#Gareth is a good friend if not a little done with Eddies shit

[youmakemyhearthowl]

Punk Princess

Ao3| Part 1| Part 2| Part 3 (Next Part) |Part 4| Part 5| Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8| Part 9 | Part 10

Eddie really was just trying to get through the day unnoticed by Tommy and his goons. He’d been prepared to spend his second senior year with his head down and his eyes on the graduation prize. So when he heard whispers through the halls about some ‘freak’ he felt dread coil in his stomach. He hasn’t even done anything yet, it was the first day of classes for shit sake and he’d been late getting in. 

So when he was scurrying around the halls trying to find a pen in his backpack, glancing up at Tommy’s voice and spotting a literal punk god with Robin Buckley hanging off his arm he was a little surprised. But when his eyes tracked over the body of the other boy, he’s pretty sure his brain completely just turned off when he caught a glimpse of the face attached to the body. 

Steve fucking Harrington in all his glory was wearing a cropped mesh top, and what looked to be a black battle vest. But that wasn’t the end of what the fuck was happening because his hair was shaved on the sides and his face, Jesus Christ his face, was painted with a black charcoal around his pretty brown eyes, and fuck was that a piercing in his lip? In his eyebrow?? 

Hold the fuck on is that a hanky in his back pocket?

Eddie’s pretty sure he made some kind of noise as he stumbled and spilled the contents of his backpack over the hall floors, scrambling to pick it all up while his eyes were still locked firmly on Steve. 

He’s pretty sure Tommy had said something towards him at that point but his brain hadn’t even fully booted back up when he watched a determined look coat Steve’s face as he drew the other guys attention back to himself. Eddie couldn’t stop the noise he made at that pretty sure his entire face was tomato red now as Steve shot him a soft smile.

“They’re called shit kickers.” Steve offers, catching Tommy’s gaze. “Wanna find out why?”

And for fucks sake, no one, no one should look that attractive stating they were going to basically kick someone's face in, but Eddies pretty sure he just completely blue screened because the next time he was even aware he had a body, Gareth was pulling him away from the scene where a teacher had at some point stepped in. 

Eddie noted with disappointment that it looked like Steve hadn’t gotten to give Tommy a demonstration after all.

“Eddie..” The tone Gareth took was a long cultivated one, used specifically when Steve Harrington was involved, and Eddie cringed before smoothing out his expression, he was prepared to go on a long winded rant about how jocks were apparently stealing the looks outcasts had spent years creating and getting ridiculed for.

He knows that's what he was going to say.

“Holy shit Gareth I want to get down on my knees and worship that man.” Is what ends up coming out, and Gareth’s face does a weird mix of disgusted and unsurprised, his brows twisting together.

“Christ Eddie.”

“Did you see him Gareth? I’m pretty sure my brain had to do a full reboot.” Just as they were rounding the corner to their shared first period class, Eddie's feet stopped working and he stumbled roughly into a very firm back. The head attached to said back turned around slightly with a startled expression that turned into a smirk and honestly Eddie shouldn’t be surprised his brain goes offline again, because holy fuck.

“You sure do trip a lot, Munson.” Steve's voice comes out with a well practiced boredness to it that should be insulting, if it wasn’t for the playful twinkle in his eyes as he turns around and faces Eddie, who’s being manhandled to standing back up straight by Gareth. Eddie can feel the snarky, playful reply on the tip of his tongue, his whole body alight with the fact that finally, finally for the first time Steve is talking to him. Eddie is only slightly ashamed to admit that he’d spent a few sleepless nights imagining what he would say if he ever got to talk to Steve. So subtle flirting is what he’s prepared and ready to throw out at him. 

“Only if I can lick those boots.” Is what comes out instead. Eddie is pretty sure he feels his face explode, because what the hell?? Fucking get on the same page he shoots the thought to his brain and mouth filter as he pulls a chunk of hair up to cover his face. Steve looks startled for a second, before a slow devilish smile spreads across his face.

“I’m more into being the one that does the boot licking, but I’ll keep that in mind, babe.”

Eddies pretty sure he goes into cardiac arrest right there in the hallway.

Ao3| Part 1| Part 2| Part 3 (Next Part) | Part 4| Part 5| Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8| Part 9 | Part 10

[solarmorrigan]

For the angst prompt thing: Steddie and "Don't fucking touch me."

Hello! Thank you very much for sending a prompt, I'm sorry it took me so long to post, but I do think this one is my favorite out of all the fills I've done for this prompt list <3

[No warnings; Unnamed Freak (who apparently got a name in the most recent novel, but I didn't know that at the time) is named Oliver]

Angsty-ish Prompt List

-

“I’m gonna step outside for a minute,” Steve leans in to murmur in Eddie’s ear, even though the music isn’t that loud.

“Yeah, sounds good.” Eddie nods, and only just keeps himself from turning to catch Steve’s mouth in a kiss when he feels the brush of his lips against his ear; it’s not his fault he’s developed some kind of Pavlovian association between having Steve’s mouth anywhere near his skin and receiving kisses – but they do have company.

Said company is just Gareth, Jeff, and Oliver, but still. Eddie has some decorum.

Steve stands from the couch and the arm he’d had slung around Eddie’s shoulders slides away slowly, his hand brushing warm and heavy over the back of Eddie’s neck, thumb stroking once, familiarly, along the side of his throat before disappearing entirely as Steve moves towards the front door. He doesn’t do so great with groups of people in small spaces anymore; the noise gets to him, and the heat generated by so many bodies in close proximity tends to give him a headache, so he takes breaks now and then, just to give his brain a few minutes to unbend.

The door swings open on silent hinges (Steve had attacked it with a can of WD-40 and a look of determination earlier today, insisting he couldn’t stand the squeaking anymore; he’s always doing things like that around the house – little repairs, organizing, picking things up, even though Eddie insists he doesn’t have to. He says he wants to, the endearing little weirdo) and Steve steps out into the cool evening, leaving Eddie and the boys behind in the warm light of the trailer’s main room.

“So,” Jeff says, looking up from his spot on the floor and gesturing vaguely at Eddie with his beer can, “how’s that going for you guys?”

Eddie blinks at him. “How’s what going?”

“The whole thing between you two,” Jeff clarifies, and Eddie raises a skeptical brow at him.

“You wanna talk about me and Steve having sex?” Eddie asks.

Jeff’s nose scrunches in distaste. “What? No.”

“Not ever,” Gareth jumps in.

“I mean…” Oliver says with a shrug, flinching when Gareth pelts him with a balled-up napkin.

“No,” Gareth reiterates.

“I refuse to apologize for simple curiosity,” Oliver sniffs, and Eddie, seated next to him on the couch, gives him a shove.

He’s glad his friends are accepting – supportive, even (he’d like to say he wouldn’t hang out with them if they weren’t, but let’s be real: nerds could be hard to come by in their neck of the woods, and as long as they were the quiet type of homophobic, Eddie would probably still play D&D with them. But he’s glad they’re not), but he does have some boundaries.

Like, one or two, maybe.

“I just meant the whole… dating thing,” Jeff says, taking a sip from his beer. “Because I’ll be honest, I really didn’t see it at first, but it actually seems to be working out.”

“Dating?” Eddie parrots blankly.

“Yeah. You guys are in, like, some kind of never-ending honeymoon phase or some shit,” Gareth says. “Hasn’t it been over two months?”

“Uhhh, no, I think you gentlemen are confused,” Eddie drawls. “Steve and I are not dating.”

This declaration is met with a moment of silence.

“Seriously?” Oliver finally says.

“Yep,” Eddie replies easily. “No relationship shit here. Strictly a friends-with-benefits-type deal.”

“Seriously,” Olver says again, flatly this time.

“Yes, Oliver, seriously,” Eddie huffs, reaching over to give him another shove, only to have his hand pushed away.

“Eddie, he was practically sitting in your lap just now,” Jeff says. “You two are all over each other.”

“Constantly,” Gareth adds.

Eddie shrugs. “It’s not like this is a big couch; we gotta squish. Anyway, Steve’s just a touchy kind of guy.”

“He doesn’t sit like that with any of us,” Gareth points out.

“Yeah, well, you guys aren’t the ones receiving benefits,” Eddie says. “You want him to sit on your lap? You could ask.”

Gareth lets his head hang back with a noise of frustration. “That’s not the point, and you know it.”

“Don’t you two go on dates?” Jeff asks. “I’ve seen you at the movies. You talk about going out to eat, doing other shit…”

“Yeah, see, that’s the friends part of friends with benefits,” Eddie snarks. “Friends hang out sometimes, I’ve been told. We are all, in fact, hanging out right now, but that doesn’t mean I’m dating any of you.”

“You don’t see the way he looks at you?” Oliver asks, and Eddie can’t help but scoff.

He appreciates the fact that Oliver is passionate about pretty much anything he does, but it also means he’s given to romanticizing. He doesn’t usually manage to drag Jeff or Gareth in with him, though.

“Pretty sure he looks at me like a friend, because that’s what we are.” Eddie rolls his eyes before offering a smarmy little grin. “I mean, I’m sure he looks at me as an exceptionally attractive friend, but that’s it.”

“Genuinely can’t tell if you’re fucking with us, man,” Jeff says, rolling his eyes.

“Genuinely, I am not,” Eddie promises, taking the last viable swallow from his beer before getting up and heading for the kitchen, wiggling his empty can at the others with a raised eyebrow in question. Gareth raises his own near-empty can with a shrug and Eddie nods. “Look,” he says as he ducks towards the fridge, “Steve isn’t the kinda guy you have a relationship with, anyway, you know?”

Eddie doesn’t mean this in a negative way, just as a matter of fact. Steve just doesn’t seem to be a relationship kind of guy. Nancy had been something of an outlier, in how long she and Steve had lasted, and it had become clear after the dust from the Upside Down had settled that he really doesn’t have any interest in pursuing her further. Just the other day, he’d mentioned to Eddie how difficult relationships can be, and about how glad he is they have their thing together instead.

“Being with you is just… easy,” Steve had said; he hadn’t been looking at Eddie at the time, his face instead pillowed on Eddie’s chest, hair sticking to his naked skin where the sweat was still cooling from their last round, but Eddie could see the edge of a smile on his lips.

And Eddie doesn’t have much experience with relationships himself, but he knows that being friends with Steve is easy and that the sex feels equally easy and that the way he’d agreed with Steve and carded his fingers through his hair had sent Steve right to sleep with that same smile still in place.

Easy.

Now, Eddie shoves his head into the fridge and reaches for the beers that have somehow gotten pushed to the back. “It’s nothing major, okay?” he calls back towards the living room.

“Eddie…” Gareth calls back, an edge to his voice.

“Yeah, yeah, I’m on it.” Eddie waves vaguely, making sure to grab a second beer. “Anyway, Steve’s a good friend, and he’s really hot, and we’re just having fun.”

The bang of the front door against the frame startles Eddie so badly he nearly smacks his head on the underside of the freezer as he stands, a beer clutched in each hand like he might be able to use them as projectiles.

There is no threat, though – just Steve, who had apparently failed to catch the screen door before it had shut too quickly behind him. He doesn’t seem to have noticed; he’s just standing there, staring at Eddie, color rising high in his cheeks, eyes wide and shocked, like he’s just been slapped.

Concern wells up from Eddie’s gut, and he opens to his mouth to ask what’s wrong when Steve finally speaks.

“Yeah,” he croaks, “I’m not having fun.”

Eddie’s brows furrow in confusion, the beginnings of cold dread trickling into his veins well ahead of any conscious thought.

“I think I– I think I should go,” Steve says.

He grabs his keys from the side table by the door, where they’ve lived next to Eddie’s and Wayne’s for the last few months whenever he’s been at the house, and then he’s gone again, the screen door banging shut once more behind him.

And Eddie has no idea what just happened, but he knows it wasn’t good. He drops the beers on the counter and bolts out the door after Steve.

Steve is nearly to his car by the time Eddie scrambles down the front steps, and he’s paying absolutely no attention when Eddie calls after him.

“Steve,” Eddie tries again, stumbling to a stop right behind him as he jams his keys into the driver’s side lock. “Steve, for fuck’s sake, what–” he reaches out, wrapping one hand around Steve’s bicep, and Steve jerks out of his grip.

“Don’t fucking touch me,” Steve snaps.

Eddie pulls his hand back, but doesn’t step away, entirely baffled by the sudden turn the evening has taken. “What the hell happened back there?”

Steve goes still, grip going lax on his keys. “I heard what you said, Eddie.”

“About – about what? Are you mad I was talking to them about us sleeping together? Because, Steve, they already knew,” Eddie insists, a little incredulous. “You said you were fine with them knowing! You were practically feeling me up in front of them!”

“I don’t give a shit if they know we’re having sex!” Steve hisses, finally whirling around to look at Eddie. “I meant the rest. About how I’m not the kind of guy you have a relationship with.”

Eddie’s stomach sinks. He hadn’t realized that was such a sensitive subject. “I – shit, I wasn’t trying to hurt your feelings, I just didn’t think you wanted–”

“About how we’re just having fun,” Steve cuts in, and if he’d sounded raw before, his voice is practically ground down to nothing now.

That brings Eddie up short. “…aren’t we?” he asks after a moment.

Steve says nothing.

“I mean, shit, Steve, it’s not like we’re in a relationship,” Eddie says, offering a little laugh, because even Steve would have to admit that the idea is a little silly.

Except.

Except Steve just glances away, staring at the ground beside Eddie’s feet, and – oh, shit.

“Oh, shit.”

Steve is still unnervingly silent, one arm curled around his middle while the other hand comes up to pinch briefly at the bridge of his nose. He still won’t look at Eddie.

“You… you thought we were,” Eddie says dumbly, and Steve shrugs.

“Can you blame me? We spend all our time together, Eddie. I’m here more than I’m at my own house, I think I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve slept in my own bed in the last month. We go out and do things together, I try to keep things nice around the house because I want Wayne to like me, we have, like, a lot of sex, and– we… I mean, we kiss and touch and just – do shit like that even when it doesn’t lead anywhere.” Steve shrugs helplessly, finally looking up. “I mean, Christ, Eddie, what did you think we were doing?”

“I thought we were friends!” Eddie insists. Steve throws him an incredulous look and Eddie amends, “With benefits!”

“Right.” Steve’s expression flattens back out, going cold and hard and unlike anything Eddie’s become used to from him. “Because I’m not the kind of guy you’d want to have a relationship with.”

“I said that because I thought you didn’t want to be in a relationship!” Eddie snaps. “It’s not like you stay with anyone for very long, so I just assumed you didn’t want to be with anyone.”

Some of the ice retreats from Steve’s face, leaving a watering kind of hurt in its stead. “Do you listen to me at all when I talk?”

“What? Of course I do!” Eddie might have gotten turned around in certain respects, but he will not have his merits as a friend called into question; of course he listens to Steve.

“Are you sure? Because I talk about you an awful lot. I talk about doing things with you, about doing things in the future with you,” Steve says pointedly, “about how I want to stay with you.”

And Eddie had wanted Steve to stay with him, too. He’s just been thinking – well, he’d thought it was because they get along so well, that Steve had wanted to stick around. That it had only made sense.

“We never talked about… being anything else,” Eddie says, the protest a little weak even to his own ears. “I’m pretty sure I’d remember that.”

Steve pulls a sharp breath in, pinching at the bridge of his nose again; he leaves his hand there this time, eyes scrunched shut. “Just a few days ago, I told you how much I liked being with you. How good and how easy it felt compared to anyone else I’ve ever been with,” he says, barely more than a rough whisper. “And you said…”

I like being with you, too.

Eddie had said that.

He’d meant that he likes being around Steve, likes being his friend, definitely likes having sex with him, but he’d said it while combing his fingers through Steve’s hair, while cuddled up with him in bed, and – okay, yes, he can see the mixed signals there. He can see where Steve might have gotten the idea that they didn’t have an arrangement, that they were just together.

“I– I didn’t mean–”

“Obviously,” Steve snaps, dropping his hand from his face and turning back towards his car.

Eddie tsks, frustrated, and reaches out to grab Steve’s wrist – not pulling, just trying to keep his attention.

“Don’t,” Steve warns him, pulling back from his grasp for a second time.

“I didn’t mean to lead you on,” Eddie tries desperately. “I really… I really didn’t.”

“Yeah. I can see that. But Eddie…” Steve is quiet for a moment, posture so tense and still that Eddie suspects he’s not even breathing. “I’m probably the best-qualified asshole around to tell you that you really have to fucking think about how what you’re doing affects the people around you.”

Somehow, that stings more than any screamed insult Steve could have thrown at him.

“Steve…”

“I’ll come get my shit out of your place tomorrow,” Steve says, low and sharp, before getting into his car and slamming the door behind him.

After that, Eddie has no choice but to step back or get run over, and he watches until Steve’s taillights are no longer visible.

He can hear the hissing of some whispered conversation just beyond the door as he trudges back up the front steps, but his friends fall conspicuously quiet the moment he steps inside.

“…hey,” Gareth finally ventures after several seconds of awkward, sticky silence.

“Hey,” Eddie says flatly.

“Do you… want us to stay?” Jeff asks.

Slowly, Eddie shakes his head. “I think I should… I need to– think about shit.”

The boys all nod, throwing him variously sympathetic glances and clapping him on the shoulder on their way out. Oliver pauses, as if he’s going to say something, but Gareth gives him a shove and gets him out the door before he has the chance. Probably for the best.

Eddie feels numb as he trudges back towards his room, trying to figure out what the hell had just happened.

He flops down on his bed, face landing in a pillow that smells entirely too much like Steve’s shampoo. Probably because it’s on the side of the bed that Steve always takes. Next to the nightstand with the small stack of sports magazines that definitely aren’t Eddie’s. And the spare pair of glasses that also isn’t Eddie’s.

With a low tug in his gut, Eddie realizes how much of Steve’s stuff has crept into his room, into the trailer, into his life – how much Steve has become a part of his life, how much of Eddie’s day has been built around him, how much he’s come to lean on his presence, has come to want him there.

And Steve is going to take it all back sometime soon. Take all of his things away before he removes himself from Eddie’s life, too, because Eddie hadn’t been thinking and he hadn’t been careful and he hadn’t realized–

Eddie’s pretty sure he just broke up with Steve.

He’s also pretty sure he hadn’t wanted to.

His main consolation, as he curls up on his side, nose still buried in Steve’s pillow, is that as soon as Robin hears what happened (and she will hear, he has no doubt), she’ll probably come murder him.

At least he won’t have to wallow for long.

Part 2

[ladykailitha]

Sweet Home Indiana Part 1

Hello! And welcome to this fun little fusion that I came up with here. If anyone can find the post about gay legal troubles after gay marriage was legalized (I think was originally about polyamory divorces) let me know so I can link here, too.

Summary: Eddie is a successful tattoo artist in Seattle and is engaged to be married to Chrissy. Only there is one problem. Well, technically three. You see, back before the Supreme Court ruled that gay marriage was a right and not a privilege Eddie had gotten married in a couple of different states to different people. But now that's it's legal, he's a bigamist and he has to get his exes to divorce him. Which is easy enough for two of the three, not so much for the third. You see the third just isn't just any ex, it's the ex. Steve Harrington. So now he has to go down to Hawkins and try to convince the person he thought he was going to spend his life with to divorce him. Something much easier said then done, especially when Eddie finds himself falling back in love.

EDDIE IS GAY IN THIS BUT THERE ARE REASONS OKAY!

****

Eddie’s life was good. Let it be said that it was really good. He knew that. But he had regrets. Didn’t everyone?

He regretted how his band broke up. It wasn’t his fault, but he hadn’t seen the cracks when they had started to show. He hadn’t seen how tired Jeff was getting or how fucked Gareth was. He hadn’t seen that Brian was only phoning it in every night.

So when it all fell apart after a concert in Seattle, he was left holding the pieces of his band and his broken heart. He had gotten a job as a tattoo apprentice and had worked really hard to get his own chair.

He had friends. Good ones. Jeff had stayed in Seattle, too. Gareth had gone into rehab and had moved to a small village in the south of France. Brian had gotten married and moved back to Indiana where he became a teacher and lived a quiet life. The life he had always wanted.

Then there was Chrissy. He loved her so much. They had met when she came into the tattoo parlor to get a tattoo covered. She wanted to cover the name of her ex-boyfriend with a purple violet. Eddie had smiled at her when she asked.

It was some of his best work, if he was honest.

She was a legal assistant that had just gotten her paralegal degree and was trying to get a work visa.

She had come over to the USA from Barbados. A little island country in the Caribbean.

He didn’t know how she could stand living in damp Seattle after being born on sun-soaked shores under glistening palm trees. But Chrissy was adamant that she loved being in Washington where it rained almost all the time.

Eddie was on a mission. One that he had sworn to Chrissy that he would do today.

He walked into the county clerk’s office and applied for a marriage license for him and Chrissy.

“I’m sorry Mr. Munson,” the clerk told him, “but our records show that you have not one, not two but three marriages in three different states.”

Eddie’s eyes went wide.

“What?” He would remember that, surely.

“To a William Hargrove in Hawaii, a Thomas M. Hagan in New York, and Steven J. Harrington in Massachusetts,” the woman said, holding up her reading glasses in front of her face to read off the list.

“But those were only legal in the state they were preformed in, right?” he asked, furrowing his brow in confusion.

The woman shook her head. “Not since the Supreme Court ruled that it was legal for gays to get married. It’s cause a lot of trouble for a lot you people, let me tell you.”

Eddie knocked his knuckle on the counter and licked his lips. “Shit.”

She grimaced sympathetically. “I’m sorry, but before you can get a marriage license in the state of Washington, you’ll have to provide divorce decrees from all three of your exes.”

Eddie pounded on the counter this time with his open palm. “Thanks.”

He walked away and he heard her call out, “Next!”

Shit, shit, shit.

This was going to be hell, he could feel it.

****

Chrissy had fast food waiting for him when he got home from work.

“Did you get the license?” she asked, handing him his food and drink.

Eddie buried his head in his hands. “No, because stupid gay marriage legalization made all gay marriages legal, no matter what state you preformed them in.”

“Oh.”

She sat down hard. “So your three marriages suddenly count?”

“Yeah,” Eddie murmured. “I don’t even know where any of them are. Like I assume Steve’s still in Hawkins, because he’d never leave, but the other two? I have no fucking idea.”

She patted him on the shoulder and said, “We’ll find a way. The law firm has investigators on staff for this very reason. It might take a while, but we’ll find them.

Eddie nodded. “I’m sorry.”

She wrapped her arms around his neck and sat down on his lap. “I’m not. You didn’t know. Otherwise you would have taken care of it when Obergefell v. Hodges went through the Supreme Court.”

Eddie nodded, but he pursed his lips, his hands up around her waist to hold her steady.

“Let’s just eat and I’ll start work on it tomorrow,” she murmured. “Okay?”

“Mmk,” he muttered.

****

Three weeks later, Eddie had in hand two of the three annulments. Billy had sent his back with a little note that said, “With pleasure.” Tommy had merely sent his back without comment.

That was a relief. He was no longer bound to either of those two assholes. He wasn’t even sure what possessed him to marry them in the first place.

Well, okay. He did. He was far away from home, lonely and willing to connect with anyone who would fuck him.

He was getting ready to call Chrissy to her the good news when the phone rang under his hand.

Eddie frowned at it for a moment, before he picked it up.

“Hello?”

“Eddie? Eddie Munson?” the familiar voice sounded through the cell phone.

“This is he,” he replied, still confused.

“If you want to divorce me, you asshole,” Steve spat, “then have the fucking courage to tell me to my face.”

“Steve?” Eddie asked, his confusion still there, but for a different reason now. How did he get his number?

“Yeah,” Steve hissed. “Remember me? The man you left for fame and fortune? How is that going, by the way?”

Eddie gritted his teeth. “You know full well we broke up, I know Dustin still talks to you.”

He could hear Steve snap his fingers. “That’s right. You broke up. And until you tell me to my face you want to do the same, you take your annulment and shove it up your ass.”

“Stevie...” Eddie pleaded.

“Don’t ‘Stevie’ me,” Steve growled. “Fuck you.”

And the phone went dead then Eddie turned his phone around to see that yes, Steve had disconnected the call.

“Fuck.”

****

Eddie called Chrissy with the news. Two yeses and a ‘fuck you’.

“All right, Ed,” she said. “There is more to this than you’ve been telling me, so you are coming over to my apartment with the annulments you got and you are going to spill. Capeesh?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Good,” she huffed and then hung up.

Looked like today was hang up on Eddie day. He sat down at the table both annulments spread out in front of him and buried his head in his hands.

After a few minutes of allowing himself to break down, he picked up the papers and grabbed his keys, wallet, and cell phone.

Time to face the music.

****

Chrissy opened the door with a scowl, but softened when she saw how miserable Eddie looked.

He handed her the annulments and she put them her bag to take to work so that they could be filed with county clerk.

“Tell me about Steve Harrington.”

So Eddie did.

He told her about how they had bonded over a bunch of kids. Kids Steve had used to babysit, but once they got into high school came under Eddie’s wing as leader and DM of the D&D club called The Hellfire Club. How they had gotten together and when Massachusetts made it legal, him, Steve, Jeff, and Steve’s best friend Robin all drove out to Boston and Steve and he got married in a little court house.

“My Uncle Wayne was pissed he wasn’t there,” Eddie said. “But it was spur of the moment thing. We drove all night and got there that afternoon. We put on little suits and let the judge say his words.”

“That sounds sweet, so what happened?”

He let out a shuddering sigh. “Gareth graduated from high school and we got an offer to record an album in New York.”

“Why didn’t he go with you?” she asked gently.

Eddie rubbed his nose. “Because the kids still had two years left of school. He wanted to be there for them. A couple of them didn’t have good home lives and he wanted to make sure they had someone they could count on. We fought about it. Hard.”

“I’m sorry, cher,” she whispered giving his arm a squeeze.

“God,” Eddie said, his voice cracking. “The things we said to each other. It was bad, Chris.”

“And now he won’t sign the papers?” she asked.

He shook his head. “He told me the only way he’d sign anything is I came back to Hawkins and handed it to him myself.”

Chrissy nodded. “All right,” she said, “here’s what we’re going to do. I’m going to get a proper divorce degree written up, making sure it’s worded so he knows you won’t be going after any assets he has and then you are taking a week off of work and going down there and facing him. Because holy fucking hell, Ed, he deserves some kind of closure as do you.”

Eddie let out a heartbreaking sigh. “I don’t know if I can face him, Chris. God, I put everything else before him and broke his heart. He always wanted this big wedding. A beautiful reception where all our friends and loved ones were there. A beautiful grey morning jacket with a proper boutonniere and saying his vows across from the one he loved. And instead he got an empty court house and broken promises from a screw up like me.”

She wrapped her arms around him and let him sob into her shoulder.

“Which is why you need to go down there and give him that closure,” she murmured, “so that he can have all that with someone else. Someone who isn’t afraid.”

Eddie nodded. “Yeah, just let me know when it’s ready and I’ll take one of my vacation weeks to go to Hawkins, Indiana.”

Chrissy winced. “Maybe don’t sound like you’re going to your funeral, yeah?”

Eddie scoffed and rolled his eyes. As far as he was concerned he was going to a funeral. Maybe not his own, but the death of the first real relationship he ever had and if somehow he made it out alive, he was never going to be the same again.

****

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[sp0o0kylights]

Someone on Twitter proposed Steve and Gareth as cousins whose family had a major falling out, and then someone else brought it up recently and long story short no idea who to credit the idea too bc you can’t search for SHIT on Twitter but it's theirs not mine. 

Anyway I wrote a lil thing as a warmup 

PART TWO

"Why don't you come sit with Hellfire?" Gareth asked, angrily leaned against the bathroom wall while Steve fixed his hair.

He'd tried not to cling since he entered high school. Tried to keep things on the downlow, least any gossipy mouths started running. 

It was so stupidly, needlessly, hard. 

 His cousin was only two years ahead of him but they'd spent the last year in different schools because of it. 

 That year, and the lack of Steve's presence in it, had grated. Now that he finally had Steve back, Gareth was loathe to play by the rules. 

"Sit with you and Eddie, "the freak" Munson? I'll pass." Steve said, but there was no bite in it. 

That, Gareth knew, was because Steve was  using Eddie as an excuse. 

"You'd like Eddie if you spent five minutes with him, King Steve." Gareth fired back on automatic. His fingers dug into his arms, as he resisted the urge to pace around the bathroom floor. 

Unspoken was all the shit that had taken place.

Steve and Nancy's breakup. The rumor mill in overdrive, first about how Jonathan Byers had taken creep shot photos of them, then about how he'd taken his shot with Nancy herself. 

The supposed cheating, the public fights, the crazy background of Jonathan's little brother being missing. 

Billy Hargrove beating Steve to a pulp. 

Now friendless, Steve had thoroughly fallen from his place at the tippy top of the social hierarchy and between his utter lack of friends and his shit tier parents, Gareth was concerned. 

"You do not want me to sit with you, Gary. I'd tell all your little friends that you're apart of the royal family." Steve turned, making an exaggerated face. "How's Munson feel about cozying up to a Prince?" 

"I'd technically be an Earl, Steve, not a prince." Gareth grumbled. 

He got an eye roll in response. "Somehow I don't think he'll care." 

"I do though." Gareth blurted out, absolutely thoughtless. 

Steve blinked at him. 

"What?" He said. 

In for a penny right?

 "I care." Gareth said, looking down and scuffing a shoe, making it squeak against the grimy tiles. "About you. You dick." 

"Wow Gary you almost sounded loving there."

For once, he ignored the jab. "I'm worried about you, man." He said it quietly, the painful truth pulled out of him almost by force. 

He knew better than anyone how few people Steve had. Knew how his dad was likely taking all the crap Steve had been involved in lately. 

Richard Harrington hadn't been the wedge that had separated his and Steve's mother, but the man hadn't done them any favors, either. 

His intolerance towards the working and lower classes, his demand for perfection, the way he looked down his nose not just on Gareth's parents but on his own wife and son…

Gareth's mom didn't tolerate it. 

Likewise, Stella Harrington didn't tolerate her sister ruining her shot at being a rich trophy wife. 

Both their sets of parents were dramatic and neither of them weren't anywhere near the concept of "good" but at least Gareth's weren't neglectful and abusive. 

Shitty absolutely, but he never worried about getting thrown out, or that his mom wouldn't acknowledge his birthday because he'd "complimented her outfit the wrong way." 

(”It's fine dude she just thought I called her ugly. It was a miscommunication. Dad said it's a good lesson about how women work."

"Casual reminder that your dad's an asshole and also how is telling your mom that she looked lovely in the sunlight telling her she's ugly?”

“It implied she wasn't lovely the rest of the time or some shit, I dunno man.”) 

The BMW was a shitty prize when compared what Steve had dealt with to receive it. 

"I'm okay." Steve said seriously. "It's almost the end of the year anyways. I can tough out having some extra alone time." 

"If you're sure…"

"Yeah man, I'm sure. Thanks though."

Then Steve pulled him into a hug and fuck their parents, who demanded they continued some stupid grudge. Gareth clung to him just as hard as he had at ten. Unsure if he'd ever be allowed to see Steve again.

[strangersteddierthings]

Steve, Gareth and Chrissy are cousins AU (sad edition) [prologue] [part 1] [part 2] [part 3] [part 4] [part 5] [Part 6] [Part 7] [Final Part]

The saving grace for Steve here is that all eyes are on Eddie, so no one witnesses how he freezes, just for a moment, when Eddie tells them who the 'she' is he's been referring to. How he just wanted to help her. Help Chrissy. Whatever Eddie has been saying has turned to buzzing, to white noise, to nonsense in the background of his mind.

He has to be wrong. Mistaking some other girl for Chrissy. Because it can't be Chrissy. It can't. Steve has worked so hard to keep his family away from the Upside Down shit. She couldn't be- there's no way she somehow got caught up in it. There's too many questions and not enough answers and when did the air get too thick to fit in his lungs?

Does Gareth know?

Gareth, who Steve knows is one of Eddie's friends and here Eddie sits before him, a witness to Upside Down shit. A witness to a murder they have no clue how to solve. Gareth, who isn't exactly friends with Mike, Dustin, and Lucas, but who is in the same club as them and on friendly terms. That's too many people connected to the Upside Down in Gareth's personal circle for Steve to be okay with.

He thought this was done. That they wouldn't ever have to deal with this shit again.

Eddie is still talking as the pounding in Steve's ears fades and he listens as Eddie swears, he just wanted to help, that she seemed so freaked out by something, and Steve's insides twist and churn. Why hadn't Chrissy come to him? Just last week he was at her house, hanging out and catching up. She never mentioned an issue. A problem. Something that would cause her to seek out heavier drugs than weed.

They used to tell each other everything. What changed?

His stomach drops as the answer comes to him.

He did.

He'd changed. He started keeping secrets first. Pushed Chrissy and Gareth away after that first incident and hadn't really started to let them back in until after Starcourt. He'd just wanted to keep them safe. Keep them as far away from this horror as possible. He'd ended the weekend sleepovers because of his nightmares, stopped inviting them over to hang out by the pool because he can't look at it without thinking about Barb, started avoiding them at school when he'd ended up beat to shit by Billy because he knew they'd dig for more answers than he could give.

No wonder Chrissy didn't tell him anything was wrong.

There's no way for Steve to know if he could have helped or not, even if Chrissy had talked to him. Eddie doesn't have answers; just a story.

Steve hates him a little bit. It's irrational. Eddie didn't do this Chrissy, (even if he had been arguing that point at Family Video) but it doesn't stop the anger inside him from boiling up. He doesn't act on it, of course he doesn't, he's not that person anymore.

Plus, acting on it would kind of negate everything Dustin just convinced Eddie of, such as he's not crazy and they do believe him, and Steve's not about to undo what Dustin's accomplished by taking Eddie by the vest and shoving him against the wall in a reverse of earlier. It wouldn't do any good, not now that they're all sure it's a new, unknown threat from the Upside Down that they'll have to figure out on their own.

No. Taking his anger out on Eddie won't solve anything.

He can be mad about this later.

It does sit heavy on him, though, that he doesn't think anyone in this boathouse knows Chrissy was his cousin. That the Upside Down has taken someone from Steve this time. He can't tell them. Robin wouldn't take it well, and Dustin might not either. They'll be sad for him, and he can't handle that right now.

He can mourn later.

-

Remember the fun lil fic of Gareth not wanting his cousins, Chrissy Cunningham and Steve Harrington, to ruin his street cred in high school? Well, the fun is done. Have some angst. More parts will follow but it's not really a fic? Just... disjointed scenes, rewritten from canon to fit the cousin AU.

[piratefishmama]

I Wish | Part 3

He barely recognised his friends. He was just glad they were themselves though. That somewhere along the way to a stardom he didn’t remember going through, his band hadn’t lost anyone. That someone hadn’t been replaced.

That happened a lot, didn’t it? Bands losing members due to circumstance, arguments over direction, infighting... but they were there. Older, Gareth had a little grey in his hair, Jeff had shaved his down completely, he didn’t have braces anymore, taller too, neither as weathered as Eddie but… definitely older, and Dougie...

Fuck, he'd slimmed down.

Eddie didn’t know if that was an improvement or not, he instantly found himself missing what had once been, he was still big, still broad, but... where disarming chub that Eddie had on more than one occasion fallen asleep on had been, soft muscle resided in its place and Eddie found himself wondering just how the biggest of four of them had done it. Whether it'd been through healthy choices or godawful ones like himself.

It was muscle though, it looked like healthy muscle, so... probably healthier than him. Good for him.

“Oh look who's joined us in the land of the living!” Gareth chirped, his mouth half full of pancake, syrup dripping down his lips.

Jeff, to his left “Saw Louie stormin out kicking up a storm, that shit for good this time?” Asked with a tone laced in caution, as if the subject was touchy. God what had Eddie done in the past that made his friends think they couldn’t rib him about relationships?

That was like... their whole thing back in high school, Eddie, and his disastrous non-existent dating life. He’d trusted them and them alone with who he was, with what he liked, and while there were the obvious ‘do you find me hot?’ questions at first, the playful ribbing, the teasing, the jokes only friends could share… he had them. They weren’t afraid of him. Afraid to hurt him because they knew they never could.

How had he lost that?

Eddie looked to Steve in a bid for help, Steve wasted no time in coming to his aid “One can only hope” with obvious exhaustion in his retort, his hands on his hips, a deadpan expression that Eddie couldn’t stop himself from smiling at.

Gareth snorted a little laugh and followed with “Amen to that, dude.”

“He’ll be back though, he always is.” Dougie piped up around his own bite full of some oat concoction, it looked gross. “Once he sees his job offers dry u—what?” The other two were giving it the kill signal, twin expressions of panic, as if he’d said too much… god who was he? “You fuckers know I’m right, Eddie knows I’m right, he’s a clout chasing pretty boy riding Eddie’s coattails to fame, just cause you’re too chicken shit to say anything to him doesn’t mean I am.”

Eddie looked to Steve again as Dougie spoke, only to receive a silently raised brow in return, he was on his own. “Well—” Eddie began, the other three froze, even Dougie’s attention was on him now, all three clearly expecting something “not anymore! Dunno what I saw in him, but I’m done, Steve, if you would… uhm… make sure he can’t contact me again?”

“Want me to block his number?”

“What?” Eddie whispered behind his hand, brows furrowed in confusion, block? A number? What?

“I’ll sort it.” Steve would sort it, and of that Eddie had zero doubts. He wouldn’t doubt the genie about anything ever again. Louie and his overly manicured entire self would never darken his doorstep again, of that he was certain.

“Holy shit, who are you and where did Eddie go?” The panic gone, Gareth seemed genuinely surprised by his declaration. He'd missed too much, too many things he didn’t know, too many things he’d done that he couldn’t apologise for because he didn’t know what he'd be apologising for. it'd be cheap, it'd be pointless.

Eddie hated everything. He could have probably lived with it, with his lost time, had this not been his first experience of the day with people he recognised. He couldn’t. Not like this. Not with his friends looking at him like he were a bomb ready to go off.

He could put on a brave face though, even if the muscles in his face felt foreign, even if he felt tired... he could act the part. “Turnin over a new leaf I guess... self reflection, new path, bachelor life never hurt me too bad, right?” His friends shared looks, a silent communication happening between them that made Eddie feel isolated, othered, outside, and alone.

He wanted out. To run.

And as if he knew, Steve’s hand found his shoulder and squeezed grounding him in place. He was there, the Genie was there, he'd fix it if Eddie wished him to. He wasn’t stuck, Steve just wanted him to live the day. Experience it. Be brave, it wasn’t permanent.

Jeff broke the silence though, he stood up, crossed the distance between them, that gigantic chasm that seemed so impossible to cross seconds before, and clapped his hands to both of Eddie's biceps, his straight toothed smile blinding “nice to have you back then, Eds, now eat your fuckin breakfast an let’s get this stupid talk show shit over with, yeah?” Okay... maybe it wouldn’t be so bad.

Fuck the ‘old' Eddie, the Eddie who Eddie himself had never met and never wanted to meet, he had his friends, he'd be fine. Maybe he could even stay.

“Sounds good, what's for breakfast?”

“For you? Nothin but the good stuff, man, ordered you some wholemeal toast with avocado an egg whites” so many words, so little recognition in his eyes.

What the fuck was an avocado? Was that a real thing?

“...Can I not have pancakes like Gareth?” Gareth with his syrupy monstrosity.  

Dougie scoffed around his oatmeal, swallowing before he responded because at some point during the last thirty years he’d developed manners. “With your cholesterol? Fuck off, dude, we don’t want you having a heart attack on stage.” Steve only offered him a sympathetic smile in consolation. The beautiful bastard. “It's avocado toast or oatmeal, your choice old man.”

Strike being able to stay. He wanted to go home.

Eddie didn’t like Avocados.

He decided this the moment a semi-hard glob of green mush touched his tongue, lightly seasoned, mixed with something tangy, he hated it, hated the smell, hated the unexpected texture, hated the taste but he ate it. He pushed through like a little champ when every instinct he had told him to rebel against it, to demand French fries or something stupid that definitely didn’t come as a breakfast food.

Maybe he could swing fast food later, see what the future held for the fast food joints.

Later seemed too busy though, the moment they were done with breakfast, the band were whisked away into some kind of car, something way fancier than Eddie had ever seen, to get to the venue and prepare. Hair, makeup, the usual routine that Eddie wished he had an ounce of experience with because back at the Hideout it was just… them climbing up on the rickety old stage Bev’s late husband put together on the fly and letting loose.

There was no pre-gig warming up, no hoard of professionals tugging them into various chairs and rooms to make sure their hair was the correct brand of artful frizz, or mess of floof, or women with brushes coated in powders to minimize the shine from the studio lights that’d make their skin too shiny for the cameras to work with.

Wardrobe was fool proof as they were presented with options that ranged from smart casual to red carpet. Everything suitable for a talk show and nothing fit for a ‘metal’ band, which was strange considering they were advised to go for something they could move in as they were going to be performing during their run through, maybe more than once to make sure all angles were covered.

It was a lot, it was a hell of a lot, Eddie kept finding Steve in his peripherals though. Always there, silent, and observant off to the side, close enough to step in should anyone cross any boundaries but staying out of the way of the professionals so they could work unhindered.

It was grounding in a way, him there, even if he looked so very human despite what he knew Steve to really look like, having him there, knowing the man could get him out of the chaos at any time was grounding.

All those people touching him, all the noise around him, sounds, smells, lights, the pushing, and pulling, and the tugging on his hair, he wanted to scream, he wanted to get away from it all, he wanted—

“Alright, five minute break.” Steve stepped in, his voice firm, without room for argument. “Rockstar needs a breather.” Eddie could have kissed him, genuinely. The relief as all those professionals took a few steps back was instantaneous, that feeling only growing when Steve managed to corral them out of the room entirely, leaving just them in there.

The other band members were in their own rooms, Eddie clearly some ‘big shot’ that he didn’t quite get. Sure he was the front man but… they always said they’d be equals if they made it big. They’d always scoffed at the idea of multiple green rooms, of putting single members on pedestals, that was how shit went sideways, that was how infighting and breaking apart happened. They’d stay grounded, stay real.

They didn’t want that bullshit and yet there he was. All on his own, his friends elsewhere being prepped without him. He hated it. How had it happened? “I should be used to this, shouldn’t I?”

“What makes you think that?” Eddie damn near jumped out of his skin when Steve was just. Right there. Stood beside him in the reflection of the mirror. No longer looking all that human, he looked like himself, golden and beautiful, wearing the clothes he first saw him in.

When he turned around, the human looked back at him, smiling as if he knew what Eddie was looking for. Reflections showed the truth then. Interesting.

“I’m—fuck that's a cool trick, man... but i'm a fuckin rockstar! I should be, I dunno… used to it.” At the very least his old man brain should have caught up by now, right? He should have gotten used to it all, muscle memory of thirty years having passed should have at least kicked in a little, right?

He still felt like that kid from the trailer park on the inside, still felt completely overwhelmed.

He’d just been dropped into a life with no memory of living it.

“Who said you ever got used to it?” Steve hadn’t said that. In fact Steve had painted a pretty sad story of addiction and self-destruction. “Eddie… some people aren’t meant for this kind of life, yes, you’re very talented, you’re absolutely good enough to get this far, and once you’re on stage you are incredible—” for a moment, just a moment, Eddie felt warmth, a teeny sprinkle of warm pleasure trickle through his weary soul at the easily spoken praise. “The weariness fades away and you’re… yourself, everything that you are shines through and it’s breathtaking.” Eddie really did try not to blush, but he felt the heat in his cheeks anyway, as it turned out, older men could definitely be flustered by a cute guy thoughtlessly praising them “but the rest of it… everything that goes along with it… not that I’m an expert or anything, but I don’t believe it’s who you are.”

“I can’t just adapt?” All Steve offered was that similar look of sympathy he’d had in the bathroom back at the hotel. No… no Eddie knew the answer before he’d even asked it. He’d never been able to adapt. “Why?”

“If it helps at all, there’s millions of people out there who feel seen whenever you talk about your struggles with what happens behind the glamour, so many people who love you and support you for the very things that make you struggle so much, for the fact that you keep going, you made it despite them. I’m not going into the why’s and the how’s, but adapting really isn’t something you’re very good at, Eddie, there’s no changing that. You get overwhelmed, that’s just you.”

“Can I wish to change it?” Did he even want to? Not really, something told him it’d backfire somehow, not by Steve’s design, not on purpose, but… it just would.

“You can… I can work my magic, but you wouldn’t be you. You wouldn’t be the person your friends love, the louder than life DnD loving nerd, you wouldn’t be that anymore, and I like that person, he’s very sweet, so I really don’t want to.” There it was. At least Steve wasn’t just letting him make that mistake. “There’s a life out there that is perfect for you, and trust me you will find it, this just isn’t it. Do you want to go home?” Steve wasn’t going to force him to stay, he wanted Eddie to experience it for this very reason, to see the truth behind one of his biggest dreams, see the chaos behind the curtain of a life that maybe he just wasn’t suited to.

He could go home if he wanted to, but… “No. Not yet. I wanna experience it, just once, y’know? Even if it’s gonna suck, I think you were right, I think I need to.” If only to really drive it home that maybe fame and fortune wasn’t everything.

That maybe he didn’t have to be famous, maybe he didn’t have to be some metal legend, he could just… be. And that would be okay.

“Got it.”

“Will I at least know the song we’re meant to be performing here?” Given how little he knew about his present self, the very real possibility of his music having evolved, of new songs being written, it was an issue he really should have thought about by now, but Steve snapped his fingers, an otherwordly light flashing in his hazel eyes for the briefest of moments, and then he smiled.

“You will now.” And that made him feel a little better. Just a little. Until the chaos continued and the professionals filed back in to finish their jobs, the five minutes up.

Part 5

[harrywavycurly]

How does Gareth handle Eddie coming over while he’s hanging out with Cheer?? Does he get jealous because he knows she and Eddie have a thing?🥺

Hiii lovey!! I’ll give you a little conversation between Cheerleader and Gareth and it’ll answer these questions! I hope you enjoy💖

-find all things Secret Rendezvous here✨

“Wait he’s…on his way over here…right now?” “Yeah he said he wanted to hang out…” “Okay then…he’ll probably bring his guitar so maybe he’ll play for you.” “He plays the guitar?” “Yeah he’s like the lead of our uhm…band it’s called Corroded Coffin.” “That makes so much sense.” “What does?” “That he plays the guitar.” “Uh…why does that make sense?” “He’s really good with his fing-” “forget I asked! I don’t…yeah that’s…I don’t need to know about that…” “sorry…so is this okay? I can call him and tell him to fuck off and go home if you want.” “Yeah it’s fine I just….I just don’t like how he talks to you sometimes that’s all but…maybe he’s trying to change?” “I’d say he’s trying to do something because…he said he watched my practice the other day.” “Eddie Munson watched a cheerleading practice?” “That’s what he said…maybe he’s full of shit?” “No…he doesn’t lie about stuff like that.” “Oh so what does he lie about?” “Uhm…nothing.” “Whatever you say…oh I’m almost done adding this patch to your jacket and if you make me add another one I’m going to start charging you.” “Thanks…I’m shitty as sewing.” “You’re welcome…thanks for letting me vent to you about everything…you’re a great friend and Eddie should be lucky he has you around because if I were you I would’ve punched him in the face a long time ago.” “He’s not that bad…you just have to get to know him that’s all…but you’re uh a great friend too…I like hanging out with you.” “You like it so much you’ll come to this party with me tomorrow night?” “Why me? Ask Eddie he’s the party type.” “You know why I can’t ask Eddie…please come with so I don’t have to go alone.” “Fine but I’m…not dancing or anything.” “Deal…no dancing.” “I hear his van…now just please don’t do anything gross on my couch okay? My mom sits there.” “Don’t be annoying you know I’d never disrespect your couch like that…besides he knows this isn’t that kinda hang out…” “and he still agreed to come over?” “Yeah…that’s weird right?” “No it’s not weird it’s just…like you two are friends that’s all.” “Yeah and that is fucking weird because we aren’t.” “Let’s just see how it goes…be nice…please.” “Me? I’m always nice…” “right….”

[thisapplepielife]

Written for the @steddieholidaydrabbles December challenge.

Five Christmases

Prompt Day 25: Christmas | Word Count: 1000 | Rating: T | CW: Language | Tags: Established Relationship, Future Fic, Christmas Day, Full Schedule, Family & Friends, Mostly Fluff, A Little Obligation, Steve POV

Christmas, 1999

8:06 AM

Steve is towel drying his hair, when Eddie pops into the doorway and taps his watch. 

"The day has just started and we're already six minutes behind, Harrington. C'mon!" 

Steve nods, "We'll be fine."

"Steve! Five Christmases! You committed us to five! That's a tight fucking schedule," Eddie shouts, and Steve just laughs. Usually he's the uptight one.

"I told you this was a bad idea," Steve says, just poking at him further. Just for fun, as a Christmas treat.

"This was your idea, asshole," Eddie says, slamming the bathroom door behind him, "I'm leaving in nine minutes, with or without you!"

"Okay, Bono!" Steve screams, not even sure if Eddie heard him.

9:12 AM

"Sorry we're late!" Eddie yells, pushing the front door open, letting themselves inside. "It's Steve's fault!"

Wayne gets up when he hears the door open, and Steve hugs Wayne. Eddie needs to chill the fuck out. Nobody is going to care if they are a few minutes late. Well, his parents will care. But nobody else will, especially not Wayne, that's for damn sure. 

Wayne's house smells wonderful, like maple syrup, coffee and bacon. This was a perfect first stop of the day, nobody does breakfast better than Wayne. 

They help him carry it all to the small formica kitchen table, sliding into the comfortable vinyl chairs, and it tastes as good as it smells. 

This is Christmas. 

The one thing they've done every year they've been together. Breakfast with Wayne. It's the only true Christmas tradition they have, and Steve wouldn't trade it for the world.

11:58 AM

Steve looks at his watch. They definitely aren't late as they stand on the steps, having rung the bell at the Harrington residence. 

Steve debates ringing it a second time, but just waits. Surely they heard it.

And it takes forever, because it's cold as shit out here, but his mother finally answers the door.

"Hi, mom. Merry Christmas," Steve says, and she nods her head at them, opening the door wider.

"Merry Christmas, Mrs. Harrington," Eddie says, politely. 

The long, formal dining room table is set up, and since it's just for the four of them, it's a little ridiculous. But he slides into his chair, a thousand miles away from everyone else at the table. His parents at either end, and Eddie across from him, hands folded in his lap.

He's nervous, Steve can tell. It never gets more comfortable, this awkward tip-toeing they all do around each other.

His parents know about Eddie, but would rather pretend otherwise, Steve supposes.

So, they eat their awkward meal, in uncomfortable stretches of silence.

In the car, Steve reaches over and takes Eddie's hand into his own, bringing it up to his lips.

"Thank you," Steve says, and Eddie nods. "The next one will be more fun," Steve promises and Eddie grins, wide and excited.

2:11 PM

They are barely up the walkway when the front door swings open, banging against the hallway wall.

"Shoes!" Steve hears being hollered from the house, but it's too late. Eddie's got an armful of little girl, despite her mother's warning.

"Uncle Eddie, Santa came!" she yells and Eddie smiles, brushing the snow off of her bare feet. 

Gareth appears in the doorway, to usher them inside, as his daughter regales them with tales of all her new toys that Santa brought this morning.

Eddie puts her down once they're inside, and rattles the sack he has thrown over his shoulder, full of more presents. 

Gareth shakes his head, but hugs Eddie once Eddie's handed over the sack, and she's ran into the living room, to open them up.

"You didn't have to do that," Gareth says, and Steve hears Eddie laugh. Of course they did.

"Sure we did, that's our girl, too, you know. And it's our right, as her super fun uncles, to spoil her rotten," Eddie states.

Gareth laughs, and settles onto the armrest of the chair Eddie has plopped down into, to watch her tear open the wrapping paper with delight.

5:33 PM

"Merry Christmas, dickhead," Steve says, and hugs Dustin.

"Back atcha," Dustin answers, guiding them into the living room. There's a nice fire going, and it's cozy. 

Steve's glad Henderson finally moved closer to home, again. It's been too long. 

Dustin pours them both a drink, and they sit and just talk. It's quiet, calm, and comfortable. All things Steve never would have assigned to Dustin Henderson, even ten years ago. But he's grown up, right before their very eyes. 

Their kid.

He'll always be their kid.

7:45 PM

Robin's running around her kitchen, and it smells slightly of smoke, so as soon as they're in the door, they both step in to help her, so she doesn't actually burn the place down. She wanted to do dinner by herself this year, and they'd all agreed, but she's clearly in over her head.

"I just spilled on the burner! It's fine! Nothing's on fire!" she yells, and Steve picks up the smoke detector from the counter, that's clearly been yanked off the wall.

"I can confirm!" Robin's girlfriend yells from the other room.

And honestly? Steve thinks they're both right, taking a good look around the kitchen. It all looks really good. A huge mess, for sure, but damn good. 

"It looks great, Robbie. You're killing it," Steve says, hugging her from behind, and she shrugs him off, still moving at warp speed around the kitchen. 

When they head towards the table, Steve kisses Robin on the top of the head before taking his seat, "Thanks for going to all this trouble."

Robin just rolls her eyes.

11:54 PM

"Merry Christmas," Steve says, as Eddie slides into bed, flopping against his pillow, groaning at the simple pleasure of the act.

"I have one more present for you," Steve says, sliding his hand over Eddie's bare stomach, and that gets Eddie's attention. 

"I'm listening…"

Steve laughs, and leans over, kissing him. 

Notes: The idea came from the Gilmore Girls episode where they have to go to four Thanksgivings in one day. Then I was googling the spelling of Christmases (to make sure, ha) and realized there is a movie called Four Christmases. So, that too, I guess, lol.

If you want to write your own, or see more entries for this challenge, pop on over to @steddieholidaydrabbles and follow along with the fun!

If you want to see more of my entries into this month-long challenge, you can check them out in my Steddie Holiday Drabbles tag, right here!

[bingbongsupremacy]

Pt. 2

Pairing: Father! Eddie Munson x reader

Warnings: I have never been on a tour bus. I've done a bit of research so I have an idea of what they look like. The bus portions might not be completely accurate, especially since they're supposed to be from the 1980-90's. Sorry if it's not 100% accurate. Also swearing.

Series Summary: Years ago you and Eddie used to be friends. After you graduated, you two fell out of contact. After years of not speaking to each other, Eddie offers you a job you can't resist; be a nanny for his little girl.

Part Summary: It's time to start your new job; nannying for the child of a rock star.

*Not Proof Read*

Tag List: @maskofmirrors @saucypeanuttt @hugdealer

Pt.1 Pt. 2 Pt. 3

******

Was this a good idea?

I stare up at the large bus looming over me. It casts a shadow over my body, leaving me feeling cold.

Can I handle this? I've never been away from Hawkins for longer than a few months. What if something goes wrong? What if I get fired?

" You can come in, ya know. " Eddie's voice startles me.

I look over at the previously empty door frame. Eddie's chest and head peek past the shiny black door frame. His style hasn't changed a bit. Still the same old Eddie.

Or is it?

" I promise we don't bite. " Eddie's voice is playful. It's comforting. Familiar.

" I hope. I'm really not interested in getting rabies anytime soon. " I joke back, trying to shake off the uneasiness. Eddie wouldn't hurt me. Not with his kid on board. Plus, I grew up with the other guys. They might look scary but I could beat their asses if it really came down to it.

Eddie's laugh is exactly the same. Warm and smooth, something that's so easy to listen to and get lost in. Something you want to hear over and over again.

Eddie moves out of the way so I can get onto the bus. " I was worried you got lost. Sorry I couldn't pick you up today. Rose decided it was the perfect day to get get marker on every possible portion of her skin. "

I let out a small laugh at the sight of Eddie's slightly frustrated sigh. " Oh no. "

He cracks a small smile. " Don't worry, I was able to get it all off. She's slightly less green now. I hope it wasn't too stressful getting here. "

As he talks Eddie leads me towards the back of the bus.

This place if fucking huge. I mean, they are global rockstars. Why wouldn't it be?

I had no idea a bus could hold this much stuff. It's basically a mini apartment. Everything looks brand new. The leather couches are glossy and luxurious, something I definitely couldn't afford on my own.

" It wasn't that bad. It's kinda hard to miss a huge bus in the middle of Hawkins. I mean, we don't get much action down here. But you know that, duh. You lived. " I don't know why I feel so awkward. So nervous. It's the new environment, it has to be. I'll get used to it.

We pass a few rows of what I assume are bunks. Clothes are scattered along the floor and partially hanging out of a few of the bunks. This is definitely where Gareth, Doug and Jeff sleep.

" This is the boy's area. " My suspicions confirmed. " Fuck. " Eddie mutters, nearly tripping over a hidden pile of magazines. " I told them to clean this shit up earlier. Obviously they don't listen. " Eddie reaches down and snags one of the partially open magazines off of the ground.

A nearly naked woman holding an open notebook to cover her chest stares back up at him.

" I'm gonna have to talk to him about this. Jeff can't just have this shit lying around in the open when Rosie's on the bus. " Eddie chucks the magazine into one of the bunks, shaking his head in disapproval.

We finally get to the last section of the bus, a separated room. " I just wanted to let you know about a few of the rules I have for Rosie. " He pulls a small slip of paper out of his black ripped jeans. " I didn't know if I should make a list. I've never really had a nanny before. I figured it's better safe than sorry. " His eyes scan over the ripped white sheet in his hands. The back has streaks of green and blue, something I'm guessing is curtesy of Rose.

" I really want to try to get her to bed at 8. 8:30 at most. I've been a bit lax about it the past few days since we're trying to adjust to the whole tour bus thing, but I read that structure's like really important for a kid so I'm trying to do that. As much as I can I mean. It's a little difficult on tour. " He lets out a small tired laugh. The past few days have definitely taken a toll on him.

" I get that. I'll do my best to get her to bed on time. " I reassure him, hoping to take some of the stress off of his plate.

" Thanks. " His eyes meet mine. " That'd really help me out a ton. I'm trying to keep cursing away from Rose. So please no curse words around her. "

" Oh my, Gareth, Doug, and Jeff not swearing? That's a first for sure. " I say in slight disbelief. I never thought I'd see the day.

Eddie chuckles. " It's a struggle. They slip up sometimes. I do too. It's hard not to, but I really don't want Rose to end up being that kid who curses in every sentence in class. At least not until high school. " Eddie hands the small slip of paper to me. " She's not allowed to have any photos taken of her. I understand that's going to be hard with the fuck-sorry, freaking paparazzi, but just maybe try to cover her face or something if they manage to find us or see her. People know what she looks like so if something does manage to get taken, I'm not going to flip out. I just don't feel comfortable with her face being everywhere on anything. "

I nod. " I completely understand. I wouldn't want my kid's pictures out there like that. I'll do what I can. "

" Thanks. Alright, I think that's really it right now. If something comes up I'll let you know. " Eddie opens the door and immediately a small head pokes out from one of the curtains blocking what I'm guessing are the beds. " This is the bunk room where everyone sleeps.

" You! " Rose squeaks, pointing a small finger at me. She jumps out of the bottom bunk she's on before launching herself in our direction. The small bunny from before is still tightly clutched under her arm, this time it's got a plastic pink necklace around it's neck and a bright purple bow squishing the two ears together. " Hi. " She grins up at me.

Faded green lines cover the tops of her hands. She's dressed in a small princess-like outfit, a stark contrast in color to the mostly dark bus.

Like her, her bunk is covered by a princess themed curtain, the only curtain that's a color other than black.

I smile down at the small girl. " Hey, Rose. How are you today? " I ask, bending slightly to meet her eye level.

" Good! I-I have a tea party wif- wif daddy and den we ated cookies! " She exclaims. " Daddy leted (Let) me play wif his gui-guigar (guitar) today too! "

Eddie chuckles, ruffling the wild curls of the little girl. " It's guitar, baby. "

" That's what I said! " She sasses, her face crinkling into an annoyed pout.

Eddie rolls his eyes. " This child. "

" I wonder where she gets that from. " I tease the man.

He places a hand on his heart. " Well, I have no idea. Couldn't be me. It hurt you'd assume I'm the dramatic one. " He pouts dramatically. His pout is nearly identical to the mini him standing inches away from us.

There's no way in hell someone could think they're not related. From the attitude to the hair, the genetics stand strong.

" This is your bunk. It's right above Rosie's. Your shelves are right here. " He pulls out three shelves on the right side of the bunks. " And this is your closet. " He gestures to the taller portion up top. " I'm right across from Rosie and usually the bunk up top is used for storage unless we have an extra guest or something. " Eddie leans back against his bunk. " It's a little tight in here but it's only temporary. We'll be outta here in a day or so and on our way to Texas. "

I pull open the curtain that hides my bed. A small fully made bed sits on the other side. A portable lamp sits neatly tucked in the top corner by a fluffed-out pillow. It's tight but there's still enough room to move around a bit. " Are we flying? " I ask curiously. I assumed that at some point or another, we'd be flying. That's something that's made me a bit anxious. I've never been on a plane before.

" Yeah-Whoa! " Eddie lets out a surprised gasp.

Rose giggles as she clings to her father's tattoo-covered arms. He's upgraded from the small stick n pokes to a few larger pieces. " Daddy I jumpted good. "

Eddie pulls Rose up to his chest, tightly hugging her while playfully swinging her around. " Yah you did kiddo. " He says with amusement in his tone. His gaze returns back to me. " I bought you tickets for all of the flights and rooms at the hotels we're staying at so everything is covered. "

" Thank you. " I smile at the guy.

He's changed. He seems...calmer. Less reckless than the kid I knew years ago. Having Rose' has probably changed that. He's mature now.

" Of course, you're doing me a huge favor. " He gently sets his kid back onto the ground. " By the way, if you need anything, please let me know. I can get it for you. Or let our assistant Gina know. She's got one of my cards too. "

" I feel like I'm getting more out of this than you are. " I say softly. " You're giving me so much. I feel bad for taking all of your money. "

Eddie shakes his head, his curles flying out. " You don't need to feel bad for anything. I promise. You're gonna help me out so much. I was stressing so bad trying to find someone to help with Rose. I was so worried I wouldn't find someone in time. I'm just giving you the resources to help you guys live comfortably. And you're not spending all of my money. I promise you. I wouldn't be doing all of this if I couldn't afford to. " Eddie says honestly.

" Thanks Ed. " I send him a small smile.

A part of me still feels a little bad but the other part is so excited. I've never done anything like this before. I can't wait to see what happens.

" The guys will be back from the gas station anytime soon and then we'll hit the road. It's probably best if you get all of your stuff put away so you're not flying around back here when we take off. " Eddie reaches into Rose' bunk where she's retreated back into. She lets out a loud squeal as she's pulled into the light by her father, her hands gripping tightly onto two small dolls.

" Daddy! "

Eddie chuckles at her frustrated shout. " I'm going to take this one on a walk to get her jitters out so she doesn't destroy the bus while we're on the road. " Eddie tickles Rose' tummy. " Isn't that right, baby? You're full of energy, aren't ya? Aren't ya? " His voice switches into a baby voice as he pulls his face close to his daughters.

She lets out a loud belly laugh. " No! Daddy Stop! " She shouts in between giggles.

Eddie sets Rose on his hip, careful not to bump her into anything. " We'll be back. " He says before leading her back to the enterence of the bus.

I watch as they walk away, a smile on my face.

This is going to be interesting.

[steddieas-shegoes]

i am Dying to see eddie and steve swap battle vest and letterman jacket and eddie supporting steve at all his games and swim meets just as much as steve supports eddie’s things….maybe more of a modern au? because that shit would not fly in 1985 lmao. steve deserves a bf who is proud of him i think.

THANK YOU!!! I am not having the best day mentally today but I have been staring at this prompt since like six a.m. and I knew what I wanted to do, but I don't know that I got all the way there. It feels a little clunky to me, but I hope it's still fun! - Mickala ❤️

--------------------------------------------------------

Eddie Munson met Steve Harrington his junior year. They were unlikely friends; Eddie was one of the few gay people who were out in Hawkins, a metalhead who played guitar in a band, a guy who didn’t really fit in with any one group of people, but his access to good weed made him a guy everyone at least talked to. Steve was a basketball playing, swim captain, jock who had loaded parents and stuck up friends.

Eddie hated sports, he hated jocks, and he hated Steve’s friends.

But he loved Steve.

He didn’t say so, of course. Steve was straight as could be, and he was a good friend, maybe even his best friend besides Gareth and Jeff.

They made fun of Eddie constantly over it.

“Oh, it must be Steve time, he’s checking his hair like he could ever fix that mess,” or “Steve texting you dirty pics or are you just sunburnt?”

It was annoying.

But it also kind of sucked.

Steve was kind of a mystery in some ways. Sure, he was rich, or at least his parents were, but he didn’t seem happy.

He once told Eddie the happiest he’d ever been was the day they hung out after he scored the winning basket for a game. All they’d done then was smoke a little at Eddie’s trailer and have pizza, but whatever. If that’s what made him happiest, Eddie could do that every day.

When Eddie found out he wasn’t graduating, he showed up at Steve’s house with tears in his eyes.

“I don’t know how to tell Wayne,” he sobbed as Steve held him close, whispering that he would be fine and now they could be seniors together, that Wayne wouldn’t be mad.

Steve kissed his forehead.

Steve kissed his forehead.

Eddie’s brain was short circuiting. He stared at Steve, who was giving him a calm smile.

How was Steve so calm?

“Was that like a comfort thing or…” Eddie started, not sure what else to say.

“It was more of an ‘I’m super in love with you and hate seeing you upset’ thing,” Steve said, like it wasn’t a big deal, like he hadn’t just admitted he was in love with Eddie, like he hadn’t just completely changed everything Eddie thought he knew.

Eddie just blinked back at him.

Steve sighed, but smiled fondly at Eddie, like Eddie was adorable or something.

“I didn’t really expect the blank look when I told you.”

“What did you expect?”

“Maybe that you’d let me kiss you? For real?”

Eddie didn’t hesitate, leaning in to press his lips against Steve’s.

“I’m super in love with you, too, by the way,” Eddie said when he finally pulled away.

—----------

All summer, Eddie booked his band at any bar or local festivals he could.

He told Steve it was because he knew he wouldn’t go to college, knew he would be stuck with a job like Wayne if he didn’t find a way out of this town.

He wanted Corroded Coffin to make it, to be seen by just the right person, to open for bands he’d only dreamt of seeing live. Maybe one day have their own tour.

Steve wanted that for him.

Steve’s parents almost never came home during the summer, usually only for a day or two around Steve’s birthday to keep up appearances that they cared about him.

But Eddie was playing at a small local art vendor show a few towns over on his birthday, and had insisted that Steve go so they could make a whole day of it and celebrate his day after their set.

Steve couldn’t say no.

He left a note for his parents, threw on Eddie’s battle vest (“you’re mine and this will show everyone that you belong to me”), and drove to Eddie’s house so he could ride in his van with him.

It was the first show he was attending as Eddie’s boyfriend.

They even put him in the band group chat and jokingly called him the band’s boyfriend.

He loved that he fit in with all of them so well, how kind they all were to him, even though he didn’t share many of their interests.

The vest felt good, it made him feel loved and protected, which he’s pretty sure is what Eddie was hoping for.

His parents called him on the drive to the event, but he ignored it, knowing they would ruin his day if he answered.

They were either home and mad that he wasn’t or they were calling to tell him they wouldn’t be home for a while and a present that he didn’t even like would be delivered soon.

But he didn’t want that and he didn’t want Eddie to be mad at them. Today was supposed to be fun. It was about Eddie and his band, his friends, showing their talent and having fun on stage. It was about Steve getting to be a part of it and enjoy himself, maybe even walk around the vendors and buy something for himself.

He wore the battle vest as armor, just as Eddie had, and as anyone who knew the importance of them did.

He wore it to support Eddie, his boyfriend, who put his heart and soul into his music and into Steve.

He wore it because he’d never known what it was to love someone so much, or be loved by them in return, but he felt it most when he was surrounded by physical evidence of how much Eddie cared.

—----------

When school started, Steve was already on track to being the Varsity captain for basketball and the swim team.

But his biggest accomplishment, and he’d tell everyone this for years, was being able to say Eddie was his boyfriend.

Steve coming out had been big news for about a day, and then some girl ended up leaving school because she found out she was pregnant, and he was old news.

But then Eddie showed up wearing Steve’s letterman jacket.

That caused a hell of a scene.

For days, Steve dealt with endless questions about how long they’d been together, why he chose Eddie, if he knew that Eddie was a drug dealer and wouldn’t ever be anything.

He didn’t care.

He smiled as Eddie walked proudly through the halls wearing his jacket, gave him a kiss before class, and met up with him whenever he could.

“You should wear my battle vest if I’m wearing your jacket.”

“You think that’ll go with the polos and jeans?”

“I think if you’re wearing it, it could go with anything.”

“Gross. Are you in love with me or somethin’?” Steve asked with a smirk as Eddie leaned in to plant a kiss on his cheek.

“Or somethin’.”

People at school left them alone, not sure what to do when their sports hero was dating the guy who failed his senior year.

It was probably the best case scenario for them.

Sure, they got judgmental looks from students and teachers, and when Steve’s parents found out, he’d probably be disowned, but it was worth it.

And Wayne loved Steve. He would come with Eddie to the games and swim meets that he could, cheering louder than anyone else when Steve pulled off something great.

“Maybe you should wear the jacket.”

“Now, now. Jealousy ain’t a good look on ya, kid,” Wayne said as he slapped Eddie's shoulder in the stands.

“Maybe you should marry him.”

Wayne’s head snapped to Eddie.

“Is that somethin’ you’re thinkin’ about?”

“Yeah. I mean not now obviously, we’re in high school. And it’s really only been a few months. But I think so.”

“Have you talked about it?”

Suddenly, all of Wayne’s attention was on Eddie, not the game happening in front of them.

“Not really. But he’s doodled Steve Munson on just about every piece of paper I’ve seen,” Eddie said with a smirk.

The conversation dropped off when Steve made another shot, Wayne jumping up and cheering like it was the game winner. From what Eddie could tell, Wayne thought every basket was a game winner if Steve scored it.

—----------

Eddie didn’t manage to graduate.

He was heartbroken.

Steve managed to get through with halfway decent grades, but hadn’t bothered applying to college since he didn’t know what he wanted to do.

His parents came home for the first time in over a year for his graduation, complaining almost instantly that they didn’t understand the dramatics over doing what was expected and required.

And then they met Eddie.

Eddie, who wore Steve’s jacket to his graduation, proud of his boyfriend even if he was bummed that only one class kept him from graduating alongside him.

Wayne sat next to him in the stands, ready to cheer the second they called Steve’s name.

Steve’s parents wouldn’t sit near them, refused to believe that Steve was friends with anyone living in a trailer park.

Eddie was letting him tell them when he was ready; he knew how terrifying it could be to face people who should love you no matter what but probably wouldn’t after they knew.

Steve insisted he wear his jacket regardless.

“Let them come to their own conclusions if they want. They’ll know by the time they leave again that you’re mine and I’m yours.”

So Eddie did.

And Steve’s parents were pretending they didn’t notice.

At the end of the ceremony, after Wayne subtly wiped his eyes and Eddie gave him a quick pat on the shoulder, they both made their way towards the parking lot.

Steve told them his parents made them dinner reservations he couldn’t miss, but that he’d be over after. Wayne was baking him his favorite dessert for later from scratch: confetti cake with buttercream frosting. And Eddie had his own plans for the night once Wayne left for his night shift.

So when Steve showed up only an hour later wearing Eddie’s battle vest, looking like he’d been crying for most of the last hour, his hackles rose.

“Sweetheart, what happened?”

Steve fell against his chest, letting out a sob that drew the attention of Wayne in the kitchen.

“What’s goin’ on? Steve, are you hurt?”

Steve just cried louder and Eddie’s eyes widened, panicked look pointed towards his uncle.

“Stevie, can you look at me for a minute?”

Steve pulled back and sniffled a few times, but managed to look at Eddie.

“Is it your parents?”

Steve nodded.

“They kick you out?” Wayne asked from behind Eddie.

Steve nodded again.

“I’ll be in the kitchen if ya need me,” Wayne said. “But Steve? You’re welcome here. You understand me? I love ya like my own, and you have a place here if you want it.”

Steve nodded, clearly holding back another sob at Wayne’s words.

“Wanna talk about it or just sit on the couch with me for a bit?”

“Both.”

Eddie smiled down at him before placing a quick kiss to his head.

They sat down on the couch, Steve practically in Eddie’s lap for how close he was.

“I told them why you were wearing my jacket. They didn’t believe me at first, said that I was just trying to rile them up for attention. Then I went upstairs and got your vest and tried to tell them again and they-” Steve took in a gasping breath. “They said no son of theirs would be seen with trash like the Munsons. I said that at least the Munsons care about me and that was it. My dad said I better be gone before they get back from the dinner that was supposed to be celebrating my graduation.”

“I’m so sorry, sweetheart. You can stay here with me.”

“I don’t want you to feel like you have to let me move in just because we’re together, Eds. Robin offered to split rent at her apartment. I’d have to sleep on the couch since it’s a one bedroom, but it’ll be cheap.”

“If you want to do that, I’ll support you, but…” Eddie sighed. “I’d really love to have you here. I know Wayne would too. You’re my family, a Munson if I have anything to say about it, and-”

“Wait. What?”

“What?”

“I’m a Munson?”

Oh, well, okay. Guess his plan was shit now anyway.

“I had a whole plan. Jesus. I don’t want your memory of this to be ruined by your parents.”

Steve’s eyes widened.

“Were you…?”

“I was. But I’ll come up with a new plan, sweetheart.”

“No! No. Please. I don’t want this day to be ruined by them. I never want another moment ruined by them,” Steve begged, his eyes still wet, but a smile replacing his frown.

“Stay here then.”

Eddie ran to his room, grabbed the box he had sitting in his dresser for the last three months, and ran back to Steve in record time. He probably would’ve passed PE the first time around if he knew Steve was waiting at the end of the mile.

He kneeled on one knee in front of Steve, who was crying but for a totally different reason now.

“Stevie, I know we’re young and technically I haven’t even gotten my high school diploma yet, and I’m not really sure what kind of future I can even give you, but I know I want you in it. I know I want us to figure it out together, here or somewhere else. Anywhere else preferably. I know any minute I spend away from you is a minute wasted. And I know that I will never love someone half as much as I love you. So if it’s okay with you, I think I’d really like to marry you. Sound good?”

“Can I change my name to Steve Munson?”

“We can go sign the papers tomorrow if that’s what you want, sweetheart.”

Steve leaped forward, practically tackling Eddie to the floor, kissing his cheeks and neck and forehead.

“Is this a yes?”

“Yes! I wanna marry you right now.”

“Right now?”

“Yeah, can we?”

“You don’t wanna do something nice?”

“No, just want you and Wayne and Robin to witness it. And I wanna save up and buy us an RV, and I want our honeymoon to last forever. We can travel the country, you can perform at random bars and I can be a bartender for the night or something. Use the tips to fill the tank of the RV and pay for our cell phones.”

“You’ve put some thought into this.”

Steve leaned in to kiss Eddie messily, lips wet with spit.

“It’s all I’ve thought about for a year, Eds.”

“That long?”

“Mhm. Wanted to be yours forever for so long.”

“Let me put the ring on then, ya goof.”

Steve was smiling. Eddie was smiling. They couldn’t see him, but Wayne was smiling from the entrance way to the kitchen.

“It’s pretty. Where’d you get it?”

“I gave it to him,” Wayne said, finally entering the room.

“What?” Steve looked back down at the ring now on his finger, and back up at Wayne.

“Made him promise to use it for you. You’re the only one I trust with Eddie’s heart.”

“Wayne, I-”

“No arguin’. It was my wedding ring. Ain’t doin’ me no good now. I know it ain’t much, but it means a lot to me and I know it’ll be important to you.”

Wayne had told them both the story of his one and only love. How they’d met in high school, got married when they were 18, and enjoyed what little time they had together. She got sick young, doctors didn’t know half of what they know now, and she was gone before they could even think about finding treatment.

He wore his ring every day for the last 35 years, only taking it off if it needed polishing.

Until the day he gave it to Eddie and said, “you better ask that boy and he better say yes.”

And they did.

On the day they got married at the courthouse, Eddie wore Steve’s letterman jacket and Steve wore Eddie’s battle vest, new gold wedding ring patches displayed proudly on the front of each.

[tartarusknight]

The King of the Freaks | Pt 5

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[ladykailitha]

Icarus Part 6

Hello! I don't know how long it's been since I've updated this, so if you don't remember much, I recommend going back and at least rereading part 5.

In this Steve and Eddie talk and you meet Steve's bandmates and best friends outside of Robin, Eddie, and Dustin.

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5

****

After the shower and the best sex Steve had ever had, Eddie and he lay curled up on the bed.

“I hate lying to everyone,” he murmured. “It eats me up inside. But if one person found out...” He buried his head into Eddie’s shoulder.

“But one person did find out, sweetheart,” Eddie said softly. He rubbed Steve’s back soothingly. “The world didn’t end. Your secret is still safe. I’ll make sure of it.”

Steve let out a low shuddering breath. “I trust you. I do. It’s everyone else I don’t trust.”

Eddie threaded his fingers through Steve’s hair and brought their foreheads together. “So trust me to keep everyone else at bay. Can you do that?”

Steve let his eyelids flutter closed and he took a deep breath. “Yeah, Eds. I can do that.”

“Just one more thing, sweetheart and you can go to sleep.”

Steve opened his eyes and asked, “Yeah, what’s that?”

“The boys want The Fallen to join Corroded Coffin on our next US tour,” he said with a grin. “What do you say? You think your band would want to do that?”

Steve’s eyes went wide. “Like for real? All the guys signed off on us opening for you?”

Eddie tilted his head in confusion. Where did that question come from? But as he thought about it he knew exactly who Steve was referring to.

“Yes, even Gareth,” he said with amusement. “They all love your guys’ sound. You’re even his favorite bandmember.”

Steve snorted. “I wouldn’t be if he knew who Abbadon was.”

He winced, Eddie really wished he could refute that but Gareth was sure that Steve would swoop in and take Eddie away from the band, leaving them high and dry.

Steve wouldn’t have done that prior to being in his own metal band, but it was even less likely now.

“Gareth has his own hang ups,” Eddie said. “Don’t you be worrying about them, okay?”

Steve let out a long sigh. “Yeah, I just wish I knew why he didn’t like me very much.”

Eddie pulled him closer and pressed a kiss to the top of Steve’s head.

“Sweetheart,” he murmured. “He doesn’t like anyone who could break up the band by being ‘Yoko Ono’. You, Miranda, anyone any of us have dated ever. But it’s okay if he dates, because he knows to make sure that the band is his top priority.”

Steve pulled away a little and leaned up to look Eddie in the eye. “Wait, what?”

“Yup,” Eddie said, gently pulling him back down. “So don’t you worry your pretty head about it, okay?”

Steve kissed him deeply and buried his head into the crook of Eddie’s neck, nuzzling the column of his throat.

Soon they had both drifted off to sleep.

****

Steve was woken in the early hours by Eddie kissing him goodbye.

“I’ve got to go before anyone gets wind I’m here, darlin’,” he murmured. “But I’ll text when I can, okay?”

Steve nodded and snuggled back into his pillow to go back to sleep.

Eddie shook his head fondly. He slipped out into the hallway where Robin was waiting for him.

She was leaning up against the wall with her head down and her arms crossed.

“Miss Celeste,” he murmured, miming tipping a hat.

She pushed herself off the wall and turned to him. “Are you going to be trouble for us?”

She tossed him a plain black hoodie which he quickly pulled over his head.

“You and Ste–Abbadon?” Eddie asked cocking his head to the side.

Robin shook her head. “All of us. The whole band. Abbadon and I aren’t the only ones hiding our identities. I don’t want them outed anymore then I want Abbadon outed. I mean it’s not that big a deal for me. I can be their manager no matter what I look like now.”

Eddie regarded her for a moment, thinking. He had a pretty good idea who the other bandmates were. And it made sense. They had separate lives that could be ruined if word got out they played for a metal band.

“I don’t know shit, Cici,” he muttered. “And that stands for as long you need me to.”

She blinked at the new nickname, unsure if she liked it or not. She waved the thought away, she had more important things to worry about.

“I’ll hold you to that, Munson,” Robin said pointing her finger at him. “Do not ruin this for us.”

Eddie gave a jaunty salute and started down the hallway back the way he’d come up.

Immediately he ducked his head and changed his gait, becoming a completely different person.

Robin watched until he was out of sight.

She shook her head. She had been so concerned about the geniuses that she had been blindsided by the idiot.

Granted this idiot was in love with Steve, but she wasn’t sure if that made it better or worse.

She supposed only time would tell.

****

Robin sat with her boys. Steve was her soulmate, but these three were her brothers. She loved all of them.

She looked at each one of them in turn. Shane Kendrick was a bright-eyed, freckled red-head. His hair was a riot of curls and sheered on the on the sides. He was sitting cross-legged on the floor, looking up at her like a lost child.

Simon Olsen was on the sofa with Steve. He was practically a video game main character. Dark hair and eyes, chiseled jaw, dashing good looks. He was leaning heavily into Steve’s side as Steve draped a comforting arm around his shoulders.

The final member of the group was Spencer Peters, a blond haired, blue eyed man with a crooked nose and a mischievous grin.

“Okay guys,” Robin began. “i have good news and bad news. Which do you want first?”

“Bad!” they chorused.

Robin shook her head at these absolute dorks. “The bad news is that someone clocked Steve as Abbadon.”

“Shit!” Spence hissed. “What happened?”

Steve chuckled. “Apparently I had a secret admirer for years.”

Simon looked up at Steve in confusion. “What does that mean?”

“Eddie Munson has been in love with our Stevie so long that he clocked Steve from the two little moles on the underside of his jaw,” Robin said dryly.

Shane leaned forward, eyes wide. “Are you for real right now?”

“Eddie Munson?” Spence echoed. “As in frontman for the biggest band in the world?”

Steve cackled. “That would be the one.” They all stared at him like he had grown an extra head. “Come on, guys, you know that I’ve been friends with him for years. I even went to school with him. It’s not out of the realm of possibility.”

“Holy shit,” Spence said, eyes wide. “You totally fucked.”

Steve turned a bright red.

Simon leaned a little bit away from Steve to look him in the eye. “You slept with Eddie Munson. Was that before or after he found out you were Abbadon?”

“After,” Robin said. “He sent flowers to Abbadon’s dressing room last night with a note letting him he figured it out.”

The three other men gasped in shock.

“Weren’t you upset?” Shane asked. “I think I would be regardless of who had done the guessing.”

Steve licked his lips. “Was it harrowing for a bit there? Sure, I’m not going to lie. But I trust this man with my life,” he said. “But I’m not going to trust him with yours. If you want him to know, you can tell him, but otherwise, Celeste and Abbadon ain’t gonna say shit to him, and Robin and Steve don’t know jack.”

The three men looked at each other.

Spence shrugged. “Like he’ll probably figure it out.”

Simon sat up fully and blushed. “I think he spotted me as he was coming out of the dressing room, if that was him.”

Steve nodded. “Yeah, Robin and I hauled him in there to make sure he actually knew and wasn’t just fucking around.”

Shane licked his lips. “Just so I got this straight,” he said, “Eddie Munson figured out Steve is Abbadon because he’s mapped out every freckle and mole he has, he sent Steve flowers letting him know he knew, they fucked about it, and he most likely knows that the rest of us are in the band, but probably not who’s who for sure. That sound about right?”

Steve and Robin shared a glance and Robin nodded.

“That sums it up, yeah.”

Simon collapsed back into Steve’s side. “What’s the good news?”

“Corroded Coffin wants us to open for them the next time they go on their US tour,” Steve said with a grin.

Suddenly all three men were on their feet and staring down at Steve in shock.

“There is no way,” Spence hissed. “Is this because of you and Eddie?”

Steve shook his head. “No. I can see why you’d think that. But all us getting together did was give Eddie the chance to ask. The other members of the band are fans of ours.”

Shane raised an eyebrow. “But not Eddie?”

“Yeah...Eddie’s a music snob,” Robin said with a grimace. “He thought the band was gimmicky.”

Spence snorted, throwing himself back on the chair and crossing his arms. “Yeah, okay. That’s fair.” He half shrugged. “A lot people thought like that with our first album and we kinda were. But now that we’ve settled into our personas better, we’re going to hear that less and less.”

“I can’t believe you’re taking Eddie’s side,” Simon said with a glare, curling back up against Steve like a large house cat.

Steve rubbed his back soothingly. “It’s okay. He changed his mind when he saw us live. Just like a lot of people. You can’t keep nitpicking something that he’s since changed his mind on, especially since you didn’t know about the other thing until we told you.”

Simon rolled his eyes, but wisely said nothing else.

“When and where would we be touring?” Shane asked, settling back down on the floor, cross-legged.

“Not for awhile,” Steve said. “They just got back into the studio. Something that our own record label has been begging us to do since we started our second leg of our US tour.”

Spence nodded. “Which gives me and Shane time to write our third album and get it some of it recorded before they want us back on the road.”

Shane did their music and Spence did their lyrics. That was another thing that surprised a lot pundits when The Fallen first came out. Drummers weren’t usually a band’s writer. But it worked for them.

Steve could play guitar and sing, but he couldn’t write music and his poetry had caused many a partner to laugh out loud at his attempts.

But Spence was really good at getting to the heart of Steve’s emotions and channeling them into soulful lyrics.

Steve would come to them with a idea for a song and between the three of them they would work it out.

Simon didn’t mind not being a part of that process. If Steve’s poetry attempts were bad they were nothing compared to Simon’s attempts at writing a fantasy novel.

He had two thousand pages of...well. Simon called it a mess and no one could disagree. He had read several books on writing, attended lectures and classes, watched Masterclass for half a dozen writers, and it boiled down to one inescapable truth.

Simon was too wordy and did not take criticism well. So anything he wrote was for himself and for fun.

He had published a couple of RPF fanfics about a couple of actors from some detective show, but they never really got any attention and then when the band took off, he just never had the time.

He was more than happy to just lay on the guitar riffs and solos when they needed him to and let them do the rest.

Plus it was fun watching the three of them take Steve’s word vomit and turn it into a hit single.

“I’ve also got someone coming in and deprogramming our personas,” Robin said, “so we don’t look like weirdos with no spacial awareness.”

Simon giggled. “Just how many of your friends thought you were cursed, Steve?” he teased their frontman.

“Oh hardy ha,” Steve grumbled.

“Most of them them,” was Robin’s cheerful reply.

Steve stuck his tongue out at her. “So just to reiterate, Eddie knows about me and Robin and will probably guess about you three, but it is up to you if want to tell him. We’re going back into the studio for our third album and Corroded Coffin is currently recording their ninth. And while we’re there, we’re going to learn how to be regular humans again. Then after they’re done and hopefully us, too,” he added as an aside, “and they set the dates, we will open for them for just their US portion of their tour.”

He looked around at them.

“Any questions?”

The three other members just shook their heads.

“Great!” Robin said cheerfully. “Anybody got plans for tonight? Or are we doing the post tour celebratory dinner tonight since someone wasn’t there last night?”

“Post tour dinner and drinks are okay with me,” Simon said. “Though it was great to just crash last night.”

Shane and Spence nodded.

“I’m down,” Shane said, stretching his long limbs. “I could use a beer or three tonight after this meeting. Holy fuck.”

Steve nodded solemnly. “Mood.”

Everyone turned to Spence.

He blushed deeply. “Is it all right if I bring someone along?” His head snapped up and he waved his hands as the implication just hit him. “She doesn’t know, so if you don’t want her there it’s fine. But my sister set us up before the tour and we’ve been messaging back and forth.”

Steve laughed. “Take her on a proper date on Friday, you asshole. Tell her you’re still a bit jet lagged and want to be fresh and awake for her to give her the attention she deserves.”

Spence blushed and pulled out his phone to do just that.

Shane licked his lips with a mischievous grin. “Just tell me again why you were single for so long with moves like that?”

Robin snorted. “Because he had a crush on Eddie.”

Steve turned bright pink.

“You are positively hopeless, Steve,” Shane said shaking his head.

“Oh I don’t know,” Steve replied. “It seemed to work out pretty well.”

Robin hit the back of his head. “Only because you got lucky and Eddie figured you out.”

Steve’s expression softened and turned wistful. “Yeah. I’m really fortunate to have him.”

Shane and Spence looked at each other and sighed.

“Looks like there are going to be a couple of sappy loves songs on this album,” Spence said, rolling his eyes.

Steve half shrugged, completely unrepentant.

Robin just shook her head fondly. God how she loved her boys.

****

Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10 Part 11 Part 12

Tag List: @mira-jadeamethyst @rozzieroos @itsall-taken @redfreckledwolf @emly03

@spectrum-spectre @estrellami-1 @zerokrox-blog @gregre369 ​@a-little-unsteddie

@chaosgremlinmunson @messrs-weasley @danili666 @chaoticlovingdreamer @maya-custodios-dionach

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@cryptid-system @counting-dollars-counting-stars

[jo-harrington]

Standard Operating Procedures 1.03 (Eddie Munson x Store Manager!Reader)

Pairing: Eddie Munson x Reader

Summary: Eddie is no stranger to disappointment, but it still stings, regardless.

Previous Part: Standard Operating Procedures 1.02 (Like...it immediately precedes 1.03)

Warnings/Themes: AU where the Upside Down doesn't terrorize Hawkins. Reader works at the Claire's at StarCourt. Eddie works at TapeWorld. Mutual pining and slow burn (yes still, always). Chekhov's...Guitar(?), Sad Boy Eddie, Disappointment, Kind of an argument, Disillusioned Eddie, Hurt/Comfort, fluff at the end as per usual.

Note: I am admittedly just making some shit up in this chapter strictly because I don't know how certain things were in the 80s and have already done my fair share of research and math for this fic. I'm a tired girl. Suspend your sense of disbelief. I hope it's seamless regardless.

Also, I just want to say, thank you for all the love this little series has gotten so far. Everyone has been so kind. If you haven't gotten some already, here's some soft internet magic to help you find your own Eddie Munson or mall romance or whatever it is you're looking for. *perpetual magical forehead smooch*

You can find my masterlist here for more featuring our resident Store Manager and all of my other random Eddie Headcanons.

Please do not interact if you are not 18+.

Enjoy!

---

"M'home!" Eddie announced as he bounded into the trailer. "Isn't it time to make the donuts, old man? Didn't expect you to still be here."

"Eh, Marty's got some appointment tomorrow, so I traded him for 2nd shift," Wayne sighed, sinking further into his arm chair. "Didn't get home too long before you and I don't plan to leave this chair for a good few hours."

"Well, I'll make myself scarce so you can enjoy Johnny Carson in peace," Eddie chuckled, knowing his uncle didn't get much of a chance to indulge in his favorite programs with his work schedule.

"Did ya' have a good session tonight?"

"No session. We went out to celebrate Gareth getting his drivers license."

"S'that why you're so giddy?" Wayne teased good-naturedly.

Eddie thought about it for a second as he kicked off his sneakers, realizing that he had been in a pretty good mood tonight. It had been a fun night out with the guys. And of course, you were there.

It made him happy that you got along with his friends.

And he got to sit next to you and sneak little glances when you didn't know he was watching. And he got to hear the little hitch of your breath at the jump scares and imagine that it would do the same if he kissed your neck the way he wanted to, someday.

You had leaned in close at one point and put your head on his shoulder...only to whisper some joke about a continuity error you spotted. And then grinned when he burst out laughing, only to get confused looks from the guys and curses from the other moviegoers.

It only got better when you agreed to go out on Halloween, as much as he felt like an absolute idiot for asking you.

Who asks a girl to go Trick or Treating? What was he, in 3rd grade? On the upside, it meant you still planned to be his friend come October.

Maybe you would be more than a friend by then.

If he could just get the courage to...actually ask you out.

It wouldn't be that hard, right? He would just have to...maybe hold your hand and ask if you'd ever want...well no that wasn't right...

Fuck. He'd done it before; he'd mostly gotten no's but...

"Y-yeah," Eddie finally responded, realizing his uncle was waiting for an answer. "Zombie movie. You know I like those. Gareth was practically pissing his pants."

"Well good. And you tell that boy not to let the driving thing get to his head," Wayne coughed. "He still owes me a new mailbox after your driving lessons.

"Speaking of which, there's mail for you on the counter," Wayne waved his hand in the direction of the kitchen.

Eddie shuffled over and thumbed through the envelopes, debating whether or not to pull a Carnac the Magnificent just to get a laugh out of his uncle, only to freeze when he reached the bright blue envelope at the bottom of the stack.

ROANE COUNTY PARKS, RECREATION, & COMMUNITY SERVICES

He didn't even need a second to think before he sprinted across the trailer to shove his feet back into his sneakers, grabbed his keys, and shouted a quick "imgoingtojeffsdontwaitup" as he raced out the door.

If it was any other time, he would have called first. Or waited until the morning. But if he knew his friends--and he knew them well--they went and got Dairy Queen after the movies, and Gareth would be pulling into Jeff's sleepy little cul de sac off Maple any minute now. There was no time to waste.

This was big, for all of them. He couldn’t do this alone.

He drove with the radio off, he kept his hands at ten and two, made a full stop at every stop sign, and didn't even speed like he usually would. Not one mile over the limit. He couldn't risk Callahan catching his scent tonight. And he prayed to every god, goddess, demon, devil, deity—every pantheon—he knew that everything could just be in his favor tonight.

It's just the fair, but what if this is the next step on the road to something bigger.

Eddie started honking as soon as he could see the tail lights of the station wagon. He didn't care who he woke up or what neighbor would call the cops. He didn't even remember putting the van in park before he jumped out; it could have rolled off a cliff, he wouldn't have cared.

The other guys started screaming as he waved the envelope at them.

"This is it, this is it. Did you open it yet?

"A real show, guys."

"Do we need new equipment? Shit, do we need eyeliner?"

"Alright guys calm down," Eddie grinned. "We have to open the envelope first."

They huddled together in the middle of the cul de sac, hovering over the envelope and Eddie held his breath for a moment. This would be the moment...

The moment that they could tell everyone they really started on the road to making it big.

The moment they got their first real set, their first big crowd.

Maybe there would be some talent scout at the fair. They showed up at these sorts of things right?

He might not even need to go back to Hawkins High come September.

Or even if he did…to know that he might be a real rockstar some day...He could ignore all of the shit from the kids and the teachers. It wouldn't need to be another year of ridicule and humiliation.

He ripped through the thin blue paper and pulled out the folded letter within, dropping the envelope immediately in favor of clutching it with both hands as he read.

His hands started to shake as he read, and it was only getting worse by the second.

He was going to vomit. Or...or pass out. Or...

Unfortunately due to the family-oriented nature of this event, the genre of music included in your proposed set list has been deemed inappropriate and we regret to inform you that your application for this year's Roane County 4th of July Festival has been denied.

Eddie was going to die. He would lay down, right here in the middle of the street, and die. They could just re-pave the street right over his corpse.

Here lies Eddie Munson.

Wannabe Rockstar.

He didn't even make it to his 20th birthday.

He finally looked up and passed the letter around, watching--painfully--as their dreams were shattered too. He gauged Jeff's reaction most of all, since he had been the one to propose the idea in the first place. But Jeff was fine; he was just looking right back at Eddie.

"You ok, man?" he asked.

"It's just a stupid fair," Eddie sniffed, ignoring the stinging of his eyes as he fought back the tears.

"Yeah," Dave nodded. "There's always next summer."

Next summer. Next year.

Another year he probably wasn't gonna graduate again. Another year stuck in this not-even-one-horse-town.

Sure, he was probably getting ahead of himself with the ideas of fame. But outright rejection? It stung. To be denied the chance to perform, to show off all of their talent, because of the set list he chose.

The guys all trusted him, he always chose songs that highlighted their strengths. Always wanted them to look and play their best. He was so proud of them, he never wanted them to fail.

But they trusted him and it let them down.

And because of that, Eddie couldn't let everything fall apart because he failed.

"They couldn't even let us pick some new songs," Eddie swallowed his pain and laughed dryly. "They don't know what they're missing out on."

It wasn't much, but it was enough to get them going.

"Hey maybe we could write some more original songs for next year?"

"I think if we practiced, I could really nail that one drum solo, hey Ed?"

"We would have totally melted some faces!"

They always held it together for him; he definitely could do it for them too.

---

“Are you sure he’s gonna like this one?”

“This is the newest model,” Eddie explained with a sigh, turning the box over to show off the list of New and Improved features on the back.

The customer was a sleepy-looking older guy in glasses and a wrinkled polo, who walked in 10 minutes before closing, whose wife apparently sent him out for their son’s birthday present: a new Walkman.

And the asshole was really dragging his feet on a decision. Eddie had all of the options they offered laid out on the display case, they'd gone over the different features several times. He almost had the sale, and then the guy realized it was the red model instead of blue. Like it even fucking mattered.

It was Sunday night too. Not like Eddie had anywhere else he needed or wanted to be.

“And if I go to Sam Goody, they’re gonna say the same thing?” He asked.

“You could go down there and ask, but I’ll bet you that it’s gonna be marked up at least 15% more.”

If he left now, the gate would get closed right behind him. The sale wasn’t worth it.

“Hmmmm, fine,” the man harrumphed and began pulling out his wallet. “And throw in a couple tapes too, I guess. I don’t know what Michael likes; whatever you think is popular. You're the expert here, not me.”

As soon as the guy had paid and was walking out of the store, Eddie pulled down the gate and grumbled under his breath "what a fuckin' dickhead, can't make a decision to save his life or even be bothered to know what his son actually wants for his birthday."

Kyle's barking laughter echoed across the store from where he was doing markdowns.

"I can definitely hear you from over here kid," he chuckled. "You've gotta chill.”

"Sorry man," Eddie sighed as he approached the registers to start the closing tasks. "I'm just...I dunno, in a bad mood I guess."

"Well, you're doing a good job, people just suck sometimes."

The first time Kyle told him what a good job he was doing, Eddie nearly confessed that he was channeling Kurt Russel in Used Cars and rolled a D20 for persuasion before each shift.

Whether or not the D20 roll actually worked, Eddie still had some of the best sales numbers on the team. They’d nearly doubled their sales goal today alone. Because despite the entire town seemingly having it in for him, no one seemed to mind that he was the one helping them find whatever it was that they needed.

"Stop thinking about it so much," Kyle laughed. "You just keep making those sales, we keep beating our numbers, and your bonus check's gonna be enough for the last payment on that Warlock you've been drooling over since you started. Doesn't that cheer you up a little?"

Eddie hummed dismissively as approached the cash wrap to start closing procedures, and glared at the stack of handmade fliers for Corroded Coffin’s Tuesday night shows at the Hideout, sitting neatly on the electronics display case next to all of the special order catalogs.

Yeah that was the dream.

A stage-worthy guitar and an actual stage and crowd to go along with it.

But it was gonna be forever to get there at the pace he was going.

When he’d gotten home on Friday night and told Wayne about the rejection letter, his uncle clapped him on the shoulder and said “good things come to those who wait.” Of course, Eddie was grateful for whatever advice his uncle gave him. He was just…tired of waiting.

And he'd have to wait even longer, because tonight it didn't even feel like they were going to be able to leave the store at all, let alone on time.

Nothing was going right--or so it seemed thanks to Eddie's mood. And it just seemed to get worse as time wore on. He couldn't get the registers to balance, he kept fucking up the combination to the safe when he went to put the deposit away, the mixtape he put into the shop radio earlier in the evening had jammed, and it took both him and Kyle combined to jimmy it out of the player.

They ran into a problem with every single closing task.

And before long, you were outside of the store waiting, when he had typically made it his habit to wait for you.

It was just...one of those things that Eddie liked to do.

He could imagine he was picking you up for a real date. Watch you as you finished up your own closing tasks, enjoy the little things you probably didn't even realize you did--bob your head along to whatever residual music was playing in the mall, fiddle with your earrings with one hand as you signed deposit slips with the other.

The way you lit up when you saw him outside of the gate--gave him a bright smile and held your fingers up to say how much longer it would be--was one of the highlights of his week, after gigs at the Hideout and crushing the guys dreams during Hellfire.

He could have really used that tonight.

Instead, you were out there waiting as Eddie continued to fuck things up. You smiled and waved as you usually did when you first arrived, leaning on the little coin-operated horse right outside the store. Thanks to his frustration, he couldn't bring himself to smile back. He glanced outside every now and again, and felt his stomach lurch whenever he saw you kicking your feet or picking your nails. Bored. Annoyed. Sick of waiting for him, probably, if the lack of an expression was anything to go by.

He debated simply telling you to leave. That your night out was canceled and you could reschedule another time.

But if you agreed...you might get pissed off for wasting your time and avoid him whenever you saw him from that point forward.

How did this happen? How was it just 48 hours ago that he was coming up with a plan to ask you out? And now he might never talk to you again?

Because he was a loser, he wasn't worth the trouble, that's wh--

"Alright Ed, let's go," Kyle clapped a hand on his shoulder and Eddie jumped.

"What?" he stared at Kyle for a second.

"What do you mean what? It's time to go," Kyle explained.

"But the checklist," Eddie frowned, mentally tallying all the tasks they hadn't gotten to. "It's not done."

"You wanna stay and clean the bathroom? Mop the floors? I can just have Paulie do it in the morning," Kyle grabbed him by the shoulder and led him to the door. "Let's fucking go. There's a whole pan of lasagna waiting for me at home, and your girlfriend is out there waiting for you. Unless you want me to take her out instead?"

Eddie fumbled over his words as Kyle pushed him outside and locked the gate.

"Try to have a good night tonight; someone's got a crab up his ass," Kyle warned you with a wink before heading towards the exit.

You pushed yourself off the play horse and approached Eddie with a frown.

"Hey if you're not up to going out tonight, we don't have to," you offered.

Here it was, the first steps of rejection.

"Yeah, no," Eddie coughed weakly. "If you don't want to go out, that's cool."

He'd heard it all before.

"God you're such a loser."

"Who would ever want to hang out with a freak like you."

"You think I'd actually be into you?"

"It's not about me, I'm asking about you," you smiled gently. "I don't know if you had a bad customer or something. That always gets me in a mood."

Eddie scratched the back of his neck for a second and fumbled over his words. You weren’t turning him away. No you had to be letting him down easily...right? That had to be it.

Eddie…he’d just been burned too many times by so-called friends at even smaller inconveniences. It was hard not to expect the same from everyone else he let into his life.

Except that really wasn’t the way you did things was it? How many times has he expected one thing from you and you'd surprised him with another?

You weren't tricking him or out to get him or waiting for him to mess up. You were accepting him as he was and offering him whatever care or friendship he needed.

"Yeah," he finally scoffed, playing along. "This...this guy who came in right before we closed. Couldn't decide what he wanted. Wasted time walking around. Real piece of shit."

"Well fuck that guy then," you frowned, then paused. "You sure you're up for going out? Even if you don't want to be out and about, we can go back to my place and...I could cook something? Wouldn't be pizza like I promised, but I pretty much subsist solely on pasta if I'm not grabbing takeout or going out with you. You can just hang out, listen to music or something, it’s not a big deal.”

It sounded like the best night ever. Getting to see your space, adding another layer of trust to your friendship, giving you shit about your cooking just like you did with his dinner choices…but…

Eddie knew you had scheduled yourself to open on the 4th so you could see Corroded Coffin’s set. Of course this had all been planned before he knew they weren’t going to play. And he knew he would have to break the news sooner rather than later.

But...just like with the guys...he didn't want to let you down. You, who had your entire life together, who he was lucky gave him the time of day. If you got too comfortable listening to music, you might be reminded and you would ask him about it, and when you found out...

So he would keep you in the dark. For now at least. And then come that night when you met him at the Fair Grounds he could just tell you there was a mix up and you could just enjoy the fair and eat carnival food until you puked instead.

"As tempting an offer as that is, you'd be missing out on your first Benny's experience," Eddie forced an enthusiastic laugh. "Uncomfortable booths, shitty atmosphere. But you haven't really lived in Hawkins unless you've had a patty melt handmade by Benny himself."

"Surely not the famous Benny."

"The one and only. I can only semi-promise he won't scratch his back with his spatula, but he will blend a piece of apple pie into your milkshake if you ask nicely. It's the Munson Special."

Your eyes sparkled before you looked down at your feet for a moment, and Eddie vibrated restlessly, nerves getting the best of him once he wasn't being observed by you. You then looked up at him with your lips twisted to control a smile and you nodded.

What a relief...

---

It was an undeniable fact that Benny's was the heart of Hawkins, and Benny himself the soul.

He was a severe-looking man at first glance--wide-shouldered with a wild beard and furrowed brows--but he always had a laugh and a story to tell. He went out of his way to learn everyone's name and make them feel welcome and would already be prepping the grill for one of his regular's orders as soon as he saw their car pull into the parking lot.

And Eddie, by the grace of his mother's previous employment at the diner, was one of Benny's favorites. He told you as much and warned you of his "celebrity status" on the drive there.

"He's gonna be very loud, but he's really funny. And he might grill you about what sports teams you like, so he might give you some shit if you don't have one. Actually, are you a big sports fan? Oh, and he might grab me by the collar and shake me around a little, but it's ok...that's just his thing. He's been doing it since I was a kid after the one time I ate all the mints in the jar by the register."

"Eddie, don't worry it'll be ok," you laughed and shifted in the passenger's seat to get a better glimpse of him. "Oh my god, are you blushing?"

"What, no," he scoffed.

Yes, he most definitely was. And he could feel himself get hotter as you continued to watch him.

"It's ok, family can be embarrassing sometimes," you shrugged. "At least it's just funny embarrassing and not painful embarrassing."

Eddie swallowed nervously and gripped the steering wheel a little tighter.

Yeah this would be like meeting someone from his family, wouldn't it.

He was so caught up in his nerves and self-pity, he really hadn't thought of it that way.

"Unless Benny has some baby pictures of you on the wall something," you continued with a conspiratorial grin.

Fortunately, no baby pictures; unfortunately there was a picture on the wall near the old jukebox of a 9-year old Eddie with Benny and Rick, standing next to some massive fish they caught out on Lover's Lake. Whether to emphasize how big the fish was or how short Eddie was, he couldn't recall. All he knew was that he was missing a few baby teeth and his knees were all scabby from one fantastical adventure in the woods or another.

But you didn't need to know about that.

The diner was, thankfully, busy by the time you guys arrived, so you were spared Benny's theatrics short of a "how's it going kid" shouted from the kitchen and a bunch of muffled greetings from some of the regulars who were around when Eddie's mom was still alive. You did, however, get to meet Lynn, the blue-haired waitress that probably worked at Benny's longer than Benny had even owned the place. She was a crank and incredibly opinionated and always let Eddie's mom, then eventually Wayne and Rick, know all of the ways they were failing at raising him.

Now that Eddie was grown, she simply let him know every time she had a problem with him.

But Eddie was shocked at how swiftly you navigated the interaction with her, dodging all of the tricks and traps that typically set Eddie up for some kind of insult or life lesson.

Lynn simply took your orders--patty melts and fries with the promised apple pie shakes, "oh and extra whipped cream please"--hummed judgmentally and stalked off to top off various coffee cups. She didn't even say anything about the lack of vegetables on Eddie's plate when the food was finally ready, like she usually did when he came in for late night bites with the guys.

"How the fuck did you do that?" Eddie leaned across the table conspiratorially. "She's had it out for me for years."

"Old people love me," you explained. "I've driven my papa to enough doctor's appointments and sat through enough of his stories that I have...what did you call it? In your game? A bluff?"

"Buff," he corrected with a nod.

"Grandchild buff," you agreed and he laughed.

"Repel the Elderly," Eddie puffed out his chest and adopted his DMing voice. "A level 4 spell. No damage taken from anyone over the age of 65. But it only lasts 2 rounds. Let's hope the Harpy doesn't come back otherwise I'll need you to make a constitution saving throw. If you roll below a 10, she deals double poison damage; you might not survive."

You threw a fry at him and stuck out your tongue, then asked him to tell you more about Dungeons and Dragons. Everything was normal for a little while as you ate and talked.

Until Benny came to check on his patrons. He typically made the rounds every hour or two, stopping at tables and saying hello. The two of you were laughing at some joke Eddie made by the time Benny got to your booth.

"Hey, kid," Benny leaned his hip against the booth with his arms folded across his chest. "Long time no see; heard you got a real life, grown up job."

"Hey Ben, yeah. At the mall. Been more than a month now. I'm guessing Rick's been by?"

"You know how it goes: holiday weekend coming up, he pulls an all nighter getting supplies from his guy up in Milwaukee. Then he gets the waffle platter with extra bacon and we talk about all the town gossip."

"Nice to know I'm still gossip-worthy."

"You know how proud he is of you. This, uh...a coworker or something? You gonna introduce me or no?" Benny changed the subject and gave Eddie a knowing look. You, however, swooped in to introduce yourself as Eddie shifted in his seat uncomfortably.

He hadn't exactly told Wayne or Rick about you yet. Just that he had some new friends who worked at the mall too. It wasn't the same as talking to the guys. How many times had he had a crush over the years and came home excited about someone only to get his hopes obliterated. How many pep talks had he endured? Now, thanks to Benny's big mouth and Rick's unending need for gossip, they'd know he had taken a pretty girl to the diner.

He could truly only hope that there wouldn't be another pep talk associated with you.

"...ok Chicago," Benny sniffed as your short conversation came to an end. "You're alright. Backing the wrong football team...but still alright. Nice to meet you.”

He then turned back to Eddie.

"I need to get back to the kitchen but Rick told me about the 4th of July thing.” Eddie froze and his mouth went dry. "I'm sorry to hear about it. If you and the guys want, you can do a show here that night instead. Lot of families stop by for ice cream and pie and such.

"Maybe not that real heavy stuff you're into, but I know you boys know how to play some of the classics off the old jukebox. We could set you up in the parking lot. Phil's got some folding tables from the tree lot."

"Yeah thanks," Eddie nodded. "That sounds great. I'll bring it up to the guys when we have practice tomorrow."

"Just let me know so we can make sure you have everything you need." He turned his attention back to you. "Again, it's nice to meet ya'. Don't let Eddie scare you off, he's a big old teddy bear."

"Ben!" Eddie groaned and put his face in his hands.

"Oh he won't; I'm definitely scarier than he is," you cackled. "Nice to meet you too Benny."

Once he was gone, Lynn swooped in with the check. You immediately made to grab for it before Eddie could dare, but Lynn stopped you.

"No need honey; Edward already paid," she hummed. "As a gentleman should; seems Wayne taught you something right."

"It's always nice to see you too Lynn."

The older woman rolled her eyes and shuffled away.

You waited until she was gone before you turned your attention back to Eddie, gritted your teeth, balled the check up and threw it at him.

"Stop doing that! When did you even--"

"When you went to the bathroom," Eddie grinned triumphantly.

"You are a menace and you must be stopped!" You threw your hands in the air as you pushed yourself out of the booth to leave. "I'll get you back one day, I swear to God."

Eddie clasped both hands to his chest and gasped dramatically.

"No, please," he exclaimed. "No holy oaths in front of a lowly devil worshiper like me. I can feel the bullshit burning through me."

"Shut up, I hate you." You laughed. "Just let me pay for dinner next time."

“No, I let you pay for pizza," Eddie argued.

"You let me pay for a pizza. One. And you didn't let me do anything, I had to jump out of the van before you could. I don’t even think you had parked it yet."

“This is slander! I object.” Eddie put his hands on your shoulders, leveling you with the most stern expression he could muster. “I also let you buy cannolis.”

“Alright Perry Mason,” you rolled your eyes at him and swatted his hands off your shoulders. “You win this time.”

“Excuse me but Perry Mason always wins!"

---

You finally brought it up on the way to Lover's Lake.

It hadn't been Eddie's intention to always end your Sunday nights out at the lake, it just...happened. Pizza that first night, then Chinese food the following week when you lost track of time sitting in the employee parking lot debating which Indiana Jones film was better, Raiders or Temple of Doom. (It was Raiders. Obviously.)

Tonight, the plan had been to make s'mores on the fire pit in Rick's backyard. He had suggested it after he'd spotted a sandwich board outside of Scoops Ahoy advertising their knew Gimme S'mores flavor. He'd subtly asked you later if you had ever made s'mores before, and then gave you shit for your absolute throwaway answer.

"Like...yeah, in the microwave."

"The micr--are you shitting me right now?!"

"I'm sorry, there wasn't really an opportunity to start a bonfire in my fully paved backyard."

"Did you even have a childhood? No s'mores, no pudding, no sugar cereal? NO QUISP!"

So Eddie had gone to Bradleys and gotten marshmallows and chocolate and a variety of cookies. The plan, if you were ok with it, was going to be to smoke for a little bit--he'd dreamed of a s'more made with chocolate chip cookies when he had gotten high the other night and was very much looking forward to it--and enjoy the sweetness of both the s'mores and your company.

Instead, it had all shattered around him as he turned onto Cornwallis.

"So..." you began hesitantly, tapping your hands on your lap.

"So...?" Eddie asked, glancing over at you. You leaned forward a little, eyebrows raised expectantly. "What?"

"Benny's offer...for the 4th..."

"What about it?"

"You guys should do it!" you exclaimed. "That sounds like a really fun time."

You went on about the intimate venue and the regulars who already seemed to know Eddie and the guys, if what you had just seen at the diner was any indicator. The more you spoke, the more irritated Eddie seemed to get.

Not irritated...with you. No, just uncomfortable in his own skin. Uncomfortable with the fact that his failure was being perceived.

He ran his tongue along his bottom lip, his hands fidgeted on the steering wheel, his chest hurt. The van seemed to be getting smaller and hotter, the seat more uncomfortable, the longer you spoke.

By the time you finished, he barely felt like himself.

"No," he coughed. "No, I don't think the guys would be up for something like that."

"Why not?" you questioned. "You were getting ready to play at the fair right? What makes this different?"

"It just is," Eddie shrugged.

"I mean I get it's not a stage but--"

"You're not even gonna ask why we aren't playing at the fair?" Eddie cut in, attention fully taken off the road as he stared at you expectantly.

Because...because yeah you were nice, but it didn't make any sense that you were just...going along with whatever you heard. Why were you so quick to try and get him to accept this pity offer from Benny. Why weren't you throwing it in his face that plans had changed and his dreams were shattered.

"Ok. Why aren't you playing at the fair?" you asked and Eddie scoffed. "I'm not trying to be passive aggressive or anything, you just seem irritated that I didn't ask first. So now I am asking."

"Does it matter?" Eddie shrugged.

"Yes, because you're upset."

"I'm not upset."

"Eddie, please," you sighed. "Even Kyle said something was bothering you. I'm not trying to stir the pot and if you want me to drop it, I will. You just...when you talk about your music and the band you're always so excited. I want to understand why you don't want to take this opportunity."

"Because it's a reminder that I'm a failure!" Eddie shouted, hands coming off the steering wheel as he held them up beside his head. "Sur-fucking-prise! I can't seem to do anything right and that's usually fine, but yeah, you're right, this was one of the only things that really mattered to me and the guys. And I couldn't even get that right.

"Benny isn't asking if we wanted to play because he likes our music, because he thinks we're any good. No, it's because he feels bad that we can't play at the Fair. Because I chose what I thought was a really fucking cool set list and they turned us down. Because I fucked up and he wants to cheer me up."

"What's so bad about that? What's so bad about people who care about you wanting to take care of you?" you asked.

"Because it isn't care; it's pity!" He argued. "It's always pity of one kind of another, right? Pity that my mom died, pity that I live in a trailer park, pity that I have this dream that's gonna get me nowhere, pity that I can't even pass senior year after two freaking tries. What's the point anymore? I'm tired."

The van rumbled along, but it was silent otherwise. Eddie couldn't look at you after his outburst so he wrung his hands around the steering wheel.

Fuck. He really did it this time.

Eddie knew, he knew you were gonna ask and he was gonna try to avoid it and he was going to disappoint you. But he didn't know...

Eddie didn't like getting angry or really showing those kinds of emotions. It was different if he snapped at the guys to reel them in, or snark at stupid kids at school. It was harmless, no actual malice behind it. There were just some times...where he felt it all get too overwhelming inside of him and he didn't want to...

He didn't want to be like his dad.

It's why he liked smoking. And why he liked smoking. He wouldn't say he was someone with a lot of sharp edges to begin with, but they helped smooth out whatever rough burrs that came from the every day were left over on his soul after a tough week.

If only he had made it to Lover's Lake before you asked.

He had made the next turn back onto the highway when you spoke.

"Do you think I'm hanging out with you because I pity you?" you broke the silence with a small voice, and when he looked over, you were playing with your fingers and gnawing at your bottom lip. You didn't look scared or upset, really. That was a bit of a relief. But...

"No, I didn't mean..." Eddie paused for a second, because actually...he didn't think you were hanging out with him out of pity. But he was just waiting for the moment you realized it wasn't worth hanging out with him anymore because he was pitiful.

So maybe it was just worth it to end this whole thing now and save himself some unexpected disappointment. Just like it had been with everyone else who suddenly dropped him like a hot potato.

"I mean yeah," he shrugged. "Look at you. And then look at me. We don't exactly make sense."

"Make what sense?"

"You're like...you have everything figured out, you have your whole life together, you're like...on top of the world. Got your promotion to Store Manager, your apartment, everything. Meanwhile--"

"Eddie."

"--I can't even finish high school, my band can't play a bigger crowd than the Hideout, I'm pretty sure I...accidentally sold my soul or something because Kyle hired me and I'm actually doing a good job? But where am I gonna be in 5 years, in 10? Probably still right where I am. I've literally screwed up everything I've ever put my mind to. It doesn't make sense."

"When things don't work out for us, when we're disappointed, yeah it does feel like nothing makes sense," you sighed. "But that's why you need to let the people around you who want to help you, actually help you.

"It's not a bad thing to accept he--Why are we back at the mall?" You suddenly asked as he pulled onto the Mall drive and headed towards the employee lot.

"Well I figure the night is over, I would take you back to your car," he shrugged weakly.

You opened your mouth to say something, but quickly closed it and nodded.

Yeah, that's what he thought.

He still got out of the van and opened the door for you when he parked next to your car, he offered you some chocolate to take home if you wanted, and he even kissed your hand before you got in the car to leave.

"See you around sweetheart," he said softly through your open window.

"See you Eddie, have a good night please," you offered a small smile. "Please...be good to yourself ok?"

He tucked his hands into his pockets and watched you drive away before he got back into the van.

Be good to himself.

Weird, but that definitely sounded better the "fuck you" he usually got when people disappeared from his life.

---

Except you didn't disappear from his life. You lived in the same town, worked at the same mall, for crying out loud; you still parked your car kind of close to his when he came in for the rest of his shifts that week. You didn't eat lunch together like you'd gotten used to doing...but he would still catch glimpses of you as you passed each other on break.

It was almost...back to how it was before he had gotten the nerve to go and talk to you that first time. You would smile and wave and he would look away. Neither of you said anything to one another, but you weren't hostile and neither was Eddie.

The 4th of July arrived and Eddie had to work. He had originally traded shifts with someone so he could do a short mid instead of a close and he'd forgotten to switch it back. But that meant he caught you leaving Tape World at the end of, what should have been, your 15 minute break.

"What was she doing here?" Eddie asked Kyle, who was surprisingly decked out in as much flag gear as he could get his hands on.

"Who? Oh your girlfriend?" Kyle pushed his star-shaped sunglasses up the bridge of his nose as he filed some receipts away. The grin on his face was obnoxious.

"She's not my girlfriend."

"Uh huh. Sure. Well, her shop radio broke again and she forgot her tapes again," Kyle shrugged. "What else is new? Hey maybe if I send you up there on official Tape World Business, you two can make up and you can stop being such a fuckin' grump."

Eddie ignored him.

That night, there was no concert at Benny's but he and the guys did end up going to the fair and eating funnel cake until they puked.

They actually had a good time; they had even watched the musical lineup for a little while. Whatever the clerk at the Park Department had chosen wasn't nearly as good as Corroded Coffin would have been. And that knowledge, paired with Gareth's heckling and Jeff's booing, kind of made him feel a little better.

The following Sunday passed by without your usual date night. Eddie still passed by your store on the way out to the employee lot. You didn't look at him or wave this time, you were at the register going over something with, what looked to be, a new hire. You laughed and his chest hurt a little.

Eddie knew how much those little dates, how much those lunches and breaks spent together, really brightened up his week. But it wasn't until he didn't have them anymore that he realized just how strong of a foothold you had in his life in such a short amount of time.

He really should never have pushed you away like he had.

He had fucked up.

He missed you.

---

"Hey Ed, once you clock in can you check the shipment in?" Kyle asked as soon as Eddie crossed through the doors to start his shift the following Wednesday.

"Yeah, great," Eddie sighed. “No problem.”

It wasn’t that he hated checking the shipment in….it’s just that there were about a million other parts of working at Tape World that he liked better. Talking to customers, choosing what would play on the store radio for the duration of his shift…shit, even counting down the registers at night. But this was tedious. Busy work.

It was an endless stack of boxes and he needed to make sure what was inside matched the packing slip. Thousands of little tapes. Great.

"There's some special orders back there too, if you can give the customers a call!" Kyle hollered after Eddie as he slipped into the stock room. Sure enough, there were a few larger boxes propped up by the little break area.

Now that was something Eddie enjoyed a little more. He'd call the customers--usually some desk jockey who got themselves something to get through their mid-life crisis, or a parent getting some dream gift that their kid would forget about come next month--and tell them their special order had just arrived. Then typically, they would drop into the store that day or the next day and he would get to help them unpack and test out their brand new guitar.

Aside from selling the sparkling new guitars from one of the many catalogs at the counter, this was the best part of his job. And knowing he would get to do it immediately brought his mood up.

Eddie himself had been waiting for the day where a package would be there for him. On his first day, as they were setting up the store before the mall had even opened, he had unpacked the box of catalogs and found a doozy of guitar that he had his eye on: A BC Rich Warlock. And he had been putting money towards it with every paycheck. Tape World had a plan, just like the holiday layaway at K-Mart, and combined with his employee discount...he was almost there.

He dreamt about it as he grabbed a box and pulled the packing slip from where it was attached on the side of the box.

Maybe in the next few weeks? Next month? He'd come back here and the label would say...

Edward Munson/Tape World/1 StarCourt Drive/Unit F3

Eddie blinked.

Yeah. That's what it would say.

Wait. Was he still high from after last night's show? When they'd made a very late McDonalds run and smoked in Gareth's garage?

Edward Munson/Tape World/1 StarCourt Drive

He blinked again. Nope, still the same.

Edward Munson

"Well?" Eddie jumped at the sound of Kyle's voice by the stockroom door. He had his arms crossed and he had the biggest grin on his face. "You gonna open it or what?"

"What the fuck man? Where did this come from?" Eddie questioned.

"I would assume wherever BC Rich makes their guitars? California, I don't know. I work here, remember dingus?"

"No I mean," Eddie fumbled over his words. "I hadn't made the last payment, where did it...did you..."

"Look at the packing slip man," Kyle gestured. "The order form."

Eddie quickly flipped to the Tape World order form stapled to the packing slip. There were lines of his signatures, and the amount of money he had put down with each payment...and then at the very bottom...

A very intricate signature. Yours. And the last hundred dollar payment, marked in red pen.

No. You didn't. You couldn't have. When did you even?

"I told you she was your girlfriend," Kyle cackled. "I fuckin' told you."

--

Kyle had been gracious enough to let Eddie take an early lunch so he could find you...confront you...kiss you...Eddie wasn't sure yet.

You opened on Wednesdays so right about now you would be taking the cardboard out to the loading dock and then taking your last break. He knew because, if not for the fact that he hadn't talked to you in over a week, he would be right there with you.

Still you jumped in surprise when he burst onto the loading dock, the heavy dock door slamming into the brick wall, just as you were hitting the button on the baler.

"Jesus Christ, Eddie," you put your neon pink, fishnet glove-clad hand on your chest. "Gave me a heart attack."

"Why did you do it?" Eddie asked.

"Do what?"

"This," he pulled the order form from his back pocket and crossed the short distance to show you. He tapped on your signature several times. "Why would you do this for me?"

Your mouth formed a soft "oh" and you sighed.

"Because you're my friend," you explained as if it was obvious. "Because you've been really down and you needed cheering up."

"This isn't just...cheering a friend up. It's too much."

"It really isn't," you shook your head.

"It's a hundred dollars!"

"I have savings," you continued.

"And you have, like...rent and bills and stuff."

"So do you...you said you've been helping your uncle with rent and bills and stuff," you said in a way that mocked him. He gritted his teeth.

"I was gonna use my sales bonus for the final payment."

"Well I'm due for mine coming up too."

"I'm paying you back!" Eddie insisted.

"No you aren't. I wanted to do this for you so I did it."

"If you felt sorry for me or--"

"I just wanted to cheer you up Eddie!" You exclaimed, slamming your hands on the baler button again in finality, as if crushing the already-crushed cardboard was somehow going to drive your point home. "I don't feel sorry for you. I don't pity you. You're my friend and you were really down, disappointed.

"Tell me yes or no? Were you on the verge of giving up? Yes or no, right now."

Eddie froze.

No he wouldn't. Except...hadn't he? There was no 4th of July Fair, which meant there also wasn't a show at Benny's. Their last set at the Hideout wasn't...well he wasn't as good as he could have been. As good as he usually was.

Maybe he had...given up on himself a little. Let the self pity get the best of him.

"No," was the answer he gave you though.

Your eyes hardened and narrowed in challenge. You placed your hands on your hips and stood toe to toe with him and although he was the taller one between the two of you, it certainly felt like you were a giantess towering over him, complete with layers of fishnet and rayon and tulle fluttering in the slight breeze off the loading dock.

"Maybe you didn't hear yourself in the van after Benny's but I did," you began. "You felt like everyone pitied you, that no one was your friend or on your side. You were alone, and in place of real pain and disappointment, and you said you were tired. What is the point of trying anymore, you're tired. You said that, Eddie. You did.

"And I've been there, ok? I'm not that much older than you but I kind of am in a different stage of my life. So I'm sorry if I've ever made it seem like things are easy for me...I'm sure in some aspects they are, but in others...yeah I've been there. It's hard not to compare yourself to others when you're down, but also, you can't just...push people away or think that they're taking pity on you when they're just trying to help.

"And I know it's hard to get over that little hurdle of feeling like everything is a trick or a trap and accept nice things from other people, so excuse me if I took the initiative to do it without your permission. Because when I was at a place of giving up and not wanting help or advice, someone did that for me. So I'm doing it for you now. And I would do it again in a heartbeat."

Eddie stared directly into your eyes as he processed everything. Back and forth, left and right, as your heavy breathing went back to normal.

"Because, if you fail to remember, you have been doing nice things for me these past few weeks, and you really haven't let me return the favor quite yet, so if you don't want to accept that I'm just doing something nice for a friend, then accept that I'm paying you back for all the nice things you've done for me."

He swallowed and looked down at his feet for a moment.

"It was just...some pizzas and snacks--"

"And chili cheese fries, and surprise sodas on the days we don't have our breaks at the same time, and that movie ticket, and dinner at Benny's, and all the gas you've used to drive us around when at this point I can probably navigate town by myself," you finished for him.

Eddie did a mental tally and yeah, you were right. He did do all of those things, and no, he hadn't and probably still wouldn't let you return the favor if you gave him the chance to be your friend again.

"I know friendship isn't supposed to be transactional, but the scale has been tipped immensely towards you, so instead of just sitting back and watching you feel like a failure and give up on your dream because some stupid...I don't know, festival...person has no taste in music, I wanted to do something to surprise you. To cheer you up."

"Why haven't you talked to me then?" he asked.

"What do you mean? You haven't been talking to me," you laughed. "I've been waving and saying hello...you dropped me off at my car that night and then...you haven't even looked at me since. So I figured you just needed the space. I get that too; needing some time, some space."

"I guess I thought you didn't want anything to do with me anymore," Eddie replied lamely. Because yeah, you had been doing those things. Maybe...maybe you were right, maybe he did need the space too. God, you were such a know it all. "I'm here now."

"Yeah I see that," you deadpanned. "Hi."

"Hi," Eddie parroted. "Thank you. For the surprise. I really...really was...surprised."

"Of course, any time," you nodded. "How are you feeling? Any better?"

"Yeah," he sighed. "Just like you said, I needed some time to work it out. Spent some time with the guys, it cheered me up."

"Good."

"You missed out on all the carnival food. Made the guys ride the tilt a whirl...Gareth's puke was purple."

"Yeah," you scrunched your nose. "I really missed out."

"There's always next year."

"Great." You offered him a small smile. "We good?"

"Yeah. You still want to hang out with me on Sunday? I, uh, really missed you."

"I missed you too. Maybe...you can give me a private show this Sunday? With your shiny new guitar? Only if you're up for it, of course."

"Absolutely. Sundays with you are my..." Eddie hesitated.

Should he say it? Would it scare you away?

Before he could finish, you put your hand on his arm and squeezed.

"They're mine too."

---

Next Part: Interview Prep

Sales Associates (AKA the tag list): @gaysludge @storiesbyrhi @tayhar811 @spookybabey @word-wytch @maidenofartemis @dreamlandcreations @wickedbelle @blue-eyed-lion @aysheashea @blue-mossbird @abibliophobiaa @jabbatheslutt420 @ghost-proofbaby @bakugouswh0r3 @ghostinthebackofyourhead

If you weren't given any hours this week (aka if you aren't already tagged or if I forgot to tag you) let me know via ask or comment. I'm sure I can find some extra payroll.

[eddiemunsons80sbaby]

Everybody Hurts

Chapter 14

Pairing: EddieMunsonxReader

Summary: You needed to escape, escape from your life, your messy divorce, and all the pitying looks. Looks you couldn't ignore when everyone in town had known you and Cam, had known your shame and failure. So, you took the first job you could get, teaching third grade in a town called Hawkins. Little did you know, you were walking right into another messy situation, a messy situation with big brown eyes and long dark waves. But he's resistant, at times unbearable and you start getting curious about the town's past, his past, especially when things don't start adding up.

18+ Only for eventual smut

Next chapter: 11/29

Word Count: 7.3K

Masterlist

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

Friday afternoon rolled around and you were picking up your classroom. The chaos of the school week always left the room needing a little attention at the end but you were taking more time than usual. You busied yourself with organizing materials for the next week, tossing broken pencils that had been carelessly discarded on the floor, and wiping down the tops of the desks. For once, you were in no hurry to run out the door, knowing you were facing a long weekend alone once again. 

You’d effectively avoided everyone from the group since your shocking admission Tuesday night, mostly by not answering your phone any time that it rang. You knew your sister would be frantic if she’d been the one calling, but you couldn’t risk it. You didn’t need even more pity from more people again. And honestly, you could barely admit to yourself what a fool you’d been. How could you tell Kim that you’d let some jerk treat you like shit all over again? You couldn’t, not your strong, wise-ass sister who would never allow a man’s lies to get her into bed.

You wanted nothing more than to go back in time and keep your big mouth shut. In the heat of the moment, it felt good to call him out on his bullshit. He deserved every single ounce of your anger and then some for treating you the way he had. You weren't some tissue to be used and discarded in the trash. But once you’d gotten back to your house, riding your bike through the haze of angry tears that coated your eyes, you’d been horrified and ashamed at your public declaration. 

How would you ever look any of them in the eye again now that they knew you’d allowed Eddie to use you like that? That you’d been dumb enough to believe the pretty words that had come out of that pretty mouth. You should have known better. Of course he didn’t mean anything that he’d said. He’d told you exactly what you wanted to hear and you’d fallen for it, hook, line, and sinker. He’d known you would be vulnerable to his charms after what Cam and Cassie had done and used it to his advantage. Once again, you had chosen to ignore the evidence in front of you in favor of what you wanted to believe instead. You’d wanted to believe he wanted you  truly wanted you, but all he wanted was to find out what you were like in the sack.

You looked up from the desk you had been scrubbing when there was a soft knock on the door to find Gareth standing there, a sheepish smile on his face, one hand tucked into the pocket of his jeans, as he gave you a small wave. You straightened up, wondering what would have brought him to the school on a Friday afternoon. And why would he still assume you were here? Your thoughts took you nowhere good, hoping nothing had happened between Lance and Charlie after school.

“Hey,” he said, taking a hesitant step into the classroom, a gritted smile on his face, “I hope you don’t mind me just dropping by like this.”

“No, of course not. Is everything okay?” Your eyes moved over to the clock that hung to the left of the door. “School let out half an hour ago. Charlie made it home okay, right?”

“Yeah. He’s fine. He’s over on the playground with a couple of his friends and asked if he could play for a while before we headed home. It’s such a nice day so I figured why not and…” Gareth told you, stuffing both hands into his pockets now, rocking back and forth on his heels. “I uh…well, it worked for me because I was actually standing out there waiting for you to come out so I could talk to you but you never did. I wondered if I missed you. So, I figured I’d pop in and check.”

“Okay…” you said slowly, the hairs on the back of your neck rising in suspicion. If he wasn’t here about Charlie, then there was only one other reason you could come up with. A reason you had no desire to talk about. You tossed your rag on the table, propping your hip on top and folding your arms. “So, what did you need?”

“Uh…well…” Gareth ran a hand over the back of his neck, his face scrunching in a way that let you know he was pretty uncomfortable about whatever this was, only making you even more suspicious that this wasn’t a conversation you wanted to have. Certainly not a conversation you wanted to have with one of Eddie’s best friends, someone who would only defend him and make up excuses for his appalling behavior. “Look, this is really awkward. I probably shouldn’t be saying anything. It’s none of my business but…”

“It isn’t any of your business,” you stated, adding when he looked up at you, surprised, “I assume you’re here to talk about Eddie. I can’t imagine anything to do with your kid that would be this uncomfortable for you.”

He sighed, “You’re right. It is. I just, look, I know he can be an asshole.”

“That’s the understatement of the century…” you muttered, your fingers running over the top of the desk, trying to remind yourself that your anger was at Eddie, not at Gareth. Gareth was the parent of one of your students. You had to be careful what you said, how you treated him. You had to be professional no matter how you felt. Besides, you really liked him and you knew his heart was in the right place. He seemed like a decent guy, unlike his friend.

He chuckled hoarsely, pulling at the collar of his shirt, “Yeah. Maybe. But I heard what you said the other night at the bar. I mean, about what happened between you two. It was a little hard not to hear.”

Your eyes slipped closed, your face blazing with shame. Of course he’d heard it. The whole bar had to have heard it. By now, everyone in town probably knew. You hadn’t exactly been quiet about it, screaming it at his face as you lost all self-control in the throes of your white hot rage, and now you had to live with the consequences of it. 

“Yeah, okay, and what about it?”

“The thing is, I know you’re probably thinking he’s some manwhore who sleeps with a bunch of different girls and drops them all the time but he’s not.” 

You snorted, rolling your eyes. Of course his best friend was going to defend him. Did he really expect you to believe that Eddie didn’t sleep around after he’d just blown you off? Or were you just the exception, so distasteful to him that he couldn’t stomach the idea of even telling you on the phone that he wasn’t interested?

Gareth’s hand rose in front of him, “I know you have no reason to believe me. You don’t know me. You don’t even know him that well but I’m telling you the truth. I haven’t seen Eddie with anybody in years. There’ve been a couple girls here and there. And I’m not saying he hasn’t had some one-night stands. I mean who hasn’t, right? But both people knew what it was going into it. He doesn’t lead people on. He’s…I’m shocked he was even willing to have sex with you honestly.”

“Wow, thanks,” you snorted, folding your arms over your chest.

“No. I didn’t mean it like that. I mean, he’s really self-conscious, you know, of his scars and shit. I assume since you two, well, you know, that you saw them. He doesn’t like to take his shirt off, ever. He had one girl who…well, they’d been dating for like a month and when they went to do the deed and his shirt came off, she looked repulsed. She visibly cringed and lurched back from him, asking what the hell that was. Eddie told her about the…you know, the raccoons. She asked him if he could just keep his shirt on when they had sex. You have no idea what that did to his head, man. He won’t even take it off at the pool anymore so the fact that he was willing to show you, to literally bare himself to you, risk your reaction, I don’t know. It makes me think that you’re special.”

Your fingers pressed against your forehead, your heart aching at the thought of Eddie, standing bare. Being as vulnerable as you can be in front of a woman who made him feel anything less than beautiful. You had seen him, seen every single part of him, and there wasn’t a single inch of him that wasn’t magnificent, scars or not. Jesus, the guy could not catch a break. It seemed like all anybody ever did was let him down and tear him down, everybody besides his friends, the only people he let peek through that wall he’d built around himself.

And here you were again, torn, a state that you seemed to perpetually be in when it came to Eddie. Wanting to slap him across the face while, at the same time, wanting to hold him against your chest and make all the bad shit go away.

“If I am so special, then why did he rush out after? Why didn’t he even bother to call?” you demanded, wanting to believe him but terrified to allow yourself to.

“Honestly? Eddie is a locked box, man. He used to be this really open, loud, and proud guy who didn’t give a fuck what anyone thought of him. He didn’t care that they called him a freak. He wore it like a goddamn badge of honor. He figured if they were going to label him, then he may as well live up to it. He was fun. He was…Eddie. But after all that shit went down with the murders, he changed. He pulled everything into himself. He stopped letting people in. Hell, it’s hard for me to get him to tell me anything and we’ve been friends since fifth grade. So my guess is you scare the shit out of him because he wants to let you in but he doesn’t know how. I guess I’m just saying…I mean, what I came here to say, is maybe don’t give up on him just yet. I really think you could be good for him.”

“I don’t know, Gareth,” you mumbled, thinking back to Tuesday night, the vicious way he’d grinned at you as he basically said that what you had done meant nothing to him. 

“I know. I’m not saying you have to decide anything right now. Just maybe think about it. He’s a jerk but I swear to you, he’s a jerk worth knowing because there’s a good guy in there. There’s a guy who is so damn loyal and who will do anything, I mean anything, for the people he cares about. There’s a guy who could be the best damn person you’ve ever met if you’re willing to work for it.” He shrugged. “That’s all I really came to say. I’m not trying to pressure you. I just wanted you to have all the facts because he’s my friend and after everything he’s been through, he deserves to be happy. And it sounds like you do, too. I’ll let you get back to…cleaning or whatever. Have a good weekend, teach, and thanks again for taking such good care of my boy.” “Of course. Charlie’s a great kid. You’ve done an amazing job with him,” you smiled. “You have a good weekend too.”

You sat on the edge of the table for probably far longer than it seemed after Gareth left, your mind like a runaway train going off the rails. Could he be right? Who would know Eddie better than him except maybe his uncle? And he’d cared enough to come find you and talk. Why would he have even bothered if he didn’t believe what he said? 

Oh, but the thought of fighting back, of trying to get Eddie to let you in, to chip away at those walls, was so damn exhausting. You felt you would collapse under the weight of just considering it. Was it worth that much energy? Maybe Gareth was wrong and Eddie had never wanted you to begin with, never wanted anything from you besides finding out what the new girl was like in bed. It was high school all over again. You were the shiny, new toy that the cute boy wanted before all the others got a chance. You groaned, dropping back onto the desk, your arms draping over the sides as you stared at the ceiling, thinking maybe you’d just stay here all weekend, on this hard desk.

“Girl, it’s Friday. What in the hell are you still doing here? Are you planning on taking a nap?” asked Leslie with a laugh, poking her head in the door. 

“No. Just thinking about stuff, cleaning up a bit, and making sure I’m ready for Monday.”

“All of that stuff will still be here on Monday. All of that crap you’re pondering will still be waiting too. If this is about that meeting or those boys, that issue isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Let it go for now,” your co-teacher scoffed, waving her hand. “Seriously, girl, grab your stuff and go home. Come on. It’s a Friday night. You’ve got to have something better to do than hang out at school.”

“Not really,” you mumbled, swallowing down the lump of heartache that formed as you admitted how very pathetic you were. “I’ll probably just go home, lay on my couch, and dwell on all the horrendous fuck-ups I’ve made with my life. I thought I had made some friends but that didn’t really work out.”

Leslie’s lips compressed together, her shoulder resting against the frame of the door, “Damn. This is just sad. Alright girl, I am not going to let you wallow in whatever this is. You and I are going to get a drink because you sure look like you could use one and I know I could. And then you can tell me about whatever happened with these friends.”

“Oh, no. You don’t have to do that. I’m sure you have plans. I’m fine. I’m just being pathetic and self-pitying but I’ll get past it.”

“Look, we’re all pathetic and self-pitying at times. You know what the perfect cure for that is? Talking and drinking. My only plans for the night were with a bottle of Merlot, a bubble bath, and a smutty book,” Leslie shrugged. “It can wait a few hours. Come on. Grab your stuff. There’s a bar right around the corner.”

____________________________________________________________

The bar was called Cheers and Beers. It was another little hole-in-the-wall place like The Hideout. Hawkins didn’t really have many places that would be considered upscale but this place appeared to be cleaned, at least, on a semi-regular basis. You and Leslie chose a small table in a back corner and Leslie ordered a glass of Merlot, you choosing a bourbon, hoping the burn of the alcohol would sear away everything else you didn’t want to be feeling or thinking.

As the waitress delivered your drinks, Leslie took a sip of her wine and then leaned forward on the table, her chin resting in her hands, “Alright. Spill. So, what happened with these people that you thought were your friends but aren’t now? Did you get in a fight or something?”

“No. I mean, I did fight with one of them, but he’s not even someone I can call a friend. Not really. But I didn’t fight with all of them but now it’s so awkward. I screamed at him in front of everyone. I completely lost my shit and went insane and now they all know what an idiot I am. I’ve completely humiliated myself and there is no way I can face any of them again. They probably think I am pathetic and gullible. I know they definitely think I am a giant whore now.” You tipped back the bourbon, already finishing it off, relishing the slow burn as it ran down your throat.

Leslie choked on her wine, almost spitting blood red liquid all over the table. Covering her mouth, she swallowed it down, setting her wineglass down carefully before wiping her mouth with a napkin. Leaning back in her chair, eyebrows raised, she looked quizzically at you. 

“Okay, now you can’t say something like that without providing more context. Why in the hell would they think you’re a whore? Did you sleep with a bunch of them?”

“No!” you protested, offended that she would even think you were capable of that. “Jesus, of course not.”

Groaning, you waved the waitress over, ordering another bourbon, knowing you were going to need some more liquid fortification if you were going to have any hope of getting through this conversation. Holding up your hand, you paused the conversation until the drink arrived. You took a large drink when it was delivered and then inhaled slowly. 

“Okay, so I met this girl, Max Mayfield, at the diner a few weeks ago when I went in to grab some food. She was really nice and we just got to talking, you know? I told her I was new here and I hadn’t met a lot of people so she invited me out to a bonfire with her friends at the lake. I went and met a whole bunch of people there and I absolutely loved them. They were so kind to me, all except for one. I think you might know him, actually. At least you seemed to that day after school when he was waiting for me.”

Her eyebrows furrowed, deep lines appearing between them, as Leslie thought back and then her eyes went wide with recognition, shooting your way, “Eddie Munson? Eddie Munson was there because he was waiting for you? Oh god. Tell me you didn’t sleep with Eddie Munson!”

Your cheeks heated as you dropped your face into your hands. Even Leslie knew you’d been an idiot to ever trust him. He must have some kind of reputation in town for being a ladies man. Everyone in town probably knew he slept around, leaving a string of heartbroken women behind him. He was in a band. He probably had a different groupie in his bed every single Tuesday night. The very thought twisted your stomach, thinking of some other girl underneath him, his hands stroking her skin, bringing her to levels of ecstasy that you hadn’t even known existed until him. Him whispering those sweet lies in another woman’s believing ear. 

“Jesus Christ. I cannot believe that you slept with the Hawkins Antichrist.”

“I…I’m sorry. The what?” you asked, lifting your head. 

“You really don’t know? He was suspected of murdering a bunch of people in town a decade ago. They couldn’t prove it so he went free but everyone still thinks he did it. He was always so weird and he loved being the outsider. He’d scream and yell about forced conformity and how the government was brainwashing everyone with media propaganda. Seriously, he would jump on top of the cafeteria table at least once a week to rant about some shit. Everybody knew he was crazy. He played some satanic game and brainwashed a bunch of younger kids to join. They even say the game was just a front for a cult and that the murders were actually sacrifices to Satan.”

Your eyes rolled, your stomach twisting up again but this time it was anger stirring within you. So Leslie wasn’t appalled because she thought Eddie was a manwhore. She was appalled because she bought into all the bullshit about him, the same bullshit that asshole Andy was spewing. Your fist clenched around your drink, arm stiff as your muscles tensed.

Maybe you were pissed at Eddie. Maybe you thought he was a son of a bitch for doing what he did to you. Maybe you thought he wasn’t a great guy when it came to women but you would never believe he could do those things. You would never believe the stupid rumors this town seemed insistent on holding onto. It was ridiculous, absolutely insane. And to top it off, the only reason these ignorant people believed it was because he didn’t fit the definition of what they called normal and you could not stand ignorant people who judged things they didn’t even understand.

“Come on. You can’t tell me you buy into all of that bullshit. Leslie, I thought you were smarter than that.”

“You weren’t here,” she argued, her fist coming down onto the table harshly. “You have no idea what it was like. Nothing like that had ever happened in this town before. This was a safe place, a place where people didn’t bother locking their doors and didn’t worry about their kids being out until the streetlights came on. After that, everything changed. People were terrified. They instituted a curfew. Parents were keeping their kids under lock and key, terrified they would be next.”

“Okay, I understand that what happened was awful but that doesn’t mean Eddie had anything to do with it. People only accused him because of how he looked and the things he enjoyed, which metal music and a fantasy game are harmless by the way. He didn’t run a cult, Leslie. He didn’t induct people in. He took in kids who didn’t fit in anywhere else and gave them a safe place. It was seriously just a harmless game. The name of his DnD club was Hellfire. People twisted it all around after the fact to make him the monster they needed him to be.”

“Chrissy, the first victim, was found in his trailer! How do you explain that?”

“I don’t know. I can’t. As you said, I wasn’t there but I am telling you that Eddie had nothing to do with it. There’s no way that he’s capable of something like that.”

Leslie looked at you as if you’d completely lost it, “Are you seriously defending him? I am assuming he dicked you over since you’re refusing to face these new friends of yours. Used you for sex and then he’s done with you and you’re going to sit there and defend him? You don’t even know him. You said you just met him a few weeks ago. Let me guess who your new friends are? Steve Harrington? Nancy Wheeler? Robin Buckley? Jonathan Byers?”

“How…how’d you know that?”

“Because that group were the only ones who stuck by him after everything. They will still defend him with their dying breath. I’ve always wondered if they know more than what they’re saying. That group was always involved in all the weird shit that happened here. The disappearances, the mall fire, the murders…them and those kids that are always with them were always knee deep in that shit. They closed ranks after everything, becoming some little secretive group. It’s seriously weird.”

“Look, I think they do know more about what happened back then than they’re saying but maybe they have good reason to stay quiet. They’re good people, Leslie. I’ve gotten to know them pretty well and they are some of the kindest, most inclusive people I’ve ever met. And maybe they defend Eddie because he deserves it, because they know he’s innocent. Have you ever thought of that?”

Leslie sighed, “Look, I don’t want to fight with you. I really don’t. I like you and I love working with you. You’re an amazing teaching partner. I don't want things between us to be strained. But we might have to agree to disagree here. Eddie hasn’t exactly given anyone any reason to think otherwise. He walks around all surly and has a massive attitude all the time like he’s just waiting for a fight.”

“Of course he does! Can you blame him? This whole town was more than happy to crucify him the minute something happened. They didn’t even consider the possibility that he didn’t do it,” you argued. “Why should he have to prove anything to any of you? Innocent until proven guilty, remember? You all condemned him without any proof. Why should the burden fall on him to prove what should have been assumed to begin with? This town didn’t give him a single reason to want to be friendly.”

“I mean…okay, you’re not completely wrong. I remember the town hall meeting vividly. It was like something from a horror movie, something that you just never think you’ll be a part of. I felt like I was watching a car wreck in action. Jason Carver showed up, completely out of his mind, and ranted about monsters and demons and the whole place was ready to hunt Eddie down themselves. My parents were absolutely convinced he’d done it. I just…I guess it was easy to believe. He’d always been called the freak at school and he seemed to like to live up to that title. He seemed to take pride in it. He was always so different. He didn’t even try to fit in. You know? Most people want to fit in, want to conform but not him.” Leslie paused, thinking. “If he really is innocent, I can’t imagine how hard it’s been for him living in this town after all of that.”

“The others told me he’s had his car vandalized and things thrown at his house, not to mention the awful things people have said to him. He only stayed for his uncle who raised him. He didn’t want to leave him alone. I met his uncle and he’s a really sweet guy. And yeah, Eddie slept with me and seems done with me. He completely used me. He’s a jerk for that. I hate him right now. I mean, I want to punch him right in his nose but I still can’t believe he would do anything like that. He’s an ass but he’s not a murderer.”

A sigh fell from Leslie’s lips as she shrugged, lifting her wine glass, “Well, alright. I guess if you can still think so highly of him after he used you like a cheap prostitute, then I suppose I could consider rethinking my views on him. Maybe this town was wrong. Maybe I was. I just believed what everyone was saying without a shred of proof just like everyone else. I never even considered another possibility until now. They called his followers sheep but I believed my parents like a damn sheep following the flock. It was classic mob mentality now that I think about it. God, I kind of feel like an idiot.”

“Hey, don’t feel too bad,” you assured, lifting your glass to Leslie’s, clinking them together. “I have believed a bunch of bullshit that I shouldn’t have more than one time myself.”

“Well, cheers to us both being dumbasses,” Leslie chuckled.

“Cheers to being blind to the truth,” you agreed, downing the rest of your drink.

___________________________________________________________

Leslie pulled in front of your house to drop you off a few hours later. You’d had every intention of walking back to the school and riding your bike home but you’d wound up drinking one more bourbon and after three, you didn’t quite trust your tipsy self to balance on a bike. Better not to take any chances. The last thing you needed was a broken bone and a hospital bill you couldn’t afford. You would just have to walk over to the school tomorrow to get it. You waved goodbye as Leslie pulled away, thinking at least with the help of some alcohol you’d be able to get some good sleep tonight and stumbled your way up your sidewalk. 

Maybe you’d lost all your new friends. Maybe you’d messed that up completely but that didn’t mean you were completely alone. After your little argument about the ignorance of the town, you and Leslie had a good time together, laughing and talking, finally taking the time to really get to know each other outside of the walls of the school. 

You, who’d been keeping everyone at work at a distance for so long, could see Leslie as someone you’d enjoy spending time with. So, maybe there was still hope for a new life in this town. Maybe you wouldn’t have to run away with your tail between your legs to start over somewhere new again. Maybe you could still find your happy in this place.

A small amber glow to the right of your porch caught your eye as you moved to place your key in the lock. You jumped, jerking as you looked over to find Eddie sitting on your porch swing, legs spread wide in front him, one arm casually draped along the wood backing. He brought the cigarette to his lips, taking a long drag before tilting his head back, the smoke slipping from between his lips in a thin line.

“Are you fucking kidding me? No. Hell no. Absolutely not,” you muttered, shaking your head, working to get the key in the door as quickly as possible but your inebriated state was not allowing you to work fast enough as he rose from the swing and made his way over to you. 

“Prom Queen…” he began.

“No. Nope. No way,” you insisted, turning the lock and the knob so hard that you half fell into your foyer. You spun to close the door behind you but his hand shot out, holding it open. You pushed back hard but it provided no resistance against him as he stepped inside, swinging it shut behind him. “What do you think you’re doing? Get the hell out of my house.”

Eddie shook his head. “I’m not going anywhere. Not until we talk.”

“There is nothing to talk about. You got what you wanted from me, Eddie. Good for you. You fooled me. You had me believing you were a good guy and it got you in my pants. You came, you saw, you conquered. You got the new girl first and proved I’m just as empty headed as you first thought. Now you can walk around all proud of yourself, basking in your glory. So get the fuck out.”

“Goddamn it, that’s not what that was,” Eddie huffed, taking a step toward you as you simultaneously took a step back, not trusting yourself to be so close to him. He groaned, both hands coming to the top of his head as he spun in an agitated circle. “I wasn’t just trying to get in your pants.”

“Could have fooled me by the way you ran out of here like the damn house was on fire and then couldn’t be bothered to call me after you said you would. Not to mention what a dick you were at the bar. Weren’t you the one who said you were a good actor? Well, you should win an Oscar for that because I thought you were being genuine. I thought you liked me. What an idiot I was!”

“Goddamn it! I know I did this all wrong. That wasn’t…I didn’t…son of a bitch! I just…this is such a bad idea. Don’t you see what a bad idea this is? I shouldn’t have ever done that. I’ve tried so hard to keep a safe distance between us, to resist what I wanted. It was a huge mistake and then you asked me to stay over and I knew it was a mistake and I just couldn’t face you after…”

“Oh, okay. That’s so much better,” you growled, tossing your arms up in the air. “You didn’t just use me. Thank goodness. That could have been embarrassing. You just slept with me and then realized I was a huge mistake that you wished you wouldn’t have made. Thanks for clearing that up. You can go now.”

You stomped away from him into the kitchen, hoping he would get the idea and leave. You could not do this anymore. You wished you’d never met him. The room swayed in front of you and you grabbed onto the edge of the counter to steady yourself, a roar of frustration ripping its way from your chest when he didn’t leave but instead followed you. 

Why couldn’t he just go away? Did he really think this was any better than ghosting you? Telling you that you were an error, a bad decision, a regret? Why couldn’t he have just left it alone? You’d had no intention of seeking out clarification. You would have been satisfied just calling it what it was, a guy using you for sex. Maybe you could have even twisted it into something positive. You’d never had a one night stand. Shouldn’t everyone have one at least once?

“That’s not what I’m saying! Jesus Christ!” His large hands slammed down on the counter across from you and you jumped. “Don’t you get it? I’m the monster of this town! I’m defective merchandise just like your ex. You don’t deserve that, especially not after what that asshole already did to you. You would be better off with anybody but me! You’re not the mistake, princess! I am!”

Your muddled brain tried to wade through the murky confusion, “What?”

“Why do you think I’ve been such a dick since the moment we met? Sure, I can have my moments but I was really pulling out all the assholery I could for you. I wanted you to hate me because it was easier! It was easier than trying to fight what I really wanted. I’ve been fighting to keep a distance between us since the night we met and I’ve failed. I’ve been holding on for dear life so I don’t drown in you! But no matter what I did, I kept being drawn to you. I knew it was stupid. I knew it was wrong. I knew every single time I showed up that I was playing with fire. I knew you deserved better than me but I kept coming back to you. I told myself I could just be your friend. I told myself it was what you wanted so it was okay. I told myself I would never let it go farther than that. I’d play it safe. I made every excuse in the book, knowing damn well that I was just trying to justify what I wanted. But Saturday, I was just so damn tired of fighting it. And then you…you wanted me too and it was so damn easy to just let it happen, to stop resisting. I gave in and then you wanted me to stay over and I knew I had made a huge mistake.”

Your eyes slipped closed, your grip on the counter tightening as your brain warred with itself once again. Did you allow yourself to believe him again? Did you forgive him? Did you let him back in only to risk him changing his mind once again? Or did you tell him, fine, this was a huge mistake and that was all it was going to be and you should just stay away from each other? That would definitely be the smarter choice of the two but you’d already proven that when it came to him, you didn’t make the smart choice.

And those eyes. Fuck those goddamn big doe eyes. They were so sincere, full of pain, a window into deep anguish that was tugging at your heart. He was hunched forward, arms wrapped around himself as if he were trying to contain all of his emotions inside, shielding himself from the truth he was exposing. This man made you want to jump out of the plane without a parachute, to risk shattering on impact. Anything if it meant that you could make that suffering go away.

“And why do you get to make that decision for me?” you asked, struggling as those eyes pierced your soul; twin brown pools of regret pleading for you to try to understand. “Why do you get to decide if something’s a mistake for me?”

“Oh come on! I know you’ve heard all the shit this town says about me,” he muttered, tongue running under his upper lip, looking down at the countertop. 

“Is any of it true?”

Eddie shrugged, his finger running back and forth over the formica countertop “I didn’t hurt anybody, if that’s what you’re asking. I’m not a murderer.”

“Then why in the hell should I care what anybody else has to say?”

“Because I’m broken, princess. Far too broken to ever be fixed.”

“Eddie, everybody’s a little broken. Sometimes those pieces aren’t meant to be fixed. They’re meant to be mended by opening ourselves up to others and letting them heal us. We can glue the parts back together but the cracks will always be there. They remain as scars to remind us of how strong we are, to remind us not to make the same mistakes twice. I’m not exactly perfectly put together myself.”

“That’s not what I mean. You have no idea. You’re not nearly as fucked up as I am. You might need a little glue but I am destined for the trash heap. My pieces can’t ever be put back the way that they were. They’ve been smashed into dust.”

“Okay, so what?” you insisted, your elbows coming down onto the counter as you leaned over it. “Maybe you can’t be put back the way you were before but maybe that’s not a bad thing. Maybe you have an opportunity to put the pieces back differently, in a way that’s even better, stronger. That is, if your stubborn ass would ever be willing to let someone in to help you. Reassembling yourself is not a one man job, Eddie. It requires a village and you have one. You just have to let them in.”

The pad of his thumb ran over the nail of his opposite one, that tongue of his slipping out, playing at the corner of his mouth. You were making him nervous. You had no idea how you’d learned to read him so well so quickly but you had. Eddie might think he was some mysterious conundrum but he wore his emotions on his sleeve and he had particular tells when something was off. 

“Would…” He breathed in slowly, closing his eyes for a moment, and then they opened, finding yours. Your grip on the counter tightened, your legs like a jellyfish, the intensity in his stare almost sending you to the ground. “Would you consider yourself a part of that village?”

“I don’t know,” you admitted, shrugging. “I told you before that I wanted to be if you’d let me but you don’t seem to want to. I get that you don’t know me that well. You have no reason to trust me and now, I don’t know if I can trust you. I mean, you’re only the second guy I slept with and you disappeared on me. Kind of makes it a little challenging to be open and trusting.”

“The…wait…” Eddie’s head shook, mouth open in a silent question while he got his bearings. “You seriously had only ever been with your ex? I was…shit.” His palm ran down his face and over his chin. 

You turned quickly, grabbing dry dishes from the rack next to the sink. You began putting them away, anything to keep your hands busy, to keep from looking at him. Great. You really needed to stop putting your foot in your mouth. Now he really thought you were stupid and pathetic. You’d only ever been with two guys your entire life and both had screwed you over. Eddie was probably enjoying this, relishing the fact that you were the shallow airhead he’d pinned you as the night you met.

“Princess…”

The hairs on the back of your neck rose, a shiver running down your spine. Eddie was so close behind you that you could feel his words, his breath softly moving your hair. Your eyes slipped close, your body responding to him the way it always did. Your damn body was a betraying bitch. Why did he have such an effect on you and why was he so damn close? 

“I’m really sorry,” he whispered softly. “I had no idea that I was your first after your split. I had no idea that I was only your second. I guess I should have. You said you’d been with him since high school. Shit. I feel like all I do is apologize to you. I know I’ve been a dick. I know you have no reason to but do you think you can forgive me?”

Could you? Yes. Would you? Yes. Should you? Probably not but you’d never been able to do what you should do when it came to him. What was the point in starting now? You knew you were probably setting yourself up to have your heart broken again. You were probably setting yourself up to be humiliated again but you couldn’t stay away from him. You could try to kid yourself. You could tell yourself whatever you wanted but you knew it wasn’t true. 

Your silence must have felt like an answer to him because his warmth vanished from behind you. You could hear his boots treading heavily across the hardwood floor as he made his way to the door. You should let him go. You should let him walk out the door and put an end to this thing now before it got out of control and you were too deeply in. But you were already too deep. You were hundreds of feet below the surface, kicking your legs, but unable to breach, every fiber of you completely consumed with him. 

“Eddie…” You spun around as you finally broke the silence. 

His head turned, eyes filled with so much hope that you were overcome with a desire to give him anything he wanted just to keep it there. You walked toward him, your hand reaching for his cheek, your heart constricting when his eyes closed, his face turning into it as if relishing the simple human contact. This man was so touch starved, desperate for affection from someone. Desperate for someone to think he was worth something, for someone to care for him, someone more than just a friend, someone he could be the most important to. He hadn’t said it. He never would probably but his body language was screaming it, just hoping for someone to finally hear.

Were you strong enough to take a chance on him? Were you strong enough to push past all his defenses? You didn’t know. Maybe not, but you were damn sure willing to find out because nothing scared you more than the thought of him walking out, the thought that you might never feel for anyone else the way you felt for him. The thought that this all consuming need and desire would never take you over again was unbearable.

His hand came up to cover yours but this time he didn’t remove it. He held it there as he opened his eyes, gazing down at you with such longing that you struggled to maintain eye contact. His other hand wrapped around your waist, pulling your body toward his until your pelvis was flush against him, feeling how much he wanted you at that moment. Your breath hitched as his head dipped, his lips hovering just above yours. 

“Are you sure?” he asked softly. 

“Are you sure?” you shot back at him, putting the ball in his court. You hadn’t been the one to walk away. You hadn’t been the one who shut this down. You’d been sure from the moment your lips met. You needed to know if he was sure.

“I am so fucking sure,” Eddie rasped, his thumb moving to your lips, brushing along the bottom one. 

“Prove it,” you challenged.

Chapter 15

Taglist

@tlclick73 @bebe07011 @eddiesguitarskills @witchwolflea @nailbatanddungeon @emilyslutface @fireeyes-on-teller-dixon-grimes @corrodedcoffincumslut @mmunson86 @josephquinnsfreckles @katethetank

[piratefishmama]

Fake it till you Make it | Part 20

So now, he was sat in a car, with a rich older man.

To some little queer boys, this would be a dream come true, especially since the older man wasn’t half bad in terms of looks, that all American square jaw, strong nose, the works. Plus… rich.

But this wasn’t a rich older man whisking him away, no, this was Steve Harrington’s regularly absent father taking him grocery shopping.

It’d been a wild day.

“So…” Eddie didn’t do well with silence. Silence never sat right with him. Had to fill it somehow, be it with silly noises, random singing, or conversation with any person in his vicinity. “They uhm, they do that often?”

“It’s a family thing, I think we’re all as bad as each other.” At least he was self-aware, the eldest Harrington still watching the road as they drove through the small town, he knew where he was going though, each turn done as if he’d driven the route enough to do it blindfolded. “Lynda’s a lawyer so, that should explain that” loved being right, it was her job to be right, even if she was actually wrong, she had to make out like she was right and she did it well. “I’m a middle child” explained both everything and nothing at all, “and Steven… I think he got a little bit of both of us. I’d have thought you’d be used to that though, since you’re dating him.”

“Ah-haha, I mean… don’t get me wrong, I’ve always known about Steve’s uhm… how to phrase this… mean girl streak?” John snorted a little laugh, emboldened, Eddie continued, “he’s like everyone’s disappointed mother, always with the little—” Eddie shifted in his seat, just about managing to put his hands on his hips and cock them weirdly in place “pose that he does when he’s oh so very disappointed in you. I used to thrive on it back in high school, whenever he’d catch Tommy H or the other basketball goons bullying the kids, he’d just stand there like he’d caught his kids with their hands in the cookie jar, an they’d actually just… cower, like he could actually do anything to them. It was the funniest shit I’d ever seen.”

It'd actually been quite the surprise when that’d happened the first time, it didn’t happen often, Steve had been a douchebag, not the ‘shove your head in a toilet’ kind of douchebag, or the ‘shove Gareth in a locker’ kind of douchebag.

No, he was the mega bitch douchebag who could flash a smile and drop every set of panties in his immediate vicinity, he was the douchebag who KNEW he could do that. Who carried himself high with the knowledge, lording it over everyone without… ever actually lording it, it was a presence kind of thing. An attitude.

And maybe, occasionally, he’d have been the douchebag who didn’t really see anyone unless he wanted to see them, didnt really pay any attention to those not on his radar, those not in his friend group, which led to many an accidental shoulder check, which had in turn led to Eddie’s own personal little vendetta because he’d lost one of his prized mini figs to the underside of the Hawkins High trophy case when Steve had walked by a little too close and shoved him just hard enough to send Eddie’s shit flying.

Had just kept walking as if he hadn’t even seen him. Asshole.

It was only when he’d first been seen hanging around Wheeler that his personality had shifted toward something reasonably human. Thanks Wheeler, the sacrifice of your time and patience hath created a god among men.

“So he was never… bad then?”

“Nah” no sense bad mouthing the boyfriend, that wouldn’t get him anywhere. “Real Prince Charming in a perfectly pressed polo shirt. He’s amazing, sir… you have nothing to worry about with Steve, he’s… one in a million.” Now anyway.

“Good. Good.” And then he fell silent, the quiet stretch lasting nearly five minutes with only the faint music playing on low volume from the radio to fill that silence, until the eldest Harrington pulled the car into a quiet carpark, and parked. “Here we are!” Oh thank Christ.

“We can't keep doing this.” Steve was the first one to speak up during their mutual living room silent treatment, finally looking at this mother after nearly an hour of watching a gentle snowfall that’d started outside. He hoped it wouldn't get heavier before Eddie got back.

“I have no idea what you—”

“Mom.” Steve cut her off, his eyes sharp and tone firm. “We can’t keep doing this. This bickering, this who’s right who’s wrong shit, we’ve gotta stop, at least here.” If not for their own sanity, but for the image he was giving Eddie of his family life.

Of what he might possibly maybe be getting himself into if Steve could actually swing a real relationship by the end of the week. The chances of him saying yes were already pretty farfetched, but if Steve’s parents were their worst selves…

Why would Eddie want to subject himself to that long term?

She paused, expression unreadable, something she’d mastered years ago for the court room, then she sighed. “I know, Steven.” She sighed heavily “Sometimes I forget that you’re a grown up now, that you can argue right back and actually stand your ground.” It only felt like yesterday when he was tugging uncomfortably at the little bowtie they used to make him wear for special occasions, all dressed up looking up at them with those big hazel eyes of his. His childhood only felt like yesterday. “I miss when you were cute and just did as you were told” she sniffled. Back when his parents had been there regularly before their duties had pulled them away. Before distance had strained them and they missed everything. Steve rolled his eyes but said nothing as his mother continued “Anyway, i agree. I think I’d prefer it if Eddie didn’t go away from this trip thinking John to be the most mature of us.”

“God, could you imagine?” Steve shook his head to free himself of the truly harrowing thought, allowing the subject to change. “I really like him, Mom... I didn’t expect to at first, not enough to want something long term with him anyway...” He’d thought it’d be easy to just pretend with him at first, but Eddie just had this... thing about him, Steve didn’t really know how to explain it, he just felt like home. Maybe it should have been alarming as to how fast that’d happened but... Steve had always rushed into things, funnily enough he didn’t think Eddie minded. “So I’d really like it if he liked all of us by the end of this, an if he only likes Dad cause of our bullshit, I think I might just disown the both of you.” The last part said in jest but... god he’d never let it go.

He’d lockjaw it until the end of time, would take it out on special occasions and shake it in their faces like look what you did. Look at what you cost me.

“Honestly, sweetheart I think I’d disown myself.” Lynda laughed, the air finally lightening up a little between them. “Here, how about we go see if the maintenance men pilfered the wine cellar? I’m positive Mags was hiding a damn good red down there among the cabernet that I’m pretty sure she wouldn’t want to go to waste...”

“Well... we probably should check it... just in case, y’know? For security reasons.” Not that he actually doubted the integrity of the maintenance crew, they’d been employees for years, they’d known his grandparents, had worked for them in their later years when time had started to catch up to them, and a steady gig passing through generations wasn’t something to scoff at.

“Security, absolutely.” But then, the contents of the wine cellar alone was probably worth more than the actual house, so… better double check.

For security reasons.

Part 22

[sourw0lfs]

WC: 3,557 | Chapters: 1/5 | Warnings: None | Rating: E

Relationships: Steve Harrington/Eddie Munson

Characters: Steve Harrington, Eddie Munson, Robin Buckley, Chrissy Cunningham, Gareth (Stranger Things), Jeff (Stranger Things), Unnamed Freak (Stranger Things), Heather Holloway (mentioned), Benny Hammond (mentioned)

Tags: Chef Steve Harrington, Rock Star Eddie Munson, Good Friend Robin Buckley, Robin Buckley & Steve Harrington Are Best Friends, Steve Harrington Needs a Hug, Steve Harrington Whump, POV Steve Harrington, Steve Harrington Loves Eddie Munson, Eddie Munson Needs a Hug, Eddie Munson Loves Steve Harrington, Transmasculine Eddie Munson, Mutual Pining, Getting Back Together, Moving In Together, Steve Harrington is Bad at Feelings, Eddie Munson is Bad at Feelings, Hotel Sex, Breaking Up & Making Up, Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Minor Robin Buckley/Chrissy Cunningham, Gareth is a Little Shit (Stranger Things), Corroded Coffin is done with these idiots, Idiots in Love, Corroded Coffin Going On Tour, Food as a Metaphor for Love, Eddie Munson's Guitar Pick, Vaginal Sex, Unprotected Sex, Top Eddie Munson, Bottom Steve Harrington

Summary:

Starting with a new client should have stopped being so nerve-wracking five years ago, but Steve can’t help the anxious butterflies fluttering around his stomach as he hits the end call button. It’s his first job since… well, everything, and he can’t help but be a little anxious. There’s something scary about just being him now instead of them. Even if they never really were them in the first place. Not when it came to work. OR: The one where Steve is a traveling personal chef working for Corroded Coffin

FIC by @sourw0lf

ART by @inflomora-art

BETA'd by @just-my-latest-hyperfixation

Written for @strangerthingsreversebigbang