#stedsy

[insideoutstory]

1986 is Batshit

Eddie Munson x FOC x Steve Harrington

summary: Patching up Steve in the Upside Down, Eddie feels like this whole thing is a hallucination. Maybe he’s the one with rabies.

warnings: fluff, blood, descriptions of steve’s injuries as displayed in 4.07, established Steve x OC, implied polyamory

A/N: A future look into the fourth installment of Inside Out. I was hoarding this for myself as a test scene, but everyone has Eddie feels and a few people have asked. First installment is complete with second installment in progress! 

[ Incidentally my OC is also named Christine so...if you’re new here, sorry lol ]

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It was supposed to be his year. 

The moment the clock struck midnight on New Year’s Eve, Eddie Munson had known it was his year: 1986. This was the year it worked out. This was the year that everything changed. Instead—well, no—not instead. It wasn’t like he was wrong. Things had definitely changed, and they were definitely changed forever and fucking always; it just wasn’t the change he’d been angling for. 

This year—his third senior year—was supposed to be the year that he graduated and left the shithole that was Hawkins, Indiana behind. He’d scrape by in his classes, run the most badass D&D campaign the school had ever or would ever see, play a few shows with his band, and maybe—just maybe—see a little action outside of his right hand. He wasn’t looking to lock himself into a relationship or anything, but it would be nice to get some attention from someone who wasn’t angling for a discount on their drugs. 

Maybe that was his downfall. He should’ve known it was too good to be true when Chrissy Fucking Cunningham asked to come by his place after the game. She’d been sweet, she’d been nice, she’d been fucking gold—right up until she’d levitated into the air and had her eyes sucked out. 

He’d wished that things were going to change, but if he’d known that “change” meant being suspected of murder, going on the lam, being traumatized by spell-casting monsters from another dimension, and then diving headfirst into that dimension with the weirdest bunch of ragtag teens he could be pressed to imagine… 

Yeah, maybe he wouldn’t have wished so hard. 

“Shit, fuck, motherfucking shit—” 

“Eddie,” Robin hissed, “less cursing, more running!” 

She passed him, diving headlong into the dark, spooky trees that made up the dark, spooky forest and leaping over the dark, spooky tendrils of creeping vines on the ground. Eddie gracelessly jumped over another just as it wiggled, making him squeal another curse and pick up the pace. The whole thing was a fucking nightmare. 

He brought up the rear of the group, letting everyone else make the important decisions like where to run, when to hide, and what they were gonna do next. He didn’t feel qualified to make any of those calls. Then again, if you’d asked him yesterday, he wouldn’t feel like any of his companions were qualified either. 

Robin Buckley: a kindred weirdo, hypothetically. She was at the opposite end of the band kid spectrum, with her trumpet and dorky marching band uniform. She didn’t exactly conform, but even Eddie knew she was an oddball, no matter how smart she was. 

Nancy Wheeler: a certified princess at Hawkins High. She wasn’t the same kind of popular as Chrissy Cunningham—Nancy ran the newspaper instead of the cheer squad—but she was still an all-star, extra-curricular, brown-nosing prep, dressed head to toe in pink and frills. 

Steve Harrington: somehow even worse. Eddie had always seen him as the epitome of a washed-up jock, an airhead who’d staked through high school on nothing but his good looks and charisma, then gone on to work a boring retail job where he had no prospects and no future. 

Christine Walcott: a total nerd, which…wasn’t really an insult, coming from Eddie. Christine was alright. After he’d recruited Henderson for Hellfire, befriending her had come naturally. At the very least, he respected the shit out of her. He knew that she was smart, tough, hard to scare. She’d even put Billy Hargrove in the hospital, if the rumors were true. Of the five of them, Eddie imagined Christine as the best candidate to handle the situation—fighting monsters, solving mysteries, saving the world—but somehow, here he was marching right behind her. 

 Eddie “The Freak” Munson: outcast, drug dealer, and weirdo extraordinaire. He drove a piece of crap van and was one bad grade away from becoming a high school dropout, his only talents playing the guitar, rolling a solid joint, and running away from his problems. He was getting real good at that. 

Even so, he was the last person to reach Skull Rock—or whatever he was supposed to call the version of Skull Rock in this parallel dimension. The others were standing in a circle, already deep in conversation about things he could barely comprehend. 

“I don’t like this,” Nancy was saying as she shook her head. “Why wouldn’t they just attack us?” 

“Excuse me?” Steve wheezed on Eddie’s right, hands clutching the gaping wound in his side where he’d been bitten. “You’re joking, right? Tell me you’re joking.” 

“No, she’s right,” Christine said from Steve’s other side. “The first wave attacked us, but the second—they were just sitting there in front of the gate. They easily could have finished us off, but instead it’s like—like they were just trying to stop us from leaving.” 

“Is that really bad?” Eddie asked. “Because like—that sounds really fucking bad.” 

“Well, they’re a hive mind,” Robin offered. “You said the Demodogs would listen to the Mind Flayer right? So if the—the Demobats or whatever called off their attack—” 

“Then someone told them to,” Nancy finished, nodding along. “Someone like Vecna.” 

“Which means he knows we’re here,” Christine added, “and he doesn’t want anyone killing us before he gets to us himself.” 

“Great,” scoffed Steve. “That’s real comforting. Thanks.” 

Eddie gulped, swallowing a pitiful whimper of cowardice. He should’ve stayed in the fucking boat. At least being arrested had a higher survival rate than rabies from mutated bat attacks. 

“Okay, one thing at a time.” Nancy shook her head again and Eddie could practically see her step into manager-mode. “We can only hide here for so long, and we’re going to need supplies: weapons, first aid—” 

“Hi, can we skip to the part where we find another way out?” Robin asked. 

 “We don’t know if there is another way out.” 

“But we can find out. We can do the compass thing like Dustin, right, Chrissy?” 

“Sure, if we had a compass.” 

“I thought you did have a compass.” 

“Yeah, Robin, in my bag, which I left on the boat when I dove into the lake!” 

“…well, that seems like an oversight.” 

“Robin, I swear to God—” 

The argument ended abruptly as Steve’s legs buckled. Eddie and Christine both dove to catch him, each grabbing one arm to keep him upright. Steve swayed heavily on his bare feet, barely able to keep his eyes open even as he complained. 

“M’fine. Sorry, I—it’s fine—” 

“Shut up, Steve,” Christine snapped. “Eddie—” 

“Yeah, I got him.” 

Together they hauled Steve across the clearing, towing him toward the rocks where he could sit down and catch his breath. He groaned as he leaned against the largest boulder and Christine began to fret over his wounds. Eddie tried to scoot back to give them some privacy, but in the cave-like alcove of Skull Rock, there wasn’t a lot of space. He sat back on his heels as Christine ghosted her hands over Harrington’s chest, slick with sweat, lake water, and blood. 

“Huh,” Steve mumbled, his eyes closed, but his lips tugging into a smirk. “Déjà vu, huh?” 

Christine glared at him. “No. You weren’t bleeding out last time.” “Yeah, but I was definitely shirtless.” 

Eddie wrinkled his nose and scooted a few feet further away. “Gross, dude.” 

“Sorry,” Christine apologized on his behalf. “He gets like this when he’s scared.” 

“I’m not scared,” Steve argued. “Seriously, Chris, I’m fine. I just needed to—ow! Ow, ow, ow—” 

“Sorry!” 

 He hissed in pain as her fingers brushed his side, where he’d gotten the brunt of the bites. Even at a distance, Eddie could tell that it was far from fine. More than bite marks, Steve had gouges of flesh missing from his abdomen, small chunks ripped away by tiny fangs. The bleeding was slowing down, but Eddie had a feeling that wasn’t as promising as it should have been; he’d already lost a lot of blood. 

Christine peeled off her flannel shirt, hurriedly folding it into a long strip. “Eddie, can you lift him up?” 

“Huh? Oh—yeah, I—sure.” 

He crawled over to Harrington’s side, reached out, then hesitated and pulled his hand back. His eyes darted from spot to spot, trying to figure out the best way to grab him without making things worse, his fingers twitching anxiously through the air. 

“Dude, I’m fine,” Steve insisted. His eyes were still clenched closed, but he lifted his right arm and sat up as much as he could. “I don’t need—” 

“Steve,” Christine repeated sternly. “Shut up.” 

Eddie cocked his head to the side with an uneasy laugh. “You heard her, man.” 

He pulled Steve’s arm around his shoulders, then slipped his own arm behind Steve’s back, taking care not to aggravate the harsh scratches where he’d been dragged across the ground. He eased Steve up to his knees, trying to support the bulk of his weight without actually having to touch him. Steve didn’t seem to have that problem. His fingers dug into Eddie’s shoulder, his other hand clutching at Eddie’s to keep him balanced. 

Christine knelt in front of them, looking up with hesitant eyes. “You ready?” 

“Yeah,” Steve said through clenched teeth. “Yeah, just do it.” 

She bit her lip, but obliged. Gently as she could, she pressed the thickest folds of the fabric against Steve’s side, then wrapped her arms around him to tie it. Steve let out a low groan, tipping his head back to hide the way his face screwed up in pain. Eddie squeezed his hand in his best attempt at support. 

“You good, dude?” 

“Super,” Steve said breathlessly. “I’m—yup, good.” 

He let go of Eddie’s hand to push his hair out of his face. Eddie made sure to keep watching him, monitoring his face for signs of discomfort as Christine rushed to tie off the cuffs of the shirt. She tucked the last few inches of sleeve into the band of Steve’s pants, then gently patted him on the chest. 

“Okay, done. You did good. It’s okay.” 

The words caused Steve to sag in Eddie’s grip, and he quickly lowered them both back to the ground. Eddie slipped his arms from Steve’s torso and wiped his hands on his ripped jeans, trying to erase the feeling of Steve’s sweat. Then, at a loss, he reached out to ruffle Steve’s hair. 

“Chin up, Harrington. You made it.” 

Steve tried to smack Eddie’s hand away, but the response was so sluggish that he missed completely. 

“Munson, you touch my hair again, I bite your head off next.” 

Eddie snorted and moved to sit against the opposite wall. Christine was still lingering in front of Steve, her fingers tracing through the patch of hair on his chest, unable to meet his eye. Eddie knew he should probably get up and move, give them a little bit of privacy, but before he could summon the energy, Christine was whispering. 

“Just hang on a little longer, okay?” she told Steve in a soothing voice. “We’ll figure this out and…and we’ll get you back.” 

“I know you will.” Steve gave her a soft smile. “Seriously, Chris. I’m not worried. I’m fi—” 

“Don’t say you’re fine. Because if—if you say you’re fine and then you’re not fine, I—Steve, I can’t do that.” 

“Now you sound like Max.” 

“Well…what if she’s right?” Her voice broke as she finally looked up at Steve. “We’ve been fighting this thing for years, and every time it’s close call after close call. We…we’re not gonna keep getting lucky. Eventually…eventually someone’s not coming back.” 

“Hey.” Steve cupped her cheek, forcing her to hold his gaze. “You don’t know that. I mean, I’m a pretty lucky guy. I scored you, right?” 

“Steve—” 

“I mean it. We’ve been through a lot of shit, but…I don’t know. I feel like we’ve got more shit to go through, like—okay, that doesn’t sound good when I say it like that, but I mean—” 

Christine leaned forward, catching him in a kiss and silencing the rest of his explanation. Steve sighed in content, his fingers sliding from her chin back into her hair. 

Eddie quickly averted his eyes. Quietly as he could, he folded his arms on his knees and buried his face in his elbow. He felt bad for eavesdropping, but in the small space, even their breathing was impossible to ignore. He could hear it when Steve groaned again, when their lips finally broke apart, when they exchanged quiet I love you’s. He heard Christine sniffle, make some excuse about checking in with Nancy, and then shuffle away into the woods. 

Still, Eddie sat with his face in his arms, trying not to move or draw attention to himself. He felt like he’d trespassed on something he wasn’t supposed to see, which was dumb because Steve and Christine had both known he was there. It wasn’t like he’d snuck in to spy on them. Of course they were comfortable kissing in public. They’d been a thing for like a year, if he remembered right—longer, if all the shit from the rumor mill was true. Eddie was the one being weird about their PDA. 

It was a few minutes before he finally felt comfortable enough to look up again. Christine was long gone, probably outside talking with Nancy and Robin, by the sounds of it. Under the rock, it was just him and Steve—Steve “The Hair” Harrington. He looked a paler, but maybe that was just the contrast to his girlfriend’s red flannel around his stomach. His eyes were closed under the wayward locks of damp hair, and his chest— 

Eddie froze. He wasn’t trying to be weird by staring at the dude’s chest, but he was pretty sure it wasn’t moving. There was just enough ambient light that his skin was shiny with sweat, but it was shiny in a way that wasn’t changing, but it should be changing at least a little bit because his chest should be moving when he was breathing, and if his chest wasn’t moving— 

“Harrington.” Eddie scooted forward across the dirt, cautiously nudging Steve’s foot with his shoe. “Yo, Harrington. You still with me?” 

Steve made a noise of protest. “M’fine.” 

Eddie was so relieved, he flopped right down into the dirt. 

“Dude,” he sighed, grinning up at the boulder above him. “You just scared the fucking shit out of me. Holy shit.” 

Steve had just enough energy to chuckle. Eddie could hear his breath hitch whenever it caused him pain, but Steve just kept laughing. 

Eddie lifted his head to give him a curious look. “Uh…should I ask Buckley if hysterics are a symptom of rabies?” 

“No, no, I’m—ha—I’m good.” 

“O-kay…what’s so funny?” 

“Nothing.” Steve grinned, mopping his hair out of his face again. “I just get a kick out of that: scaring the shit out of Eddie ‘The Freak’ Munson. Feel like I deserve a badge or something.” 

A week ago, a comment like that from a guy like Steve Harrington would have made Eddie’s blood boil. Now, lying with him in another dimension, at Skull Rock of all places, Eddie’s face split into a wide smile. 

“I’ll do you one better.” With a sudden burst of energy, he hopped to his feet, shrugged off his denim vest, and folded it neatly in half. Steve raised an eyebrow as Eddie sank into a bow at his feet. “I present you with the very shirt off my back, m’lord. A show of gratitude for your bravery, valor and—you know, all that shit.” 

“Wow. I’m honored.” 

Even though Steve’s voice was dripping with sarcasm, it didn’t stop him from accepting the vest. He winced as he sat up again, but waved Eddie off when he moved to help. It took him a few extra seconds to slip his arms through the holes, his muscles stiff and store from the fight, but eventually, he was able to sag back against the stone, vest properly in place over his chest. 

“So?” he asked, holding his hands out for assessment. “How do I look?” 

Eddie considered him. Things had felt a little awkward when Steve started stripping on the boat. It should’ve been better now that he was covered up, but somehow, the vest made him look even more…Eddie wasn’t sure what the right word was. There was also the innate comedy of seeing preppy Steve Harrington sporting a Megadeth patch and heavy metal pins, but again, somehow he pulled it off. With the red flannel and grime and the bruises on his neck, it just made him look… 

“Damn good, Harrington. Metalhead suits you.” 

Steve snorted as Eddie plopped down next to him in the dirt. “Thanks. I’ll keep that in mind if we ever get out of this shit hole.” 

“Woah, hold on,” said Eddie, looking over in concern. “What happened to ‘I’m fine,’ ‘I’m a lucky guy’?” 

 “Nah,” Steve sighed. “I mean, we’re lucky, but we’re not that lucky. All the bullshit that’s gone on in this town…it’s put her through the wringer. She lost Barb, then she lost El for a while, now she’s lost El and Hopper. She’s been through enough. I don’t want her to worry about me.” 

“…okay, granted, I’ve never done the whole relationship thing, but I’m pretty sure that’s not how it works.” 

Steve didn’t reply; no laugh, no arguing, no snappy reply, not even a sigh. He just stared at the ground in front of him, solemn and despondent. 

Eddie watched him, nervously fiddling with the rings on his left hand. He was in no position to give relationship advice. He was probably less qualified to talk about that than he was to discuss the “Upside Down.” But he wasn’t about to leave Harrington hanging either. 

“You know, you and Walcott are good together.” 

Steve lifted his head and, dare Eddie even think it, his eyes looked hopeful. 

“Yeah?” 

“Totally,” Eddie assured him. “Don’t get me wrong; when you two went public, I was clutching my pearls with the rest of ‘em. Even without bringing Wheeler into it, you guys were pushing the envelope of Hawkins cliques. I mean, King Steve? Dating nerdy, little Chrissy—what did that dickhead used to call her?” 

“Psycho Bitch,” Steve supplied. “Yeah, Tommy was a real asshole.” 

“That’s right, Tommy H. What a fucker. Anyway—I remember thinking, ‘How the hell does that work?’ Now, though—now, I get it. The way you guys take care of each other. I guess that’s the upside to fighting bloodthirsty monsters year after year.” 

He smiled cheekily, but Steve didn’t say anything. He was looking at the ground again, pensive this time. 

“You know something?” he said at last, a small smile playing on his lips. “I don’t think it has anything to do with that.” 

Eddie raised a brow. “No?” 

“Nope. I mean—the first time, definitely. Will going missing started a whole bunch of shit that everyone got dragged into and—hell, if that hadn’t happened, I might not have cleaned up my act. But everything after that…” 

The thought fell away as he ran a thumb along his lower lip. Eddie hoped he was reminiscing and not slipping into some kind of coma; he wasn’t prepared for that. 

“Nancy would’ve dumped me either way,” Steve continued. “Even back then I knew she was gunning for Jonathan. That was only a matter of time. And Chris…she still would’ve been there for me. She still would’ve teased me and cheered me up, and I still would’ve gotten twisted over guys like Billy Hargrove flirting with her. Henderson definitely nudged us along when we got stuck on babysitting duty, but…I like to think I would’ve seen it on my own. Eventually. That even without all the monsters and government agents and conspiracy theories, I still could have been the guy she deserves.” 

Steve continued to stare at the ground as he thought that over. It was a few seconds before he noticed Eddie staring at him. 

“What?” 

“Nothing,” Eddie answered, grinning in disbelief. “Just—dude, did you walk right out of a John Hughes movie or something?” 

“Ah, shut the hell up, Munson.” 

“No, I’m serious. That shit was beautiful. You keep talking like that I might have to kiss you myself.” 

He leaned teasingly close to Steve’s face, happy to sustain a sharp elbow to the ribs in return. At least Steve was still strong enough to hit him. 

“Ow! So, that’s a no?” 

Steve smiled and shook his head. “You gotta talk to Chrissy, man. She calls all the shots.” 

“Figures Walcott’s in charge.” 

“Always.” 

Eddie quirked an eyebrow and stole a glance at Steve out of the corner of his eye. The way the conversation was going, Eddie was starting to worry the guy was delirious from blood loss, but Steve was still breathing. He had his head tipped back again, resting against the wall with his eyes closed, smirking to himself. Eddie could only imagine what sort of fever dreams he was having now, but he decided to leave him to it. 

“I’m gonna check on the girls,” Eddie announced, getting to his feet again. “Don’t die on me, Harrington.” 

“I’ll do my best,” Steve assured him without opening his eyes. 

 Eddie hovered at the edge of the clearing, still watching him. He’d just had a whole-ass conversation with Steve “The Hair” Harrington—a good one. What a fucking trip. 

Shaking his head at himself, he jogged a few steps down the hill toward the girls—only to stop short. Nancy and Robin were both at the tree line, talking in hushed voices and pointing in different directions. Eddie looked left, looked right, but Christine was nowhere to be found. Panic flooded his veins, visions of Chrissy Cunningham’s broken bones flashing before his eyes. Just before he started screaming, Robin caught his eye. She jerked her head back toward Skull Rock, indicating the dark forest behind it. With a half-hearted smile, she turned back to Nancy. 

Eddie clutched his chest, where his heart was still pounding away. He kept having to remind himself that his classmates had done this before; if they weren’t freaking out, he probably didn’t need to freak out. Christine was around here somewhere, probably looking for some alone time to catch her breath and get her worries under control. He could respect that—and he should’ve—but it was hard to think when he could still hear his pulse in his ears. 

 He found her pretty quickly. She’d gone around to the other side of Skull Rock, leaning against the boulder for support. The way her shoulders were shaking, Eddie realized at once that he’d made a mistake. He wanted to backtrack, but Christine had already heard his rustling footsteps. Her head popped up, eyes wide and watery, her cheeks streaked dirt and tears. It almost looked like war paint. 

“Sorry,” Eddie said at once. “I was just—you weren’t—I can go—” 

“It’s fine.” Christine’s voice was thick as she wiped her eyes. “Sorry, I shouldn’t have wandered off. God, I need to pull it together.” 

She was scolding herself, but made no move to leave. Eddie took that as his invitation to stray a little closer. 

“Hey, no judgement from me. My weekend was full of crying. Seriously. That boatshed they found me in? That used to be a regular shed.” 

It didn’t make a lot of sense, but it succeeded in pulling a laugh out of her. Christine carded her hands through her hair, leaning back against the rocks once more. 

“I’m sorry,” she apologized again. 

 “It’s really—” 

“No, it’s not. You haven’t done this before, but we have, which means we should be working on a plan to get out of here and clear your name, instead of hiding in the woods bawling my eyes out—” 

“Hey.” Eddie ducked down to catch her gaze. “You’re fine, Chrissy. Your eyes are still firmly seated in your skull, I promise you.” 

Christine didn’t appreciate the joke as much as he did. She rolled her eyes in exasperation, but even then, he was pretty sure she was hiding a smirk. 

“What about you?” she asked. 

“Me? I mean, I can still see you, so I assume my eyes—” 

“Not that.” 

She fixed him with a knowing look and Eddie deflated. He sucked his teeth bitterly and folded his arms over his chest. 

“You know, for a rogue, your persuasion modifier is a real bitch.” 

“I’m aware,” Christine replied with a smirk, “and I chose my proficiencies very carefully. It’s not all stealth and perception checks, you know.” 

Eddie clapped a hand over his heart and doubled over, playing up his groan of agony. “God, you’re killing me, Princess. I’m begging you, when we get back, just one—” 

“I’m not coming to Hellfire. Don’t change the subject.” 

He sighed dramatically, letting his head fall back as he spun in circle, trying to dodge the question. He screwed around for a few more seconds, but he knew it was futile. There was something about Christine Walcott that always made him cave. 

“I’ve been worse. Seriously,” he added when she cocked an eyebrow. “I don’t know how my life got so fucked up that being stranded in a parallel dimension and hunted by the minions of Vecna and Demogorgon, King of Demons, isn’t the worst day of my fucking life, but…I’ve honestly been worse.” 

He gave her a wry smile and clapped his hands together. The fact was that he did know how his life had gotten fucked up, and it had all started with that visit from Chrissy Cunningham. He wasn’t sure life could get much worse than watching someone die like that and then being accused of murder. 

Eddie didn’t say that out loud, but Christine mirrored his smile in understanding. 

“Still. I’m sorry for botching your spring break.” 

“Right,” Eddie snorted, “well you got arrested, dragged to another dimension, and then bandaged your boyfriend’s precious abs, so…I guess your week isn’t stellar either.” 

“That is true.” 

Both of them laughed—quiet and miserable, but glad for the company. It was unlike anything Eddie had experienced before. He had acquaintances, friends, and he loved his bandmates like brothers, but something about this felt different. It was almost uncomfortable how easily Christine seemed to understand him. At the same time, for someone who’d been ostracized and called a freak their entire life, it was also a sweet relief. 

“Alright,” he said with another performative sigh. “You leave me with no choice.” 

He scanned the forest around them, making sure there was no one nearby. Then he turned back to Christine, screwed up his face, and held his arms out at his sides. 

“…you good?” she asked with a smirk in her voice. 

“Come on, bring it in,” Eddie urged her, “but make it quick. I got a reputation to protect.” 

Her scandalized laugh made it hard for him to keep a straight face. He jiggled his arms, the chains on his cuffs jingling insistently, and was finally rewarded with the sound of footsteps. He tensed as Christine got closer, battling his instinct to cut and run in the face of uncertainty. 

“You’re fucking weird, Munson,” she sighed before pulling him into a hug. 

It was another comment that should have stung, but he was oh so glad it didn’t. The way Christine said it, practically giggling, made Eddie’s chest fill with warmth. Or maybe that was the way she’d snuck her arms under the back of his leather jacket, her forehead pressed into his shoulder. He patted her hair, awkward even though he’d been the one to initiate the hug; he really needed to figure out what his deal was with PDA. 

Eddie was so caught up in his thoughts, it took him a while to notice that Christine was shaking. He looked down in horror, terrified that she’d started crying again, but this time her cheeks were dry. He pried her away from his chest, scanning her head to toe for some sign of distress, when it finally hit him. 

“Shit, Chrissy, you’re freezing.” 

Christine waved off his concern, even as she wrapped her bare arms around her torso. Forfeiting her flannel for Steve left her just in a white camisole and, now that Eddie had the brain to look, her arms were covered in goosebumps. 

“It’s fine, Eddie. Really—no, don’t—” 

He was already shrugging off his leather jacket, taking advantage of his height and long arms when she tried to push it away. He hung it over her head and dodged her defense, forcing the jacket around her shoulders like a grand cape. 

“I’ve got long sleeves anyway,” he assured her. 

“Eddie—” 

“Walcott, I’m counting on you to clear my name. You can’t do that if you die from hypothermia.” 

“Oh, don’t be so dramatic.” 

“I’m a DM, baby. It’s in my nature.” He winked at her, grinning with pride when she averted her eyes. “Come on, Princess. Let’s check on your boyfriend.”

Eddie slung his arm around her shoulders, guiding her through the woods and back toward the main clearing. Both he and Christine ignored the curious looks from Nancy and Robin, turning instead toward the tiny alcove where they’d left Steve. This time, Eddie hung back, watching at a safe distance as Christine ducked out from under his arm and knelt down next to her boyfriend. 

Steve was dozing, but still very much alive. He blinked blearily up at Christine, a tired smile on his face when she poked the denim vest on his chest. Eddie couldn’t hear what they were saying, but he caught Christine’s smile as she shrugged the leather jacket off, only to slide her arms properly through the sleeves. She shuffled to lean her back on the stone next to Steve, tucking her legs up and grabbing Steve’s hand so she could entwine their fingers. After a few more soft words, she nuzzled her head into Steve’s shoulder and both of them closed their eyes. 

It was probably a good idea to take advantage of the brief lull in the action so they could recharge. Eddie thought of doing the same, or else joining in the planning that Nancy and Robin were doing, the way he’d intended to earlier. Instead, he stayed rooted to the spot, running his lips over his knuckles as he looked at the couple before him: Steve “The Hair” Harrington and Christine “Psycho Bitch” Walcott, curled up together in clothes they’d borrowed from Eddie “The Freak” Munson. Maybe Harrington wasn’t the one who was delirious. This whole thing felt like a damn fever dream. 

Eddie let out a long, controlled breath, trying to deny the smile twitching at his lips. Things had definitely changed, and they were definitely changed forever and fucking always. 1986 was kinda batshit.

#eddie munson x oc #steve harrington x oc #eddie munson x oc x steve harrington #steddie #stranger things #stranger things oc #inside out #inside out 4 #stedsy

[thetenthdoctorscompanion]

Ok 1 AAAHHH them talking about kids!! I had them in mind for that entire scene so thank you for sharing I love it so much. 2, while I'm already talking your ear off(and I'll still give you a proper review for the one shot)while I can't imagine Chrissy anywhere else what would she be like in teen wolf? I've been thinking about their next generation and for some reason I thought what would happen if they moved to BH & their kids had their own supernatural adventures?Would they know about them?1/2

also what do you imagine as Chrissy's future job? I could see her doing something really cool like working at nasa or something but I'm interested to know what you think. And I love the idea of a whole Harrington brood. Like I said, since he mentioned wanting like 6 kids I can't stop imagining his and Christine's kids (and Eddie's since they're all together obvi) I've made up so many scenarios, it's honestly embarrassing how hyperfixated I am on your story right now

OKAY so, I'm gonna have to draft a post for the Teen Wolf AU separately, because I started doing a bunch of math and got carried away, as per usual. But know that I am living for these thoughts and the concept of Steve and Chrissy (and Eddie) moving to Beacon Hills with their slew of kids is endlessly entertaining to me.

As for their future in-universe, I definitely want Christine to go into computer science. NASA would be her absolute dream, and Steve doesn't mind the idea of living in Florida. I like the idea of Chrissy having an office/computer job, Steve being a PTA dad, and Eddie cleaning up his act and working as a mechanic. (We know the boy knows his way around an engine.) Also not for nothing, but Steve could very well start a mechanic's shop in his name and then let Eddie run everything. Cause let's face it - with four to six kids, they need to be a two-income household.

I'm also open for what title Eddie gets as a parent. Currently leaning toward Mom, Dad, and Bubs, but I'm open to suggestion.

I HAVE NO EXCUSE FOR THIS I'M SORRY

#for the love of god someone cancel my ps #my stuff #drabble #stedsy #i need to be stopped #for real #stories #st stories #inside out

[szczurherbacany]

hi! can i use your stedsie bands!au fanart and my phone wallpaper? :]

yes, ofc!! i dont have anything against people using my art as wallpaper etc, just credit me when its necessary, for example, when u use it in edits/as a pfp :]

[insideoutstory]

I'm probably going to sound dumb and I've missed something said before, but is steve x chrissy x eddie going to be canon or is it going to be an au with some oneshots?

Not dumb at all! The truth is, I won't know for sure until I actually get to writing that installment. All the plot documents in the world can't prepare me for actually writing, and I always make changes as I go depending on how the characters act out.

The long and short of it is that I had initially intended Chrissy and Eddie to have a totally platonic friendship that read like flirting to outsiders. Then I slowly became obsessed with Steve and Eddie's dynamic, which is also a fair bit of flirting. Then I wrote a test scene from Season 4 and decided it felt pretty natural for Eddie to be attracted to both Steve and Chrissy (and Chrissy C).

I think the final decision to how deep their relationship goes will hinge on what happens in Season 5, which will be integral to how I decide to save Eddie. (I've got two different plans right now, so it's just a matter of leaning one way or the other.)

So for the time being, it's canon that all three of them are super close, flirt all the time, and everyone else thinks they're weird. Whether that solidifies into a concrete polyamorous relationship or a generally fun and fruity OT3 dynamic is to be decided. 😊

do y'all want like...other test scenes...?

#asks #stedsy #stranger things oc #stranger things fanfiction #inside out #future

[insideoutstory]

Okay what is future Christine’s pregnancy like? Is she absolutely miserable or unsure? Is Steve constantly running out to get her stuff?

Okay heads up, I have ZERO experience writing pregnancy plot lines, and in the past, I have't been super into reading them. But when Steve Harrington tells you he wants six kids, you do what you need to do. So *rolls up sleeves* here we go! This got long, so I put it under a cut. 💕 🍼

Honestly, even though Chrissy and Steve have talked about kids a lot, she's still scared when the time rolls around. It's not so much that she's worried about being a bad mom - like Steve says, they've had practice. Also, she grew up in a single-parent household with a dad who did his best, she she knows that she doesn't need to be perfect so long as they can talk it out.

What scares Chrissy is the physical reality of pregnancy - because human reproduction is a nightmare and there are an endless amount of things that can go wrong. Chrissy knows more than the average person because she's so into science, so at the start, she's definitely terrified of all the different dangers.

Chrissy also struggles with feeling isolated sometimes, because she doesn't have her mom to help her through it. She can talk to Joyce or Claudia or Karen, but even then it's not the same. [Side note: I feel like Claudia is definitely the kind of mom who had like really weird cravings while she was pregnant with Dustin, and just assumes that that's how pregnancy is for everyone, which is how Chrissy ends up with a gift of pickles and peanut butter with absolutely no idea what to say.]

So Chrissy wishes she had the assurance of her real mom, who could tell her their family health history and what she went through carrying Christine. A lot of times she feels like she's wandering through the dark, and she can't tell if what she's experiencing is normal or something catastrophic she won't recognize until it's too late.

BUT

If there's something else we know about Christine, it's that she has the Mom Friend Gene which, outside of being maternal, means that the moment someone else is scared or nervous, it's easier for her to calm down. She will revert to being the rational person in the face of chaos and, lucky for Christine, she is surrounded by well-intentioned men who are the definition of chaos.

We're gonna tackle this in ascending order, most rational to the least rational.

5. Hopper

Okay, so y'all haven't gotten to this part of the story yet, but I promise that once everything in Season 2 calms down, Hopper and Christine are closer. He's best friends with her dad, and sort of a second paternal figure for her. Hopper isn't the kind of dad who panics in this situation, not after everything he's been through. He's actually really great at talking to Christine and calming her down because, by GOD, does this man know what it's like to be terrified of yourself as parent. Hopper is one of the few people Chrissy can talk to without putting on a brave face, which she really appreciates.

4. Pete

Chrissy's actual dad is a little more chaotic. We know that he's well-intentioned and great at communication, but he's also scatterbrained and a little hapless at times. He'll soothe Chrissy with stories about her mom, stories about herself when she was a baby, reassurances that the two of them will get through this together. Then he'll also come visit with a ton of gifts for his grandkids even though they haven't been born yet, only to remember that he didn't remember the take out Christine asked him to pick up.

3. Eddie

Listen, Eddie is terrified of the prospect of raising kids. We know he didn't have a good relationship with his dad, his mom isn't in the picture, and he grew up ostracized by society. He's terrified of being unable to save his kids from that, or unintentionally screwing them up in some different way. That being said, he talks about that fear a lot, so he's actively working it out. Despite his usual chaotic personality, he's usually pretty calm around Chrissy - like his brain is telling him he has to walk gently and soothe her. He'll do things like brush her hair for her or give her a massage, painting her nails, just hanging out doing nothing so she doesn't need to get up to change the thermostat or the TV.

Also he's constantly playing guitar for her, because this baby will know music. (He plays "Nothing Else Matters" by Metallica as a lullaby and you can fight me on this because it is PERFECT for their family dynamic.)

2. Dustin

Dustin is so goddamn excited to be an uncle. He's also a nosy little shit who can't mind his own business, so he is 100% the type to grab a drink out of Chrissy's hands and tell her it's bad for the baby. Sees a box of Eddie's cigarettes? Throws them in the trash because they're bad for the baby. Steve leaves the Lysol out while he's cleaning the kitchen? Packs everything away in the middle of the operation because chemicals are bad for the baby. He's dangerously close to getting himself banned from the house for the last few months, but no one wants to lose the happy energy he brings to the place.

Also, you can bet that he's going through all his belongings trying to decide what to give to him. This kid will have their own complete set of Lord of the Rings before they're a month old, coloring books with superheroes, a radio in their room so Dustin can call without tying up the phone line. He's a nerd and an inventor, and the kid will be too.

Steve

We know this. You knew this. Steve is a well-meaning disaster and his brain has too many thoughts to function properly. He's excited. He's scared. He's thrilled. He's mortified. There's so much that he needs to do. Each day brings a different Steve: Handyman Steve who is baby-proofing the house months in advance to the point that he's accidentally locked himself out of the cabinets; Scholar Steve who's checked out every parenting book from the library to learn how to be the best dad he can be; Chef Steve who's taken all of Dustin's critiques to heart and is trying to learn how to cook a healthy meal so Chrissy doesn't need to stand in the kitchen; Doting Steve who will drive any distance at any time of day to get Christine what she needs at this exact moment; back to Handyman Steve who has painted the nursery three times because he's indecisive and can't decide what looks best.

But of two things I am sure.

One: when it finally comes down to it and Chrissy goes into labor, he has a solid battle plan and does not break a sweat. All the go bags are packed, all the appropriate phone calls are made, they take the fastest route to the hospital, and it all goes off without a hitch. He has prepared for this moment and he does not lose his cool.

Two: Steve cannot go shopping with Eddie, because they will both have a meltdown. One of them in the baby section? Okay, they're a little nervous, but they have the mental bandwidth to talk themselves through what they think is the best decision. BOTH of them in the baby section? They work each other into a frenzy, arguing, panicking, pulling the manager into their dramatics because they're scaring the other customers. Three injured, many traumatized, and they spent twice as much money as they intended to.

#this got.......out of hand #asks #future #all grown up #stedsy

[insideoutstory]

IM SORRY BUT THE “you have to talk to chrissy” ABOUT EDDIE GOING IN FOR A KISS HAS ME BLUSHING AND KICKING MY LEGS AND SHIT

Oh DO NOT worry, my friend. I assure you, Eddie heard "Chrissy is always in charge" and filed that away into the databanks for further analysis. That is most definitely a detail he will bring up again.

#eddie heard that and said 'oh you're a sub' #'convenient 😏' #asks #stedsy #inside out 4

[thetenthdoctorscompanion]

giVE ME AN EDDIE OC OR GIVE ME DEATH

L I S T E N

Should I have created a brand new OC for Eddie? Maybe. I considered a drama club girl or someone from stage crew to tie into Hellfire using the drama space.

But Joseph Quinn put so much work into flirting with Joe Keery, and I thought, "God bless this man for choosing to make Eddie Munson a queer chaotic disaster." So right now, the plan is for Eddie to shamelessly flirt with both Christine and Steve until—whoops, another OT3.

#stedsy #inside out #io asks #stories #st stories

[thetenthdoctorscompanion]

Christmas Eve

Steve H x FOC x Eddie M Requested: no, i’m just sappy Warnings: none, just fluff

Steve respected that not everyone celebrated Christmas. It wasn’t a surprise that he was working on Christmas Eve, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t a little bummed to be sweeping instead of cuddling at home with Chrissy and Eddie. The movie theater had divided up the shifts: Christmas Eve morning, Christmas Eve night, Christmas morning, Christmas night. Everyone had to work at least one of the shifts, because the theater wasn’t closing or cancelling any of their showings. Steve had opted for the night of Christmas Eve. It gave him time to wrap his gifts in the morning, open his gifts the next morning, and still be home for dinner when Mr. Walcott joined them that night. It wasn’t a particularly busy shift, but there was still a lot of work to be done with less staff. By the time he’d finished counting down the registers, inspecting each of the theaters and bathrooms, and cleaning the concessions counter, it was past midnight. Christmas Day and he was still at work. He had to admit—while he didn’t love working at the theater—there was a certain irony in working there while Chrissy attended her classes; enough irony to help him make it through the night.

He drove slow on the roads home, wary of the snow and ice that were packed down on the road. When he finally got to the apartment, he was dead on his feet, missing the keyhole three times before he was able to let himself in.

The living room was lit up like…well, like Christmas. They’d ended up with a six foot tree, which was really six and a half feet by the time they secured it in the stand. A few of the upper branches were bent against the ceiling, but Eddie had managed to wedge the star in at an angle where it was still visible.

Steve hung up his jacket and crept through the room so he wouldn’t wake anyone. He expected them to be asleep in their rooms, but he did a double take when he saw the couch. Eddie was slouched in the corner, head tipped back and mouth wide open, dead asleep with Chrissy in his lap. She was curled up on her side with her head resting on Eddie’s thigh, a blanket half-covering her legs as she snuggled closer to him for warmth.

Steve paused, allowing himself to watch them for a moment, painted in the multi-colored lights of the Christmas tree. He smiled to himself, then snuck away to retrieve his gifts from the closet in his room.

He did his best to stay quiet as he moved around the apartment—grabbing a cookie from the platter in the kitchen, dropping candy in the stockings Eddie had nailed to the counter, placing the gifts under the tree—but he wasn’t too surprised when he was interrupted.

“Mm, Santa?” A voice asked blearily behind him. “Thought you were supposed to have a red suit.”

“Yeah, it’s at the dry cleaner,” Steve chuckled softly.

“S’alright. Jeans make your ass look pretty good.”

Steve shot Eddie a look over his shoulder, hoping the Christmas lights would cover any pink in his cheeks. Eddie grinned through his sleepiness, stifling a yawn and trying to shift out from under Chrissy’s sleeping form.

“Wha’ time s’it?”

“One-thirty.” Steve finished straightening out the last package and helped Eddie up off the couch. Eddie slumped forward at once, half-collapsing into Steve’s arms. “Woah—okay, yeah, Merry Christmas to you too.”

“Sorry. M’up, m’up…” Once Eddie’s legs had woken up too, he righted himself and pulled Steve into a proper hug. “Was worried about you. Busy night?”

“Nah, not too bad, but with only three people on, there was a lot to do. That’s why I’m pretty sure I told you guys not to wait up for me.”

Eddie smirked as he pulled back. “Hey, don’t look at me. You know Chrissy’s in charge. She wanted to make sure you got home okay.”

Home. The word made Steve’s chest tingle as he looked from Eddie to Chrissy, still sleeping peacefully on the couch. Her face was painted blue in the string lights, but there was also a faint light coming from the TV, the screen dark but still active as the VCR hummed in the cabinet below. Steve trod over so he could turn off the set and eject the tape.

“What’d you guys watch?”

“Ohhh, take a wild guess,” Eddie groaned as he stretched his arms over his head.

“Gremlins?”

“Gremlins. I keep telling her it’s not a Christmas movie, but she won’t listen.”

“That’s because it is a Christmas movie.” Steve winked over his shoulder as he slipped the tape back in its case and returned it to the shelf. “Hot chocolate?”

“Sure,” Eddie sighed. “Spike it and I’m in.”

“Naturally.”

They migrated to the kitchen and fell into an easy rhythm. Steve prepped the hot chocolate while Eddie grabbed the fixings—the mugs, the whipped cream, the marshmallows, the liqueur; he went quiet after that. Steve assumed he’d fallen asleep on the counter, but when he turned to pour their drinks, Eddie was just watching him, chin in his hands, his eyes sleepy but still shining bright.

“What?” Steve asked warily.

“Nothin’. Just lookin’. You’re cute.”

“Ha. You’re sleepy.”

“Yeah, but you’re still cute, babe.”

Steve shook his head with a smile, pushing Eddie’s cup toward him. “Yeah, well, you’re not bad yourself, pretty boy.”

Eddie hummed in content, though whether it was a response to the compliment or the first sip of his drink, Steve couldn’t tell. He reached across the counter to wipe the whipped cream off the tip of Eddie’s nose before he even touched his own mug.

“You done wrapping?”

“Yup.” Eddie nodded confidently, which wasn’t enough to convince Steve. He raised an eyebrow until Eddie grimaced. “…No…but it’s just some stuff for the kids. You know, shit we’ve gotta mail. Your stuff is done.”

“Gee, thanks. You know if Chris finished?”

“Couldn’t tell you. I don’t even know where she’s hiding that shit. I tried snooping, but I couldn’t find anything.”

“And you never will, Munson.”

Eddie chuckled as Chrissy shuffled into the kitchen like a zombie. Her eyes were completely closed, navigating by instinct around the counter to Steve’s side. She hugged him around the waist and pressed her face into his shoulder.

“M’glad you’re home. Merry Christmas.”

“Merry Christmas, baby,” said Steve, planting a kiss on top her head.

Chrissy sighed happily, then pulled back with a wrinkled nose. “You smell like popcorn and disinfectant.”

“Yeah, I still gotta shower. You two head to bed, huh? I’ll be in in a bit.”

“What?” Eddie laid a hand on his chest and gasped. “We can’t come with you?”

Steve rolled his eyes, but smirked. “Take her to bed, Munson.”

“Hey, don’t have to tell me twice. Come on, sugar.”

Eddie pulled Chrissy back a few steps, then effortlessly scooped her up over his shoulder. Chrissy made a startled noise of protest, but it looked like she was too tired to fight back. Eddie patted her thigh in reassurance before stealing a quick kiss from Steve.

“Night, Stevie-poo.”

“Yeah. Night, Eds.”

Chrissy mumbled something similar as Eddie hauled her away to the bedroom. Steve watched them go and drained the last of his hot chocolate. Sure, he’d started Christmas cleaning up popcorn kernels and making change—but if it meant Steve came home to this, it was worth it.

#inside out #merry christmas all #io prompts #stedsy #christmas prompts #brittney writes

[thetenthdoctorscompanion]

Merry Christmas! That one shot was a nice gift 🥰 I loved it! You know any scrap of their relationship and future I can get I eat up like a feral racoon lol. Them living together while chrissy goes to MIT is just *chef's kiss* and I look forward to hopefully seeing more of that. I loved seeing more of their dynamic too, E's and S's exasperation with each other,E's flirtiness and him being sweet with C, and using his puppy eyes for his own gain lol I loved it all thank you for sharing it 💜💜🎄

Of course! 🥰 As soon as I saw the tree prompt, my brain was like "oh that would cause problems, I must write that." But then I was doing laundry and I thought of another one for snuggling on Christmas Eve, so depending how fast I can finish all my wrapping and ribbons, I might try to get that out tonight. 👀 🎁

#pearlbeth #inside out #asks #io asks #st stories #stories #stedsy

[thetenthdoctorscompanion]

Alright i thought of a fun IO question that hopefully doesn't include spoilers. So remember the scene of Steve going "I don't do drugs it's only marijuana"? Ok so we know he's gotten high before(duh hello party boy Steve), does chrissy at some point try it with him too? What about when Eddie joins them? Would she try it then? Or would she have already and surprise him with that info? What is that like if she does? Does the party find out and are like wtf?!??

I actually have thought a LOT about weed and Steve. Steve used to smoke just recreationally, but started smoking a lot less when he was dating Nancy. (In a canon world without Chrissy, I imagine that he started solo-smoking a lot after Nancy dumped him, just trying to numb himself until his friendship with Dustin got him over his slump.)

Chrissy's not above vices, but she's not a smoker. She'll take a hit here or there if Eddie and Steve are having a smoke session, but she usually doesn't join because she doesn't like the smell. She'll stick to beer and alcohol—although she will eat weed brownies. Eddie thinks it's borderline sacrilegious to bake weed, but he makes an exception for her every now and again.

Usually it's just Steve and Eddie doing the smoking. For you...for you, I give a lil snippet. A little taste.

-

Eddie showed up to the Harrington house for movie night right on time, armed with a wide smile and two six packs. It had taken Steve ages to convince him to come over to “the dark side” of town, but eventually, it was hard for Eddie to argue. The one time they’d had a movie night at his trailer, the power had gone out in the middle of The House on Sorority Row, and Robin had screamed so loud that Max heard her across the street. Eddie had sheepishly agreed that, at least for movie nights, they should go somewhere with a decent TV.

“Buckley?” Eddie asked as he trailed Steve into the living room.

“Nah, not tonight,” Steve sighed. “She made plans with Vicki. And Chris is stuck at work for at least another hour.”

“Ah, even out of school, she continues to be a huge fucking nerd. But as long as it’s just us…” Eddie dropped his bag on the couch, then pulled a blunt out of his pocket with a mischievous smile. “Shall we pass the time, good sir?”

Steve’s lips betrayed him again with another smile. He tossed Eddie his lighter and moved to set up their first movie. “You’re a terrible influence, Munson.”

“And you’re too easy to corrupt, Harrington.”

It was a laughable statement, but somehow, it was also true. Steve had done his share of partying—drinking, smoking, sleeping around—but that all paled compared to Eddie’s life. Eddie smoked like a goddamn chimney and, unfortunately, he was a persuasive son of a bitch. Steve had probably smoked more in the last four months than he had during his entire high school career.

That was how he’d landed here—sharing a blunt with Eddie Munson, who was watching A Nightmare on Elm Street with rapt attention while Steve sprawled out on the floor. He didn’t need to see the screen to follow along with the movie; Chrissy had made him watch it so much that he could probably recite the damn thing, and his memory was shit.

#this is part of like the third stedsy one shot #which may or may not end up being canon #so i don't know how i feel about posting them yet #that being said #i love them #stedsy #io asks #asks #pearlbeth #inside out #stories #st stories

[thetenthdoctorscompanion]

DUDE that exact video was the one that made me go, oh yeah I totally need to bother her with this. For that same reason, it's so Stissy. Like i have been watching her q&a on the pool with her dad for a while thinking about it but I figured I'd keep the idea to myself. But THAT video? Sealed it for me. It fits perfectly. I just cant decide if Eddie would also be surprised and alarmed or if he was climbing with Steve.

Christine: I haven't done it, and neither should you.

Steve: I have done it, but you shouldn't.

Eddie: I have also done it, and will show you how. Look—

Christine and Steve: EDDIE NO!

#sorry i got caught watching this gif for like 5 minutes #i love him your honor #io asks #inside out #stedsy #pearlbeth

[thetenthdoctorscompanion]

For the Christmas prompt thingy! Honestly I'll take all the help I can get getting into the holiday spirit. (I literally just got back from seeing the nutcracker for the 1st time ever and while i loved it, still nothing as far as holiday cheer goes😔)Obviously you know which one of your oc couples is my favorite and i never get tired of(S+C(+E)), but if you want a break from them, I also accept Dean and Kat or Stiles and Sadie. Any # tbh but 3, 7 or 10 caught my eye. I appreciate the help 😅🎄

I know that this took me until Christmas Eve-Eve, but I hope that it still gives you a little boost. I knew exactly which one I wanted to do as soon as you sent this.

iv. taking their time picking the tree

Christine had experienced almost every kind of Christmas she could imagine. She’d had years where she and her dad had just gone to the movies and eaten Chinese food. She’d had years where she went to a big Christmas party thrown by whatever company her dad was working for that year. She’d had Christmases where they decided to skip Christmas and try to recreate Hannukah the way her mother would’ve done it. Big Christmas, small Christmas, or no Christmas—Christine didn’t have a lot of expectations.

This year, though, she knew things would be different.

Once everything in Hawkins had settled and healed, once she’d finally grabbed her diploma without being eaten by an interdimensional monster, Christine left Indiana behind for MIT. Moving to Massachusetts might’ve been bittersweet if she hadn’t taken so much of Hawkins with her. It was hard to miss home when she was sharing an apartment with Eddie and Steve.

There hadn’t been much debate about the situation. Both boys cared more about Christine than anything keeping them in Hawkins—except Wayne, who Eddie called pretty much every day. He worked for cash at the local mechanic, Steve climbing his way to up to assistant manager at a nearby movie theater. They split rent and groceries three ways, which meant Christine was saving loads on room and board. It also meant spending every day with two of her favorite people.

Most days it was a little slice of heaven.

Today, it was decidedly not.

“Will you two stop arguing?” Christine begged. “My feet are about to freeze in these boots.”

“I’ll stop arguing when Eddie takes his head out of his ass,” Steve complained. He had his arms folded over his chest, giving Eddie a stern look. “We’re not getting this one. Pick something else.”

“No,” Eddie said stubbornly. “Why would I pick something else when we could have this beauty of a tree?”

“Because this beauty of a tree isn’t going to fit through the door, let alone in the living room. It’s about three feet too tall.”

“Wha—no, it’s not.” Eddie scoffed, struggling to hold the tree upright as another gust of wind blew through the lot. “Okay, it’s tall, but once they do a fresh cut on the bottom and we trim the top—”

“Dude, they’d have to cut the damn thing in half! We’re not buying it!”

Eddie swore and dropped the tree back against the fence, which creaked dangerously under the weight. “Well we’re not buying that shrimp of a tree that you picked out. Why the fuck would we get a three-foot Christmas tree?”

“Because it’s practical,” Steve said for the hundredth time. “The apartment’s already too small for us and, unless the tree’s gonna pay rent, I’m not letting it take up a quarter of the living room.”

“It’s for one month, Harrington. Don’t be a Scrooge.”

“Hilarious. Have you even read that?”

“What, because you have?”

“Guys, stop,” Christine pleaded. “Can’t we just split the difference and get a five-foot?”

“No,” the boys replied in unison.

Christine whined and snuggled further into her winter coat. They’d been standing in the tree lot for almost an hour, but with the wind chill, it felt like four. Even with two pairs of socks, her boots, her gloves, her sweater, scarf, coat, and hat, Christine could feel her blood starting to crystalize in her veins. Eddie seemed to be impervious to the cold, merely adding a hat and gloves to his usual ensemble of ripped jeans and flannel. Steve was bundled up in his peacoat, but he was so irritated that his anger was doing a better job of keeping him warm.

She knew, in theory, why they were having this argument. Steve had grown up with an over-the-top Christmas every year, a tree larger than God in his living room. Eddie never had that opportunity. In the trailer with Wayne, the most they ever did was hang up twinkle lights in the living room. This year, in their own apartment, they had a chance to do Christmas their way. They just couldn’t decide what their way was going to be.

“I still say we get a fake tree,” Steve huffed. “It’s less money in the long run and—”

“Over my dead body, Harrington.”

“Oho—we’re getting there, Munson!”

“Come on, angel, back me up here,” Eddie said, turning his puppy eyes to Christine.

“We’re not getting a fake tree,” she sighed. Eddie punched the air in victory and Steve groaned, sour until she added, “Because if we get a fake tree, it means I’ve been standing here for an hour freezing my ass off for no reason. I literally do not care what kind of tree we get. So help me, God—you two are gonna pick a tree, strap it to the car, and take me home before I take that seven-footer and shove it up your ass.”

“Wow, okay, uh…” Steve scratched the back of his neck sheepishly. “Which one of us?”

“Both of you,” she growled, “one on each end.”

The boys winced, then exchanged a look of resignation. Eddie shrugged and tipped his head to the side, a silent “you heard her” to Steve. Steve pursed his lips and looked around the lot one last time before he folded.

“We’re not doing anything bigger than six feet. And you’re vacuuming, Munson! If there’s a single needle in the carpet come January—”

“Then you can use me as a tree topper next year,” Eddie said, hand over his heart. “Aye-aye, Captain.”

“Oh, fuck you, Munson.”

“That’d be great, thanks.” Eddie winked as walked around Christine, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her back into his chest. The boy was like a furnace, heat radiating through her layers as he kissed the top of her head. “But I think we have to thaw-out the princess first.”

#i realize now that this is not especially christmassy #but it is especially stedsy #so i hope you will enjoy regardless #I am happy to do another one for festive cheer. #brittney writes #inside out #stedsy #io prompt #io asks

[thetenthdoctorscompanion]

Well if you already got out the wine and I'm still deeply invested in these three, what would you say are their pet names for each other? (Also on pets would they have any?) Ps. I hope you know one thing that shows how invested i am is that I've been thinking of their future a lot, including the 2nd gen and that includes what they (the ot3 and the kiddos) would look like and while i feel like they would look like the actors since they're all at least 30 I still have people they could look like

I have had this in my drafts for awhile working on it on and off (both tipsy and not tipsy, but the day you sent this I fell asleep). SO:

Chrissy isn't huge on pet names, and it takes her a while to warm up to them. Steve is pretty casual with them, whether it's "Chris" or "smarty pants" or "gorgeous." Obviously Chrissy never passes up the chance to call him "Sailor," and she's fond of "Your Majesty" as well, especially if she's annoyed at him.

But their number one for each other is probably "baby." I'm not usually a proponent of "baby," but Chrissy and Steve are definitely a "baby" couple. "I'm sorry, baby." "Please, baby?" "Come on, baby." It's just very them.

Now Eddie? Eddie uses every pet name under the sun. Baby, hot stuff, doll, sugar, my love—another one I usually can't rock with, but Eddie can pull it off with just the right amount of sarcastic irony and genuine affection. Sometimes if Steve and Chrissy are sitting next to each other, they genuinely get confused which one of them Eddie's talking to.

Eddie's been calling Chrissy "Princess" forever. I know there's like a weird amount of discourse about whether or not that's in character for him. But Eddie initially starts calling Chrissy "Princess" after Dustin and the boys tell him about her DnD character, Princess Palantia. Eddie's always trying to get Christine to come to Hellfire, and so it's his way of trying to irk her into it and flirt with her. He’s a fabulous multitasker.

As an added bonus, Eddie also gives Chrissy pet names in Elvish. He won't waste the translation on Steve, but he loves the response it gets from Chrissy. There's something that's so inexplicably hot to her about it—she's not sure if it's the language itself or the fact that Eddie translates them just for her.

One time Eddie spent an inordinate amount of time teaching Steve how to say 'I love you' in Elvish. Chrissy quite literally went feral.

Eddie and Steve's names for each other are sort of on a sliding spectrum. I'd say their casual bread and butter is "babe." When things are playful, it's a lot of semi-sarcastic "darling" and "sweetie pie." Obviously Eddie's also a fan of "big boy," which gets Steve going faster than he'd care to admit. But if the boys start calling each other "baby," things are probably about to get spicy.

Another thing I’m sure of is that, while Chrissy will use any number of names for Eddie, her favorite is “pretty boy.” The first time she does it, Eddie kind of just laughs because—I mean, between him and Steve, Steve is obviously the pretty one, right? He doesn’t think of himself like that, so he can get a little flustered when she does it, which only makes Chrissy use it more. Like, Steve is a Pretty Boy™, but Eddie is just a PRETTY BOY. (Pretty doesn’t look like a word anymore....) Anyway, Chrissy is all about letting Eddie know that he’s gorgeous, so she’ll get him with pretty boy, cutie, cutie pie, etc. 

Sorry this is extremely late, but I hope I made up for it by being extremely thorough!

#long post #asks #io asks #stedsy #brittney writes #stories #st stories #ot3 #pearlbeth

[thetenthdoctorscompanion]

Damn I asked for IO s4 content and you've been DELIVERING, thank you for indulging me. I love the idea of Chrissy doing CS and Eddie being a mechanic(even if I want him to be a Rockstar)while Steve is a stay at home dad. I like bubs! In my head I was just going with daddy for Steve and dad for Eddie cause who's to say that Steve is the only bio dad? Don't apologize! I will also continue to bother you with questions. Btw is there an easier way to talk?Since I don't have tumblr?It's ok if not tho!

Listen, Joseph stepped foot in London Comic Con and my brain spontaneously and *ahem* totally unrelatedly burst into flames. At this point, producing Eddie content is an instinct more than a choice.

In my head, both Steve and Eddie would respond instinctively to "DAAAD" but I wanted to give them each a distinct name so that if you're trying to get just one of them, you could. And any variation of Pops or Papa is out the window, shot, and buried in the backyard, so that's how we've arrived at Bubs. ☺️

Uhhhhhhh it's tough because I can't respond directly to anon messages. If you don't want to make a tumblr account, you could also message me on fanfiction? I feel like your typing is usually pretty distinctive, but I know some people also sign their messages with emojis so you could be like "my 🎸 anon" or something like that 😅 Let me know what would best work for you!!! I love to talk shop.

#asks #inside out #it's brittney bitch #stedsy

[thetenthdoctorscompanion]

Time for my basically daily ask. (I can't promise they'll slow down due to the break cause if anything I'll be going through withdrawal, so if it takes you a while to get to them no worries). Alright so I'm trying to (hopefully) stay away from spoilers so let's talk character characteristics. We've talked a lot about how Steve and Eddie are both a lil 💅 and possibly in a poly relationship with Chrissy. But what about chrissy? Is she just poly? Or do you think of her as queer too? And if yes, who has she crushed on? And when did she realize? Do the three of them (plus robin) bond over it? And do they help the younger kids (if plural) through their own crises?

Honestly this is something I ask myself every time I sit down to write; it's constantly in flux. I think, most likely, Chrissy is somewhere in the realm of demi- or greysexual. She says in Malignant that Steve is the first person she really had a crush on. While she's attracted to him and—as you joked in your review—is ready to "climb him like a tree," it's not really something that occurs to her otherwise. (That's a little bit of what's happening in her first conversation with Max, where she just straight forgets that sex is something Billy might want.)

If the right person came along, she might be open to dating other genders, but for now there's really only a few people she's thought about in that way: Steve (a given), Billy (who expressed interest in her first), and maybe Harrison Ford. (And, yes, later Eddie, but it will take some time for those feelings to develop and longer for her to acknowledge them.)

I think once the dust settles and everything is clear between Stedsy, Steve, Robin, and Eddie all react to Chrissy's sexuality in different ways.

Steve definitely has a hard time wrapping his head around it. He's such a guy in that way, where he sees a cute person and his mind proceeds to the gutter in an orderly fashion. Because of his insecurities, I think he also gets a little jealous and possessive. Seeing Chrissy talk to hot guys or hot girls makes him nervous, and it just...doesn't compute to him that Chrissy doesn't like most people that way.

Robin's open to it, she's just confused. Her curious brain is studying Chrissy all the time to better understand. They could be watching a movie or walking through the mall and Robin will be like, "What about that guy? Would you sleep with him?" To which Chrissy responds, "Uh, no?" "In a world without Steve, in a hypothetical vacuum with no consequences and his confirmed interest in you, you wouldn't have sex with him? He's hot, right?" "I mean, yeah, he's hot so...maybe?" And Robin's just like, "Fascinating."

Eddie, on the other hand, doesn't find it weird at all. He just feels like he's gotten an award, a medal, a gold fucking star. Most mortals aren't worthy of Christine's fantasies, and he happens to be one of the lucky, lucky few. I don't know that he'd brag about it, but when he's tipsy he would definitely brag about it.

This...got long again, I'm sorry everyone lol.

#io asks #inside out #christine walcott #pearlbeth #asks #brittney writes