#protective steve harrington

[hairmetal666]

Steve knows he falls in love too easily. Nancy told him, Robin too.

But falling in love with Eddie Munson is hard.

They're supposed to be friends after Vecna. They're supposed to be friends, but Steve can't get past what Eddie did in the Upside Down; how he put himself in a position to nearly die, how Dustin got hurt. It's not fair. He knows it's not, but it doesn't make the anger go away.

Eddie's part of the group now, though, and Steve won't leave him out, no matter how angry. They're all at movie nights, at pool parties, at Hellfire, at Corroded Coffin gigs. It's just that Steve and Eddie don't speak. And Steve is okay with it. If it's what it takes to make sure that they're all hanging out together, not talking to Eddie is a small thing. He's pretty sure Eddie doesn't mind. At least, he seems as uninterested in hanging out with Steve as Steve is with him.

It doesn't need to be anything more than that, and it isn't, not until Steve goes upstairs to get more sunscreen during one of the pool parties, and walks back downstairs to find Munson waiting for him in his kitchen.

"You need something?" He asks, unable to fully hide the way he jolts with surprise.

Eddie twists the rings on his fingers, something Steve's noticed he does whenever he's nervous. "You have a problem with me, Harrington?

"No, of course not," he answers too fast.

"C'mon, man. You can barely stand to be in the same room with me."

"That's not true! We're in one together right now."

Eddie rolls his eyes so hard that it has to hurt. "Don't do that. Don't pretend like you don't know what I mean. You can't stand to be alone with me for more than thirty seconds."

Steve splutters, searching for a plausible reason.

"Is it cause--" Eddie swallows, hand going back to cup his neck. "Is it cause you heard me tell Robin that I'm gay? Back at the hospital. Is it because--" he cuts himself off.

Something in Steve's chest clenches hard, warmth swooping dangerously in his stomach. "No," Steve says, means it. "I didn't hear. I didn't-- it has nothing to do with that. It's--that's cool. Thanks for--yeah, that's cool."

Eddie's smile is a brittle little thing. "Then, what else?" Eddie pulls a chunk of hair over his mouth. "I can't think of any other reason you'd hate me so much."

"I don't." And Steve hopes it's coming off as genuine. "I promise."

He can't help remember the camaraderie, the understanding, that started to grow between them in the Upside Down. The "don't cha, big boy?" of it all. They could be friends. They should be.

They shouldn't get into it. Not right here, not right now when the kids' splashes and excited screams filter through the sliding door.

"You're a shit liar, Harrington."

"Ed--I'm not--"

"You know what? Don't bother. I'll just--" He jolts in the direction of the front door.

"Don't be stupid, Munson."

"God, I can't believe I didn't see it before. You just fucking loathe me."

"I do not. Grow up."

"Oh, yeah? Then what's your problem?"

"There isn't--"

"Stop lying!"

"You didn't fucking think!" He shouts. Loud enough that the noise outside cuts off. "You pulled that shit in the Upside Down and you almost died! Dustin got hurt!"

Eddie blinks his big brown eyes in stunned surprise.

"I told you, I said, 'dont try to be cute or be a hero or something.' And you know what you said? Do you?"

Eddie won't look at him now. "I had to make a choice, Steve."

"It was the wrong one!"

"I would do it all again. No matter what you say. I would do it to draw the bats away. To protect Dustin."

"But you didn't."

"There was no other way to stop them, Steve! They would've gotten through, into Hawkins."

"It doesn't matter."

"You weren't there! You can't tell me--"

"Yes, I can! I know."

"You don't! You think--"

"I almost lost you!" He screams. "You nearly died in my arms, Eddie. And for what?"

Falling in love with Eddie wasn't easy. It was blood and near death; it was weeks in a cold hospital room while Eddie existed in a drug-induced twilight state; it was agonizing convalescence and physical therapy and changing bandages; it was Eddie leading dnd sessions with bright eyes and contagious enthusiasm, herding the kids to the arcade and video store, theatrically serving snacks at movie night; it was festering, senseless anger at the near loss of something.

Eddie's lips tremble. "Steve, I--"

"It doesn't matter." He turns away to slide a hand down his face in an effort to wipe away the emotion. "You're fine and we're--it doesn't matter."

"I'm sorry," he whispers. "Steve, I'm sorry. I wanted--I thought it would help. I thought--"

And Steve has to admit, he does, the whole terrible contradiction of it all. "I know," he whispers back. "I would've--I know."

"I thought I was protecting Dustin. I thought I was buying you guys time with Vecna." Eddie's voice breaks. "I didn't--I--" He squeezes his eyes shut.

In the quiet of the kitchen, they gravitate to one another, foreheads resting together.

"I should have been there, Ed. I shouldn't have left you two alone. You almost died, and I--"

"Sweetheart, I'm right here. We're right here."

They don't kiss, but they're close enough that their mouths brush with each breath they take.

"Don't do that, again." Steve clenches his fists into Eddie's cutoff t-shirt. "Promise you won't ever--"

"I promise, Stevie. I promise. I'll be by your side until the very end, whatever it is."

#steddie #steve x eddie #steve harrington #eddie munson #ficlet #angst #angst with a happy ending #getting together #falling in love #protective steve harrington #oblivious eddie munson #mutual pining #steve harrington is bad at feelings #not quite rivals not quite enemies but a secret third thing to lovers #it's angst but then it's sweet #we're all traumatized here

[fandomcentralsposts]

dont get me wrong, I love protective Steve that is very near and dear to me, but where are all the protective Eddie fics? Did everyone forget how unhinged and intimidating he was in his very first scene and throughout his time on the show? Mike and Dustin were literally scared of him. Give me Eddie, who intimidates anyone who tries to hit on Steve and lets Steve use scary metalhead bf privileges, give me Eddie, who just death stares into the soul of anyone who jokes or insults Steve in a way that actually makes his bf feel bad, give me Eddie who would pick a fight with anyone who dares bully Lucas, Dustin, Mike or Max in high school, give me Eddie who watches over Max when she's alone in her trailer and makes sure none of their weird neighbours bother her.

I mean, come on bro could be an absolute menace when he wants to be.

#stranger things #stranger things headcanons #steddie #eddie munson #protective eddie munson #steve harrington #mike wheeler #dustin henderson #lucas sinclair #max mayfield #steddie hcs #eddie munson is a sweetheart #gay eddie munson #bi steve harrington #protective steve harrington

[undreaming-fanfiction]

Eddie's hard work has finally paid off. Corroded Coffin is the new sensation and soon enough, Eddie gets an invitation for an interview, one that could promote the band on a much larger scale. He's excited but also terrified and Steve, being the supportive boyfriend he is (and also CC's unofficial mascot, "the yellow sweater boy" or simply "Stevie" to the fans) offers to go with Eddie. Eddie introduces Steve as his "emotional support ex-jock" and it goes well.

Until it doesn't.

Eddie gets more lively as he talks about the band's beginnings, the inspiration behind their songs and their influences, his own musical idols and influences. He's at ease, gesturing animatedly as he explains the evolution of the band's style, so he's caught off guard when the interviewer brings up that fateful spring of 1986. Eddie freezes, opens his mouth but nothing comes out. The memory of snapping bones, feeling of helplessness...it all comes flooding back.

But where Eddie feels like curling up into a ball and hoping the world will finally leave him alone, Steve is ready and prepared. He grasps Eddie's shoulder - Eddie blurted out a confession in one of his concerts so it's no secret for his fans that they're together, but why tempt fate - and gives the reporter a wide smile, sincere to someone who doesn't know him. He slips into his charming persona and speaks for the first time during the interview. "Thank you for asking this question," he says and the drop of poison easily dissolves in the sweetness of his voice. "I hope my recollection will be enough because I sure don't want to have Eddie go through all that horror again. But I assure you...I was there for nearly all of it. So ask away. I'm glad to finally set the record straight."

And so Steve talks about that March, about how Eddie found Chrissy dead in his trailer, mutilated in such an inhumane way his body took control and got him out, no call to the police, not a single thought. He mentions there was a witness who saw him enter the trailer and immediately stumble out, not enough time to harm anyone (Max has stuck to this story and never changed it, no matter how much anyone pushed). He talks about how he met Eddie later, how shaken he was and how the town started a manhunt for Eddie for no good reason, except that he was different. "He started a club for kids who were outcasts, who just wanted to remain children for a bit longer - and the whole town went to hunt them down. They attacked a thirteen year old girl. They beat up a fifteen year old boy just for belonging to the club."

Now it's Eddie's turn to grasp Steve's shoulder, his arm, worried about his sharp tone, his hardly contained anger. But Steve carries on, staring the reporter down as he stutters that he will have to verify this information. "This is rather different from the official story," he says, his forehead glistening with sweat.

And Steve just flashes the disarming smirk that established him as King Steve once upon a time and tells him to verify it all, please. Because Eddie Munson has nothing to hide and neither does the Corroded Coffin. "It's not different if you paid any attention to the police report," he mentions calmly, leaning back in the chair. "People don't like to speak ill of the dead, but a dead person is exactly who's at fault here. Jason Carver riled up the mob. He bought a revolver after he did that, publicly for self-protection, but..." he shrugs, buries the edge in his voice under his charm yet again. "We have a witness that heard him admit who it was for." Dead men tell no tales, but Nancy Wheeler sure does.

And as the reporter scrambles to put together a coherent thought, Steve lands the finishing blow. "It's a shame you only invited Eddie to discuss this," he says and the sympathy in his voice is almost believable. "After all, his band mates were also targeted and attacked."

The reporter stares at him, speechless.

"Oh, you didn't know?" The disbelief is genuine for once and he leans in, looks the man straight in the eye. "Jason Carver and his friends went to interrogate the band, you know. Only to talk, they said. Except they almost broke Gareth's hand during that talk. Once again...there is a witness. A different one, if you were about to ask. Perhaps you should talk to them too, I can give your their contact details. You know," he adds, smiling at the reporter, "I am incredibly thankful you brought this up. There aren't many who are willing to dig up old wrongs to set things right. I wasn't sure what to expect of this interview, there was always a possibility of someone malicious taking advantage of this traumatizing event, just to get a shocking scoop on a bunch of guys who have worked incredibly hard to get where they are. I was wary because there are always people willing to destroy lives just to get a bit further in theirs. I'm so grateful you aren't one of them. Because I see you as someone who wants to do more than shock their audience...I think you're someone who wants the truth, no matter how ugly it is."

And no matter what the reporter intended before, he is that man now. He nods frantically, assuring Steve that he will bring justice to Eddie and the Corroded Coffin. Steve Harrington has that effect on people - if he believes in someone, that belief is often enough to give that final push. Anything to keep Steve Harrington's faith, not to disappoint that earnest look in his eyes. Eddie almost feels sorry for the reporter - after all, he knows the best what his boyfriend is like when he doesn't hold back. It's a sight to behold.

After a few reassurances from the reporter, the man finally turns to Eddie. "I apologize for bringing up bad memories, Eddie," he says and perhaps this time he means it. Eddie would like to believe that. "Is there...would you like to add anything?"

Eddie thinks screw it and firmly grasps Steve's hand, homophobia be damned. He needs to get through this. "Yes, actually..." he says and his voice is low, almost broken, but at least it's coming out now, carrying the words he's wanted to shout at the world for years now. "That night...was probably the worst night of my life. Worse than when I almost died. Well. When I actually died before someone brought me back," he smiles at Steve, briefly, before turning back to the man scribbling down every word. "It took me a long time to realize I couldn't have done anything to save Chrissy. Hell, some days I still don't believe myself, I'm thinking if I've done something differently, been faster, but...in the end, it didn't matter. Doesn't stop me from feeling like I failed her."

Steve knows these things, of course. That's why he doesn't interrupt, just strokes his thumb over Eddie's whitening knuckles.

"Chrissy Cunningham was a wonderful, bright girl. She was friendly to everyone, even outcasts like me. There is no way in hell I'd ever want to harm someone that...that warm. Kind. The truth of the matter is - for years I didn't defend myself against these accusations that still appear from time to time, no matter what the official investigation said. I didn't sue anyone even though I was advised several times to do so, for the slander, the attempts at my life. Because you...because I felt guilty just for being there. For surviving when she didn't." He looks at the reporter with full force now, straightens his spine. "But I knew Chrissy Cunningham and I know she wouldn't want anyone feeling guilty for something they didn't do. She brought joy to others, not misery. And I want to honor her memory. So once and for all, for the record - I didn't kill Chrissy. I never hurt her, couldn't have. But I still keep her with me as an inspiration, as a soothing voice behind every bitter thought - I don't talk about her, don't use her story for publicity because she didn't, doesn't deserve that. But she's what I think of when I see bright smiles of our fans, when I see young people having fun at our concerts - I wish, more than anything, that she could have been one of them. So I try to bring as much joy into this world as I can to make up for the empty space she left behind, even if that might never be enough. That's all."

The interview spreads like a wildfire. Headlines like "Corroded Coffin's Eddie Munson breaks silence for the first time!" or "CC's frontman reveals details of persecution and mass hysteria in 1986". The news pick up the story, question the people in Hawkins who deflect or begrudgingly admit to their actions, justifying their deeds...but some of them talk. Karen Wheeler becomes the star of the show, recalling in horror the hunt for her daughter and her son's friends. "I vouch for Steve Harrington's recollection," she says firmly, shushing her husband's feeble attempts at deflection. "I'm glad someone finally had the courage to call the spring of 1986 what it really was - a witch hunt."

Eddie finally has the courage to do what he's wanted for years - he names the next album This One's For You, Chrissy. The world knows now, it knows that he mourned for her in his own way and that she meant so much to him, as a first extended hand, as a symbol, as a human being. He donates as many profits as he can to a foundation in Chrissy's name, providing the much needed mental health support to Hawkins children and teenagers. And piece by piece, Eddie Munson heals.

Before the interview becomes the sensation it is, Eddie crushes Steve in a hug and thanks him for everything, for making this burden easier. He's still worried his words will get twisted, that there will be a new wave of hatred, but Steve just chuckles and kisses his head. He reaches into the leather satchel he had at the interview and presents Eddie with a dictaphone - everything they've just talked about recorded. "Please, Eddie," he rolls his eyes in that bitchy way that has Eddie swooning, "I may be pretty, but I'm not stupid or naive."

Apart from the much needed closure and at least partial justice, there is an unusual side effect to this whole ordeal - Steve gets a new nickname in the Corroded Coffin fan base. After the way he handled the interview, after shielding Eddie and his band mates from unwanted attention, he becomes "The Guard Dog Steve", also lovingly referred to as "Golden Retriever Steve". Eddie loves it. Steve finds it ridiculous, but it makes Eddie smile so maybe it's worth it.

#eddie munson #steve harrington #steddie #steddie drabble #corroded coffin #steddie ficlet #stranger things #stranger things drabble #protective steve harrington

[j2h5b5]

There was only one thing that could have dragged Steve out of bed at two in the morning when he was nursing a booze-induced headache and an Eddie Munson-induced heartache.

“We need you,” she said.

He didn’t even bother putting on a jacket.

***

Dustin was sloppy, red-eyed and so unsteady that when Steve thunked a strong hand down on his shoulder, he almost lost his balance turning away from the group of asshats he’d taken up with to see who had grabbed him. Some of the drink in his hand sloshed over the sides of the cup and dribbled down the front of his shirt and onto the already filthy kitchen floor.

“Hey, what the—” he began, and then he dragged his gaze up to land on Steve.

There was a time, not so very long ago, when those same eyes would’ve lit up at the sight of his babysitter slash idol slash best friend. He would wrap him in a hug if it had been a day or two since he’d seen him, or sling a companionable arm around him, or punch him good-naturedly in the arm in hopes of initiating a play scuffle, which inevitably ended with him in a headlock getting his mop of curls aggressively tousled because he was just never going to have any kind of athletic edge on Steve.

But now.

“What the fuck are you doing here?” the younger boy asked in a tone so sharp and cold and so very NOT-Dustin that it made Steve’s heart squeeze painfully in his chest.

“Hey, man,” Steve said, aiming for casual if only to keep Dustin from embarrassing himself in front of his new asshat friends. “Can I talk to you? Step outside with me for a sec, okay?”

“Um, no,” Dustin bit out. “This’s my party, i'ss my house. It would be rude to leave my guests.”

“Yeah, since you brought that up … who are these people?” Steve swept his gaze over the Henderson kitchen, which was almost unrecognizable with all of the clutter, displaced furniture, and wasted teenagers. “And Dustin … where’s your mom?”

“Not here.”

“Well yeah, I kind of gathered that. Listen, Dust…”

“Don’t call me that.”

“Are the others here?”

“Oh, you mean the traitors who called and ratted me out to YOU? Who the fuck cares?” His voice lowered to what he seemed to think was a conspiratorial level but was really just an extremely loud stage whisper. “Maybe they tripped and fell and landed their buzzkill asses back in the Upside Down.”

“Okay, that’s it.”

Before Dustin could protest, the cup was plucked from his hand and tossed expertly across the room, over the heads of several unwary drunken youths and into the crusty-dish-crowded sink and he was being towed along behind Steve through the kitchen, the living room, out the front door.

“What the fuck, Harrington? Let go of me! Let go!” Dustin struggled against the vise grip on his bicep but only succeeded in ensuring he’d probably have finger-shaped bruises there tomorrow.

Steve paid him no mind until he had deposited the boy into the passenger seat of his car, slammed the door, and locked it. Then he walked around to the driver’s side, unlocked it only long enough to get in, relocked it, and turned to Dustin.

“First of all,” he began loudly, drowning out Dustin’s sputtering attempts to find the words he wanted to hurl at Steve in his outrage at being manhandled out of his own party. “First of all. Joking about the Upside Down in a room full of strangers? NOT OKAY.”

“They don’t even know what—”

“Not. Fucking. Okay. SECOND, if you ever imply again that one of ours should BE in the Upside Down, you will find yourself with my foot so far up your ass you’ll choke on my shoe, and if you think I’m joking about that, Dustin, try me.”

This time there was only an eye-roll from Dustin, because he kind of didn’t want to try Steve on that point and because he kind of felt bad about saying it.

“Third, your friends are not traitors. They care about you and they’re worried about you; they called me for help because you’re treating them like shit and shut down every attempt they make to help you. Listen, I know I’m not your favorite person right now, Dustin, but you have to let someone help you. You’re not okay, buddy. This isn’t you. And all this shit you’re doing, the drinking and the partying and the pretending not to give a damn? It isn’t going to fix anything. It … it won’t bring him back.”

“Shut up!” Dustin shouted, flinching so hard at the words that he smacked the back of his head against the side window. Steve winced at the sound of skull meeting glass and resisted the urge to reach out and check for blood, or a bump. Dustin seemed not to have noticed that he’d nearly brained himself, infusing his next words with all the venom he could muster. “You don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about, Steve. Even if you were right, it’s none of your business what I do! I am none of your business.”

“Don’t say shit like that, Dustin. Of course you’re my business.”

“Oh yeah?”

“Yeah! What are you saying?”

Dustin barked out a humorless laugh. “As much as I’d like to sit here with you and have a heart to heart right now, I have to get back to my guests.”

“No,” Steve snapped, reaching over Dustin to slap down the peg lock when the teen yanked it up. “We’re not done here. Now I can go inside and clear out your house and we can talk there, or you can drop the bullshit and talk to me right now.”

“You’re not shutting down my party.”

“Then we talk here.”

“I have nothing to say to you.”

“Right, sure you don’t. Maybe I can give you some words, then. How about this, Dustin? How about: ‘Hey, Steve, you useless idiot loser, you promised to keep us safe and then you fucked it all up like you always do. The plan didn’t work and Max got hurt and Eddie fucking died, and you couldn’t stop it. I hate you for that, for lying and making us feel safe and telling us it was going to be okay. I can’t even look at you anymore and I hate my friends because they don’t hate you for some reason, but we know, don’t we? We know whose fault it is that we came back a man short. It’s yours, Steve. Yours.’” Steve’s voice was cracked and painful, like he’d been eating gravel and chasing it with cheap whisky and cigarettes. It hurt, that voice. “How’s that, Dust?” he finished, staring unflinching into Dustin’s shocked eyes. “Am I in the ballpark?”

Before Steve could react, Dustin unlocked his door and flung himself out of the car. He was drunk and it was dark, though, and he only made it a few yards before tripping and landing hard on the grass. Steve was on him almost instantly, hauling him up by the arms and scanning him for injuries.

He didn’t see the punch coming, wouldn’t have believed Dustin Henderson capable of such an effective hit, right in the mouth, knocking him back a couple of feet. “Jesus, Dustin!” he shouted, touching his lip and staring dumbfounded when his fingers came away wet with blood. “What the fuck, man?”

“Hit me back.”

“What? No! Dustin, what’s—”

“HIT ME BACK, STEVE! You have to!” Dustin’s voice cracked, the sudden violent burst of emotion threatening to unleash something big and scary and unforgivable. A tidal wave that had a name.

Steve grappled wildly with the boy, trying to grab his flailing arms so he could pin him, but Dustin was surprisingly swift in his current state, and he launched another punch, this one landing heavy in Steve’s gut and socking the breath right out of him.

“HIT ME, STEVE! I KNOW YOU WANT TO, JUST DO IT!”

Fueled by a burst of frustration and a sharper burst of fear (what is this?), Steve recovered enough to trap Dustin’s arms against his body, using his own weight to twist the boy around until he was trapped with his back against Steve, the hold immobilizing him so all he could do was squirm and shout out his fury. “LET ME GO FUCK YOU STEVE WHY WON’T YOU JUST FIGHT BACK YOU ASSHOLE?!”

“Dustin, stop. Stop it. Breathe, Dustin. Take a breath. No, hey, stop. You’re not going anywhere until you calm down for me. Breathe. Shhh, buddy. Breathe,” Steve’s hold was unbudging, his tone stern but soothing. Dustin’s violent struggles gradually slowed, and it took a couple of minutes for Steve to realize that the boy was shaking with silent sobs. And then the sobs became words, almost indecipherable in the wrecked, wretched voice that was rough and strained from screaming.

Every sentence Steve parsed from the stream of horrible self-accusations added another crack to his heart, which couldn’t have been more than a mess of spiderwebbing at this point.

It’s my fault.

He’s dead because of me.

I couldn’t save him.

You loved him, I know you did.

Why don’t you hate me?

Why don’t you hate me?

Why don’t you hate me?

Finally, finally, the words stopped and Dustin sagged, exhausted, in Steve’s arms. Only then did Steve ease up on his hold, but only long enough to turn the boy around and hug him properly. He bent down to bury his face in the unruly curls, his own tears falling unchecked and inconsequential.

“Dustin,” he whispered into the mop of hair. “Oh, Dustin, never.”

And when he realized he didn’t have the right words, he just stopped. He just picked Dustin up and carried him to his car, buckled him into the passenger seat, and told him he would be right back. He had a party to break up, some kids to chase away, and a boy—his boy—to mend.

“You loved him, I know you did.”

With a soul-cleansing breath that sounded more like a sob, Steve made his way back up to the Hendersons’ house.

#stranger things #found family #protective steve harrington #mama steve #dustin henderson #fanfiction #steddie #mom steve harrington #steve harrington #steve and his children #grieving over Eddie #survivor guilt #poor dustin #poor steve #unhealthy coping mechanisms #arm wrestling for the blame #angst #oh the angst #in my heart Eddie survived but this scene wouldn’t leave me alone

[afewproblems]

I want Steve to find out about the simultaneous games that happened at the beginning of season 4.

That Eddie insisted that the hellfire session went on as scheduled, despite the fact that Lucas wouldn't be able to make it.

Lucas, one of Steve's kids, who Steve had defended from being beaten up, putting himself in the line of fire from that racist asshole Billy Hargrove.

Lucas, who had been pushed aside and alienated from his longtime friends just because he also liked sports and wanted to try and remain afloat in the ocean of high school.

Lucas, who loved his friends and and enjoyed different things, because spoiler alert you can in fact be a jock and like Dungeons and Beasts or whatever the hell it was called. Steve enjoyed Star Wars and could dunk, proof right there.

But all it took was one word from Eddie, and Dustin and Mike not only didn't go to Lucas's game, but they couldn't even be happy for him about the championship AND their final session of their long-term campaign went on as scheduled despite the absence of the oldest Sinclair.

Sure Jason Carver turned out to be a crazy asshole but Steve knew exactly how it felt to be caught between worlds and the biggest difference was that Lucas had always been a good person.

Unlike him.

One nice thing about his King Steve days was that he knew how to push, and he could turn it on for a day, just to knock some sense into a certain curly haired metal head.

"Hang back a sec man," Steve says almost casually as they exit Eddie's van after pulling into the movie theater. The kids tumble out of the open doors and race towards the building, pushing each other in their hurry to get in line for the second running of Highlander.

"What's up Stevie?" Eddie says, his dimpled grin comes out in full force as he looks Steve up and down, leaning back again the front of the vehicle grill. His arms cross loosely over his Black Sabath shirt and the various rings and chains sparkle in the high afternoon sun. He looks great today.

Focus Steve.

He clears his throat and sighs, trying to get into the heads pace from earlier when he initially found out what happened from Dustin. He had been absolutely furious.

But the flame of righteous fury had dissipated, leaving behind a cold feeling of disappointment in Eddie. It hung heavy and immovable in his chest, he needed to talk to him.

"Hey uh, I heard about the championship game man, Lucas's game".

Eddie tilts his head slightly, his brown doe eyes scanning Steve's face with confusion.

"What the basketball game back in March? That was like six months ago man? What about it?"

"Did you ever apologize to Lucas?" Steve asks, he keeps his face neutral, not wanting to influence the answer as Eddie scoffs. Not a great sign.

"For what Harrington?" And that stings a little, he'd been Stevie for the last two months or so, sometimes a Honey or Sweetheart thrown into the mix and Steve felt that they were barreling their way towards something new.

Steve swallows, he can't let this go, not even for Eddie.

"It was a shit thing to do man, to not let Lucas play and to not let Dustin and Mike go to support him--"

"Those kids know that the campaign comes first, that's the first tenant of Hellfire and they know that going in!" Eddie snarls, he steps forward towards Steve who holds his ground with narrowed eyes.

Fine.

"I thought you were above that sort of thing Munson, judging people for the things they like? Assuming things about a person and writing them off".

Eddie stops, his face paling slightly, his angry expression flickers once but remains in place as he crosses his arms again.

"Those games can't be rescheduled man," Steve continues with a shake of his head, "it's not even the school that decides the schedule for the season, it's the districts and the coaches, and who fucking cares if he was on the bench for most of the season? Because he played! And none of you were there".

Steve sighs and runs a tired hand over his face, "Not even his friends who he has known since pre-school. And with Will gone and Max dealing with all that shift from Starcourt and Vecna it was just the three of them, and you took that from him man".

Eddie stares at him, he says nothing, he doesn't even look like he's breathing right now and Steve feels like shit.

"I'm just saying, if you do that again, to any of them, to my kids," Steve says matter of factly, "then we'll have a problem".

"That supposed to be a threat, King Steve?" Eddie sneers at him, but his shoulders are dropping, and there is no true heat behind the words.

Steve shakes his head as Mike pops out of the double doors of the entrance and yells at the pair of them to, shit or get off the pot because what hell is taking them so long?

"No Eddie, it's not a threat because I'm hoping that you'll do the right thing. Because I know you love those kids and you're not an asshole".

He turns on his heel and heads towards the doors, leaving Eddie with the empty van. His heart thumps wildly in his chest, and the cold feeling in his chest spreads and spreads as he goes over the conversation again and again.

It stings a little to know that he's ruined whatever he had with Eddie but he couldn't let this go, friends don't lie after all.

He grabs their tickets, still buying one for Eddie --just in case, though the other man has not entered the building.

Steve tamps down the tight feeling of disappointment that grows the longer Eddie remains outside. If Eddie takes off, leaving them there, Steve can cover, he'll get Nancy to pick them up or maybe Jonathan --they're on better footing these days. He'll say Eddie had some kind of emergency come up, that Wayne needed him for something.

Yeah, friends didn't lie, but how could he break the kids' hearts like this?

They thankfully don't seem to pick up on this as they chatter about Sean Connery and what flavor of soda to get.

"Oh there you are dude! We thought you got kidnapped!" Dustin suddenly crows beside Steve, he turns to see Eddie behind him, a strange expression on his face.

Oh thank God.

"Nah, just had a quick smoke before the movie man, uh actually I wanted to borrow Lucas for a sec if that's cool?"

The kids look from Eddie to Steve, as though to check if he knows what's going on, Eddie hasn't been this shifty since March when Chrissy's death hit the news.

Steve nudges Lucas by the shoulder, leaning slightly down to say, "I'll grab your snacks, go on".

Lucas gives him a confused look over his shoulder before following Eddie outside the entrance  the doors swing closed just as Dustin whirls on Steve.

"What the hell was that!" He demands with crossed arms and a scowl on his face, his blue eyes scanning Steve's own for something, some information about what is going on outside.

"Yeah, you guys are being weird," Mike snarks from over his shoulder, he's standing with Will and El who watch the interaction with curious eyes, "first you take forever to come in and now this?"

And so much for the kids not picking up on it.

"You guys are pretty nosy," Steve hums, deflecting with a small smile as he ruffles Dustin's curls and steps forward with the rest of the line.

Dustin glares with narrowed eyes and huffs, "Fine, I'll just ask Lucas about it".

Steve snorts, he isn't sure if the kids have even talked about it. They've all been friends long enough now that this one event wouldn't be enough to hurt this kind of friendship. But it's certainly been on Dustin's mind since he was the one to bring it up to Steve that morning.

"Good idea," Steve says with a smile as he steps up the the counter, he looks at the kids before smiling at the clerk, "okay what's everyone having, let her know".

***

The lights have dimmed and the pre-show has started by the time Eddie and Lucas make their way over to the seats Steve and the kids have saved. Steve hands Lucas his popcorn and soda, sprite and orange crush mixed, as he makes his way over to the empty seat beside Dustin. There is a wide smile on his face, and it startles Steve slightly as he realizes he hasn't seen Lucas with one around Eddie in months.

His heart hurts at the thought.

Eddie drops down beside Steve, blowing out a long slow sigh as he does.

He scrubs a pair of ringed hands over his face roughly before finally relaxing into the shitty theater seat and reaching over to snag a handful of popcorn from Steve's bag, spilling kernels all over the place. 

Steve rolls his eyes and tips the bag closer to Eddie who immediately grabs a second handful.

Eddie is facing the screen, but his eyes are trained on the seat in front of him, the projection illuminates his face in whites, yellows, greens, and blues as the movie begins and Steve can't look away.

He eventually tips his face towards Steve, "You were right," Eddie murmurs before finally taking in the screen as he looks away again. Even though he's sitting nearly boneless and slumped in the seat, his shoulders are tense, upset. 

Guilty.

"I'm glad," Steve whispers, and he is.

The icy feeling of disappointment that held his chest in a tight vice grip all morning finally loosens as he leans into the armrest and feels the warmth of Eddie's shoulder soak into his own.

"Thanks Steve," Eddie whispers, his warm breath ghosting over Steve's ear as leans closer, letting their hands brush in the darkness of the theater.

Steve closes his eyes, and lets himself bask in the warmth, even for just a moment.

#steve harrington #stranger things season 4 #everyone lives #protective steve harrington #mom!steve harrington #eddie munson #eddie isn't a bad guy but it was pretty shit how he treated lucas in volume one #the party #pre steddie #dancing around one another #hurt feelings #slight angst #where is all this angst coming from??? #I dont think steve would have been very happy if he had found out in the show that dustin and mike had ditched lucas #but they are teenages so they get a bit more of a pass when it comes to this sort of thing

[solarmorrigan]

(More of Robin and Steve working at a diner, I guess?)

The first time Robin burns herself on the grill is bad.

The burn itself isn’t bad; it’s almost more startling than it is painful, at least initially. And really, it had been kind of an inevitability – a rite of passage, even, for short order cooks.

So the burn isn’t terrible – what’s bad is that Steve happens to be working the same shift.

It’s at the tail end of a Sunday breakfast rush; Robin is jammed into the kitchen with two other cooks—Dennis and Carl—and the orders have been coming in thick and fast. Space is limited, and even though they each have their own assigned tasks, there’s a certain amount of dancing around and reaching past one another to get to everything they need. In retrospect, Robin is a little surprised she’d lasted as long as she had before reaching a little too far around Dennis to grab a flipper, overbalancing, and touching her bare forearm to the edge of the flattop grill.

She yells, a short, loud burst of noise as she jerks her arm away, at first because she knows it should hurt, and then because it does fucking hurt, and then she’s shouting a string of expletives as Dennis hustles her over to the handwashing station and shoves her arm under the cold running water.

Out in the dining room, Steve shouldn’t have been able to hear her at all, not over the bustle of the breakfast service, especially not with the way the hearing in his left ear is always a little fuzzy now, and with how hard he’s focusing on the way the words are forming on the lips of the guests at the table he’s serving to make sure he doesn’t miss anything – but he does hear. It cuts into his awareness like a siren through the fog, and he’s moving before he’s even made a conscious choice to do so.

He doesn’t excuse himself from his table, he doesn’t say sorry when he cuts in front of one of the other servers as he shoves his empty tray onto a counter and bangs through the swinging door into the kitchen, and he doesn’t hesitate when he sees Dennis and Carl crowded around Robin while she runs her arm under the water and grinds out curses and little hisses of pain.

If Steve had been thinking, he might have recognized that her shout hadn’t been one of fear and that her curses were muttered things out of irritation as much as discomfort, but Steve isn’t really thinking at all. All he’s registered at this point is that Robin is in distress and that there are two men he doesn’t know very well hovering around her.

“Get the fuck away from her.”

Dennis, Carl, and Robin all freeze where they’re standing, startled by Steve’s command – and that’s exactly what it is. It isn’t a hysterical shout, it isn’t a scream of anger, it’s a full-chested command that will be followed or so help him god–

The other two cooks are already scrambling out of the way when Steve stalks forward, practically shoving them out of the way with presence alone, placing himself between them and Robin as if they’re the threat here and not him – suddenly not that kind of goofy kid who flirts with his customers and sometimes mixes his orders up but is so sheepish about it that it’s hard to be mad, but a man with solid, tense-shouldered posture that says if they make one wrong move, retaliation is not a threat but a promise.

Except then Robin is reaching out and putting the hand from her uninjured side on his arm, gentle even as she speaks to him with a voice like steel. “Steve.” He turns and looks at her, wide-eyed and worried. “I’m fine.”

Steve’s attention flicks from Robin’s face to her arm under the running water. He glances at the grill, at the other two cooks, and then back at Robin. His shoulders are starting to slump.

“The grill bit me,” Robin explains, lightening her tone and holding her arm up to show Steve the shiny pink line across the pale skin on the inside of her forearm. “Dennis was helping, and Carl was getting in the way and letting the eggs burn.”

Carl swears and lunges for the pan he’d left the eggs frying in, because some things are more ingrained than a newfound fear of Steve Harrington.

Steve clears his throat. “Right.” He glances back at the cooks, almost the same kind of sheepish as when he’s sent back three Denver omelets and a burger when what he’d actually needed was one Denver and three burgers, and suddenly he looks sort of lost in the middle of the kitchen. “Uh. Sorry. I–”

“C’mon,” Robin cuts in, shutting off the sink and giving Steve a nudge towards the first aid kit by the back office. “Help me get some burn cream and a bandage on this and then let’s get back to work.”

Grateful for the new purpose, Steve follows her away from the grills, and just like that, the whole incident is over, never to be spoken of again. Robin jumps back onto the line a few minutes later and the three of them synchronize like nothing had ever happened.

But if Dennis and Carl are both a little faster to move out of Robin’s way now when she needs something – well. That’s their business.

#platonic stobin #robin buckley #steve harrington #protective steve harrington #you gotta imagine steve in the apron for this to really have the same effect that it had on my brain #honestly this was supposed to be sillier I'm sorry #stranger things #solar wrote

[alien-magnolia]

Just some casual dominance ✨ thoughts with my fave 🥰 Steve Harrington

- whenever you'd go in a store with him he would have his arm draped over your shoulders. And if some creepy guy would stare at you for too long, he’d pull you closer and lead you away from him. Steve just couldn’t have any other stranger looking at his sweet girl.

- He’d always make sure you drank water that day. One day you’d come back from class all tired and sleepy, he’d ask you if you ate or drank any water. “Sweetheart, it’s really no problem. Gotta make sure my girl eats today, I know you’re too busy to take care of yourself sometimes,” he’d say as he prepared some food for you! or got you some water.

- And he’d just love taking care of you!! Anytime your bag was too heavy he would always carry it, even if you insisted you could. “It’s okay baby. I don’t want you to hurt yourself, I’ll carry that for you,” he’d say and then lift the bag off your shoulders, giving you a little kiss on the forehead as he does so.

- He would NEVER let you walk home alone. He’d always walk you back, or drive you, especially if it was at night. Not like you were complaining. You loved walks home with him. He’d make you feel so safe as your little legs walked beside his to keep up, you’d usually hold his big hand in yours :)

- He’d always make sure your seatbelt was on before he started the car, and sometimes he would raise an eyebrow at you if you drank too much coffee.

“A third cup, sweet girl? Not too healthy for you baby.” He’d say and then hand you a decaf tea instead, you just smile and look up at him.

“Thanks Stevie.” You’d say, smiling shyly, you’d stand on your tippy-toes after and give him a kiss, because he was just so tall!!

#dom steve harrington #steve harrington x original character #steve harrington x reader #steve x female reader #smut #steve harrington fluff #steve harrington imagine #steve harrington smut #steve harrington headcanon #eddie munson imagine #casual dominance #lil bit of d/s dynamics if u squint #tw size kink #steve Harrington x hyper fem! reader #steve Harrington being protective #dom eddie munson #stranger things smut #protective steve harrington #boyfriend steve harrington #liz’s masterlist #liz writes 🖤 #stranger things fanfiction #stranger things x reader #eddie munson smut #eddie x fem!reader #daddy!steve harrington #dom!steve harrington #soft dom eddie munson #st 4 #steve harrington fanfic

[italiansteebie]

i just want to see steve absolutely WAILING on someone. maybe they called robin a mean name or were following eddie around town or maybe they were picking on dustin.

and steve just goes, excuse me mother fucker? you think you can do that to MY person? NO FUCK YOU. THATS MY PERSON. and dustin or robin or eddie are standing there like "pls steve you've literally never won a fight."

and steve's just fuckin feral like *bark bark barkbarkbarkbarkbarkbark* and the douchebag is just standing there like "wut r u gonna do?" 😎

and then steve gets this *look* in his eye, the one that eddie saw when steve ripped that bat in half. and eddie's like "o fuk" and turns dustin around in just enough time so he can't see steve break the guys arm.

"yknow who my dad is? huh? he can make your life hell. i don't want to see you around my people again, next time you won't be able to walk away." (and it's so real of him bc he would never willingly talk to his father)

and the steve dusts himself off, turns back around to wave at the crowd, a dopey smile on his face. and he's just like "c'mon guys! let's go get ice cream!" 🥰

#steve harrington #stranger things #robin buckley #eddie munson #best friend robin #protective steve harrington #guard dog steve #steddie #platonic stobin #dustin henderson #eddie and dustin #steve and dustin #steve and eddie #steve and robin #bamf steve harrington #best friend robin buckley #bark bark #feral steve harrington

[angelynmoon]

Eldritch Steve

Part 8

-

Owens arrives in Hawkins as the government always does, a day late and a dollar short. He shows uo with his goons a day after Joyce and Hopper get back from Russia, and Hopper goes off on him.

Steve is amused, leaning against the wall next to Eddie, who is just staring, sometimes Steve forgets that this is his first go around, he's been so calm.

He has nightmares, but not as often as he did before Steve showed him what he really was, showed him just why he had no reason to fear the Down Below. Steve doesn't tell Eddie that he is doubly protected, Wayne has not told Eddie that he and Steve are the same kind of creature, and it is not Steve's secret to tell, so he won't.

Hopper finally trails off, the months of torture in a Russian gulag showing on his face.

Steve almost feels sorry for him, sorry he didn't confirm his death but he had the kids to take care of, the woods to patrol, just because the main gates are closed does not mean the cracks are, cracks like the ones Steve slipped through, like the one Wayne must have slipped through.

Steve has been eating the Demongorgans that came hunting, the demodogs too, making trinkets and charms from their bones.

Hmm, Steve thought as he looked over at Eddie, eyes falling to his hands, maybe he should make a ring next, Eddie would probably like that.

"We really shoud do some tests, Steve." Owens said to him making Steve tune back into the conversation.

Steve looked at Owens, "No, I'm fine."

"You were attacked by a new creature, we should make sure that they don't carry any diseases." One of Owens' doctors said, sounding way too gleeful about it.

Steve stared at her, with a frown, then remembered that for humans the air of the Down Below was toxic, it wasn't for Steve and he'd protected the kids from the hostile air when they had seemed to forget about that fact.

"It doesn't matter, I'm not doing any tests." Steve told them.

"Steve, sweetie, you should let them help." Joyce said softly, it was the same tone she tended to use on Will and Jonathan when she wanted them to do something. It was a tone mother's used on their children.

But she was not his mother, and Steve forced himself to remember that she was Will's mother, that El considered Joyce her mother too, but she had left them while she ran off to Russian, left them vulnerable and alone.

Steve knew what El had gone through, what Owens and Brenner had put her through, she'd told him in stops and starts late at night when nightmares woke her and Steve returned from hunting.

Steve would never forgive Joyce or Owens for that, and he'd never trust either of them with his kids again.

"I said no." Steve said, tone cold, with zero inflection, and he ignored the way Nancy and Robin flinched, it was the same otherworldly tone he'd had in the Down Below.

Eddie's hand found his wrist to ground him, something he'd picked up from Carol, who used it to remind Steve about being Human, but Steve no longer cared as he watched several soldiers tighten their grips on their guns, scents coiling with disgust at the display of affection between two men.

Owens seemed to realize that there was an edge of hostility but he didn't try to defuse it, not yet.

Steve shifted, and his kids seened to understand and moved so they were behind him, Will and El even moving from Joyce and Hoppers' sides, El wrapping her small hand around the wrist not occupied by Eddie's hold.

"There's no need for there to be any problems, a few tests, and then we all go home, like the last few times." Owens tried to placate, but it was clear by the shift that Owens was not in charge here.

"You should make them lower their guns." Eddue said softly, he could almost feel Steve's anger, feel him losing control.

Eddie knew Steve could hurt the soldiers faster than they could fire, he'd seen Steve swallow Demogorgans whole in the blink of an eye but killing the soldiers would not solve anything except satiate Steve's hunger for a time.

"I don't think so. You're going to let the doctors do their tests, and then sign the disclosures." One of the ranking soldiers said, gun coming up more firmly.

"There's no need for threats." Hopper said, tone angry.

"They are not threats." Steve said before Owens could speak.

They all looked at him, because now there was that otherworldly echo in his voice, and it would be so tempting to tear the nearest crack to the Down Below wide open and throw the soldiers to the creatures there that Steve hunted and feasted upon.

But El squeezed his wrist, looking up at him with wide, pleading and terrified eyes, she'd never seen his real form, even Eddie had only seen glimpses of it, only Wayne had seen all of him, just as Steve had seen all of Wayne before they'd come here to the Upper World.

"There are no threats here." Steve said, forcing himself to calm, but he would not be keeping his secret any longer, not when keeping it would put Eddie in danger, Steve turned to Owens, never taking his eyes off the soldier with his gun raised, "I'm the most dangerous Creature the Down Below ever released into this world, and I do not take threats to what's mine lightly."

Steve reached out and watched every single gun in the room fall to the ground in useless pieces.

"You ever threaten My Mate again and you will beg for a death that will not come." Steve said, suddenly in the ranking soldier's face, "I will feast on your flesh for centuries, and before I am done with you I will devour your wife, your child and all those that are yet to spring forth from you disgusting seed. I will make you watch and remind you that your line is ended in this way because you have such hate in your heart. You will wish your bloodline had ended with you."

Steve stared at him and waited for the prey to look away, ignoring the way he trembled in fear, the stench of terror he released.

Once the man looked away Steve turned back to Owens, a little delighted at the way the man had paled.

"No tests, and I expect Eddie's home to be replaced and the same compensation given to him as the children, as per our first conversation." Steve told him, "Now, if you'll excuse us, it's passed the childrens' bedtime, they have a game to play tomorrow."

Without waiting for the other adults to agree Steve ushered the kids out of the room, guiding the younger ones to Eddie's van and giving Nancy a look as he touched Robin's shoulder.

A warning that she would pay if anything happened to Robin while she was in Nancy's care, but Steve let her go with Nancy.

But he would not be letting the children out of his sight while Owens and his men were in Hawkins, not even to their parents, he did not even think he'd be able to leave them in Wayne's care.

He'd lost his spawn once, he would not lose them again.

--

@addelyin @merricatty @lesbiabrobin @apuckishwit @0o-mushroom-o0 @starlight-archer @darkwitchoferie @just-a-tiny-void @swimmingbirdrunningrock @intergalactic-president-awesome @vampireinthesun @goodolefashionedloverboi @adhdsummer @purpleanimeoverart @space-invading-pigeon @lilaclilyroses @nohomoyesbi @plantzzsandpencilzzs @korixae @subversivecynic @flusteredcas @persnicketysquares @freddykicksasses @little-trash-ghost @cupcakesnwhiskey @cats-ate-all-of-my-pasta @planetsoda @paintsplatteredandimperfect

#eldritch monster steve #upside down creature steve #steddie #period typical homophobia #sorry guys #but #feral Steve #protective steve harrington #part 8 #the sorry is for the homophobia not feral Steve #we like feral Steve #From the Rot

[tartarusknight]

The King of the Freaks | Pt 5

Ao3 Link | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15

Steve is trying not to panic. Honestly, what was he thinking! He was desperate, and they could all tell. He slammed his locker open and rubbed his face. "Steve?" Jonathan's voice was soft, and Steve jumped. "Is everything alright?" He questioned, and when Steve looked over, he noticed Nancy. She was over by her own locker, looking over at them. She most likely was the one who told Jonathan to come over and talk to him. It's not like Jonathan had any reason to talk to him. They weren't friends.

Steve nodded and cleared his throat, "Yeah. It's nothing important," he promised. And it wasn't even a lie. Jonathan nodded slowly, and Steve wanted out of this conversation. Sure, Jonathan was a good guy. But Steve still hurt from how everything unfolded. He didn't blame Nancy for moving on, and honestly, Jonathan and her should've been together for months, but... it still hurt.

"You know, it's okay to be jumpy after everything." Jonathan said softly, and Steve's smile was strained as the conversation kept going. "You know you can always talk to us." And it hurt a little, hearing that. Because once upon a time, it was the other way around. It was Steve reaching out with apologies at the ready. (Trust him. He knew he overstepped and was an asshole. He also knew if he didn't overstep, then Jonathan wouldn't have fought him, and that's what Steve wanted at the time. To mask the pain swirling in his chest with actual pain.)

But it wasn't him and Nancy, looking out for Jonathan anymore. It was Nancy and Jonathan... and Steve- well, it wasn't the same. Steve wasn't close to Jonathan, and Nancy made it clear how she felt. The invite was done out of pity and fucked up trauma Steve's never going to deal with.

Nancy didn't love him, and she sure as hell didn't care about him if she was able to break his heart so quickly and refuse to apologize for throwing it in his face like a grenade. So, he squared his shoulders. "It's not about that. I was an idiot again, you know, nothing new." He gave him a sharp grin and shut his locker.

Except then, Nancy's there, siding up next to Jonathan. "Come on, Steve, can't we still be friends?" And the words die in Steve's throat. He thought he did enough for her. He let her go without making her feel guilty. He never told her how much she hurt him.

But he also never thanked her for pushing him to realize what a piece of shit he was. Because Nancy was always right, Steve had to be bullshit. Everything he worked towards the last year was bullshit. And if that's all bullshit than the only thing he's good at is throwing himself in front of danger. He could be Billy's target, so he doesn't bother anyone else. He could take all the shit the kids throw at him. But he didn't think he could take Nancy yelling at him again. Her words sharpened over time.

He took a deep breath, but before he could force himself to say anything, someone bumped into him. It's just like a small nudge to get his attention. It's a kinder version of a slap on the back from a teammate. "Hey Steve," Grant smiled.

Something eased in him at Grant's presence. "Hey," he smiled and tried not to note the look of annoyance on Nancy's face.

"So, we were wondering what days you're busy," he asked, and Steve glanced at the couple one last time before letting Grant pull him away.

"See you guys, around." He waved and headed down the hallway with Gtant. "You don't have to make your schedule around me."

Grant laughed and bumped him again, "we want you there. I think Gareth and Eddie are betting which one of them can get you to make a character first."

Steve's brain halted and paused. He was so focused on Grant that he didn't notice Billy until someone slammed into his shoulder hard enough to send him to the ground. "Watch your step, princess." Billy grins at him and Steve huffs.

Tommy kicks his bag away from him before he can stand, and he sneers. "Really making friends with the freaks? You're so desperate," he mocks and slams Grant backward into the lockers. It makes Steve see red, and he quickly moves.

He stands up easily and doesn't reach for his bag. He just pushes Tommy back from Grant and stares down at him. Tommy's back hits the lockers, and Steve grins down at him, watching Tommy's face go red. "Anyone's better than you," he winks, and just like always, Tommy's tongue was tied. Steve knew things about Tommy, things that he never shared, things Steve kept to himself. And he wouldn't tell anyone, but he'd use it to his advantage to protect the others.

Billy shoved him off of Tommy, and Steve held up his hands in a surrender gesture. Billy looked him up and down before looking at Grant. "Protecting freaks now?"

Steve smirked, "Your sister's a freak?"

"Steve," Grant cut in, and Billy scoffed.

"Shut it, fatty!" He growled, and Steve punched him before he even meant to. A crowd was starting to form as Steve straightened up. Billy laughed and dread coursed through Steve. "You really want to try this again?" Billy spat and Steve swallowed. His face was still sore from the last time.

"Don't be a dick," he nodded at Grant and Billy raised an eyebrow.

He leaned closer, and Steve fought against the urge to flinch. "You really did fall from the top."

Steve put all his king Steve swagger in his body. "I'm not going to fight for a make-believe crown." He glanced back at Grant and hoped his eyes were convincing enough to get him to walk away. "Not when you get off on it." And Steve's slammed back onto the ground.

"Billy!" A teacher snapped, and everything stopped. Grant moved to help Steve up, but Steve wasn't in the mood. He pushed himself up and dusted himself off. He moved and grabbed his bag from the floor. Billy was glaring, but he walked off with Tommy and a few others.

He felt exhausted, and his head was starting to swim. "Uh, just come over whenever. Honestly, it's not a big deal, I'll warn you guys on days when I'm not free... Tuesdays and Thursdays, I have swimming until 6." He offered and rubbed a hand down his face. His face hurt from the pressure, but he used it to ground himself.

The bell rang, and he looked over at Grant. He smiled and tried not to look like the mess he was. "I'm gonna go," he pointed behind him as they parted ways. He waited until Grant was out of view before ducking out of the school. He headed to his car and quickly got in. He leaned his head against the wheel before he let out a big shuddering breath before pulling himself back together and backing out of the parking lot. He could deal with his failing grades tomorrow.

@zerokrox-bloglog @cyranyxx @adaed5 @the-redthreadd @lifeisnotsobadonceyoustopcaringceyoustopcaring @idontgetpaidenoughforthisshitorthisshit @failedstarsandgoldencloudsds @bisexualdisastersworldd @deadlydodoss @anythingyouwanttobee @nburkhardtt @bestwifehaverr @thehumblefigtreee @megzdoodlee @swimmingbirdrunningrockk @mightbeasleepp @bxlthazarar @autumnal-dawnn @chillichatss @nonbinary-eddie-munsonon @the-daydreamer-in-the-cornerner @eddie-munson-is-my-wifewife @a-little-unsteddiedie @sharingisntkaren @a-huge-nerdy-nerd @0o-queendean-o0 @beckkthewreck @vi-an-te @vampireinthesun @newtstabber @dinosareawesome2137  @spicemallow @hellomynameismoo  @luthienstormblessed @briceslayed @angeldreamsoffanfic @dbquills @prideandsensibility @iwouldsail @ponfarrtimeatthevulcannightclub @spectrum-spectre @the-chilly-kat @yearningagain @loopsmd @starlight-archer @sleepy-time @goodolefashionedloverboi  @crazyshipper67  @sherrylyn628  @bidisastersworld  @v3lnys  @n0connections  cherixxx69  theotalksalot  tailsfromthecrypt  ledleaf  grimmfitzz 

(I’m so sorry that’s all the tags I could do!!! If you didn’t make it I’m sorry!!!!)

#he won't deal with them tomorrow... #Grant for the win #protective steve harrington #protective hellfire #season 2 au #stranger things #steddie #steddie fic #steve needs a hug #king steve #steve harrington #steve x eddie #eddie munson #hellfire club #corroded coffin #is it procrastination if I'm working on something? #i love these idiots #ao3 #nancy needs to apologize #i love her but i hated how they ended everything #the fallen king and the king of the freaks

[thisblogslaysdragons]

At My Expense  

A little nervous to be sharing my writing here for the first time, but here we are! A little story about a sucky situation, written for the October @steddiemicrofic prompt “suck”!

WC: 480 | Rating: T for some curse words | CW: None.

Steve kills the car engine and sighs, exhausted from a long day at work. He just wants to drive to Eddie’s trailer and be tangled up with him on the couch watching movies. 

Apparently, his boyfriend had other plans, though, his van parked right outside Steve’s house. 

The second Steve enters his house his heart shatters. Eddie is on the couch wrapped up in Steve’s blanket, eyes red-rimmed and shoulders hunched as if to shrink himself to lessen the pain. Eddie meets his gaze, beautiful doe eyes shiny with tears.  

“Steve -”  

He breaks down again, and that’s all it takes for Steve to race over to him and pull him into his arms.  

“Shh, it’s okay love, I’m here,” he soothes, running a hand up and down Eddie’s back, the other stroking through his curls, “You’re okay...” 

He lets Eddie tuck his head into the crook of his neck, warm tears soaking his collar, and rests his cheek atop his curls. Eventually, the tears finally slow enough that he could tell Steve what happened.  

Eddie won’t walk the stage at graduation. Several parents complained and, since the deceased’s families would be present, Higgins deemed it “for the best” that Eddie not show his face. For the sake of the families, he insisted. 

“I worked so hard,” Eddie lamented through the tears, “I wanted to prove all those assholes wrong, show everyone that I’m not such - such a fuckup, I wanted -” 

His breath hitches, voice quieting into a soft whimper as he finishes, “I wanted Wayne to see me and be proud.” 

 Fuck this town, Steve thinks, not for the first time by a long shot, Fuck this town and everyone in it.  

It’s just so fucking unfair. Eddie risked his life, almost died for these people, for them to force him out of his own graduation? He worked his ass off after nearly two months in the hospital, only for the pesky feelings of some pearl-clutching parents to be placed above his accomplishments? 

 Utterly infuriating. 

“God, that sucks” Steve says, slightly tightening his arms around Eddie, “I’m sorry, baby.” 

Eddie somehow manages to melt himself even further into Steve’s arms, shaky fists clutching at his shirt, and Steve keeps talking.  

“We’re all proud of you, Eds,” he reassures him, planting a soft kiss onto the top of his head, “Let’s have our own ceremony, yeah? We’ll invite everyone that matters. How does that sound?” 

He smiles sadly at the sensation of Eddie’s tiny nod against his collarbone and continues to provide stroking hands and gentle kisses until Eddie is okay again.  

He just might head over to Hawkins High tomorrow and give Principal Higgins a piece of his mind. After all, he and his boyfriend are both officially graduates – regardless of whether Eddie walks that stage or not - so what’s he gonna do about it? 

*Thanks for reading! This was such a fun little challenge; I tend to write really descriptively so keeping the entire story in 480 words was super challenging. If anyone happens to be interested in the original version of this that was longer, I'd be happy to share :) Hope you enjoyed!*

#eddie munson #steve harrington #steddie #hurt/comfort #microfic #drabble #drabble challenge #sad eddie munson #protective steve harrington

[sp0o0kylights]

ooo and 5 please! who's saying fuck no about what??

This waaaas a werewolf oneshot I was playing with, separate from Hungry. It features a transmasc Gareth, protective Eddie and Steve, and a personal favorite, Secret Berserker Jonathan Byers.

This was another oneshot that is made entirely of various scenes, so I wrote a quick introduction here to it. It wouldn't make a lick of sense otherwise lol.

(Similar to Hungry, we're playing with dominant/submissive werewolves. Think Patricia Briggs and Ilona Andrews & how they run their werewolf stories based on super outdated but very fun concepts of real wolf packs lol. I have my own little modern twist on them, but there's a difference between a social work/school friend group "pack" and a Wolf Pack TM. )

Snippet

Hellfire won't be out for another few minutes, but neither Steve or Jonathan talk much as they wait. 

It's a peaceful kind of silence they share, particularly between two people who aren't friends, but ended up as family anyway. 

Which is why both startle hard when the doors to the school slam open. 

One of Munson's wolves storms out, looking over his shoulder instead of ahead. "What part of fuck no don't you get!?" 

"Come on." Wheedles another voice, and Steve and Jonathan both watch as a sandy haired boy in a letterman jacket pursues the first.

Slowly, casually, and with the air of a predator.  

"Don't fight it so hard, baby!" The harassing party coos, in a smug mimic of Danny Zuko. 

"Do not call me that." Munson's wolf--Steve can't recall his name but he thinks it starts with a G-- whirls around.

The guy seems to be made of both fury and anxiety, backing away even as he spits and snarls--though his actual emotions are hard to get a read on given he's drenched himself in scent-neutralizing cologne.

(Steve almost sneezes when he scents it, but manages to keep himself together.)

The Hellfire kid's putting up a fight, but its clear from the way he holds himself that he’s a more submissive wolf--and a bad match to the dominate one chasing him. 

Jonathan tosses a glance at Steve. 

"I'll call you whatever I like." His pursuer tells him, a smile unfurling on his face. "Especially after I make you my bitch." 

Steve shoves off the car the same time Jonathan does, but he ends up being the first to the scene, surging forward to step in-between the two.

Hardened battle buddy he is, Jonathan takes this as his cue to fall in behind him, sticking near Munson's wolf. 

"Andy." Steve identifies, voice cold. "What the hell do you think you're doing?" 

"Harrington?" Andy replies, thrown off his target and showing it. "What are you doing here?"

"Putting you in your place, apparently."

Andy's head snaps back, eyes narrowing in mounting rage.

"Excuse me?" 

Steve cocks his hip, hands on his hips.

"Not until you swear off hunting down submissive wolves, you fucking walnut." 

"That isn't what this is, Harrington. Mind your business." 

He makes to go around Steve, and finds the older wolf won't let him. 

"I told you to back off." And the voice Steve speaks with then, is different. 

Weighted.

Steve's wolf is the dominant party here, and he's making Andy feel it. 

Andy growls at him, an inhuman sound, eyes darting from Steve, to Jonathan and back.

He's outgunned and he knows it.

Tension grips them all as Andy meets Steve's eyes in challenge, before clearly thinking better of it.

He drops his head, stepping back.

"Fine. But I'm not giving up, Grace. We're doing this, sooner or later." 

"My name is Gareth." Munson’s wolf snaps, and Steve knows Jonathan will hold him back if he tries to escalate things, 

Submissive has never meant unable to fight, after all. 

Steve keeps an eye on Andy as he retreats another step, and it's all too clear he wants a parting shot.

"Now we both know that's not true." He says, and Gareth hisses like a kettle, fury emitting off him in choked waves. 

Steve clears his throat in warning--he's done playing here, and no matter how much he hates fighting, his wolf has no such qualms.

Andy's eyes dart to him once more, before he whirls around on a heel and storms back through the school doors.

Right in time to plow through the rest of Hellfire.

"Get out of my way, freaks." Andy spits, shoving his way through. 

Will yelps in surprise, caught off guard and off balance, falling back into the lockers with a crash.

His head smashes against metal and he slumps for a moment, stunned.

Mike and Dustin both turn to shout at Andy, Lucas slotting himself to Will's side and trying to get a look at his head.

Behind Steve, Jonathan's eyes go dark.

Munson and Gareth both choke as power floods the parking lot, bloodlust pouring off the elder Byers in waves.

He knifes forward, past Steve, hands blurring in a slurry of shifting muscles and bone until his fingers elongate into sharp, wicked claws. 

It's a controlled change, a feat very few can accomplish--and a deadly one, given Jonathan's reacting out of instinct than anything else.

"Jon." Steve calls, power ringing out from his voice.

(Can see, from the corner of his eye how even Munson, the second most dominant wolf present, flinches from it in surprise.

Steve isn't. He might be a trash fighter, too worried about preventing injuries to inflict them, but his wolf doesn't share the same sentiments.

It's not a disconnect. Rather, it's an agreement he has, with his wolf half, and it serves them very well.)

Jonathan freezes, and it's immediately clear by how tense his muscles are that he's not doing it on his own.

That Steve's using his position in the Pack to hold him, magic and Pack bonds pulsing between the two.

"Steve." Jonathan warns, all too calmly. 

Steve's wolf doesn't rise to the challenge. Doesn't consider it a challenge, even if most wolves would. 

Amber pours into Steve's pupils, the mark of the two halves of a werewolf blending themselves together.

Just as Jonathan did.  

"Check on the kids." Steve and his wolf say together.

 Jonathan's face twist in a snarl as his body shudders under the command.

"Fine." He says after a beat, and Steve's Pack magic releases its hold.

Jonathan's hands twist again, bloodlust fading from his scent, frantic energy draining from the air like a hole punched into an inflatable pool. 

"I'm fine." Will calls out to him, and Steve eases himself back into his own natural state, the threat of Jonathan murdering Andy neutralized. 

He turns to check back in on Gareth, and finds the younger wolf has pressed his face hard into Munson's shoulder. 

"He okay?" Steve asks.

It's redundant because of course Gareth’s not okay--but that's not the question he's really asking.

What he's asking, is if Eddie has Gareth.

Steve has never quite been sure of Munson’s pack status--he knows some clubs and friendships are closer than others, and many can act similar to how Steve’s own capital P Pack does. 

Knows through the kids that Munson runs his group more similar to a proper pack than your normal little high school friend group.

That does not mean Gareth will get the care he needs right now, hunted down like he had been.

"Yeah." Eddie says, understanding relayed in a nod. He turns his gaze to the right of Steve's face, the polite thing to do when two dominant wolves to interact. "Harrington, we need to talk." 

It's in a tone that'd normally have Steve's hackles up, but given what's happened, Steve soothes down his wolf.

Follows when Eddie gently pulls away from Gareth, handing him over to a teen Steve is pretty sure is named Jeff before edging Steve away from the crowd. 

"Can you tell me what Andy said to him?" Munson asks, and his tone is odd.

Off slightly, like he's trying hard to be extra careful. 

Steve chooses not to read into it. 

"He called him names. Bitch and baby. Said Gareth shouldn't fight him so hard." 

Eddie stares at him then, eyes burning into Steve's own, and Steve's wolf itches under his skin at the audacity of it. 

"Anything else?" Eddie demands. 

"He said he wasn't hunting, that it wasn't what it was." 

Munson frowns. "No, did he call Gareth anything else?" 

Steve's dropped the polite urge to keep his eyes averted, now staring dead into Munson's eyes, unable to ignore the direct challenge offered in it.

"He called him Grace, but I figured that was just another insult."

Steve’s voice is clipped. He’s not eager for a fight, particularly not against the guy the kids won’t shut up about, but his wolf is already closer to the surface than it usually is.

Munson stares at him for a moment longer.

"Think you and Johnny boy over there can keep that last bit to yourselves?" 

It's too much like a command, a threat of force in Eddie's voice that's backed by hints of his own wolf shoving forward.

The Steve of old would have been downright violent when faced with that. 

The Steve of now, the one who'd gone three rounds with the Upside Down; who sat drugged out of his mind in a bathroom while Robin confessed to liking Tammy Thompson and then looked at him like he might kill her for it, keeps himself in place as he looks Munson over. 

He’s not imaging it, there is a challenge there--but Steve pauses to think about what he’s being challenged over before he responds. 

How Munson isn't so much focused on Andy, as he is on the name he'd called Gareth.

His eyes flick over to find the younger wolf staring right at them. 

The guy’s arms are wrapped tightly around the middle, a poorly hidden tremble rolling through his body.

Steve hadn't taken Andy's words at face value but Eddie’s request reframed things in his head, and he’s silent as he works out why, exactly Gareth's name matters so much. 

No wonder the kid had drowned himself in that awful, scent neutralizing cologne. 

"Yeah. I'll make that happen." Steve agrees, his words heavy with promise. 

"Thanks." Eddie inclines his head. 

#werewolf au #tw dead naming #transmasc Gareth #eddie munson #steven harrington #protective steve harrington #protective jonathan byers #thems their kids how very dare you #0o0 fanfics #tw warning in that Andy is very clearly pursuing Gary here for bad intentions and while I dont think it comes through as much its that #thing where a guy has something over you and is using threat of force to get it--the threat here being that he'd out Gareth as trans #and generally doesnt see gareth AS trans #oh yeah #protective eddie munson #lol #homie sees Steve fucking pull Jonathan out of a berserker rage with four words and still squares up

[morganski-19]

Thumbs

Based on the song by Lucy Dacus cw: implied child abuse, implied violence

Eddie places the phone back on the receiver, not releasing his hand after the little click of the receiver turning off. There’s a far-off look in his eye, just gazing off into the distance at nothing. Mouth slightly agape, breathing deeply while standing otherwise perfectly still. 

“What’s wrong?” Steve asks, walking softly to Eddie. 

“That was my dad. Said he was in town, wanted to meet.”

He reaches across to Eddie’s hand, peeling the fingers off of the phone one by one and holding them in his hand. “You don’t have to see him. You don’t owe him that.”

“I couldn’t say no,” Eddie says, a line of tears filling his fixed gaze. “It was like I was ten years old again.”

“I’ll go with you, so you’re not alone with him.”

A single tear falls down Eddie's cheek as he nods, breaking his rigid stance as he starts to crumble. Steve pulls him in close, holding his head close to his chest while he cries. Tears for his younger self full of fear and pain, and tears that he’ll have to go through it all again. 

When they enter the bar, there’s a man sitting at a table, waving with the smile of someone who thinks they’ve done nothing wrong. Eddie grips Steve’s hand and gives him a look. He knows that Eddie doesn’t want to do this, but knows that he can’t say no. Never could, not when he knew what his father’s capable of. 

They walk over and sit down, Eddie releasing his grip on Steve’s hand. The man before them calls over a waiter before even saying hello, ordering a rum and coke. The idea of drinking either of them now tainted with the bile the man emits. His presence is looming like a haze, sending chills down his spine and clouding his vision. With one word, Steve would strike, get them as far away from him, and never look back. But Eddie agreed to this, and maybe this will be the end of this. Maybe he’ll never have to see his father again. 

“Kid, I gotta tell you. You look great. I mean you’re all grown now. What are you now, 23? I sent you a check for your birthday, did you get it?” The words roll off his tongue like they’re meant to be there. As if he was some distant relative you saw at a party once a year. A role that was never his to play. He didn’t get to do that just because he decided that being a father was harder. 

Eddie grabs Steve’s knee under the table, squeezing it. “I didn’t.” The words said innocently as if he didn’t know what question was coming next. 

“You’ll have to give me your address then, the one Wayne gave me must have been the wrong one.”

Steve knew what he was doing. Trying to force himself back into Eddie’s life, trying to get back into his head. It wasn’t going to work, not with Steve. No one gets to manipulate Eddie into anything, especially this. 

Eddie squeezes Steve’s knee harder, digging his nails into his jeans. “I’m sure it was the right one,” is all he says, forcing a smile, a phantom compared to the ones he normally wears. Steve doesn’t even know how he can smile right now at all. 

“I’m sure your friend here would give it to me. Wouldn’t you,” he gestures for Steve to fill in his name. 

“Steve,” he says curtly. “And I’m sure Wayne gave you the right one. The mail can just be slow.”

He glares into the man’s eyes, furious at what he sees. They're the same eyes he looks into every day, the same eyes he loves. But they're different here, crueler, darker. He hates that Eddie got anything from him. Hates that something that makes Eddie so Eddie can be traced back to him. 

The man moves on, unwilling to admit that he lost his upper hand. He just keeps talking, stories of prison mates, and filling in the gaps of Eddie’s life in his mind with stories he could only wish were true. You’re prom was like that, wasn’t it, Ed? I’m sure you’ve stolen a few cars now and then. My son, getting the grades and breaking hearts, right? 

Eddie just smiles when he feels his dad is looking for one. He doesn’t have a right to that smile, to anything that Eddie has. These stories that he’s creating are a false narrative of Eddie’s life, built to make him feel bad for not fulfilling them. In reality, all of what his dad could come up with was wrong. Eddie was so much more than his dad could ever see.

They sit there, listening to the man talk for what feels like an eternity, but was really only an hour. Eddie is so stiff sitting beside Steve, so afraid to move. He’s said so little this entire time, just nodding and agreeing with whatever his dad says. The fear is present in his eyes, Steve knows that’s only fueling the man across from them to continue. He hates it. 

He imagines what would happen if there was no one else here. If Steve would run into this man without Eddie here to stop him. Only one would walk away and he wouldn’t regret it, not for one moment. No one gets to make Eddie feel like this, ever. Not if Steve can help it. Even now he can picture pressing into the eyes that they share, making sure only one of them has them left. That they’re Eddie’s and Eddie’s alone. He doesn’t need to see any reminder of this man in the mirror every day. 

Steve clears his throat. “We should be getting home. We have that dinner with Robin, remember.”

Eddie turns to look at Steve, thanks traveling through with just a gaze. “Right.”

“You boys need a ride?”

“No, that’s alright,” Steve supplies, already standing, making sure to puff out his chest just a bit to look more intimidating. 

Eddie stands and turns without another word, walking away while his father yells out a goodbye, cursing him for not doing the same. When the doors close behind them, Eddie grabs Steve’s hand again, letting out all of the breath in his lungs. Steve says nothing but squeezes Eddie’s hand to let him know he’s here. 

When they start walking, he tenses up again. “I can feel him watching.”

Steve turns his head, seeing the man a block behind them, watching from a distance. “Turn left, we’ll walk the other way for a while.”

That while ended up being a mile. It didn’t need to be, after a few blocks the man gave up, leaving them to the road. That didn’t matter though, it was better to be safe. When it was finally far enough away, Steve hailed a cab, bringing them home. 

Eddie collapses into him when they get back to their apartment, hugging him close, not letting him go. “I hate him,” he cries. “I hate that I’m related to him.”

“No, you’re not. Not to me. Other than blood, that man is nothing to you. Nothing important anyway.” Steve takes Eddie’s face in his hands, wiping away the tears. “Blood means nothing, not when it treats you like that. You don’t owe him shit, never do, never will, no matter what he says.”

More tears stream out of Eddie’s eyes as Steve presses a kiss to his forehead, wrapping him up in another hug. He holds him close as the tears come and just keep coming. 

The fact that Eddie can even smile at all after what that man put him through is an amazement. He’s seen joy shine through his face more times than he can count, and not once has it been fake. The person who he clutches to his chest is nothing like his father. And that only makes him better. He grew up to be the exact person that his father would hate if he ever got to know. To Steve, that’s an accomplishment. As far as he’s concerned, that man is the epitome of everything that’s bad, and Eddie is everything that’s good.

“If he calls again, give the phone to me, ok. You’ll never have to hear his voice again if you don’t want to. You owe him nothing, not another word.”

And it’s true. Eddie gives him nothing more than he already gave today. The next time the man calls, he gives the phone to Steve. He didn’t hold back that time, filling the line with how much the man failed, how much of a disappointment and a terror he was. Steve hung up before he even got a word in. 

It wasn’t the last phone call, but it was the last either of them ever paid attention to. Every other time, the phone was hung back up on the wall before he could end the sentence. Because he didn’t deserve anything, so they didn’t give it to him. 

#steddie #steve harrington #eddie munson #eddie's dad #thumbs by lucy dacus #cw implied child abuse #cw implied violence #stranger thing #fic #protective steve harrington #hurt/comfort #established relationship #angst

[foreverindreamlandd]

Party Like it's 1984

Pairing: Neighbor!Steve Harrington x Plus Size!Reader

WC: 3.1k

Summary: You and Steve arrived at the Halloween party separately - him with Nancy, you with Robin and Keith. But when shit goes down with the new kid Billy Hargrove, everything gets a bit mixed up.

Warnings: Underage drinking, Billy Hargrove being an absolute asshole, bullying, fat-shaming, name calling, protective Steve.

Note: This is part of the Neighbor!Steve x Plus Size!Reader AU, but you do not need to read the previous parts to read this one! Takes place during the Halloween episode of season 2. This one's a bit angsty....also ignore Nancy in the gif plz it was the best one I could find :,)

Stranger Things Masterlist

~~~~~~

“This is a bad idea,” you mumbled, shifting in your seat until the buttons of your shirt were no longer pulling open.

Robin turned to you from the passenger seat. “Come on, babe. You promised we could go. Besides, we look hot. Right, Keith?”

Keith muttered something incoherent. “How long do we have to be at this thing again?” he asked.

“Until Tammy Thompson flirts with lady Indiana Jones,” you responded, staring at your reflection in the rearview mirror. Maybe if you pulled your own dark brown fedora, no one would be able to recognize you.

Robin started sputtering in an attempt to form a defense, but eventually just crossed her arms and went silent.

You were right, after all.

When you had agreed to let Robin drag you to this Halloween party, you imagined you could just throw on some witch mask and continue being invisible as you strived to be in the halls of Hawkins High. But then, your horrible, mean, psychotic best friend convinced you to wear matching costumes.

“Why do men get to wear the fun, hot, rogue archeologist outfit?” she had argued while the two of you thrifted for your costume pieces at Goodwill. “We could make it look even better. Sexier.” She winked and you groaned.

Sure. She could. With the cinched waist, the dazzling smile, and the stellar leather jacket she managed to find in her size.

They definitely didn’t have one in yours. So you went with the more casual look, a light brown button up that was a little too tight in some places, the top buttons undone to reveal a white tank top, sleeves rolled up your forearm and threatening to cut off circulation.

It would have been easier to find a large blazer to cover up your body, to hide the way these clothes clung to your skin.

But then you would have dealt with an even worse issue, the sweat. It may have been a cool October evening, but you knew that in a house full of horny, drunk teenagers, you would be standing in a gross, smelly sauna. If you had the blazer, you’d probably have put stains and sweat marks traveling down your back (or even worse, your backside).

So even though both costume choices weren’t ideal, you decided to go with the lesser of two evils.

Still, there were moments when you were getting ready, when you applied the red lipstick and adjusted the fake whip to your waist, that you did feel like a badass heroine. Where you felt….pretty.

The sentiment would usually go away when you turned to see yourself at the “bad” angle in the mirror, and then the dread would return.

That feeling of dread returned as you felt your stomach turn to knots as Keith parked the car and you all got out. 

You began your approach to the house, music blaring loud enough to be heard from the end of the street. The yard was in shambles, and there were hoards of people trying to get inside.

Your feet began to slow. “You know, maybe you two should go in. I can just hang out in the car-”

Robin whipped her head around, eyes wide and terrifying. “Y/n, listen to me.” She reached out and grabbed your hand. “You look fucking amazing. Please just come inside. If you aren’t having fun in 20 minutes, we can go, okay? Please?”

You bit the inside of your cheek, looking between the front door and your best friend. 

Finally, you squeezed her hand and nodded. Robin jumped in excitement and pulled you with her as she scurried to the entrance, Keith following behind in his vampire costume. 

It was chaos the moment you walked inside. People everywhere, limbs flying all over the place as they yell-sang to the music and danced along. It smelled like cheap beer and smoke and you instantly felt dizzy from the overstimulation.

Your hand tightened around Robin and she turned back with another reassuring smile. “Let’s get a drink, k?”

You swallowed, forcing a smile and nodding. She pulled you along through the moving bodies, some of them bumping into you and making you that much more aware of how much space you took up.

On your journey, your eyes flashed to the left, somehow able to immediately spot Steve as if being pulled to him.

He looked….amazing. The black shirt and blazer hugging his form in the best ways, his hair waving around as he danced, the sunglasses that made him look cool despite wearing them inside…at night.

His smile, which could have lit up the whole room if needed.

Tom Cruise had nothing on Steve Harrington.

Looking at him, you felt instantly at peace, and you felt your own smile creeping up your face.

A cruel, invasive daydream formed in your mind as you watched him. You imagined him turning over and meeting your eye, and him stopping short, completely entranced by you.

You imagined the way he would take off his sunglasses to get a better look, eyes not leaving you as he practically floated over to where you were…hand moving up to graze his knuckles over your skin..

And then you watched his gaze find the figure in front of him, and the smile instantly dropped.

Nancy looked stunning. Her tiny frame bouncing up and down to the music, perfect brown hair tied back.

Steve’s smile widened as he watched her, as did the crack forming in your heart as you watched him.

You made your way to the backyard where the keg was, grimacing as you watched a couple guys holding someone over it for a keg stand, counting and shouting wildly.

Thankfully, there was another keg a few feet away so you didn’t have to get any nearer to that.

The guy manning the keg looked you and Robin up and down, and you felt his gaze linger at your stomach a few seconds longer than the rest of your body. Your arms instinctively shifted to cover it up.

As soon as the drinks were in your hands, you nudged Robin. “Let’s go back inside.

Just then, the guy doing the keg stand was brought back to the ground, wiping his mouth and roaring into the air. 

Billy Hargrove. The new kid and apparently the new reigning king of Hawkins High.

A total fucking asshole. Smug, arrogant, a bully. You caught him in his car a few times screaming at his younger sister, or harassing some of the girls.

Billy was trouble, and you wanted nothing to do with it.

That thought entered your mind as soon as his eyes flashed over to you. He puffed his chest out, looked you up and down, then grimaced as he walked away.

“This was a bad idea,” you tried to yell to Robin over the crowd as you walked back inside. “Can we go ho-”

“Oh, there’s Tammy!” Robin exclaimed, totally oblivious to everything happening. She hooked her arm around yours and pulled. “Come on!”

Of course, Tammy was right fucking next to Steve Harrington, making heart eyes at the back of his head as he danced with Nancy.

He finally noticed you when you were about five feet away, you pulling away from Robin and moving to hug the wall.

“Hey!” he said, surprise in his voice as he rested his sunglasses on the top of his head and looked you up and down.

You braced yourself for the same judgment you received from the other two guys this evening. For any sign of a grimace, any disgust in his expression.

His eyes widened, and his smile grew. “You look fucking awesome!”

Your chest swelled. “Really?” you asked, voice inaudible with the music blasting.

“Hell yeah! I love it. Totally badass.”

He started saying something in a quieter voice and it got jumbled through the noise. “What?” you yelled.

Suddenly, he was leaning in, lips inches away from your ear. “If I ever hear word about an ancient, impossible to find treasure, I’m calling you up.”

A smile crept up your face and you nodded. “You got it, Steve.”

Nancy was still dancing, not noticing you, which was fine because you were too distracted by the way Steve’s body turned to face you completely as he leaned back to engage in any small talk. He rested his hands on his hips.

“So?” he started. “What do you think of my look?”

You rolled your eyes, instantly feeling more at ease than you had five minutes ago. “Tom Cruise ain’t got nothing on you.”

His brows raised, a look of….awe? or something painted across his face for a millisecond before he regained composure. He nodded. 

“Someone put that on my tombstone,” he responded.

The two of you laughed, you lightly shoving his arm and he leaned into you.

And just like that, the music and loud noise faded around you, and there weren’t any drunk people in costumes, there was no stale scent of beer and cigarettes and weed.

All you could hear was the pounding of your heart, all you could see was the man before you, and all you could smell was the cologne drifting from his neck into your nostrils.

You had hardly ever drank alcohol in your life, so it might have been the few sips of beer you had consumed, but you could have sworn his eyes flickered to your mouth and that he might have leaned forward-

“I’m getting another drink,” Nancy suddenly slurred. Steve whipped his head toward his girlfriend and you followed suit, watching her tiny body stumble away into the crowd.

He groaned, eyes tracking her movements. “I should go with her.” He turned to you with a smile that looked more like a grimace. “She’s had way too much. Time to cut her off.”

You nodded. “Good luck.”

Steve stared at you a few moments longer. “You really do look great tonight, Y/n. Not that you don’t always. It’s just…” he shook his head. “Nevermind. I’ll see ya around, okay?”

Another nod. “Sounds good,” you said, trying to hide your disappointment.

You watched him walk away before turning around, noticing Robin leaning against the wall, staring at you in disgust.

You mimicked her expression. “What?”

“What the hell was that?” she accused, standing straight.

“What the hell was what?”

She scoffed, waving her hand out in front of you. “That! You and dumb Harrington practically eye-fucking each other.”

You barked out a laugh, shaking your head. “You’re ridiculous.” You took a sip of beer.

“Am not! You’re like, totally in love with him, aren’t you?”

And then you were choking on your sip of beer, coughing and sputtering.

Robin groaned. “Y/n, come on! Him? That dipshit sucks!”

“He does not and you know that! Remember when he forced Tommy to switch lockers with him so that I stopped getting harassed? He also drives me to school everyday!”

She snapped her fingers, eyes widening in an aha! moment. “But Keith has offered to drive you and you keep saying no! Because you want your Harrington time!”

You jumped forward, covering her mouth with your hand. “Robin. Stop.”

Robin licked your hand and you yelped. 

“Listen,” she said when you finally pulled your hand away, voice quieter, “I just don’t want you to get hurt, okay? So if your heart wants that clown, then fine. But if he does one thing to upset you, his ass is grass.”

You nodded, expression softening at the sweet yet somewhat terrifying sentiment. “I love you, too.”

She smiled. “Come on, let’s get another drink.”

Instead of going outside, Robin led you to the kitchen where there was a massive punch bowl. The fumes it gave off as you stood over it seemed dangerous.

Hell, maybe this would help you loosen up a bit.

Just as you were about to head back to your spot, Robin froze, eyes following Tammy Thomspon as she approached the punch bowl.

You looked over to her and smiled, squeezing her hand. “Good luck, bud.”

She swallowed and squeezed your hand back before you let go and walked back to your safe space by the wall.

You did your best to try to make your body as small as possible, not wanting people to bump into the fat girl and have yet another excuse to judge you and your larger body.

You did your best, but nothing could have prepared you for the moment that Billy Hargrove barrelled across the room, knocking straight into you and spilling your punch all over your button up.

Billy scrunched his face staring at you. “Watch it, cow.”

You stood there, a mixture of shock and embarrassment making it impossible for you to move. You wished that you could just disintegrate into the floor and never be seen here again-

“The fuck did you just call her, Hargrove?” You turned your head to the right to see Steve storming over, eyes ignited with rage. He stopped once he was between you and Billy.

Billy smirked. “Look, King Steve, it’s not my fault. Some things are just too big to ignore.”

Wow, this kid sure fucking knew how to get you right where it hurt.

Steve took another step forward, and you watched his hands clenched into fists. When he spoke next, his voice was low, threatening. “Don’t you dare talk about her like that or I swear to God-”

Billy let out a low, antagonizing chuckle as he took a swig of beer. “Damn Harrington. I thought you preferred skim milk,” his eyes flickered over to Nancy stumbling out of the house in Jonathan Byers’s arms, then over to meet yours, “not heavy cream.”

Steve lunged at Billy, right arm swinging back to ready a punch.

You grabbed said arm, pulling him back.

“Steve, stop,” you whispered, hand clinging to him. “Ignore him. It’s not worth it.”

He looked at you in horror. “What the hell does that mean?”

You shook your head, forcing the tears back. “Just…please. I don’t want to deal with this.”

Steve stared at you for a long moment, chest heaving up and down. From the corner of your eye, you watched Billy saunter away, smug smile growing.

Finally, he relaxed, and you let go of his arm as he moved to take your hand. “Come on,” he said softly. “I’ll take you home.”

Another shake of your head. “It’s fine. Robin and Keith can take me.”

His jaw clenched, and he looked up to scan the room until he found Robin in the kitchen. He looked at you, eyes wide with concern. “Wait here one moment.”

You watched as he walked over to Robin, whispering something in her ear. Her eyes went to you, and when she looked back at Steve she glared, mumbling something in response. 

All Steve did was nod, then walked back to you.

“Let’s go, Y/n.” His hand went back to yours, and you were too tired to keep fighting.

He kept hold of your hand until you got to the maroon BMW. He walked over to the trunk and pulled out an oversized Hawkins High Basketball sweatshirt, handing it to you.

You nodded in thanks, silently praying that it would fit.

“You can change in the car,” he murmured, walking over to the passenger side to open the door for you.

Another nod from you and you stepped in. He waited a few seconds - back turned to you as he blocked your window from any onlookers - and then moved over to the driver’s side.

It was silent the entire ride home, you staring outside the window, Billy’s words playing in an endless loop in your mind.

The car pulled to a stop outside your house, Steve’s movements slow as he turned the ignition off, bringing his hands back to the wheel.

Had they been clenched around it that tightly this whole time?

Silence.

“Is that really how you feel?” he finally asked, looking over to you in such a pained expression that you felt your heart break.

“What?” you whispered.

“That you’re not worth it? That you don’t deserve having someone beat the shit out of some asshole who thinks they can say such awful, fucking untrue things to you?��

Your bottom lip trembled. “Steve..”

“No, Y/n, listen.” His hands somehow clenched the steering wheel even more tightly. “If anyone thinks of being a dick to you ever again, I’m swinging. You can try to act like it doesn’t hurt you or that you don’t care, but I do. And I’m not letting it slide.”

A tear fell down your cheek and you smiled.

“Steve Harrington, my stubborn knight in shining armor.”

Steve laughed, his body relaxing and he shook his head. “What can I say?” His eyes met yours and your breath hitched from the intensity of them. “You’re worth protecting.”

You swallowed, suddenly dizzy from the sincerity in this voice. If only you had managed to drink more of that toxic punch to give yourself more liquid courage to be in this moment.

But alas, you hadn’t so you were too sober to delve any further into this conversation.

“Is Nancy okay?” you asked, changing the subject back to his girlfriend.

The light left Steve’s eyes and he sighed. “I don’t know. She had a lot to drink and sort of freaked out.”

“I’m sorry.”

He shook her head. “She’s…she’s been through a lot lately. I try to help her the best I can, but sometimes I don’t think I’ll ever be enough.”

“Hey,” you said, hand reaching out to take his. “You’re always enough, Steve. More than enough. Nancy seems great, but if she can’t see that, then she honestly doesn’t deserve you.”

Shit….maybe I’ve had more to drink than I thought.

Steve looked down at your hand, his thumb stroking your knuckles once before he looked back at you.

“Nanc….she said something tonight. About you.”

Your heart skipped a beat and you blinked a few times. “What did she say?”

Steve stared at you, and you could almost see a million little gears turning in his head as he thought of the next thing to say.

Finally, he released your hand, eyes leaving yours. “She said you looked really great tonight. Incredible, actually.”

Your shoulders relaxed, though you didn’t realize how tense they had gotten in those few seconds of silence. “Oh…that was really nice of her.”

“She meant it,” he mumbled. His hand went back to the ignition. “I should get going.”

You nodded, reaching for the handle. “Thanks for the ride.”

He nodded. “Anytime.”

You forced yourself not to look back as you approached the front door to your hours, which meant you missed how Steve’s eyes didn’t leave you until you were safely inside, the hand once again tightening around the steering wheel before he drove home.

~~~~~~~~

Thank you for reading! :)

#Steve Harrington x reader #Steve Harrington x you #Steve Harrington x y/n #neighbor!steve harrington #neighbor!steve harrington x plus size!reader #Steve harrington #Steve Harrington imagine #Steve Harrington fic #Steve harrington angst #protective Steve harrington #stranger things #stranger things fanfic #stranger things imagine

[j2h5b5]

It didn’t take a genius to realize that Steve Harrington was devoted to his kids.

And they were indeed Steve’s kids. He knew it, they knew it, anyone who saw him with them knew it, including, oddly enough, the children’s actual parents. They might not have understood exactly why their offspring were so tightly intertwined—with each other and with Steve and with the small assemblage of Hawkinsians that included the chatty and rather eccentric girl who worked with Steve at the local video store, a straight-laced honor student turned journalist who had recently taken up a distinct interest in (and displayed an alarming talent for) deadly weaponry, the lead singer of a heavy metal band who was also known to be a petty drug dealer, and, perhaps most baffling of all, the former police chief.

The biological parents might not have known why, but they knew that these people made up their kids’ other family—their Chosen Family, as it were. And not a single one of them—for reasons rooted in either blissful ignorance, parental inadequacy, self-absorption, or just relief that someone else was handling the hard stuff—was about to interfere in that.

#stranger things #steddie #found family #mama steve #dad eddie munson #steve harrington #eddie munson #protective steve harrington #steve and eddie #dustin henderson #new to tumblr #suck at tumblr #shot in the dark #the party stranger things #dad!eddie munson #not that kind #not that there's anything wrong with that #mom steve

[maddipoof]

11? 11.

Robin Buckley being a gay disaster! But it all works out. Teeniest, tiniest bit of Steddie being her wingman because I just can't help myself. WC: 1.5k, let me know if a part 2 is in order, I'm more than happy to oblige. CWs: Tiniest implication of homophobia, brief swearing, short mention of bathing in the blood of virgins

After four years, eight plays, three soccer championships, and countless band practices; Robin was finally graduating. 

She crossed the stage fairly early, with her head held high and to the cheers of her band friends, soccer friends, friends that saw her through a Russian bunker, and of course her parents. As well as the soft, stifled grin and slow clap of the one girl she could not say one nice word to all four years. Robin smiled back and looked to the floor on the way to her chair. 

She let her parents congratulate her and Eddie then sent them on their way, saying Steve offered to drive her back to her party, he hadn’t, but he would anyway. They were both talking, Steve telling her how happy he is that she’s getting out of Hawkins, making her way in the world one PoliSci degree at a time. Eddie came up to tell her the same, also to give all the French girls his number on her semester abroad. 

That was until she felt another weight on top of her head. She spun around and had to tilt her head down because of the high heels her mom forced her to wear, which only made both the caps fall off. The other girl caught both of them. “Y/n l/n,” she said it like she was in an old western, coming face to face with her nemesis; at least that’s what Steve and Eddie thought. The rocker whispering to the other that he could almost hear the Ennio Morricone  themes rolling now. 

“Robin Buckley, I believe this is yours,” she handed the cap back.

“Thank you, you insatiable witch.” Steve was a little taken aback, having never heard Robin talk to someone like that, but the other girl never even flinched. 

“I’d much prefer that to being a horrid wench such as yourself.” Eddie was just watching, tagging along for the ride, having seen these interactions for the last 4 years. 

“Well, at least I do more with my days then curse people and bathe in the blood of virgins.”

“But I still spare you , couldn’t have your thespian geekiness tainting my bath.” Eddie had to hold Steve, who did not know the definition of the word ‘thespian,’ back from giving this girl a piece of his mind; though Eddie did whisper its actual meaning. “Your friends might not be so lucky. At least they’re not lame and play the stupid trumpet like you,” as their jabs got weaker, so did their voices. 

“At least I have friends.”

“I have friends.”

“Not ones you like.”

“That’s not my fault.”

“It has to be somebody’s.”

“Fuck you, Buckley.”

“Well, I’d like you to.” 

Everyone’s jaws dropped. No one expected her to say that. Even herself. At least the auditorium was loud enough that no one else heard. 

Steve and Eddie took that as their cue to leave. 

“Ummm…”

“I should not- I should not have said that. I-um, I’m gonna go-“ she turned to follow Steve and Eddie. 

“Wait.” The other girl caught her arm. “Um- I-uh, I’d like to.” She scrunched her face and shook her head. “I mean I-I-I would but, uh, I’d like to take you out.”

“Take me out? You’re a sniper or something now?”

“Can you listen to me? I’m trying to do what I’ve been trying to do since 9th grade.”

“But I’ve wanted to do it since 8th. First come first serve. You should let me do it.”

“No, I already started, don’t interrupt now.”

“Go ahead then.”

“Robin Buckley.”

“Y/n L/n.”

“Will you come see a movie and have dinner with me? Or we can do something else. I know you don’t like loud places. I know this restaurant, very low key, quiet if we go at the right time. Or we could just have a picnic or something?” She was clutching her cap to her chest and Robin was twisting the tassel around in her hands to keep herself from tucking that one piece of hair out of her face. 

“You hate the grass, it makes you itchy.”

“I’ll bring a blanket.” They were both talking so softly. Very breathy, stepping closer pretending it was because of the loud gym. 

“Bugs,” Robin couldn’t say she entirely believed it was really happening. The biggest crush she’d never told anyone about. Not even Steve, and mostly because she refused to admit it to herself. Probably because it was real and tangible and she was right there that Robin couldn’t believe it could be true. 

“I’ll manage,” she’d manage anything for Robin. 4 years of pining, longing, yearning . And hiding it from everyone under the guise of spiteful banter. Now it’s right here, right in front of her. She’ll manage. 

“Tomorrow then?” Robin asked. 

“Yes. Yeah, absolutely. I’ll bring some stuff, you bring some stuff and I’ll pick you up at 11?”

“Yeah.”

“Ok!” She said a little (a lot) giddy.

“Ok,” Robin said it just the same. “I um, I have to go see my friends but um, yeah tomorrow, 11. I’ll see you then.”

“Bye,” She said it so girl, not girly, just girl. The pitch making it sound like it was three syllables that went up and came back down like a wave pushing to the shore. 

“Bye,” Robin didn’t think she said it as pretty as she did. All breathy and light. She thought it was pretty though. She’d hear Robin say ‘bye’ all the time if it meant she got to keep saying hello and hearing that voice. 

Robin walked, then skipped and hopped, just a little, back to Steve and Eddie. 

~~~

“ God, finally, man. For years I’ve been watching those two dance around each other. Exhausting,” Eddie shoved his cap into Steve’s arms and wiped under his bangs with the back of his hand. 

“What are you talking about?”

“Oh you didn’t see the two painfully awkward lesbian mating dance they’ve been doing since they were freshmen? Look at them.” Steve turned his head to see Robin fidgeting with the tassel and the other girl, that he’s just now learning about, gripping her cap like a life raft. “You didn’t notice Robin, the absolute worst artist I’ve ever met, can’t even draw a stick figure, take art for four years, eight semesters in a row, just for her. And you didn’t notice someone else paint every set piece, though she claims musicals are ‘the lowest art form?’ Hmm?”

“Obviously not, Munson, I graduated. But why is this the first I’m hearing about her?”

“Hmm, oblivious much? But my guess is, my astute, professional, love-doctor, hypothesis, is that this was such an important thing to Robin that she didn’t want any outside opinions and it was just too real to mess up.” If Max were here, she’d tell him he’s projecting his own emotions onto a secondary situation. Especially with the way he was looking at Steve, not that he’d know since he was focused on watching Robin, and around Robin; giving her space and making sure no one tried anything with her. “Honestly though, I don’t think she knew herself. Don’t take it too hard, Harrington. Maybe you’ll be more observant the next time someone is so obviously in love. You’ll have a million chances, big boy.” Eddie took the cap back, plopped it on Steve’s head, slung his arm over his shoulders, and planted a fat smacking kiss to his cheek, while they watched Robin walk back over with the biggest, dopiest grin on her face.

“So you finally did it?” Eddie asked her. 

“Yeeep, well, she did. Um, we’re having a picnic tomorrow.”

“Do you need me to drive you?”

“No, uh she’s gonna pick me up.”

“Oh, a real gentleman,” Eddie teased and turned them all to the door. 

Once they were in the parking lot, they saw y/n across the way. She had taken the gown off which left her in what Robin decided was the most gorgeous dress ever. It was a simple sundress really, perfect for the June heat, covered in flowers, but Robin loved it all the same. Robin caught her eye and she waved with the biggest smile. She said something to her friends then ran over to Robin as fast as she could in her missguided heels. “I couldn’t wait to call you later.” 

Steve and Eddie stood on either side of them, blocking them from everyone else’s views so she could take Robin's face in her hands. She didn’t kiss her yet, she was going to wait for that. Just held her, looked at her, thanked whatever god made Robin’s mouth faster than her brain that made all this work out. “11.”

“11.”

I'm doing this to quell my sapphic little heart that's too big for my own good, my last relationship (if you can even call it that) went utterly horribly, like so bad (cus she's straight and I don't like being a guinea pig [not that experimenting is a bad thing, just like, let the person know first y'know?]) Anyway, maybe this will manifest a pretty girl into my heart, because as of now I just keep giving her (the fattest crush I've ever had) random things, like a crow or something.....I'm hopeless

#robin buckley #stranger things #robin buckley x reader #robin buckley x you #robin buckley x y/n #robin buckley fluff #robin buckley fanfic #robin buckley fanfiction #dell's fics #robin buckley imagine #robin buckley oneshot #robin buckley blurb #stranger things one shot #eddie munson is alive #protective steve harrington #Lesbians #sapphic