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afewproblems · 7 months

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Season Two Halloween AU Part Eight

Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four, Part Five, Part Six Part Seven

Synopsis: What if Eddie had been at Tina's Halloween Party in Season Two? Featuring Steve!Whump, Stancy Breakup, and Eddie just trying to keep up with all these new revelations about who King-Steve actually is...

As always, thank you thank you to the lovely Jess @strangersteddierthings for letting me brainstorm and send spoilers!

***

Eddie pulls gently on the strap of Dustin's safety goggles, trying as much as he can not to snag his curls in the process.

Almost everyone is decked out in their make-shift protective gear, with bandanas over their mouths, swim goggles --hell, even an old diving mask that Lucas found in the Byers basement. Mike won the painters mask, even though it's slightly too big on his little face.

When Eddie asks if all of this is really necessary, Dustin, Lucas, and Mike all glare ferociously at him before shouting over top of one another about how the Upside Down is toxic and that Will had been lucky last year, and to stop being an idiot.

Eddie looks to Max who shrugs and pulls down her own swimming goggles over her eyes.

"Don't look at me, I'm new here remember?" She mutters, walking towards the pile of various items the kids brought with them. She grabs a pair of rubber gloves and tosses them at Eddie who manages to catch one while the other falls limply into the dirt.

"They went in full body suits last year, on oxygen, to save Will," Dustin adds, his voice slightly muffled by the floral scarf wrapped around his face, "as little exposed skin as you can, it isn't safe".

Eddie can't help but picture the last Sci-Fi pulp story he read in a zine with government conspiracies and men in yellow suits investigating supposed 'crash sites' in the desert.

He shivers and pulls his own black bandana from his back pocket to put on.

Steve hasn't moved since they parked and hauled everything out of the van for their descent.

He sits in the sliding side door of the van with his head between his knees and the bat between his hands. Steve had insisted on coming with them, despite the fact that he'd only just managed to stop vomiting about five minutes ago and the nausea is still kicking his ass.

Stubborn idiot.

Eddie shakes his head as he turns back to Dustin to find the kid has wandered closer, standing right beside him now.

"He's dating Nancy," Dustin says quietly, tipping his head towards Steve as surreptitiously as he can.

Eddie freezes at the words and tries to keep his face blank in the way he's seen Steve do, he's not sure he's managed it but the way Dustin rolls his eyes.

Eddie opens his mouth to respond, with what he isn't sure of given the chorus of shitshitshitshitshit playing on a loop in his head.

Dustin beats him to it.

"But Mike told me they've been fighting lately, if it helps?"

Eddie just stares, his mind running a mile a minute, his eyes search Dustin's face for any hint of malice or disgust. But there's nothing.

"You don't…care?" Eddie says slowly, softly, he looks around to the other kids to see if anyone else is listening.

They all continue to argue and bicker over the equipment except for Max who has walked over to Steve to hand him a pair of rubber gloves. She leans down and tilts her head to look at Steve who still hasn't moved from his position in the van door.

Dustin shrugs, "why should I? I know what people say about it, but you protected us, you stayed," he looks at Eddie with fierce blue eyes, "bullies talk a lot of shit about other people for what they like".

"And you're not bad Eddie, you're good, just like everyone here".

Eddie blinks trying to ignore the tightness in his chest at the words and the sting behind his eyes.

'You're a good kid Ed, that's all that matters,' Wayne had told him the day he came out. 'And I'll love you no matter what'.

So that was at least two people who didn't think he was the town 'freak' -- but a stubborn image of Steve's expression that night by the pool comes to mind as he vehemently argued against being scared of Eddie during the now infamous Halloween party.

Three people then.

"If it helps, he wouldn't shut up about Dallas after he and Nance watched the Outsiders last year so," Dustin shrugs again, this time with the slightest teasing grin.

Eddie is overcome with such a strong feeling of fondness for the kid that he reaches out and pulls Dustin into a one armed hug that's really more of a headlock than anything else. Eddie takes off Dustin's hat to ruffle his hair before putting it back on and tugging it down over the kids eyes, he snorts at the squawk that Dustin makes in response.

"Dallas huh?" he says with a grin before clearing his throat, "I've always been more partial to a pretty boy myself".

He laughs as Dustin pushes him off muttering under his breath, "everyone's obsessed with relationships," which only makes Eddie laugh harder.

Maybe it's the hysteria of the situation, maybe it's the exhaustion loosely wrapping itself around his hands, but in this moment Eddie lets himself push away why they are standing in the middle of this field in the pitch dark, and lets himself reach out for what was previously impossible.

He claps Dustin on the back and tips his head towards the rest of the party getting ready.

"How distracting can you be?" Eddie asks in a low conspiratorial voice.

Dustin frowns, his eyes dart from where Max is struggling to pull on a second blue rubber glove after getting the first one on to where Steve is finally managing to sit up in the van, pulling on the gloves Max left him with, and rolls his eyes again.

"Yeah, yeah, you get five minutes," Dustin drops his voice slightly, and if it's an imitation of Eddie barking orders at the kids earlier, it's pretty good actually.

Eddie huffs and sends Dustin a wink before turning on his heel and making his way to the van.

Steve has managed to finally sit up properly and in the moonlight it appears that the green caste to his face is also gone. He looks up as Eddie approaches, and sends him a wane smile.

"How you feeling?" Eddie says softly. He crouches down on the balls of his feet so he and Steve are at eye level and reaches out for his shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze. It's as though a dam has burst ever since he was able to gather Steve in his arms in the van, he can't stop reaching out for him.

"Like my head has a pulse," Steve answers after a moment, "kinda how it felt after Jon cleaned my clock last year, but worse".

He shrugs and gives Eddie a small smile that stretches his split lip until a small bead of red appears, Steve winces and swipes his hand over the cut, "I'm kinda hoping it doesn't become a yearly thing, you only get so many concussions ya know?"

No Eddie doesn’t know, but he was also never a jock, dodging elbows, or balls, or apparently monsters in the woods on the regular.

He looks back at the kids, only to see Dustin pointing at the watch on his wrist; even in the dark Eddie can read Dustin's expression.

Hurry up.

Eddie swallows roughly and turns back to Steve, who doesn't move his gaze quickly enough to hide his own stare.

The wistful pinch of Steve's brow is still there, plain as day, and it cements Eddie's decision.

He leans closer, close enough that his nose is nearly touching Steve's own.

"I need to tell you something, and I need you to let me get through it because we don't have a lot of time, okay?"

Steve blinks once, his wide hazel eyes search Eddie's face as he slowly nods, his mouth opens but Eddie reaches up and presses his palm to gently cover it.

"You caught me off guard before," he whispers quickly, before Steve can move the hand on his mouth, "when you told me about your Nonna".

He sees Steve's eyes go even wider and feels him freeze under his hand, but he has to keep going.

"And I thought, you couldn't possibly be saying what I thought you'd were saying, I couldn't--"

Eddie forces himself to meet Steve's gaze this time, as though he could simply transfer his thoughts directly, save himself the embarrassment of trying to make the words come.

He takes a deep breath in, releasing it slowly through his nose.

"I couldn't let myself hope, not then".

"But when I thought you were dead on the floor, that Billy had broken you into a million pieces and we would never be able to put you back together again and I realized," Eddie moves his hand now, letting it travel along Steve's jaw, to the back of his head. He swipes his thumb along the crest of Steve's cheekbone and tries not to let the way the other man holds his breath deter him.

"That I might not get another chance to be that person your Nonna told you about, if I didn't tell you how I felt".

Steve blinks again and Eddie halts, letting go of Steve completely as he watches the wide hazel eyes grow shiny in the moonlight.

Oh fuck.

Steve's nose flares slightly with how rapidly he's breathing and his mouth opens and closes in quick succession as he seems to struggle to find the words to respond.

"I--"

"Steve! Eddie!" Mike calls out from behind them, "we are running out of time! Let's go!"

Eddie curses under his breath and whirls around; Mike stands at the edge of the cavern, his hands on his hips in a similar position to one Steve held earlier, the painter's mask pulled up to reveal the irritated frown on his face.

Dustin has his own face in his hand but looks up soon enough to offer Eddie a resigned shrug.

He catches Max watching the exchange with curious eyes, her face tilting between Eddie, Dustin, Mike, and Steve, but he can't think about that now.

Not with Steve pushing himself up from the van on unsteady legs, he brushes past Eddie, reaching up with a shaking hand to pinch his nose.

Eddie darts a hand out to catch Steve's elbow, halting his path.

Steve lets him.

Eddie takes a step closer, wracking his brain, trying to figure out what he could have said to make Steve so upset, had he read him wrong after all, had he overstepped somehow?

"Steve," he says softly, his grip on Steve's elbow is loose but steady as he pulls him closer.

Steve doesn't turn to look at Eddie but he doesn't move away either.

"What the hell is the hold up assholes!" Mike barks out again and Eddie lets himself throw a dirty glare at the kid, which Mike merely rolls his eyes at.

The attitude on these kids.

Mike does eventually turn, pulled by Dustin, back to the rope that Lucas is securing to the nearby fencepost, hopefully distracted for long enough to let Eddie figure this out.

But before he can say anything, Steve is pulling himself away from the grip on his elbow, “Eddie--”

"Please,” the word falls out of his mouth, desperate, louder than he wants, “please Steve, just, promise me we'll talk”.

Steve turns his face slightly, just enough that Eddie knows he sees him.

His eyes are no longer wet, but still red rimmed, his nose slightly pink, the same way he looked that night at the halloween party sitting on that rock in the dark.

“Okay,” Steve whispers into the night air, quickly and quietly before he presses forward.

Eddie lets him go, his empty hand drops limply at his side as he watches Steve make his way back to the kids. He snatches an unused pair of goggles from the nearly empty pile on the ground and checks the post where Lucas had secured the rope.

Eddie watches from the sidelines as Steve seamlessly moves back into Babysitter mode, and while some part of Eddie is relieved at this, he can’t help but miss the way it felt to hold Steve, to put him back together again.

Even if it was just for a moment.

Part Nine Now Up!

Tag List:

@eriquin @luvinthefreaks @cinnamon-mushroomabomination @goodolefashionedloverboi @ellietheasexylibrarian @bambibiest @sadboislovebeans @howincrediblysapphicofyou @coleys-a-nerd @whycantiuseunderscore @airconditioning123 @xxfiction-is-my-realityxx @corrodedbisexual @starman-jpg @ilovecupcakesandtea @yoriposts @clumsiluni @pelinelin @phantomcat94 @lololol-1234 @anaibis @steveshairspray @hellfireone @eddielives1986 @sunswathe @tentativeghost @robin-not-batman @estrellami-1 @manda-panda-monium @tinyplanet95 @perseus-notjackson @queenie-ofthe-void @rainbowsaw @sp0o0kylights @littlebluejane @hi-im-eff @phantypurple @just-ladyme @thoroughlycollected @justrandomfandomstm @swimmingbirdrunningrock @finntheehumaneater @dynamic-powerm@nightmareglitter @genderless-spoon @zaddipax @thebiblesays @pyrohonk @emly03 @geekymagicalpotato @sidebarre @lemon-astra @cipounette @discreetapple @starlitlakes @saphhicwitchbitch @marvel-ous-m @lingeringmirth @honorarybrit81 @bookbinderbitch @finntheehumaneater @lololol-1234 @eddie-munsons-missing-nipple @monsterloverforhire @gaydrieeen @starlight-archer @homosexual-having-tea @devondespresso @rennnnon @my-hyperfixations-hell-blog

And a few people I think may be intersted!

@steddierthings @steddie-there @stevesbipanic @henderdads

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gibuckaroo · 21 days

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you can’t convince me these two scenes aren’t the same! bc like you two are really telling this to the person who sees you the most and the one who despite of trying not to click with you still fit so seamlessly in your life so easily so fast?

#911 abc #eddie diaz #evan buckley #shitumblrtag #buddie #buddie 911 #THEY ARE DRIVING ME INSANE #JEALOUS BUCK #JEALOUS EDDIE #PINING BUCK #PINING EDDIE #AND PETTY EDDIE DIAZ!!!!#u know what ure doing edmundo #911 spoilers #911 s7 #911 s6

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plistommy · 8 months

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Eddie loves taking long walks during chilly autumn nights.

One of his favorite places to walk is Lover’s Lake. The quietness of the forest and the fog coming from the lake are the rare few things that he enjoys. That makes him calm.

But Lover’s Lake is not a place to come during the spring or summer if you want to be alone. It’s full of drunk screaming teenagers with their little parties and get-togethers with their so-called ’best friends’ that they’re gonna leave once they go to college.

Eddie didn’t give a shit about any of that.

Sure, he went to parties, couple of times, but even when he still wasn’t called Eddie ’The Freak’ Munson, no one cared about him. They still thought he was weird, unfitting. Maybe it was the clothes he wore or the buzzcut, but Eddie always knew even if he looked like them, he would never be accepted.

After that, he just stopped caring at all. He kept to himself and went on these stupid little walks that actually ended up making him somehow feel better.

He’d usually take a couple beers with him so he could sit on his favorite spot, a rock right next to the lake where he sometimes dips his feet even if it’s freezing.

That was the plan for tonight as well.

Eddie was about to arrive at his usual spot, smoking his third cigarette when he spotted something unusual.

A car. And not just any car. Billy’s Hargrove’s blue fucking camaro that the guy drives around like a damn maniac.

Eddie let out a frustrated sigh.

No way Billy had brought some girl here to fuck with. Out of everywhere, to Eddie’s spot.

This was just his fucking luck. Of course Billy out of everyone would choose this place just to fuck with him.

Sure… the other man didn’t know this was his spot, but fuck did it still annoy Eddie. Now he had to leave and forget his relaxing night just because Billy Hargrove wanted to get his dick wet with some random girl.

Eddie dropped his finished cigarette to the ground and stepped on it, cracking his neck a little before turning around and starting to walk off.

But then he heard it. A little muffled, but still clear.

”Stop fucking around, Harrington. No one’s gonna find us.”

Eddie quickly turned back around and tried to think if what he had just heard was right.

”Harrington?” He whispered.

”Ah, but— but someone could be taking a w-walk or something. I can’t be too lou- FUCK!”

”Sorry, Pretty Boy.”

Eddie heard deep laughing after that. And he knew whose it was.

It was Billy Hargrove’s.

A knot was forming in his stomach. He didn’t want to think what he was thinking, but something in Eddie knew he had to go and look, just in case. He had to know what was going on, even if it was wrong.

So, he took a small step. Careful not to stupidly step on a branch and expose himself slowly walking to the clearing from the forest walls.

He walked closer to the camaro, slowly creeping next to it, the sounds becoming louder and louder of the other two as he finally made it.

Eddie heard deep moans and grunts. A noise of something hitting something repeatedly and a small but clear sound of the radio playing from the camaros open window.

Eddie cursed at himself a couple of times before building the courage to slowly peek from behind the camaro.

He felt his heart skip a beat when he finally saw the source of the ongoing noises and who were the people making them.

There they were.

Billy Hargrove on his back on top of a raggy looking blanket with… Steve Harrington.

Steve Harrington who was riding the other man, head thrown back and making loud little ah ah ah’s with every hard thrust Billy was meeting him with.

The blond man looked smitten by the other. Moving his hands up and down Steve’s waist, thighs, ass that Eddie only had the side view of. He sometimes even pinched the other’s nipples that had gotten hard from the cold weather.

Billy was saying something to Steve, something that made the brunette laugh before letting out a moan again when he moved his hips just right.

Eddie could swear he had somehow died, because this couldn’t be real.

The whole view was out of a dirty porn he had once watched that he stole from his dealer's house. Something to do with the bad boy fucking the town’s good girl or some cliché like that. But that shit never actually happens.

Eddie had to pinch himself to try and wake the hell up, but nothing happened. Here he still was, dumbfoundedly staring as Billy pushed Steve down and quickly put himself between the other’s thighs.

Eddie knew the moment he pushed his cock back inside Steve because that’s when the brunette whined loudly and started to beg for more.

And shit… did Hargrove go fucking fast.

When the moans got more obscene and when he finally saw the other two kiss, that’s when Eddie bolted.

He ran as fast as he could, his heart in his throat and once he reached his van, he jumped in and drove off, breaking a couple of laws while he was at it.

When he got back to his trailer and to his room after quietly walking past Wayne who had fallen asleep on the couch he quickly took his shoes off and went straight to bed with his clothes on.

He didn’t sleep that night, not really.

He didn’t sleep the whole weekend. He couldn’t, with all the things going through his head.

When Monday came along and it was school again, he got himself up and was at school earlier than usual.

He went about his day as usual. Did the things he always did.

Except maybe he focused more on other things now.

Like how Billy Hargrove and Steve Harrington looked at each other during lunch when they thought no one was watching. Or when they were both leaving at the same time and saw each other at the school’s parking lot while Billy pretended to flirt with a girl.

When Steve drives off with his car, leaving Billy to look after him with a frown.

And maybe… maybe when Steve finally looked at Eddie during their shared class that week, Eddie looked at him differently.

Maybe now he didn’t give him his usual glare. Maybe he just stared at him, telling him that he knew.

Knew that that chaste kiss they shared during the 1980 summer camp wasn’t just ’stupid mistake’ and ’wrong’ like Steve had said the next morning.

That it had meant something to that small and big eyed boy that had been giggling at everything Eddie had joked about during those days.

That those small touches and when he held Eddie’s hand when they kissed wasn’t just because he thought it would be a mistake.

No.

He had meant it.

”What are you staring at, man?” Steve had said to him, giving him that small pout Eddie honestly wanted to kiss off of him.

”Nothing. Don’t worry your little head, Pretty Boy.” Eddie had said mockingly, making Gareth laugh next to him.

But Steve didn't laugh. Eddie loved watching his pout turn into a small shock and just as he was about to ask something, the bell rang.

He gave Steve a wink, making the other blush and that’s when had taken off, leaving confused and nervous Steve Harrington behind.

Sure, maybe he got some angry looks from Hargrove after that and maybe the stronger man sometimes pushed him a little harder on the cramped school halls, making him stumble, but they never mentioned it.

Never said anything.

Maybe that’s how it was supposed to be. Maybe it was better this way.

But Eddie still couldn’t get the image of Steve off his head.

And how he sometimes wishes to have been Billy then. Been the one to make Steve feel that way.

To make him scream.

#Eddie watching Billy fuck Steve SLAY #harringrove #steddie #KEHEHEH #harringroveson rot came to my head all of sudden #mostly it’s harringrove and steddie tho BUT ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN #Pining Eddie #Jealous Eddie #THE BEST #harringroveson #billy hargrove #steve harrington #eddie munson #stranger things #my writing #lemon

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sweet-sammy-kisses · 21 days

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Buck was dating a man. Buck was bisexual. Buck is dating Tommy.

As Buck looked at him with fear in his eyes, afraid to be rejected, Eddie couldn't stop himself from resting his thumb in the hollow spot in Buck’s shoulder and his free hand resting on his waist. "I am proud of you for telling me. I will never reject you, Buck, for who you choose to love. I've got your back. I am happy for you and Tommy." He couldn't understand why they tasted like ash in his mouth.

Until he watched Tommy holding Buck close, laughing as he guided Buck through the dance. He wanted it to be him, who was holding Buck close and kissing him softly. He was in love with Buck, and Buck was with Tommy. Tommy had been brave enough to do what he didn't even realize he wanted at that moment.

#tommy x buck #buddie #pining Eddie #my fic #sherri writes #i might write a full fic #where eddie comes to realize #that he is in love with buck #and tries to be a good friend #while pining for the love of his life

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tardisimpalalover16 · 28 days

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I want Buddie to happen just as much as the next person does but I would really really love if abc didn’t just rush them to be together in this season. There are only ten episodes. I just keep imagining that season 7 ends with a domestic Buddie scene—sitting down on the couch together sipping beer watching a movie with Chris. That could very well lead up to a kissing moment (hence very lovely blushy Ryan Guzman) and he (Eddie) literally wakes up on the couch, dazed and confused. Going “oh my god, I’m in love with Buck.”

Season eight could continue on as Eddie Diaz is a good catholic Mexican guy. I think he will have lots of emotions and hardships accepting those feelings, and also being like yah it’s so easy to love Buck. He’s been doing it for years. Mr.I-put-you-in-the-will. Can’t get any more heart eyes than that tbh.

Of course I’m such a big fan of pining, and this man has been pining forever even if he doesn��t realize it (Thank you Ryan). I would just appreciate a knowing he’s in love pining.

#is that too much to ask #911 on abc #911 abc #911 #buddie 911 #eddie x buck #evan buck buckely #eddie diaz #pining eddie #jealous!eddie #fucking love jealous Eddie #he can show up in season 7 #spoilers #??? maybe #of course #I’m not trying to get my hopes up #they always say Buddie is going canon #but a girl can dream #they are pretty canon if you ask me

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wolfmadefromash · 15 days

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Okay so... I have another 7x05 first date fic... This one is highly unlikely to be how the date plays out, and not how I think Tommy view his interaction with Buck in 7x04 at all. But the idea came to me sitting in traffic this morning and well, here we are.

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hellcheerficdatabase · 8 months

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here's still time to change the road you're on

Author: herbsaint_saz Rating/Warning: Teen and up audience Chapter Count: 1/1 Description: “Something…stronger? For you?” Eddie watches as Chrissy deflates, “I just— I don’t know what else to do. I can’t do this anymore. She— I can’t get away from her.” “What if you could?” Eddie wants to escape the draft, and Chrissy wants to escape her life. So they decide to run away together. Tags: Alternate universe- no vecna, 70s au, draft, Chrissy deserves better, pining Eddie, Eddie POV, one-shot, drabble, status: completed

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vesselforsatin · 1 year

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I started writing this for Valentines Day, but my health and job got in the way of me finishing it. It's way too late to finish this. At least for htis year. So I’m posting what I did get done for my Steddie Valentine’s Day fic. The idea was supposed to be that Eddie is a secret romantic and wants someone to express it all to. And he's had a thing for Steve for years because I love the headcanon. They end up spending Valentines Day together and Eddie romances/woos Steve the way he deserves. Maybe next year I'll finish it. But for now, this is an unfinished fic that's just Eddie pining. And I thought of these two lines, which had to be written:

“Isn't it against the laws of metal to be romantic?” Steve asked with a teasing grin.

“I don’t think so. I think it’s metal as fuck to be emotionally vulnerable with someone you’re into and to treat them with the romance they deserve.”

So enjoy under the cut!

(Also I haven't written anything that wasn't academic in forever. Please be kind)

Eddie would never admit it out loud, but he secretly yearned to let out all of the romantic fantasies inside his head. He maintained his cynical appearance on the outside. It paired with the rest of this aesthetic and it kept him safe. But deep down, Eddie was a giant softie. He craved affection and love. He wore his heart on his sleeve and everyone close to him knew it. So when Steve Harrington came barreling into his life and then refused to leave, Eddie's secret romantic desires reached an all time high. How could they not when Steve was so kind and caring? He had a dorky sense of humor that made Eddie crack up even when the jokes were lame. He was smart in a way that differed from the genius teenagers they surrounded themselves with, and picked things apart in a way that fascinated Eddie. And of course, he was the most beautiful man Eddie had ever seen.

He remembered freshman Steve Harrington, with his church boy clothes and shy smile. He was too cute not to catch Eddie's eye. Steve continued to catch Eddie's eye even as he transformed into the king of Hawkins High. Even when his shy smile had become a confident smirk, Eddie thought Steve was cute. Then Steve's fall from grace happened. His hair started to grow out. He spent most the fall wearing sunglasses to hide the ugly bruises on his face. He started wearing sweaters that looked soft Eddie reached out to touch without even thinking. Luckily, one of the guys were usually there to smack his hand away when Eddie's impulse control failed him. Then summer came and Eddie thought he'd seen the last of Steve Harrington. He walked into Scoops only one time before the mall blew up. Seeing Steve in a tight, short sailor suit was too much for Eddie. Especially when Steve turned around and Eddie noticed how pink his lips were. And were those highlights in his hair? Robin told him once how beat up Steve was when Starcourt exploded, but Eddie thought he'd still think Steve was beautiful. He certainly did when Steve was caked in mud, smelled like a sewer, and was borderline bleeding out. He was sure he admitted something like that in his delirium as Steve and Nancy dragged his body out of the Upside Down. But no other phase of Steve Harrington compared to the current one.

Maybe it was because Eddie finally knew Steve and didn't just have to admire from afar. Maybe it was because Eddie finally knew what it felt like to have those beautifully expressive hazel eyes focus solely on him. He now knew firsthand how caring and soft Steve could be, even when he was in pain himself. He also delighted to see that the bitchy side of Steve still existed and could demolish a person with just a few words partnered with a glare. That and Steve's protectiveness was what kept Eddie safe the first few months he started appearing in public again. Unfortunately, it made Eddie's longtime crush develop into full on love. Which made him act like a total idiot and flirt non-stop. And no matter how smooth Eddie tried to be, he'd start tripping over his words the second Steve smiled or laughed. He'd lay awake at night and try to plan how he'd flirt with Steve. He'd eventually fall asleep to the thought of showering Steve with the affection pent up inside of him and domestic fantasies that felt so out of reach. Eddie was both a hopeless romantic and just hopeless in general, but he was determined. In the weeks leading up to Valentine's Day he'd walked up to Steve with all the confidence he could muster, flirt for a while, and then chicken out before asking him out. Afterwards, he'd wallow in his misery while Robin rolled her eyes while patting him on the back. She finally snapped a few days before Valentine's Day and declared herself his wingman because in her words, "It's honestly embarrassing at this point. This is for the greater good and my own sanity." Eddie was just happy for any help he could get.

#steve harrington #eddie munson #steddie #pining eddie #stranger things #unfinished fic #unfinished steddie fic #kind of pre-season 4 steddie #platonic Eddie/Robin #idk if they have a name or not #platonic Stobin #obviously bc they're ride or die til the end #I'm exhausted and cannot think of any other tags #let me know if I missed something

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steddie-fanfic-recs · 7 months

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don't tell me you're bi

by starsdontsleep

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationship: Steve Harrington/Eddie Munson Character: Eddie Munson, Robin Buckley, Steve Harrington Additional Tags: Eddie Munson Lives, Pining Eddie Munson, Gay Eddie Munson, Eddie Munson Has a Crush on Steve Harrington, Bisexual Steve Harrington, Oblivious Eddie Munson, Misunderstandings, Steve Harrington Has a Crush on Eddie Munson, Good Friend Robin Buckley, Wingman Robin Buckley, Gay Disaster Eddie Munson, Idiots in Love, Coming Out, Boys In Love, Getting Together, Fluffy Ending, Fluff without Plot Words: 2,537 Chapters: 1/1

Summary

Steve comes out as bisexual and Eddie is certain that it's the end of the world and a ticket to heartbreak. Robin thinks he's an oblivious idiot.

#steddie #steddie fic rec #oneshot #1-5k #pining eddie #getting together #fluff #misunderstandings

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angelwiththeblue-box · 1 year

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#val rambles #polls #tumblr polls #madney wedding #buddie #buck x eddie #pining eddie #911 on fox #911 spec #911 fox #911 6x15

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afewproblems · 4 months

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Season Two Halloween AU Part Ten (Final Part)

Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four, Part Five, Part Six Part Seven Part Eight Part Nine

Thank you to Jess @strangersteddierthings for your encouragement and kind words, and to all of you that have been following along with this story. Thank you for your patience, I hope you enjoy the final installment!

***

It doesn't take much to get Dustin on board, especially given the little shits ego.

Nancy and Eddie manage to catch him outside during lunch period the following day, next to the bike racks. With Hawkins Middle just a block away from the highschool, it's easy to make their way over.

"Called it, I totally called it," Dustin preens with a wide grin, Eddie holds back the urge to roll his eyes.

Nancy levels Dustin with an unimpressed glare as she crosses her arms.

"It's not too late, we could make this work without him," Nancy says dryly, and Eddie has to bite his cheek to keep from laughing at the way Dustin's mouth drops open as he looks between Nancy and Eddie with a stricken expression.

"No, wait!" Dustin says, his voice pitched high with panic, "I want to help!"

"Steve is a good guy, he helped my mom with the groceries last week because she had to work late," the kid continues, his voice softer now.

"I can tell he's sad, when he thinks you aren't looking at him, mom had the same thing after my dad left".

Dustin looks up at Eddie now, a wary suspicion in his eyes, "he's been like that since the last time I covered for you," he throws long exaggerated finger quotes around the word, 'covered' as he openly glares at Eddie.

"What did you say to him before the tunnels?" Dustin demands fiercely, and even Nancy turns to look at Eddie with a questioning tilt to her head.

Frustration courses through his chest now, hot and bubbling, he has to take a deep breath to keep from yelling.

As if Eddie hasn't been asking himself that very question, as if he hasn't been turning that moment over and over in his mind, trying to find the moment, the words, responsible for Steve's distance.

"Dustin," Nancy says sharply, "this is not the time--"

"What are you talking about," Dustin turns to Nancy, gesturing at Eddie who bristles, "we're making a plan and that should include what not to say this time."

"This was a stupid idea," Eddie bites out, turning on his heel, his ears are warm under his hair and he can feel the angry flush slowly make its way down his neck, he takes three steps before a hand catches his elbow, halting his path.

"Okay Dustin knock it off," Nancy says quietly, her head on a swivel, watching for any lunchtime stragglers lingering around them or teachers on supervision.

Satisfied that no one seems to be watching their conversation, she turns back to Eddie and squeezes his elbow one last time before letting her hand drop away, "and you, calm down, we're all here because we want the same thing".

"Well, some of us more than others," Dustin pipes up, wiggling his eyebrows at Eddie who wants to sink into the concrete.

"Dustin," Nancy bites out between her teeth, "Mike said the Snowball is in two days, think you could get Steve to take you?"

Dustin scrunches his nose as he looks at Nancy, "are you kidding," he scoffs, "all I have to do is tell my mom Steve offered to take me and she'll call him to thank him, he'll have no choice but to agree like it was his idea".

Nancy blinks once at Dustin and Eddie can't help but stare at the little monster's face as he grins up at the two of them. It's honestly a good plan given what Eddie knows of Steve, and even Nancy begins to nod slowly.

"Okay, then your job," Nancy turns to Eddie now, "is to surprise him here when he arrives at the dance, Dustin's right".

Nancy doesn't look at the little twerp as she says it but nearly rolls her eyes at the triumphant laugh that bursts forth from the kid.

"An ambush is probably the best way to catch him, and Eddie," Nancy turns to fully face him and reaches out to squeeze his arm with small hands, "just…be gentle with Steve, as much as you can".

"Are we all clear on the plan then?" She asks, taking a step back towards the sidewalk path leading back to the school.

"Yes mom," Eddie huffs, shooting Dustin a matching grin as Nancy sighs loudly.

"Just be here for seven," she says tightly before turning in her heel and stalking off towards the highschool.

"She's pretty intense hey?" Eddie says, turning back to the kid, he trails off at the scowl Dustin gives him in response.

"Nance is cool and has a gun, I wouldn't mess with her and I wouldn't mess with Steve if I were you," Dustin scoffs, taking a step closer.

Eddie swallows roughly at the sudden proximity, looking around the school yard for any stragglers making their way back to class.

"Keep your voice down you little shit," he hisses, reaching out to pull Dustin farther away from the bike rack and the double front doors. He tries not to let the news of Nancy's weapon cache fluster him but Dustin must see something in Eddie's expression if the sudden smug grin is anything to go by.

"I'm just saying, you're new to the party and we protect each other, so if you're just looking to mess with him--"

"Jesus Christ," Eddie hisses, bringing his hands up to his eyes. He presses his fingers in until his vision explodes in a kaleidoscope of stars and counts to five, breathing deeply through his nose.

"I'm only going to say this one more time, so tell your little party because I ain't doing another shovel talk from someone whose voice hasn't even dropped".

Eddie ignores the squawk Dustin makes as he lowers his hands, "I just want to talk to Steve and see where this goes, I am not getting my hopes up that this is all gonna be 'Happily Ever After' or some shit, and you shouldn't either".

Eddie watches as Dustin frowns skeptically and has to bite the inside of his cheek to keep from rolling his eyes.

"But I swear, I'm not messing with him, okay?"

Dustin stares at Eddie for what feels like an age, saying nothing. His gaze is anything but warm, it feels like he's being analyzed and he wishes that Nancy were still here to absorb some of the strange attention the kid has focused on him.

Eddie is about to tell him to forget it, to storm off back to the highschool when Dustin finally utters a simple, "okay".

It throws Eddie off for a moment, he stands in the patchy November worn grass, shivering in the harsh wind, mouth opening and closing in surprise.

"That's it?" He asks faintly, watching as Dustin swings his backpack off his shoulder and unzips it. He reaches in and pulls out a bright yellow walkie talkie and holds it out to Eddie expectantly.

"The party frequency is 467.5625," Dustin says as Eddie takes the device.

He looks from the walkie in his hands to Dustin and scoffs, "you expect me to remem--"

"Channel eight then, Jesus," the kid huffs out, "don't make me take it back, this is a big deal Munson, you're one of us now".

Eddie holds back a smile but it's a near thing.

It feels strange, the warmth in his chest at the words. It shouldn’t feel as big as it does, but the heavy walkie in his hands feels like acceptance, something Eddie has always insisted that he never needed. He had Wayne, he had Hellfire, and Corroded Coffin, what did it matter if the other teens gave him a wide berth in the halls, or if teachers assumed the worst of him without evidence.

But as Eddie taps the walkie onto the palm of his left hand, that feeling of warmth grows until it travels up his throat into a sudden lump that chokes his words.

Fuck.

Eddie blinks away the burning sting in his eyes once, twice, before lowering himself into a bow to hide the moisture he knows is just a split second from becoming a very evident problem.

Dustin steps back in surprise as Eddie coughs to hide the waver in his voice.

"I uh, humbly accept your invitation and will endeavor to assist with all future quests, even upon pain of death or dismemberment oh noble bard".

Eddie lets a small laugh loose as he stands back up to his full height, grinning at the delighted giggle Dustin makes, even as the kid loudly insists that he's actually an Artificer, duh.

"Could've fooled me with that inspired speech dude," Eddie shakes his head and begins making his way back towards the highschool, letting gravity take him down the small hill towards the trees with heavy steps. He feels lighter now than he has in a while.

Absolutely nothing could go wrong.

"Wait!"

The sound of quick steps and crunching dead leaves announces Dustin before Eddie can even turn to face Hawkins Middle.

He skids to a stop at the bottom of the hill, breathing heavily with a wild grin on his small face.

"I know we have a plan already, but I think I have an even better idea," he breathes out, nearly vibrating in excitement.

"Better than Wheelers?" Eddie says, raising his eyebrow and slowly crossing his arms over his chest, careful not to drop the walkie in the grass.

"It's genius," Dustin insists, "trust me".

***

It was not genius.

It is in fact the stupidest thing that Eddie has ever done.

Including the time he skipped school to climb the tallest tree in Mirkwood on a dare and ended up breaking his collarbone after falling ten feet.

But, Eddie supposes, this is exactly what happens when one listens to a thirteen year old.

Maybe this was how all urban legends started, as unsolicited advice from snarky little pre-teens with more confidence than common sense.

All of a sudden, you end up stowed away in the back of a car trying your damnedest to keep quiet so as not to tip off the driver.

Who you happen to be eavesdropping on. Again.

Fourth time's the charm after all.

Eddie tries to stay as still as he can, crouched down in the back of Steve's Beemer. How the hell did those Urban Legend serial killers make this seem so easy, Eddie thinks as they manage to hit yet another pothole, jostling his position behind Dustin's seat. Eddie's heart beat feels incredibly loud in his ears as he holds his breath between his teeth.

He wonders belatedly just what Hopper would do if he drove past them now and tries to swallow the sudden anxiety that clings to his throat.

"Remember," Steve interrupts Eddie's thoughts with his insistent tone, "you don't care, you're as cool as a cucumber, you let everything roll off your back," Steve says as the sound of the turn signal begins, the rhythmic tick tock keeping pace with his words.

"Like a duck?" Dustin asks from the passenger seat and Eddie has to fight to keep the snort that threatens to break free from his nose.

"Uh, I guess, just, look," Steve sighs as they slow down for a light if the red glow is any indication, "you don't want to come on too strong, what happens when you come on too strong?"

"It blows up in your face," Dustin says quietly as Steve speaks in unison with him, slapping the steering wheel once with the flat of his palm, making Eddie flinch in the back.

God. Is that what Steve thinks he did?

"Exactly, Henderson, you got it! So what are you?"

"Cool as a cucumber," Dustin repeats, this time with more conviction in his voice and Eddie hopes the kid is a better actor than he thought because that is not the lesson he wants him taking away from this evening.

"Because you don't care," Steve says again, tapping the steering wheel with each word for emphasis and Eddie can hear the grin in his voice as he shifts in the driver's seat.

"I don't care," Dustin repeats again, though in a much colder voice than before, and suddenly Eddie knows if Dustin could see him now, he'd be staring daggers at him.

Eddie rolls his eyes, he's not going to take the blame for every single word and feeling coming out of Steve's mouth and it isn't fair of Dustin to heap all of it on Eddie.

"You look like a million bucks, go get em tiger," Steve says gently as the car comes to a gentle halt. There's a fondness in his voice that Eddie hasn't heard before.

He's never had a sibling either, but Eddie imagines that this is exactly how it would feel, witnessing their firsts, cheering them on as they head into the unknown. Being their protector from the things that go bump in the night, even if that thing was as small as a first heartbreak.

God. King Steve just had to be a secret sweetheart didn't he?

Not that it was really much of a secret, Eddie thinks as Dustin opens the passenger door and hops out of the car--

Oh shit.

He had been so engrossed in the conversation he'd been eavesdropping on, yet again, that Eddie had forgotten to sneak out.

He had even kept the back passenger door open, ever so slightly, to avoid the sound of it alerting Steve when he made his escape at the same time as Dustin. Then all they had to do was line up their doors closing at the exact same time and Steve would be none the wiser.

Oh God, he really did it, Eddie really listened to a thirteen year old and expected the plan to work.

And what's worse, he's the one that had fucked it up and now, he's trapped.

Eddie takes a deep breath through his nose and releases it as slowly as he can through his mouth. It feels as though an elephant is seated on his chest and his lungs can't quite keep up with the weight as his ribcage slowly begins to cave in.

He has to get out, he has to run, he has to get out, he can't be caught in here, he can't ruin this again.

He starts at a sudden tapping on the window and holds his breath as Steve leans over from the driver's side towards his passenger door.

"Dustin?" Steve huffs as he moves back into place, his arm stops to rest on the passenger door just above Eddie's legs hidden in the darkness of the back seat.

"Steve! I, uh, forgot something, in the back," Dustin's voice is slightly strangled as he stumbles through the explanation for his sudden reappearance, "uh, my backpack!"s in days with their plan in place.

"Okay," Steve says slowly, drawing out the second syllable as he drops his hand from the passenger seat, "let me look--"

"No!" Dustin barks out, leaning further into the vehicle, from the new angle Eddie can see the panic on his young face.

"Dustin? What--" Steve huffs as the kid climbs back into the front seat, grabbing Steve's arms and forcing him to continue facing forward.

And perhaps it's the absolute ridiculousness of the situation that makes Eddie laugh, the look on Dustin's face, or the confusion in Steve's voice, but he can't help but contain the loud snort that bursts forth from the back seat.

Shit.

Eddie's heart drops into the floor of the vehicle beneath him as Steve and Dustin both freeze.

It's like time stands still for an eternity, though snow begins to slowly fall outside the Beemer and the far off buzzing of music and laughter continues to emanate from the school gymnasium.

Eddie moves first, lifting his hands to cover his face as he slowly sits up. He presses his fingers harshly into his eyes until a kaleidoscope of stars and fireworks appear in the darkness, before lifting them slightly to move into his hair and pulling at the roots. Eddie keeps his eyes closed as he hears a sharp intake of breath and movement from the driver's seat.

"Eds? Dustin, what is going on, what are you doing here?" Steve says, his voice growing louder with each word until Eddie opens his eyes.

Steve is staring at him, his large hazel eyes are wide and his brows have pinched in the middle, cutting creases across his forehead. He looks at Dustin before turning back to Eddie again, the frown on his face slowly morphing into a sneer.

"Figures," Steve breathes out before turning to Dustin once more, "you two planned this?"

Dustin has the decency to at least wince at the accusation, "it's not like that--"

"Just," Steve cuts the kid off, the word harsh, almost a snarl before Steve deflates, sinking back into the driver's seat and letting his head drop back onto the headrest.

He breathes out long and slow through his nose before continuing in a much softer, tired voice, "go to the dance Henderson".

Dustin opens his mouth to rail against the dismissal, to stop whatever train of thought has run through Steve's mind, but Eddie beats him to it.

"Dustin," Eddie sighs, dropping his hands away from his hair to his lap, "let me take my lumps man, go".

Dustin makes a noise that seems to be a cross between a curse and a growl, his expression venomous, before he steps back and closes the passenger door with a loud metalic bang.

Eddie vaguely remembers Dustin and Nancy's threat and the guns she supposedly owns and suppresses a shudder.

One problem at a time.

Eddie hauls himself into the back seat and groans at the rush of pins and needles dotting along his arms as he moves into a normal position once more. He rubs his hands along his arms and legs, wincing at how loud he is in the absolute silence of the car.

Steve isn't looking at him, his face pressed in between his hands at 11 and 1 on the steering wheel.

"So," Steve mutters after a beat, startling Eddie as he sits back up from the wheel, "you were listening to me. Spying. Again."

"Steve," Eddie starts, only for the other man to continue on as though he hasn't heard him.

"The only thing I can't figure out is why?"

Steve turns in his seat to look at Eddie, his face carefully blank now but for the slight downward pull at the left corner of his mouth. The bruises from Billy's recent beatings have faded to a sallow yellow and even the collection of cuts from the shattered ashtray have begun to scab over.

The sight makes Eddie ache.

"Did Tommy put you up to this?" Steve interrupts Eddie's thoughts, his stare unwavering.

"What?" Eddie whispers, horrified, "what are you talking about?"

"You, you keep," Steve's voice rises slightly, a hysterical edge begins to creep in as his breathing quickens, "inserting yourself into my shit, you--I told you that I," Steve swallows heavily and blinks, his hazel eyes shine in the glow of the streetlight.

"Tommy is the only one who knows about me, so--so whatever he's got you doing," Steve sucks in another short breath, it's wet at the edges and Eddie feels his chest tighten as Steve's voice wavers.

"Steve--"

"You know what," Steve hisses as he reaches down to tug the keys out of the ignition, his breathing still slightly erratic, "just don't".

Eddie watches, frozen, as Steve wrenches the driver's door open and throws himself out of the vehicle, slamming the door shut behind him.

Eddie sits in silent shock for a moment, as though his limbs have filled up with sand, holding him in place, before he manages to scramble towards his own door.

"Steve!" He shouts, wincing as he slams the car door behind him, prompting several kids and parents walking into the middle school behind them to look in curiosity.

He catches a glimpse of a maroon sweater darting into the trees.

Gotcha.

Eddie hurries after him, cursing Dustin's insistence that, 'with this plan you won't need a coat, there's no waiting outside at all!'

He tamps down the hot feeling of irritation creeping up his chest and into his throat. It's a ridiculous night, first spent crouched into the back of a car and now traipsing through the woods to what?

Chase after someone who clearly wants nothing to do with him? Who has been purposefully avoiding him since that night in the tunnels.

Nancy and Dustin had it wrong, this was stupid.

What was he thinking going along with their batshit plan --not that Nancy deserved credit for the car thing, that was all Henderson.

Eddie pushes a branch out of his path and steps over a snow covered log, cursing the fact that he can feel the chill creeping into his toes through the thin canvas of his converse sneakers. The shoes also have little traction in the fresh snow that seems to be coming down even harder now as the night goes on.

As if to prove a point Eddie slips on a wet patch of leaves and swears at the sudden pain in his back as he struggles to keep upright.

He's breathing hard, puffs of frozen breath billow out and away from him in the cool night air

'Be gentle with him,' Nancy had said, as if she knew this would happen. As if she knew Steve would run the first chance he could and Eddie would follow.

He shakes his head and takes a deep breath, letting it in and out, allowing the frustration and anger from the last few days flow out with each breath.

"Steve," Eddie shouts as he finally catches a glimpse of maroon and tawny hair through the thicket, "just stop, man!"

Steve halts, halfway over a fallen log, but doesn't turn around.

Eddie ducks under another branch and into the small break in the trees that Steve is in. He can see the way the other man's shoulders rise and fall rapidly in the meager moonlight but whether from panic or exertion, Eddie can't tell.

"Steve," Eddie says as he takes another wary step forward, as though approaching a wild animal.

"You promised we'd talk," Eddie tries to swallow around the sudden lump in his throat, "was that a lie?"

Steve says nothing still, though he turns his face just enough that Eddie can make out his profile in the low light.

Eddie sighs heavily, sliding a shaking hand through his hair, "what would Tommy want with the town freak anyway, he'd be more likely to put sugar in my gas tank than talk to me about anything, Steve".

"So," Eddie breathes out slowly, feeling his heart rate begin to climb as he prepares to take the leap, "rewind a bit, and catch me up on just what is going on in that head of yours sweetheart".

He sees the moment the words register in the way Steve stiffens, the way he slowly turns towards Eddie, his face pale and his eyes wide.

"You…you've called me that before, in the car," Steve says slowly, in fits and starts, "I thought it was a dream".

Eddie takes another step closer, watches as Steve traces his movement with wary eyes.

"I think that was the most scared I have ever been in my life Steve, I thought you were dead, and it made me realize something," he swallows heavily, it feels like glass all the way down.

"I was an idiot," Eddie whispers, his breath floats away in the cold November air as he shivers, "and didn't understand what you were trying to tell me at the Byers".

Steve winces slightly and nods, he opens his mouth to say something but Eddie beats him to it.

"IthinkyourNonnawasontosomethingSteve," the words tumble out in a long nearly unintelligible string, "I want to be in your life, whatever that means, however you'll have me," his lungs stutter slightly as Eddie takes a deep steadying breath.

Steve's head tilts slightly to the left as he regards Eddie with a infuriating black expression, his eyes searching Eddie's own.

"As friends?" Steve says slowly. There's a leading note to his voice that Eddie tries not to wince at.

He can't quite help the way his shoulders drop at the words though. Of course, of course he'd been right the first time. Steve was straight and, despite his better judgment, Eddie had gone ahead and gotten his hopes up for nothing.

"If that's what you want," Eddie agrees, forcing a wane smile that doesn't meet his eyes.

Steve's expression betrays nothing still as he moves through the thicket in two steps, his gaze never wavering from Eddie's own as he crosses his arms over his chest, still guarded despite how close they are.

"And if I wanted something else?" Steve speaks softly now, the words travel in between them through gentle puffs of frozen breath.

They're nearly the same height, Eddie might be a half inch taller or so, but from this close it doesn't matter.

Eddie can see the flecks of green in his eyes, the collection of freckles and moles across his nose and cheeks; if Steve is an Autumnal King in a sunset, he's absolutely otherworldly in the moonlight. The pale snow falling around them almost makes it seem like he's glowing.

"Glowing huh?"

Fuck.

Steve's face splits into a soft smile, his eyes crinkle at the corners, pulling at the yellow bruised skin. He breathes out something resembling a laugh through his nose as he says, "well, you're not so bad yourself Munson".

Eddie takes another step closer, his heart racing at a mile a minute, "s'that right?" he asks, lifting his hands to grip at Steve's arms.

He lets his ungloved hands run up and down, reveling at how soft and warm the sweater Steve's wearing is before settling at his elbow.

Steve's eyes slowly trace over Eddie's face, before his expression morphs into the determined one that Eddie recognizes from that horrible night in the tunnels.

"I'm sorry," Steve swallows roughly before clearing his throat. He takes a deep breath and shakes his head as Eddie opens his mouth to speak, "please, just let me explain first, and then you can," he bites at the inside of his cheek as his hazel eyes move beyond Eddie's gaze into the trees.

"You can, make your decision or whatever".

Eddie hesitates for just a moment, squeezing Steve's arms once more before he lets go.

Steve gives Eddie a tight smile, before closing his eyes, "I've known Tommy since we were like six, sandbox kids right?"

"Our dads were friends, they worked together, so it just made sense, and we were close, we did everything together," Steve opens his eyes but doesn’t look at Eddie, "Tommy knows a lot about me, stuff I've never told anyone, not even Nance".

Steve sighs, kicking roughly at a cluster of leaves and snow on the ground, "not that she hasn't figured a bunch of it out, she's smart like that".

"I remember talking about girls for the first time when we were Dustin's age, Tommy had a crush on Linda Holloway, he liked her red hair," Steve smiles faintly, but it quickly disappears as he finally meets Eddie's eyes once more, "and I didn't think anything of it at the time, I just thought we were sharing who we thought was cute so I--"

He stops speaking, his breath stutters for a moment as he shakes his head once and curls his arms even more tightly around himself.

"Steve--" Eddie tries, reaching out once again with one hand before he curls his fingers away as though afraid to touch him.

Eddie wants to tell Steve that he doesn't need to continue, that he understands, but Steve has regained his voice, soft and unwavering.

"I told him about Mary McKinney, she let me borrow her pencil whenever I needed it and always wore her hair in braids," Steve licks his lips, his eyes flitting between Eddie now and the ground, "and, about Brian Donovan, he was on our little league team and he had the best dimples I'd ever seen".

Steve's lips twist into a shy smile this time as he looks at Eddie, "maybe second best now".

Heat rises in Eddie's cheeks, his heart thrums in his chest and he can't stop the pleased grin from taking over his face at the words.

God, he's so fucked.

Steve continues on, if he notices Eddie's blush in the low twilight he doesn't mention it.

"Tommy said that was weird to think of boys like that, the same way I thought about Mary, and not to talk about it again. That didn't stop him from bringing it up after that," Steve sighs heavily now, "I couldn't so much as make eye contact with another guy at school without Tommy telling me off".

Anger ignites in Eddie's chest, spreading up his throat and curling around his hands which suddenly long to meet Tommy Hagans stupid face.

He'd never cared for the guy. Too far up his own ass over the years with a mean streak a mile wide. Add to that a penchant for making other kids' lives absolutely miserable and you have a recipe for a douchebag that Eddie based nearly half of the Munson Doctrine on.

The other half, well, that had also been influenced by Steve, but if Eddie was being honest, he had no clue who the real Steve Harrington was.

No one did.

Hopefully, in time, Eddie could change that.

"I'm sorry for not trusting you," Steve whispers, his face tipped down to the ground, "I think I've had his voice in my head for so long that I couldn't stop myself from listening to it".

"You want to know the worst part?" Steve asks quietly, he scoffs, not bothering to wait for Eddie to reply, "he acted like he was doing me a fucking favour, like he was protecting me".

He shakes his head, lifting a hand to pinch the bridge of his nose as his voice wavers suddenly, "maybe he was, in his own way--"

"Nope," Eddie barks out, startling them both with the sudden volume filling the trees, "that rat was trying to save his own skin by trying to control you, you owe Tommy nothing".

Steve looks at Eddie with wide shocked eyes. He's standing so still that Eddie wonders if he's stopped breathing.

"Maybe he thought he was doing you a favour," Eddie laughs, it's a cold bitter thing that hangs low amongst the tree roots and plant litter, "and in public sure, I get it, but honestly if he could only be friends with this version of you, then he wasn't really ever your friend, Steve".

"If someone doesn't like you just as you are, then they aren't worth it".

Steve is still staring, he hasn't blinked the entire time that Eddie has been speaking…it's a little unnerving.

"So," Steve asks, hesitantly, halting Eddie's train of thought, "what about you?"

He's even closer now and, when the hell did that happen.

"Me?" Eddie says faintly, his eyes drop once to Steve's lips, they're slightly chapped but have never looked so God Damn kissable.

Eddie takes a deep breath, and smiles softly as he lifts his hands to grip Steve's elbows once again, squeezing gently before sliding them down to take his hands.

They're large and warm in his own, callused along the palms from where the nail bat had sat in his hands. Eddie lets his thumbs run along his knuckles, lingering on the healing scabs from his fight with Billy.

"You weren't what I was expecting," Eddie says, watching as Steve's head tilts again at the nonsequiteur, "especially after the party when I tried to give you back your sunglasses".

"You care, about the kids --even when they are being self destructive little shits, about Nancy even though she broke your heart," he traces his thumbs over the tops of Steves hands when his fingers twitch, "and you care about me, enough to put yourself out there even though you had no idea if I felt the same".

"You are brave, crazy brave to the point where I'm a little worried about why you're so quick to just throw yourself in front of danger, but," Eddie shakes his head as Steve bristles this time, ducking his face away from Eddie's watchful eyes, "we'll unpack that another day".

He takes a deep breath and slowly lets go of one of Steve's hands, shaking as he reaches up to cup Steve's jaw, tipping his face up until his eyes are level with Eddie's once more.

Steve's hazel eyes trace over Eddie's face, wide and glassy in the moonlight. They are close enough that Eddie can feel the shallow puffs of air against his lips as Steve's breathing quickens.

"Did the doctor say anything about your face," Eddie asks, gesturing at his own with his one free hand, "recovery time?"

Steve shakes his head with a confused frown.

"Good," Eddie takes a deep breath, allowing a wide lecherous grin to bloom, "because I like you, Steve Harrington, exactly as you are, and I'm going to kiss you," he lifts his other hand now to cup the other side of Steve's face, "but I only make it hurt if you want me to, big boy".

Eddie freezes as the words he just said register.

Oh Fuck.

Who pulls out Big Boy like five seconds after confessing their feelings?

Eddie groans lowly and shuts his eyes for a beat, only opening them at the tentative sound of Steve's voice.

"Eds," Steve laughs, his face flushed a deep scarlet, giving Eddie a sly smile of his own, "that was really bad, like really bad".

Eddie sighs, embarrassment beginning to curl, hot and heavy, in his chest as he removes his hands from Steve's face, "I know…"

He startles at the feeling of warm fingers wrapping around his own, drawing his hands back to where they had been on Steve's face, "it's a good thing I like you, so you can get more practice".

"Yeah?" Eddie whispers, his voice hoarse as though he can scarcely breathe. He watches as Steve smiles, counting the crinkles at the edges of his eyes and the way his scarlet flush has faded to a soft pink.

He wants to freeze this moment, burn it into his memory so he'll never forget the soft happiness in Steve's eyes.

"Yeah, Eds," Steve breathes against his lips as their noses brush, "exactly as you are".

Eddie's not sure which of them moves first, it's only the faint brush of chapped lips against his own that sets off an unhinged chorus of, 'Kisskissingkisswhatthefuckyou'rekissingSteveHarrington'.

Eddie's fingers tighten against Steve's face before his hands begin to move on their own, one along his jaw until it has wrapped around the back of his head, burying his fingers in thick soft hair. His other hand shifts slightly lower, his thumb presses into Steve's jaw until his head tips back.

The noise Steve makes against his lips as Eddie moves him sends a thrill down his spine. He feels two hands slide up his chest, over his shoulders, and around his neck as Steve presses himself even closer. Eddie's fingers tighten in Steve's hair, almost involuntarily, as the pulse under his thumb climbs even higher. Eddie hums contentedly and smiles into the kiss.

It's…God.

Kissing Steve is everything he's ever wanted. He tastes like peppermint, like the candy canes Dustin had brought Steve as a thank you for the ride to the dance, and Eddie can't help but wonder if the little shit had done so with this in mind?

No, nope. Definitely not thinking about that right now.

He tugs his mind away from the thought and opens his lips more to brush against Steve's with purpose, pulling a sweet moan from the other as he nips at his bottom lip.

He pulls back begrudgingly after another moment, relishing the heat, the softness of Steve pressed against him. They're still standing in the middle of the ravine just a few steps from the middle school and it would probably be best to continue this sort of thing in private.

Eddie shifts away just enough to run the tip of his nose down Steve's own, his heart fit to burst at the soft sigh Steve releases at the touch. His eyes are closed, but from the new blush that has spread from Steve's cheeks, to his ears and all the way down his neck, as well as the soft grin that pulls at his lips, Eddie can tell the feeling is mutual.

Eddie wonders just how many different shades of pink he could make Steve turn?

A thought for another day, Eddie thinks with a mischievous smirk, brushing his thumb along the crest of Steve's cheek.

"We should probably get back sweetheart," Eddie murmurs as he reluctantly removes his hands from Steve's face, "I can think of somewhere warmer we can go to talk".

Steve nods with a snort, knocking his shoulder into Eddie, "talk huh?"

"Is that not what the kids call it these days?"

Eddie drapes his arm around Steve's neck, tugging the other man closer. He comes all too willingly with a pleased grin stretched across his face.

"Besides," Eddie hums as they begin to make their way back the way they came, "my Uncle Wayne's been asking about when he can meet you --well after he weaseled it out of me, what was making me mope so much these last few weeks, he's already making Thanksgiving plans--"

They jerk to a halt, half slipping in the leaves and snow, he turns to Steve to meet his wide fearful eyes.

"You--your uncle knows, about me, about you?" Steve asks, the words stopping and starting as he speaks.

Eddie reaches out only for Steve to take a step back into the trees, "why would you tell him--"

"He doesn't know about you specifically, Steve, I would never do that," Eddie insists, he keeps his voice level now with how close they are to the school again, he can hear the sounds of teens yelling and laughing in the short distance.

"Okay, but he, he doesn't care about…"

Steve trails off, his teeth closing down on his bottom lip and though chewing on what he wants to ask.

Your uncle doesn't care about you being gay, being different?

Eddie sighs, resisting the urge to lift his hands and press his fingers into his eyes, "Uncle Wayne took me in a few years ago when my parents kicked me out for that so, no, it's pretty safe to say he doesn't".

"Oh," Steve says faintly. His arms come up around his chest as he begins to hunch in on himself yet again.

Well shit.

Now, Eddie isn't a hundred percent certain, but based on things that Steve has said, the warning that Nancy gave him, and what happened at the hospital, he knows that the Harrington house hasn't been the happy home he had assumed it to be.

And now, given the stricken look on Steve's face and the pinch in his gut, the doubts are fading even further away.

Eddie takes a deep breath, stepping onto the tightrope between them, he'll have to be careful about how he plays this, or Steve could bolt again. He's seen Steve run track at school, he knows the other man could easily outrun him.

Best not to give him a reason to.

"You know, not all parents, um, deserve to be parents sweetheart," Eddie says slowly, carefully, watching Steve's face as he speaks, "especially if they're never around".

He feels the rope between them wobble as he takes a step closer, holding out his hand.

"Especially if they don't love us for who we are Stevie," Eddie whispers, watching as Steve looks away sharply, his shoulders tense.

Eddie takes another deep breath before taking the leap, hoping that his feet will meet the ground beneath them.

"Wayne isn't like that, he's safe, and he wants to meet the person I've been mooning over for weeks now, if you're up for it".

Steve swallows once, twice, his jaw moves as though grinding what he wants to say between his teeth, his nose begins to redden as his eyes grow damp at the edges.

"Yeah," he manages to choke out, his voice cracks down the center as he draws one hand up to pinch the bridge of his nose, "maybe not, right, right now but --fuck, I'm sorry, I don't know why this keeps happening".

Eddie takes the last step and pulls Steve into his arms again; he stiffens at first before finally relaxing, almost boneless, against Eddie's chest. He feels Steve release a long hitching breath and squeezes him gently, rubbing his cheek against the slight stubble on Steve's own.

"Probably because it's been a really hard couple of weeks sweetheart," Eddie pulls back enough to look into Steve's eyes, they're red rimmed now and his lashes have begun to clump together, but even like this Steve still looks beautiful.

"Yeah," Steve says, he sniffs, wincing at the sound of his stuffy nose, "I think I could use a proper…talk, and a rest, if you're still up for it?"

Eddie feels a smile pulling at his lips as incandescent happiness glows in his chest. He pulls Steve closer once more, relishing the feeling of being able to hold Steve again, without the scent of blood and terror in the air.

"Lead the way then sweetheart," Eddie says softly, knowing he'll follow Steve wherever he goes. There's a lot more for them to talk about, but for now, he'll be there for Steve as his person, for as long as he can.

Forever if he can swing it.

Tag List:

@lizzicleromance @fairy-princette @eddiethehunted

And a few people I think may be intersted!

@steddierthings @steddie-there @stevesbipanic @henderdads @bramble-berries @flowercrowngods

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torensrus · 1 year

Text

9-1-1

Buck has a twin sister. They are always together. Left home together. Wandered the world together. Tried different jobs together and became firefighters together.

The problem is that they don't look alike and Eddie, who just joined 118 thinks they are husband and wife, and he really, really likes Buck.

The first person to realize the misunderstanding is the OC, but instead of correcting it, she begins to enjoy what's going on, occasionally pouring oil on the fire.

In the end, Eddie feels terrible about pining for a married man, the OC is having fun, the crew is trying to figure out what's going on, and Buck doesn't notice anything.

(Eddie: So exactly how long have you two been together?

OC, ahead of Buck: Since we were babies. Literally.

Eddie: That's... Long time.

OC: I can't remember a time when I didn't love Buck.

Buck, oblivious to Eddie's strange question, grabs OC's hand: I love you, too.

Eddie mentally, "I'm a horrible, horrible, disgusting person. They're so cute together and so in love, but I want them to break up.")

#911 fox #911 show #evan buckley #evan buck buckely #OC backely #edmundo diaz #edmundo eddie diaz #eddie diaz #buck has a twin sister #eddie thinks she is buck's wife #misunderstanding #pining eddie #buck not noticing anything #buddie #someone should write this

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spotsandsocks · 2 years

Text

A Life Like This, Maybe Tomorrow

Read on AO3 Teen 3.5 K

Eddie stands tall and looks at himself in his bathroom mirror, fills his lungs with a deep breath before slowly releasing it.

When everything had gone wrong for him, when the weight of his past had brought him to his knees he had avoided his own reflected gaze as much as possible. Nowadays, a lot has changed and he’s better at looking, seeing and accepting what’s true. Now he thinks his reflection shows the real him and he likes this newer, more honest version of himself, it’s just…he would like this newer version of Eddie Diaz to be, well, a little bit braver.

He stares at the man in the mirror and manages a solid five seconds of eye contact before he looks down with a sigh. He’d said he’d do it today and he’d meant it, he really had - yesterday. Yesterday he’d meant it with his whole heart but today, today he’s just not ready. Again.

Frank would say that when he’s really ready it will just happen and he won’t find himself hiding in bathrooms disappointed in himself.

Eddie risks another look, “So not today. That’s ok. Tomorrow is fine. Tomorrow” he says it out loud as he stares into his own eyes, nodding at himself encouragingly “I’ll say something to him tomorrow.”

His reflection sighs and looks at him skeptically because it knows just as well as he does that he said that yesterday and the day before that and on an embarrassingly large number of evenings and mornings and missed moments before that, all of them fast piling up behind him.

Despite all his progress his eyes drop away from the reflected version of himself and he closes them despairing at yet another failed attempt to tell …”

“You ok in there?” Buck’s voice interrupts his thoughts, he sounds mildly concerned.

Eddie’s proud that his voice sounds almost completely normal when he answers;

“Yeah, I’ll just be a sec.”

“Ok then” Buck sounds slightly dubious but he’s obviously willingly to let it go because his voice is moving away as he says “food’s almost ready.”

Eddie lifts his eyes and looks in the mirror again, “Tomorrow Diaz, you’ll do it tomorrow.”

“Ok boys let’s eat.” Buck takes his spot at the table once he’s finished pilling spaghetti and meatballs onto three plates.

“It looks good.” Eddie’s impressed and completely sincere. He’s a little in awe at how Buck will just do this for them on a random Thursday night.

Buck meets his eyes from the other side of the table and beams proudly back. “It’s Bobby's recipe, he says I’m getting pretty good at it.”

Eddie’s smile widens, helpless in the face of this man’s happiness, he’s hopelessly smitten but he’s not too far gone to miss an opportunity to tease Buck a little.

“Oh does he now?,” he shares a knowing look with Christopher, “we’ll be the judge of that, huh Chris?” he smirks and Chris giggles.

Hamming it up and hiding his delight as Buck leans back in his chair with folded arms and a roll of his eyes. Eddie makes a show of examining his plate and twirling his pasta.

Buck lets out an involuntary huff of laughter at the dramatics, while Eddie lifts his forkful, examines it again before popping it in his mouth and chewing with a deliberately thoughtful expression. Buck’s little lean forward is an unconscious gesture as he waits in anticipation of Eddie’s judgement, a hopeful expression on his face.

Eddie concentrates on his mouthful and isn’t at all distracted by the way Buck’s teeth nibble on his lower lip as he waits for the verdict.

Chris is taking his own taste and they exchange another look to prolong the teasing.

“Good?” Buck obviously can’t wait any longer to find out if his spaghetti is hit or miss. Chris takes mercy on him first, nodding around a mouthful as he slurps up a stray strand of spaghetti “it’s good Buck, really good.”

Buck rocks back on his chair, clearly pleased at the response, “Thank you Christopher!” He sounds so vindicated Eddie has to cover his mouth to hide his far too revealing expression. Buck’s head turns from Chris to him and his eyes lock on Eddie’s.

“And what about you? Does all this get the Eddie Diaz seal of approval?” He gestures around the table. There’s a friendly challenge in his voice and a gleam in his eyes, he means the food but Eddie sees more than that.

“It's perfect.” he says then stops breathing for a second, he really hadn't meant to sound like that.

Buck holds his gaze a moment longer but mercifully just smiles back. He seems unaware of any hidden meaning that may have just slipped out.

“Then eat, it’s getting cold!” and with that he tucks into his own food with his typical enthusiasm.

They eat together just like the family he wants them to be and by the time the food has disappeared Buck’s long legs have gotten tangled up with his under the table. Buck seems oblivious to it but Eddie can’t say the same. The warm press of Buck’s calf and ankle against his own is taking up more space in his brain than it should.

A life like this, it’s everything he wants and maybe it’s what Buck wants too. They’re having more and more evenings and weekends like this. Eddie can always pretend it’s forever until Buck’s climbing into his jeep and driving away. He wants more, he’s spent enough time thinking about it, coming to terms with how he feels and what he wants. He just needs to make sure Buck wants that too so he doesn’t ruin anything, he’d rather have this much of him forever than throw it all away if Buck doesn’t want him back.

Just one more day to be sure; tomorrow, he’ll be brave tomorrow.

So they pass the rest of the evening in a ridiculously wonderful pattern of domestic routines while his heart aches for more. He washes up and Buck dries, chatting to him about the latest book he’s reading. Eddie’s painfully aware of every brush of shoulder and arm as they stand closer to each other than necessary. Chris finishes up his homework with Buck giving helpful hints as he works through the assignment. That’s followed by TV with Chris sitting between them, leaning against Buck with his feet up on Eddie’s lap until it’s bedtime and of course Chris wants Buck to read with them. Eddie tries to release Buck from any further obligations but the look he gets from the man in question silences him quickly and the words he speaks make his heart thump unevenly in his chest.

“Nowhere I’d rather be Eddie, honestly.”

Then he’s gone following Christopher before Eddie has time to gather his thoughts. Eddie finishes tidying up, more to give himself some breathing room then anything else then goes to join them. He ends up hovering in the doorway, leaning on the frame, captivated by his son and the man he's in love with taking turns reading. Buck eventually looks up and spots him standing there. He gets told off for being late, and that he’s missed the best part. Eddie doesn’t think that’s true. He thinks he’s still waiting for the best part.

They both complain when he calls time on the story.

Buck promises Christopher another chapter soon and when he’s asked for details on what ‘soon’ means blue eyes turn to Eddie as Buck says casually,

“I’m free tomorrow if that’s ok with you?”

He says it as if it’s nothing special, as if tomorrow won't be the third night in a row he spends with them doing nothing special, just sharing their lives. Buck must have better things to do but Eddie won’t say no to him, not if he wants to be here.

“Tomorrow works for me” and he thinks you can have all my tomorrows, just ask and they’re yours.

Buck stays a little longer, sharing the couch, but he’s too far away to touch. That’s probably for the best because his resolve to keep his distance until he’s sure weakens every time he glances away from the television at Buck’s profile. He could try, maybe, test the waters. Eddie tempts himself and fate by letting his legs stretch out along the seat towards Buck, lets his toes nudge against his leg.

“Cold toes?” Buck asks casually, Eddie doesn’t answer but Buck acts anyway. He pulls a blanket down from the back of the couch and covers his feet. Then his hand settles on top of it, fingers loosely curled around Eddie’s ankle. He can’t be sure if Buck realises he’s left his hand there.

Later Buck shifts that hand and Eddie feels cold all over. Buck looks at his phone and says “Yeah. Gotta go.” and does it sound just a little bit like Buck’s having to convince himself to move, to leave. They sit in silence for another moment and then regardless of what he may or may not be feeling, Buck stands, stretches and goes to collect his keys, find his shoes.

Eddie stands too, watching him prepare to leave and wishing he would stay. “I’ll um… I’ll see you out.” Eddie follows Buck to the door, where there’s another moment of charged silence until he finds his voice.

“I meant it, you know, dinner was perfect. This evening, the food… everything. It was all perfect.”

He wonders if Buck can see them: the unspoken words that run through his mind, dance behind his lips, the ones that echo the sentiment he can’t yet express, the words he’d say if he was braver ‘You, you're perfect.’

Buck looks down and maybe Eddie’s imagining it because he wants it to be true but maybe there’s a slight blush on his cheek, maybe he sways into him a little before moving away. Eddie leans against the doorframe to watch Buck walk back to his jeep, a soft smile on his face, rolls his eyes and shakes his head fondly as the lovable dork walks away backwards grinning back at him, before he finally turns and moves more swiftly towards the jeep.

Eddie stays where he is watching him pull off the drive. He makes a deal with himself and the universe; if he looks back I’ll do it tomorrow. I’ll say something tomorrow.

He holds his breath and waits, the jeep is ready to turn and drive away. Eddie's heart beats too fast in his chest; please, please look back.

The jeep moves off slowly and Buck turns in the driving seat and looks at him, smiles one last time with a little wave before he’s pulling away and is soon out of sight.

Tomorrow then. He’ll say something tomorrow.

Probably.

He closes the door and rests his head against it, lightly bangs it a few times for good measure. It’s not like he doesn’t want to tell him, he wants to, almost more than he’s ever wanted to do anything else.

One last sigh then Eddie Diaz takes himself off to bed to wait for tomorrow.

Continue on AO3

#911 fic #911fic #buddie #buddie fic #eddie diaz #pining Eddie #911 fox #evan 'buck' buckley #spotty scribbles

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tardisimpalalover16 · 1 year

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Man, Buck is receiving a lot of criticism for the whole “the end of life doula sees me.” (Which yes we know Eddie will forever be the greatest person to see through every minuscule twitch in Buck’s beautiful face.)

But I think Buck is really just excited to talk about his death in a manner that isn’t serious. To the end of life doula, its not you died, Buck. Not in that solemn tone. With Natalia, he’ll be able to process his death in a manner that is “safe” for him. Nothing too mentally tasking. Like friends who are going out for coffee. Even with a therapist, the first thing they do is listen and see whether your reaction is healthy or not. Natalia is more curious of the aspects of death—morbid as it is. It’s not like she’ll grieve him. The him, he used to be. And the him, he will be. It literally won’t matter to her. Natalia knows no difference.

Plus, no one likes to talk about death because of the pain and misery. The uncomfortableness that it brings to the table. And with the end of life doula, it’s just as it is. It won’t hurt her feelings, won’t cause her sadness. I think he doesn’t want talk to someone who is emotionally invested in him because it is a sad topic. Buck doesn’t want to make his love ones feel discomfort. And people won’t have to see him be vulnerable or scared. While yes, Buck has people who do want to talk to him about it. Doesn’t mean he wants to. Or have too. He was probably at a state of denial. Also I think it’s always easier to tell a stranger first about your feelings than someone who knows you from the inside out.

Which is why when he does speak to Eddie about his death, it’s entirely different. Eddie and him have seen each other’s lowest points, and they are solely connected. They’re each other’s safe place. And Buck will always return home.

Also I think you guys forget that Buck is a freaking nerd underneath those muscles, he likes sci-fi and paranormal stuff. I can see where the friendship with the death doula will help him out. Plus I think it be really great if we had a Buck funeral guys. Buck deserves reminders that he’s loved.

#911 fox #911 season 6 #evan buck buckely #buddie #edmundo eddie diaz #911 on fox #911 spoilers #buck x eddie #pining eddie #is making me weep #the end of life doula #Natalia #whomever #she might #be #911 speculation #did that make sense #it’s okay guys Buck just found his astrology buddy

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jewishrat420 · 3 months

Text

No one has ever flirted with Steve the way Eddie flirts with Steve.

And it's not like no one flirts with Steve. God, no, it's not like no one flirts with Steve. Steve can't walk into the grocery store without at least three sets of heads turning and focusing all their attention on him.

And he's not even trying to be cocky about it. That's just the reality he was gifted when he came out of his mother's womb looking like the world's freshest Adonis. Honestly, he wouldn't be surprised if they changed the colloquialism to "Steve."

Regardless. For as many people like to flirt with him, make themselves known, filtering in and out of his orbit like willing planets, no one knows quite how to get him going like Eddie. Maybe it's that they're not as confident as he is, maybe they're scared of the rejection Eddie was born facing and will die knowing.

Maybe they're scared of ruining their chances. Maybe Eddie isn't.

For whatever reason, Eddie doesn't seem like he's scared. Even though there was a long time before he knew Steve was bi, was just as into the flirting as Eddie was, even though there was a chance (not like it'd ever happen, but the unknown was there) that Steve could have beaten him up just for calling him "sweetheart," he did it anyway. He got right up into Steve's space, close enough that Steve could get high off the remnants of the joint he'd smoked earlier, and gave him a look that offered everything.

And, God, Steve wanted it. He wanted it all.

And so that began months of what Steve has so aptly referred to as torture. Apt, because he knows what it's like. He has the scars and the fear of ice cream and needles to prove it.

But this... this is a different kind of torture. Mental, emotional, spiritual, whatever you call it-- this is meant to tear him apart from the inside out, meant to make him want to rip his own bones out from his body and offer them to Eddie if it meant the other man making a fucking move.

And Steve would, is the thing. He would absolutely make the first move-- it's what he usually does, anyway, and he's got a pretty damn good success rate for it.

But, for whatever reason, this feels different. This back and forth they have, the constant teasing, the sliding in and out of each other's orbits, unable and unwilling to refute the most fundamental laws of gravity... it's something special, at least to Steve. Something sacred.

Which is why, when Eddie calls Steve "Harrington" for the first time in months, his first response is to pout.

They're about halfway through splitting a joint, the sweet smoke curling around wisps of hair and parted lips and filtering in and out of the holes in their sweaters. The air outside is getting colder, thinner, sharper, as the winter months dreg on. But inside the trailer, it's comfortable and warm. Safe.

Steve's being a bit of a hog, and he's man enough to admit that. But he had a shitty day at work and all he wants is to feel nothing other than the weightless relaxation of a good high buzzing through his bones. Sue him for taking a little more than his fair share of the good stuff, even if it is Eddie's.

"Steve," Eddie whines, reaching his hand out and curling his fingers in request. "Give it over."

"No," Steve responds, just on the edge of whiny. He brings the joint to his lips and takes a long, slow, deep drag, feeling the sweet heat of the smoke burning in his lungs, taking up the space where oxygen should be. He goes a little dizzy with it, feels his eyes lower. "Mine."

Steve can't see it, but he knows Eddie's rolling his eyes. Can sense the shift in the air, can sense every little fucking thing about Eddie at any given moment.

"C'mon, Harrington, you're being a brat."

And, normally, Steve would find another aspect of that sentence to freak out about. Would zero in on the word brat and relish in the flare of heat it sends shooting up his spine like firework sparks. Would squint his eyes at Eddie and tilt his head in the way he knows makes him look good, would give him his cutest little smirk and say, "Who, me?" and would preen in the response it gets.

This time, though, he's much too focused on the other name Eddie used for him. The one he hasn't heard come out of Eddie's mouth since before he realized that Steve was, as he put it, "actually a good dude."

He doesn't realize he's pouting until the sudden silence in the room starts to creep in, make a home in the buzzing in his ears. He didn't realize that he didn't say anything, and neither did Eddie, and now they're sitting in a mess of their own making. Of Eddie's own making, really.

His next words come out without effort, without intent.

"Don't call me that."

He chances a look over at Eddie, at the risk of appearing as vulnerable as he feels, and to his distress, he can't get a read on the man. His dark eyebrows furrow, brown eyes squinting slightly, and his lips part like he wants to speak. He licks them. Steve's eyes follow the motion unintentionally.

"Call you what?" Eddie says on an exhale. "A brat?"

Steve shakes his head. "Harrington. Don't like it when you call me that."

Eddie kind of softens, then, and Steve didn't realize he had stiffened until he isn't anymore. He sort of sinks into the couch, spreads his legs imperceptibly wider, and Steve wouldn't have noticed if it wasn't for the way his left knee brushes against Steve's just barely. Just enough for those heated sparks to send a couple pinpricks across his skin.

"No?" he says, looking over to meet Steve's gaze. His cheeks are flushed, whether from the weed or the heat of the room or the heat between them, and Steve's sure that his look the same. "What do you want me to call you, then?"

Steve's definitely blushing now. He looks away from Eddie, tucks his chin to his chest, lets the joint between his fingers burn away. Eddie takes it from him, gently, and brings it to his lips. Steve hears the paper crackling as he inhales.

His voice is quiet, almost meek, when he speaks. It's completely unlike Steve, completely unlike the persona he used to so proudly take on-- but then again, Eddie is completely unlike anyone that Steve has ever met. He's more real, more human, and in turn, Steve is too.

"...You know."

Eddie makes a little noise, then, something in the back of his throat that was born and died within the very same second it was released. Something soft, almost pained, like his body couldn't help the reaction it had to that sentence.

Steve watches the thin, long line of Eddie's arm reach forward and press the joint into the glass of the ashtray. He follows the motion until Eddie's hand settles into the rips over his knee, fingers intertwining with the thread. His pinkie is dangerously close to Steve's own sweatpant-covered skin, and he feels the contact as if Eddie were touching him.

Eddie's hand twitches like it wants to move, and Steve resists the urge to grab it, hold it within the warmth of his own palms.

"Do I?" Eddie says, his voice quieter than it was a moment ago. That thick silence fills the trailer once more, settling in between the soft buzzing of the lightbulb in the kitchen and the muffled humming of the crickets outside. Steve hears Eddie take a stuttering breath. "Tell me."

Steve sighs, feeling his chest burn as his heartbeat picks up. His throat pounds with the pulsing of it. He places his own hand on his right knee, pinkie finger edging closer and closer to the space where Eddie's meets his. Eddie's hand twitches again.

"Like it when you call me sweet things," he says on an exhale, as though getting it out all in one breath would make it easier. "Like how it makes me feel."

Eddie lets out another one of those noises, then, something more like a cut-off groan. His hand curls into the fabric of his jeans for no more than a second before he releases it, and Steve gets to watch as the blood blanches and then returns to his knuckles.

"Sweet things, huh?" he muses, voice only slightly strained. If Steve didn't know any better, he'd say Eddie is nervous. "Like... Stevie?"

Steve hums. "Yeah. I like that."

Eddie's pinkie moves closer. Barely. Imperceptibly, if not for the way Steve is tuned into his every movement, like a dog to the sound of their owner's keys.

"Yeah?"

Steve hums again.

"What about... sweetheart?"

Steve closes his eyes. Lets out a shaky breath, inhales a smoother one.

"Yeah."

Steve feels something brush against his pinkie. Something warm.

"Honey?"

Steve nods, biting his lip. "Mhm."

Eddie lets out a quiet little laugh. "Even big boy?"

Steve returns it helplessly, feels the edges of a smile pulling at his lips. The air feels cold on his teeth, as though he's burning up from the inside out and anything outside of his own body is a cooling salve.

"Especially big boy."

Eddie laughs a little louder, and the jostling of his body brings his pinkie even closer to Steve's. Completely pressed against his own, now.

Steve swears he can feel his heartbeat through it. Or maybe it's his own.

"What about..." Eddie takes a breath. "Love?"

Steve's own breath hitches. He opens his eyes, looks at where their skin is touching in more than one place. He feels it, feels every point of contact where the cells that make Eddie are existing with the cells that make Steve. Wonders, maybe, if they stay here long enough, if they'll merge and mold over time. Become one.

"Yeah," Steve breathes. "I like that one a lot."

Eddie hums, and the room falls back into silence for a moment. Steve's skin burns where their fingers are touching. He moves his hand to the right, just barely, just enough to let Eddie know that he feels it. Just enough to ask Eddie if he does, too.

His response is overwhelming.

Eddie moves his hand to the left, solidifies all the points of contact between them, and Steve feels like he's exploding. Feels like a bubbling pit of lava that's set to burst, to overflow, like it can't hold back anymore. Like it's tried for so long that it's hurting, now, pressurized and boiling and hot, way too fucking hot.

And then, Eddie crosses his pinkie over Steve's, and Steve thinks he's dying.

He takes in a sharp breath like it's the last one he'll ever get, and he doesn't even have it in him to be embarrassed about it. He knows Eddie is right there with him, knows he's not the only one feeling this irrefutable pull like gravity between them. Knows, hopes, it's only a matter of time before they collide.

Eddie hums again. He taps his pinkie once over the smallest of Steve's knuckles, almost like he's making a decision. He takes a long, slow breath before he speaks.

"You know which one's my favorite?"

Steve's throat clicks. "Which?"

"Look at me."

Steve turns his head to the right for no more than a second before Eddie's lips are on his.

It's hungry, it's indulgent, it's immediately addictive. It feels like breathing.

Eddie presses his whole body against Steve's, and he can feel the way his tendons flex where his hand is covering the back of Steve's. Where their pinkies meet, their fingers intertwine and cross over one another like the roots of a tree, their bodies the whole mycorrhizal network.

The next word is spoken against Steve's lips, and Steve can feel the way his mouth forms around it. Decides, from this moment on, that he never wants to hear it another way.

"Baby."

Steve's exhale is more of a moan, a dying sound that, like Eddie's before, lived for only a moment in his throat before pushing through the wall of his lips. Eddie takes it, holds it in his own mouth, swallows it down hungrily and slides his tongue against Steve's as though asking for more.

"That's--" Steve pants, getting his hands on Eddie's hips and pulling until he's seated in his lap. "Mine too."

"Yeah?" Eddie asks, his lips still pressed against Steve's. Their words are muffled against each other, but they don't need to hear them to understand. They only need to feel the outline of them, the shape of the consonants and vowels against and around each other's tongues. They only need to press their bodies together and know, intimately, the meaning in each other's hearts.

"Yeah. Want you to call me that forever."

This time, Steve feels Eddie's laughter against his lips. His chest. Feels it bubble up in the space between his ribs, feels it flow into his mouth like a river, swallows it down like the first glass of water after a run. Feels his own creep up behind his teeth in return, gives it back to Eddie like an offering, who takes it greedily. Hungrily. Gratefully.

"Think that can be arranged, baby."

#steddie #stranger things #steve harrington #eddie munson #steddie fanfic #steddie fic #steve x eddie #steddie headcanon #absolutely no idea where this came from #but it's here #first kiss #mutual pining #flirting #steddie first kiss #teasing #steve harrington is down bad #eddie munson is down equally bad #idk how to tag things

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