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multi-writer · 2 years

Note

Can you do a part 2 on “tolerate it” where the reader doesn’t tell that she is cursed by vecna because she doesn’t think Steve would care anyways because he loves Nancy but she tells the others but not him and in the end reader dies.

Reader wrote the whole crew letters and Steve’s is the most saddest one out of all of the. (Pure angst just pure angst)

So Close. (Tolerate It Pt. 2)

Steve Harrington x Reader - angst

Tolerate it

Author´s note: I've been thinking for a long time how to continue with "Tolerate it" and no matter how much I wrote I wasn't happy with the result, but this idea has given me the answer, so thank you so much! I'll be honest, I've been in the mood for pure angst so this request brought a wicked smile to my face. I'm going to base it on “So Close” by Jon McLaughlin (It´s my favorite Disney song but its really sad lol) because it fits the angst I'm looking for perfectly. I changed a bit of the request to fit the narrative but still hope you like it anon!

You don't need to read the first part, but if you want a little more pain go ahead. I hope you like it!

warning: mentions of death, gore and pure angst.

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'Even on my worst day, did I deserve babe,

All the hell you gave me?'

"Music!" cried Steve in desperation as he looked at you, "Bring music!". Steve gently cupped Nancy's cheeks as he continued to talk to her.

Everyone ran all over Eddie's trailer looking for some solution while you stood watching the two of them with an empty feeling in your chest, you didn't know if it was your heart breaking even more or if it was the pain of watching your friend suffer. After a few seconds, you were able to come out of your trance and with almost robotic steps you started to help the rest of the group. Eddie and Robin were yelling at each other on the side about what was considered music. Lucas, Dustin, and Erica were in another room looking under the furniture for something that might be useful while you and Max were searching near the front door.

While you were looking through things, you could feel something warm on your lips, as you put your hand under your nose you felt a liquid substance. When you looked at your hand you could see blood on your fingers leaving you in a state of shock.

Max, seeing that you were not moving, turned to look at you to ask why you were standing alone, but your gaze on your hand and the small drops of blood falling from your nose made her stop. You turned to look at her slowly then gave the girl a small smile to calm her down.

"Easy..." you said in a shaky voice. "I always get nosebleeds from stress... it happened yesterday too" you finished as you turned to talk to the metal lover. "Eddie! Where is your bathroom?"

"The door in front of the entrance!" he shouted from another room as you heard things move signaling that he was still looking for something to help Nancy. You moved with heavy steps toward this one and from there you grabbed some paper to wipe yourself so others wouldn't worry. Max was still looking at you seriously.

It was only a few minutes later when you heard someone gasp for air and Steve shout Nancy's name causing everyone to run to the portal. Both were on the floor, Nancy was lying in Steve's arms while your boyfriend pulled back some of the hair on her face so she could see better. It didn't take long before they returned to Eddie's trailer so that they were safe and Nancy began to explain what she had seen, leaving you stunned by what she was saying.

While the girl was narrating, you tried to take Steve's hand slowly to calm down a little, everything that had happened was scaring you a lot and you felt that the worst was just around the corner. The man, sensing the presence of your hand along with his, quickly moved it to run it through his hair in nervousness, causing a lump to form in your throat.

"Finally he showed me Hawkins destroyed," Nancy said quietly causing everyone to think.

"Then we'll have to attack him before he does" commented Dustin. Making Erica let out a breath.

"And how are we going to do that? I don't think you have a gun under that cap?" said the girl sarcastically. Apparently the idea wasn't such a bad one because Eddie quickly got up from where he was sitting and grabbed a magazine placing it on the table causing us all to surround him to see.

"And do you think they sell grenades there?" asked Robin.

"I don't think grenades but lots of guns" smiled Eddie. The group turned to look at each other and then started to move. Eddie managed to steal other people's trailer, upon being spotted, Steve took the wheel and started driving to the store Eddie had pointed out. Next to him was Nancy who was talking to him about the future.

You were in one of the back seats sitting next to Robin, who was looking from Steve to you thinking about what was happening, since they had entered the watergate you had been serious, you hardly spoke and you tried to distance yourself a little from everyone. Your eyes were tired and sad, as if all hope was gone. Max looked worried about what had happened a while ago, theories and suspicions did not leave her mind.

Your eyes went from your boyfriend to the floor of the trailer, thinking about what was going to happen, thousands of thoughts crossed your mind without knowing exactly what to do or how to help. Tears filled your eyes and then disappeared considering it was not the time to show your true feelings to the guy who was supposed to be your boyfriend. A hand snapped you out of your thoughts to then see Robin looking at you expectantly, next to her were Nancy and Steve, both of whom were looking at you quizzically.

"We told you we're here" commented Steve looking you up and down. "Do you want to come with us?" you looked at him for a few seconds to then slowly deny making the man just shrug his shoulders and walk out, causing the lump in your throat and the pressure in your chest to return. Robin managed to understand what was going on, so she gently squeezed your shoulder in support and walked out along with the rest.

During the time they were in the store, you were thinking, your right leg went up and down thanks to the anxiety you had inside you. After a few seconds you put your hands together noticing how cold they were. Tired, you got up and started to walk from one end to the other until some sounds to your right called your attention. You could perceive in the distance the sound of a clock, causing you to freeze where you were, your heart began to beat faster and cold sweat fell from your forehead to discover what was happening. You took a deep breath of air and then walked towards the noise, trying to look for the responsible for this. You turned from one side to the other even trying to find the watch to confirm that it was the same one that had been found in Victor's house, when you turned again you finally found it, you could see it through the back window of the trailer, near the forest. As you continued to watch you felt a hand slowly touching your shoulder, so you quickly turned to face the owner of it.

"Wow! Hey... are you okay?" Eddie asked as he looked at you with concern. You watched him with wide eyes as you slowly nodded then brought your hand to your forehead and tried to calm down, noticing the headache that was starting to bother you. The man turned to look around the store for signs of your boyfriend, finding none, he took you to one of the seats so he could watch out for anything that could happen.

When Steve, along with the rest of the group, returned, he noticed your frightened face and Eddie near you looking at you expectantly. Your boyfriend, seeing that you didn't plan on looking at him, focused on the steering wheel and quickly drove away from the store to take you out into the open field where you would all begin to create the weapons you would need and a plan to stop Vecna.

"Eddie and Dustin will be the distraction for the demobats" Nancy commented as the two boys nodded. "Max, Lucas and Erica will stay in this world, inside Victor's house to distract Vecna" Lucas interrupted her.

"Nance, you're crazy. I won't let Vecna be able to get Max again" The boy replied as Max denied.

"I will" Lucas turned to look at the girl. "If it's our only option then I'll do it. You guys will help me in case something happens" He turned to look at Lucas and Erica. Seeing that neither said anything, Steve continued with the plan.

"Nance, (y/n), Robin and I will go back to attack Vecna while I look for Max."

"I'll stay with Max" your comment made everyone turn to look at you, but you only looked at Steve. "I'll help them in case Jason wants to show up" Steve watched you for a few more seconds then nodded.

"Fine, then Nance, Robin and I will go with Vecna to destroy him. Whatever happens don't hesitate to say so, we will always be in communication" The rest of the group nodded to then get ready to continue with their part of the plan. The group split up to start preparing what was needed while you went into the trailer to get leaves and a pen. You knew Vecna was trying to get close to you because of the visions, headaches and bleeding, the same symptoms Max had, and if your theory was correct then you would have to make a decision.

When you finished writing, the others came in, ready to end the attacks once and for all. You tucked most of your writing under a cushion and then approached Max, who was setting up her walk-man so that he would be ready when the time came. Steve stopped the trailer in front of Victor's house and turned to look at you.

"Ready, don't do something stupid" Commented your boyfriend as you got out of the trailer. "(y/n)...careful" you turned to look at him and nod your head with a sad smile.

‘A life goes by

Romantic dreams must die

So I bid mine goodbye’

"See you later Steve" you returned your gaze back to the teens and follow them into the house. As you reached the garden, Erica started to split off to take her place and start keeping watch in case anyone arrived. Lucas, Max and you continued walking straight towards the house, your heart was pounding so hard you thought it was going to explode, your mind was finally at peace knowing what will happen. Lucas opened the door and together with Max they went upstairs quickly, you went upstairs at a slow pace trying to contemplate everything you had lived, your happy moments, your worst moments and the moments you spent with Steve.

Remembering all the moments, you knew you were ready for whatever was going to happen, it was as if something inside you knew there was no other way out.

As you went upstairs to where Lucas and Max were, you saw them talking about dates and a trip to the movies. They managed to find what you always wanted to have with Steve.

You wouldn't let them suffer the pain you did.

"Guys" they both turned to you curiously. "I'll be in the room closest to the stairs, in case Jason comes so he'll have to step over me" Lucas only nodded as Max looked at you worriedly, she already suspected what might happen, so she walked over to you and hugged you.

"Be very careful" she whispered into your shoulder. You, with tears in your eyes, hugged her even tighter trying to show that everything was going to be okay. Everything was going to be okay for her.

As they parted you went to the room you had mentioned and sat listening to the wind through the broken window. The stars were bright that night, making you think about the finer things in life. If this was going to be the last time you were going to appreciate it, you wouldn't hesitate to do so. You remembered the time you played at the arcade with the guys, the time you went out with Eleven and Max to the mall, the time you hung out at Robin's house to talk about Vicky, and the time you went out with Steve for the first time.

who knew it would end up like this?

You kept looking at the garden of the house, hoping that everything would happen according to plan. However, noises in the hallway brought you out of your thoughts.

"Lucas? What's wrong?" you spoke, but when you received no answer you started walking towards the door. The weather was colder than you remembered. "Max?" when you opened the door you didn't meet someone, but something. The clock you had seen in your visions was at the end of the hallway, and from the door next to it a humanoid creature was starting to emerge.

"(y/n)..." it said in a deep voice. "At last you are here" For a moment you were frozen in surprise, but when you saw it coming closer to you you reacted and started running towards the stairs to go down. At the bottom you could see the door to the house, but before you got there you bumped into someone coming out of one of the doors below.

"Steve?" you asked in desperation when you saw him in front of you. "What are you doing here?!" your boyfriend looked serious and grabbed your shoulders tightly. "What are you doing?! Let go of me!"

"How stupid" he said slowly. "Did you really think I loved you? You are nothing compared to Nancy" Steve spat his words with hatred, your eyes went from his face to the door. "Even now you don't know what to do. How come we accepted you into the group?" step by step he was pulling you closer against the wall. "I only wanted you next to me to make Nancy jealous." You couldn't take it anymore.

"Shut up!" you shouted as you pushed him, making him let go of you. Slowly what you thought was Steve, began to squirm inhumanly causing him to fall to the ground. You watched in terror as you tried to escape. When you ran to the door you realized that it was jammed with wooden planks. A grotesque sound was heard from where 'Steve' was so you turned quickly to find what you thought was Vecna, which was slowly approaching you. As you turned sideways you realized you were trapped. You couldn't run anymore.

You didn't want to run anymore.

"What do you want?" you asked defiantly as the being continued to approach.

"I just want to take away the pain you are in" he said as he raised one of his hands towards your face. You closed your eyes tightly until you felt a wet hand run down your cheek. When you opened your eyes you saw him bring his hand up to your face and contemplate the tear he held on one of his disgusting fingers. "Don't you want to stop suffering?" he said as he turned to look at you.

"I want..." you took a breath of air and felt more tears fall from your eyes. "I want it to stop hurting" you whispered.

"Don't worry I'll take the pain away" He said to raise his hand again and put it on your face.

In the other room, Lucas was silently watching Max, who was sitting with her eyes closed, after a few minutes the girl stood up frustrated.

"Nothing is happening!" Max said as she paced back and forth. "If he's not here that means he knows the rest went with him."

"Max calm down" Lucas commented making the girl despair even more.

"I can't be calm Lucas understand what-" A sharp knock stopped the girl, who only turned to look at Lucas and started to run out of the room making the boy follow her. Max ran to where you were, opening the door quickly expecting to see you in front of the window. When she didn't see you there, her eyes began to quickly scan the room until they found you. You were lying on the floor, as if you had passed out. Max walked towards you but seeing your condition she simply fell to his knees causing Lucas to approach her.

"Max! What's wrong?!" Max just raised his hand pointing to the front as tears fell from her eyes, her mouth looked like she wanted to scream, but nothing came out of it. Lucas seeing her hand turned with speed to where the girl was looking.

"No, no, no, no, please wake up (y/n)" he said as he approached you, but seeing your broken body and bleeding face he knew it was too late. After the shock, Max was able to let out a cry of pain as she saw you, at the same time Lucas covered his eyes trying to stop the tears, something impossible as you heard your beloved sobbing and your friend dead in front of you.

"Erica! Erica help!" cried Lucas in tears, but he knew there was nothing more he could do.

Meanwhile Robin, Nancy and Steve were trapped thanks to Vecna's roots. The being slowly approached Steve causing him to try to escape.

"Oh Steve, if only you hadn't left her alone" it slowly commented as four chimes rang out loudly causing the boys to look at each other. Robin, taking advantage of the distraction, managed to get loose to throw a flaming bottle towards Vecna causing him to let go of Nancy and Steve.

Nancy reacted quickly so she was able to shoot Vecna. However, what destroyed him was a force that threw him away as the being burst into flames. The three looked at each other in surprise until the four chimes sounded again.

"Max..." commented Nancy causing the others to react and run for the exit running into Dustin and an unconscious but alive Eddie. Quickly they all exited the Upside Down to enter the trailer. The road felt long, especially for Steve. Everyone was afraid of what they might find. Upon arrival, Robin, Nancy and Steve ran out to Victor's house. At the door they could find Erica with her face in her hands.

"Erica! What's wrong?" Steve asked as he grabbed her shoulders and saw that nothing had happened to her. The little girl was trying to talk but the crying wouldn't let her. The three adults heard Lucas yelling from the house, so Robin stayed with Erica while Nancy and Steve ran. As they entered the room they found Max on her knees sobbing and Lucas with his back to them. As they got closer they could see someone's body in the boy's arms.

"I'm so sorry..." Lucas said between breaths. Steve, as he approached, was met with his worst nightmare, so Steve knelt down to get closer to you while the rest left the room in tears. Your body was destroyed in the worst way, your eyes that always shone were gone and your face deformed.

Tears were falling fast from Steve's face as he put his head to your chest trying to wake up from this nightmare. Not hearing your heartbeat, the boy only let out a cry of pain when he heard what had happened. His arms pulled you closer to him as if he wanted to transmit his life to you, to take your place to try to see for the last time the girl who had occupied his mind and his heart. As he pulled you closer something fell from your hand, a sheet of paper with her name on it lay looking at him expectantly waiting for him to take it. With a trembling hand he took the letter and fearfully began to read it.

Dear beloved Steve.

If you are reading this it is because what I feared the most happened. The symptoms started two days ago and I didn't want to tell you because I didn't want to distract you from the love of your life. You gave me the opportunity to love you but I see it wasn't enough for you to love me in the same way. Even now, with a broken heart and on the verge of death I want to say that I love you.

I love you Steve Harrington.

You own my mind, heart and soul. And I want you to find someone who loves you the same way you love someone else and fulfill your dream of having a big family with 6 little nuggets. Don't blame yourself, don't regret it because I would never blame you for anything that happened to me. Live with your head held high Steve Harrington, and be the man you always wanted to be. Fulfill your goals and know again the love that I will always be looking out for you.

See you later Steve,

Love.

(y/n)

Tears couldn't stop falling from Steve's eyes, his broken voice whispered little 'I'm sorry' and 'I love you'. His heart was breaking more and more as he remembered that you wouldn't be with him to make a future. Because a future without you was a future Steve didn't want to live.

Now he won't be able to see your eyes sparkle or your laughter light up his life, he won't be able to confess to you that he walked away from you so he wouldn't put you in danger, so he could keep you safe. He won't be able to love again if not you.

After all, Steve Harrington had failed you.

'So close, so close.

And still so far'

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tags: @lettyshush @ilovetaylorswift1 @hcloangcls @obsessed-with-a-fictional-man

#steve stranger things #stranger things imagine #stranger things one shot #steve harrington imagine #steve harrington angst #steve harrington #steve harrington x reader #joe keery #steve harrington x fem #steve harrington imagines #steve harrington s4 #steve harrington fic #steve harrington blurb #steve harrington series #joe keery imagines

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manic-eddie · 2 years

Text

“back to the old house” by the Smiths was written about these two and these two ONLY! I don’t care if you disagree 🙅🏻‍♀️😤🥺

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the-claire-bitch-project · 2 years

Text

Just a Taste - Steve Harrington

Steve Harrington x Fem!Reader

Rated: M (18+ ONLY) Minors DNI

Includes: Consent King!Steve, Nerd-but-stupid-sometimes!reader, insecurities on reader’s part, Steve being comforting, physical touch as a love language, lots of fluff in response to a little angst

Warnings: talk of controlling parents and college stress, failing classes, making out, fingering, oral sex (female receiving)

A bell rings above you as you open the door to Family Video. You inhale the familiar scent as you make your way inside. All of it is laid out just the same as you remember, so you turn right and head for the horror movies.

You’re not sure exactly what you’re in the mood for but you know you want a horror movie. Maybe Rosemary’s Baby or Psycho will do it. You pick up Carrie and examine the case. It’s worn and starting to fade. Probably from all the times you personally rented it in high school. Sighing, you put it back.

“Anything I can help y– oh hey, Y/N.”

You look up and take a step back in surprise. Steve Harrington of all people is leaning against the shelf with his other hand on his hip, looking at you as if he can’t believe you’re really standing there.

You feel the same. Steve Harrington working? That was new.

“You work here?” A stupid question given he’s wearing the vest with a name tag.

“Ah, yeah,” Steve looks down at his vest and then back up at you and cracks a smile, “didn’t make it the college route and my dad’s trying to teach me a lesson.”

“Oh,” you shift uncomfortably, “I’m sorry.” You feel guilty about your scholarship to Northwestern all of a sudden.

Steve waves you off as if it isn’t a big deal. “Don’t worry about it.” He rubs the back of his neck and you can see that it is a big deal.

“You’re the only one working?”

Steve nods. “Yeah, Robin had band practice for the Christmas Concert.”

“Robin Buckley?” You ask, raising your eyebrows. A faint face comes into your brain, but you’d never paid much attention to the grade below you.

“Yep.” Steve purses his lips and glances down at the shelf you’re hovering next to. “You looking for something scary?”

You shrug.

“Sure you don’t want a Christmas movie?” he points over his shoulder. “Lots of the ladies have come in for It’s A Wonderful Life.”

You shake your head and give him a half-hearted smile. “I’m okay. I’m not that into Christmas.” You sigh and turn back to the horror movies, expecting him to go away.

Instead, Steve comes around the shelf and stands next to you. His shoulder brushes yours as he reaches for a movie.

“Alien?” you say skeptically as you take the case from him. “Is it even that scary?”

Steve shrugs. “Maybe not for someone as into horror as you seem to be, but I liked it.”

You examine the cover art then flip it over and read the short summary on the back. It’s intriguing enough. “I’ll take it,” you tell Steve, handing him the case.

“Awesome!” He smiles at you, then turns and leads the way to the desk to check you out. He begins typing on the computer. “Do you have an account already?”

You raise an eyebrow.

“Right, silly me,” he says, shaking his head as he types your name in. “Yep, looks like you, The Thing, Rosemary’s Baby, and,” he peers closer, “what in the world is Nosferatu?”

You giggle. “It’s this really old vampire movie.”

“How old?” Steve asks as he opens the case to check the tape.

“Like 1920s old.”

“Damn,” Steve whistles, “you really are a nerd for horror movies?”

You shrug. “You know me, I’m a nerd for everything.”

“Must be why you’re off at college doing all the big girl things and getting ready to rule the world.” Steve says it in a teasing way, but the comment deflates you.

The truth is, college hasn’t been going well. You failed chemistry and could barely get through your first computing course. The only class you really liked was your writing class. Essays have always been easy for you. Only writing doesn’t pay the bills.

“Hey, hey,” Steve puts his hand on your arm, “I’m sorry I didn’t mean to upset you.”

You sniffle and reach for the VHS case. “It’s okay, Steve, I’m just tired from the drive home.”

“You sure that’s all it is?” Steve presses gently on your wrist as you start to move away and you stop, because his hand is warm and his big brown eyes are comforting and concerned when you look up at him.

You sigh. “College isn’t really everything I thought it would be. And being home with my parents–” You turn away and pull your wrist from Steve’s hand. “Sorry I don’t mean to complain about it. I know I’m lucky to have the opportunity to go.”

“No, no, no wait,” Steve hops over the counter and stops you before you can walk out the door. “Just hang out for a couple minutes while I close up, okay?” You nod. “C’mere.” Steve leads you over to the counter and pats it. “You can sit here. Central. So you can see the whole store.”

You push yourself up on the counter and curl your legs underneath you to sit criss-cross. You play with the laces of your Reeboks as you listen to Steve rattle around in the back of the store, poking the plastic tip into the extra hole at the top.

Steve comes around, no longer wearing his vest, swinging a keyring around his finger. “Did you drive?” he asks. You shake your head. You’d walked around after hours of driving home from school.

You jump down off the counter and walk through the door Steve holds open for you, your hair instantly blowing all around your face. You shiver and cross your arms around your body as you watch Steve lock the doors to the store, pulling on the door twice to check the lock.

“Come on,” he says, leading you over to his car. You recognize it as the same one he drove in high school. He opens the passenger door for you and you sink into the leather seat. It’s worn on the inside, some of the leather is beginning to fray, but it’s still a nice car. There’s a walkie talkie on the floor in front of you. You pull your feet away, making sure you don’t damage it.

“Where are we going?” You ask when Steve gets in and turns the car on.

“Oh,” he turns to look at you. “I was just going to take you home. Still over on Walnut right?”

“Oh, uh, yeah.” You sigh and sink back into the seat, looking out the window.

“Do you,” Steve hesitates, “not want to go home?”

“No, no it’s fine,” you try to assure him. As much as you don’t want to go home, if he wasn’t planning something, then you weren’t going to inconvenience him. You should’ve known better than to think Steve Harrington would want to hang out with you anyway.

“If you wanna hang out,” he says, “we can go to my house.”

“I don’t want to intrude.”

“It’s not intruding,” Steve insists, “I want to hang out with you. We can watch Alien.”

“Won’t your parents mind?”

Steve scoffs. “They’re at my dad’s company Christmas party. They won’t be home for a while and when they do they’ll be too drunk to notice.”

You hesitate another time, wondering if you should go home so your mom doesn’t get mad.

“You can call your mom from my house and tell her you’re staying over at a friends,” Steve suggests.

“Staying over?” you repeat.

Steve looks down and you swear he blushes. “You know what I mean. If you want I can actually take you to a friend’s after the movie. Bu–” He cuts himself off and clears his throat, shaking his head.

“Okay,” you say. Thinking, fuck it, you’ll just let your mom worry about you.

“Okay?” Steve repeats, looking at you intently.

“Okay.”

***

You’d never been to the Harringtons’ house even though it was only a few streets over from yours. It didn’t look too different, though you supposed since your father was also a businessman, that the income levels weren’t too different. You too, had gotten a car when you turned 16, never wanted for anything, clothes, new shoes, magazine subscriptions, makeup, and all the movie rentals you wanted.

Steve parks on the street and shuts off the ignition. “Home sweet home.” He says it so begrudgingly you can’t help but feel he has feelings similar to yours about living at home.

“It’s nice,” you say.

“Eh.” Steve shrugs. Suspicions confirmed.

Inside, you start to take off your shoes, but Steve grabs your arm.

“Take them downstairs to the basement with us,” he says, “so my parents don’t see them.”

“Right, makes sense.” You pick up your shoes and carry them with you as you creep down the stairs behind Steve, feeling sneaky even though nobody else is home.

Steve flicks on a light to illuminate a pretty cozy basement set up. The couch appears to have lost most of its oomph and the carpet could use a vacuum, but it’s not too bad.

On the other side of the room, there’s an unmade bed, a nightstand, and a dresser scattered with various boy items. Deodorant, cologne, a bottle of lotion, and–

“Is that Farrah Fawcett spray?” you ask, pointing.

Steve grimaces. “Yes.”

You nod. “It’s a pretty good product. Doesn’t leave the hair too crunchy like other sprays.”

Steve chuckles. “Yeah you’re right. I don’t like that weird greasy feeling.” He takes the VHS out of your hands and goes to crouch in front of the TV.

You drop your shoes by the stairs and sit down on the couch. It’s surprisingly softer than it looks. Steve pops in the VHS and the TV lights up. He goes to turn off the overhead lights before flopping down next to you on the couch with a groan.

He rolls his head to the side to look at you. “You didn’t want popcorn or anything did you?”

You shake your head. “I did not assume this was a full-service movie theatre.”

Steve shakes his head. “Sorry I can’t offer the works.”

“It’s okay,” you assure him. You pull your legs up and hug them, settling back into the corner of the couch. Steve, who is spread out with his legs up on the coffee table, glances at you.

“You cold?”

“A little,” you admit. You’re only wearing a thermal shirt and jeans, which isn’t really enough to hang out in a midwestern basement in the winter.

Steve stands up and walks over to the dresser, opening a door and digging through it. He tosses a gray sweatshirt to you. “Should be clean.” It says Hawkins Swim Team on the front.

“Thanks.” You inhale as you put it on. Laundry detergent. Sonofabitch. It’s only slightly disappointing to borrow a sweatshirt from Steve Harrington and have it not smell like him. But hey, your high school self is screaming with delight that any of this is happening at all.

Steve is quiet through the movie, his eyes glued to the screen. You sit halfway turned towards him, just so you can watch him as much as you watch the movie. The whole time, he doesn’t move a single inch closer to you.

As it goes on, your shoulders deflate and you relax into the couch, letting go of your legs and stretching them out slightly. You still keep them within your allotted cushion, so as not to intrude on Steve’s space. Steve’s sweatshirt is big enough that you can pull the sleeves over your hands, but not so oversized that you’re drowning.

Steve glances over at you. You whip your head forward and glue your eyes to the screen, hoping he didn’t catch you looking. When you dare to glance at him, he’s looking back at the screen again, but he’s smiling. You turn back to the screen and sigh.

“Ah!” you yelp when Steve reaches over and grabs your ankles, dragging your legs out and putting your feet in his lap. He pats your ankle. “Steve!”

“It’s okay to stretch out, Y/N,” he says, “you don’t have to sit all the way over there like you’re not allowed to touch me.” He shakes his head. “I don’t have cooties.”

“Sorry,” you apologize, “I didn’t know how– what– you know–”

“Shut up,” Steve says, shaking his head and rubbing your ankle, “it’s about to get good.”

You turn your eyes back to the screen but you can’t focus on Ripley when Steve is rubbing your ankle with his thumb, kneading out tension you didn’t even know you were holding. When he starts on the other one, your head drops back against the armrest.

“Seriously, Y/N, what are you doing over at college to have arthritic ankles?” Steve asks with a chuckle.

“Walking,” you grumble. “Walking everywhere. Up hills, down hills, on ice, not on ice.” You lean up on your elbows. “It’s like a 20 minute walk between chemistry at 11 and computing at 12.”

“Chemistry and computing huh?” Steve says. “Smarty pants.” You know he’s teasing but it hits you right in the gut.

And that’s it. That’s what cracks the dam. You start crying.

“Hey, hey, hey, woah, woah, woah,” Steve pauses the movie and shuffles closer to you to wrap an arm around you and nudge your head down on his shoulder. “What happened? What’s wrong?” he asks as he rubs your back.

You sniffle, getting a faint whiff of his cologne through your now-stuffy nose. “I’m a failure,” you admit. “I failed chemistry and computing.”

“No, no,” Steve says hesitantly. “You’re not a failure. You’re like the smartest person in our grade.”

“Everyone at Northwestern was the smartest person in their grade,” you say, hiccuping. “I’m not cut out for it.”

“Okay,” Steve says, rubbing your back more intently. “So you failed those two. That’s two classes out of probably hundreds of classes at Northwestern.”

You sigh and wipe your nose with the sleeve of Steve’s sweatshirt. “I didn’t fail my English class.”

“See!” Steve exclaims.

“Actually,” you laugh a little, “I had the highest grade in the class.” You lift your head up just to see the excitement in his eyes.

“That’s so great, Y/N!” He says, “you’re good at English! Who needs chemistry and computing anyway?”

“Engineers,” you say quietly, slumping back down with your cheek on Steve’s shoulder. He wraps his arm around you and squeezes your shoulders. He’s warm and soft and comfortable. You’d sit there forever in his arms if you could.

“Who says you have to be an engineer?” he asks quietly, as if he knows the answer.

“My dad,” you whisper. “He expects a lot out of me.”

“Did you tell him you don’t want to be an engineer?”

You shake your head and some of your hair falls across your face. Steve reaches up with his other hand and brushes it back over your shoulder, careful not to mess up the curls. You can hear his heart beating a slow, steady rhythm, and slowly, your heart slows down too as your stress and anxiety start to melt away.

Your hands are still in your lap and the urge to lift one up and hug Steve back is hard to fight. But he’s right there and he smells so good and his shoulder muscles are a good pillow and his hand is warm on your back and you forget about the fact that he was the most popular boy in your grade and you were just the nerdy girl he came to for help with his homework,

You lift your hand and place it on his shoulder – the one you’re not resting your head on. Steve doesn’t stiffen under your hand, he just squeezes you tighter around your shoulders, holding you against his chest.

Before you lose your nerve and stop yourself, you lift your head and press your lips against his jaw. He jumps.

“I’m sorry!” you exclaim, immediately scrambling backwards, realizing you’re practically sitting on his lap but there’s nowhere to go unless you go over the arm of the couch. “Sorry, I misread that. I’m sorry.”

Steve catches you before you fall back off the couch and pulls you back into his lap. He grabs your face and kisses you hard. “You didn’t misread it,” he assures you. “I just knew you were stressed and didn’t want to make it wor–”

You kiss him again, reaching up to shove your fingers into his hair. It’s as soft as you’d always imagined, just like his lips – full and sweet against yours. Now that you’ve given him the green light, Steve wraps his arms around your waist and pulls you flush against him, gripping the fabric of the sweatshirt he lent you up around your hips.

Holy fucking hell. You’re kissing Steve Harrington. Steve Fucking Harrington is kissing you in his basement. He is laying you back on his couch and cradling you in his arms. Steve Harrington is pushing his thigh between your legs. Holy fuck.

Your mind can’t keep up with everything that’s happening as you and Steve slide down lay on your sides, barely fitting on the couch. But you throw your leg over his and he holds you and his arms – God his arms – are muscular and strong and you know he won’t let you fall.

Steve slides one hand down to your hip, encouraging you to move against his thigh. Between that pressure and the seam of your jeans hitting the right spot, you barely have the capacity to keep kissing him. His mouth is wet and hot as his tongue snakes between your lips.

You have to come up for air. You tilt your head back and reach up to push your hair away from your face. With your arm up, Steve takes the opportunity to push his hand under the sweatshirt.

“Okay?” he asks. You nod and suck in a breath as he untucks your shirt to slide underneath it. You shiver when his fingers pull down the cup of your bra and brush over your nipple. Everything about the situation is so intense and dirty and more than you ever imagined and both of you are still fully clothed.

Steve leans in and kisses your neck, sucking lightly on your skin as he pinches and rolls your nipple between his fingers. You instinctively move against his thigh, looking for any friction to satisfy the need between your legs. You almost forget you’re a virgin.

Almost. When Steve meets your hips with his own and you feel the hard bulge between his legs your eyes fly open and you almost roll backwards off the couch.

“Ah, fuck,” you say as you land on your elbow, legs still tangled with Steve’s, halfway on the couch and halfway off the couch. Pain shoots up your arm.

“What’s wrong?” Steve asks. His cheeks are red and his lips swollen. His chest heaves as he reaches down and lifts you back onto the couch. With your head cradled in his arm, you have a nice view of his chest as he strokes your hair.

“I’m a virgin,” you squeak out, not looking up to meet his eyes. Steve reaches down to lift your chin, so you’re forced to look into those big, brown eyes you like so much. “Is that okay?”

“I’m okay with whatever you’re okay with,” Steve says, leaning back against the couch and dropping his hand to your neck. “If you want to stop and go home, I’ll take you home. If you want to stay and just hang out, we can do that.”

“What if I don’t want either of those things?” you ask, knitting your eyebrows together.

Steve runs his thumb along your jaw. “Then you tell me what you want and I’ll make it happen,” he says simply, as if it’s that easy. Your face goes hot and you bury your face in his chest. Steve laughs, shaking the entire couch. You can hear it booming through his chest. “You’re thinking dirty thoughts, huh, Y/N?”

You shake your head and snuggle closer into his chest, denying what you’ve been thinking about since sophomore year of high school.

“Come on,” Steve says, “tell me.”

You look up at him. “Please don’t make me say it.” He smiles.

“Alright.” Leaning down to kiss you again, he somehow maneuvers to nudge you onto your back and then holds himself up over you on his elbows. “How about, I kiss you again, and you tell me if it’s an okay place to kiss you? Deal?” You nod.

Steve leans down and presses a soft kiss against your cheek. You smile, so he kisses you on the lips. “Face is okay,” you say softly.

“How about here?” Steve inclines his head to kiss your neck. You nod, inhaling sharply when he lightly sucks on your skin again. You push your hand into his hair as he moves to kiss your collarbone and shoulder through the sweatshirt. “Can I take this off to kiss your skin?” Steve asks, sitting up and tugging at the hem of the gray sweatshirt. You nod and sit up.

Steve lifts the sweatshirt and your thermal over your head, tossing them both aside as you wrap your arms around yourself against the sudden breeze and his gaze. Steve smiles and reaches for your hand. He lifts your fingers to his mouth. You gasp when he sucks on your index finger instead of kissing it, rolling his tongue around the tip and drawing it into his mouth before letting go with a light pop.

Placing your hand next to your head, Steve lifts your other one to his mouth and applies a light kiss to your palm. This one, he lifts and places on the back of his head as he settles down between your legs. You sigh happily as he kisses the spot where your neck meets your shoulder.

His hands wind around your waist, rubbing your back as he makes his way across your chest with his mouth, down to the top of your bra. “Here?” he asks, his mouth hovering over your breast. You run your fingers through his hair, scratching the scalp with your nails. You nod.

Steve reaches up and gently slides your bra strap off your shoulder before pulling the cup down and taking your nipple into his mouth. He runs his tongue around it as his hot breath fans out over your skin. You inhale deeply, fisting his hair in your hand.

Chest heaving, you arch your back and let Steve reach behind you to remove your bra, which he places gently on the coffee table. This time, you don’t clam up, keeping your hands next to your head on the arm of the couch.

“Wow,” Steve says, openly staring at your chest. He rubs his chin and blinks. “I– Wow.”

“Steve Harrington is rendered speechless by boobs?” you ask.

“I mean,” Steve scoffs, “I am by those.” He reaches down, cupping a breast in each hand. “Wow.”

He spends a bit more time with your boobs before making his way further down your body. Your stomach turns as he presses kisses along the bottom of your ribs, then along the waistband of your jeans. He taps the fabric covering your hip bone.

“Here?”

You nod, reaching down for the button of your jeans, but Steve swats your hands away, undoing the button himself before drawing down the zipper. He pulls down the waistband just enough to reveal your hip on that side and kisses you. Goosebumps spring up all over as he sucks your skin into his mouth again, a slight pain shooting through your core. You twist slightly, trying to squeeze your thighs together.

Steve sits up and you think he’s going to pull off your jeans, but he doesn’t. He reaches up and yanks his shirt over his head, tossing it aside. He leans down to kiss you again but you shove him back by the shoulders.

“Wha–”

“Shh.” You run your fingers along his collarbones and down his chest. Crafted through years of swimming and basketball, Steve still has the body of an athlete. Except now he has chest hair. You run your hands over his chest again, feeling the course but soft texture.

“You good?” Steve asks, holding his hands up near his head. He’s grinning down at you, watching you. You let your fingers trace down the planes of his stomach, still hard and muscular.

“I’m good,” you tell him, smiling as you reach for his hands to pull him back down on top of you. He rests carefully on top of you, his skin warm against yours as he kisses you again. It’s gentle and wet and a little sloppy, but perfect.

Steve pulls away just enough to speak, his nose still brushing yours. “Are you enjoying yourself?” he asks, his voice low and husky.

“Mmhm.” You nod and tilt your chin up to kiss him again. He sucks your bottom lip into his mouth before letting go.

“I just want you to know I didn’t expect this when I brought you here,” he says softly. “But I’m happy it’s happening.”

You smile. “I didn’t think you expected anything,” you tell him, “you wanted to take me home, remember?”

Steve grins. “Well I didn’t want to take you home,” he leans down and kisses your cheek, then whispers in your ear, “I wanted to sit you up on the counter at the video store, spread those beautiful legs of yours, and find out what you taste like.”

You squeeze your thighs around Steve’s hips, wiggling underneath him. He tucks his head into your neck and grinds against your hips in response. Pleasure shoots through your core, knots tying themselves in your belly.

“You really think that?” you ask quietly, “About me?”

Steve lifts his head from your neck. “Well,” he raises his eyebrows, “maybe not always. But you came in wearing these tight jeans,” he grunts as he reaches down to squeeze your ass, “and I remembered how nice you always were to me. Helping me with homework and stuff, you know.”

“I always figured you were just using me,” you admit, “but I let you because you’re so pretty.”

One side of his mouth quirks up into a smile. “I wasn’t using you,” he tells you, and you almost believe him.

“Why are you being so sweet to me?” you ask, furrowing your brows together.

“Because,” Steve pauses, “I don’t know.” He sighs and rolls off of you to the side. “I guess maybe I’m trying to be a better person than I was in high school. Give more people a chance.”

“Even nerds like me?” you ask.

Steve scoffs. “Y/N, who did I date in high school?”

“Nancy Wheeler?”

Steve raises an eyebrow. “And is Nancy Wheeler a popular cheerleader type or–?”

You groan. “She’s smart too. You like the nerdy girls.”

“Yep!” Steve kisses your cheek. “Why do you think I kept coming to you for help with my homework after she dumped me?” You roll your eyes over to look at him. Steve squeezes your waist and leans in to whisper in your ear. “Because I always thought you were cute.”

“You did?”

Steve chuckles. “How many times do I have to say it before you believe me?”

“Maybe just one more,” you say, smiling as you lean in to kiss him. Steve cradles your cheek in his hand, gently pushing his tongue into your mouth. Without thinking, you suck on his tongue the way he sucked your lip into his mouth.

He squeezes your waist and grinds his hips against your side, groaning into your mouth. “You’re so fucking sexy,” he gasps when you let him go. “God–” he leans in and kisses you again. His hand slides down your neck, down between your breasts, and rests on your stomach.

Inch by inch, he moves down your torso, fingers tickling your skin. When his pinky finger brushes the top of your panties, he stops and lifts his head to look at you. Your eyes flutter open.

“Here?” he says softly, barely above a whisper as he slips his pinky finger into your panties.

Your chest tightens and you inhale sharply in anticipation. You nod.

“There.”

Steve kisses you again, just folding your lips together, as he slides his hand beneath the fabric, touching you in a place you’ve only touched yourself before. You inhale sharply as his finger brushes over your clit.

You gasp against his lips, reaching up to grip his shoulder as he circles it gently, sending pleasure through your body. You lift your hips up to meet his hand, involuntarily grinding against his fingers. He stretches his fingers down to spread the wetness leaking from you up around your clit, and you relax a bit in his arms.

“You’re good?” he asks softly, barely pulling away from your mouth so his lips brush yours when he speaks.

“I’m good,” you say faintly.

Steve kisses your lips one more time, then lifts his head. “Do you want to take your jeans off?”

You look up at him and nod, biting your lip in anticipation. Steve grins and gives you a quick kiss before sitting up on his knees at the other end of the couch. He grabs the waistband of your jeans and pulls as you lift your hips.

“Don’t need these,” Steve says, balling up your jeans and tossing them aside. He leans down and reaches for the waistband of your panties, but stops and looks at you.

“Don’t need those either,” you whisper, wrapping your arms around yourself against the chill you feel without Steve on top of you.

Steve smiles and pulls off your panties. You curl your legs to the side as he places them gently on the ground.

“I’m scared, Steve,” you say softly. He rubs your knees gently with his hands.

“Of what?”

You hesitate. “That you won’t like it.”

Steve sinks back on his heels and sighs. “You’re not still on about this are you?”

You cover your eyes. “I’m sorry! I’ve never done this before! I don’t know, every other guy acts like whatever this,” you gesture between your legs, “is it’s the most disgusting thing ever and the idea of being near it will turn them into like, a worm or something!”

Steve frowns. “Someone said that to you?”

“It was implied once,” you grumble.

“Hey, hey, hey,” Steve says, grabbing your wrists and pulling them away from your face. “That guy was the biggest idiot ever, whoever he was. Everything about you is, is–” he shakes his head, “is tantalizing okay? It is a goddamn privilege to be with you, and don’t you let anyone tell you otherwise, okay?”

You nod, furrowing your eyebrows together. “Okay.”

“Now,” Steve puts his hands back on your knees, “can I please, please get between your legs because I did not anticipate having to work this hard just to go down on you.” You can tell by his smile that he’s not mad. This is Steve Harrington begging you to let him eat you out. It’s not something you ever could have imagined.

“G–go ahead,” you manage. You close your eyes, sliding down to rest your head on the couch cushion,

Your eyes shoot open, staring unfocused at the ceiling when you feel Steve’s mouth on you. It’s warm and it’s wet and nothing like anything you’ve ever felt before. You gasp for air at the overwhelming sensation of him sucking your clit into his mouth.

“Steve, holy shit,” you cry, reaching down for his hair.

He raises his head for a second. “It’s good right?” You push his mouth back down between your legs. Before he starts lapping at you again, you feel him smile and you smile a little bit too. You throw your arm over your forehead as you watch Steve, gripping his hair between your fingers.

He looks really pretty, his eyes closed and his brows furrowed in concentration. He wraps his hands around your thighs, kneading lightly with his fingers. He comes up for breath.

“God you taste good,” he pants, “like way better than I imagined.” He dives back in before you can respond. One of his hands slips off your thigh and he looks up at you. You can see the question in his eyes. You nod.

“Oh holy shit,” you gasp when he slips a finger inside you. There’s a new sensation. Not quite a stretch, but a welcome invasion. When he curls it and strokes the walls inside you, your back arches involuntarily. Moans fall from your lips. He’s playing your body like it’s an instrument.

The pleasure in your core builds and builds until it finally crescendos. Your legs shake and you dig your heels into Steve’s back to keep from kicking him. You fist his hair between your fingers, threatening to rip it out by the root.

And then it’s over and you flop back down on the couch cushions breathing hard. Steve licks your pussy with the flat of his tongue one last time as he withdraws his finger. You lift your head just enough to watch him stick his middle finger in his mouth and suck on it, staring up at you.

He pulls his finger out of his mouth and grins as he leans over you. He brushes your hair off of your neck and rests his hand on your cheek.

“Good?”

You nod. “More than good.”

Steve grins and leans down to press his lips against yours. His lips are salty now, and you realize it’s your taste. The taste he’d been lusting after the whole time. You smile against his lips. Maybe soon you’ll be ready to taste him too.

#steve harrington #steve harrington x reader #steve harrington x fem!reader #steve harrington fic #steve harrington one shot #steve harrington fluff #steve harrington s3 #steve harrington s4 #stranger things fic #stranger things one shot

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harringtondaily · 1 year

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LNC: STEVE HARRINGTON (inspo)

#steve harrington #stranger things #steveharringtonedit #strangerthingsedit #strangersource #gifs #s1 #s2 #s3 #s4 #*#bri

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steveharringtondaily · 1 month

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STEVE HARRINGTON & ROBIN BUCKLEY 4.01: The Hellfire Club

#stedit #strangerthingsedit #steveharringtonedit #robinbuckleyedit #steve harrington #robin buckley #useraurore #usermaguire #userashe #userspree #usereri #usertiny #usersen #userclara #*#by allie #s4 #gif

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dwobbitfromtheshire · 7 months

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Just got this image in my mind that Eddie introduced Steve to Wayne as the guy who carried him out of hell. Wayne immediately saw him as the guy who could keep his boy safe, so he started inviting Steve over for dinner all the time. He didn't out Eddie, but he kind of started dropping hints about Eddie's availability. He brags about talented his nephew is to Steve, and when Steve reveals he doesn't know how to play the guitar, Wayne pushes Eddie to teach him. It goes on for a long time after that until one night, Eddie walks Steve out the door.

"Uh, is your uncle trying to set me up with you?" Steve asked.

"Yeah," Eddie said with a snort.

"Why doesn't he already know that we're dating?" Steve asked.

"I want to see how long I can keep this up for. I want to see if he breaks," Eddie snickers.

"BOY! I heard all that! You're not as quiet as you think you are!" Wayne hollered.

"Well, fuck."

#stranger things #stranger things s4 #eddie munson #joseph quinn #eddie stranger things #steve harrington #eddie munson lives #steddie #steve x eddie #steve harrington x eddie munson #steddie ficlet #wayne munson #uncle wayne #good ol' uncle wayne

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sp0o0kylights · 5 months

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Steve Harrington was wearing a Hellfire t-shirt.

It was far too tight on him, the name of the club stretched wide over his chest. The sleeves dug into his biceps, making them pop even more than they usually did, and that was before he crossed his arms.

Worse?

It was short.

Which meant the damn shirt was constantly riding up to give everyone a nice show of the smattering of hair that trailed down past the band of Harrington's jeans.

The same hair that Eddie was determinedly not looking at.

“Henderson, a moment?” He crooked a finger, a smile on his face that was more feral than welcoming.

Rather than cower or even acknowledge that Eddie was two seconds away from murder, Dustin just gave him a gummy grin, all too pleased with himself and his scheme.

“Sure Eddie. Steve, don't just stand there, go help set the booth up!” Dustin gestured to Hellfire’s sad little table, crammed all the way in the back of the gym.

Jeff and Gareth both reacted to the suggestion like a rabid squirrel had been set upon them, nervously inching towards the other side of the booth as Harrington sighed and--shockingly--did as he was told.

‘What,’ Eddie thought angrily, ‘in the everloving fuck.’

“Do you guys mind if I set this down on the table?” Eddie heard Harrington ask as he stormed away, Dustin on his heel.

They wandered just around the corner, out of sight and hopefully, out of the fallen king’s hearing range.

Eddie wasn't sure if Harrington would try and white knight the very much deserved dressing down he was about to give.

Didn’t want to chance it, considering the downright weird relationship he had with Hellfire's freshmen.

(While he’d heard many a tale at his table regarding King Steve since the newest recruits had joined Hellfire, most of them dissolved into arguments without ever really going anywhere.

Best anyone could figure out was that Dustin and Lucas had a bad case of hero worship, while Mike owned a begrudging amount of respect that hailed from a series of misadventures.

The very same misadventures that, despite all protests to the contrary, was clearly some sort of babysitting gig for Harrington.)

Either way, plenty of the King’s court would have loved to take this opportunity to fuck with Hellfire.

Given that Henderson was absolutely too old to require a babysitter at fourteen, Eddie would bet his lunch money that was what Steve was here to do.

Something the club couldn’t afford since they were forever and always two seconds away from being stripped of club status and banned from school grounds.

“I would love to know what went through that all A’s brain of yours when I said,” Eddie whirled on Dustin when they were firmly in the clear, voice low and furious. “no Henderson, do not invite King Steve to help, he is an invading force and would ruin our peaceful kingdom!?”

He clasped his hands behind his back before leaning into Dustin’s face. “Because clearly whatever you heard wasn’t that.”

To Eddie’s continued frustration and confusion, Dustin did not treat this like the threat it was.

None of the freshmen had ever truly treated Eddie like a threat--had somehow skipped that part of the usual onboarding ritual entirely.

Eddie, town freak and drug dealer, who had cultivated his looks and craziness to such a degree that most everyone steered clear, wasn’t used to it.

Everyone had been afraid of him at some point in this shitty school. Jeff, Gareth, hell even half the staff--and that the dorky trio of fourteen year old's clearly thought this all was play-acting made his eye twitch.

Even if it was--maybe, sometimes--welcome.

“I know what you said, but I’m telling you I’m right.” Dustin argued immediately, and oh God, he was using that tone again.

A hand went up into the space between them and Eddie groaned aloud, knowing what was coming.

“First,” Dustin ticked a finger up, “Hellfire really needs the money. Even thirty dollars would get us new figures, but more than that, if we don’t fundraise, we can’t go to Gen Con!”

Dustin's eyes bored into Eddie’s, full of fire and conviction

“Yes,” Eddie said through gritted teeth, “but--”

“Second!” Dustin cut him off, and God the little shit even threw him a look while he did it, like Eddie was the one being ridiculous here!

“We had to fight just to get our table! Principal Higgins was in algebra today practically begging the mathletes to show up, but then tried to tell us we couldn't be here? That’s messed up!”

As if denying them a spot to fundraise was the worst thing that asshole had ever done.

Eddie sighed, breath blasting out of his mouth like a dragon’s.

“Because people think we’re freaks and satanists, Henderson. You don’t typically invite freaks and satanists to the school’s annual Holiday Bazaar. Especially not when all the local moms are paying to hawk their bullshit crafts and tupperware!”

It was more than that of course. The Hawkins High Holiday Bazaar was a tradition spanning several years now. Starting in the gym and spilling clear into the parking lot, everyone from local artists to even some local shops came to host a small table for the day, thus growing the event from a small school fundraiser to a Hawkins' “must-do.”

Half the fucking town was here to sell, and the other half was here to shop, which meant Principle Higgins had wanted Hellfire banned from the fucking premise.

Eddie had been forced to pull out one of his trump cards he’d been saving--blackmail on Higgins that related to the man’s not--so--legal addiction to Percocet that he relied on Reefer Rick for.

(And bless Rick, that hadn’t been the only tidbit he’d shared with Eddie about Higgins. That information, however, Eddie needed just so the asshat wouldn’t give him the boot from school entirely.)

The only reason Eddie had pulled it out to secure their rightful spot, was because of Gen Con.

It was Hellfire's White Whale, their grand adventure, and this was going to be his year to take his friends on one last epic quest to make memories of a lifetime surrounded by people who understood them.

Come hell or high water, Eddie was going to Gen Con--but being able to fundraise by selling wares and baked goods at the stupid Holiday Bazaar would go a long way to help.

Even if he had to listen to the band repeatedly play ear-bleeding renditions of Christmas songs.

“All the clubs get to have a table, and we’re a club!” Dustin continued, like it was that simple. “But you know, I get it. We look scary.”

He gestured down to his own Hellfire shirt, before gesturing towards Eddie’s entire outfit.

Like Eddie didn't know what he looked like, let alone that he'd made this outfit specifically to scare people away from him.

(And maybe add some rockstar flair to this dinky little hick town.)

“You know who doesn’t look scary?”

Dustin held out his hands and swiveled his body like he was presenting a prize instead of gesturing in the vague direction of;

“Steve!”

Eddie’s left eye twitched.

‘You can't kill him, you need his character for the campaign.’ He told himself firmly, even if he envisioned strangling Dustin like a chicken.

Cartoon squawking and all.

“The King isn’t going to help us fundraise, Dustin.” Eddie said, in an effort to break down why Harrington couldn't be here. “He's just going to cause us problems that we can’t afford to have.”

So many problems, half of which Eddie couldn't think of because if he did, he'd start spiraling.

“Really? Because as you keep saying, Steve used to be the King. People love him, Eddie! Mom’s love him.”

Eddie had pulled himself black up to his proper height a while ago, and now rocked back on his heels while he ran a hand down his face.

There was no getting through to Henderson when he was like this.

Not unless Eddie really lost it, and it was practically club lore that he only lost it when someone missed an important game.

One cannot keep a herd of sheep if their flock is terrified of them, after all.

(“Perhaps you’re just a giant fucking softie.” Tiff, one of Hellfire’s graduating members, told him once. “Honestly dude, I bet you throw up stuffing.”

“Shut up Tiffany, your choker is on backwards again.” He'd spat back, completely offended and not at all trying to distract from how true that was.)

“We can’t be satanic if Steve’s the one selling cookies!” Dustin finished doggedly.

“We’re not even selling cookies--that’s not the point!”” Eddie shook his head, hair flying. He was not going to be sidetracked, he wasn’t!

“Harrington is going to end up siding with all the moms about how we’re all wasting time with D&D, if he even spends the whole time at the table. Is that what you want?”

He stuck out a ringed finger, poking at Dustin’s chest.

“Every single person who comes by our table has to be convinced D&D is a writing and math based game. Good for the mind and souls of growing, impressionable children. A game that got a bad rep because of a few silly images.”

A pitch he and Tiff had come up with during the third or fourth time they had to convince an adult that no, just because their shirts had a dragon on it, didn’t mean they were summoning demons in the drama room.

“Harrington can’t do that because Harrington doesn’t even know how to play!”

This Eddie punctuated by throwing his hands in the air.

Given the startled look of the mother-daughter duo passing him by, clearly was louder than he’d intended--but screw it!

He was right!

Hellfire was in a precarious position to both fundraise and do a little damage control among the slightly smarter members of this shithole small town, and Harrington rolling his eyes and gossiping about how stupid it was would hinder that.

“Okay, first of all, Steve’s played D&D with me and he didn’t even kill his character.” Dustin said it like he was unveiling a smoking gun and not lying through his ass--which Eddie would absolutely be calling him on the second he was done talking.

Because King Steve? Play D&D?

'Ha!'

“And he’s not gonna say shit because we--me, and Lucas and even Mike!--asked him to help, and he helps when its serious. I know you have some weird grudge with him, but I’m telling you Eddie he’s our golden ticket to Gen Con!”

“You’re killing me. You are standing here, acting as a friend, when you are bringing a-- a dark force into the midst our of mission--” Eddie hissed, because he was losing the fucking fight and he knew it.

Dustin Henderson was not a man easily swayed.

Had never been, even when the odds were stacked against him (and Grant and Gareth were howling in his ear.)

The set of his shoulders and the glint of the little shithead’s eye meant Eddie wouldn’t be able to use him to oust Harrington--if he even could get him out without the dick causing a massive scene anyway.

As always when outgunned, Eddie flipped to dramatics.

“Betrayed! By my own chosen heir no less!” He moaned, pressing the back of his hand over his eyes as Dustin scoffed.

"Don’t be so dramatic! Steve will help, I promise! Just don’t be a dick to him.”

Conversation apparently over, Dustin turned around to head back to the table

Snidely, he added over his shoulder: “Plus we’ve all caught on to the heir thing Eddie. You tell everyone that so they do what you want.”

The dick.

“You’re too fucking smart for your own good. I’m gonna start feeding you paint chips to bring that IQ down.” Eddie muttered angrily as Dustin went back to their little table.

He gave himself a moment to get his shit together and stomp a foot like a child when Dustin was around the corner and thus couldn’t witness it, before following his wayward sheep back.

Could only pray to any deity listening that Henderson’s meddling didn’t blow up in Hellfire’s face.

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