the ship in hopes that the ocean waves would calm you down.

Once outside, you noticed a mop of blond hair who seemed to have the same idea as you. In need of the comfort he brings just by existing, you make you way in front of the one and only Armin Arlert.

“Hey,” you offered softly, as to not scare him. Armin looked deep in thought and startled when he heard your voice. “Didn’t mean to startle you. Do you mind if I join you?”

“Please,” he replies as if you saved him from himself. He wipes away a little dirt off the area next to him and offers it to you.

With a smile, you gracefully plop your body down and immediately feel your muscles and brain relax.

Poking his cheek, you ask, “So, what’s going on in that pretty head of yours?”

He blushes at your compliment, and you try not to read too much into it.

“Oh, nothing,” he replies avoidantly.

“You can talk to me, Armin. Hell, I think everyone on this boat is probably thinking about the same things,” you told him with a sigh. You placed your hand on his knee for extra comfort.

Armin grabs your hand and plays with your fingers in his lap. The contact is slow and soft as Armin fidgets with your hands.

“I don’t doubt your right about that,” he finally replies. “I’m just thinking about how fast time seems to be moving lately.”

“What do you mean?” you ask, angling your body more towards him and giving him your undivided attention.

“Our raid on Liberio was only a month ago and for all we know, the entire city is gone now,” he explains, resting his head on the boat railing.

You know there was something else that he wasn’t telling you. You’ve liked Armin for a long time and known him for even longer. As cunning as he can be when it comes to hiding his emotions from others, he’s never been able to hide from you.

You simply stare at him with a patient smile, waiting for him to open up. He looks back at you and once he realizes that he can’t hide from you, he looks down to try and hide a small smile .

“I’m also thinking about the Colossal,” he finally speaks up, saying the word colossal as if it were a bad word and someone would scold him if they heard.

Not wanting Armin to feel pressured, you stop staring at him and lay your head on his shoulder. You patiently wait for him to continue and almost jump when you feel him lay his head on yours too.

“I have so much blood on my hands. I know everyone here does, but I can’t help but feel like mine is tainted. I have thousands of lives blood from just Liberio alone. And what about all our comrades we had to gun down to get here? That’s thousands of lives that are now gone. They won’t grow old, have children, or find love. They’re gone,” he ends his rant with a sigh.

Wiping the tears that started to form in your eyes, you look up to him and grab his face to look back at you. You see unshed tears in his eyes too. With the strongest voice you can, you tell him, “Lives have been lost. This is true. But think about how many lives will be saved when we stop Eren. We did what we had to so that we could save the rest of the world. Think about how selfless it is that we are able to put aside our love for Eren and our comrades so that we can ensure that the whole world isn’t gone tomorrow,” you finish. You don’t let go of Armin’s face. You keep it softly in your palms, hoping to comfort him.

Once the tears on his face start to fall, he grabs one of your hands from his face. Holding it softly in his palm, he places a small kiss to your knuckles before looking back up to you, “Thank you, y/n. You always know just what to say.”

With a bright blush on your cheeks, you give him a hum of agreement. Unable to look at his analytical gaze, you lay your head back on his shoulder, your hands still entwined.

The silence that follows isn’t awkward or boring. It’s a peaceful silence. One where you both just relish this alone time in each other’s presence. Who knows if you’ll be able to do this again.

The silence is broken when Armin asks you a question, “What would you be doing right now if none of this happened? If you never joined the Survey Corps?”

“I think I would be a teacher. Before Wall Maria fell, my mother was a teacher at the local school in my village. Sometimes I would join her and help her around the classroom. The children loved her and I always admired her for the joy she seemed to radiate around those kids,” you replied, keeping your eyes closed. You missed your mother terribly but you were glad that she wasn’t alive anymore to witness what had become of Paradis, what had become of you.

“You would be an amazing teacher. I’ve always admired your patience and level head on and off the battlefield. I remember that day in Trost when everyone was scared out of their minds. It was the first time that most of them had even seen a titan before. You didn’t panic. You were scared too, but despite that you still managed to keep enough of your wits about you to guide people out of their shock and into action,” Armin explained, with a fondness in his voice.

“I didn’t want anyone to get hurt because of their fear. I had to get everyone as safe as I could,” you explained with a blush. You had no idea that Armin had paid you any attention all the way back then. As a cadet, you were pretty quiet and that battle was probably the first time some of your friends had heard you speak.

“You certainly helped me,” Armin spoke. He was looking down at you, his eyes twinkling with a feeling you hoped resembled yours. “When I thought I lost Eren and the rest of my team, I was more than willing to let myself get consumed by a titan too. But there you were, flying around to check on people and offering your help wherever you could.”

“I couldn’t let you die,” you reply softly, tearing up at the thought. You realized this statement is even more true now than it ever has been. If this battle ended, he had to be alive. Even if you weren’t.

“I think that was when I first started to look at you differently,” Armin tells you quickly, not letting you dwell on the idea of his death.

“In a bad way?” you asked, worriedly.

“Definitely not in a bad way. Since then, I started to relish the few moments you would speak. You didn’t speak much to anyone except for Historia or Sasha, so I would listen. It didn’t matter what you talked about, I enjoyed listening to your voice,” Armin explained. He was blushing but he didn’t bother trying to hide it from you this time.

With an embarrassed smile, you replied, “I didn’t know you paid any attention to me at all back then.”

“Of course I did. The first time you talked to me, I think I short circuited,” he laughed out.

You smiled at the memory.

You shyly approached your favorite scout. You had overheard a conversation he had with Mikasa and Eren about the outside world and you were very curious about what he was talking about. You just hoped he wouldn’t be mad that you were eavesdropping.

“Hey Armin, can I ask you about something?” you asked, embarrassed. He looked startled that you had come up to him and seemed to be at a loss of words. “I hope I’m not bothering you.”

At the sound of your voice, he seemed to snap out of it, “Oh, of course. Would you like to sit?”

You nodded and sat in front of him. You were alone right now so you didn’t bother hiding your curious excitement, “Can you tell me about what’s outside the walls?”

His eyes lit up at your question and you both spent the entire night talking.

“Yeah, I remember. I thought you were scared of me,” you giggled.

Armin offered no reply, instead just staring at your eyes. He was examining your face as if looking for something.

His eyes trailed down towards your lips and you instinctively licked them. At the motion, he looked back up at your eyes and gave you a soft smile.

You're not too sure how, but you both seemed to be a lot closer to each other than the start of the conversation. It felt like there were magnets in both of you that were aching to be connected. Eventually Armin closed the space between you until you were sharing the same breath.

“May I, please?” Armin whispered. You let your eyes fall closed and gave him a shaky nod.

His lips were a lot softer than you thought they were, knowing he bit his lips when he was focused on something. He kissed you with such a soft passion that you almost felt faint. There was so much love radiating from him and his kiss. You relished the feeling of his hands holding your face and for only a second you forgot about Eren and the rumbling.

The kiss only stopped when you both needed to gather your breaths, though your mouth chased his for one last, reassuring peck.

You both sat back against the railing of the boat, not bothering to look away from each other or hiding your blushes.

You giggled in the silence.

With loving eyes, Armin asked, “What’s funny?”

Your giggles quieted before a bittersweet look took over your face. “It’s just, I’ve been waiting years for that and it took the end of the world to make it happen.”

His face matched your bittersweet look before he replied, “Yeah, but if we die, we won’t die with any regrets now.”

In this tender moment, you embraced Armin, wrapping your arms around his neck. He almost fell back with your momentum. You both bury your faces in the other's neck and clasp the comfort the other gives.

You almost start crying again, thinking about the future ahead of you guys, but Armin’s hand rubbing your back soothes you.

“You need to make it out of this alive, please. I don’t think I would be able to handle burying you before your 13 years are up,” you voice cracks, your unshed tears finally falling from your face to Armin's white shirt.

“We’ll both make it out of this, I promise,” his voice cracks a bit too.

You both know that his promise isn’t fair. Neither of you have the power to make a promise like that but that doesn’t stop the sentence from bringing you both a modicum of reassurance of what might come. You spend the rest of the boat ride embraced and savor as much of each other as you can.

#aot #armin arlet x you #armin arlet fluff #armin arlert #armin attack on titan #armin arlet imagines #attack on titan #shingeki no kyoujin imagine #armin arlet x reader #fanfiction

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