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the-case-book-of-fanfiction · 10 months

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The Graduation Lineup

Ship: Steve Harrington x Henderson!reader

Summary: Billy Hargrove comes between you and Steve at graduation—but only by last name. Additionally, you finally find out Steve's middle name (among other things).

Word Count: 5,899 words

Warnings: Billy, Stancy mention, flashbacks (aka weird timeline/narration), little bit of self-pity from Steve, fluff

Note: Set in season 2! Also pretend Tommy's last name comes after Henderson so that you get stuck between him and Steve.

☟ Continue below the fold ☟

Graduation practice was held inside the school gym. You'd been there for an hour at least, waiting for it to start and then going through the list of names to get everyone in the right seat and spot in line. They were on F now. Your leg bounced where you sat, but from boredom, not from nerves. While everyone else was panicking about who they would have to sit next to for the entire ceremony, you knew who you would be next to—and you were happy with it. It was the same boy you were already sitting next to: Steve Harrington.

It was a little weird, you thought, that it all worked out so perfectly. That there were no other Hs separating Harrington and Henderson. That Harrington was the one you had gotten so close to over the past four years, but particularly close to in the last semester alone.

The vice principle got through the Fs and into the Gs. Soon.

"You alright?" he asked you, seeing your bouncing leg.

You nodded. "Just impatient."

Steve smirked, a signature King Steve smirk he hadn't quite shaken. "Got somewhere to be, Henderson?"

"I have to pick up Dustin from Mike's, they all had a sleepover last night. Not that Dustin minds staying over a little longer, but Mom does. She doesn't like him being out of her sight for too long these days."

Steve's eyes went glassy, like they did when he thought about what happened that night for a little too long. "Yeah, well... Can't blame her for that one."

"I don't," you said. "Not when Dustin still has nightmares."

Shock flickered across his face. He opened his mouth but then—

"STEVE HARRINGTON!"

He stood, grinning down at you. "See you in a minute."

You gave him a tiny wave goodbye as he walked away and waited a second for your own name to be called. The vice principle watched Steve take his seat, then looked down at his list.

"WILLIAM HARGROVE!"

Your heart stopped. What? Shit. You'd forgotten about Billy. You bit back a groan, glancing around the gym to try and spot him. There was no movement.

Of course you'd forgotten about Billy—he wasn't even here. Not to mention, he hadn't been here for eleven years. It had just been you and Steve next to each other for a solid eleven years. Steve on one side of you, and his (former) best friend Tommy on the other. Tommy had always been pissed that you separated them, but Steve had never minded, and he certainly didn't now.

"Not here today?" the vice principle said. "Alright, the next student should leave the seat next to Steve open for him." He looked back down at his list and called your name.

You walked to your spot—next to the empty seat—as if in a trance. You sat and looked over at Steve, who looked just a blindsided as you.

Your gaze dropped to Billy's empty seat. "But..."

For some reason, it felt like a betrayal. It felt like the world was ending.

You're overreacting, you told yourself. Just calm down.

But you had been next to Steve for eleven years. Every roll call they organized you by graduating class; every assembly; every Department of Education required testing. You had been in the seat next to Steve for your PSATs and SATs, stealing glances to find him sitting with his eyes huge, not a thought in his head, and trying so hard not to giggle. Then laughing about it after, when the proctors let you all leave, and the two of you exchanging a knowing look the moment you left the classroom.

Over time, especially after the demodogs, Steve grew to be something like your best friend, although, if asked, you'd probably say Nancy was your best friend. You'd grown up with her, too, when Dustin spent the night at Mike's.

(Which made you feel slightly like a traitor when, after all that had happened between her and Steve, you couldn't help but tolerate him enough to like him.)

But you also knew what happened that night in the Byers' house. You knew Billy and Steve had gotten into a fight bad enough to knock Steve unconscious and leave him banged up and bloody. You knew Billy hated him more than ever after that, even though it had been Max who finally knocked Billy out, and you knew it was the promise Max extracted from Billy that kept him from trying to finish the fight with Steve "properly."

So you knew that the look on Steve's face was not just from being separated after eleven years. You knew it was also from terrible fear, overwhelming fear.

The vice principle had gotten to the Js. You hadn't heard any of them, hadn't even noticed Tommy H. sit next to you. You just stared at that empty seat where Billy should have been—where you should have been.

~❊~

You considered yourself fond of Steve Harrington.

He'd saved your brother's life, after all, and the lives of Dustin's friends. Dustin had wasted no time in telling you just how great his new hero was, despite the fact that he was falling asleep in the back of the car when you'd rushed to Steve's house to pick him up, late at night.

"And he took his bat—the one I told you about, with all the nails, that one—and he just started bashing with it. And then, and then, and then, when the demodog got on the roof of the bus, he pushed us away so it couldn't kill us!" He smiled sleepily in the back, visible in your rearview mirror. "You shoulda been there. You shoulda seen it! He was awesome, just...just so awesome... So bitchin'."

You would have reprimanded him for his language (even though it wasn't going to stop him), but he was already asleep, without even finishing his story.

Had it surprised you? A little bit. The King Steve you had known was nothing like the Steve in Dustin's story, but you didn't doubt Dustin. You'd seen a change in Steve the past semester or so. But you'd sat next to him for eleven years, gotten to see a side of him that he didn't let the rest of the school see. And when you'd gone to pick up Dustin, the boy before you was deserving of your sudden fondness for him.

"Hey," he said, greeting you from where he leaned against his car, next to the open door revealing Dustin in the back. "I would have waited for you at the Byers', but I know this is closer, and it's late, so—"

Dustin shouted your name, hopped out of the car, and ran to you, hugging your legs tightly. He'd pretended to be fine when Steve called, but you could tell he was terrified and glad the whole thing was over from how tightly he hugged you.

You looked up at Steve, leaning down just enough to wrap your arms around Dustin's shoulders. "I can't thank you enough, Steve, really." He waved away your thanks, but you talked over him. "Seriously, Steve. Thank you. If anything had happened to him, I would've..." You looked down at Dustin, at a loss for words. "I don't know what I would've done."

"Yeah. Just..." Steve shrugged. He seemed embarrassed to be standing at his car, giving back your brother like two divorced parents and their child. "He needed help and...I was around."

You prodded Dustin toward the car. "Go get in the car. The back, I've got too much stuff in the passenger seat."

He nodded, stifling a yawn and heading to the car without protest.

You looked back at Steve. "Thank you. Again."

Steve nodded, his eyes locked on yours. "Any time."

Without really realizing it, you closed the distance between you and Steve and threw your arms around him, squeezing him tightly and trying not to cry into his shoulder. He stood frozen for a moment, but then his arms came around you and squeezed. For some reason, you remembered he was dating Nancy Wheeler at that exact moment.

"Hey..." His voice was impossibly soft. "Hey, it's okay. He's okay. They're all okay."

You pulled away from him, sniffling and wiping your eyes. "I... I'm sorry. I don't know why I..." You shook your head. "Long, hard day, I guess."

"Don't worry about it," he said, in a tone so gentle and kind that you didn't.

So yes—you were fond of Steve, and that fondness grew when he visited more and more and more often to visit Dustin, or take him somewhere when you couldn't, and you learned through Dustin's endless chattering that Steve and Nancy had broken up a while ago, so you felt a little less guilty about the hug.

You considered Steve your best friend. You might have considered him more than that, if not for your friendship with Nancy.

(Although, did that really matter, when she was happy with Jonathan and comfortably over Steve?)

But you were far less fond of Billy Hargrove.

In fact, you were quite positive that you despised Billy Hargrove.

Even before knowing what he had done to Steve, to your brother and his friends, you had hated him. You had seen him antagonize everyone, from the poor, already outcast nerds, to the popular clique like Steve. Everybody suffered at the hands of Billy, one way or another. Even Max—or, perhaps, especially Max.

Regardless, you hated Billy. And now you had to sit between him and Tommy H, instead of next to your best friend? God, these were going to be a rough couple of hours.

~❊~

On your way out of the gym, you found Steve waiting for you at the door.

"I know you've gotta go pick up Dustin, but after that, do you wanna—"

"Steve, I will do anything you want as long as you let me vent. I can't believe I'm stuck next to Billy Hargrove," you complained.

He snorted. "Yeah, believe me, you're not alone there. Jesus, I wanna punch him again."

"Hey." You put a hand on his chest, stopping him. "Don't start anything you can't finish."

Steve brushed you off and kept walking. "I didn't say I was going to, just that I want to. And, believe me, I really, really want to."

"We'll just ask Max to do it."

He groaned. "Don't remind me that I needed a twelve-year-old to fight my battles for me."

"She's thirteen." Steve gave you a look. You giggled. "Alright, alright. I'll leave you alone."

He pushed the front door of the school open and held it for you, following you out. "Okay, so, you need to vent, I want to go out—milkshakes later?"

"Yes, please," you nearly groaned. "But you do realize Dustin is going to want to come, right?"

Steve rolled his eyes. "You don't have to tell him. Just...bring him home and I'll pick you up at one?"

You rolled your eyes back at him. "The instant you show up at our door, Dustin's Steve-senses are going to tingle and he's going to hop in the front seat before I can. He's practically attached at the hip to you."

Steve laughed. "You have a point there. Alright, fine—Dustin, too."

You split away from him to head to your car, only for him to follow you. You realized he'd parked next to you. "We'll meet you at Benny's!" you said, getting into the front seat. He nodded slowly and waved you off. You returned the wave and left the school parking lot behind.

It was only after Steve was just a figure in your rearview mirror that it dawned on you he'd phrased the whole thing differently from just a regular hang-out with the group.

"But after that—"

"I want to go out."

You glanced back out your window, not daring to identify meaning of the twist of anticipation in your chest.

~❊~

Dustin slurped loudly on his almost-finished milkshake. You and Steve, who were only halfway through your own milkshakes, made eye contact over your glasses and giggled.

Your little brother looked up from his glass. "What? What's funny?"

"Nothing," the two of you said in unison. You glanced back up at him and your stomach did flips. The expression on his face looked like your fondness felt. It looked like the face Nancy had described to you, back when she was still sort-of in love with Steve—before Barb died, and before the Upside Down.

You and Nancy lay spread out on her bed, your legs hanging over the end of her bed, her feet curled up behind her, her knees at her pillows. Your hears were right next to each other, turned toward each other so you could see the huge smile on Nancy's face.

She was half an hour deep into telling you about her date with Steve. "And he just...he had this look on his face, you know? Like there was nothing else that mattered. Like I was the only thing left in the world. The only girl left." Without even realizing it, she had brought her hand up to her hair, curling it in her fingers. "His eyes, they were so...so soft and so open. And his hair was falling into his face, he'd been blowing it out of his eyes for hours, it was so cute, ridiculously cute, but he stopped trying to get it out of his face when I giggled at him."

You giggled at her. "You are so in love with him, admit it!"

Her grin got impossibly bigger. "That...that's the thing. I think he wanted to say it to me."

Your eyes widened. "He was gonna tell you he loved you?!"

"I think so," she whispered. "But then the door opened, and it was loud, rowdy teenagers, so we just glanced over at them and started to laugh and—" She giggled. "And then it was gone. But it was there. He wanted to say it to me." She paused and, in a whisper, added, "And I think I wanted to say it back."

You shrieked with joy, reaching for her and tickling. "Nance, oh my God!"

She giggled, batting her hands away. "Stop it, stop it, I can't breathe!"

"Have you told Barb yet?"

Nancy's mood darkened a tad too much for your liking. "I don't think she'd like it. She's not a...huge fan of Steve."

"Oh, come on, if you're happy, she'll be happy for you, right?"

Nancy rubbed her arms. "I don't know. I hope so?"

"Just tell her, Nance, she'll be okay. She'll get it." You grinned at her again. "Oh my God, I can't believe it, you're in love with Steve Harrington!"

You tore your eyes away from Steve, looking back down at the milkshake he had insisted on buying for you.

"Do you think they're going to say our middle names when we graduate?"

"Huh?" You looked up. That expression of Steve's was gone. "Our middle names?"

He shrugged. "Yeah. You know, we're just walking up and they're saying our whole names."

You blinked at him.

"They're supposed to," Dustin said beside you. Your heads turned toward him.

"What?"

"They're supposed to say your middle names. At least, most high schools do it for graduation. Did they not do it during rehearsal today?"

"No," Steve said. He groaned, thumping his head into the table. "Damn it."

"Why?" you asked, giggling at his melodrama.

He lifted his head back up, sipped on his milkshake, and said, "I hate my middle name. I hate it! It's so...stupid."

You bit your lip, trying not to laugh again. "Well, now you have to tell me what it is."

Steve scoffed. "Absolutely not."

You leaned forward across the table. "Tell me."

"No," he insisted.

"Yes!"

"No way!"

You found Steve's foot with your own under the table, making him jump. "Come on, Stevie... Just tell us!"

"No!"

"We're gonna find out anyway," Dustin piped up from beside you. "They're gonna say it at graduation!"

Steve shook his head resolutely. "No. They might not, because they didn't at practice, and if they didn't, I'm not embarrassing myself by telling you now."

You rolled your eyes at him. "It can't be that bad. No parent would name their child something that awful."

He snorted. "You have clearly never met my parents."

"No, I have not, but now I would like to," you said. You'd heard him complain about his father being a "grade-A asshole" before, a phrase Nancy had confirmed he'd used multiple times about his father, but you'd never seen just how bad he was.

Steve shook his head, going back to his milkshake. "No, you don't," he said quietly. The look in his eyes—like a sad, lost, kicked puppy—shut you up effectively. So you let it go, drinking your milkshake happily.

Dustin twirled his straw around in the remnants of his whipped cream. "Did I tell you about the project Mr. Clarke gave us? I might need help setting it up, but he wants us to make a machine out of stuff we have around the house."

Steve brightened. "Is it a Rube Goldberg machine? I remember those! I think I used mine to open the door to my patio..."

"Yeah!" Dustin grinned. "Mike, Lucas, Will, Max and I have a contest to see which of us can make the best one. I already know Mike's getting Nancy's help, and Will's getting Jonathan's, and I think Max and Lucas are collaborating to make two separate projects, so I could really use you guys to help..."

In amongst Dustin's chatter, you glanced toward Steve, finding a small smile on his face as he watched the kid talk animatedly. Dustin pulled a napkin toward himself and started sketching out vague plans for his machine. You felt Steve's foot move beside yours. You glanced over at him as he started playing a subtle game of footsie with you under the table.

You stifled a giggle, smiling at him in a way that was far too friendly—or, rather, not friendly enough. That look came back on his face, the lovey dovey look Nancy had gushed so much over. You understood why now. Had the roles been reversed, you would have gone straight to her to tell her all about the way Steve Harrington looked at you like he was in love with you.

That tight feeling in your chest came back, a simmering, traitorous hope nestling in your heart and not once listening to the screams of your brain that you should not, absolutely should not, fall in love with your best friend's ex.

Steve propped his head up with his hand, that dreamy look in his eyes intensifying. His lips pursed slightly before they fell apart, pure wonder in that small, involuntary motion.

To hell with not falling in love with your best friend's ex.

You lifted your foot a little higher, catching the cuff of his jeans and slowly but surely tugging up. Steve gulped, pink dusting his cheeks. You felt a brief but distinct shiver of glee.

Dustin pushed his empty cup away from him, the scraping on the table drawing your attention away from Steve. For a moment, you feared Dustin had caught sight of your not-so-subtle flirting and was about to call you out on it, but then he yawned.

"Can we go home?" he asked you, his sudden tiredness evident in his voice.

"You didn't sleep at all last night at Mike's, did you?" you asked with a sigh. "Because if you had, this sugar would be keeping you bouncing on the walls for the next four to five hours."

He shrugged. "It was a long campaign." His eyes fluttered, his head drooping. His body slid toward you, your shoulder being the only thing keeping him upright anymore.

Love and guilt crashed over you at the same time. "Oh, don't fall asleep on me here, I can't carry you to the car anymore, Dusty—"

"It's okay, I've got him," Steve said. He paid the bill in cash and got up from his side of the booth, gently pulling Dustin out from under the table and out of the restaurant. You followed, a glimmer of warmth in your chest. You'd heard Dustin and the others jokingly refer to Steve as their dad; now you could see why.

You unlocked the car for Steve and he put Dustin in the passenger's seat and buckled him in. Dustin mumbled softly—you were quite sure it was a little 'thank you'—and Steve closed the door as gently as he could.

Steve turned back to you, his hands going to his hips. "He's all yours."

"You'd make a great dad, Steve," you said gently, unable to stop yourself, or keep the gentle smile off your face. And when he smiled back at you, you felt like you had flashed ten years into the future, a mom standing and watching her husband carry their sleeping child to the car, doing everything in his power not to wake him.

"I've, uh, always wanted to be one," Steve said, the admission quiet but confident. "Ever since I knew I could be."

"Oh, Stevie..."

He rubbed the back of his neck. "What? It's just...I like the idea. Of being able to be there for someone and guide someone through life and have a family of my own, you know? Like—a big one. A big, happy family."

"I'm not judging you, Steve," you said, hearing the defensiveness in his voice. "I'm not. It's cute. It's really cute. I'm glad that you know what you want in your future."

He sighed, kicking the ground. "Yeah, well. Doesn't help to know what I want if I can't get there."

You raised an eyebrow and waited for an explanation.

Steve shrugged awkwardly, looking the most helpless you'd ever seen him. "There aren't exactly a line of girls just waiting to make King Steve's dreams come true." He bit his lip. "They just want me for a night, if they even want me at all, and then I don't—" He stopped himself short, taking a deep breath, his eyes dropping to the asphalt beneath you. "I'm sorry, this isn't... This isn't the time or place for this. I'm sorry."

You stepped closer to Steve, leaving only a few inches between you. "Hey," you said softly, bringing his gaze up from the ground and back to you. "It's okay. I understand." You caught his hand in yours. "Steve?"

He hummed, his gaze still on your hand holding his.

"You meant for tonight to be a date, didn't you?"

He blushed, but very slowly, he nodded.

Your heart fluttered in your chest. You hesitated, then said, "Do you want a hug?"

The question very nearly made Steve burst into tears. He nodded, accepting your arms around him instantly. He squeezed tightly and you returned the pressure, sensing he needed it. "I'm sorry," he whispered into your ear. "If it was weird, I'm sorry, I should have made it more clear that it was meant to be a date—"

Your hand drifted behind his hand, tangling into his hair. "Don't apologize. You don't have to apologize for wanting to be wanted, Steve. I should have known you wanted it to be just us—and not on babysitting duty." You bit your lower lip, possessed by a sudden boldness. "And, for what it's worth, I'd want you for more than a night."

He went tense and then lax in your arms. "I... What?" He leaned away from you, just enough to see your face but not enough to leave your arms. He whispered your name. "What are you saying?"

You offered him a tiny smile. "I think you know, Steve."

"Say it," he breathed. "Please. Please, I want to hear you say it."

You pressed your forehead to his as his hand lifted to your cheek, fingers brushing over your skin with a reverence you'd never felt before. "I want you for more than one night, Stevie. I want as many night as you'll give me."

The sound he made was both holy and sinful. You really hoped the windows to your car were closed, because that was not a sound you wanted Dustin hearing—especially not from Steve, not while you were wrapped up in his arms and he was in yours.

Steve moved before you did, leaning in but giving you the time and the chance to back away from him. You did the opposite, meeting him in the middle and kissing him softly.

Nancy had not done his kisses justice in her descriptions of them. Though, you had to give her credit, because it was next to impossible to find a good way to describe the gentle pressure of his mouth on yours. There was certainly nothing to compare it to, except for that heady, wonderful feeling of getting out of trouble scot-free, or that beautiful feeling when a choir sings a perfectly arranged chord in a high-ceilinged building.

You whispered his name into his mouth, a prayer on your lips, a desperate cry for more of him. He hummed into your mouth, sending shivers down your spine, and his hands gripped your hips, pulling you even closer to him and then wrapping around you once more.

"Every night, Steve," you whispered against him when he stopped kissing you to breathe, though his lips remained against yours as his chest heaved. "I want you every night."

He groaned. "Don't say that," he whispered. "Don't say it if you don't mean it."

You cupped his face in your hands. "I wouldn't have said it if I didn't mean it. I want you, Stevie. All of you, all of the time."

He whimpered. It was a beautiful sound.

"You know..." His words were choppy, split up by his heavy breaths. "If it weren't for your brother in the car, I'd take you home if you'd let me." You opened your mouth, but he put a finger your lips. "Shhh, don't tell me. Don't tell me if you'd let me. Don't let me know what I'm missing out on."

You smiled at him, toying with the hairs at the back of his head. "Kiss me one more time, Stevie. Please, baby."

He grinned. "Well, because you asked so nicely..." And his lips were on you again, and it took everything in you not to moan your relief that he had kissed you again.

Heaven. His kiss was like absolute heaven.

When he finally let go of you, the air between you had changed, filled with a pleasant glee. For the first time in a long time, you saw that Steve's eyes were bright.

"Get your brother home," he told you. "And I'll see you tomorrow. Oh, and, one more thing?"

You reached for his hand, caressing his skin. "Yeah?"

"How about we keep this between us for a few days? Just until graduation." He grinned. "Surprise everybody. I'll walk across the stage and stop to wait for you and we kiss and walk off together—"

"You're forgetting something," you said, shaking your head. "Billy's between us."

Steve's face fell. "I could...wait until he's gone?"

You laughed. "Stevie..."

He sighed. "Well, it was a good idea while it lasted, right?"

"It was cute," you agreed. "Just like you are."

Steve beamed.

"Don't worry—we'll still surprise them all," you said. "We'll just wait until we pose for photos, and right when they snap a picture, we'll lean in and you can give me a big, dramatic kiss, alright?"

"I like that idea just as much," he said, smiling. He nuzzled into you and kissed your cheek. "Get yourself home safe, hun. Okay?"

"Okay," you said. You let go of him slowly, reluctantly getting back in your car. He waited, waving to you as you pulled out of the parking lot, before he got into his own car.

About halfway down the road, Dustin stirred. "I hope the reason you took that long is because you were confessing your feelings for Steve," he said, his voice thick with sleep.

You glanced at him out of the corner of your eye. "Go back to sleep, Dustin."

"So he confessed, too," he mumbled. "Good. You need each other."

You bit back a smile. "Whatever you say, Dustin."

"Yeah...whatever I say..."

~❊~

You stood in line, your heart beating out of your chest. You were surprised no one around you had told you they could hear it.

Billy was standing in front of you, seeming ridiculously tall in his graduation cap and gown. Behind you, the cap and gown seemed to make Tommy even shorter than normal.

"STEVE EUGENE HARRINGTON!"

Your eyes went wide and your head whipped very quickly toward an embarrassed Steve. You'd heard him groan when they had first started graduating seniors by calling middle names, too, but you had not been expecting that.

No wonder he hadn't wanted to tell Dustin—the kid was never going to leave him alone about this.

"WILLIAM DAVID HARGROVE!"

Billy walked. You waited until your name was shouted into the room. You could hear Steve cheer as he went back to his seat, and Dustin cheering up in the stands. You shook Principle Higgins' hand and accepted your diploma, practically glowing and feeling on top of the world.

When you were seated and Tommy H. was following you back to his seat, you leaned forward to see around Billy.

"Eugene?!"

Steve groaned. "Shut up. Please. Please."

"I can see why you didn't want to tell us," you giggled.

Tommy leaned around you. "You know, you could've told them not to say it."

Steve's eyes went huge. "I could have?!"

He was quickly shushed by the administrator guiding students to the stage. Stifling giggles, you and Tommy sat back in your chairs, waiting for the end of the ceremony to tease him endlessly.

~❊~

Lover's Lake in June—busy, overcrowded, full of children.

Lover's Lake in June past six at night—still full of children, but just the ones you were keeping your eyes on with Steve.

The party was having an adventure in the water, shouting at each other, the occasional D&D term thrown in. Max and Eleven were a ways away from the group, shrieking and holding their arms up every time the boys splashed the water too close to them.

Steve looked at his watch. "Hey, guys! It's almost eight! You've got fifteen minutes before we gotta get you home."

Max lifted up a hand, giving him a thumbs up, despite the boys not hearing a thing.

"Especially, you, Dusty, you have to go to camp tomorrow!" you called. You got no response.

"Jesus, they never listen, do they?" Steve sighed.

You leaned into his shoulder. "They listen, they just like yanking your chain."

You and Steve sat together at the edge of a dock, feet in the water, his pants rolled up to his knees and his arm around your shoulders. You held a copy of your graduation photo—the photo, the surprise photo where Steve had turned to you and kissed you right as the camera flashed.

"My mom framed her copy of this, you know," you said, handing him the photo. "It's sitting on the hearth."

He grinned. "I'm glad it turned out so well. I was worried it would be all blurry if I didn't time it right." He nuzzled his face into your temple, pressing a series of quick, gentle kisses there. "How'd Dustin take it?"

You laughed, your eyes straying to your brother, who was being tackled by Lucas. "He already knew! After I got in the car, he told me he hoped the reason it had taken me so long to get in after him was because he wanted us to be confessing our feelings to each other."

Steve snorted, loud in your ear. You shied away and he whispered a quick apology. "Of course he noticed. He notices everything."

"Not that it was hard to see we were hiding something from each other," you added, turning to catch his mouth with your own. He hummed into the kiss. "You spent all of that night looking at me with your 'I love you' eyes."

He raised his brows. "Oh, my 'I love you' eyes, really?"

You nodded, giggling at him and pressing closer to his side. You set the photo down behind you as he pulled you into a hug with both arms.

"Well, you weren't exactly the most subtle, either," Steve said, kissing your nose.

"Oh, yeah? What did I do?"

Steve brought his hand up to your cheek, brushing his thumb over your cheekbone. "Oh, you know, you get this look on your face. When you thought I couldn't see you, I guess. You'd look over and it was like...it was like you'd relax." He smiled. "Like seeing me was all it took to calm you down from whatever stress you had."

You smiled. "Yeah, I guess you do kind of have that effect on me." You ran your gaze over him. "You know...you're giving me those eyes right now."

His voice was nearly a whisper. "Good." Steve kissed you deeply, cupping the side of your face to hold you close to him. "Because I do." He squeezed your hip with his other hand. "Because I do love you."

You stared at him, mouth dropped open.

Steve turned red. "I know it's soon, but I—"

"Steve?"

"Yeah?"

"Kiss me."

"Okay," he whispered, leaning back in. When his lips met yours, you lifted your hand into his hair. He sighed happily into your mouth. He wrapped his arms around your waist.

And then it dawned on you. You pulled back from him. "Steve, it's too quiet."

You both looked at the water, half-expecting the kids to be gone, but they were all still in the lake—treading water and staring, silently, at you and Steve.

"What?" Steve asked slowly.

Dustin made a face. "Dude. My sister."

Steve rolled his eyes. "Dude. My girlfriend!"

"You're just as bad as El and Mike," Will groaned, setting off the shouting once more.

Steve glanced at you. "We're not that bad, are we?"

You shrugged. "I don't think so."

He kissed you again. "That's all that matters." He looked back at the kids. "Alright, come on, out of the water! You're not getting in my car soaking wet."

While the kids groaned and complained, Steve stood and offered you his hand to help you up. You took it, kissing his cheek once you were upright. His hand still in yours, you made your way to the car.

Dustin called your name. "Have you seen my towel?"

"Right here, Henderson," Steve laughed. He picked it up from the chair it was flopped over and handed it to him. You leaned into Steve, letting go of his hand so he could wrap his arm around your waist. He kissed the top of your head.

"See?" you whispered to him. "Good dad."

A glint entered Steve's eyes. "Someday," he said, and you got the feeling his someday included you.

You covered his hand on your hip with your own and looked up at him. "I love you, Stevie."

"Still my sister, Steve!"

Steve didn't take his eyes off you and his voice was soft, too soft for Dustin to hear. "Still my girlfriend, Henderson."

☞ ❊ ☜

Stranger Things // Steve Harrington

Taglist: {comment and let me know if you'd like to be added to the S.H. taglist!} @ohatropa@nix-rose@live-the-fangirl-life

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doodles-dearest · 2 years

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fuck steve harrington is such a fucking guy magnet

hes out here with a whole fanclub

tommy h

billy

eddie

jonathan

and the best part is

he has no fucking clue

#harringrove #stommy #stonathan #steddie #steve harrington #himbo #tommy h #billy hargrove #eddie munson #jonathan byers #stranger things

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symbioticsimplicity · 1 year

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Based on an idea @thediktatortot and I workshopped in the tags of this post. Enjoy Tommy, Steve, Eddie and Billy being trapped in a room together!

Part 2! Part 3! Part 4! AO3 link!

The world was hell bent on making Steve Harrington suffer. He was sure of it, dead-set, knew it in his soul.

Why else would he have gotten trapped in the high school teacher’s lounge with Eddie Munson, Tommy Hagan, and Billy Hargrove of all people?

“--you didn’t skip gym every fuckin’ year then maybe you could have kept up, freak.” Tommy hissed at Eddie, his teeth gritted as he leaned against the door a demodog was currently trying to knock down.

“Oh yeah cause tackle fucking football really prepares you for the goddamn apocalypse!” Eddie snarled back, marring the effect a little by tripping over his feet as he brought over a chair to prop against the door.

“Shut the fuck up!” Billy growled at them both, “‘M tryin’ to fuckin’ focus!”

He had his back pressed against the door, and was probably the real reason that it hadn’t been caved in yet. Ever since he’d survived his face off with the mindflayer last summer, Billy had been different. Not just in such that he didn’t try to take a bite out of anyone who got too close to him half as often, but in that he could bench his fucking car. Steve knew, because he’d seen him do it one of the days he’d picked Max up for whatever dumb thing the kids were up to.

“Oh sorry Lou, don’t let us get in the way of your ‘roid rage.” Tommy snitted back, unable to keep his mouth shut for love of life or limb.

“Tommy, for fucks sake shut your mouth for ten goddamn minutes and help me move this vending machine.” Steve cut Billy off before he could escalate what was quickly devolving into a miniaturized Lord of the Flies reenactment.

Tommy aimed an ugly look his way while Eddie snickered.

“King’s callin’ Hagan, be a good little pawn and attend him.”

“Munson, get your ass over here, you’re helping too.” Steve turned his disapproving glare on Eddie too.

Tommy bowed dramatically, “Ladies first.”

“Age before beauty.” Eddie bowed back.

“Hurry. The. Fuck. UP!” Billy was losing ground by inches.

Tommy and Eddie took their places on either side of Steve and the three of them started to push the vending machine, inch by screeching inch, across the floor and in front of the door. It filled almost the entire door frame. While it wouldn’t keep a pack of demodogs out for long, it would give them long enough to get their shit together again.

“Okay, so plan?” Steve looked between the three men he now found himself stuck with, “Anybody got a plan?”

“Munson’s the ‘Dungeon Master’, isn’t coming up with plans to beat monsters kind of your thing?” Tommy poked again, securing his place on the mental list Steve knew Eddie kept of people he would eat first in a crisis.

“What the fuck is your problem, douchebag?” Eddie turned his full attention on him, “We’re in the middle of some supernatural life or death bullshit, and your go-to is still ‘Shit on the Freak’? My fuckin’ plan is to trip you while we’re running so they slow down to eat your stupid jock ass.”

Steve pressed his fists into his eyes, trying to force himself to breathe through the headache he could feel forming at the base of his skull. Of all the combinations of people…

“I was trying to be nice!” Tommy shouted back, and even with his eyes closed, Steve could see the way his hands were gesturing, “That stupid game you play with your weirdo friends has a lot to do with making shit up as you go along! That’s a skill!”

“....did you just admit to knowing what DND is about?” Eddie sounded more confused than angry, like all the fire just burnt right out of him.

“I-! No- I just…”

“Table that,” Billy cut in, “I’m not getting torn apart by another one of those fucking things because you two can’t focus for shit.”

“Who died and made you boss, Hargrove?” Tommy snapped reflexively.

“Your fucking Dad, Hagan. It’s why I’m fucking your mom now too.”

“ENOUGH!” Steve shouted in a voice that sounded so much like Richard Harrington he hated himself a little bit for it, “None of us like each other, we all know that, it’s whatever, old news! But I’m pretty sure none of us want to die, either. You two know better than anyone that this shit is not a game.”

Steve pointed a finger at Billy and Eddie each in turn before turning his attention on Tommy.

He was scared, of course he was. Tommy had always used his sharp tongue to cover up his weaknesses, and right now he had to have been feeling about two feet tall and made of tissue paper. Steve had stopped flinching about bodies years ago, but Tommy hadn’t been by his side for that change either.

So he tried to make himself sound calm, familiar, like they were just talking like they used to when they were dumb little boys sharing secrets during the secret hours of the night where nothing had to mean more than it meant.

“I know it’s scary as hell, but we’re not going to let you die, Tommy. No one here is dying, not tonight. We’re all on the same team here, and that means we’re going to look out for each other. Okay?”

He held Tommy’s eyes for a moment more, before letting his attention move to Billy, then Eddie in turn.

Eddie was the first to respond, because of course he was.

“Alright, fine. For one night only, coming to an amphitheater near you, the freakiest Friday you’ve ever fucking seen, Off Brand Motley Crue!” Eddie imitated the distant cheering of a crowd and to Steve’s surprise Billy fucking snorted.

He shoved Eddie’s shoulder almost affectionately, muttering “You’re a fuckin’ idiot, Munson.”

Tommy was still staring at Steve when he looked back at him. There was so much going on in the valley between his eyebrows, Steve could practically hear him thinking.

“Spit it out, Tommy.” Steve sighed while Eddie and Billy wandered off to see if they could scavenge anything of use.

“Is this why you stopped talking to me?” He asked with no preamble.

Fifteen different responses flashed through Steve’s head, all in varying degrees of bitchiness. His patience was more like a roulette wheel than a chord close to snapping at this point. There was every chance he’d say something stupid by sheer chance.

“Kind of?” He shrugged, relieved he’d started off neutral at least, “Some of it, I guess.”

“But not the big part.” Tommy laughs humorlessly, filling in the gaps between what Steve means and what he says as effortlessly as he ever did, “Well shit. Here I was telling myself my best friend ditched me to save me from some crazy horrible death or some shit.”

He laughed again, but the sound was as cruel as it was watery.

“That’s not-- you know that’s not fucking fair Tommy!” Steve could feel his expression folding in on itself.

“Not fair? So you’re saying you didn’t completely bail on me instead of being like ‘Huh we’re kinda assholes and I don’t really like that maybe we should work on that’ like a normal fucking friend would?” Tommy snapped.

“If you’d said you just wanted to yell at him yourself, I would have ceded the floor to you without a fight, Harrington.” Eddie weighed in from across the room.

“Shut up!” Steve and Tommy chorused together, causing Eddie to raise his hands in surrender with a mischievous smile playing on his lips.

He turned back to Billy, the blonde rolling his eyes as he tore through a drawer full of seasoning packets.

“I’m not fucking stupid, Steve.” Tommy said firmly, his expression looking far more present and alert than Steve was used to, like he’d come out of whatever place he sent himself when there were other people around, “I know you hated what we were like. You’re a nice guy, you always have been. Even though you’re also a total bitch sometimes.”

Steve almost laughed, but the noise caught in his throat instead.

“Yeah well maybe I didn’t think about it. Maybe I was too caught up in needing to change that I told myself I had to get rid of everything to do it.” Steve clenched his jaw, remembering how hard everything had been back then, how alone he’d felt in the canyon between who he was and who he wanted to be.

“I would have changed with you.” Tommy said to his shoes instead of to Steve, “You know. It’s never been about-- about popularity. It’s always been about making you happy.”

The admission caught him like a blow to the stomach. He felt his eyes tearing up and pressed his thumb and forefinger into the bridge of his nose.

“I think near-death experiences with monsters from other dimensions are pretty good catalysts for second chances.” Steve said, when he felt like he could without his voice breaking on him.

“Catalysts?” Tommy raised an eyebrow, “You spend a couple years around a group of nerds and suddenly you start using the big words?”

It’s an insult but it’s good natured, it’s barbed, but like one of those foam prop spiked bats they sell for Halloween. It’s familiar, and it’s easy, and God has Steve missed bantering with someone who knows how to tease him without actually hurting his feelings.

“Pretty face isn’t gonna get me by my whole life.” Steve replied, a smile sneaking onto his lips as a matching smile spans Tommy’s.

Tommy claps him on the shoulder, “Damn straight, once you hit forty that hair is gonna move onto your back and then you’re screwed.”

Steve laughed, feeling relieved by the resolution of something he hadn’t been aware was still bothering him.

“Yeah, yeah, you can’t say that like your skin isn’t gonna melt like your uncle Fred’s did when you hit thirty.”

“Don’t you dare bring Uncle Fred into this!”

To Steve surprise, the demodogs didn’t come crashing through the vending machine door. After about an hour, they stopped trying to get through entirely.

They thought for a moment that they’d left, but when Billy started pushing the vending machine aside to check, the growling started back up and he quickly moved it back.

“They’re keeping us pinned down.” Eddie muttered around his thumb where he was nervously biting at the skin, “Out of the way.”

“Yeah.” Steve agreed, trying not to let himself think through all the reasons that could be, “Split the party, classic.”

“So you do listen when I talk to you about DND.” Eddie beamed, “Knew it. Closet nerd.”

Billy muttered something that vaguely sounded like ‘closet something’ but he was standing on Steve’s bad side and he couldn’t really be sure.

Steve rolled his eyes, “You try having six kids and a really hyper metalhead talking your ear off about the same thing all the time. See how much you remember.”

“Jock to nerd pipeline not withstanding, you know why splitting the party is a problem, right?” Eddie continued stubbornly on.

“We’re most of their muscle.” Billy answered instead, “Take us out or pin us down, the rest of them are easier to take out.”

“Ten XP to California.” Eddie clapped.

“So you think they’re trying to keep us out of something?” Tommy asked, surprisingly mindful of his tone.

Eddie nodded, gnawing at his nail again, “We need another way out.”

“Not a lot of options.” Steve glanced around quickly, his leg starting to bounce.

“Pretty much just the front door.” Billy agreed.

“So we need a battle plan.” Tommy summarized, “Okay, right. Munson, what are you good at?”

Eddie frowned and Tommy threw his hands into the air.

“I’m not trying to start shit, I’m asking so we can figure out where the fuck to put you. Hargrove is a one man demolition team, Steve has that bat and he’s really good at taking a punch, I’m good at defence and I can lift a lot more than those things, so what’s your deal?”

Eddie thought for a second, and Steve honestly couldn’t tell if he was considering his answer or if he was pausing for dramatic effect.

“Well,” He started eventually, “I’m good with a shield, and I’m pretty strong too. Don’t look like it, but I can manhandle Stevie here pretty easily.”

Tommy shot him a look that he pointedly ignored. There was no way he was explaining any of that right now, or ever if he had the choice.

“Steve is easy to manhandle. Barely even fights it.” Billy replied, “That’s not a good gauge of strength.”

“You could rip an airplane in half, you’re not a good gauge of strength.” Eddie gesticulated in Billy’s general direction.

“I fought him way before that.”

“He’s right though.” Tommy shrugged, “Steve never fights being manhandled.”

Eddie scoffed and Steve was pretty sure he was going to choke to death on embarrassment long before the demodogs ever got him.

“Anyway, back on track, guys. You thinking Billy as the spearhead, you and Eddie flanking and me taking up the rear?” Steve tried to guide the conversation back to safer ground before they did something stupid like bond over having all manhandled him at some point.

“Yeah.” Tommy nodded, “Exactly.”

“That’s what I would have said.” Billy shrugged.

“Jock mindmeld.” Eddie shuddered, “Normally, a sign that conformity is alive and well, but right now? Might just save a life. I hate to say it boys, but sportsball might just save the day this time.”

“I’m telling everyone you said that.” Tommy grinned.

“That tripping you plan can still be enacted.”

#stranger things #eddie munson #billy hargrove #tommy h #steve harrington #harringrove #steddie #mungrove #harringroveson #stommy #is there a ship name for the four of them?#cause if I continue this i'm gonna need one #this was super fun to write #its the bitching for me

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dwobbitfromtheshire · 7 months

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Steve Harrington x Past Tommy headcanon, Steddie being the future (this isn't me trying to make an excuse for Tommy, but I'm just trying to fill in the blanks the Duffle bags left us with):

Don't get me wrong, I love it where Eddie is Steve’s queer awakening and all, but it's definitely used a lot. Not a complaint, just stating a fact. Come on, there definitely wasn't anything straight about his relationship with Tommy, and Carol was definitely Tommy's beard. At least, I think that Carol is Tommy's beard and a lesbian. Am I like the only one who thought they weren't that bad? I mean, yeah, they were assholes but to be fair, every teenager is one. I was a good kid who didn't make my dad worry so much, but even I could be such an asshole sometimes. The theater thing was over the line, but I can imagine they did that because they probably witnessed Steve crying. They're probably one of the only ones who saw Steve cry, and I think we probably would have gone to war if we saw Steve cry. And I think Tommy probably did it out of guilt.

I think Steve was with Tommy once, and maybe he thinks Tommy was a special case. Maybe he had hoped that Tommy would stop being an asshole and that's why it didn't work. Maybe that's why Tommy basically called him a coward. Maybe he walked away from Tommy more than once. I mean, he did get onto Tommy when he said something shitty. Why do people think that he didn't try to ever stop Tommy? He never joined in on when they talked shit. He got onto Tommy for saying shit about Jonathan. I think the theater was the only time he didn't ever try, and the only time he talked shit about Jonathan was because he was angry and hurt. Shit, maybe he wasn't just thinking about his parents when he saw Nancy with Jonathan? Maybe he was thinking about that time he walked in on Tommy having sex with Carol because they were trying to see if they were interested in the opposite sex. They weren't, but Steve didn't know that because he walked away. He also stayed because Tommy was his oldest friend. He walked away for the last time, and Tommy, heartbroken, befriended Billy, hoping to make Steve jealous.

Steve didn't tell Robin, not only because it hurt too much, because it wasn't just his secret to tell. He didn't think he could ever fall for another guy again. He knows he's attracted to them, but he didn't think he could love another one until Eddie came along. And when Eddie was lying prone in the hospital, Steve brought Robin to the bathroom and told her everything. She was another person who saw him cry.

I don't know. People don't give Steve enough credit for walking from Tommy and Carol. I mean, just because they were assholes, their friendship doesn't mean anything. . .it doesn't mean anything that Steve walked away from a shitty situation? Most adults can't do what Steve did. Just the facts.

#stranger things #stranger things s4 #stranger things s1 #steve harrington #steve harrington s1 #tommy hagan stranger things #tommy h #past steve x tommy #stommy #bisexual steve harrington #bisexual awareness #platonic stobin #steddie #pre steddie #eddie munson #eddie munson lives #steve x eddie #stranger things headcanon

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guessthestrangers · 2 years

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Dating Billy Hargrove hc Part 1

Billy Hargrove x f!henderson!reader

Part 2 is up!!!!

warnings: mentions of anxiety, reader gets hurt by accident, Billy being protective, almost swearing

Note: If you don’t have anything ok to say about this character please scroll past this. (I don’t own stranger things or any characters you know the drill).

I’m going on a 7 hour flight rn so pleasee give me feedback or requests!! Thanks strangerssss

-him being super duper protective of you, but in a way that made you feel safe and comfortable

-he never EVER does anything that could hurt you

-he reassures you all the time when you’re anxious or worried

-he lets you squeeze his hand as hard as you want when you’re nervous

-he supports you when you need it

-but he HATES your longtime friendship with Steve ‘The Hair’ Harrington

-he finds it cute that you have such an amazing bond with the party

-considering you’re Dustin’s sister— he was actually really surprised

-when you met, he was SURE you were his age

-even though you have curls like your bro (let’s assume), you don’t look alike that much

-Dustin being like ‘wHAT. Not hIM anyone but HIm. why don’t you DATE STEVE INSTEAD.’ when he finds out

-even though he’s all bad boy ‘I dont care about the consequences’ at school, he freaking melts and becomes a lil cinnamon bun around you which you pride yourself on cuz you won’t see him going soft for someone like Carol :)

-you’re complete opposites in personality though

-it’s why he calls you angel

-and why he’s so protective

-“Don’t toUCh MY angel!” He would bark at anyone who comes too close

-A real Slytherpuff relationship, who’s who?

-When he first comes to school on his first day at Hawkins high

-He sees you with your friends

-and ksajdbsksn you had about a gazillion things in your arms (like you always do)

(-sometimes your friends jokingly makes fun of you for it-

-and Billy would go in protective mode even if they’re your friends

-“Whadjusay ‘bout Angel?”

-“They’re just kidding, baby”

-He glares at them but makes an effort to show them that he’s a good boyfriend to you always)

-You were making your way to math with your friends when he bumped into you, when you were trying to avoid the figure that was moving way to harshly with Tommy H. and Carol.

-you hadn’t really payed attention to him or seen his face yet

-But you could freaking tell that he would cause some trouble in this town

-and your first instinct was to stay away from him

-and even though it was his fault you now had a gash on your right forearm and dropped more than half of your things on the floor, you apologized. Because that’s what ya do

-But Billy—

-oh, Billy Boy—

-he freaked the heck out

-not only because he hurt you, but because he knew— just knew— that you were going to be someone meaningful to him.

-“I’m so sorry! Let me help you with that!” Billy rushes out, helping you pick up your things. (Tommy being like shutt up Billy)

-“oh, shi—“ you start saying, before a teacher comes and is starting to lead you too the nurse’s, despite your many protests if you saying you were fine and that you’d survive a cut and that you could rince it off in the bathroom

-Billy followed right behind

-apologizing profusely

-but not so loud that others could hear

-more out of habit

-because kjdjsdkbfddx the boy had a reputation to hold up

-and little did he know that later on—after getting to know you— he wouldn’t even care if he cried in front of everyone for you

-because the minute you started telling him about yourself or what your passions are or literally anything related to you

-he’d start falling

-he’d fall in love so darn hard

-that he was amazed that you fell just as hard as he did

(part 2?)

#billy hargrove #billy stranger things #billy hargrove x reader #stranger things #stranger things season 3 #stranger things season 2 #soft!billy hargrove #tommy h #henderson!reader #billy hargove imagine #billy hargrove x f!reader #Billy #guess the strangers #billy hargrove hc #billy hargrove headcannon

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raven-sapphire · 4 months

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Tommy: Is this mistletoe?

Steve: Uh, no, no, that is basil.

Tommy: Too bad cause if it was mistletoe I was gonna kiss you.

Steve: Yeah, no, it’s still basil.

#i had to write this #i love stommy as a ship but this is too funny #stommy #kinda #steve harrington #tommy hagan #tommy h #stranger things #stranger things incorrect quotes

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c0bblenygma · 2 years

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There you go Tomgrove Nation!

Chester finally posted this photo with Dacre on his Instagram 🧡

#chester rushing #dacre montgomery #I thought he wasn’t gonna post this one #bless him #tomgrove #tommy h #billy hargrove

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lokidokieokie · 19 days

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Meetings and....Greetings?

The days passed in a whirlwind of deadlines and meetings, each one bringing you closer to the inevitable confrontation with Tom. Despite your best efforts to push aside your feelings of hurt and betrayal, they continued to linger beneath the surface. A constant reminder of your past.

As you sat at your desk, typing away on your computer, the familiar ding of an email notification pops up on your screen. It's from Audrey, with the subject line "Meeting with Tom".

Your heart skips a beat as you open the email, your hands trembling slightly. Audrey had scheduled a meeting between you and Tom to discuss the details of the exposé. You knew this day would come, but you never imagined it would be so soon.

Taking a deep breath, you gather your thoughts and make your way to the meeting room. The air feels heavy with anticipation as you step inside, your eyes immediately drawn to Tom sitting at the far end of the table.

As your gaze meets his, a wave of resentment washes over you, your memories of the past flooding back with painful clarity. You can feel the weight of his accusing gaze on you, his eyes boring into your own soul with a mixture of anger, hurt, and disgust.

For a moment, neither of you says anything, the tension in the room thick enough to cut with a knife. You can see the conflict reflected in Tom's eyes, his jaw clenched tight as he struggles to maintain his composure.

Audrey clears her throat, breaking the silence and drawing your attention away from Tom. "Ella, Tom, thank you both for coming on such short notice," she says, her voice cheerful but tinged with a hint of tension. "Let's get started, shall we?"

As Audrey begins to outline the details of the exposé, you and Tom exchange polite nods, but the tension between you is palpable. As the discussion progresses, you find yourselves disagreeing on several key points, your voices growing more strained with each passing moment.

"I think the main focus should be on Tom's career trajectory," you say, your tone firm. "His rise to fame, the challenges he's faced along the way, the whole shebang."

Tom shakes his head, his expression stubborn. "I completely disagree. Every single celebrity has to face many of the same challenges. I want to promote how fame impacts the individual. How it affects relationships, my sense of self. That it's not all it's thought to be."

You bristle at his words, feeling a surge of anger rising within you. "That's not anywhere near what we discussed or agreed upon," you snap, your voice sharp. "We discussed that we would tell your story; the average British man to Marvel star. We never agreed to air your dirty laundry."

Tom's jaw tightens, his eyes flashing with irritation. "My personal life is a part of my story, whether you like it or not. I'm not here to share a story that the average gossip-starting journalist could offer. "

As the discussion drags on, the atmosphere in the room grows increasingly hostile. You and Tom trade barbs and accusations, each one more cutting than the last. Despite your best efforts to remain professional, it's clear that the wounds of the past are still raw and unhealed.

Finally, after what feels like an eternity, Audrey interrupts the heated exchanged. "Alright, that's enough," she says, her voice firm. "Clearly, we're not going to reach a resolution today. Let's reconvene tomorrow and try to find some common ground."

You and Tom exchange tense nods, a silent acknowledgement of the unresolved tension that still lingered between you both. As you leave the meeting room, you can't help but feel a sense of exhaustion wash over you. Despite your best efforts to move forward, you knew that the road ahead would be filled with obstacles. The main obstacle being the one and only Thomas William Hiddleston.

A/N I've finally updated, woop woop 💃

Very sorry for not updating, I've just been extremely lazy.

Anyways, more updates to come hopefully 🥰

🏷️ @km-ffluv @huntress-artemiss @goddessofchaoss @asgards-princess-of-mischief lemme know if you want to be added or removed :)

#tom hiddleston #tom hiddleston fanfic #tom hiddleston x reader #tommy h #hiddleston #hiddlestoner #tom hiddleston rpf #rpf #british rpf #tom hiddleston fanfiction

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anarcoqueer1994 · 1 year

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Some angst with Steddie fluff.

TW use of homophobic slurs

When Steve was 13, he realized that he may be into other boys. Sure, he thought plenty of girls in his 7th grade class were pretty, but he couldn't help that he also thought some of the boys were pretty, and he may even have a crush on one, namely Tommy.

Tommy had been his best friend for years, it made sense. Their dads were business associates and they were often stuck going to the same stuffy events. They just ended up spending a lot of time together.

The summer between 7th and 8th grade, they spent nearly everyday together, playing basketball, running around town, and just trying to past the time on those long hot days. One day in particular stands out in Steve’s mind. They were sitting by Steve's pool, drying off in the sun. Even at that age, Steve's parents began leaving him home alone, gone for days at a time, not even bothering with a nanny anymore. Needless to say, they were there by themselves.

He doesn't remember how exactly the topic came up, but he does remember asking Tommy. "Hey, do you think it's like possible to like boys and girls?" He was trying gage his reaction, playing dumb.

Tommy looks confused, but not...angry. "Yea, I mean, I guess. Why?"

Steve hesitates, still nervous but reminds himself that Tommy is his best friend. "I don’t know. I mean, like I kissed Tina R. last year at the Snowball and that was great. But I've been thinking about kissing boys too." He quickly looks away, afraid to meet the other boy's face.

After what seems like an eternity, Tommy responds, "That makes sense, I guess. I thought about kissing a boy before, you know..." He pauses, "Just to see how it feels."

Steve risks eye contact. "Really?"

"Uh, yeah." Tommy fidgets nervously.

A burst of bravery comes over Steve as he scoots a little closer to his friend. "Do you want to, um, maybe try it then?" Steve holds his breath once the words leave his mouth, bravery leaving him.

But Tommy nods and starts leaning in, and before Steve knew what was happening, his lips were against Tommy's. The kiss was chaste and awkward, but Steve loved it. When they pull apart, he can't help but smile.

Tommy, though, suddenly stands up, panic covering his face. "I gotta go."

"Wait...please..." Steve tries but Tommy is already running out of his backyard, leaving Steve alone.

After that, they don't talk about it. Steve tried once, only for Tommy to say "Look man, I'm not some faggot. I'm sorry you came onto me, but I'm just not like you. And if I were you, I would keep this whole thing to yourself. Try being normal. Wouldn't want your old man finding out."

And that feels like a knife in Steve’s chest, he knows what he saw, he knows Tommy wanted to kiss him too. But he just nods, never mentioning it again.

Tommy starts dating Carol the following year, and Steve takes his advice. He tries being "normal." He becomes the stereotypical high school popular boy, good with the girls, and no one knew his secret.

Even today he keeps his secret from all but Robin. He had a word for it now, bisexual, but that doesn't mean he goes out announcing it. He liked guys and girls, though is crush on Tommy had long since disappeared. But he does like someone new, Eddie.

He'd first realized he liked Eddie after they had saved the world together. He still remembers the terrified feeling in his chest as he ran with Eddie’s body out of the Upside-Down, praying to whoever might be listening to save him. And he made it, and Steve couldn't be more thankful.

Now, Eddie has become a permanent fixture in his life, often hanging out with the larger group. Sometimes, they even hang out alone. Steve likes those times a lot. Eddie makes him feel comfortable, like he can be himself, well for the most part. He still isn’t ready to tell him he is bisexual, and he definitely is not ready for the heartbreak of telling he likes him. He isn’t even sure Eddie likes guys, let alone him.

Tonight, is one of those times where they are alone. It is a few days before Thanksgiving. Steve and Eddie are at the only diner left in town, grabbing a bite to eat before going to a movie. Everyone else was busy. Steve doesn’t know when they started doing it, but when it is the two of them, they find themselves squeezed together on the same side of the booth. Eddie insists it’s so Steve can hear him better. Steve won’t admit it, but the various head injuries have started to affect his hearing, and Eddie seemed to be the only one who noticed. Steve just likes being close to Eddie. Their heads were close together, laughing over something Steve said.

“Steve.” A voice behind them calls out, its Tommy. He must be back in town for the holiday, home from college. Steve instinctively grates his teeth as he walks up, arm wrapped around Carol’s waist. “How’s it been, man?”

“What do you want, Tommy?” Steve says, not hiding his annoyance. It’s not like they hung out sense that fight in the parking lot, only talking to Steve to fuck with him.

“We’re adults now, can’t we just put that stuff in the past and catch up?” He puts on a condescending smile before scooting into the booth across from them, Carol following behind. She quietly adds “Hi, Steve.”

Steve only glares at him, ignoring Carol. Before he can say anything, Tommy gets a look at who is sitting beside him. “Eddie Munson?”

Eddie not phased, just gives a cocky grin “In the flesh…”

“Wow, how the mighty have fallen.” He laughs towards Steve. “I had to see if the rumors were true, some of the guys told me you were hanging out with the town freak, and I guess you were.”

Steve sees anger flash in front of his eyes, pissed off that Tommy thinks he can come in here and just treat his friends like that. He doesn’t even give Eddie the chance to defend himself. “You better watch your fucking mouth.” His voice in angry, a shakiness to it like he is about to lose control.

“Or what? You going to fight me? You didn’t last time, and I doubt you can now. All I am doing is telling the truth. He’s a freak.” He smirks. Steve balls his fists at his side.

He is about to stand up, ready to make his way across the table and kick Tommy’s ass, when he feels a hand on his thigh. Eddie softly says “It’s okay, Stevie. Let’s just get out of here.” Steve takes a deep breath, before nodding, beginning to walk away when Tommy opens his mouth again.

“Listen to your boyfriend, Stevie!” Tommy mocks as they are halfway to the door. “I’m glad you found yourself another faggot to hang out with!” The restaurant is quiet now staring between the boys now. Steve is so focused on Tommy, he does not even notice the panic look in Eddie’s eyes when Tommy said those words.

Suddenly the conversation from years before plays in Steve’s head, and he feels stupid for ever liking the other man. He doesn’t know what comes over him but before he can think better of it, he looks Tommy in the face and says, “I may be a faggot but at least I’m not an asshole!” He raise his voice even louder, making sure everyone can hear him. “And just for the record, everyone, Tommy let the faggot kiss him.” Steve smiles, ready self-destruct and pull everyone down with him. Eddie stands behind him mouth ajar, not sure what to say or do.

Tommy is fuming, and before anyone registers what is happening, he lunges at Steve, knocking him the floor and landing punch after punch to his face. Steve was unable to react in time, knowing he’s not the best fighter. He does get a good few punches in, landing one that cracks the bone in Tommy’s nose. In the background he can hear Carol screaming stop, and it isn’t until Eddie knocks Tommy off of him that he is able to get up. He walks out of diner, bloodied face, without a word. Eddie follows close behind. In the distance they can hear police sirens.

They get to Steve’s car, where much to Eddie’s surprise he gets into the passenger seat. “I’m not feeling too good, Eds…” He says softly. “Can you please just get us out of here?”

Eddie nods, taking the keys and driving them back to his trailer. Neither of them saying much, but Eddie periodically looking at Steve to make sure he is alright and still conscious.

It isn’t until they pull up to Eddie’s home that Steve says, “I’m…I’m sorry.”

“What? Why?” Eddie is confused, he has nothing to apologize for.

“For Tommy… and for pulling you into all that bullshit. I don’t want to make things harder for you…you know since my grand announcement inside the restaurant. It’s a small town, I’m sure word will spread.” He laughs sadly to himself. “Steve Harrington, into dudes. I’m sure my dad is going to be happy with that one. What I am saying is I would get if it’s easier for you not to be seen with me.” It hurts to say, not wanting to lose Eddie, even as a friend but he would get it. He looks down.

“Steve, the last thing I want to do is stop hanging out with you. What you did in there, standing up to Tommy, was pretty metal. Even if you got your ass kicked.” He laughs, but his eyes are kind.

Steve hides his face in his hands “Ugh thanks for reminding me.” Steve says, embarrassed.

“That’s not the point I am trying to make. I just think it’s cool how you were able to be open, even if not the best circumstances.” He pauses. “I wish I could do that.”

Now it is Steve’s turn to look at Eddie confused. Even with the bloody nose and black eye, Eddie still thinks he is the prettiest person he knows. “What do you mean? You are one of the most unapologetically you person I know, Eddie. You don’t have all that fake bullshit everyone else has. You’re just you….and I love that about you.” He voice shifts, sounding shyer.

“Being a freak is easy.” Eddie jokes, Steve cringes at the word that he himself used to describe Eddie months earlier. “But um, I’m not ready to come out…like you did. When Tommy called us…you know, I just assumed he was only calling you that because you were hanging out with me. To be honest, I was terrified that someone saw through me, knew I was one.”

Steve is not used to the lack of confidence in Eddie’s voice. He tries not think about what this confession could mean for them, tries not to get his hopes up, focuses on helping Eddie instead. “You don’t owe anyone in this town shit. Eds, if you aren’t ready to have a pride parade in the middle Hawkins, that’s fine. You could find a boyfriend, get married and live happily ever after and it still wouldn’t be anyone’s business if you don’t want it to be. It can be our secret.” Steve puts his hand on Eddie’s shoulder, squeezing gently.

“Thanks, sweetheart…” Suddenly Eddie’s face is bright red, realizing what he just said. He calls Steve little nicknames all the time, but never in serious moments, and never so sincerely. Eddie expects him to freak out. Sure, Steve just said he liked guys, but that doesn’t mean he like him.

But Steve smiles, moving his hand from Eddie’s shoulder to the small of his neck, shifting in his seat so he is staring into Eddie’s eyes. “Can…can you call me that again?”

Eddie can’t believe this is happening, but he goes with it. “Sweetheart…” he puts his hand on Steve’s thigh, leaning closer. “Can…can I kiss you?”

And Steve gives him the prettiest smile he has ever seen, loving the way his nose scrunches when he smiles too big. Its adorable and Eddie has been hooked since the first time he saw it. Steve leans closer in response, resting his forehead against Eddie’s. Steve is inches away from his lips when he says “Only if you promise me you won’t run away from me after…” Steve doesn’t think he could handle someone…Eddie, changing his mind on him.”

“Oh princess, I could never.” Eddie says in breathy voice, desperate for Steve.

Steve’s face tinges pink at the sweet name, but he doesn’t hate it. Instead, he closes the gap between them, lips connecting with Eddie’s, his hands twist in the other man’s hair, the kiss is desperate and needy and everything Steve wanted.

When they break apart for air, Steve notices that he got some of his blood on Eddie’s face. “Oh god, Eds…I’m so sorry.”

Eddie just laughs before pulling Steve close. “Doesn’t bother me…” Before connecting their lips again.

#stranger things fanfiction #stranger things #steddie #steve harrington is baby girl #steve harrington #eddie munson #steddie ficlet #tommy h #tommy hagen #carol #tommy is an asshole

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