#//anyways enough rambling i will have more steve soon

[stevieschrodinger]

Part One

Baker Steve and Rock Star Eddie wrong number AU

Part two

"Steve! You have no idea!" Eddie's laughing, and that always makes Steve laugh, too. He's clearly a little tipsy. "Everyone went mad for the cake! It's was just, gone! Here, I'll send you some pictures!"

"I know what it looked like Eds," but Steve's grinning, knowing he's talking to empty air, can hear Eddie very vaguely mumbling to himself as he looks through his camera roll. Next to Steve' ear, his phone vibrates several times.

"Anyway, Stevie, I was thinking," Eddie's back now, still clearly tipsy but sounding uncharacteristically sheepish, "it's Christmas kind of soon right? Going to need a cake or two there. New year. Easter. Birthdays and bar mitzvahs and...and... independence day...so I was thinking I should get my orders in now, you know? Avoid disappointment."

"Eddie," Steve starts, finds himself turning shy himself, "you don't have to have a cake on order just to talk to me."

"I, ah, don't?"

"No, I mean, pretty sure we're friends, right?"

"Friends," Eddie starts slowly, "there's, like, lots of different kinds of friends."

"Sure, sure," Steve agrees easily, butterflies running rampant in his stomach, "there's even, kind of, more than friends, really."

"That sounds really really great-"

"Eddie!" There's a cacophony in the background, people shouting, "man, you're missing your own party-"

The line goes dead, and Steve's left standing in the dim light of the evening, just staring at tomorrow's cake order where it's cooling on the racks. A minute later, his phone buzzes in his hand, "so sorry baby, talk tomorrow."

Steve smiles at his phone. He had gone a little quiet after finding out who Eddie really is. It had kind of surprised him. But then Eddie had text him, "did I do something? 😞" and Steve realised Eddie's entitled to his privacy, the same as anyone.

"Hey Stevie, how's your day?"

Steve has Eddie on speaker phone as he mixes batter, "pretty good so far, you? You hungover?"

"No, no, didn't get that wasted, too old for that nonsense now, you know?"

Steve laughs, "aren't you like, 25?"

"I mean, maybe. Definitely old enough to, like, think about settling down, you know?"

Steve's breath catches in his throat, excitement and nerves after their interrupted conversation last night, "yeah, you, thinking about that? With, uhm, someone?"

"Yeah, I am, it's just..." Steve's heart sinks in his chest," my job, you know, I travel a lot, and that would be a sacrifice for anyone, and I couldn't ask someone to live with that, you know?"

"Well...what if it wasn't? What if they just...went with you?"

"What if...this person...had a job they loved? Their own business they worked hard for?"

"Yeah," Steve agrees slowly, "but what if...well, take me for example. I love to bake, but I don't love my business. That's just a means to an end, you know? I don't always love the orders, I'd choose to make something else if I was doing it for fun. So if it were me, i'd give it up in a heartbeat as long as I can keep baking."

"Yeah? You mean it?"

"Yeah. Yeah Eddie, I mean it."

"I, I mean, sure. Good. Thanks. I mean, not thanks, I mean, good, that's great."

Steve grins at Eddie's ramblings.

"I'll be away though, soon, for a couple of months, like four months, so, maybe, we could keep talking and when, I mean, if you want, what I get back..."

"I'd like that." Steve fist pumps, silently celebrating. "You never actually told me what you do for work?". Steve's teasing him, but Eddie doesn't know that Steve knows so, Steve grins to himself and keeps his voice even.

"I ah, music?"

"Yeah, you have mentioned that before, but what about it?" Steve knows he's being a dick, he just can't help it though.

"I ah, travel, with the band," Eddie starts slowly, and that is technically not a lie, Steve thinks, "and I kind of, look after some of the instruments and...have a lot to do with the sound checks? Like I'm definitely always there, for every sound check, like, I have to be."

All of that is probably true, Steve thinks, and god bless Eddie for not wanting to actually lie to Steve.

"Oh right, and what's the band called?"

"Oh, they're like, heavy metal, you've definitely never heard of them."

After they get off the call, Steve laughs all afternoon.

[rogueddie]

Steve had been watching the kids play D&D with Robin. They were curled up on a beanbag together, almost painfully wrapped up together. It was so normal that no one batted an eye. And the two of them sitting in the corner to watch the kids play had also become routine enough that it was more unusual to find their corner empty.

Nothing about the afternoon, the day, or even the week, was in anyway odd or unusual. Steve had been feeling better, if anything. It showed too. Even Mike had pulled Dustin aside to ask what had him to much happier. But it was just the fact that everything was starting to look up- Max had taken a noticeable turn for the better, the cracks infection of Hawkins was increasingly slowing down and the amount of monsters had slowed down to the point that Steve didn’t even need to join the patrols.

All in all, Steve considered it a good month. What could possibly go wrong?

The room had started spinning so violently and so suddenly that he couldn’t hold in his confused, distressed noise. All heads in the room turned, just in time to see Steves eyes roll back, slumping back.

“Steve?!” Robin says, shaking him. She struggles to get up with most of him still wrapped around her, with how limp he’s suddenly gone. “Steve!”

Dustin is there in seconds, knees thudding to the floor next to them. “Steve! Oh, shit. Steve!”

“Has he just fainted?” Will asks, stepping forward with the others, hovering nearby. “Should we call an ambulance?”

“Check his pulse,” Mike suggests.

They’re all quiet, tense, watching Robins fingers shift on Steves neck.

“I can’t find it!” She sobs.

Dustin, who’d been checking his pulse via his wrist at the same time, yells, “no, I got it! It’s- shit, it’s faint.”

“Call for an ambulance,” Will tells Mike, already heading for the door. “I’m gonna get El!”

Dustin and Robin struggle, but eventually lift him enough for her to stand up. She insists he check for Steves pulse again, beginning to pace, pulling at her hair.

“Maybe it’s something to do with his head,” she continues to ramble. “I mean, he’s been hit a lot, that must have done some damage, right? And, like, I didn’t notice any lights flickering, but maybe he did and-”

“Robin!”

“Yes?”

“Not helping.”

“RIght. Sorry.” She’s quiet for a moment, continuing to pace, glancing towards the door. Mike can be heard talking on the phone. “But it’s gotta be something normal and easy to explain, right? It’s not like… it’s not like Vecna could have done this… right?”

But Dustin turns to her, slowly, frowning. “Maybe. It would explain why things might have suddenly gotten better. Vecna could still be weak, so a direct attack would take all his energy.”

They both turn, looking at Steve. But there’s nothing obviously wrong with him. He just looks… asleep.

“-in here!” Will is saying, rushing into the room, El hot on his heels.

El gently pushes Dustin aside, kneeling down beside Steve. She grabs his hand, quickly closing her eyes.

She stays there for a long time. Long enough that Mike comes back, warning them that the ambulance should be there any minute. Robin starts to pace again, whilst Will bites his nails. Dustin stays crouched beside El, staring at Steve like he’s tempted to try and jump inside his head alongside El.

“He is… not here.” She eventually says, opening her eyes.

“What does that mean?” Robin asks.

“He is not here,” El repeats. She looks as confused as everyone else. “His mind. It’s… not here.”

“You mean like… Max?” Will says.

“No…” El looks back to Steve. “Her mind is… empty. Hiding. He is gone.”

In the Upside Down, Steve wakes up.

His body doesn’t… feel right. He tries to stand up but, as soon as he tries, his legs wobble and he falls onto all fours… but…

Steve hesitates, looking down nervously. And, if the size of the world hadn’t given it away, the fluffy little paws he’s met with do. He tries to move his hands up, tries to tell himself that he’s just seeing things- but the paws move instead. The wrong feelings match up with the furry little body he’s in.

Panic bubbles up, so overwhelming that he gags. The noise he makes, though, only makes him panic more.

It takes him a long moment to realize that it’s him that’s yowling. It’s him making those sounds. It’s him… meowing.

“Woah, hey,” a soft voice coos. “How’d you get in here?”

Steve jumps around, hissing- but immediately stops. Because that’s…

“Eddie?” Steve tries to say. The meow he makes instead sounds curious.

Eddie smiles, awing at him. He crouches down, slowly extending a hand towards him. “Hi there, little guy. You got a mouth on you, huh? Heard you all the way from the trailer park. You must be pretty spooked. Did you fall in here?”

Steve stares at him, amused and annoyed. He huffs, sitting down, before pointedly tapping one of his paws on the floor. He still remembers the simple morse that Eddie had used to flash their SOS to Dustin… he’s pretty sure.

He barely gets two short taps done, before Eddie Is lifting him up. His hand curls under Steves belly, pulling him up to his chest. Steve yowls, annoyed- but Eddie shushes him. He glances behind him, which is when Steve realizes that he’s scared.

Then he hears the subtle sounds of movement. Something… stalking towards them.

Steve realizes, then, just how vulnerable he is like this. He’s tiny. He’s a fucking cat. If Eddie drops him, leaves him behind for whatever reason, he has no chance of survival.

“Woah, hey, hey,” Eddie whispers, startled, as Steve tries to worm his way inside Eddies jacket. He tugs it open though, curling an around around himself so Steve has some support. “That’s a good idea, you stay there, ok? Stay quiet, shh shh.”

Eddie is still, not moving or even breathing, for a long moment.

Eventually, he heaves a great sigh, gently prying Steve out from inside his jacket. He's careful to support him whilst holding him up for inspection, one hand around his chest and under his front... legs? But he has his other hand flat underneath him to sit on.

"You're so fluffy," Eddie mumbles, turning Steve around. "And clean. Where did you even come from?"

Steve grumbles, trying his hardest to glare.

It just makes Eddie laugh. "You're a fiesty little thing, aren't you?"

He pulls Steve closer, propping him up against his chest, starting to walk... deeper into the forest.

Steve tries to make his confusion clear, though he's not sure it works.

"It's ok, I have a little base set up at Harringtons place," Eddie explains, absentmindedly petting Steves head. "Not many vines there, so it's pretty safe."

Steve tries to wriggle around at the mention of his name, bringing a paw up to pat at Eddies chest, urgently.

"Hey, sh, it's ok," Eddie coos, stroking him from head to butt- Steve hates how much it does sooth him. "You're ok. I'll find you something to eat, ok? You're gonna be fine." Eddie glances down at him, humming. "I should name you, shouldn't I?"

Steve feels his ears droop. He's sure that Eddie will insist on giving him some D&D name, or some other nerd-

"Stevie," Eddie says, grinning at how quickly Steve perks up. "You're just like him, you know? Pretty, fluffy, soft... but also, a little bitchy."

Pretty?

"I shouldn't bore you with stories of old high school crushes though, should I, kitty?"

Steve meows, jumping up. He's too curious now.

Eddie laughs. "Alright, alright... but it's a long story! Don't say I didn't warn you. It starts in 83, he was a year below me..."

[spookysteddie]

The Very First Date

Modern!Steve Harrington x college!fem!reader

Part two to "lemon drop martini" ... Read part one here

18+ MINORS DNI

desc: you finally call Steve for that first date. And it goes better than you imagined

cw: alcohol mention (reader is not in the slightest drunk), slight Dom!Steve, cocky!Steve begging, pet names (baby, sweetheart, angel), unprotected sex, p in v, creampie. (let mw know if I missed anything)

wc: 2.8k

a/n: I hope y'all enjoy this! based off of this ask who asked me for a part two a while ago (I am so sorry). My writers block has lifted after like a year and here we are! So expect more fics soon!

...

Three days. 

You’d waited three days before calling the number on the napkin. 

Well that’s a lie. You actually called the number the next day (after eating a greasy meal, drinking a shit ton of water, and downing some aspirin… nothing like a hangover) from your roommate Alixs phone. But the second he answered, you hung up very fast. 

Alix, of course, called you a little baby back bitch and told you that you needed to call him. That it’d be nice to have some perks around your little college town. 

You rolled your eyes at the sentiment. 

To say you were nervous talking on the phone with him would be an understatement, in fact you were shitting myself. Scared he’d be able to hear it in your voice how nervous you were. Or, worse, that he wouldn’t remember you. 

Four days ago: 

“This is Steve Harrington speaking. How can I help you?”

You took a deep breath, putting a smile on your face in the hopes it’ll translate through the telephone.

“Hi, Steve. I-it’s y/n. From the bar the other night.” You cringe at the slight stutter and the wave in your voice. “You gave me your number on the napkin.” 

You can practically hear the smile in his voice, coolness seeping from his voice, “lemon drop martini girl. Of course I remember you, sweetheart.” 

You quietly sigh in relief that he remembers. 

“Oh good! I’m sorry for not calling sooner. I was a little hung over and then I had to study and take exams. Finals season.” You laugh awkwardly, cursing yourself for rambling and making a fool out of yourself. Alix would be rolling her eyes. 

Steve laughs on the other end of the line, “ah yes. I hated finals. Very frustrating. Hence why I dropped out, much to my fathers dislike.” 

One thing about you is that you love oversharing. But you love when other people overshare even more. There’s nothing like bonding over a trauma dump. 

You giggle into the phone which makes Steve giggle too, the sound mimicking a sweet song. All you want to make him do it again. 

“Anyway, sweetheart, I was wondering if you had plans for Friday night?” His tone is cool and relaxed. You could only wish to sound like that. 

Your heart pounds in your chest, words failing you for a moment. “Oh! Um, nothing actually.”

“Perfect. Hows ‘bout you and I go on a little date? I know a great place. Kinda fancy. What do you say?” 

You could kick your feet like a little girl at the prospect of going out with him. You, also, are tempted to make him wait. To give him just a little bit of a hard time. It was what you'd usually do to the men you like. But there was something in the back of your mind begging you not to. 

“I-I would like that, Steve.” 

“Great! I’ll pick you up at 7. Give you time to study and get ready. Take a nap even.” 

…

 “I can’t do this. I can’t go. I mean, fuck, I have nothing to wear.” 

Nothing to wear was an understatement. You could hardly see the floor of your bedroom, clothes littering it with only a small path for where you keep walking from the mirror to your closet. 

Alix sits on your bed, drinking some wine and eating some popcorn. “I liked the black leather. I don’t know why you won’t just wear that one. You look hot in it.” 

You slide your hands down the front of the blue, sequence dress you have on. “I just feel like that’s not enough. And isn’t it a little … short for a dress for a nice restaurant?” 

Alix shrugs, “I mean, probably but who cares. You look hot.” She sips her wine and says again, “well you look hot in everything.” 

You look over at her, “while that’s sweet, he’s going to be here in fifteen minutes and I need a few shots to calm my nerves so help me pick a dress, please.” 

She rolls her eyes at my dramatics, downing her wine. “I think you should wear the short black one you wore two weeks ago. Not the leather one, the velvet one. Makes your ass look great. Oh with your Louboutins! You spent a lot of money on them and have worn them once. It’s a sin.” 

One thing is for sure, you did spend a lot of money on them, charging them to your dads credit card. 

One change and two shots of vodka later, you were walkin down the steps of your condo to an awaiting Steve. He’s in dark jeans, a black t-shirt and a gray jacket. His hair is just as perfect as the last time you saw him. (which was via instagram… gotta do the research right?)

He whistles long and low as you approach, and in a quick stroke of confidence you decide to do a little spin. He claps slowly as you face him and so, you bow. Just slightly so you don’t accidentally flash him. Not the way you want to start this date. 

“Well hello to you too, Harrington,” you say as you smirk. 

He slips his hand in his pockets, a smirk on his lips that you feel right between your legs. “You look very pretty tonight, sweetheart. I mean you’d look pretty in a potato sac but,” he shrugs. “We should get going.” 

You smile and nod at him. 

And the bar is clearly in fuckin hell, because him opening the door for you makes you want to jump his bones. But then again, no man has ever opened a door for you so… we can let it slide. 

“Such a gentleman.” “Chivalry is not dead sweetheart.” 

… 

Steve is very thoughtful. Sure, he asked all the usual questions you ask on a first date. 

What’s your major?

Do you have any siblings?

What do your parents do for work?

Oh, your dad is in sales? Funny mine too.

He gives you guilt money? Mine too! Look at us 

He also, orders you and him a bottle of wine (he has great taste) but lets you order your own meal (again the bar is in fucking hell). The place he takes you to is nice and the food is the best food you’ve had since you left home after summer break. 

“So Steve, what made you decide to open up a bar in town?” You eat a spoonful of dessert, eyes never leaving his. 

He takes a spoonful of his own dessert. “I was sick of working for everyone else. I knew if I made a unique bar, something you and your friends have never seen, others would want to check it out. Then you’d tell all your friends, who’d tell their friends, etc.” He grins as he talks, keeping eye contact with you. 

It felt like a game of ‘who is going to look away first.’ A game you weren’t going to lose. Slowly, you pull the spoon out of your mouth, dipping it back in to your dessert. “Interesting. Great concept if you ask me.” 

He huffs a small laugh through his nose, “I’m glad you enjoyed my bar.” 

You scrunch your brows, the wine making you bold, “who said I enjoyed it?” 

Now he really laughs, “you seemed to really enjoy all those lemon drop martinis. So much so you had a hangover the next day. I tried giving you waters but you threatened to gut me.” 

Your jaw hangs open, “fibber.” 

“I haven’t been called a fibber since I was a kid,” he smiles. “But yes you did tell me you would gut me. And then you left and I thought I’d never hear from you again.” 

You can’t help but feel slightly guilty inside for not calling sooner. Well, you did call sooner but chickened out. 

“And here we are.” 

“Yes, here we are.” 

He seems to think for a moment, sipping his wine (one he ordered that would go well with the dessert. He was right.)

“Wanna get out of here, sweetheart?” He looks up at you through his lashes, tongue rolling down the inside of his cheek. 

He wasn't… demanding. You knew without a shadow of a doubt that you could turn him down. That he would take you home with a smile on his face. There would be no fuss, no fight, no name calling. No pressure. 

And for that very reason, with a smile on your pretty face you answer him, “yours or mine?” 

… 

You’re not even through the door of his apartment before his mouth is on yours, his large hands on your face. The kiss starts soft, testing the waters and it isn’t very long before you deepen it. Your tongues dance but there is no fight for dominance, you let him win. You want him to win. 

His lips trail over your jaw before slowly moving down your neck, gently nipping at your skin. 

“Such a pretty girl,” he says in between kisses. 

He sucks a bruise into your shoulder, easy to cover up, just in case. You let out a soft moan, hands coming up to tug at his hair. 

“You-you’re pretty too.” 

You can feel him grin against you, head lifting as his body cages you in, “I don’t think anyone has ever called me pretty. Well besides Eddie but that was mocking.” 

You laugh, moving in and kissing him slowly, sweetly, “you are a very pretty boy.” 

You can feel his hard dick jerk at the sentiment, and you keep it as a mental note. You know, just in case you need it. 

“Fuck, can’t say shit like that.” 

“No? Why not?” 

“Cause it makes my cock hard. And it’ll be very embarrassing if I cum in my pants. Can't ruin my reputation.” The smirk on his face makes you almost pass out. You swear to God you can feel every word in your core. 

“Hmmm, we can’t have that can we?” You push his jacket off his shoulders before running your hands down to the hem of his shirt. “Should take me to bed so we don’t risk you cumin’ early.” 

It’s all the permission he needs. His lips are back on yours, his hands under your ass and picking you up. You wrap your legs around his waist, hands in his hair as he carries you to the bed. 

He puts you down gently, his lips never leaving yours. Not for a moment. Not until he pulls away to tug his shirt over his head. You take the moment to take him in, his body lithe and toned.  You also can’t help noticing the scars on his side that look a little like bite marks. Bite marks from something that isn’t human, something you make a mental note to ask him about at a later date. 

“Sculpted from marble, god damn.” You don’t mean to say it out loud, never wanting to stroke a man's ego. 

Steve just grins as he finds the zipper on the side of your dress, pulling it down slowly down, his knuckles slowly touching your skin, leaving goosebumps in his wake. You shiver under the touch and he notices. You’re quickly learning that Steve notices everything.

It isn’t long before he’s pulling the dress down your body, leaving you in only your underwear. Underwear that barely covers you, a wet patch on full display. If it was anyone else, you’d be embarrassed. 

“Are you this wet for me?” His tone is mocking and he’s practically cooing at you, “go on. Answer me.” 

Your eyes widen. Men have been demanding in the bedroom, plenty of them thinking they’re little tough guys. But none of them get that from you, none of them deserving. You’re not sure why you want to give that to him. You’re not sure what makes him different. And honestly, that is a problem for future you to talk about in therapy. 

“Yes,” you reply, voice a little higher than usual. “S’all for you.” 

The smirk he gives you makes your heart speed up. “Such a sweet, pretty thing. God, I want to devour you.” 

His lips move to your chest, sucking a peaked nipple into his mouth. You can’t help but arch into his mouth, a small moan falling from your lips, his hand coming to play with your neglected breast. And it isn’t long before he swaps sides, his teeth nipping and sucking. 

“Please. More.” 

He laughs, moving to oblige you and kissing down your sternum before settling between your legs. “May I?” 

Him asking makes your heart stutter in your chest, “yes. God yes. Please.” 

Steve tugs your underwear down your legs, tossing them to meet the rest of the clothes on the floor. “I think I could get used to praying to me.” 

He doesn’t give you time to answer before he licks up your cunt, stopping at the top to suck on your clit. The moan that comes out of you is loud and you’re thankful the windows are closed. “Fuck, Steve!” 

He pushes a finger inside of you, curling them to reach the spongy spot inside you. “And you moaning my name is even better. Why don’t you do it again, angel” 

He pushes another finger inside you, the burn causing you to grip his hair. “Steve please!” 

“Please what, sweetheart?” 

He moves his fingers faster, continuing to hit your sweet spot over and over again. His mouth moves to your clit, sucking gently. He keeps his eyes on you, observing, listening to every sweet moan and sigh that comes out of you. He files them away in his brain so he never forgets what drives you crazy. 

“Need to… I-I need” 

He sucks hard before pulling back, “need what? Go on, use your words.” 

You gasp, “to cum. I- please.” 

Begging wasn’t what you did for men. If anything, they begged you. Begged you to let them cum. 

Steve doesn’t say a word, just grins and uses his free hand to press on your stomach. That is your undoing. “Steve!” You pulse around his fingers, breath getting caught in your chest. You feel warm all over, head emptying as he works you through it. 

“That’s it baby. That’s a good girl. Bet that feels so good doesn’t it?” 

You try to answer, you really do. But all you can manage is a small nod. 

“Gonna let me fuck you?” 

Again, you can only manage a nod. 

“That’s my girl.” 

And before you can even process his words, he flips you over on your stomach, hands pulling your hips in the air. You’re on full display for him. He can see everything. But you couldn't care less, all you want is him inside you. 

And you get your wish. He moves slow, making sure he doesn’t hurt you. He’s big and you can feel every inch of him stretching you. It’s a tight fit even with how wet you are. 

“Holy shit this pussy is amazing baby. Squeezing me so tight.” 

His other hand braces himself by your head before dropping down to his forearms. He’s so close to you now, inside and out, his hips moving slowly so you adjust to him, and his breath fanning across your face. 

“F-faster. Faster.” Your hands rake down his back, nails digging into his back, making him hiss. 

He snaps his hips faster, grinning down at you. “Just so needy huh?” 

You nod feverishly, “yes. F-feels so fucking good.” 

He laughs at you now, kisses you. “Such a dirty mouth, baby. Pretty girls aren’t supposed to swear.” 

“Says-says you… swear all the time. L-like a sailor.” 

He hums. “Dirty mouth for a dirty fuckin girl.” 

“That-that’s me.”

He fucks you faster and you feel like coil growing tighter and tighter inside you. You wrap your legs around his waist, not wanting him to get too far away. He groans and you can tell he’s close. 

“Want… no need you to cum inside me. I’ll d-die if you don’t,” you beg. You know you’ll probably regret it in the morning, all that you’ve said here in this bedroom. But at the moment you can’t find it inside you to care. Mainly because he was taking up every inch of you. 

“Yeah? Need it? I’ll give it to you baby. Will give you anything you want.” 

And it’s all you need to fall over the edge, walls clenching around him so hard he falls with you. A mutual “fuck!” falls from both your and his lips. 

You're both panting as you come down from the high. He pushes your hair out of your face and kisses you sweetly. Suddenly Steve is giggling, his head falling into the crook of your neck.

“What? Why are you laughing?” you ask with just a little bit of worry. 

“I am so fucking glad you ordered a lemon drop martini.”

[dwobbitfromtheshire]

I expanded on this.

The gate to hell was closed, and Vecna was dead. Unfortunately, Max and Eddie were still in a coma. Things were starting to change in Hawkins, and for a lot of people, it was a welcome change. . .for the more conservative, however, it was almost like the end of the world. While Max and Eddie slept, several people packed up and left the town they no longer believed was safe. They simply refused to believe that Eddie wasn't the killer or that he wasn't possessed by Satan.

In their place, freaks like Eddie started moving into their homes. It was metalheads who wanted to support their fellow comrades, and it was nerds who wanted to know that people like them no longer had people coming after him. It was also people like Eddie, people like Robin, and people like Steve who came to support someone who they felt like he was one of their own even though they had no way of knowing. Soon, it became a safe place for metalheads, nerds, and for the queer folk. It became such a safe place for them that Robin, Steve, and Will felt comfortable enough to come out to the party.

The only downside were the conspiracy theorists that followed everyone else and the insane people who believed that they were in love with Eddie. The overwhelming number of people who moved into Hawkins became too much, even if they meant well, even if they wanted to show support for Eddie. They needed more people on the police force, which meant bringing Hopper in back as Chief, something Powell had been grateful for.

"I still can't believe it," Robin rambled as she stacked videotapes. "Who knew that Vecna tearing a hole in the middle of Hawkins would lead it to becoming, like San Franciso?"

"Yeah, did you know the Hideout is basically a gay bar now?" Steve asked.

"What?! No!" Robin shrieked as she dropped a tape and then she narrowed her eyes. "Wait. . .how do you know? . . . Steve Muriel Harrington, did you go and have a one-night stand?"

"Shut up, I should have never told you my middle name. I couldn't sleep, okay?" Steve blushed.

"Okay, so, how much did this guy look like Eddie?" Robin asked.

"Not at all," Steve scoffed. "Okay, a little bit . . . a lot! He looked a lot like Eddie, but he was mean. I know that Eddie could be an asshole, but he was too mean. . . too rude to the bartender who was serving him drinks. It made me feel good about giving him a fake number and a fake name."

"So, how often did you call him Eddie while you were pounding away inside of him?" Robin said.

"You ever think we should consider the whole boundary thing that Nancy says we should have?" Steve asked.

"Okay, so several times then," Robin grinned. "Nance is joking because where is the fun in having boundaries?"

"By the way, there was no . . . um, you know. . .," Steve said, blushing.

"Penetration?" she asked.

"Nope," Steve replied.

"You're hoping to save that for Eddie, aren't you?" Robin asked, grinning and then looked at him softly. "He's going to wake up, you know. So is Max. Being possessed by an evil wizard takes a lot out of people. It has to. They just need to rest."

"I know," he said.

The bell above the door rang, and Vickie burst through, her face shining in excitement. She ran towards Robin and didn't skid to a stop in time, causing the tapes in Robin's arms to spill onto the floor.

"Sorry," Vickie squeaked.

"It's not a problem. I've done worse," Robin said with a wide grin, her eyes as shiny as Vickie's face.

"I got asked out by a woman! Though she wasn't the one that I wanted to ask me out or the one that I wanted to ask out, actually. Though she was hot, and I definitely have a thing for women with pretty blue eyes," Vickie rambled. "Anyway, after I rejected her, but I did it very nicely, I came here because I wanted to ask you out. I understand if you don't want to. I totally would get through it because I'd want you in my life no matter what. Yeah, right, I actually have to ask you out. Will you go out with me?"

They were still kneeling on the floor in the middle of a bunch of video tapes. Robin stared at her for a moment before grinning.

"Yeah, I would love to!" Robin exclaimed.

"Great!" Vickie exclaimed and surged forward to kiss her.

The kiss was quick, and she broke it to help Robin pick up the tapes. Vickie mumbled something about heading to work and kissed Robin again before rushing out the door. Robin gaped at the door before turning to Steve, who's mouth was also opened. They moved towards each other at the same time. They screamed and started jumping at the same time. Steve hugged Robin tightly. She pulled back and placed her hands on his shoulders.

"Don't worry, Steve. If it happened for me then it's going to happen for you," Robin said. "That's how platonic soulmates work, right?"

"Duh," Steve rolled his eyes affectionately.

The bell above the door rang, and they turned their heads at the same time. Hopper walked in. Steve frowned. Was he really expecting Eddie to walk in and ask him out?

"Am I interrupting something?" Hopper asked.

"Vickie asked me out!" Robin blurted out.

"She the girl you kept going on about?" Hopper asked.

"Yeah," she said dreamily.

"I'm happy for you. You know, uh, that Gareth kid asked out Will," Hopper replied.

"Gareth and Will? I didn't even know they were friends," Steve said in surprise.

"Yeah, Gareth was upset about Eddie, sitting by his beside. Will was volunteering as usual and he comforted him," Hopper said.

"Will is such a precious angel," Robin said fondly.

"Yeah," Hopper said, a proud look on his face.

"Aw, proud dad," Robin said.

"Isn't Gareth a little bit older?" Steve asked.

"Only by two years," Hopper scoffed. "I like the guy. He's pretty respectful of Will and the three inches rule so I'll allow it for now."

"As long as it's not Mike, right?" Steve asked with a grin.

"Hey, I like the guy as long as none of my kids are dating him," Hopper said. "Which thankfully none are. I actually came here to talk to you, Steve."

"Look, I think of you like a dad and I like Joyce too much so I'm going to have to turn you down," Steve quipped and Robin snorted with laughter.

"Don't make me shoot you, kid," Hopper said, the corners of his mouth twitching. "I'd hate to kill a potential deputy."

"What?!" Steve and Robin asked.

"Look, as you know, we're kind of overrun over there even with Owens providing some agents as deputies," Hopper said. "I know you don't trust anyone of those goons, neither do I but we need the help and I kind of need to someone else that I trust around there. I know you guys have a thing about cops too but sometimes the best thing is to fix it from the inside, and I trust what you have to say. You're a good kid, with good instincts, and I think you would make a good cop. Just think about it."

"Well, then we wouldn't be working together," Robin said with wide eyes.

"You're welcome to help out around the station part time, kid. I'd hate to break up the set," Hopper said. "Your mom told me you were looking for a second job. What do you call each other again? Oh, yeah. Platonic soulmates."

"Platonic with a capital P!" they said, leaning their heads together.

"Let me confer with my soulmate for a moment," Robin said.

They moved to the back to the store and pressed their foreheads together, whispering. It was only a couple of minutes later before they were back again.

"We'll take the job!" Robin and Steve exclaimed.

Now, here they were several weeks later, and Steve had settled into his role as a deputy pretty well. It was hard work and a pretty good distraction from the fact that Eddie, as well as Max, wasn't awake. Now that school had let out for the summer and Robin had graduated, she was now working part-time at the station. The crowd outside the hospital was still sitting in wait for the day their lord and savior, Eddie Munson would awaken. Some days, they were quiet and settled. Other days, they grew quite rowdy, and there are more days now where they were restless. Hopper swore they would get bored eventually, and it wasn't like they were violent. . .well, aside from a rare few. So far, they were just eager to know that one of their own was okay, which Steve thought was kind of sweet. Steve was filling out paperwork at his desk, ignoring the balls of paper Robin was throwing at him, when Hopper came barreling out of his office looking pale.

"Chief?" Steve asked.

"They're awake," Hopper said.

Steve didn't hesitate to follow Hopper out the door, and Robin followed quickly behind him. They went to see Max first, and they her sitting up slightly, her new glasses on her face. Lucas, El, and Susan surrounded her bed.

"Did I miss anything?" Max asked and then grinned. "Ew, Steve, are you a cop? Disgusting."

"I'll forgive you for that, but so you know, once you are up and moving around, I'll have something to say," Steve said. "I might even get a lawyer because I believe that's slander, Mayfield."

"If your lawyer is Dustin, he's not going to do well against Nancy," Max laughed.

"Ooh, your lawyer is Nancy? Yeah, Dustin's toast," Robin said.

"You make a good cop, Steve," Max said softly. "If anyone can make those lazy cops get off their asses, it's you. You're an example of what a good cop should be, Steve."

"Thanks, Max," Steve said, looking touched. "Glad you're awake, kid."

"So, I have to ask. . .the full grown mustache. . . Are you trying to look like Hopper?" Max asked.

"What? No?!" Steve exclaimed.

"He does think of Hopper like a dad," Robin pointed out.

"Aww, Steve, do you want Hopper to be your dad?" Max teased.

"Leaving now," Steve said, rolling his eyes.

He made it to Eddie's room and stood in front of it. He was trembling in excitement, but he was also nervous. Before he became a cop, he was here almost every day holding his hand. In that time, he got to know Wayne and Eddie's friends. He also got to know Eddie some more from the stories they told. They were weary about him at first, but once they saw how much he cared, they accepted him easily. Once Steve got them talking about Eddie, they couldn't shut up. Steve took a deep breath and calmed his nerves. He pushed open the door and strolled in. The members of Hellfire and Corrded Coffin had surrounded Eddie's beside. Wayne wouldn't be there yet, seeing as he was stuck at work. Calling him had been the first thing he had done when he got to the hospital. Eddie was sitting up, grinning, and then he spotted Steve. Eddie frowned in confusion.

"Harrington! You've been working so hard we were starting to forget what you looked like," Jeff said. "Damn, baby, you fill out that uniform good."

Jeff started wolf whistling, and the other boys soon followed.

"Alright! Cut it out!" Steve laughed. "What did I say about flirting with me to get my grandmother's brownie recipe, Jeffrey?"

"To keep doing it," Jeff grinned.

"No, no, I did not say that besides, I know I'm not your type," Steve laughed.

"What? Since when is a man with good hair and meaty thighs not my type?" Jeff cackled.

"Argyle doesn't have a problem with it?" Steve asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Please, Argyle doesn't have a jealous bone in his body. Besides, so far, it's just sex," he grinned. "Really good sex."

"Wait. . .so, Steve knows about you? You're flirting with Steve. . .wait, are you friends with my friends?" Eddie asked.

"Actually, they're my friends now, too, Eddie. We share custody," Steve said proudly.

"Aw, Dad, we finally have a mother, and he makes the best brownies," Gareth said, leaning heavily onto Steve’s shoulder.

"Fuck off, Emerson," Steve laughed.

"By the way, since when are you a cop?" Eddie asked.

"Things around here have gotten a bit overwhelmed since you've been asleep," Steve shrugged.

"Yeah, Hawkins has gotten a lot more interesting since you decided to be lazy, Munson," Frankie said.

"It's very, very good," Gareth grinned.

"What the hell does that mean?" Eddie asked.

"You'll never believe it until you see it," Frankie said.

Hopper popped his head in for a moment and whispered in Steve's ear. He smirked and looked over at Eddie, who was staring at them in confusion. Steve wiggled his fingers at him. Hopper tipped his hat at Eddie before leaving. Steve leaned down and whispered in Gareth's ear, and he grinned, jumping up.

"Alright, boys," Gareth said. "Teddy wants to talk to us. He's probably quite eager for Eddie to start playing at the Hideout again!"

They said goodbye to him one by one, and then they were gone. Steve went to take Gareth's seat but was impeded by the crumbs he left behind. Steve started muttering as he turned around to clean it off, giving Eddie a clear view of his ass. Suddenly, Eddie's heart monitor started beeping a little louder. Steve whirled around.

"Eddie!" Steve exclaimed. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I think I accidentally, uh, messed with one of the wires," Eddie blushed.

"Okay," Steve frowned, looking at him, thoughtfully.

He turned around again and started swiping off the crumbs. Eddie's heart monitor went off again, and Steve turned around again.

"I swear! I am trying not to touch them!" Eddie shrieked. "Just sit down, man! Forget about the crumbs."

Confused by his reaction, Steve sat down, crossing his legs like he usually did. Eddie groaned and leaned his head back.

"Your uncle wanted to be here, but unfortunately, he missed a lot of days sitting by your beside, so he can't get away. The compensation money only went so far, and you guys also got a house out of it," Steve said, grinning.

"Wait, an actual house?!" Eddie asked.

"With your own rooms and everything," Steve replied. "Of course, you'll still be living next door to the Mayfields. I think Wayne insisted on it."

"Really?" Eddie asked.

"Yeah, Susan and Wayne have gotten friendly over the last few months," Steve shrugged.

"How friendly?" Eddie asked, narrowing his eyes.

"Well, he is the one who pulled Susan's head out of her own ass. Her drinking got worse after Max went into the coma. It nearly killed her. I was visiting with Wayne when I decided to go check in on Susan, and we found her unresponsive. When we finally got her sober enough, Wayne gave her quite the talking too," Steve said, and then he deepened his voice to sound like Wayne. "I ain't gonna yell at you, but I am going to tell you God's honest truth. I heard a lot about that husband and stepson of yours to know that you put that little girl through hell. You didn't lift a single finger to stop it. If you die now and that girl wakes up, it's always going to hang over her head that she wasn't enough for you to do better, that she deserved the crap you put her through. You owe it to her now to prove to her that she is enough and that you can do better. I expect you to be clean and waiting by her beside when she wakes up. Don't do it for me, don't do it for you. . .do it for her."

"Damn, that sounds exactly like Uncle Wayne," Eddie said, blinking back tears. "It worked?"

"Yeah, she's even therapy now working on her issues. She's really grateful for Wayne," Steve smiled.

"Good for her, I'm glad it worked on someone's parents," Eddie sighed.

"Yeah, Wayne's the best, I wish my dad was more like him," Steve said.

"Dads can be such assholes. Guess it's not just mine?" Eddie asked, and Steve shook his head. "So, when can I leave here? The food here is just awful. . .company isn't so bad, though."

"Once the doctor clears both you and Max, you guys should be able to go home by this evening," Steve said. "By the way, you are in luck. I'm the one who's going to be taking you home."

"Lucky me. . .so we won, huh?" Eddie asked.

"In more ways than one," Steve grinned.

Once they were ready to leave, Steve wheeled him out to the back of the hospital.

"I guess the protesters are out front," Eddie muttered.

"Something like that," Steve said and wheeled him over to his car.

He helped Eddie out of the wheelchair, catching him around the waist when the metalhead stumbled. They were really close now, their noses practically brushing up against each other's. Steve could feel Eddie's breath against his lips.

"Uh, I'd like to sit down," Eddie said awkwardly.

"Right, right," Steve said.

He cleared his throat and set Eddie in the passenger's seat. He pulled out of the hospital and frowned. For once, the usual people weren't there. Where the hell did they go? Steve got his answer a moment later when he saw them lined up on the sidewalk leaving the hospital. Eddie had to do a double take when he saw them walking down the street.

"What the fuck?! Steve. . .where the hell are we?" Eddie asked.

"We're in Hawkins, dude," Steve replied.

"Um, no the fuck we're not. What did I just see? There's more of them!" Eddie exclaimed as he stuck his head out the window.

"Oh my God! ls that Eddie Munson?!" A girl shrieks, and Eddie freezes. "EDDIE! I LOVE YOU!"

"Oh my God! Steve. She's chasing after the car like a goddamn dog! Steve! She's fucking fast! You tell me where the fuck we actually are right this instant, Steven, because there is no way this is fucking Hawkins! Are you - are you laughing at me? Steve!!" Eddie shrieked.

Steve pulled him down by his belt, and Eddie glared at him as he rolled up the window.

"Okay, so, after you slipped into your coma, the gates closed, and you were cleared of all charges, a lot of people started to leave. Most of them were uptight conservatives, of course. Word started spreading about you and how you were framed for murder. Slowly, it started off with the metalheads coming to town to support one of their own, then came the gays, the lesbians, and the bisexuals as well as a few transgender people. It was enough to kick out more uptight assholes but there are some who are refusing to leave. At first, they protested, but now they're slowly coming to terms with it. It's funny watching them have to sort of adjust to our way of life instead of the other way around," Steve said. "And these people, they all love you, Eddie."

"Our way of life?" Eddie asked.

"Well, for me and Robin, I don't know about you, but she's a lesbian and I'm bisexual," Steve said.

"Yeah, me too," Eddie said softly, and then his eyes widened. "I mean, bisexual, not a lesbian. Not there's anything wrong with being a lesbian but it's not who I am."

"Eddie, I got it," Steve said, laughing.

"So, what? After being nearly swallowed up by hell, Hawkins is a safe place to live now?" Eddie asked. "I woke up expecting to be chased out of my own hometown like they've been trying to do with me my whole life. This is just. . . What the fuck?"

Eddie looked down at his lap, his eyes filling up with tears. Once Steve managed to get away from Eddie's admirers, he pulled off to the side and parked onto the shoulder. He leaned over and pulled Eddie into his arms, hugging him gently. Eddie wrapped his arms around, his hands digging into his back as he cried.

"It's okay, I've got you. You're safe," Steve whispered in his ear.

Eddie clung to him as he calmed down. Once the tears stopped and his body was no longer shaking, he pulled away from him. Steve pulled a tissue out of the glove box and gave it to him. Eddie thanked him, and they drove the rest of the way to his house. They finally arrived at Eddie's house. It was in a secluded neighborhood, two houses at the end of the street, and blocked off by trees from the rest of the neighborhood, which meant that Eddie could probably play his music as loud as he wanted to. Although Max might have something to say about it. Eddie's house was a modest one story with white shudders and pale blue walls. The paint was peeling a bit, but overall, the house was nice, and it was a lot better than the trailer.

Eddie started struggling with his seat belt, which was perfect because Dustin's face appeared in the window, and the curtain pulled back. 'Not ready,' he mouthed. Steve sighed. That meant distracting Eddie. Steve grinned. He leaned over and started helping him with his seatbelt. They got it unstuck, but Steve didn't move from his position once the seat belt was removed. His face was rather close to Eddie's.

"There's something that I've been wanting to do since you woke up," Steve said.

"Kill me?!" Eddie yelped.

"What?! No!" Steve laughed. "Close, though."

He captured Eddie's perfectly plump lips with his, kissing him softly. At first, Eddie didn't respond, and Steve was worried that he misread the signals. He started to pull away when suddenly Eddie grabbed him the back of the neck and pulled him back in. Suddenly, his soft kiss had turned into a bruising, desperate kiss. Steve returned it with the same amount of enthusiasm, hand in Eddie's hair. Eddie broke the kiss, breathing heavily.

"Maybe we should take this inside," Eddie gasped.

"Or maybe we take this to the back seat, and you shackle me with my own handcuffs," Steve said and attached his lips to Eddie's neck.

Eddie groaned as Steve kissed his neck and let out a guttural moan when Steve started nipping at it, his mustache tickling his neck.

"You're killing me, Steve," Eddie said. "I fucking knew you would. Robin?"

Steve broke away and looked at him.

"Okay, I have to say calling me by my best friend's name when I'm trying to put the moves on you is a little weird," Steve said.

"What? No! She's just popped her head out of my new front door, looked at us, rolled her eyes, and went back in. What is going on?" Eddie asked.

"You'll see, come on," Steve said and climbed out of the car before helping Eddie.

"You were distracting me," Eddie said, narrowing his eyes at him.

"I really did want to kiss you," Steve said sheepishly.

They started walking towards when Eddie stopped him.

"You threw me a welcome home party, didn't you?" Eddie asked.

"I might have, for both you and Max," Steve said. "Planned the whole thing while you were sleeping."

Eddie grinned at Steve and wrapped his arms around his neck, kissing him deeply. He broke it, leaning his forehead against Steve’s.

"This is the sweetest thing anyone has ever done for me," Eddie said and paused. "By the way, you're absolutely killing me with that uniform. It should be illegal for anyone to look this good. You're going to have to arrest yourself because, baby, you're breaking quite a few laws."

Steve giggled and kissed him, not caring if anyone else was watching them. They broke apart when they heard Max's front door open. She came out and started walking towards Eddie's house, leaning on her cane. She narrowed her eyes at them, looking much like a bug with her new glasses. Her mother followed behind her.

"Dustin called and said he wanted us to come over," Max said. "He threw us a party, didn't he?"

"I'm not saying anything," Eddie said, and Max rolled her eyes. "It was all Steve!"

"Nice," Steve scoffed.

"Thanks, Steve," Max said softly.

She wrapped her arm around his waist, hugging him. She leaned against him and let him help her inside. His free hand wrapped around Eddie's. They all walked into the small but spacious living room where everyone jumped out with noisemakers. Steve, Eddie, and Max jumped. Max stuffed her face into Steve’s side.

"Surprise!" Dustin shrieked. "Welcome home!"

"Oh my god!" Eddie exclaimed. "I am so surprised!"

"Oh, Goddamnit! Steve told you, didn't he?" Dustin exclaimed and Eddie shrugged, grinning.

"He guessed," Steve shrugged.

"This is still pretty nice, Henderson. Thank you all," Eddie said, and he started hugging everyone. "Max is crying, by the way."

"Fuck off!" Max exclaimed.

Steve watched as the party took off, and Eddie mingled with everyone. For the first time in a long time, Steve felt at peace, and he felt safe, especially when he looked at Eddie. . . When he looked at what this town had become. At some point during the mingling, Eddie came over and nestled himself into Steve’s arms. Yeah, everything was perfect.

[steviesbicrisis]

Seeing a lot of Step dads being asked to adopt officially their step kids today on Tiktok and it made me think of Eddie doing something like that with Wayne.

We don’t know if Wayne officially adopted him, maybe he’s just in temporary care and now Eddie is old enough to not need an adult to look after him but when anyone asks him about his parents he always talks about Wayne so he might as well make it official, right?

Steve helps him prepare the papers in time for Christmas and he even asks Jonathan for his camera so he can capture the moment.

Despite being sure, Eddie feels a little nervous. He knows that Wayne loves him like a son, but he also knows that taking care of him wasn’t something he chose, more like the right thing to do when your brother is a fuckup and goes to prison leaving his kid to fend for himself.

Steve cheers him up by threatening him that if he doesn’t ask Wayne to adopt him, he will. Somehow that’s the weirdest and sweetest threat Eddie has ever received.

Eddie gives the papers to Wayne on Christmas, carefully folded inside a box, under a very ugly mug he knows Wayne will love in case the adoption papers aren’t well received.

Wayne opens the box and huffs looking at the dog-shaped mug “you’ve outdone yourself son, might be my new favorite one”.

He notices the way Eddie flinches at the word “son” but he shrugs it off and turns to Steve, gesturing at the camera in his hands “is this all? Wanted to take a picture of this ugly ass mug?”

Steve tries to use a neutral tone, but it comes out fond nonetheless “I think there’s something else”.

Wayne frowns, turns to Eddie who’s bouncing on his place “look at the bottom of the box” Eddie points at it.

He picks the piece of paper, unfolds it and, after giving a suspicious look to the both of them, he reads quietly.

If they didn’t know Wayne, they probably wouldn’t have noticed his eyes getting a little watery and his hands lightly trembling.

Eddie and Steve exchange a knowing look and a big smile, Steve takes it as his cue to snap the first picture.

The second depicts Eddie putting his hand on Wayne’s shoulder and his uncle -or better, his dad- looking up to hold back the tears.

The third one, everyone’s favorite, has Wayne enveloping Eddie in a bone-crushing hug and Eddie’s surprised face.

A while later, when everyone has calmed down and Wayne has signed everything he needed to, he asks “so, what about Steve?”

The boys give him a surprised look “what about me?” Steve wonders.

“Either you two get married or I adopt you too” he says simply, sipping his coffee from his new favorite dog mug.

Both Eddie and Steve get red and ramble about how it is way too soon and that gay marriage being illegal anyways.

“Im just saying, son” Wayne dwells a second on the word, as it has taken a new meaning for him “that Steve is part of the family too, and if you don’t make it official then I will.”

Eddie doesn’t give Steve any time to react “No fucking way, man” he jumps out of his seat and points at his boyfriend without looking at him “I’m asking him as soon as marriages are legal!”

“We’ll see” replies Wayne, just to rile him up, which works perfectly.

“Are you challenging me?” He turns to Steve, scandalized “don’t you dare become my step brother Steve!”

Steve winces just at the thought of it “of course-“

“How do you expect Steve to say yes to marring you if you’re this controlling?” Wayne interrupts him.

“Me?? I would be a great husband! The best!” Eddie replies, looking outraged.

Steve covers his face in his hands and mutters “oh my God” as Wayne keeps poking at Eddie and the latter takes every bait.

It takes Eddie approximately 45 minutes to realize he had been talking about being Steve’s husband in front of him the whole time despite never having that conversation between them first.

His embarrassed expression once he realizes is Wayne second’s favorite Christmas present that year.

[goggles-mcgee]

Baker Steve and Rockstar Eddie AU is now going to be called What Baking Can Do (will i write it out? Someday. Hopefully soon)

Anyways I have more headcanons for the au

•Steve doesn't wear polos anymore because of the scar around his neck. His closet is literally filled with the softest sweaters and t-shirts he could get his hands on. The softness brings him comfort and feels nice on the scars.

•He always smells like baked goods and the kids love it. It's why they always give him hugs right when they see him, they love the smell and his hugs are so warm and just the best.

•All the kids help out at the bakery when they can, they think it's fun and plus! Job experience! El, Will and surprisingly Lucas all like to help out in the back, Steve teaches them his recipes and how to bake because these are his kids and they will be his legacy so he will teach them everything he can. Max, while not the best with customer service as well as Mike, are both really good at remembering peoples orders if they are sitting at the tables. Dustin is great as a greeter and handing people their to-go orders. Erica is the best taste-tester.

•Look, Steve is still hella popular with the ladies but now he's just so oblivious to their advances, like girls he went on dates with in high-school are trying to BAG this boy but he's always like, "Hang out? Sorry I can't Lucas has a game that day and I promised I'd make him basketball cupcakes."

"Lunch to catch up? I'd love to Brenda but the kids have their little Hotfire club thingy and I promised I would sit in for the session. Raincheck?"

"Dinner? Oh my god thank you for reminding me! We have a family dinner this weekend and I said I'd bring cornbread and a cake."

The kids think it's absolutely hilarious, like how dare you try to date our mom???? And yes they have purposefully "reminded" Steve of something he "promised."

•Eddie has witnessed this on one of his visits and he too finds it hilarious yet endearing. Like Steve may be a little dumb when it comes to people flirting with him but Eddie likes that in a man.

•Eddie is a romantic and absolutely brings Steve a bouquet every time he visits. He finds out quickly that sunflowers and roses are Steve's favorites.

•Eddie always enters the cafe loudly announcing, "HONEY I'M HOME!" Steve grumbles that he's disturbing the customers but he loves it. He always gets the biggest smile when Eddie comes in.

He especially loves hearing that phrase when Eddie's been gone for awhile due to a tour or something of the like.

•Once Steve finds out who Eddie is he tracks down some of his records to listen to and finds he actually likes some of the songs so when Eddie came in next time Steve absolutely just rambled on and on about how much he loved the songs and told Eddie what he liked about them and Eddie is just slowly melting into a puddle hiding behind his hair.

•Steve let's the kids and Robin play whatever music they want when they are working but when he's by himself he absolutely plays ABBA, The Cure, Wham, David Bowie or Prince.

Eddie loves this ridiculous man despite the Wham

•Steve will absolutely close the cafe if one of the kids call him and they're sad, just plain having a bad day or if they are having an emergency. He doesn't care if it's a rush, or if you need your banana bread right now Bethany, his kids need him.

•When Eddie first started visiting and the kids didn't run into him due to conflicting schedules and what not, he finds out quickly that Steve doesn't know who he is so he has no problem giving Steve his name. (He holds himself back from asking if Steve likes his last name enough to take it)

They slowly start to get to know each other and Eddie tells Steve he writes songs and Steve just declares that he's sure Eddie is great at it despite not reading any of Eddie's songs or listening to the man sing and when Eddie point that out Steve just huffy.

"You're an amazing guy Eddie who has seen and done so much. It's not hard to believe that you are talented at writing songs. You really have a way with words!"

And Eddie just wants to lay on the floor, this boy is too precious. He can't.

•When Robin is down on her days off from school and working at the cafe, her and Steve wear matching "uniforms" which is really her just snatching one of his sweaters (of course matching colors), putting on her apron and she always insists they switch name tags.

Steve always rolls his eyes but he also always does it. That's how regulars know Robin is back because Steve will be wearing the nametag 'Robin'

•They absolutely decorate the cage for every holiday. They go all out and it's always the most fun Steve has had on holidays.

Christmas: Him, Robin and the kids get ugly sweaters to wear for the cafe

Halloween: costumes but Robin and Steve are always Batman and Robin because they think it's funny.

Valentine's Day: Argyle made them shirts with neon colored Sweethearts Candies on them and they wear them every time.

Thanksgiving: Robin thinks it's hilarious for her and Steve to dress like vegetables. Dustin likes to be the Turkey. (Steve is almost always the corn)

•They do decorate the cafe for any member in the family's birthday for the day even if they're not having the party there.

•Eddie absolutely starts writing songs about Steve and that's how his band mates find out about him because they catch him singing the songs and other love songs.

•Eddie loves his band but he doesn't tell them where he goes when he goes to visit Steve, they share a lot, practically everything and he will introduce Steve to them and them to Steve but he doesn't do it right away because 1. He's wooing the man of his dreams 2. He just wants it to be for himself for a while

He does offer them treats though as an apology/bribe

•Eddie loves the kids but he is also terrified of them. Yes they are fans of his, but they clock in on the fact he wants to date Steve so fast and they each give him separate shovel talks. They make sure Steve doesn't see them do it though.

•Eddie fully thinks Steve is this super tender, sweet, sarcastic guy who wouldn't hurt a fly until he witnesses Steve defend him from an overzealous fan (which felt more like a stalker) that had followed them after they had had lunch at this local diner.

The fan had tried to get grabby. Had tried to take a "souvenir."

Steve has a mean right hook.

Steve so looked so proud of himself that he knocked the fucker out. He even put his hands on his hips and smiled all cutesy, "I won a fight!"

Which that sentence isn't terrifying right?

That was their first kiss. Also might have been the night Eddie confessed.

[chaotic-starlight24]

Dallas Winston Backstory Headcanons Part 3

Part 1, Part 2, General Headcanons

Here is my last part of his backstory headcanons :)

Warnings: None I think

Making it to Tulsa

Eventually he made it to Tulsa, OK at the age of 13 ¾. He had no plan to stay there very long. He had made it to the south so now he just planned to travel around. That was until he went to swipe something from a corner store. Suddenly the manager was right behind him.

“Hey buddy, ya can’t be doin that here.”

Dally just gave him a look, “I was, uh, going to pay Mr…Curtis?”

Did Darrel Curtis Sr. believe him? Nope. Not at all. But he could tell this kid was not from here. With that new yorker accent he was out of place. He saw that this kid hadn’t just moved here. He was alone and afraid no matter how tough he pretended to be. So he let him go and told his wife to look out for him in case she saw him.

Mrs. Curtis did eventually see him when he wandered into the diner and offered him a free meal. He hadn’t eaten in a couple days so he accepted, but was still very skeptical. She tried to ask him what he was doing in Tulsa, where he was from, yada yada. But he was of course very defensive. 

Eventually one of her kids named Sodapop came in with some of his friends. These guys named Two-Bit and Steve. Dally tried to steer himself away from them. But they welcomed him over and soon enough Dally found himself cracking a grin at their stupid jokes. He was still very untrusting, he expected that he would have to disappear soon anyways. But he found himself meeting more people.

Soon enough he met the rest of their “gang”. It was very different from any gang he had ever been in. Not that he included himself in their group. He found himself becoming very drawn to one of the younger boys. Johnny Cade. He saw himself in him, a young and more sensitive version. Dally found himself worried about him. If he was as sensitive as Johnny was he wouldn’t have survived. Johnny also took a shine to him and Dally found himself being followed around. He learned more about him and found out just how tough he really was.

He met Buck through rodeos and became sorta friends with him. He found out Buck had an extra room and bullied him into giving it to him. A 14 year old bullying a 21 year old is quite the sight.

He also met Tim Shephard, in a fight. They beat each other to a pulp after one pickpocketed the other. Afterwards they were like “Hey! I like your style!” They've been frenemies ever since.

He very quickly learned the greaser way from the gang and grew out his hair. But he never cared to grease it. He thought it made it off-color.

He was very close to the Mrs. Curtis and would help her out no matter what the task was. Her and her husband were what made Dally believe that maybe he could stay there. Though he would occasionally have mood swings and not want to talk to her or look at her because he saw his bio mom in her. He truly wished that his bio mom had stood up for herself and not fallen to addiction. 

He was close to Mr. Curtis as well. Not as close but he still trusted him. Mr. Curtis was also a big fan of movies and everything, especially James Dean. So sometimes they would sit on the porch and ramble a bit about him and his movies.

He sort of scared Pony and also just had some dislike for him. He would be rude to him or just flat out ignore him. Usually the gang would get onto him for it but the main reason was that he would be reminded of his own younger siblings. The ones he left behind and now didn’t even know if they were alive. One of his sisters was the exact same age as Pony as well. So Pony grew up believing Dally really was just this delinquent who hated little kids and showed little care. Which was somewhat true…

He was influenced by Shephard’s gang and other more “hood-like” greasers and though the gang didn’t like it, definitely returned to his illegal pastimes. 

[strangersatellites]

AU where eddie works security for a venue and gets drafted to be part of the cleaning crew after a huge sold out concert.

he’s in the 100 section and he’s got a trash bag in one hand and a pair of grabbers in the other. he’s picked up more feathers and empty seltzer cans than he cares to count and he’s two seconds from hiding out in the sound booth until everyone else forgets he was even there and he can sneak out under the cover of night.

he’s grumbling under his breath when he hears an incessant buzzing sound from a few seats up. he jogs up the steps and sees the light from a phone screen coming from under a seat.

it’s flashing a picture of a pretty girl, her face pinched while an even prettier guy kisses her cheek. the name “robbie 🕊️” scrolls across the top of the screen.

eddie hesitates for a few seconds before he realizes that whoever it is is probably just trying to find their phone. he answers.

“uh hello?”

there’s a shriek from the other end that has eddie yanking the phone away from his ear.

“it’s you! oh my god hi! STEVE! it’s him! he has your phone!”

eddie’s confused.

“uh listen, you left your phone in your seat- or your friend did, i guess. i can leave it at the will-call window so you can come get it or-”

there’s a ruckus on the other line and then a new, distinctly male, voice speaking.

“NO! no i- uh. i mean. can you just bring it out to us? we’re still in the area.”

“uh i’m still working but-“

“oh shit. right. um well, we’ll be out for a while? can you just bring it out when you’re off maybe?”

eddie’s sure he’s got a dumbstruck look on his face. why can’t he just send it downstairs?

“i mean i can? but it would just be faster to send it to the office.”

he hears a huff and some mumbling and can almost imagine the guy, steve (?), rolling his eyes.

“okay so i might have left it on purpose.”

now eddie’s even more confused. but before he can question it, the guy keeps talking.

“look. i saw you working security during the show and i wanted to come talk to you but then the show was over and then everyone was leaving and i had to- you know how concert traffic is, you work there for fucks sake.” he cuts off his own ramble with a huff. “anyway. i panicked and robin told me to leave my phone so i would have an excuse to come back and see if you were there.”

eddie snorts.

“well, you’re sweet steve, but how do you know you’re talking to the right guy?”

there’s a pause and eddie isn’t sure he’s still on the line.

“steve?”

“i recognize your voice. i may or may not have spent the hour before the show listening to you talk to your friend while i tried to work up my nerve.”

his friend? gareth. oh he can’t wait to tell him about this.

speaking of, he’s spent almost enough time entertaining this riveting conversation to wrap up his shift. he looks around and everyone else is wrapping up their sections too.

“well good news for you, my shift is almost over and flattery works with me. so i’ll bring your phone down in about a half hour? meet you outside the floor entrance?”

he can hear the way steve’s voice picks up and he can imagine him smiling.

“okay! yeah! yeah okay i’ll see you then!”

eddie laughs to himself and is telling steve he’ll see him soon when he’s cut off with a shout.

“WAIT! shit, sorry! i just realized i never got your name.”

eddie laughs for real this time, loud and unbidden.

“eddie. it’s eddie.”

“eddie. i’m steve.”

“yeah i got that sweetheart,” he jests.

“right. well i’ll see you soon?”

eddie can’t help his smile.

“yeah stevie. see you soon.”

au august day 9: cleaning crew

[some-of-us-watch-the-sunset-too]

Can I please request falling asleep on Darrys shoulder (not dating but reader and him have crushes on eachother) headcanons

A/N: since you requested Darry specifically I tried to write more for him than the rest but I’m terrible at writing for him and still wanted to write a little somethin for all the boys!:]

Falling asleep on their shoulder..

———————————————————

Darry

Let’s be honest he was most likely asleep first, if that man gets to sit down for a minute he’s out like a light. He works two jobs, he’s gonna be tired.

If he wasn’t asleep before you he’d probably watch you for a bit and make sure you’re comfy, then he’d probably rest his head on yours and fall asleep too.

He gives me the vibe that he’d always have blankets nearby. I think that he’d lay you down on the couch and put a blanket over you before moving to his armchair to read the newspaper or something. If you were close enough or if you dating he’d probably either carry you to his bed and let you sleep there while he took the couch, or he’d get in to the bed too. It really depends on how comfortable you are with each other

Ponyboy and/or Sodapop would 100% walk in or something being all loud so he’d probably shush them so you wouldn’t be woken up. then as per, Soda and Pony would tease him but still quiet down a bit.

Ponyboy

Again, he’s probably asleep already. he gives me the vibe that he goes to sleep at 9 on school nights and if he stays up any later he gets so tired. The latest he can stay awake is like- 10:30 so odds are, if you’re in the Curtis’ he’s most likely going to fall asleep on the couch. Since you just happen to be sitting right next to him, he might as well use your shoulder as a headrest.

On the complete other side of things, if he had a crush on you and you put your head on his shoulder he would freeze. Just- statue type shit, wouldn’t move a muscle. Then he would probably do that thing where someone whispers “you asleep?” as soon as you start to fall asleep and it’s the most annoying thing ever. He’s not trying to be annoying, he just wants to know if he should keep talking or if he should stay quiet and get you a blanket.

Sodapop

When you’re with the others Soda probably wouldn’t pass any remarks on it in my opinion. if you’re friends with Sodapop you’ve probably done it before, so he just keeps talking and joking with you until you tell him to shush.

He would 100% do the whole pretend yawn to put his arm around you type of thing. All his romance skills have probably come from rom-coms and stuff. Plus Steve probably told him that it’s the perfect way to pick up a girl.

I like to think that if you two were alone and it was late enough at night, maybe you were watching TV, maybe you were just talking but either way you put your head on his shoulder to go to sleep. Once he noticed that, he’d rest his head on yours and talk in a much quieter voice, just rambling about stuff until you fell asleep. He’d fall asleep soon after.

Dallas

i’m a firm believer in soft dallas and if you don’t agree that’s ok but you’ll hate my sections for dally :] /npa

I don’t think he’s a big fan of physical touch, yk him being so tough and all so if you put your head on his shoulder he wouldn’t really know what to do. Though I do like the idea of if you like stretched out on your back on the couch and put your head on his lap that he’d still be kinda confused, but after he relaxes a bit that he plays with your hair or something, maybe he messes with a necklace you have on either.

Falling asleep on his shoulder probably happens in bucks (I dunno how you’re getting any sleep there but anyway) so he might end up carrying you upstairs to his “room” so you can get some peace and quiet away from the party. i think his bed would be in a corner of the room up against the wall so he’d probably sit as far into said corner as possible so you would have enough room on the bed to lay however you want. Or maybe he wouldn’t stay on the bed at all and he’d lean out the window to smoke a cigarette.

but if you’re around many people he’s most likely whining about you hurting his shoulder or, again with the whole head on his lap thing, that his legs are gone dead

Two-Bit

Given my attachment to him, i really wanna write something real cute and sweet about Two, but let’s be realistic here. He’s most likely drunk or just really energetic over something so even though he doesn’t mean it, he will wake you up. Whether he makes a joke and laughs too hard, or he moves and you wake up, or my personal choice; He forgets that you’re even there, he swings his arm as part of a joke and hits you in the face.

If you were the type that would tease him back, he’d probably make a few jokes about you “acting like you’re his best friend or something” or that your heads hurting his shoulder or something along those lines anyway. he also 100% draws a moustache on your face at least once a week.

Steve

I think he wouldn’t be big on letting people sleep on his shoulder. It would be funny and very much so a Steve move that if you beat him in an arm wrestle, you could sleep on his shoulder.

He would keep talking and joking if you did try to sleep on his shoulder, he’s not gonna shut up just cause you want to sleep. if you gotta sleep that bad, you’ll sleep even with him talking y’know?

Johnny

It’s probably late and you’re in the lot just talking. ok i’m gonna be honest here i see it the exact same way as when they fall asleep in the lot (in the book not the movie) the whole ‘you’re resting on each others shoulders and one of you is rambling about stuff” type thing. It’s sweet, and to be honest there’s probably some stay cat in Johnny’s lap and you bet Johnny has a name for it.

Johnny’s quiet so at least he wont be waking you up while you’re tryna sleep, he’s most likely just to be glad to have company.

[flowercrowngods]

i’ll try. i’ll try. (but i couldn’t be better)

words: 73k | chapters: 12/? | rating: M Steve watches his whole family die in the battle against Vecna. He's holding Dustin's lifeless body to his chest, begging him to wake up and breathe, when Eleven hits him with the last of her strength. When he opens his eyes again, he finds himself back in 1983, the night before Will disappeared, before Barb died, before any of it. Given the chance to offer the people he loves more than anything a life without horror and trauma, Steve does whatever he needs to save them. Even if the price he has to pay is his own life. Can he fix things, or will he make it worse?

chapter 12: i was suffering more than i let on

December 1983

He doesn’t make it to school the next day. Or the one after that. He almost doesn’t even make it back to the cabin that night, lying where he fell, winded and hurting. Looking for a reason strong enough to get up, to go back; and coming up empty.

Soon tired desolation and desperate exhaustion interweave with the pin pricks of ice in the air and leave him paralysed and unmoving in a world void of warmth. Of reason. Of light. 

It begins with the ground beneath him: icy dew and molten snow seeping through his pants and through his skull, freezing his skin, his blood, and then the rest of his body. 

Ice and despair weave around the migraine pains that wreck through him with bolts of lightning and keep him on the ground. After a while, the searing pain gets buried beneath a bone-deep ache of frozen skin on unmoving limbs, and he is almost grateful for it. It forces him to realise just how tired he really is. How he can’t keep his eyes open much longer.

But it’s fine, he decides, because the world above him, around him beneath him, is made of blackness anyway, the treetops barely standing out against the moonless night-sky anymore. 

Or maybe his eyes are closed. It doesn’t matter, really, with how cold it is. He’ll just stay here until his limbs stop shaking, until his lungs stop trembling, until… 

He wants to go home. Not to the cabin; home. With Robin. Who’s always so warm. Always playing with his hands beneath the blanket she won through unfair means of tickling him just moments before; always fiddling with them because she needs something in her hands, And your fingers are right there, Dingus.  

He smiles as he lets her warmth wash over him, not entirely sure if it’s a memory of a vision, before he realises that She’s here. It’s real, she’s here! 

The sensation of fingers playing with his, a warm ring being placed on his pinkie and moved down to the last knuckle until it won’t budge anymore, because somehow this always manages to keep her busy for quite a while and calm her down from whatever is eating away at her brain. 

He sinks into her warmth, not quite awake enough to listen to her rambles about something or other, only focusing on the sensation around his frozen, unfeeling finger. Just happy to have this. To have her. Her scent in his nose, the woody notes of the perfume he gave her two weeks ago — a birthday present she spent three days thanking him for — still in his nose. Her hair tickling his cheek as she murmurs something, fighting sleep, pretending to be wide awake even though Steve told her to shut up and sleep three, five, ten minutes ago already, on the brink of passing out himself. 

continue on ao3

🤍 or start with chapter 1

banner steve art by @sevenpumpkins

[magniloquent-raven]

so. yknow how water-based lube can get all tacky pretty quick but you can make it slick again with a lil spit

got me thinking about billy being. billy lmao.

like, him and steve are jerking off together as platonic bro pals because it's fine if they don't make eye contact and they're watching heterosexual porn okay, it doesnt matter that steve is more focused on the breathy little grunts directly to his left than the ecstatic wailing crackling through his tv's shitty speakers, or that billy has spread his knees far enough that their thighs are touching, or that his elbow keeps brushing steve's side and it's a shock to his system every time. it's. it's fine. him and tommy used to do this all the time. and it only got weird like...once or twice.

but anyways. steve's been using some low-quality watery lube he pocketed at a pharmacy because he couldn't bear to look the cashier in the eye and pay actual money for this, and billy side-eyed him when he pulled it out of his nightstand. "too good to use vaseline like the rest of us, king steve?" because of course he did, but it's fine, it's whatever, he likes the way it feels okay?

except it gets sticky so fast and he keeps having to reapply which. is annoying. but. but then.

he's reaching blindly for the bottle when billy grabs his wrist, grabs him, with the hand that was just on his dick. stops him from picking up the bottle with an annoyed huff, like steve's the one who's done something here. and steve's got his mouth open, words on the tip of his tongue, incredulous words, anxious words, caught in his throat with his laboured breath when billy turns towards him—all flushed cheeks and dark eyes, sweat gleaming on his chest, his pants undone and, oh god steve shouldnt have looked—

and billy. spits. on his dick.

his fingers are a vice around steve's wrist, their knees brush, eyes locked, and the girl on screen moans, long and loud, as billy's saliva dribbles down the flushed, sensitive skin of steve's cock.

"try it now," billy says, unmoving, not looking away.

and steve. pauses. slowly, hesitantly, wraps a hand around himself. and.

he gives an experimental stroke, keenly aware of billy's eyes burning into him.

oh.

huh.

that's...

he keeps going, spurred on by the way billy's grip on his arm tightens, by the coiled heat in his gut, by the tingle at the base of his spine and the knowledge of what exactly he's feeling, wet and slick against his palm. his head falls back, eyes closed, he's closer than he should be, not a single coherent thought in his head beyond a burning need and the image of billy's tongue running slowly along his bottom lip.

he finishes, making a mess of his stomach with a pitiful little sound caught in his chest.

billy hasn't moved a muscle. and steve. steve thinks maybe they should make things weird more often.

tag list ppl i swear imma post something other than porny rambling soon (probably) lmfaofjfjdk @spreckle @growup-thatbeautiful @prettyboy-like-you @suddenlyinlove 💕

[unfinishedslurs]

Jonathan Byers This Is An Intervention

“You’re not happy here.”

Jonathan looks up, startled. Will stands in the doorway with his arms crossed. They’re alone in the house, El hanging out with Max and their mom on a date with Hopper. They had to practically shove her out the door before she’d leave, rambling a list of phone numbers and where to find them, as well as reminding them where the leftovers were. 

“We know, Mom,” he and Will had chorused, and permitted her to pull them down for one last kiss on the cheek before closing the door on her. Hopper just watched in amusement. 

He and Will had eaten dinner before separating to work on their projects, Will with a dnd campaign idea and Jonathan cleaning his camera out. It has more dust than it should, having been sitting in his closet unused for too long. It makes something in him ache, but he can’t make himself pick it up again. There’s something blocking him. 

“What?” 

“You’re not happy here,” Will repeats. “In Hawkins.”

“It’s Hawkins,” he points out. Being unhappy is a given. He’s always known it sucks here, from the way people treated his mom to the rumors that always flew around when he made his way through the halls. The way they’ve treated Will. He hated this town long before interdimensional monsters factored in. 

Will’s frown gets deeper. “I’m happy,” he points out. “Mom’s happy. El and Hopper are happy. We actually have friends here.”

“I have friends,” Jonathan protests, slightly offended. He and Argyle call multiple times a week. He and Nancy are still good friends, and Steve and Robin are slowly growing on him. In a surprising turn of events, Eddie is the person his age he talks to the least, but it makes sense when he thinks about it. Eddie’s brand of freak has always been loud and dramatic, half relying on shock value. Jonathan prefers the quiet. 

“When was the last time you actually hung out with someone that wasn’t me?”

Is that what this is about? Something in his heart sinks at the idea that Will doesn’t think he’s enough. “I like hanging out with you. You’re the coolest person I know,” he says, shifting over and patting the bed next to him. 

Will sits down with a huff that sounds very fifteen-year-old of him. He’s glad he’s getting to be a kid. “You’re not listening to me,” he complains. 

“Then what are you trying to say?”

Will won’t meet his eye, suddenly nervous. “Everyone your age here is leaving,” he says quietly. “Nancy is going to Emerson soon, Steve and Robin are going to Chicago, and Eddie…uh, I don’t know his plans, exactly, he might be going with them. He’s not staying here, anyway. And Argyle is on the other side of the country. So all the people you’re friends with are leaving.”

“They are,” he agrees, laying what he hopes is a soothing hand on Will’s shoulder, “but you know I’m not leaving you, right? I’m not leaving you and Mom.”

Will squeezes his eyes shut. “Maybe you should.”

It feels like ice water being poured over his head. 

Something in his stomach twists uncomfortably at the idea of calling Hopper his dad. He doesn’t know if he’s ever going to. He doesn’t even know if Hopper would want him to. But “dad” is always a word he’s associated with bruises and yelling, the stink of whiskey and a gun in his small, shaking hands. Jim Hopper, with his gruff, fumbling way affection and sweet smiles at his daughter will never fit his version of the word. 

“You’re not my dad,” Will says. “You’re my older brother, you should be my brother. You should be moving away and going to college and living your life! You shouldn’t be stuck here because of me.” He seems near tears now, and Jonathan flounders. He’s always been pretty good at making Will feel better, but now it’s different. Now it’s him making his little brother upset.

Will takes a deep, stabilizing breath.

“You’re not my dad,” he says again. “You shouldn’t have to be my dad.”

“I wasn’t trying to be,” he says weakly.

“You’re doing a better job than he ever did.”

“Okay, then how should we start?”

“You could tell me why we’re always running out of tylenol.”

He didn’t even realize anyone noticed that. He’s been replacing it before it was even empty.

The words stick in his throat, reluctant to come out. But he promised. He promised he’d tell him, and he hates to break a promise to Will.

“It’s my back,” he admits. “My boss hit me with a chair, and it hurts all the time now. I used to smoke it away, but…”

He smoked a little too much. He was too reliant on it. He was being neglectful. The reasons stay on the tip of his tongue, unable to admit his shortcomings. 

Unfortunately, Will takes it another way. “You stopped because of me.”

“No!” 

“Why didn’t you tell me? Or Mom? We can go to the doctor now, we have insurance.”

“I know.”

“Then why didn’t you go? Why can’t you just take care of yourself?”

“It’s just a little back pain,” he defends, “it’s not a big deal.”

It’s really not. It’s practically nothing compared to what some of their friends ended up with. Will has respiratory problems, Eddie uses a cane now, Max is in a wheelchair and her eyes might never work again. Not to mention Steve’s mix of migraines, glasses, hearing loss, and scars he’s accumulated over the years that put Jonathan’s to shame. His issues pale in comparison.

“It is when you take as many painkillers as you do! You’re going to eat holes in your stomach.”

“If I get an ulcer, it’ll be because I know there’s another world out there full of things that want to kill us,” he says, poking Will in the stomach. He giggles, and then looks mad about it. 

“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you actually happy. I feel like it’s my fault.”

What does he say to that? It can’t be your fault, because I don’t remember the last time I was happy like that? I felt like this long before you went missing? Anything he says will make him worry more. 

“It’s not your fault,” he finally settles on. 

“But if I hadn’t disappeared—“

“I would still feel like this,” he says, because he has to. He can’t stand the idea of Will thinking it’s his fault when the truth is that something has been wrong with Jonathan for a long, long time. “It’s not because of the Upside-Down, bud. It’s not something you can fix. I’m pretty sure I’m just…like this.”

He’s had moments of happiness, obviously. Sometimes he’ll get days, or even weeks, where he genuinely looks forward to the future. When he was in California with Argyle, he felt even better. But eventually, the heaviness in his chest always comes back. It’s just something he knows how to live with now. 

Will sits up, glaring at him. “That’s bullshit!”

“It’s just how it is.”

He squares his shoulders, a telltale sign that Jonathan isn’t going to like whatever he says next. “Mom and I think you should see a therapist.”

Jonathan really doesn’t like that. “You’ve been talking to Mom about this?”

“She’s worried about you!”

“She shouldn’t be!” He’s almost offended. He’s been taking care of himself for years. He was taking care of her for years. “I’m fine! I know how to live with it!” 

“I haven’t seen you smile for real in two months!”

“I’m fine!” He snaps again, and immediately regrets it. Will’s lower lip trembles. 

“You’re not fine,” he says. “You’re not. Don’t lie to me, Jonathan. You just said you weren’t going to lie to me.”

[rogueddie]

Fool / Go For It

Eddie is playful, teasing, with all of his friends. It's how he shows affection- with light nudges, light ribbing... it's all done in good faith.

A lot of the teasing he aims at Steve, however, have a sting to them. He cracks a lot of jokes about 'King Steve', about his old friends and his families wealth- all sore spots for Steve.

They don't feel like jokes, even though Steve knows that's all they are.

"I can't just tell him," Steve insists as he, once again, complains about Eddies teasing.

"Yes, you can," Robin says. Her voice is monotone, having repeated her arguments so many times that it's exhausting. "He's your boyfriend. He likes you. If he's upsetting you, he'll want to know."

"But you tease me like he does! All the time!"

"That's different. We're, like, soulmates."

"Rob," Steve groans, flopping his head down so his face is pressed into her bed sheets. His voice is muffled when he continues; "I don't want him to feel like he's second best."

"Steve, for Christs sake, he won't think that! And if he does, he's an idiot."

Lifting his head, he gives her his best puppy-dog eyes. "I can't risk that. I think I might be in love with him."

"That's just more reason to tell him."

He groans, dropping his head again. He always forgets how immune she is to his pleading looks.

"We're seeing him soon," she continues, ignoring his muffled complaints. "You'll tell him then, or I will. And I won't be nice about it, either."

Steve only groans in complaint.

"Come on, dingus," she teases, lightly slapping his shoulder. "You can help me pick out an outfit."

"You never take my advice," he reminds her, getting up to follow her to the closet anyway.

It's almost a routine for them, at this point; she'll pick an outfit, Steve will point out the things wrong with it and, when he makes his own suggestion, she'll point out how horrible his idea would look on her.

Both understand what the other is actually saying- Robin does end up trading the vest that she originally picked out for her black denim jacket, like Steve suggested.

"See?" Steve teases, bumping his shoulder into hers as they head out.

"It's ok, I guess," she ribs back. "You've had worse ideas."

"Ha," he deadpans.

Robin is practically giddy as she climbs in the car. She glances at him, pointedly, when he turns the music up as soon as she says Eddies name. She doesn't fight him on it though.

She knows him well enough, instinctively, to know that he needs the time to himself.

When they pull up, he flings the door open as soon as he can, so she's interrupted when-

"Steve!" Eddie yells in greeting. He jumps up, speedwalking to meet them half way. "You made it!"

"I said we would," Steve grins. The amount of affection they can show, in the schools parking lot, is limited- but Steve can't help but pull Eddie in for a hug. "I always keep my word."

"Unless it's about the pool," Eddie teases, patting his side before turning to his friends.

"Right," Steve forces a laugh.

He hadn't realized that Eddie would remember that- it was so long ago and probably the longest conversation they'd had, pre-Upside Down.

Steve hadn't thought it'd been that bad. He'd actually been trying to look out for Eddie, with how late in the night it was- he'd assumed that he'd been drinking, like everyone else, and going in the pool-

"Steve?" Robin asks, gently shaking him.

"Hm?"

"The pool?"

"Oh, long story. It's... it's an old story, too. It's nothing, really."

"Steve, if he-" Robin starts, hands jumping to her hips.

"Hey," Eddie calls. "Guys, come on, we're gonna set up!"

Steve takes the opportunity, jogging over. "How long does it take to set up?"

Eddie eagerly jumps into a long winded explination, which quickly devolves into explaining rules of the game- things Eddie has already told him, multiple times, but Steve loves how excited he gets.

They finish setting everything up by the time the kids start filtering in- and the door opening knocks Eddie out of his ramble about a certain NPC he's still figuring out.

"You understand any of that?" Grant raises an eyebrow at him.

It's softened with how gentle Eddie is when reaches out to hold his hand, just for a moment.

Mike snorts, loudly.

"Yeah, I did," Steve says.

"Of course you did," Eddie teases, ruffling his hair. "Such a clever big boy. Now!" Eddie claps his hands together, turning to the table.

"Say something," Robin hisses, leaning close.

"I'm trying to listen," Steve whispers back.

She grumbles, but sits back.

It's more fun that he thought it would be, watching the group of them play D&D. It's not as headache inducing as reading, but somehow more fascinating than simply watching a movie.

He groans, almost as loud as the kids, when Eddie announces that they're at a good point to stop for the day.

"That was great," Steve says, siddling up to the table, leaning against the throne Eddies sat on while they all pack up. "I'm starting to get you nerds are so obsessed with this shit."

"What, you wanna sit in on our next game?"

Eddie says it like it's absurd, like it's a joke, but Steve is serious when he replies; "if that's alright with you lot, I'd love to."

"Really?" Eddie leans back, fully turning to him.

Mike scoffs. "He just wants to impress you."

"It was interesting!" Steve defends.

"You probably didn't understand half of what was going on."

"I understand the story. That's, like, the most important part!"

"Of course it it," Eddie gently pats his shoulder. "And I'm sure it'd be fine with everyone here to have an audience, right?"

"Right," Jeff answers. He offers Steve a genuine, friendly, smile.

"On one condition," Robin pipes up. "No more jabs at Steve."

"We're just teasing," Dustin points out. "Steve knows that- don't you, Steve."

"Uh, yeah, I mean-"

"Steve-" Robin tries.

"You do know that we're just joking, right?" Eddie asks, worried. He steps close, hand resting on Steves hip so he can rub circles in his skin. "We don't think any less of you for not knowing D&D. It is just a game."

"Yeah, I know," Steve agrees easily. It's easy to forget why it's a problem when Eddie is being so careful, worried, and affectionate.

And he smiles so wide, almost blindingly. He kisses Steve on the cheek, despite the others complaints, and starts asking about what time is best for their next meeting.

Robin steps up beside him, arms crossed, eyebrow raised.

"What?"

"You're a fool."

[girl-next-door-writes]

I Just Want You For My Own

Characters: Steve Rogers x Reader

Summary: Steve is rather taken with you strange Christmas tradition, especially when he learns where it came from.

Word Count: 1244 words

Prompt: #5: Character A explains one of their winter holiday traditions to Character B

A/N: The wonderful @misconceptionmistress chose this prompt and I absolutely LOVE it. I could have gone for Steve explaining something from his past, but I couldn’t resist writing about one of my childhood traditions. 

"No. Absolutely not! You are NOT bringing that thing in here!" Tony was on his feet as soon as he saw you stumbling into the room, unable to see your face past the hideous tree in your arms. It was only a few feet tall and could barely be considered a tree after all this time. More tinsel than tree, garish ornaments adorning the remaining branches and multicoloured lights flickering in various patterns. You would be the first to admit that it was bloody awful, but a tradition is a tradition.

"You say this every year, Stark, and every year I tell you that it is only for one day and that you love this stupid tree as much as anyone." You smirked, placing the tree down, shedding a few of the decorations as it jostled.

"I hate that fucking tree." He pouted, sinking back into his chair and glaring at the offending article.

"Okay. Is someone going to tell me what all this is about?" Steve asked, looking from Tony to you as he bent over and retrieved a small troll doll dressed as and angel from where it had fallen, amusement dancing in his eyes as he handed the ridiculous trinket back to you.

"Thanks." You smiled brightly. "The tree will be very generous to you this year."

"The tree?" he chuckled, raising an eyebrow as he glanced at the decoration dubiously.

"That stupid tree is ridiculous and I hate it." Tony grumbled.

"And that attitude will not help when it comes to your gift." You knelt down beside the tree and began to pull out small, poorly wrapped gifts and place them under the monstrosity.

"So... what's with the tree?" Steve asked, bending down beside you and looking at the various things hanging from it.

"Okay, it's stupid really, but it's kinda become this thing so you're all stuck with it." You began to explain, pausing briefly in your actions to turn and look at him with a half smile. "So, growing up, my grandparents would have this tatty old tree. I've no clue why because they would also have this amazing real tree all beautifully decorated, but in the dining room there's be this tree where they put all the crappy ornaments the kids had made over the years, like truly awful. Anyway, on the 12th of December, every year, we would get a present 'from the tree'. As if the tree had gone out and bought us something, or stolen it because I can't see a tree having any cash available to it."

Steve chuckled at your rambling, now fully invested in watching your face as you spoke. If he tried hard enough, he could pretend that it was just the two of you sharing some sort of secret.

"So, right, the tree, it would give us the worst gifts ever! I mean, they were good for a tree, but there was bracelets that turned your wrist green, earings that didn't match, pens that exploded ink everywhere, really the worst. One year, I got a set of highlighters. That was a good year!" You grinned and Steve shuddered slightly as your hand came to rest on his upper arm.

"Highlighters?"

"Yep. Much better than the time I got bubble bath that gave me a rash. Anyway, I have no clue why my grandparents did this, but the tradition kinda stuck. The team, this rabble, they are like my family, so now the 'tree' gives you all shit gifts on the 12th of December and there's nothing Tony can do to stop me." You looked over at Stark with a shit eating grin.

"Oh man! It's Tree Day!" Clint bounded into the room and landed on the sofa, childish excitement all over his face.

"Tree Day? That's today?" Scott slid into the room in his socks, quickly joined by the rest of the team.

Once everybody was seated, you began to hand out gifts, waiting until it had been opened before you distributed the next one. The tree definitely did not disappoint.

Tony sighed as the crappy stressball the tree had given him burst, spraying it's insides all over him. Scott was overjoyed at the slinky which continually got tangled. Bucky had a beautiful pen that didn't work and Nat had a notebook with paper so shiny that it was impossible to write on. Rhodey chuckled as he scrunched his nose up at the stench of his new aftershave, and Wanda looked sceptically at her cheap bubble bath. Vision was overjoyed with his knock off Rubik cube which had several sticker missing, as was Clint with his deck of 47 cards. Peter was definitely the winner of best gift and he cheered as he unwrapped the pack of highlighters, Sam won the worst gift award by getting one of those fake cans where you open the top and things are supposed to spring out. It would have been a great gift, if the springs worked.

There was just one gift left beneath the tree and Steve frowned slightly. "Wait, did the tree not get you something?" he asked as you handed him the final parcel.

"Nah, I'm good. My gift is seeing you lot open your tat!" You laughed, looking at him expectantly.

Nodding his head, he turned his attention back to the gift in his hand. It felt slightly squishy and he cautiously peeled back the tape, half expecting something to fall or ooze out. His eyes crinkled at the corners and a warm laugh fell from his lips when he saw what the tree had given him.

"Hey! So not fair!" Sam called out as Steve lifted up his brand new pair of mismatched socks. Not only were they different colours but they were totally different socks, one a thick sport sock about ankle length, the other a navy dress sock with tiny dogs all over it which would reach to mid calf.

"Well, thank you oh mighty and wise tree." Steve addressed the tree, causing you to smile softly. Such a stupid gesture but he sensed it actually meant a lot to you. "I think me and Mr Tree here need to have a talk about next year though. I can't have you missing out on the great gifts."

"I am sure the tree would appreciate help shopping next year, although you will have to be let into the secrets of tree gifting." You said seriously, a twinkle in your eye.

"Is there a ceremony before I learn these secrets? Do we wear special outfits and chant?" He teased.

"Not sure yet, I'll have to discuss it with him and get back to you."

"Does this mean the tree can disappear back to your room until next year?" Tony asked hopefully.

"I think he should stay right here for the rest of Tree Day." Steve shot back and was rewarded with your hand resting on top of his. He could definitely get behind this tradition, especially as it made you so happy.

[wildernezz]

you only just followed me but i saw your bio, so:

analyse me lol

finally got around to doing this. man, i really gotta get back on my analyzation grind. anyways this is the most i was able to think of. not sure how accurate it'll end up being, but hopefully i'm able to get some things right lolll. and if not, hopefully you at least enjoyed reading through it:

autism. that is the very first thing that strikes me when scrolling through your blog to analyze stuff and i just needed to get that out of the way as soon as possible. the autism is undeniable. and if you're not autistic it's some sort of flavor of neurodivergent. i'm putting my bets on autism though.

you're a very honest and straightforward person. you're very clear about your boundaries and what you're trying to express when talking about things. it's incredibly respectable and a really good trait to have, but i feel like sometimes you question yourself for it. it's hard to describe but i'll try touching more on it later.

i feel like you're not a very talkative person in real life. considering you have a lot of deltarune posts, a large part of me feels like you relate to kris. you also just give off those vibes of someone who's a little monotone, not extremely talkative, but can definitely ramble about the things you're interested in. i also feel like the story arc of kris is something you probably relate to. i haven't analyzed kris enough to feel solid in describing their trauma but i know something in that is something you relate to. especially with the conflict of identity and knowing who you are. i have no idea how to describe that in kris terms but i know it's there. 

rolling along with the deltarune ball, there's a whole lotta noelle in there too (which based btw, noelle is awesome). it makes me wonder if you relate to her too. maybe it's the overall anxiety she has, but i feel like it also ties into the idea of identity, losing yourself, or not completely knowing who you are. it's weird to describe because i feel like you do have a solid sense of who you are, it's just that every now and then you probably have some sort of moral crisis or existential crisis and it can send you spiraling if you think about it for too long. you seem like somebody who lives life the way that you want to, but there is still a slight underlying fear of both yourself and the world.

oh i just know you've questioned your gender a few times. maybe you haven't particularly dwelled on it for a long time, but i feel like you've def had that "maybe i'm not entirely cis" thought pop in your head every now and then.

this is honestly a tougher analyzation for me to pinpoint, but it's not because i can't tell anything about you, it's more like i could point at a character and go "that one's you" but i have no idea how to back it up lmaoooo. so here's some characters that i feel fit you but i have no idea why: Kris from Deltarune (duh), steve minecraft (idk why either), L from Death Note, Nick Carraway from The Great Gatsby, both Danny Saunders and Reuven Malter from The Chosen (1987 movie specifically), and also a weird mix Twilight Sparkle, Starlight Glimmer, and Maud Pie from MLP:FiM.

hopefully this provides something insightful and is at least semi-accurate. i usually do better analyzations on my @analyzing-people-like-hell account where i'm given a list of characters to work with, so if you want i'd gladly redo an analyzation over there. however i have been way off my analyzation grind so i make no promises on how long that'll take lolll. either way, my bad if this isn't all that accurate, but it was super fun to look through so thank you for the content B))

[morganski-19]

With a Comma After Dearest Part 2

part 1

Dear Robin,

I think that writing these like old letters is so funny. It’s like the letters they would read during the documentaries they show in history class. But a lot less serious since we’re not talking about our husbands being away at war or something. 

But anyway, I’m sorry you haven’t been able to sleep that well. I remember the first time around, not being able to get through a night without seeing the demogorgon’s face. Or just mouth I guess. I would keep replaying that moment in Jonathan’s house over and over again, it always ending in one of us dying. And then there was something else I would dream a lot too. It’s hard for me to even write it, but I think that was the worst of my nightmares. 

I know this isn’t your first upside-down encounter, but the second I think is always the worst. The first one isn’t exactly easier, but at least then you can convince yourself it is over and it’s not coming back. When it’s the second, there’s no telling if there’s going to be a third, or fourth. So the nightmares just keep coming because you’re scared that there’s going to be a next time. 

Anyway, I’m sorry for this being so sad. I didn’t mean it to be. I guess you’re just easy to talk to or write to I guess. Ever since me and Jonathan broke up, it’s kind of been hard. I lost the person I talked to the most about this, and I don’t really have a lot of other friends. It’ll be nice to have someone like that again. If you want to, be friends. 

Not to say that we’re not right now. I guess I just don’t really know that much about you. We only really spent that one week together and the only thing I can remember you saying about yourself is that you took six months longer to walk than all of the other babies.

We’ll have to hang out soon. I’m pretty busy with school right now, I have like three tests in a row starting on Monday. But I might be able to hang out on the weekend. I’ll let you know. And I’ll call you if I get the chance. 

From,

Nancy

Robin pulls out her notebook and starts to write a response, careful not to get any of the food from her lunch on the paper. She doesn’t exactly know what to say, or at least how to crop down what she wants to say instead of just rambling on in the letter. It doesn’t necessarily have to be short, Nancy’s was a full page this time. But she feels like she has so much to say that it could fill up multiple pages, or not even enough to fill one page. 

Because she doesn’t want to go into the depths of her nightmares. Doesn’t want to go in deep about how Nancy’s right. The first time is better because you think it’s over, the second is worse because you know it can happen again. This time though, it’s worse because Robin feels like she didn’t do enough. That if she had thrown herself in more danger like the first time, maybe Max wouldn’t have been in the hospital for so long, and maybe Eddie wouldn’t have almost died. 

Deep down she knows that’s not true. She knows that no matter what she did, it would have still happened. It’s not like she’s the strongest or most coordinated in the bunch. Taking down monsters with her bare hands or shooting guns isn’t her specialty. Sure, she has just the right amount to throw a flaming bottle of alcohol toward an other-dimensional demon that weakens them enough for another person to deal the final blow. But if she could only do more. 

The first time was almost built to her strong suits. Foreign language translation and puzzles that were easy for her to solve. Secret Russian bases where it was easy for her to place herself between the danger and the kids. So what if it gave her trauma that will affect her for life, she at least saved them. This time she couldn’t do anything. 

It’s gotten so bad that she’s starting to sound a bit like Steve. He’s normally the first one to start self-doubting, wondering if there was something else he could have done to make it easier for someone else. It’s him that the barrier between danger and everyone else lies. He’s the one to jump into a lake to check if there’s a mystical portal to another dimension. He’s the one to climb into said portal again to make a softer landing even though he still has open wounds on his sides. He’s the one to put himself in last place at the hospital if it means everyone else will be looked at faster. 

She tells him that he needs to look after himself more. Needs to start putting himself first sometimes and stop being so hard on himself. Though now that she’s been doing the same thing, she understands how easy it is. It’s easy to blame everything on yourself when the world flips upside down. That can’t be controlled, but the way you react to it can.  

Even now, Robin looks at the note Nancy wrote and can’t help but feel like she failed. Nancy and Jonathan broke up and she didn’t even know about it. Not that Nancy has to tell her everything, they’re not nearly close enough for that. But still, she wishes that she were there for her. She could have brought the ice cream and they could scream and cry at cheesy romcoms because they’re stupid and love isn’t real. 

But maybe that’s the point of all this. Robin could get to know Nancy more and then she could be there for those moments. And maybe Robin could tell Nancy about herself, and then Nancy could be there for her too. 

. . . 

Dear Nancy,

I have o go and watch some of those documentaries just so I can find some new ways to start these letters because the “dear” and “from” are getting old and there are better options. Like, we could have so much fun creating new ones too. 

It’s nice to know that I’m not alone in the way I‘m dealing with all of this. And I don’t mind you talking about it. It’s not as big of a mood damper if it’s already been all you can think about. I just hate that it’s so different this time. Like, last summer was hard. I’m not saying that it wasn’t. But I could at least go over to Steve’s and sleep knowing that he was alive right next to me. It’s different now that we’re in school and I have to get up every morning and pretend like nothing’s wrong. 

Also, I’m sorry to hear that you and Jonathan broke up. I thought that once he was here, you guys would talk and figure everything out. It seemed like you guys were good at doing that. Not to say that you weren’t in the end. But I guess I was rooting for you, a bit. But hey, you have me to talk to now. That’s something, I guess. 

I guess it’s true that we don’t know each other that well. I’m trying to think of all the basic shit that people would talk about in the first day of class introductions. You know, just speed run this getting-to-know process. My favorite color is green, I used to play soccer but I don’t anymore, I play trumpet in the band. I guess my fun fact would be that I’m fluent in Spanish, French, Italian, and Pig Latin. Though that isn’t really a real language, just one that I can mess with people. I can also speak a little Russian because of last summer, but I don’t bring that one up as much. 

That’s all I can think of right now. But I guess we don’t need to know that much to be friends. Trauma bonding kinda of gets us there halfway. It’s how me and Steve became best friends, so it can happen with us too. 

I also have a few tests next week too so don’t worry about it. But I’m pretty much always available for a call so feel free to do that. 

From (better outro pending),

Robin

Nancy laughs at the last line, Robin’s voice reading the words in her head. She might have not talked to Robin much since spring break, but something about her voice just stuck in her head. Hard not to when Robin can talk a mile a minute without even taking a break. It’s not that annoying when you get used to it, kind of endearing actually. And her ability to make up arguments on the spot is impressive, Nancy almost wants to convince her to join debate. 

Not like that would matter now, the school year is almost over and they’re about to graduate. Weird how time moved so fast this year. Almost like she was just running toward a finish line so she could finally end this one, terrible chapter in her life, hoping that when she turned the next page, it wouldn’t be as bad. 

That’s why these last few tests are so important. Even though she’s already been accepted into Emerson, finishing the school year without a dip in her GPA means that she made it. That out of everything that happened, there’s still a part of Nancy that hasn’t been forever changed. It’s just something to prove to herself that she can still do it. Still be able to get an A on a test and get into the college of her dreams. Even if the idea of leaving Hawkins now grows a pit in her stomach. 

Robin’s right though, they don’t really know that much about each other. Nancy makes a list in her head of everything that she knows about Robin, and while that list isn’t exactly short, she does feel like it could be longer. In the letter, Robin listed off things that Nancy wouldn’t have even thought of asking, or even thought were that necessary to know about someone in order to be their friend. But even those small details made Robin more interesting to her. She finds herself wanting to know every last small detail of Robin. 

Nancy doesn’t know what it is about Robin that draws her in. It could be how easy it is to talk to her or her warm personality, even if it is hidden behind sarcastic remarks and a tough exterior. Or maybe it’s how smart she is. Nancy would have someone else to talk to about her classes. Maybe have someone to go to the library with her again and they wouldn’t just preoccupy themselves by doing something else. 

It’s hard to think about doing things like that with someone else again, in the way she used to do it with someone else. But maybe that’s what makes Robin so interesting to her. Because deep down, Nancy can draw the parallels and make the connections, filling in the role of someone else she lost. Even though she knows it would never happen like that. Robin’s different, but a good different. She’s not going to replace what’s gone, just bring something new to the table. 

She feels a bit guilty by finding someone else to do those things with her. Have the sleepovers and the talks that were reserved for that one person and no one else. Not that she and Robin have done any of that yet, but she wants to. It would be good for her to have a friend again, a best friend again. 

That used to be Jonathan, but then that got complicated. Breaking up with him was hard, even though she knew it was coming. The separation was too much for them and they both resorted back to their old ways. They both closed each other off to how they were truly feeling. The Byers are staying for a week and then going back to finish out the school year in California. So it’s not like they couldn’t have made it work for a few more months, it would have just been too hard. 

Especially now. Jonathan wasn’t here this time, they didn’t have the same experience to talk each other through. He was driving across the country while she was walking through the upside down. It was different, too different. In the end, she was glad that he wasn’t there so he could look after Mike and El, and be with his brother who was always his first priority. Not that there was anything wrong with that. 

It was just too hard for her this time. There was something about their relationship that was gone, dissolved over the distance. She tried to ignore it, try to rebuild it in her mind. But after talking with him about it, he felt the same way, somewhat. They both wanted different lives, their paths were in different directions. They would always be there for each other but as friends. At least she hopes. 

She’s kind of just alone right now. Except she isn’t, because Robin is there. And maybe she could reach out to Steve or Eddie if she really needed it. They went through the same things, they would know where she’s coming from. But even then, it’s still a bit weird. 

It’s not weird with Robin. Or complicated. Or anything at all. It’s just normal. Like talking to a friend you’ve known your whole life. It’s something that’s natural and easy. 

. . . 

Greetings Robin,

Kind of hate that but I couldn’t think of anything else. 

I guess I never really thought about how much I know about you. I haven’t made a friend outside of upside-down experiences in so long, that I might have forgotten how to do it. But you know, I don’t really care. I think that being friends with someone is more than just knowing what your favorite color is. 

Not that I’m mad at you for telling me, it’s nice to know. Also, you speak three, four if we’re including pig-Latin, languages. Holy shit! I can only speak the little bit of Spanish that they teach in school, but I’m sure there is so much more that they don’t cover. 

Some things about me I guess is my favorite color is blue, even if my room is covered in pink. I like them both but blue is definitely my favorite. I have never played an instrument in my life, no musical ability here. I’ve always really liked writing, that’s why I like journalism so much, and English is my favorite subject. My fun fact you already kind of know, but I have a really good aim. Without even trying really. I just kind of picked up a gun one time and shot it perfectly. You could ask Jonathan if you want proof, he was there. 

That’s all I can think of right now. But if you want to know anything specific, go ahead and ask. I’m not afraid to share anything with you. You kind of have that effect, I can’t tell why. 

Also, I will definitely call if I have the time. It’ll be nice to hear your voice for once instead of just reading your letters. Not that I want to stop doing this, it’s really fun. 

Sincerely,

Nancy

(P.S. Look, I signed the letter more old-timey)

Robin rereads the letters under the glow of her bedside lamp. She doesn’t exactly know why, it’s just comforting. Knowing that someone’s been there before, laying in their bed just wishing they could fall asleep, but knowing that when they do, it won’t be for long. 

She debates calling Nancy, she really does. It’s basically an open invitation, but one she can’t seem to accept. There’s something about Nancy’s words, something about the way she writes that makes Robin confused. Well not exactly how she writes, but what she writes. 

I’m not afraid to share anything with you. You kind of have that effect, I can’t tell why.

Robin can’t tell why either. It’s odd, like the feeling she had with Steve after they escaped the Russian bunker. That feeling of trust where you can just tell anyone anything about you, and they would just listen without judgment. It’s a scary feeling to have, especially for Robin. But this time it’s a different kind of scary. She just can’t figure out why. 

Turning to her phone, she dials the number so familiar she can do it with her eyes closed. 

“Harrington residence,” Steve mutters through the phone. 

“That’s formal for a midnight caller.”

“You’d be surprised how many people call this house in the middle of the night. What’s up, Rob.”

She rolls over onto her back. “Can’t sleep.”

“Welcome to the club. What’s it this time?”

“The normal, I guess. Preparing to have another nightmare.”

“We can talk about something random, help get your mind off of it.”

Robin sighs, already feeling her eyes start to droop. “That might work.”

“Ok. Oh, I’ve been meaning to ask but have you talked to Vickie more? You two seemed to get along at the charity drive.”

“Oh uh, yeah we did. A few times. We hung out once but I don’t really think we’re going to do it that often. It’s weird. I really liked her before all of this and now, I don’t know. It kind of just faded. And we’re like really similar, but in the kind of way that you want your best friend to be but not in the way you want your girlfriend to be. I don’t know. The spark, or whatever, just wasn’t there. And we almost kissed, but it just felt wrong so I stopped it before it happened.”

“Shit, I’m sorry, Rob.”

“Yeah well, what can you do? I’ll just be hopelessly alone forever.”

“Don’t say that, Rob. You’ll find somebody.”

Robin rolls her eyes. “Says the guy who has been on a million dates.”

“But, has yet to find someone I actually have a connection to.”

“Whatever. How’s Eddie been?”

Steve pauses. “Ok, I guess. I don’t know. He’s, he’s really guarded with some stuff, especially with what happened when we weren’t with him. I’ve been trying to get him to open up, but he won’t. And there’s something else that’s bothering him, I can tell. I just, we’re becoming friends but it still seems like he can’t trust me.”

“Give him time,” she yawns. “I’m sure he’ll come around, I did.”

“Yeah well, that was different.”

Robin hums through the receiver, rolling over and letting her eyes shut. 

“I’ll still be on the line if you need it, but try and get some sleep. Ok.”

“Yeah, ok,” Robin whispers before she falls asleep.

. . . 

Mike knocks on Nancy’s door, causing her to look up from her notecards. “Hey, uh. Just wanted to let you know that Will’s coming over. Jonathan’s dropping him off, but he probably won’t come to the door.”

Nancy nods her head. “Ok.”

“You know, so you don’t have to see him.”

“Yeah, I got that. Thank you.” Nancy eyes the box hiding in her closet as Mike starts to shut the door. “Wait, could you let me know when he’s here? I have some stuff I should probably give back to him.”

Mike gives her a look. “How do you still have some of his stuff after he moved to California? Didn’t you give it all back then?”

“It’s complicated,” she supplies. 

“Whatever,” he rolls his eyes, leaving her door cracked when he leaves. 

It wasn’t exactly that complicated. Some things are just better left unexplained, at least to those who might not care to listen. Mike might care about knowing, she just thinks he might think it’s stupid. But it helped, so it wasn’t stupid to her. 

There was this jacket that Jonathan always wore a lot that reminded her of him. When he left, she asked to keep it, just to have something of him, anything. They had plenty of pictures, memories, and mixtapes. But that wasn’t the same as having the person there beside you. Having a picture didn’t comfort you during a tough night. 

She would wrap the jacket around her at night when she would miss him. When the nights felt lonely and her mind was tired of keeping the thoughts buried away, so they came back. The doubt seeped in and the nightmares came. He wasn’t there with her to help, so she relied on his jacket. Except that jacket doesn’t hold that purpose anymore, it won’t help anymore. Doesn’t help anymore.

Other things lie in that box too. A mixtape or two that she didn’t need anymore. A tape that he left in her car. Some random things that she didn’t need, that it didn’t feel right to keep. 

Mike yelled upstairs when they pulled up. Nancy braces herself with a deep breath before picking up the box and heading out the front door. 

Jonathan spots her, sighing while putting the car in park and getting out. He leans on the door, crossing his arms and avoiding looking at her. 

“Hi,” she says, not quite knowing what else to say. What do you say to someone’s heart you broke? 

“I’m guessing that’s mine.”

Nancy looks down at the box in her arms, feeling guilty that there’s so much. Mike was right, she already gave most of it back. “Yeah, just some stuff I thought you’d want.”

He looks at her, finally, taking the box from her and putting it in the back seat. “Thanks.”

“So. How’ve you been?”

“Can we not do this, Nancy,” he says, slamming the door, making her jump.

She looks down at her shoes. “Sorry.”

“I want to get to a place where we can be friends again. But I’m going to need some time. Can you just give me some space?”

“Yeah, yeah I can do that. Just let me know when, if you want to talk again.”

He gets into the car without another word. Only muttering, “Goodbye, Nancy,” before driving off. 

She couldn’t help but feel guilty, but it was coming to an end, they both knew that. Maybe she just knew it more than him. If she just gave it a bit more time, maybe it would have worked. It would have, she knew it, but she just hated hurting him. Even more hurting herself. 

When she gets back to her room, she sits on her bed, knowing that she won’t be able to study for a little while. She has the urge to call Robin, just talk to someone about this with, but can't seem to do it. The words are too hard to say. Instead, she takes out a piece of notebook paper and writes, then rewrites. She compiled all of what she had to say into one page, afraid of writing too much. mike wheel

Once it’s finished, she slides it into her backpack, planning on sliding it between her locker Monday morning.